The GbaramatuVoice was established in 2015 as a monthly tabloid published by the Gbaramatu Publishing Company Limited. It hit the newsstand first on August 2015. The newspaper’s sole objective is to bring to public glare what the management saw at the cradle of its formation as information gap and asymmetrical reportage of the activities and people of the Niger Delta.
Joshua Williams, Warri The Covid 19 pandemic wave has been the most felt since the Influenza pandemic in 2010. Due to the emergence of this deadly virus in the early months of this year, many changes have been made in economic and social structures in virtually all nations of the world. In a bid to
By Joshua Williams Francis Waive, lawmaker representing Ughelli north/Ughelli south and Udu federal constituency in the house of representatives, has called for unity among different ethnic groups in the Niger Delta region. Addressing reporters at his constituency office, Waive said coming together will help the people of the region to forge a common front at
Dara Akala, executive director of Foundation for Partnership Initiative in the Niger Delta (PIND), has attributed the restiveness and conflict in the Niger Delta to youth unemployment. The Niger Delta has a history of unrest and militancy; attacking oil infrastructure and kidnapping employees of oil companies for ransom. To restore calm in the region, the
…Okowa’s 7pm-6am curfew a defiant of Buhari’s directives …Police now exploit Deltans massively — Report By Ebi Perekeme The Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative, IPDI, has called on the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa to lift the 7pm to 6am curfew in the state, stressing that the Police force now uses it as an avenue to
By Joshua Williams The Akwa Ibom state chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ini Okopido is dead. A top member of the party in the state, who confirmed the sad incident, disclosed that Okopido died in the early hours of Wednesday at the Ibom Multispecialty Hospital (IBH), Uyo. According to the source, Okopido died
By Ebi Perekeme Ogoni oil producing communities in Rivers state on Wednesday declared that any oil firm desirous of resuming exploration in the area must come to terms with the people before enjoying freedom to operate whatever license secured from federal government. Barituka Loanyie, President, Ogoni Oil Producing Community Youth Forum (OOPCYF) said in Port
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
By Our Correspondent Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike of Rivers State has directed the removal of Joint Account Allocation Committee, JAAC, from banks that gave unauthorized loans to some local government chairmen in the state. The governor gave the directive while swearing in the substantive Chairman of the Asari-Toru Local Government Area at Government House, Port
By Our Correspondent Osayande Aisagbon, Director of Protocol (DoP) at the Edo government house, has been redeployed to the ministry of culture and diaspora affairs following alleged “embarrassment suffered” by Godwin Obaseki, the governor, during a visit to the palace of oba of Benin. In a memo, Obaseki directed that Aisagbon be redeployed over the
By Joshua Williams Indigenes and residents of Udu community in Udu local government area of Delta State have had cause to rejoice greatly as a notorious and highly wanted criminal was arrested by the community’s vigilante. The Udu central Vigilante team known as “Team A” arrested the alleged criminal who was identified as Oke Olodi
By Ebi Perekeme A fresh petition has been issued to the National Assembly to raise another panel to investigate alleged misappropriation of N6.2 billion palliatives for residents of the Niger Delta during the coronavirus pandemic. GbaramatuVoice gathered that the palliative was approved by President Muhammadu Buhari to cushioned the effect of the pandemic on residents
…Visits Ogulagha, Ughievwen kingdoms By Ebi Perekeme As a move geared towards addressing the threats by oil producing communities in the Niger Delta region, Delta State Deputy Governor, Deacon Kingsley Otuaro, embarked on a courtesy visit to the Traditional Rulers of Ughievwen and Ogulagha Kingdoms in Ughelli South and Burutu Local Government Areas, respectively. The
The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide has identified the ongoing delay in the payment of students under the scholarship scheme of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as a fresh threat to the fragile peace in the Niger Delta region. The new President of IYC, Peter Igbifa, who spoke in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on
’50 years counting, we’ve been denied opportunity to control our resources, environments’ A former presidential aspirant of Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Worldwide, Mayor Ala Hart, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to address the ongoing agitations by the Niger Delta people to control their resource and protect their environment, stressing that, for over five decades
Indications emerged, yesterday, that the angry people of Ogulagha Kingdom in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, have concluded plans to shutdown oil and gas facilities, Forcados Export Terminal operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, in the kingdom, which will cut the country’s crude oil production by one million barrels daily. The leadership
By Ebi Perekem The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has invited President Muhammadu Buhari to commission the 29-kilometre Ogbia-Nembe Road in Bayelsa state. The road, built in conjunction with the Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, creates a land link to the ancient city of Nembe for the first time. The Commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs,
By Ebi Perekeme Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has signed into law the revised 2020 Appropriation Bill. This followed the presentation of the budget by the Majority Leader of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Martin Amaewhule, to him at the government House, Port Harcourt. Total figure of the revised budget for 2020 fiscal
By Ebi Perekeme Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has gifted judges in the state High Court 41 new sports utility vehicles (SUV). Presenting the vehicles in a brief ceremony at the High court premises Monday, Governor Wike said the gesture was meant to improve service delivery in the judiciary. He equally announced to them that
By Joshua Williams About 29,525 students have resumed for academic activities across various public secondary schools in the 25 local government areas of Delta State. The returning students will participate in this year’s Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) organised by the West African Examination Council (WAEC). Addressing newsmen in Asaba, yesterday, on the preparedness of
South Africa’s grocery retailer ShopRite is leaving Africa’s biggest market, Nigeria, 15 years after it opened shop in the West African country. The announcement by ShopRite came months after another South African brand, Mr Price, exited the market. International supermarkets (excluding Nigeria) contributed 11.6% to group sales and reported 1.4% decline in sales from 2018.
By Ebi Perekeme The Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, has described the naming of what is in effect, a railway sub-station, after the Country’s immediate past President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as ridiculous, and demeaning to the personality and status of the former president. PANDEF reaction was contained in a statement signed by Hon. Ken Robinson,
By Joshua Williams The Federal Government has cancelled the maritime security contract handled by Capt. Hosa Okunbo’s Ocean Marine Solutions Ltd (OMSL), alleging that the deal was laced in fraud. The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi disclosed this during an interview on African Independent Television (AIT). The Minister also accused the company of incompetence. According
The Senate has revealed that the new head of the Interim Management Committee, IMC, of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Professor Kemebradikumo Pondei and other members of the Committee now collect 20 per cent to 30 per cent of contract sums before Contractors are paid. This is contained in the report of the Senator
By Joshua Williams Angry Ijaw youths in the oil communities of Akwa Ibom state, on Thursday, protested over what they called ‘high underdevelopment and infrastructural decay’ in their areas. They stressing that the situation may degenerate into crisis if relevant government authorities failed to intervene. They decried the abandoned projects in their communities by the
Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State will on Monday, August 3, 2020, swear-in eight new members of the State Executive Council recently cleared by the State assembly for Commissioner and Special Adviser posts. The Secretary to State Government (SSG), Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Saturday in
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
Unknown gunmen who abducted Nyieda Kpeenu in Nweol community, Gokana Local Government Area, Rivers State, have demanded N16m ransom for her ransom. Kpeenu, a 60-year-old woman, was on Wednesday, abducted from her residence in the Ogoni community at about 8pm. The gunmen shot sporadically into the air to scare residents in the area and took
The leaders of Ogulagha Kingdom, in Burutu Local Government Area, Delta State, have protested against the alleged marginalisation of the oil-rich kingdom by the Federal Government and threatened to cripple oil production in the area. In an open protest letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, dated 24th July, 2020, and signed by Chief Igere Williams and
By Ebi Perekeme Erastus Awortu, Special Adviser to Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State on Niger Delta Development Commission Matters, has dismissed insinuations that his principal has plans to control the NDDC. Awortu was reacting to claims in the social media that Wike asked a court of law to order the commission to seek the
Ahead of resumption of schools for exit classes, the Rivers State Governor, Barr. Nyeson Wike, has distributed COVID-19 protective kits to 257 public schools in the state. Wike, who distributed the items acquired by his government, said the move was in line with the guidelines for resumption of schools. The governor, who was represented by
By Loveth Ojogun Makaraba Community, host to Chevron Nigeria Limited in Gbaramatu kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State has on Saturday, sworn in new executive members to pilot the community affairs. A total of nine persons were sworn in to move the community affairs to another height. GbaramatuVoice gathered that the members
The Rivers State Government said on Friday that seven girls had been rescued from a bar in Rumuokwurusi, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area where they were used as sex workers. The state Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Mrs. Inime Aguma, who disclosed this while speaking with journalists in Port Harcourt, on the occasion of International
Royal Dutch Shell has reported a deep financial loss after a record writedown on the value of its oil and gas assets due to the collapse in global market prices triggered by coronavirus. The Anglo-Dutch oil giant revealed a net loss of $18.3bn (£14.1bn) for the second quarter of 2020, down sharply from a net
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
A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has ordered the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to always seek the consent of the Rivers State Government before executing any project in the state. Governor Nyesom Wike through the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice had dragged NDDC, its former Managing Director, Mr. Nsema
