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Stakeholders Want An End To Gas Flaring, Environmental Assessment Of N’Delta

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Panel of discussants at a one-day electoral dialogue on gas flared penalties, Liquified Petroleum Gas, LPG, Green House Gas, GHG, emissions, and Nigeria’s nationally determined contributions, NDCS, commitment, on Friday in Benin called for a comprehensive environmental assessment of impact of gas flaring in the entire Niger Delta region particularly host communities.

The programme anchored on Accountability for Gas Flared and Emission Reduction Advocacy (AGFAERA) project, was implemented by Advocacy for Gas Flare Accountability in Nigeria (AGFAN) and 10 other cluster civil society organisations, including Initiative for Community Development (ICD), Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), and others.

The panelists, comprising Prince Barbs Preye Pawuru, President, Host Communities Network; Comrade Agho Omobude, leader, Edo Civil Society Organisations; Comrade Osazee Osarere, candidate, Edo State House of Assembly and former member of the same House, Friday Ogierakhi, expressed dismay at the wanton damage gas flaring has caused in the Niger Delta environment without little or nothing to show for.

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According to the discussants, being the region that produces the crude oil that the country relies on, the Niger Delta region particularly oil producing communities impacted by gas flaring should be major beneficiaries of proceeds from the oil.

They, however, lamented that unfortunately, oil producing communities in the Niger Delta, after 50 years of oil discovery, are still the same or even backward, while some regions that do not produce a drop of oil are benefiting more from oil proceeds.

They, therefore, called for an end to gas flaring in the Niger Delta region, and that government should move to clean energy as obtainable in other oil producing countries.

Earlier in his opening remarks, Executive Director, ERA/FoEN, Barr. Chima Williams, urged people particularly from impacted communities to interrogate oil companies and activities carried out in their areas as regards oil exploration and other activities.

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He called for “a review of gas flaring, her negative environmental footprint, health impact consequences and economic losses as well as advantages or potential opportunities in appropriately harnessing of the flared gas.”

While noting that Nigerians particularly the people form the Niger Delta region must harness and utilise their God given resources in a clean sustainable manner, Williams said: “Enough of resource curse syndrome, we should embrace the era of resource blessings.”

Also giving the overview of the programme, Mr. Everest Nwankwo of ANPEZ – a cluster partner of the event – said the programme was aimed at achieving an improved accountability in gas flaring, adding that gas flaring in the country is being under-reported hence the programme.

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2023: Why INEC Servers Failed To Work – Peter Obi

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The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi has explained why the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, servers failed to work during the 2023 presidential election.

He said the ‘establishment of criminality’ made the INEC servers not work during the last last general elections.

Obi stated this, while addressing the issues of the 2023 elections, including the IREV servers, in Canada during the weekend.

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READ ALSO: Underbridge Tenants: Lagos Govt Uncovers Identity Of Ring Leader

The Labour Party flagbearer in 2023 said people must intensify engagement with all the stakeholders to make the system work.

The former Anambra State governor explained that Amazon testified there were no glitches recorded globally on the day of the presidential election.

He said: “Where did we go wrong in the last election? We didn’t go wrong anywhere. We did the right things.

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“But as I can always tell people: when you bring a change, you fight all those who live off the old order. They don’t go away; they gang up. And don’t think it’s a straight race to remove an establishment.

READ ALSO: PDP Crisis: Why Party Members Are Resigning – Sule Lamido

“It’s a long-distance journey anywhere in the world. Go and check anywhere, whether you are looking at what happened in India, with Mandela in South Africa, or America. No change has happened overnight, it takes time.

“I urge all of you, if you really want change, we have just begun. We just have to continue from where we are.

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“Yes, there might be one or two things we will correct, those things we will correct. I assure you we are correcting them without naming them.It’s not going to be easy.”

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INC Vows To Internationalise Ijaw Struggle

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The Ijaw National Congress (INC) says time has come to internationalise the “Ijaw struggle” beyond rhetoric.

Prof. Benjamin Okaba, President, INC, said this in a communique of the 2024 edition of the Ijaw National Day celebration held in Bayelsa.

Okaba said that the vexatious factors that provoked grievances between the late Maj. Adaka Boro and the federal government in the improper management of the oil political economy of Nigeria, have remained unmitigated.

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He noted that the situation had worsened with its attendant impunity.

READ ALSO: Ijaw Not Biafra, Count Us Out Of Your Planned Attack Military, INC Warns IPOB

According to him, the Ijaw environment continues to bear the brunt of petroleum resources exploitation-related pollution without concomitant remediation or reparations of the heavily despoiled ecosystem.

Instead, Ijaw communities still face the adverse effects of uncontrollable spills, perennial flooding, ocean encroachment and so on,” he said.

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The INC president noted that at different forums, it had been made clear that the Ijaw agenda of self-determination was premised on resource and environmental justice.

“What all Ijaw people seek is for a fair, just and justifiable reward for our resources and sacrifices.

“The Ijaw Congress has articulated a set of prescient conditions for its continuous commitment to the Nigerian project and these include restoration of true federalism (fiscal federalism).

READ ALSO: Ijaw Group Tackles OPC, CSO Over Call For Review Of Tompolo’s Surveillance Contract

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“Devolution of power and repel of all obnoxious and discriminatory environmental and resource related laws (Land Use, PIA), as well as restoration of Ijaw Territory as non-balkanised, administrative and politically generated unit(s).

“This is for the reassurance and promotion of Ijaw developmental pursuits by creating at least two additional states, more local government areas and wards for the Ijaws.

“Remediation of our massively polluted and endangered environment and the enforcement of adherence to international environmental best practices by IOC’s operating in Ijaw territories,” he said.

Okaba also demanded for the relocation of the administrative headquarters of all oil companies and their subsidiaries to their operational bases in Ijaw territory and Niger Delta.

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READ ALSO: Ijaw Demand Environmental Clean-up Before IOCs Exit Niger Delta

He further called for proper funding and management of the Interventionist Agencies such as the Presidential Amnesty Programme and Niger Delta Development Commission.

We call for the promotion of modular refineries owned by our people.

“We also want a balance in appointment at the federal levels (the civil service, military and oil companies) as well as equitable distribution of critical infrastructure, to reflect the true principles of federal character.”

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He said it was against this backdrop that the theme of the 2024 Ijaw National Day “Re-Invigorating Our Resolve to take the Ijaw struggle for Self-determination beyond Rhetoric” was derived.

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Drake Gives Condition To Quit Music As Feud With Kendrick Lamar Thickens

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US rapper Drake has vowed to quit his music career if allegations regarding a secret daughter are substantiated.

The controversy started when rival artiste Kendrick Lamar, in his diss track ‘Meet The Grahams,’ levied accusations suggesting Drake’s involvement with an 11-year-old secret daughter.

Lamar branded the Canadian rapper a “deadbeat” for purportedly neglecting his paternal responsibilities

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Renowned American media personality Akademiks, however, disclosed rapper’s response to the allegations during a recent broadcast.

According to Akademiks, Drake denied the claims, going as far as promising to leave the music industry and work for Akademiks if any evidence of the alleged secret daughter emerged.

During his Saturday night show, Akademiks shared the rapper’s direct message, stating, “Drake hit [texted] me, he said, ‘Ak, if you or anybody can prove that I have an 11-year-old daughter, I’ll quit rapping and come work for you.’”

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