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See Why Host Communities Go Free-for-all At PIB Public Hearing

Published

5 years ago

January 28, 2021

There was fracas on Thursday at the public hearing on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) organised by the House of Representatives when an official of one of the host communities scheduled to make their presentation attacked one of the traditional rulers.

Although it was not immediately clear what led to the fight, trouble started immediately chairman of the House of Representative Ad hoc Committee on the PIB, Mohammed Tahir Mongunu called the HostCom, one of the host communities to make their presentation.

Mongunu had earlier announced one person will be selected from each host community to make presentation but was not apparently understood by those present who chorused no, no, no.

However, immediately Hostcom was called to make their submission, fracas erupted in the hall as one of the representatives later identified as High Chief Benjamin Tamaranebi pounced on one of the traditional rulers whose identity could not be ascertained a at the time of this report.

There were however different versions of what led to the fighting as some claimed some of the leaders of the host communities were induced by the oil companies to come and defend their position.

Some others claimed the host communities wanted to vent their anger on those they believe have been collecting money from the oil companies to scuttle their common interest.

Some other groups among the host communities described the traditional ruler, who was beaten as an impostor.

But he however refused to speak on what caused the fight.

Tamaranebi, who started the fight, said it was over an agreement for host communities to be getting 10 percent of equity in the operations of oil in the area.

While refusing to shed more light on why he attacked one of the monarchs in the area, he said: “I think it is not necessary for me to talk about whether we fought or not. You know all about the Niger Delta region. There is not King. All are comrades.

“You know about us. When Niger Deltans gather together, everything is bound to happen. All we are agitating for is 10% equity. The fight is because of 10% equity. The fight is because of 10% equity.

“We all agreed in terms of 10% equity. So, we are not fighting because of any other thing. All the fight you saw there was in agreement with 10% equity”.

He added, “We vehemently go against 2.5% operating cost. That is a trick. So, we want to be part and parcel of it. Let us be shareholders in the industry.

“That will guarantee security in our local communities that are producing oil and gas.

“If they give us 10% shareholding, that equity will guarantee that no one will spill any oil or vandalize any pipeline. But whatever thing that gets missing, communities will be missing as well.

“I want to agree on the 10% equity shareholding for the host Communities. That will guarantee security in the region as well as oil and gas industry in Nigeria.”

(NATION)

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Why I Won’t Attend Gaza Summit In Egypt — Netanyahu

Published

14 minutes ago

October 13, 2025

Editor

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not attend Monday’s Gaza summit in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh because it coincides with a Jewish holiday, his office said.

“Prime Minister Netanyahu was invited by US President Donald Trump to attend a conference in Egypt today,” his office said in a statement.

“The prime minister thanked President Trump for the invitation but said he would be unable to attend due to the timing coinciding with the start of the holiday” of Simhat Torah, which begins Monday evening and continues until sunset Tuesday.

Earlier, Egypt’s presidency said Netanyahu had been invited to attend following a call between US President Donald Trump, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and the Israeli premier.

AFP

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Fubara Names New Rivers SSG

Published

21 minutes ago

October 13, 2025

Editor

The Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has approved the appointment of Benibo Anabraba as the new Secretary to the State Government.

The appointment was confirmed on Monday in a statement signed by Dr. Honour Sirawoo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications.

According to the release, Anabraba is scheduled to be sworn in today, Monday, October 13, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. at the State Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Port Harcourt.

The statement said, “His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, Governor of Rivers State, has approved the appointment of Hon. Benibo Anabraba as Secretary to the Rivers State Government.

“The new SSG will be sworn in today, Monday, October 13, 2025, by 4:00 PM at the State Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Port Harcourt.”

The appointment follows Fubara’s recent reinstatement to office after a period of political and legal turbulence that led to his suspension under emergency rule declared by President Bola Tinubu.

Tinubu had, on March 18, 2025, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending the governor, his deputy, and members of the House of Assembly. He cited the prolonged political crisis between Fubara and his predecessor and political benefactor, Nyesom Wike, as the reason.

In Fubara’s place, Tinubu appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as Sole Administrator, with a mandate to restore political stability.

Recall that the immediate past administrator, upon assumption of office during the emergency rule imposed suspended all commissioners, special advisers, and assistants appointed by Fubara.

Ibas also dissolved boards and suspended heads of parastatals he met in office.

Since Ibas exited the state on September 18, the fate of Fubara’s appointees had remained uncertain. The Rivers State House of Assembly, at its first sitting after the lifting of the emergency rule, had called on the governor to submit a fresh list of commissioner-nominees for screening, alongside the 2025 budget for passage.

His return to the governorship has coincided with a flurry of administrative changes as the governor consolidates his team.

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FG To Disburse ₦6.3bn Interest-free Loans To 21,000 Flood Victims

Published

26 minutes ago

October 13, 2025

Editor

The Federal Government is set to disburse ₦6.3 billion in interest-free loans to 21,000 Nigerians affected by recent flood disasters across the country.

Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Yusuf Sununu, made this known on Monday in Abuja during a roundtable marking the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Sununu said the initiative aims to cushion the impact of flooding and enhance food security nationwide, Channels reports.

“In the next few weeks, 21,000 Nigerians will receive interest-free, collateral-free loans of ₦300,000 each.

“This intervention is designed to support farmers and strengthen communities affected by flooding,” he said.

The minister further revealed that the Federal Government, through the National Social Investment Programme, has reached over 8.1 million households with more than ₦300 billion in Conditional Cash Transfers.

“This support has improved the resilience, health, and education of many vulnerable households. The process will continue under the Hope Agenda of Mr. President,” Sununu added.

He also announced plans to empower internally displaced persons through a scheme that guarantees a market for their produce.

“Under our new collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, IDPs will retain 30% of their produce while the government will off-take 70%, providing direct cash payments to the participants,” he explained.

In her remarks, the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Zubaida Umar, highlighted the growing threat of climate-related disasters and called for stronger preventive measures.

Umar noted that Nigeria faces increasing risks from climate change, conflicts, pandemics, and technological hazards, stressing that disaster management must shift from reactive to proactive approaches.

She also announced the launch of two key policy frameworks — the NEMA Strategic Plan (2025–2029) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy (2025–2030) to guide future disaster preparedness and resilience-building efforts.

“These frameworks promote innovation in financing, institutional collaboration, and risk-informed development,” she said, adding that NEMA is developing a National Risk Monitoring and Information Platform to enhance early warning and data-driven decision-making.

She further called for innovative financing options, including catastrophe bonds, climate funds, and blended finance models, to sustain disaster prevention and recovery initiatives.

The event, which focused on building resilience against climate-related disasters, was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, lawmakers, and international partners.

The PUNCH reports that 238 persons have lost their lives, while 135,764 others have been displaced following floods that swept through parts of the country as of October 10, 2025, according to figures obtained from the National Emergency Management Agency’s 2025 Flood Dashboard on Saturday.

NEMA reports that at least 409,714 people have been affected so far, with 826 sustaining various degrees of injuries and 115 reported missing across the country.

Flood-related deaths were recorded in multiple states, bringing the nationwide death toll to 238.