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Niger Delta Tackles Buhari, May Head To Court Over PIA

Published

4 years ago

August 21, 2021

In the oil-rich Niger Delta region, where the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari last Tuesday, now known as Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), is supposed to heavily impact, the allocation of three per cent to cater for host communities is still a contentious issue.

Findings by The Guardian showed that stakeholders and residents have continued to hold discussions and meetings on the best ways to ventilate their grievances regarding the provision.

According to the National Publicity Secretary of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Ezonebi Oyakamegbea, the Congress was still discussing, revealing that it would come up next week with a strong statement on ways to seek redress after its meetings with stakeholders.

He said: “It is very sad that in spite of all agitations, the President still assented to the Bill. It is not acceptable in any form; it is a total disregard to the Niger Deltans. But very soon, after our meetings with stakeholders, the INC President, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, will make our strong statement known.”

In the same vein, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) said the Niger Delta people would speak shortly after full consultations on the best legal and political response to address “the callous act of the President.”

PANDEF’s National Publicity Secretary, Ken Robinson, said: “This assent by President Buhari simply speaks to the repugnant attitude of disregard, propelled by arrogance, disdain, and contempt with which issues concerning the Niger Delta Region are treated, particularly by the present administration.

“The act of the President signifies an unequivocal message to the Niger Delta people, that how they feel and what they say do not count at all in the schemes of the Nigerian Project. That’s insensitive, abominable and against every boundary of proper democratic practice, and, therefore, unacceptable to the good people of the Niger Delta, the critical economic nexus of the entire Nigerian territory.”

Similarly, a coalition of oil and gas host communities in Rivers State, while declaring total rejection of the Act, vowed that by the President’s assent, the next stage of the struggle has started in the region, assuring that they would do it non-violently.

Chairman of the coalition, Barituka Loanyie, said the signing of the controversial Bill into law without resolving the ambiguous rifts in it or even putting into consideration the outcry of our people was display of arrogance and injustice.

On his part, an Ogoni environmental activist and member of Ogoni People’s Assembly, Celestine Akpobari, who described the President’s assent as a big disappointment, said the country would henceforth know that the Niger Deltans are not cowards, adding that discussions on a collective response were still ongoing.

Akpobari’s views were a bit different from that of the spokesman of Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU), Mr. Abel Oshevire, who advised the southern legislators in the National Assembly and other stakeholders in the Niger Delta region to immediately begin to mount pressure on the Federal Government for a quick review of the law to reflect the wishes and expectations of oil-producing communities.

While commending the President for assenting to the Bill, Oshevire, a former member of the Delta State House of Assembly, described it as a welcome development, but added: “There is need for us in oil- producing communities to press for more and ask for 10 per cent, instead of the three per cent we are being offered now.”

He said the three per cent could not address the numerous challenges facing the region; hence the allocation should be increased to 10 per cent to reflect what the communities are asking for.

He ruled out a resort to legal action against the Federal government, saying: “For now, half bread is better than none. So, the UPU is happy for Mr. President to have gotten the courage to assent to the PIB, a Bill that had spanned over 20 years without anybody trying to work on it.”

He stated that though three per cent is not enough, but it would translate to so much money, and if well managed, would lead to a lot of development in the oil-producing communities.

A former secretary of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Asaba Branch, Mr. A.F. Brideba, feared that the law would not in any way address the numerous problems confronting the Niger Delta region, noting that the three per cent is grossly insufficient, adding that it would not address the problems of environmental degradation, underdevelopment and others challenges in the region.

“Besides, there are areas that would create controversy during implementation, such as definition of where oil pipelines are passing, right of ways, among others,” he stressed.

On the issue of transparency, Brideba said utilisation of the percentage accruable to the community needed to be guarded jealously, otherwise corrupt traditional rulers, politicians and youths would divert the funds for their personal purposes, thereby denying the people of their benefits.

He said the region remains backwards today because of people entrusted with public funds, accusing them of becoming unjustifiably rich at the expense of the people and communities.

For Aiwere Okuns, the President should send the PIA back to the National Assembly as an Executive Bill for immediate amendments. To achieve this, he said, “all stakeholders should put pressure on southern lawmakers in the National Assembly to ensure amendment is done on it, because that is how democracy works.”

Okuns advised aggrieved oil-producing communities to address the issue legally, rather than foment unnecessary troubles, saying after all, the three per cent is a starting point.

Prof. Emmanuel Owodiokut of the University of Uyo stressed that since the governors from the region notified the President of the grievances of the people with regard to the bill before he hurriedly signed it into law, such has become a judicial issue.

“Before it was signed, the governors ran to the President and he was in a hurry to sign and since the governors have identified that the Bill breaches some sections of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, it will be a judicial issue. So, they can resort to court to challenge the law and the court will decide one way or the other.

“It is very clear in our laws that anything that is not in tandem with the constitution is ultra virus and it cannot stand,” Owodiokut said.

He, however, warned youths from the region to remain calm, as violence does not solve any problem anywhere in the world, adding: “The governors will be able to take up the matter effectively. There should not be any violence; the youth should not return to the creeks or burst pipe lines.”

(GUARDIAN)

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Tension As Unknown Gunmen Kill Police Informant In Imo Community

Published

2 months ago

April 25, 2025

Editor

By Qosim Sulaiman

Palpable tension engulfed the residents of Nkwogwu community, Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State following the killing of an elderly man, Pa Albert Nwanchukwu, believed to be a police informant.

The assailants, numbering about eight, who reportedly stormed the home of the late Nwanchukwu at about 10pm on Tuesday, 22 April, 2025, were said to have met him where he was relaxing in his compound and immediately opened fire on him.

According to our source who pleaded anonymity, before his assassination, the late Nwanchukwu, had reportedly went to a police station in the locality to inform them of the activities of the gunmen, just as he pleaded to the police to get them arrested.

Our source disclosed that the late Nwanchukwu never knew that some policemen are accomplished in the act, adding that the policemen no doubt informed the gunmen who in anger came and killed him.

Our source narrated: “They were about eight in number. They came with different weapons – guns, machetes. They were all masked except their leader.

“It was late but the floodlight from the streetlight was bright. They drove dangerously and went straight to Mr Albert Uwandu Nwachukwu house. The man was relaxing in the front of his house. Immediately they saw him, they opened fire,” he died on the spot”, an eyewitness who saw the entire scene from the balcony of his house recounts.

Our source added: “Further investigations proved that the spy had informed this notorious gang of late Pa Nwachukwu’s visit to the police, thereby leading to the attack on his household.”

After killing the man, the gang reportedly went inside the house searching for other family members.

While it was evident that the gang intended to eviscerate the entire members of the family, three of his children – Victor Onyedikachi Nwachukwu, Promise Rita Nwachukwu Yakubu and Blessing Nzebechi Nwachukwu escaped.

“I saw the three of them. They ran through the back door. Since that time, we have not seen them again”, the same eye-witness disclosed to our correspondent.

This particular incident has thrown the entire community and Aboh Mbaise Local Government in general, into mourning.

While some questioned the safety of police informants, other believed the incident shows the rot in the police force of the country.

Expressing his disappointment in the police, the chairman of Aboh Mabise LGA; Honourable Barrister Iheukwumere Henry Alaribe vowed a major crackdown on the unknown gunmen.

The Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Aboki Danjuma promised a total clampdown and return of sanity to the community.

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Protect Oil Palm Host Communities; Address Spate Of Kidnapping, Violence, Govt Told

Published

4 months ago

February 26, 2025

Editor

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo

A non-profit organization – African Law Foundation (AFRILAW), has appealed to the government at levels to ensure the protection of oil palm host communities and address the spate of kidnapping and violence in such areas.

AFRILAW further urged the governments to ensure that communities’ rights and privileges are respected in land deals with oil palm companies to avoid human rights violations.

Okereke Chinwike Esq,
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, AFRILAW, made the appeal in Benin on Tuesday at the Public Presentation and launching of ‘The Community-based Report on Human Rights Violations in the Palm Oil Supply Chain in Edo State.’

INFO DAILY reports that the event is part of AFRILAW activities under the “Promoting Human Rights in Palm Oil Supply Chain in Nigeria Project,” being implemented by AFRILAW in partnership with Zero Tolerance Initiative (ZTI) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) with funding support from True Cost Initiative (TCI) USA.

According to the AFRILAW founder, addressing companies’ human rights violations from their operations in host communities require evidence-based research, hence the research and report presentation.

“The Report we are presenting today documents evidence of community rights violations by major oil palm companies operating in the state. The research is informed by the increasing spate of violence and community protests against the operations of oil palm companies operating in Edo state, and provides greater understanding of the prevailing cases of community and human rights violations and nature of conflicts,” he noted.

He, therefore, urged the government to
“put in place a mandatory binding CSR laws and guidelines for companies to ensure that community rights and privileges are protected.”

He further appealed to the government to “ensure effective implementation of the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights and set forth clear expectations for business enterprises regarding the importance of respecting the rights of human rights defenders, indigenous people and communities in Nigeria.”

On his part, Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission, Anthony Ojukwu (SAN), described the report as essential, stressing that beyond normal advocacy, research-based advocacy is more efficient and effective.

Represented by Mrs Mary Okoh, Deputy Director, Legal/Focal Point Business and Human Rights, NHRC, Ojukwu said beyond Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) organization should take seriously major issues of mainstreaming human rights into their operations.

“That means anyone who wants to set up a business must put into consideration the needs of the people and not what the organization or company needs. We have found out that this is where human rights violations start.

“Let them be part of the discussion and planning in the setting up of the business. Let them know what is at stake for them,” he said.

Goodwill messages were delivered by government agencies and ministries, while the presentation and launching also attracted security agencies including the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Customs Service, and the Nigeria Immigration Service among others.

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#EndBadGovernance: Police Manhunt Activists, Others, As Artist Cries Out For Help In Benin

Published

11 months ago

August 15, 2024

Editor

The suspect, Osarenkhoe Destiny Oghosa,

The Nigeria Police Force has launched a manhunt for suspected sponsors of the #EndBadGovernance in Nigeria protest that swept round the country last week.

Though police had arrested scores of such protesters across the country, many, especially vocal personalities and civil rights activists who have been criticising policies of the Tinubu administration in Nigeria have been penned down for arrest.

Also of interest to the police are those alleged to have massively produced and supplied Russian flags that were displayed during the protests, as they have vowed that none of the suspects would be spared.

It was gathered that undercover policemen are closing in on the social critics including one Osarenkhoe Destiny Oghosa, a vocal music artiste in Benin City.

This has raised fears and trepidation in that circle with many going underground for fear of being arrested by the police.

Oghosa is accused of masterminding an attempted jail break in the Benin metropolis similar to the End SARS protest in 2020, experience that resulted in the prison break and escape of prisoners and detainees alike.

Oghosa, in an interview with our correspondent, lamented that his music which focuses social justice, equality, societal ills among others in Nigeria, is now being as a crime.

He further lamented that despite several tactics to beat the security tab on him by agents of the government, he had faced persecution from invincible nocturnal groups.

Further lamenting how the government is hell bent in silencing voices speaking for the masses, Oghosa recalled how he was called at midnight to stop production of his song titled “OBI”, adding that he was seriously warned .

In a related development, Ahmed Bello, one of the suspect producers of the Russian flag hoist in some cities in Nigeria has been attested.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in Abuja on Monday at the Strategic Communications Interagency Policy Committee joint press briefing.

He added that the police were on the trail of other suspects, especially the sponsors of the protest which led to the destruction of government properties in Kaduna and Kano States.

Adejobi said the suspects committed a treasonable felony, offence by waving a foreign country’s flag in Nigeria.

He said: “So, we need to set the record straight. It is important for us to know, so far so good we have been able to arrest some individuals who were engaging themselves in what I call a treasonable felony, while we are still going after their sponsors.

“To carry the flags of a foreign country in another country is a criminal offence. We have them arrested. Just this morning, we arrested one Ahmed Bello from Kano State fuor producing a large quantity of Russian flags given to young Nigerians to hoist for reasons best known to him.”

The police added that protesters in Benin City had made attempts to invade the DSS office in the state with the intention to free persons who in their opinion were being unjustly detained there-in forcing the law enforcement agencies to disperse them.