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Rivers Community Tackles NPDC Over Alleged Oil Well Diversion

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Umuedeokwara Odagwa community in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State has raised the alarm about the alleged diversion of their oil wells to Abia Dtate.

The communities blamed the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company for erroneously moving some oil wells in Umuedeokwara to Owoza community in Abia state.

This, they said, caused the Rivers State Government huge revenue loss, over the years.

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A member of the Host Community Development Trust Fund, Goodness Nwogu, stated this while addressing newsmen in the Imo River forest, a boundary between Imo and Rivers State.

READ ALSO: Police Arrest 14 In Plateau For Violating Curfew

He alleged that it was wrong for NPDC to deny the community of its 15 oil wells thereby affecting Petroleum Industry Act funds and development.

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Nwogu said, “We have 15 oil wells including 60 which have been in operation since 1961. But in the NPDC record, it said we have only eight and out of this eight, only four are functioning. That is not correct. They allocated some of our wells to the Owoza community in Abia state thereby denying us our legitimate resources.

“By this diversion, Rivers State is losing at least N10bn daily going by about 4,000 bpd oil production.”

Nworgu called on the Rivers State Government to regain the resources it is losing to its neighbouring state.

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He stated, “We have 15 functional oil wells, two manifolds, one booster plant, one flow station and one jetty. But NPDC is telling us that some of these facilities belong to Abia state thereby denying us of our revenues.

READ ALSO: Plateau Gov Sacks Five Commissioners, Names Replacements

“We must fight to reclaim what belongs to us. Rivers State Government must rise to this threat. We give NPDC two weeks to reverse all the diverted oil wells otherwise we will shut down the flow station and the two manifolds.”

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The community leader also lamented the lack of basic amenities in the area, blaming the oil company which took over the management of the oil facilities in the community from Shell Petroleum Development Company about two years ago.

He rejected a situation where everything concerning the community is rooted in Abia state.

He warned that this could spark a communal clash between Umuedeokwara and Owoza communities in Rivers and Abia states respectively.

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READ ALSO: Plateau Gov Sacks Five Commissioners, Names Replacements

The community also demanded N50bn from another oil company, whose alleged oil spill since last December, it said, has destroyed the mangrove and the aquaculture of the area leaving farmers and fishing folks jobless.

A member of the Community Development Board said the spill was due to equipment failure from the company and has left “a large part of the vegetation destroyed.”

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He added, “Yes, JIV visited the site of the spill but HEIRS secretly went there and dug over 16 pits to divert the spilled crude.

“The damage is huge and we are demanding N50bn in compensation, remediation of the land and restoration of our flora and fauna. These companies are not taking our interests seriously. We have no hospitals, no employment for the youths, and no electricity. Why are we an oil-producing area?”

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Migration Agency Warns Migrants Against Irregular Travel Routes

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The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with Giving is Healing Foundation, has sensitised residents of Ayobo in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State on the dangers of irregular migration and the need to embrace legal travel procedures.

Speaking during a sensitisation programme held at Megida Ifelodu Community Development Association in Ayobo, the founder of Giving is Healing Foundation, Mr. Gbolahan Ayediran, warned intending migrants against using illegal travel routes.

Ayediran said many Nigerians desire to migrate abroad in search of better opportunities but often ignore proper procedures, thereby exposing themselves to several dangers.

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“Lots of people want to migrate and most of them do it in the wrong direction. The reason for the programme is for us to advise people on how they can migrate in the right way. As much as migration is their right, they should do it correctly,” he said.

READ ALSO:How Wike Rescued Me From Political Oblivion — Oshiomhole

He advised intending travellers to obtain the necessary travel documents before embarking on any journey, noting that such documents include international passports, visas, flight tickets and yellow cards, depending on the destination country.

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According to him, migrants should also gather adequate information about their destination countries to enable them make informed decisions before travelling.

Ayediran further highlighted some of the dangers associated with irregular migration, including abuse, exploitation, discrimination and forced labour.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Megida Ifelodu Community Development Association, Elder Mathews Amusan, commended the organisers for enlightening members of the community on safe migration practices.

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READ ALSO: He Can’t Fix His Party Let Alone Nigeria – Oshiomhole Blasts Atiku

He urged residents planning to travel abroad to always follow legal migration procedures to avoid falling victim to human trafficking and other migration-related challenges.

One of the participants, Mr. Kolawole Adenoko, said the programme enlightened him on the dangers of irregular migration and the importance of travelling through the proper channels.

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He added that he would also educate his relatives and friends on the risks associated with illegal migration.

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Shatta Wale Bailed Burna Boy From Ghana Prison After Arrest For Smoking Weed – Captan

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Ghanian singer, Captan, has claimed that his former record label boss, Shatta Wale, once bailed Nigerian singer Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana after he was allegedly arrested for smoking weed.

Speaking in a recent podcast interview, Captan claimed that Shatta Wale sent him and others to free Burna Boy from police custody.

He also claimed that Shatta Wale and his group once accommodated Burna Boy when he was being hunted by some dangerous men.

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READ ALSO: Wale Edun Opens Up After Sack

Captan said, “I once bailed Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana when he was arrested for smoking weed. Shatta Wale sent me and some guys to go and free him from police custody.

“There was a time we also accommodated him when some people were after his life. We helped him settle the case.”

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He added that he and Burna Boy are no longer in good terms after the Nigerian artist’s fallout with his mentor, Shatta Wale.

He, however, said he and Shatta Wale are open to reconciling with Burna Boy if he asks for it.

Watch the video here

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Children’s Day: Chaos At Ogbe Stadium As Dozens Faint

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Chaos erupted on Wednesday during the Children’s Day celebration as dozens of students reportedly collapsed following a stampede triggered by the use of pepper spray.

The event,
organised by the Edo State Ministry of Education at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium was disrupted after some male students of Ihogbe College allegedly made uncompromising advances towards female students at the venue.

‎ A parent who identified himself as Oboh Emmanuel said, “the behaviour of those uncultured students attracted the attention of bouncers stationed at the stadium as they rebuked the male students.”

‎Oboh said the affected students later regrouped and attacked the bouncers, leading to a confrontation within the crowded arena.

READ ALSO:Children’s Day: Edo Commits To Child Protection

It was gathered that in the ensuing confusion, the bouncers were reported to have deployed pepper spray in an area occupied by a large number of students.

‎Several students, particularly female students, reportedly fainted after inhaling the substance, while others sustained injuries after being stepped on during the ensuing melee.

‎The panic was said to have spread across the stadium as students, teachers and parents scampered for safety.

‎Many of the affected students were reportedly rushed to the Edo Specialist Hospital for medical attention.

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READ ALSO: Egor LG Chair, Ogbemudia, Vice, Osawe Impeached

Reacting to the incident, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Dr Patrick Ebojele, said the security personnel that fired the tear gas had been detained.

He said all the students, except two, that were rushed to the hospital have been discharged.

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Ebojele stated that doctors wanted to observe the students till tomorrow before allowing them to go home.

The two students are not seriously injured. Doctors want to observe them overnight. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education is still at the hospital. The man who used pepper spray has been detained.

“The incident did not happen the way it is being exaggerated. All modalities were put in place to ensure the children enjoyed their day.”

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