News

TEAAF Advocates Halt To Extractive Activities In Niger Delta Communities

Published

1 year ago

July 21, 2024

Editor

A Non-Governmental Organization, The Ecological Action Advocacy Foundation (TEAAF), has advocated a stop to all forms of extractive activities in oil and non oil producing communities in the Niger Delta region,

This call was made when the organization had a one day fact finding outreach to ascertain the impacts of extractives on the environment, health and livelihoods of the people of Gelegele community in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State.

The advocacy visit also saw the organisation giving free medical services to the people in the community.

The outreach was themed: Analysing the Environmental & Health Impacts of Extractive Activities in Niger Delta.

Natives of Gelegele community are by nature farmers and fishermen/women but due to oil extractive activities, they are unable to farm nor can they catch fish in the rivers. Their community produces oil yet they dwell in abject poverty.

Anyone who cares to visit Gelegele community does not need to be told the level of poverty among the people; it can be seen all over the faces of the people particularly the malnourished children who run about the streets without knowing what they are passing through.

Residents of Gelegele community literally pass through hell on a daily basis. The weather is permanently hot regardless of the season or time due to a flue-gas stack or smoke stack permanently stationed in the heart of the community. The stack emits gas to the air at round-the-clock, thereby causing heat and endangering lives of the people.

Despite all these challenges occasioned by extractive activities, Gelegele and her people have nothing to show as direct benefit. There is no government presence in Gelegele, and the oil company operating the community has done something next to nothing in the community. The road linking the Gelegele community and Benin is an eyesore; it has completely collapsed thereby making it impassible for motorists. This oil producing community has no portable water, the only borehole sinked by the oil company operating for the people is with a rusted iron tank. Drinking water with iron particles from the rusted iron reservoir causes harm to the people’s health, so said a resident. The people of Gelegele have no access to modern healthcare. The only healthcare centre in the community is not functioning optimally. It is in an abandoned state.

This ugly state of the community and her people perhaps prompted TEAAF to visit the people with a free medical outreach. The foundation visited Gelegele with a team of medical professionals who carried out different types of tests on the people and also dispense free drugs.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Director, TEAAF, Ann Ajirioghene Offi, said the idea of the medical outreach was to get detail and factual health implications of the gas flaring and other extractive activities going on in communities, adding that Gelegele was chosen as kick start point because of the many stories about the place and its peculiarities.

Offi said the programme was aimed at providing also “free medical support to meet their current lack of care predicament as well as guiding them on how to survive the stress and health challenges they face in their community.”

The Executive Director, who added that the programme also involved sensitisation on health, disclosed that no fewer than 100 residents benefited from the free medical outreach.

“We came here for a visit some time back and we saw the state of the community and the people’s health. So, we deemed it fit that it will be of good sensitising the people in danger of gas flaring and extractive activities in the heart of the community,” Offi added.

The Executive Director continued: “We are taking this medical outreach to other oil producing communities across the Niger Delta but we decided to kick start the programme in Gelegele because of the many stories about the community. And from the medical test we carried out, we discovered that eye challenges, body hitching, high blood pressure and other ailments are rampant among the people. All these are caused by the gas flaring in the heart of the community.”

Also speaking on his findings, Dr. Nicholas Avabore Akpevboghene, a medical practitioner who was among the team, said: “From my observation from the people I have seen today in this community, there are actually adverse effects of the gas flaring in the community. In the sense that most of them have issues relating to hitching, hypertension, and that is as a result of the flare and also, as a result of the pollution that has actually affected the water they use to bathe.”

One of the beneficiaries, Elder Emmanuel Obi, said it has been very difficult for them to get medical care because of the distance and finance, adding that the free medical care has brought relief to many.

Also speaking, another beneficiary, Mr. Goday Kororo, said: “We were given free tests and drugs. This type of free medical care has not happened in this community before, so this is the first time. Even anytime Dubri oil does this kind of free medical care, they give us expired drugs.”

Another beneficiary, Sode Sharon, a nursing mother said: “They ran tests on my baby and I, and thereafter gave us the needed drugs. I want to sincerely appreciate the organisers.”

News

17-year-old Nigerian Named World Best In English At 2025 TeenEagle Finals In London

Published

8 hours ago

August 5, 2025

Editor

…Outperforms over 20,000 participants from 69 countries

Nafisa Aminu, a 17-year-old student of Tulip International College, Yobe State, has emerged world’s best in English at the 2025 TeenEagle Global Finals.

The 17-year-old was named the World Best in English Language Skills at the 2025 TeenEagle Global Finals held in London, United Kingdom.

The TeenEagle competition is an internationally recognised contest that tests English proficiency, critical thinking, and communication skills, attracting students from both English-speaking and non-English-speaking nations.

Nafisa’s triumph was confirmed in a statement by the head of her family, Hassan Salifu, who attributed her success to “dedication, discipline, and the enabling support of the state government.”

Representing Nigeria, Nafisa outperformed over 20,000 participants from 69 countries, a historic feat that has thrust her into the global academic spotlight and brought honour to Nigeria.

News

FG Promotes 30 Senior NCoS Officers To Assistant Controller General

Published

8 hours ago

August 5, 2025

Editor

The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board has approved the promotion of 30 senior officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service to the rank of Assistant Controller General of Corrections.

The announcement was made in a press statement signed by the NCoS spokesperson Umar Abubakar, on Tuesday.

“The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board has approved the promotion of 30 Controllers of Corrections to the prestigious rank of Assistant Controller General of Corrections,” the statement read.

Abubakar noted that the promotions were made in line with CDCFIB’s commitment to “merit-based advancement, professional excellence, and the continuous strengthening of leadership within the Nigerian Correctional Service.”

“Among the newly promoted officers are twenty-seven general duty officers who have demonstrated exceptional dedication, leadership, and operational competence in various formations across the country.

“In addition, three professional officers have also been elevated in recognition of their outstanding service and specialized contributions in the areas of Medical Laboratory Science, Nursing, and Public Health,” the statement read.

According to the statement, the promotion exercise was said to align with the ongoing reforms in the Service, a key part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The statement credited the reform momentum to the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, whose efforts were described as “unwavering” and “unprecedented.”

Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, congratulated the newly promoted officers, charging them to rise to the responsibilities of their new roles.

“I urge them to redouble their effort to service delivery, strategic leadership, and the core mandates of reformation, rehabilitation, and reintegration of inmates,” he said.

He further stressed that the promotions are not merely rewards for past service but “a call to higher responsibility in line with global best practices in correctional management.”

“The Service remains committed to building a motivated, disciplined, and professional workforce capable of meeting the complex demands of modern corrections and public safety,” Nwakuche added.

News

Adeleke Flies To US For Davido’s Wedding

Published

8 hours ago

August 5, 2025

Editor

Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has travelled to the United States to attend the wedding ceremony of his nephew and music star, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido.

Recall, Davido confirmed that he and his wife, Chioma Avril Rowland, will have their white wedding in Miami, Florida, in August 2025.

He made the announcement during an interview on The Breakfast Club, aired on Tuesday, April 8, 2025.

The governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, confirmed Adeleke’s trip in a statement issued on Tuesday, in response to concerns raised by the opposition All Progressives Congress over the governor’s whereabouts.

“Governor Adeleke left Nigeria for the United States via the family’s private jet a few days ago for the wedding of the global music icon, his beloved nephew, David Adeleke.

“His Excellency is extending an invitation to the opposition party to attend the event and share in the joy of the occasion with the Adeleke family.

“Those unable to attend may join virtually,” Rasheed stated.

He noted that Adeleke had not taken any official vacation since assuming office in November 2022 and said the current trip would be short.

“Additionally, from the November 2022 date, the governor has not gone on official vacation.

“For this current trip, the Governor has again chosen to make it a short one to continually attend to crucial state functions.

“Meanwhile, the Governor is in constant communication with his deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi, who is supervising activities of the government,” Rasheed added.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Osun APC had accused Adeleke of leaving the state without informing residents or formally transmitting power to his deputy. The party described the governor’s absence as “abnormal.”

In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, the party said, “The question being asked in hushed tones in some public places, inside commercial buses and by motorcycle riders and their passengers in the state, is where could be the whereabouts of their governor for this long.

“As the governor of all and sundry, we as a party need to know the whereabouts of the governor and who has been holding fort for him during his absence from the state since two weeks ago.

“Did the governor duly transmit power to his deputy who is constitutionally covered to temporarily step into the shoes of his principal in his absence?”