News

Save Us From Ocean Encroachment, N-Delta Coastal Communities Cry Out

Published

3 years ago

August 28, 2022

Community along the coast of the Niger Delta who are on the verge of been wash off into the sea/rivers, a situation that has led to the eviction of several coastal communities, have cried out to government to come to their aid and tackle the rampaging sea level rise.

Stakeholders of coastal communities including women and youths leaders from Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Rivers States, made the appeal in Yenagoa the Bayelsa State capital, weekend during a ‘National Community Dialogue on Fossil Fuel Exploitation and Sea Level Rise (SLR) in Nigeria’ organized by Oilwatch Nigeria.

The communities lamented that they have suffered loss of sources of livelihoods, displacement of indigenes and acidification of fresher waters, a situation they said has affected sources of drinking water and the life expectancies of the people.

According to the communities, the exploration and production of oil, gas flaring have exacerbated the problems of sea level riseL, natural resource depletion, and the washing away of historical sites like the grave of Lord Luguard in Forcados, Delta State and the aesthetic nature of Niger Delta communities.

They urged the Nigerian government, the World Bank, and other bilateral agencies to commit funding to address sea level rise just like the attention that is currently being given to desertification.

Speaking at the one day community dialogue, the Coordinator, Oilwatch Nigeria, Kentebe Ebiaridor, said it is fact that the impact of climate change is real and is gradually erasing Niger Delta communities in the fringes of the Atlantic Ocean, adding that it is imperative to hear from the community people and know their plight.

He said “We have noticed in the past that apart from flooding our communities are gradually going extinct on the fringes of the Atlantic Ocean because of that we think that it is important that we hear from the communities and also use it as a platform to advocate for government attention towards putting their eyes in frontline communities and most importantly trying to reduce the impact of climate change on our communities because they are the ones suffering the impacts.”

Also in his remarks, Mr. Alagoa Morris, the Head of Environmental Rights Action, Friends of the Earth Nigeria, ERA/FoEN, Niger Delta Resource Centre, admonished the stakeholders for taking proactive steps in ensuring that they live in harmony with nature and consciously work to stand firmly against all activities that will cause mother earth to retaliate against human actions.

In a communique issued, the stakeholders noted that desertification, sea level rise and coastal erosion are some of the causes of resource conflicts and disputes being experienced in the country, such that the natural forest and land resources of the Niger Delta are gradually disappearing based on the effects of oil and gas activities, government inaction, sea level rise, and deforestation.

Parts of the communique reads: “Many Niger Delta communities have been washed off and many others are at the verge of being washed off. A practical example is that of Koluama Community in Bayelsa State that was wiped out some years ago. This made the community to migrate to two separate locations which gave birth to the present day Kolauma 1 & 2 and in the nearest future, both communities will go under the sea.

“Niger Delta communities thought the coming of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) was the solution to the problems of oil-bearing communities, but it is not only a threat to the lives of the people and the environment and it is also worsening the existing impacts in the region.

“Government should provide drinking water to coastal communities to combat increased salinity in freshwater sources due to sea level rise and ensure that emergency preparedness measures and databases to cope with increased climatic disasters such as floods and ocean encroachments are made available to the people.

“All environmental laws should be strengthened to address the several environmental challenges confronting communities as a result of fossil fuel extractions mankind in our respective states.

“Governments should make use of the ecological funds to address issues of sea level rise.”

VANGUARD

News

Kwara Gov Files Defamation Charges Against Two Brothers

Published

13 minutes ago

June 30, 2025

Editor

Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has filed five-count criminal defamation charges against Hon. Mashood Mustapha and his brother Bolakale Mustapha at the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin, the state capital.

The suit, which came up for hearing before Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar on Monday, was filed by the governor on behalf of the people of Kwara State.

The alleged defamation case, which concerns offences of perjury and inciting public disturbance, was filed by Mr Ayoola Akande, Kwara State Director of Public Prosecutions, who represented the state government in court.

Hon. Mashood Mustapha was a member of the National Assembly representing Ilorin West and Asa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives between 2011 and 2015. He was also a gubernatorial aspirant in the All Progressives Congress primary election for the 2019 election.

According to the charges before the court, the defendants are alleged to have uploaded and published a five-minute, forty-one-second video likely to disturb public peace.

The first defendant, Bolakale, was also alleged to have filed an action against the governor at the Federal High Court based on a false allegation.

The charges further revealed that the second defendant, Mashood, uploaded a video containing abusive, insulting, and derogatory language against the governor, Mallam Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq.

According to The PUNCH, two defendants denied the alleged offences, saying the allegations were false.

The prosecution team, led by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Ayoola Akande, prayed the court to remand the defendants in federal correctional custody on the basis that their bail application was not ripe for hearing.

He added that “the alleged offences are not ordinarily bailable,” noting that one of the offences carries a 14-year jail term.

Professor Kayode Olatoke SAN and Moses Ebute SAN represented the two defendants respectively.

In their separate submissions, the counsels urged the court to dismiss the prosecution’s prayers, arguing that their clients’ alleged offences are bailable.

They prayed the court to grant the defendants bail on liberal terms, arguing that they are well-known in the state and ready to provide reliable sureties.

The court, in its short ruling, admitted that the offences against the defendants are bailable and granted them bail in the sum of ₦5 million with a surety. The matter was adjourned for further hearing until July 18, 2025.

Speaking to the press after the judgment, one of the lead counsels for the second defendant, Moses Ebute SAN, said: “Ordinarily, the case was a bailable offence and the honourable judge, in his wisdom, has graciously granted our client bail with conditions being fulfilled.

“Although we indicated to the court that we were ready to proceed with the trial immediately, the prosecution requested a date, probably to get their house in order. We will return on 18 July to commence the trial.”

News

NCAA Grounds Rano Air Aircraft After Mid-flight Engine Failure

Published

5 hours ago

June 30, 2025

Editor

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has grounded a Rano Air aircraft with registration number 5N-BZY following an in-flight engine failure during a flight from Kano to Sokoto.

In a statement released on Monday, the NCAA confirmed that the flight made an emergency air return after the crew reported the incident to the Air Traffic Control.

Passengers and crew were thrown into panic after smoke was observed in both the cabin and the flight deck mid-air.

According to the Directorate of Airworthiness, led by Victor Foyea, oxygen masks were deployed and standard safety procedures were immediately activated to facilitate a safe landing.

“The Rano aircraft 5N-BZY experienced a failure on its engine 1. Smoke was noticed in the cabin and flight deck. Oxygen masks were donned. The appropriate safety protocols were initiated on the ground for landing. Smoke dissipated. The pilot safely landed the aircraft without incident,” the NCAA stated.

The regulatory authority confirmed that no immediate casualties or injuries were recorded, and the aircraft landed safely at the Kano airport where emergency services had been placed on standby.

As a precautionary measure, the NCAA ordered the grounding of the aircraft pending a thorough investigation into the cause of the malfunction.

The aircraft was also scheduled to operate a Sokoto-bound flight, which has since been cancelled.

As of the time of reporting, the aircraft remains grounded, with engineers working on diagnostics and repairs.

The NCAA reiterated its commitment to passenger safety and emphasized that precautionary measures, including flight cancellations, are necessary whenever there is a hint of mechanical irregularity.

“Even more advanced countries experience air incidents. But in Nigeria, flights are grounded or cancelled at the slightest indication of safety concerns. Safety remains our top priority,” the statement added.

News

JUST IN: Court Grants Natasha Bail On Self-recognition

Published

8 hours ago

June 30, 2025

Editor

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday granted the suspended Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Udauaghan bail on self-recognition.

Akpoti-Udauaghan was arraigned on a six-count charge bordering on alleged cybercrime.

After the charges were read to her, she pleaded not guilty to all.

The senator allegedly made false and damaging statements against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Kogi State’s former governor, Yahaya Bello.

According to the charge, Akpoti-Udauaghan was alleged to have said, “Akpabio told Yahaya Bello… that he should make sure that killing me does not happen in Abuja, it should be done in Kogi, so it will seem as if it is the people that killed me.”

Days later, during an appearance on Channels TV’s Politics Today, she reiterated the allegations, asserting: “It was part of the meeting, the discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello that night… to eliminate me.”

The Federal Government stated that these statements, widely disseminated through digital platforms, were knowingly false and intended to incite unrest.

The FG further contended that the remarks violate “Section 24(2)(c)” of the Cybercrimes Act, which criminalises the intentional spread of false information to damage reputations or provoke public disorder.

While applying for bail, Akpoti-Udauaghan’s legal team, led by Professor Roland Otaru (SAN), requested that she be granted bail on self-recognition being a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and a senior member of the bar.

He added that there is no counter-affidavit from the prosecution, challenging the bail application.

Justice Mohammed Umar proceeded to grant the request of the defence counsel and granted the senator bail on self-recognition.

The court adjourned until September 22, for the commencement of trial.