Headline
Oil Spillage: FG Set To Apply Stiffer Penalties Against Multinational Companies In Niger Delta
Published
4 years agoon
By
Editor
Following environmental degradation in the Niger Delta region, there are indications that the Federal Government may be mulling stiffer punishments against some multinational companies involved in oil spillage in the country.
Sharon Ikeazor, the Minister of Environment, gave the hint at the weekly ministerial press briefing organized by the presidential media team on Thursday at the presidential villa, Abuja.
According to Ikeazor, talks are ongoing between the ministry and other relevant government agencies to achieve this.
She explained that a bill is being worked out to modify the law establishing the National Oil Spillage Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to build its capacity and give it “the needed teeth to bite.”
Ikeazor said, “We need to put stiffer penalties, build the capacity of NOSDRA, which is the regulatory agency in the oil sector, to be able to have the teeth to bite.
READ ALSO: Nigeria Receives Looted Benin, Ife Artefacts From U.S. Museum
“Without enhancing their capacity and reaffirming the legal framework, getting it stronger, they can’t do much. These are areas we’re looking into. It has to stop.
“Government is working on alternative livelihood for the communities so that we can move them away from illegal activities and further polluting of the environment.”
Ikeazor said the operating company of the OML29 in Nembe, Bayelsa State, had blamed the most recent oil spill in Nigeria on sabotage by the locals.
She, however, revealed that the Santa Barbara spillage had been brought under control after several weeks the incident occurred with necessary personnel and equipment deployed to begin recovery and remediation efforts.
The minister stressed the need to put an end to artisanal refineries, which she said had continued to cause pollution in the Niger Delta.
Ikeazor said, “On the Santa Babara ITO oil spills, you remember the ministry of environment issued a statement stating what happened and the action being taken.
“We are going to have a targeted approach to illegal bunkering, tampering with oil installation and artisanal mining in the Niger Delta to get an alternative livelihood for the young people of the Niger Delta, so that they would desist from this because it’s further polluting the environment.
“I got briefings through the director of NOSDRA, and what I saw in terms of the pollution either through oil refining or illegal oil refining and otherwise the devastation of the Niger Delta is massive. As we’re cleaning up, what we’re cleaning up is minute compared to the devastation going on.
“So, it’s something that the government needs to tackle headlong. I hope they would’ve put the picture on. It was like a Hiroshima site.
“We are beyond talking and having a workshop. On the issue of penalties, I mentioned earlier the review of the NOSDRA bill. You know most of the Acts we have passed years ago. You’ll see that they will give maybe an N100,000 fine. Anyone can pay that and go back and re-pollute.”
READ ALSO: Nembe Oil Spillage: Ijaw Diaspora Council Demands $500,000 Compensation For Impacted Communities
(DAILY POST)
You may like
El-Rufai Drops Bombshell, Says Nigeria Would’ve Gone If Not Niger Delta
Stop Disrupting Road projects, FG Warns Niger Delta Youths
Navy Deploys Armed Drones In N’Delta To Combat Oil Theft
Bayelsa Govt Assures IPF Of Support Ahead Of Media Conference
Arts4Resistance: Young Nigerians Call For Environmental Justice In N’Delta Through Artwork
Four Female Niger Delta Teen App Developers For World Tech Summit In USA
Headline
Again, Russia Claims Another Village In Ukraine’s Region
Published
2 days agoon
August 25, 2025By
Editor
The Russian army Monday claimed to have captured another village in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, moving deeper into Ukrainian territory as peace efforts stall.
Russian forces are slowly but steadily gaining ground in costly battles for largely devastated areas in eastern and central Ukraine, normally with few inhabitants or intact buildings left.
Russia’s defence ministry said its forces had seized the settlement of Zaporizke in the region, which Russian troops recently advanced into for the first time in the three-and-a-half-year offensive.
READ ALSO:Russia, Ukraine Exchange Prisoners Of War, Civilians
Kyiv denies that Russian troops have gained a foothold in the Dnipropetrovsk region, an important industrial hub.
After another push by US President Donald Trump to broker a Ukraine-Russia summit, hopes for peace dimmed when Russia last week ruled out any immediate meeting between presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky.
The central region of Dnipropetrovsk has previously been largely spared from fighting that has ravaged swathes of eastern and southern Ukraine, until Russia said its forces broke through in July.
READ ALSO:Russian Politicians Mock European Leaders After White House, Ukraine Talks
Dnipropetrovsk is not one of the five Ukrainian regions — Donetsk, Kherson, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia and Crimea — that Moscow has publicly claimed as Russian territory.
Ukraine said Russia had launched over 100 drones Monday, killing a 37-year old civilian driver and wounding two people in the northeastern Sumy region.
Moscow said Kyiv had launched about two dozen drones targeting western Russia
Headline
US Comedian Reggie Carroll Shot Dead In Mississippi
Published
2 days agoon
August 25, 2025By
Editor
A United States comedian, Reginald “Reggie” Carroll, has been shot dead in Southaven, Mississippi.
The 52-year-old Carroll, widely known as the Knockout King of Comedy, was reportedly killed on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds.
The Southaven Police Department confirmed the incident in a Facebook statement on Saturday.
“Southaven officers located one male victim suffering from gunshot wounds.
READ ALSO:US Defends New Social Media Vetting For Nigerian Visa Applicants
“The officers and medical personnel provided life saving techniques but the individual succumbed to his injuries,” the statement partly read.
The victim was later identified as Carroll, a Baltimore native.
Police said one suspect was arrested and charged with his murder.
“One male is in custody and has been charged with the murder of Reginald Carroll.
READ ALSO:Russia, Ukraine Exchange Prisoners Of War, Civilians
“Our thoughts are with the family of Mr. Carroll.
“Thank you to the community for their patience and understanding,” the department added.
The police further assured that there was no ongoing threat to residents, describing the case as “an isolated shooting.”
Carroll, who built his career in stand-up comedy, gained national recognition touring with Katt Williams and headlining his own showcase, Knockout Kings of Comedy.
READ ALSO:Leader Of UK Christian Group Convicted Of Sexually Abusing Women
He also featured in the 2000 edition of Showtime at the Apollo, appeared on the UPN sitcom The Parkers alongside Mo’Nique and Countess Vaughn, and starred in the 2022 television film Rent & Go.
In 2023, he produced the stand-up special Knockout Kings of Comedy.
The Southaven Police Department disclosed that an investigation into his death is ongoing.
Headline
US Defends New Social Media Vetting For Nigerian Visa Applicants
Published
2 days agoon
August 25, 2025By
Editor
The U.S. Mission in Nigeria on Monday reaffirmed that the safety and security of the United States remain the cornerstone of its visa application and decision-making process.
The US said this following its directive last week that mandates Nigerians to disclose all social media usernames and handles used over the past five years as part of the visa application process.
US Mission said Nigerian visa applicants must provide a comprehensive list of their social media profiles on the DS-160 visa application form, and warned that omitting the information could lead to visa denials.
READ ALSO:US Ambassador To Paris Slams Macron Over Rising Antisemitism
Reacting to the development, the Federal Government said US citizens intending to visit Nigeria will be subjected to the same measures.
“The best we can do is to carry out reciprocal action. Some people from the US might want to apply for a visa, and we will adopt the same measures,” spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said last Monday.
However, in a statement released Monday on X, the US Mission said prospective visa applicants undergo careful vetting to maintain a safe and welcoming environment in the US.
READ ALSO:US Suspends Work Visas For Nigerian, Foreign Truck Drivers
It said, “The safety and security of the United States is at the heart of every #USVisa application and decision process.
“That’s why prospective applicants undergo careful screening to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for all.”
The Mission added, “These measures help protect American citizens and communities while supporting secure and responsible travel.”
- Edo Hospital Denies Complexity In Death Of Twin Babies
- OPINION: A Voyage To Caligula’s Rome
- Sports Commission Boss Commends Team Edo Athletes For Continental Triumph
- Enabulele Confident Of Team Edo’s Success At 2025 NYG
- PHOTOS: Brazil Welcomes Tinubu With Full Military Honours In Brasília
- Tinubu Signs Direct Flight, Other Agreements With Brazil
- Four Die, Three Injured In Delta Crash
- PDP Zones 2027 Presidential Ticket To South
- NAFDAC Warns Of Fake Postinor-2 In Circulation
- Brazil Names Squad Without Neymar, Vinicius For World Cup Qualifiers [FULL LIST]
Trending
- News5 days ago
BREAKING: FG, State, Local Governments Share N2.001trn July Revenue
- Metro5 days ago
Village Youths Capture Bandit During Midnight Attack In Benue
- Metro4 days ago
Edo Govt Demolishes Building Owned by Suspected Cultist
- News5 days ago
BREAKING: Benue Assembly Suspends Four Members For Attempting To Impeach Speaker
- Politics4 days ago
US Desperate To Remove You, Cleric Warns Tinubu
- News3 days ago
DSS Issues Warning, Arrests Man For Circulating Fake Recruitment Materials
- Entertainment5 days ago
Wizkid Is Married – DJ Tunez Reveals [VIDEO]
- Politics2 days ago
[BREAKING] Edo: APC Suspends Ex-senatorial Aspirant Of Party
- Sports5 days ago
Why I’ll Never Advise My Son To Visit Nigeria – Taribo West
- Metro3 days ago
Renewed Tension In Warri As Itsekiri, Urhobo Youths Clash