Bayelsa News

What Pa Owonaro told me before he departed – Gov. Diri

…Renames Ijaw National Academy After ’12-Day Revolution’ Hero Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, at the weekend, recounted his encounter with the late Captain Samuel Timinipre Owonaro (Rtd) before the Ijaw nation and Niger Delta hero passed on in June this year. Chief Owonaro is fondly remembered for his heroic role in the ’12-day Revolution’

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Bayelsa News

Revisit disarmament phase of N’Delta amnesty programme – Gov Diri tells Dikio

By Ebi Perekeme As part of efforts to curb crime and criminality within the Niger-Delta region, the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has appealed to the Federal Government to revisit the disarmament and demobilisation phase of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), lamenting proliferation of light weapons in the region. The governor also assured that

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Bayelsa News

Supreme Court didn’t cede disputed Oil Wells to Rivers – Bayelsa

By Joshua Williams Bayelsa State has said Tuesday’s verdict of the Supreme Court on the matter it instituted over the disputed oil wells with neighbouring Rivers State did not amount to a resolution of the dispute. It also said contrary to reports in the media, the apex court’s verdict did not cede the oil wells

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Bayelsa News

Ijaw Women of America (IWA) donates relief items to flood victims in Bayelsa

By Ebi Perekeme The Ijaw Women of America has eased the pains of victims of the recent flooding in parts of the Bayelsa State as it donated relief materials worth millions of Naira to thirteen communities in Biseni clan in Yenagoa Local Government Area. The relief materials were presented to the people of Biseni Clan,

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Bayelsa News Oil & Gas

Brass community cautions Agip over oil spillage

By Joshua Williams The people of Okpoama Community in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have reported an oil spillage at an oilfield operated by Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC). A community spokesman said the pollution was causing untold hardships to the predominantly fishing population in the community. The spokesman, Chief Inikio Sele-Dede, who

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Bayelsa News

INEC says 80% preparation achieved for Bayelsa Central, West ​senatorial bye-elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has achieved eighty percent preparations for the upcoming Bayelsa Central and West ​senatorial bye-election slated for October 31, 2020 in the state. Briefing press men at the commission’s state secretariat in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital, the state’ Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Cyril Omorogbe noted that

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Bayelsa News

Gov. Diri describes Alamieyeseigha as selfless leader, with Ijaw interest at heart

By Joshua Williams The Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri has described the first civilian governor of the state, the late Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, as a selfless leader who always placed the interest of the Ijaw nation above other considerations. Diri, who spoke in Amassoma during the fifth annual memorial anniversary programme in

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Bayelsa News Politics

Gov Diri tasks leaders to practice equity, fairness

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has said a country whose leaders do not practise justice, fairness and equity is at risk of the very slow pace of development. Senator Diri made the assertion on Sunday at a special church service in commemoration of Nigeria’s 60th and Bayelsa’s 24th anniversary at the King of Glory

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Bayelsa News

Rivers: Gov Diri calls for understanding over oil wells 

Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa has called on the Rivers State government to show understanding in order to amicably resolve the dispute between Oluasiri Clan in Bayelsa and their Kalabari neighbours in Rivers. The Oluasiri communities in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa and their Kalabari Ijaw kinsmen are locked in dispute arising from the

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Bayelsa News

Gov Diri directs levels 1-12 civil servants to resume work

By Enaibo Asiayei Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has directed all civil servants from grade levels 1-12 to resume work from Tuesday, September 1. Senator Diri gave the directive on Monday during a meeting with the state’s COVID-19 Taskforce in Yenagoa. The state government had on March 26 asked those categories of workers to

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Bayelsa News Politics

No vacancy in Bayelsa Govt House; Diri remains Gov until Supreme Court decides – Seriake

By Ebi Perekeme The immediate past Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Seriake Dickson, has declared that there is no vacancy in the Government House despite the judgment of the election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja, which nullified the November 16, 2019 state governorship election. Dickson said in a statement on Monday by his media advisor,

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Bayelsa News Politics

Bayelsa Election: Diri vows to appeal tribunal judgement

By Ebi Perekeme The Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has revealed that he will appeal the ruling by the tribunal nullifying his election as governor of the state. He also said that he has instructed his lawyers to file the necessary papers. In a statement signed by the Acting Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabarah and

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Bayelsa News

Letugbene community shutdown Shell’s drilling operations in Bayelsa

By Ebi Perekeme A drilling rig belonging to Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, has been shutdown by the people of Letugbene, Ekeremor Local Government Area, Bayelsa State The community alleged that the company’s failure to accord them recognition as the rightful owners of the land where Tunu flow station is located was responsible for their

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Bayelsa News

OML host communities in Southern Ijaw ‘divide’ over interest

Host communities of the Operating Mining License (OML) 79 in Ekeremor and Southern Ijaw local government areas, Bayelsa State, have distanced themselves from persons threatening the operations of the license. They called on the Federal Government, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and other stakeholders to ignore a protest and 21-day ultimatum issued by a section

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Bayelsa News Oil & Gas

Bayelsa: Shell Nigeria in talks with host communities on development fund review

The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) has begun discussions with 12 host communities in Bayelsa which demanded upward review of development obligations. SPDC’s Media Relations Manager, Mr Bamidele Odugbesan, gave the assurance in an interview with the newsmen on Saturday in Yenagoa. SPDC has since 2006 been administering community development initiatives driven by

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Bayelsa News

Insecurity: Redouble efforts, Gov Diri charges security agents

Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has charged heads of security agencies in the state to re-double their effort in tackling the rising incidence of kidnapping and other forms of insecurity. Giving the charge during his maiden security council meeting in Government House, Yenagoa, Governor Diri urged the security chiefs to maintain a high level of

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Bayelsa News Oil & Gas

Bayelsa: Oil-producing communities demand $10m development funding

Aggrieved oil-producing communities in Bayelsa State under the auspices of the Iduwini, Mein, Kou, and Bassan Cluster Development Board have asked the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) to review annual development funding from $1million to $10million to their areas. The also demanded the payment of outstanding $14million for sea anchorage for vessels

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Bayelsa News

NDDC: IYC demands a return to Master Plan

The leadership of the pan Ijaw youth groups, the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) worldwide, on Tuesday made fresh demands over the recent crisis between the Interim Management Committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the National Assembly Committee on NDDC. The group, which described as embarrassing and disgraceful the squabble between the two,

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Bayelsa News

IYC writes INEC over N’Assembly vacant seats in Bayalsa

The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Central Zone, has written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) requesting for bye-elections to fill the vacant central and western senatorial seats belonging to Bayelsa State in the National Assembly. The Chairman of the council, Kennedy Olorogun, in a letter he addressed to the chairman of the commission, said

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Bayelsa News

We cannot afford to have an acrimonious IYC – Gov. Diri

By Ebi Perekeme  Following last weekend’s election of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), at Oporoza, Gbaramatu kingdom, Delta State, the Bayelsa State Governor, Sen. Douye Diri, insisted that its administration cannot afford to have an acrimonious council. This according to him was responsible for him being neutral during the election. He insisted that rather than

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Bayelsa News

NNPC/Chevron JV, Bayelsa communities set N141.65m projects

The Dodo River Communities Development Association in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa on Thursday, July 9, 2020 inaugurated projects worth over N141.65 million funded by the NNPC/Chevron Nigeria Limited Joint Venture. NAN reports that the beneficiary communities are Amatu I, Amatu II, Biabiri I, Bilabiri II and Bisangbene. The projects include Dodo River Secretariat

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Bayelsa News Politics

Gov Diri expresses anger to FG over school feeding

By Ebi Perekeme  The Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr Douye Diri, has faulted the Federal Government for deliberately sidelining the state in the implementation of the multi-billion naira school feeding and conditional cash transfer programmes. Diri spoke when the Federal Commissioner in charge of the South at the Code of Conduct Bureau, Dr Emmanuel Attah,

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Bayelsa News Politics

Forty groups in N’Delta endorse Dickson for Bayelsa West Senatorial

By James Nanakumor Over forty representatives, comprising of the various organs administering the Aleibiri Federated Communities have endorsed former Bayelsa state governor, Chief Henry Seriake Dickson for vacant Bayelsa West Senatorial district. In a communique signed by leaders of the various groups in Aleibiri Kingdom, the representatives noted that the former governor, Chief Henry Seriake

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Bayelsa News

Oil giants gear up to recover part of receding shoreline in the N’Delta

The Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and its Joint Venture (JV) partners, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Oando Oil Limited have ramped up efforts meant to recover part of the receding shoreline in the Niger Delta. The oil giant inaugurated a N500 million shore protection project in Ogboinbiri community, Southern Ijaw Local Government

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Bayelsa News

Bayelsa records 42 new Corona Virus cases

The Bayelsa State Task Force on Covid-19, says the State has recorded 42 new cases of Covid-19 in three days, another 6 deaths and 1 discharged within the same period. The Deputy-Chairman of the Covid-19 Task Force, Dr. Inodu Akpoku, who disclosed this in a statement in Yenagoa, weekend, said the new cases brings to

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Bayelsa News

Cult war allegedly claims five lives in Bayelsa

A bloody clash between two rival cult groups, Icelanders and Bobos, in Amarata area of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, has claimed the lives of five persons. Residents have been lamenting the incessant cult wars in the state capital lately. Residents said the clashes have defied all peacemaking efforts by the state government. A teenager,

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Bayelsa News

Man earns hot water bath for slapping wife

A resident of Bayelsa State, Mr Oyinkro Miebode, has been bathed with hot water by his wife over a quarrel at their apartment on INEC Road in Kpansia area of Yenagoa, the state capital. Narrating his ordeal to SaharaReporters, Oyinkro said trouble started on the evening of June 2, 2020 when he slapped his wife

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Bayelsa News

Doctor contracts COVID-19 in Bayelsa

By Ebi Perekeme  A medical doctor has tested positive for COVID-19 in Bayelsa State, bringing the number of active cases in the state to two. Governor Douye Diri announced the new confirmed case on Tuesday during a meeting of the COVID-19 Taskforce, which he chairs, at the Government House, Yenagoa. A press release by his

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Bayelsa News

Two buses loaded with Almajiri intercepted in Bayelsa

By Ebi Perekeme Bayelsa State government at the weekend intercepted two buses conveying 17 teenagers believed to be almajiris to the state. It was gathered that they were made up of young boys of various origins from the northern states of the country. Mr Freston Akpor, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Information and

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Bayelsa News

Nine pastors arrested in Bayelsa for allegedly violating COVID-19 lockdown order

No fewer than nine pastors of various denominations have been arrested by the Bayelsa State Task Force on COVID-19 in Yenagoa, the state capital. The pastors were apprehended for conducting Sunday worship activities in their various churches in violation of the lockdown order. Those arrested were Pastors P. B. Barima; Timi Aaron; Adaba Glory; and

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Bayelsa News Politics

Dickson under pressure to join Bayelsa West Senatorial bye-election race

By Ebi Perekeme  Prominent Ijaw leaders have mounted pressure on former Bayelsa Governor Seriake Dickson to join the race for the Bayelsa West Senatorial bye-election. Over 15 famous leaders, who once occupied top positions in Ijaw struggle such as Dr. Felix Tuodolo, Asari- Dokubo, Frank Omare, Udengs Eradiri, Frank Omare, Alfred Kemepado, Mr Oyinfie Jonjon

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Bayelsa News

Gov. Diri visits boundary of Delta, Bayelsa on COVID-19 alert

Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State on Friday made an unscheduled visit to the boundary points with Delta and Rivers to enforce the directive on the COVID-19 lockdown of the state. It was gathered that the unplanned visit was not unconnected with reports of two suspected cases of coronavirus infection, which caused panic in the

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Bayelsa News

COVID-19: Bayelsa extends lockdown for another 14 days

Bayelsa State has extended the lockdown of its borders for another two weeks. Governor Douye Diri gave the directive on Tuesday evening in a statement by his Acting Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, following the expiration of the earlier two-week deadline. He said the lockdown affects inter-state vehicular movement, closure of drinking bars at

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Bayelsa News Politics

Candidate seeks cancellation of Bayelsa election

The Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has ordered that Bayelsa State governor, Senator Douye Diri and his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, who are the 3rd and 4th respondents respectively in the petition filed by Vijah Eldred Opuama, governorship candidate of Liberation Movement (LM), be served through substituted means. This followed the

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Bayelsa News

N’Delta group gives nod to Pondei as Ag Managing Director of NDDC

By Ebi Perekeme A coalition of groups representing the nine states under the NDDC has congratulated with the Ag. Managing Director of the commission. A statement issued on March 1, by Pureh Kalango (PNP), Ugochukwu Ezigbo, Oputa Henry Abbiye, Mienpamo Saint, Engr Sunny Udi, and Prince Akarolo, said, after consultation with leaders of the Niger

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