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Over Ten CSOs Kick, As Preparation To Resume Oil Exploration In Ogoniland Enters Top Gear

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By Joseph Ebi Kanjo 

A coalition of civil society organisations has called on the Federal Government and oil companies to halt the planned resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland, Rivers State, Nigeria.

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This is contained in a statement endorsed by Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF); We the People; Policy Alert; Peoples Advancement Centre; Peace Point Development Foundation and seven other civil society organisations.

The civil society organisations, while expressing deep concern that 33 years after the people of Ogoni made their demands contained in the Ogoni Bill of Rights, none of their concerns and prayers have been addressed, said “it is disappointing and demonstrates insensitivity for the government to imagine that those concerns have simply withered away with time.”

Those of us who remain connected to the communities know for a fact that the Ogoni people remain resolute in their resistance to any renewed hydrocarbon extraction in their domains,” they added.

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The statement reads in part: “As Civil Society Organizations in Nigeria, we have keenly observed the scheming and unhindered contestations over the resumption of extraction of oil in the disputed oilfields of Ogoniland.

“Over the last decade, we
have seen scheming by Shell and the Nigeria government- including resort to court processes- to resume drilling for crude oil with its attendant environmental, social and security recklessness in Ogoniland.

READ ALSO: International Day For Biological Diversity: HOMEF Calls For Preservation, Reconnection To Nature

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“The latest contestation follows the visit of some Ogonis to President
Bola Tinubu ostensibly with the mandate of the Ogoni people to negotiate the resumption of oil extraction in the area.

“It is particularly disappointing to see that, in the fight over OML 11
and the resumption of oil extraction in Ogoniland, there has been no
mention or discussion of getting the indigenous Ogoni people free, prior and informed permission.

“It is unclear whether any consultations have taken place with the impacted communities, or whether their rights to a safe environment and interests have been considered.

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“We believe that these recent attempts are callous, ill-advised, and capable of inciting suspicion and conflict in an already tense and conflict-prone area.

It is also gravely disconcerting that in the ongoing frenzy, the
concerns raised by the Ogoni people 33 years ago which led to the termination of oil extraction have not been addressed.

“Similarly, there has been no attempt to secure justice for the countless families that lost lives, livelihoods, and properties in what is still the worst attack on a peaceful indigenous population by Nigerian security forces.

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READ ALSO: Drug Trafficking Trial: Court Grants Abba Kyari 2 Weeks Bail

“Persons who committed acts of genocide and abuses against unarmed populations, and boasted publicly about it, have still not been brought to justice. For the majority of Ogonis, the events of the 1990s remain an open and sour wound, begging for the healing of truth and justice.

“Critical to this is the fact that the moves to resume the extraction of
oil in Ogoniland is happening against the backdrop of the contentious clean-up of polluted sites in Ogoni.

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“In 2012, Hydrocarbon Pollution
Remediation Project (HYPREP) was set up to lead and coordinate the
activities needed to implement the recommendations of the UNEP report on oil contamination in Ogoniland, including cleanup activities.

“The cleanup has been marred by concerns of irregularities, and in many instances low quality of job done and contract racketeering. These have created peculiar difficulties in the cleanup process.

“It is worrying why the government will decide to resume oil extraction
in Ogoniland when the pollution of the last decades is yet to be cleaned and the recommendations of UNEP are yet to be fully complied with.

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“How does one explain the fact that a site supposedly being cleaned up will resume full oil extraction activities with all the pollution that comes with it?

READ ALSO: Catholic Monk Comes Out As Transgender, Urges Church To Embrace Trans Members

“For the avoidance of doubt, it should be noted that the Niger Delta as a whole has become the epicentre for hydrocarbon pollution in need of immediate remediation.

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“The environmental assessment of Ogoniland report released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the May
2023 Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission (BSOEC) report both demonstrate beyond any reasonable doubt the scale of destruction and the
true costs of extracting oil and gas.

“We are deeply concerned about the neglect of key issues around
ecological and social justice in Ogoniland. The world recognizes that the people of Ogoni have suffered unprecedented pains and loses onaccount of oil extraction.

“No apology has been rendered for the destruction of their environment, the killing of their people, the loss of their livelihoods, the destruction of their villages, the forced exile of their people and the murder of their leaders. To assume that the extraction of oil can commence whilst these issues remain on the front burner, is to be naïve at best and cruel at worse.”

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They, therefore, urged concerned authorities to “concentrate on redeeming the ecological
disaster in the area, decommissioning aged oil infrastructure, replacing
the lost livelihood of the people and securing justice for the countless
Ogonis waiting for closure”

 

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JUST IN: NLC Defies Edo Assembly Resolution, Inaugurates Factional Caretaker Committee

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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has inaugurated Professor Monday Igbafen as Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Edo State Council despite resistance from the state House of Assembly.

This particular faction is supported by the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajero, while the Edo State government is in support of the Comrade Bernard Joman Egwakhide-led faction.

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The swearing-i was initially slated to take place at the Adams Oshiomhole Labour House in Benin City on Thursday, but the venue was locked and secured, apparently in a bid to block the event from taking place.

This came two days after the state House of Assembly passed a resolution urging the NLC to suspend the inauguration and instead recognize Comrade Bernard Joman Egwakhide as the rightful leader of the union in Edo.

READ ALSO: Strike: NLC To Shutdown FCT After Tinubu’s Project Inaugurations Labour

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In spite of this, the NLC delegation from the national secretariat, led by Comrade Oluwole Adeleye Sunday, pressed on with their plans.

The group initially moved to the ASUU Secretariat within the Ugbowo campus of the University of Benin, however, after information about that location was leaked, the team quickly relocated.

The inauguration was eventually conducted at an undisclosed venue under tight security.

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Speaking during the ceremony, Comrade Oluwole charged the newly constituted faction to restore unity within the state chapter.

You are to resolve all contending issues and work towards electing new executives,” he said.

READ ALSO: May Day Shocker: NLC Cancels Celebrations In Rivers, Edo States

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In his acceptance remarks, Professor Igbafen pledged to mend divisions within the Edo NLC, assuring stakeholders of a renewed focus on solidarity and internal cohesion.

At NLC Secretariat, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force sealed off the Edo State secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress otherwise known as the Adams Oshiomhole Labour House.

Similarly, the main gate of the University of Benin was beefed up with police personnel.

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Some suspected thugs were also seen loitering around the secretariat.

READ ALSO: NLC Turns May Day Into Protest March For Fubara In Rivers

A police Armoured Personnel Carrier was deployed to the NLC secretariat,
while heavy security at the Labour House and the UNIBEN main gate were present.

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Some NLC leaders from neighbouring states, who were scheduled to attend the inauguration, at the Labour House, expressed regret that they could not access the secretariat.

Speaking, Comrade Augustine Igben from the Maritime Workers Union, said he was embarrassed when he was not allowed entry into the Edo Labour House.

“I felt embarrassed about the whole thing. How can the police barricade the Labour House when there is no war. It is a Labour issue. They should allow Labour to settle the issues themselves.” He said.

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Access Holdings Names New GMD/CEO

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Access Holdings Plc has appointed Mr. Innocent Ike as its substantive Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, effective August 29, 2025, following regulatory approval.

The announcement, contained in a statement released on Wednesday and signed by the company secretary, Sunday Ekwochi, comes hours after Roosevelt Ogbonna resigned from the company’s board in compliance with new corporate governance rules issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

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Ike takes over from Ms. Bolaji Agbede, who has steered the company in acting capacity for the past 18 months after the death of former Group CEO, Herbert Wigwe, in 2024.

She will now return to her role as Executive Director, Business Support.

READ ALSO:How UNICEF’s Initiative Changes Narrative Of Access To Healthcare Services In Bauchi

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According to the statement, Access Holdings Chairman, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, said Ike’s appointment signals a new phase for the group.

He said, “We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Innocent Ike as we move forward. At the same time, we want to express our deepest gratitude to Ms. Bolaji Agbede.

“Her outstanding contributions over the past 18 months have been invaluable, and we appreciate her dedication in navigating the Company through challenges and opportunities. While regulatory requirements necessitate this change, we are grateful for the strong foundation that has been laid.”

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Under Agbede’s leadership, the company achieved major milestones, including workforce stability, the execution of a N351bn rights issue, and the seamless hosting of two annual general meetings.

READ ALSO:FG Security Agency, Nigerian Army Move To Tackle Illicit Small Arms, Light Weapons

Speaking on the appointment, Ike said, “I am honoured to take on the role of Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer and excited to work alongside the talented team at Access Holdings.

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“I look forward to building on the strong legacy established by Herbert Wigwe and Bolaji Agbede, and driving our vision forward, ensuring we continue to deliver exceptional value to our shareholders and stakeholders.”

Ike, a graduate of the University of Lagos and Best Graduating Student in Accounting in 1988, is a Fellow of both the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria.

He is also a certified IFRS expert.

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With over 30 years’ experience in banking and financial services, Ike previously spent a decade at Access Bank, rising to General Manager before serving as Managing Director/CEO of Polaris Bank from 2020 to 2022, where he introduced VULTe, the bank’s award-winning digital platform.

 

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Group Fumes As Rivers CJ Inaugurates LG Poll Tribunal

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A rights group, the Pilex Centre for Civic Education Initiative, has faulted the inauguration of the Local Government Election Petition Tribunals in Rivers State, accusing the state Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi, of lending credibility to what it described as an “illegal” electoral process.

Justice Amadi had on Tuesday sworn in chairmen and members of the tribunals for the state’s three senatorial districts ahead of the August 30 local government elections.

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He charged the appointees to be fearless, firm and impartial in discharging their duties within the 30 days provided by law for determination of petitions.

READ ALSO:Man Stabs Lover To Death In Rivers Over Cheating Allegation

But reacting shortly after the inauguration, Pilex Coordinator, Courage Nsirimovu, said the action of the Chief Judge amounted to endorsing an election already tainted by legal controversy.

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The action of the Chief Judge in setting up the tribunal is tantamount to endorsing illegality. He has just attempted to clothe an illegal process with legality, but it won’t work. The judiciary should have resisted this capture by the executive,” Nsirimovu said.

He argued that Justice Amadi ought to have boycotted the exercise or even resigned, insisting that his involvement eroded the moral authority of the judiciary.

Outside this country, people resign to protect the rule of law. Here, the Chief Judge knows the law yet still went ahead. There is no moral justification for all of this,” he added.

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READ ALSO:Nigerian Senate Passes 2025 Budget For Rivers State

Justice Amadi, however, defended his action, stressing that the establishment of the tribunal was a statutory duty under the Rivers State Local Government Elections Tribunal Law 2000 (as amended). He dismissed suggestions that he acted under political pressure.

What I have done is the statutory duty of the Chief Judge. That is what the law provides — when there are local government elections, the Chief Judge must set up a tribunal. I didn’t do it under pressure,” he said.

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Justice Amadi reminded the tribunal members that, unlike before when tribunals had three months, they now had only 30 days to conclude petitions.

Many lawyers will come there and start objections to delay. You have to be firm,” he told them.

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