National News

NDDC having a fresh air as debtors are complying, says Akpabio

Some of those indebted to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) are already making moves to redeem their obligations. Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who disclosed this in an exclusive chat with The Nation in Abuja, also said millions of funds, in naira and hard currencies, had been disclosed by some banks

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National Opinion

Ogoni: GAHP, FG and Lessons Not Learned

By Jerome-Mario Utomi. Prior to May 1999, when civil rule returned to Nigeria after decades of successive military dictatorships, fierce wars raged between ethnic and social forces in Nigeria over the ownership and control of oil resources in the Niger Delta. Then, such state of affairs was blamed by political on the military as they

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National News

Court of Appeal reverses judgement disqualifying Senator Biobarakuma, Bayelsa deputy governor-elect

An appeal court in Abuja has reversed the judgment of a Federal Hight Court disqualifying Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo as the deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Bayelsa State governorship election. Justice Iyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, November 12 disqualified Degi-Eremienyo for allegedly supplying false

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National News

Wike, Dickson fight dirty over oil well, Ijaw traditional stool

By Ebi Perekeme The Governor of Bayelsa State, the Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson has accused his Rivers State Counterpart, Governor Nyesom Wike, of  inciting  ethnic disharmony in Ijaw land in pursuit a wicked clandestine ethnic supremacist agenda in the politics of Rivers State. The governor said during a live media chat in Yenagoa on Saturday,

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Education National News

Ndokwa people protest at NASS over non-inclusion of Kwale federal poly

Residents of Ndokwa in Delta State have registered their displeasure over the delay in the passage of the Bill to establish the Federal Polytechnic, Kwale, in the area. In a letter forwarded to the leadership of the upper and lower chambers of the National Assembly, the residents complained that while their wait to host a

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National News

Shocking as Buhari orders recomposition of NDDC board

… Says Interim Management team to oversee commission’s audit President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday December 19, approved the recomposition of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) board after a forensic audit of the organization. The President also validated the existence of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the commission led by Dr Joi Nunieh. The

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Education National News

‘Okerenkoko Maritime University: not a true reflection of what a Maritime University should be’

By Shina Badmus Members of the House of Representatives in the committee of Maritime Administration, Education and Safety paid an oversight visit to the Maritime University, Okerenkoko, on Tuesday, December 3. The visit was to evaluate the structures of the University in its permanent sight in Okerenkoko, and also the current state of the temporary

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Education National News

“Federal Polytechnic Orogun is a major strategic, thoughtful & necessary response to Deltans challenge”

By Ebi Perekeme The prospect of situating a Federal Polytechnic in Orogun, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State might have been boosted after the community donated 100 hectares of land for the take-off of the polytechnic. A media report said Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege at a public hearing on a Bill

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National News Rivers

Experts worry over oil pollution in Ogoni

By Our Reporter Experts and discussants in the just concluded Correspondents’ Chapel Week of Rivers State Union of Journalists have warned that the rate of pollution in the oil producing communities in Ogoniland in particular and Niger Delta in general, is a potential time bomb and threat to national security. This warning is sequel to

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National News

Gov. Okowa wins “Tribune Platinum Award”, dedicates it to Deltans

Delta Governor, Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, was on Tuesday, Dec. 10, honoured as “Nigeria’s Torchbearer in Infrastructure and Environmental Development” for his outstanding accomplishments in the development of the state. The award was given to the governor by African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc, publishers of Tribune titles, to mark the 70th anniversary of the newspaper.

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National News

Reps begin review of oil companies, host communities GMoUs

The House of Representatives has mandated the Committees on Treaties, Protocols, and Agreements, and Petroleum Resources (Upstream) to review all the Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding between the Oil Companies and the host communities in order to protect the interest of host communities and report back within eight (8) weeks for further legislative action. This

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National News

Nigerians attack Amaechi in Spain

The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, Friday said that he was attacked by some misguided Nigerians in Madrid, Spain. Disclosing this via his twitter handle, @ChibuikeAmaechi, the former governor of Rivers opined that they were fight-off by the Spanish police before they could do any harm. Amaechi who tweeted that he was fine, equally

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National News

TB Joshua gives Bayelsa gov-elect a word of wisdom

The founder of The Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Prophet TB Joshua has asked the governor-elect of Bayelsa state, David Lyon to “listen to the voice of wisdom, but also make use of your brain”. Lyon, “a brethren in the ministry”, was present at The SCOAN’s Sunday Service, Dec. 1, ushering the month. There,

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National News

South-South governors, NPF, gearing towards community policing 

By Our Reporter Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state and his counterparts in the South-South geo-political zone on Tuesday, Nov. 26, endorsed the proposal by the Nigeria Police Force for community policing. They believed that community policing would be a panacea for persisting security challenges in the country. The governors declared the support for grassroots

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National News

INEC to award Certificate of Return to Lyon Nov. 21

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will on Thursday, Nov. 21, present Certificate of Return to the Bayelsa State governor-elect, Chief David Lyon. Lyon defeated 44 candidates including the standard bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Douye Diri, to emerge the winner of the keenly contested poll. The commission’s Head of Department, Voter

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National News Politics

President Buhari receives Bayelsa Governor-Elect, David Lyon in Aso Rock (Photos)

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met with the Bayelsa State Governor-elect, David Lyon at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Lyon was declared winner of the November 16 governorship election in the State. He won with 352,550 votes against 143,172 scored by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Douye Diri. Lyon was accompanied to the Villa by

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National Opinion

A ‘word’ for Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha, today on your 67th posthumous birthday

By Ambassador Boladei Igali, PhD Today, November 16, 2019, is the anniversary of your 67th birthday and the day, we your beloved people of Bayelsa State are going to the polls to elect a new Governor. How sacred, how nolstagic, how foreboding. Alas, you are neither here to celebrate, as usual with us or lead

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INTERVIEWS National

The key to peace is in our hands – Ebenanaowei of Ogulagha

In this interview exclusively with GbaramatuVoice marking his fourteen years on the throne, His Royal Majesty, Elder (Capt.) King Joseph Ijawperebo Timiyan (JP), the Paramount Ruler and the Ebenanaowei of Ogulagha kingdom expressed excitement, saying that in his reign was the first time since the great Ogulagha existed for a governor and also a serving

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National News

FG approves N1.7b for jetty at Bonny Island in Rivers

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has approved the sum of N1.7 billion for the construction of jetty at the Bonny Island in Rivers. Minister of State for Transportation Gbemisola Saraki made the disclosure while briefing State House correspondents on Wednesday, Nov 13, after the FEC meeting at the

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National News Rivers

Former Petroleum Minister, Tam David-West is dead

…Buhari Mourns By Ebi Perekeme Tam David-West, former minister of petroleum and energy, has died at the age of 83. David-West was born in Buguma, Kalabari, Rivers State. He received his higher education at the University of Ibadan (1956–1958) and earned a BSc degree at Michigan State University (1958–1960), an MSc degree at Yale University

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National News

FG declares Monday public holiday

The Federal Government has declared Monday, Nov. 11, as Public Holiday to mark the 2019 Eid-ul-Mawlud in commemoration of the birthday of the Holy Prophet Muhammad. Mr Mohammed Manga, Director Press and Public Relations of the Ministry of Interior, announced this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja. He said the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni

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National News

A bill sponsored by Omo-Agege for Orogun Polytechnic passes 2nd reading

By Ebi Perekeme A bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of a Federal Polytechnic Orogun, Delta State, passed Second Reading in the Senate on Thursday. The bill titled: “A bill for an Act to Establish the Federal Polytechnic Orogun, Delta State to Provide Full-time Courses in Technology, Applied Science, Management and other

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National News Rivers

NDDC Suspends Payment of N1 Billion Agent Fee

By Ebi Perekeme The Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Gbene Joi Nunieh, says the Commission has suspended the monthly payment of N1 billion to a consultant that collects money from International Oil Companies, IOCs, on its behalf, reports GbaramatuVoice.  Dr Nunieh, who spoke in an interview with newsmen at

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National News

Corruption fighting back at NDDC – Akpabio

By Our Reporter Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has cried out that people he called the Niger Delta Vultures are after him, but denied the insinuation going round that he collected money from the former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Isima Ekere, to frustrate the ongoing probe

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National News

JUST IN: Senate confirms 15 NDDC nominees

The senate has confirmed the appointment of 15 nominees to the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). In August, governors of Niger Delta states rejected the NDDC board nominees appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari. On Tuesday, the senate confirmed them after Peter Nwoboshi, chairman of the NDDC committee, presented a report to the chamber. While

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National News

Dissolve interim committee at NDDC or we shut down operations – IYC

“During the Goodluck Jonathan administration when there were issues of missing dollars in the NNPC, a forensic audit was ordered and the substantive board of NNPC or the Managing Director of NNPC was not dissolved. An interim management committee was not set up for the NNPC to enable forensic audit.- Eric Omare By Shina Badmus

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National News

“Insecurity is global challenge that requires global solutions” – CEPEJ

By Our Reporter At its 10th annual conference press message by CEPEJ, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, CEO/National Coordinator, Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ, said that the organization was collaborating with key agencies to ensure that Justice is done to the theme of this year’s annual conference. He added that CEPEJ was in collaboration with

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INTERVIEWS National

We are disappointed in Akpabio… He is taking his arrogance too far – Evah

Comade Joseph Evah is a former Publicity Secretary of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), one of the founding fathers of Bayelsa State and Coordinator, Ijaw Monitoring Group  (IMG). In this interview, he talked about the NDDC and Niger Delta Ministry, saying that Akpabio wants to destroy the Niger Delta with lies. As a major stakeholder

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National News

N’Delta ex-agitators pass vote of no confidence to Coordinator Presidential Amnesty Programme

Contrary to claims by the Presidential Amnesty office that their parley with first phase camp leader of the scheme and other stakeholders in Calabar, Cross River State, was successful and addressed issues, the meeting was inconclusive and never addressed any of their concerns for which they want him removed from office. According to the national

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National News

N’Delta group dismayed over inclusion of Northern reps in NDDC board

The Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative, IPDI, a rights group, has described as strange the inclusion of Northern representatives on the board of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, saying since North is not part of Niger Delta region, Federal Government should immediately delist them. National President of the group, Mr. Austin Ozobo, who queried the composition

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National News Politics

Bayelsa Guber: INEC mobilizes helicopter, security agents

By Our Reporter The electoral materials for the conduct of the Bayelsa State governorship elections would be delivered across the eight local government areas with helicopter, says the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) who disclosed this in a press briefing to give an update on the preparedness of the Commission

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National News

INEC, NPF, NSCDC unveil what they’ll do in Bayelsa, Kogi elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) yesterday, Oct. 31, unveiled their plans for the elections in Bayelsa and Kogi states, slated for November 16. The commission will hold one election in Bayelsa (the governorship election), while it has scheduled two for Kogi (governorship

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National News

NDDC’s roadmap hijacked by individual interest – Godswill Akpabio

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio said corruption and political interference have disrupted the original purpose of setting up the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Mr Akpabio, who spoke on Oct. 26 in an interview programme with the NTA, said he was sure that those who founded the NDDC would be disappointed with

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National News

N’Delta ex-agitators call on Buhari over their alleged withheld entitlements

By Ebi Perekeme Ex-militants in the Niger Delta have threatened to return to the creeks if the Presidential Amnesty Programme fails to give them starter packs and other entitlements. They said that they are giving the office of the programme seven days to comply with their demand. They lamented that despite completing their training and

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National News Politics

DSS, we are watching politicians in Bayelsa

The Department of State Security (DSS) has told politicians in the leading political parties that they were under the department’s security radar ahead of the November 16 governorship election in Bayelsa State. DSS said it was particularly watching the politicians to know their involvement in any attempt to recruit thugs and move arms into the

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