News

Shame Quantity Of Oil Extracted Unknown – ERA Knocks FG

Published

3 years ago

September 5, 2023

Editor

The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has taken a swipe on the Federal Government over its inability to know quantity of oil being extracted by International Oil Companies from the Niger Delta even after providing incentives, conducive environment for their (IOCs) business operations in the region.

INFO DAILY reports that
Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), an agency under the Presidency had in several occasions said the exact quantity of crude oil produced in the country is unknown.

The Executive Director, ERA/FoEN, in a statement made available to INFO DAILY by Elvira Jordan, Communications Officer, ERA/FoEN, said it’s unfortunate the “Nigerian Government does not know the quantity of what is being extracted from communities , let alone how to quantify the supposed royalties and taxes.”

“We are disappointed, that after providing incentives, conducive environment for business operations for the IOCs, the Nigerian Government does not know the quantity of what is being extracted from their communities, let alone how to quantify the supposed royalties and taxes.

“The over 30 million people who live in the oil and gas producing Niger Delta have not benefited from the huge amounts of resources pumped from beneath their lands, rivers, and creeks,” the statement added.

Further elaborating on the environmental issues of the burning of crude oil vessels and the setting up of the Ministry of Gas Resources, Marine and Blue Economy, the ERA/FoEN boss said the current administration still condones the ecological assault being perpetrated on land and sea by the Nigerian security forces in the Niger Delta region.

According to him, “apart from the recent NNPCL interception of an 800,000-litre vessel, MT Tura II, conveying stolen crude offshore while heading to Cameroon which was later set ablaze, there have been many others. The sad outcomes have always been the burning of the products by the military allegedly to serve as deterrent to oil thieves. This is unacceptable.”

He added that the announcement of a Ministry of Gas Resources, Marine and Blue Economy is a novel development in the history of Nigeria, but it is one that will further “pollute Nigeria’s waters and impact negatively on ocean resources and on the livelihoods of coastline communities.

“While the analysis of the government is that the ministries would boost the economic development of Nigeria and create massive employment for the youths, government has remained silent on concerns that the ministry is one that will give licence to the continuous gas emissions which are a major cause of climate change and the livelihood and health challenges faced by the communities in the Niger Delta and many far from the extraction front.

“It is our conviction that the new ministry will commodify our waters with terrible consequences like over-fishing, pollution from habitat destruction; sea mining and other activities are ecologically harmful,” he added.

Drawing attention to the present administration’s disinterest in environmental issues, Williams pointed out that the current Minister of Environment is a medical doctor who was once a commissioner for health, agriculture, and housing in Ogun State, adding that he does not have any experience in the environment sector.

News

Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court

Published

3 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.

Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.

The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.

They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.

The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.

In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.

The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.

The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.

According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.

However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

9 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

9 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.