RESOURCE CONTROL: NIGERIA, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED- IYC

Niger Delta Youths Threatens To Cripple Economy

Niger Delta youths on Thursday vowed to return to the trenches and bring Nigerian economy to its knees if the ongoing national conference failed to uphold resource control and true federalism.

The youths under the aegis of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, rejected the decision of the National Conference Sub-Committee on Devolution and Resource Control to maintain the current 13 per cent derivation for oil-producing states.

IYC in a statement signed by its Spokesman, Mr. Eric Omare, described the decision as retrogressive, anti-federalism and totally unacceptable to Niger Delta people.

Omare said: “The IYC wish to warn that the decision of the Niger Delta people to give peace a chance to allow the federal government address the problems of the Niger Delta should not be taken as weakness.

“The Niger Delta people are still willing, ready and capable of bringing the Nigeria economy to its knees.”He said the refusal of the committee to address the issue of resource control had betrayed the expectations of Niger Delta region and Nigerians.

He said the committee has made nonsense of the conference as an avenue to “right the wrongs of the past, deepen our federal system of government and put Nigeria on the path for development.

”Omare further said the decision was simply a triumph of the retrogressive and provocative agenda of reactionary forces in Northern Nigeria.“The opposition of reactionary northern delegates to resource control and demand for scrapping of the NDDC, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the Amnesty programme are provocative to the Niger Delta people and we may be forced to take drastic actions.

“These are interventionist agencies created for specific purposes which are not only beneficial to the Niger Delta Region but the entire country as demonstrated in the astronomical increase in the nation’s revenue as a result of the Amnesty programme,” he said.

Source.. The nation

http://thenationonlineng.net/new/resource-control-niger-delta-youths-threaten-cripple-economy/

6 KIDNAPPERS BAGS 30 YEARS JAIL TERM IN BAYELSA

Six kidnappers of the Paramount Ruler, Okordia clan, Yenagoa Local Government Area, of Bayelsa State, King Richard Seiba have been sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Simeon Lalapu and five others, who are still at large, were each ordered to remain in prison for five years by Justice Nayai Aganaba of the High Court sitting in Yenagoa.

Armed gunmen had in August, 2012 invaded the palace of Seiba, at about 2am and kidnapped him after which they demanded  N30 million ransom.The judge ruled that the evidence before his court confirmed that Lalapu and five others were the faces behind the incident.

He, therefore, pronounced the accused persons guilty of the offence of conspiracy and kidnapping.According to Justice Aganaba, Lalapu and others on the run  conspired and kidnapped King Seiba from his house in Ikarama community.

He said they took the monarch to a forest in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.He said: "The crime of conspiracy and kidnapping are both punishable under section 444(a) of the Criminal code Law Cap C14 laws of Bayelsa State,2006 and Section 291 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 14 of Bayelsa State, 2006."

Source.. WorldStage Newsonline--

http://www.m.worldstagegroup.com/readnews.php?&id=15587&active=news

THE COURAGE TO DARE: TWO YEARS OF THE RESTORATION AGENDA.

THE COURAGE TO DARE: TWO YEARS OF THE RESTORATION AGENDA.

“No problem is insurmountable. With a little courage, teamwork and determination a person can overcome anything." B. Dodge.

February 14, 2012 is a date that would remain indelible in the minds of Bayelsans and Nigerians at large. It is a date that is globally acclaimed to be the day for lovers, Saint Valentines day, but to the people of Bayelsa State in South-South Nigeria it marked a watershed in the history of Bayelsa State, which was then barely 15 years old. It was the day Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson was sworn in as the fourth civilian governor of the state.

In the course of his campaigns prior to the elections that brought him into office, he had traversed the length and breadth of the state promising change and the restoration of the lost glory of the state. Having won the elections decisively, the inauguration ceremony was more or less a symbolic event which accorded him an opportunity to appreciate the people for their support and the mandate they had freely given to him to serve. He also used the opportunity elaborate on the cardinal points of his manifesto christened the ‘Restoration Agenda’. In the two years of his assumption of office, the Dickson administration has addressed head on the litanny of problems it inherited. As a result of his far-reaching programmes and policies, which have endeared him to the people, he now goes by several appellations such as ‘contriman governor’, ‘restoration governor’, ‘talknado governor’ and the like. Hon. Dickson has come to be regarded widely as the architect of the new era and has without doubt established a paradigm shift in the culture of governance and with great emphasis on transformation and sacrifice. He stepped into the seat of Government in Creek Haven with a determined zeal, creative ingenuity and a courage to dare. He has by dint of hard work and strength of character led by example, affirming his credibility as a visionary leader. He has succeeded in proving doubting Thomas’s wrong, giving hope to the people of Bayelsa State that tomorrow will certainly be better.

The march towards restoration as severally emphasized by Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, is no doubt one that can only be achieved by uncommon imagination and commitment. Drawing on the exertion of the state’s founding fathers and some of his predecessors, Governor Dickson has thrust the state into the frontlines of national development and remarkable events.

First and foremost he has been able to successfully promote a new ethos of governance where transparency and accountability has been assured by open governance as exemplified with the publication of the state’s income and expenditure profile on a monthly basis. The practice has been made statutory through the Bayelsa Income and Transparency Bill 2012. Unlike the locust years, savings have been made mandatory through the multi-billion Naira Bayelsa Strategic Reserve and Savings Account. These initiatives, products of visionary leadership will serve to protect the interest of the people now and in the future.

In realization of the fact that there can be no meaningful development without security and given the precarious security situation his administration met on ground, Governor Dickson a former law enforcement officer and one time Attorney General, fully appreciated the challenges and immediately set out to put counter measures in place. These include the constitution of a security team with an exceptional track record and ability to run the security apparatus in the state. From their efforts emerged the Bayelsa State Integrated Security Strategy (BISS), a formidable strategy which sought to engineer security by emphasizingintelligence based policing with massive community participation and large scale infusion of modern security technology. Having set the stage for the people to truly reap the dividends of democracy, Governor Dickson proceeded swiftly to deliver on his promises to the people. The state has become, in what is now popular parlance, a huge construction site, fielding reputable international contractors that have all been engaged in the construction of major road projects which have further opened up the state to further growth and development. Education has long been recognized as a central element of development. The Dickson Administration in line with this accorded the sector premium attention in the new scheme of state building by declaring a state of emergency during his swearing in ceremony. Hon Henry Seriake Dickson, has reduced the economic burden of child education in Bayelsa State, while ushering thousands of youths onto new vista of self-development and empowerment. Education at primary and post primary school levels is now free and compulsory and Model Secondary Schools are being constructed in all local government areas in the state.

Governor Dickson has succeeded in positioning education as a major tool for development in the state through massive investments in education, which is destined to transform the state in a few years time. By its conscious provision of health infrastructure across the state, the Dickson Administration has indeed given further coloration to its restoration drive. The state government has constructed and is still building modern referral health institutions in all local government areas of the state.

On assumption of duty, the present administration was confronted with transportation problems in the state capital especially the menace of Okada riders leading to avoidable deaths and degree of injuries due to the serious effects of accidents they were exposed to on the roads. With a clear idea of the situation and what was needed to restore order,safety and decency in the state capital, the state government decided to modernize commercial transportation in Yenagoa. Effectively, government banned the operation of motorcycles commonly known as Okada and launched the state transport scheme with the provision of 200 Taxi Cabs and 12 Restoration Buses as well. A driving school was also established with driving stimulators and to be manned by ten engineers trained in the USA. The promotion of tourism in Bayelsa State is based on the premise that when fully developed, tourism which is the world’s fastest growing industry, has the potential of providing jobs for thousands of Bayelsans. For Bayelsa State therefore, tourism is the future. With the establishment of the Bayelsa State Tourism Board (BSTB) and the Bayelsa State Institute of Tourism, Catering and Hotel Management, the Dickson Administration is well on its way to fulfilling its promise of providing alternative income for the state beyond oil. In 2013 alone, the state successfully hosted the Most Beautiful Girl Pageant in Yenagoa, the United Nations Conference on Under Water Cultural Heritage and Imaging, the Caribbean African American Music Awards, an International Jazz Festival, the Centenary Pageant and the Africa Movie Academy Awards all of which captured global attention.

In expanding the scope of tourism in the state, the Dickson Administration has commenced work on the proposed Yenagoa Tourism Island; an international Golf course and estate, which will feature luxury hotels, a polo club and other recreational facilities. To support the growing tourism industry a School of Tourism , Catering and Hospitality Management has been set up for the development of necessary manpower to make the sector thrive.

There is no doubt that Bayelsa State is gradually emerging as a vibrant entertainment spot for the convergence of global stars, which is a deliberate action of government aimed at ultimately making the state a preferred destination for investors and tourists in the nearest future. The Dickson Administration has exhibited great concern over the state of electricity supply that was inherited from the previous administration; in spite of the billions of naira that was invested in the sector by the previous administration, electricity supply dwindled with an adverse effect on productivity in the state across board.

To achieve better power supply and engender the growth of industrialization in the state, the Dickson-led Restoration Government has signed a memorandum of understanding with the IPP Energy Limited, leasing partners, for the development of 100 megawatts gas turbine power station for the state. This is coming on the heels of the overhauling of the existing gas turbine plant by its manufacturers in order to make it functional again.

Bayelsa lies in a riverine environment with mangrove and tropical rain forest climates that support round the year farming of both aquaculture and agricultural products. Governor Dickson has consistently indicated his desire to provide an enabling platform for Bayelsa State’s continued growth even without its present economic mainstay – oil. To the Governor, agriculture has the potential to provide thousands of jobs, feed the population and ultimately create opportunities for export. With this in mind he has keenly pursued an agenda, which will transform agriculture from its present rudimentary level to one, which is fully mechanized. This is the basis for training five hundred youths in modern agricultural practices and methods at Songhai farms in Benin Republic. This and other such worthy initiatives centered on the agricultural sector will undoubtedly develop the sector and earn the state impressive revenue in the nearest future.

Women and youth development is an aspect of interest in Bayelsa State which Governor Dickson has held close to his heart. Only recently, a total of about five hundred million naira was disbursed to various women cooperative groups across the state as a first phase in the administration’s women empowerment programme. The aim here is to ensure that women, especially those at the grassroots are sufficiently empowered to meet their personal needs.

In the same vein, some two hundred and fifty youth have benefited from the Dickson administration’s large heartedness by obtaining state sponsorship for vocational training in automobile technology, cinematography, photography, fashion designing and information and communication technology at the King Amachree Academy in Benin Republic. Furthermore over 10,000 youths recently denounced cultism and have registered in a biometric registration process in preparation for youth empowerment scheme designed to train and equip young male and female Bayelsans with life skills.

These lofty initiatives are clear indications of the fact that the Restoration Government has a human face and is one that is poised to ensure that the dividends of democracy trickle down to even the most vulnerable groups in society. For an independent judiciary in the state, Governor Dickson had the Bayelsa State Financial Autonomy Bill introduced in the State House of Assembly and passed into law in October 2012. It was a first in the legislative history of Nigeria and bore testimony to the Governor’s unwavering commitment to good governance. The Government of Bayelsa State is diversifying the economic base of the state so that other sectors can contribute to the GDP of the state. Steps have been taken to ensure the success of diversification by establishing enabling laws and appropriate bodies such as the Bayelsa Development and Investment Corporation (BDIC), Bayelsa Investments Promotion Agency (BIPA), to drive the diversification and deliver on the mandate. The agriculture, tourism, infrastructure, power and marine sectors will be the central focus in this drive to ensure that Bayelsa State continues to be relevant nationally and globally even without oil.

In view of the overwhelming activities of the Dickson Administration in just two years, there is no denying the fact the foundation for a new Bayelsa State has been laid. The years 2012 to 2014 have been remarkable in many ways hitherto unknown in the political history of the state. At the seat of power is a leader who has continued to prove his mettle as a visionary and rare breed politician. He brought with him a new philosophy of governance and a passion that is assuredly redemptive. Indeed he had the courage to dare.

The citizen-centered policies of Governor Henry Seriake Dickson have ushered in an era of hope and progress in Bayelsa State. In the two years left in his first tenure, there is no doubt that Bayelsans will witness more of the Dickson magic to warrant a second tenure for the contriman governor as he strives to turn the glory of all lands into the ‘Dubai of Africa”.

Onoriode Akpe, is the Senior Special Assistant to the Bayelsa State Governor on Electronic Media and Head Media, Bayelsa House, Abuja.

Jonathan's Nigeria... Part 1

In 1997, a brilliant Igbo Electrical Engineer and Lecturer at the Federal polytechnic Nekede, Dr. Ezekiel Izogu designed and developed the Izuogu Z-600, the first African indigenous manufactured car.

The car was described by the BBC as ' the African dream machine' as 90% of its parts were sourced locally . At a projected sales cost of 2000 dollars, it would have taken the world by storm and become the cheapest and most affordable car on earth. With mass production planned under Izogu Motors plant in Naze owerri, the prospects of an industrial revolution in Igbo land and Nigeria, was in the making.

 The car was equipped with a self made 1.8L four cylinder engine that got 18mpg and allowed the car to achieve a top speed of 140 km/h. Front Wheel Drive (FWD) was chosen over Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) because a transmission tunnel, which RWD would require, would be more expensive to fabricate.

So 90% of the car's components were made locally. General Sani Abacha set up a 12 man panel of inquiry made up of professionals to ascertain the road worthiness and authenticity of the car and after several days of probing, the committee gave Dr. Izuogu's car a clean bill of health recommending that some of the bumps on the body of the car be smoothened. It is worthy to note that this was five years before India built their first car known as the Indi.

 At a well organized unveiling ceremony which had General Abacha represented by Oladipo Diya, over 20 foreign ambassadors and thousands of people in attendance, the federal government promised a grant of 235 million naira to Dr.Izuogu.

An excited Dr Izuogu is still waiting for that grant till today. No dime was released to him. In 2006, the government of South Africa invited Dr. Izuogu to do a presentation about the car in the presence of several world class engineers . Being impressed with his presentation, they invited him to come and set up a plant in South Africa and begin the production of the car.

Dr Izuogu reluctantly agreed, though he wasn't happy that the benefits of employment generation will be lost on the locals of Naze and the Nigerian human resources environment . On Saturday the 11th of March 2006, at about 2.00 a.m, a total of about 12 heavily armed men broke into Dr. Izogu's factory in Naze and carted away various machines and tools including the design history notebook of Z-600, the design file Z-MASS, containing the design history for mass production of Z-600 car, and the moulds for various parts of the car.

 According to Dr. Izogu “It seems that the target of this robbery is to stop the efforts we are making to mass-produce the first ever locally made car in Africa. Other items stolen included locally produced timing wheel, locally produced camshaft, locally produced crankshaft, locally produced engine tappets, all 20 pieces each.

Also stolen were ten pieces of locally produced Z-600 engine blocks, ten pieces of locally produced pistons, four pieces of engine block mounds, four pieces of top engine block moulds, ten pieces of engine fly wheel and two pieces each of rear car and front mudguard moulds.”The inventor regretted that not only did they lose over one N1 billion in monetary terms, but also time (about 10 years) and the energy it took to design and produce the moulds. “To worsen the matter, our design notebook was also stolen,” he stated.

He regarded the incident as a national economic disaster because the nation had lost a technological and intellectual property. This Press was quiet about this story. The set back and governments attitude frustrated this inventor and that dream died.

In 2000, another Igbo trader and business man, Chief (Dr) Innocent Ifediaso Chukwuma( Innoson) , tired of importing motor cycle spare parts, began to produce the parts in Nnewi. Severn years later, he ventured into car parts production and took the idea of car manufacturing to the then federal government . He was scorned again and rejected by the federal government .In 2010, a new kind of leader has been planted by God in Nigeria, and few months after he became President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan commissioned the Innoson Car Manufacturing plant in Nnewi with follow up policies and tax holidays that encouraged the young entrepreneur.

Today Innoson group is producing top range cars with parts 90% of the parts, made in Nigeria. From SUVs to trucks, buses etc. The successes recorded by Innoson has now influenced the Federal government into adopting the National automobile policy which is set to transform this nation in terms of employment generation, technological in flow and Foreign Direct Investment.

The national automotive policy of the federal government has led to Nissan motors signing an MOU to begin car productions in Nigeria by the first quarter of this yearYou don't need to be a professor, a general or a genius to be a good leader, all it requires is for you to have the largeness of heart to accommodate people who want to grow. Today, the Nigerian navy has produced the first locally made war ship, the army is producing cars, guns and other gadgets, while the Nigerian Air Force , just unveiled locally made drones .Is Jonathan the one producing these equipments? No sir. He doesn't have a 'clue' of how these things are produced. All he does is to create and environment where everyone can develop and expand his potentials.

 In his 2011 declaration speech which Social media muck rakers and ranters have continually used to mock him, the President put it this way :"I was not born rich, and in my youth, I never imagined that I would be where I am today, but not once did I ever give up. Not once did I imagine that a child from Otuoke, a small village in the Niger Delta, will one day rise to the position of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I was raised by my mother and father with just enough money to meet our daily needs.In my early days in school, I had no shoes, no school bags. I carried my books in my hands but never despaired; no car to take me to school but I never despaired. There were days I had only one meal but I never despaired. I walked miles and crossed rivers to school every day but I never despaired. Didn't have power, didn't have generators, studied with lanterns but I never despaired. In spite of these, I finished secondary school, attended the University of Port Harcourt, and now hold a doctorate degree. Fellow Nigerians, if I can make it. You can make it".

Let those who have an open heart judge this man.
God bless Nigeria 
God bless President Jonathan. 

from the facebook  page of  Ken Agala

How Gov. Dickson is Transforming Bayelsa.

INTERVIEW
Works and Infrastructure Commissioner in Bayelsa State, Hon. Lawrence Ewhrudjako, speaks on how Governor Seriake Dickson has turned the state into a huge construction site.

Excerpts:
What has the Dickson administration been able to put in place so far in order to develop the state and attract investments?

Well, what His Excellency, Governor Seriake Dickson, has put in place is quite massive; massive to the extent that all the facets of development and tourism have been well greased by the governor. I say this because even in the tourism sub-sector, there is a lot of work going on there. We are developing our infrastructure in two categories: what we call the social infrastructural and then the investment infrastructural development.

The investment infrastructural development is intended to attract investments while the social infrastructural investment development is undertaken as a duty and obligation of government, which has a duty to provide social amenities to the people of the state. In that vein, we have the Outer Ring Road, which is under construction- the outer Ring Road is like the Nnamdi Azikiwe Road that is around Abuja and the essence of the road is to decongest the Yenagoa City Centre so that people are not held up unnecessarily.To ensure that that is achieved, we are developing another six-side profiled roads; we call them Road 24, Road 30, Road 38, Road 21, Road 27c, Road 31 and Road 28. These roads are all emptying from the Isaac Boro Road, which we are dualising into the outer ring road so if there is traffic congestion anywhere, you can just sneak through any of the dualised roads into the outer ring road.

What we are doing in Yenagoa is that all internal roads have dual carriageways. We have taken note of all the single-lane roads in the capital and we are going to expand them because some of them are less than six metres. All we want to do is to construct standard 8-metres road across the capital so that we can have standard drive ways, walk ways, flowers, street light and drainage.

For the investment infrastructural development, we are building an airport at Amassoma and we are also building a deep seaport at Agge. To ensure that the hinterlands are also taken care of, we are constructing the Three Senatorial Road. One of the roads is the 38-Km Oporoama Road, which we started early this year. Already we have done four kms with asphalt and 6.6 kms with stone base and 9.8km sand filling.At km 15 of the road, we are putting a major bridge that will be crossing to Oporoma.

So with that, we are sure, we are opening up that part of the state for investment and development. Towards Bayelsa West, we are doing the Tororowa-Ekeremo-Agge Road. On that road, we have achieved 3.5 kms of sand filling and they are working hard to do the first level of asphalting. We are stockpiling sand for them to backfill and quicken the work.After that we will take the next road to ensure that all the three Senatorial districts in the state are provided with major roads that will open the areas up.

Question: What is the state doing to checkmate crime?

We are also providing adequate security across the state because we cannot do anything without security. Synonymous with development is peace and security and we have consciously built the Integrated Security and Command Centre, which will enable us to monitor what is going on across the state and we are also installing Closed Circuit Television Cameras in all strategic places in the state.

There is already a law that may compel all hotel operators in the state to mount CCTV cameras in their facilities to monitor what goes on in those places at all times. You know that before now criminality was walking on the streets of Yenagoa but today, that has been effectively contained by the present administration of Governor Seriake Dickson. So nobody can commit a crime in the state and successfully hide away.

So in terms of infrastructure, the government is laying a very solid base in the city and across the state. We are also constructing two major flyovers in the capital, Yenaoga to ease traffic and make life very easy for road users. In the next few weeks we are going to pay compensation to those whose houses have been affected by the flyover project. We are going to pay over N1.2 billion to house owners, whose details have been worked out.It is quite huge because the area is built-up already. I can say that since we came into office, we have paid over N3.4 billion as compensation to enable us to undertake our development projects.

We are having two problems in the course of development of infrastructure. The first is difficult terrain that makes our cost of construction very high and built up areas which require payment of compensation to demolish and build.So in terms of preparation, I think the necessary foundation has been laid in the past one year and we are building on that foundation. I believe that in the next two years given the speed that the governor is going in his silent revolution in infrastructural development, a new Dubai would have emerged in Bayelsa State.The Impression outsiders have is that there is only one road in Bayelsa and the rest is water.

Question: So what has the administration done to increase accessibility to and from Yenagoa?

We have done a lot. First, the Outer Ring Road is one and the other is the road to Amassoma. We are constructing a bridge at Torogbeni, which has 12-span. Work on the bridge is progressing and once the water recedes, more attention would be paid to it. Before the end of March, that road would have been completed. That road will take us strait to Sagbama. We are not going to have only one road coming into Bayelsa.We are going to have three roads into Bayelsa. Even the Glory Land Drive Phase 2 is part of what we are doing to open up another vista from which you can get into Yenagoa not necessarily from Mbiama. We are trying to diversify the roads through which one can access Yenagoa, the state capital with ease.

Question: What are you doing to industrialise the state?

We believe that after putting a conducive atmosphere in place, the investments will roll in. We have done a lot in terms of attracting investments. There is no week that passes without the governor receiving requests from groups and individuals for investment. We are looking at investments from two fronts: tourism and the oil industry and agro-based industry.As we speak we have established a starch production plant in Eberebiri and a Cassava farm, a banana farm, and green farm and an aquaculture farm for production and export. We also have plans to revive our palm estates.

We have put up at least 50 houses in each of the Local Government Areas and major towns. Within Yenagoa, we have three major housing estates and the Golf Estate that is coming up for the big players and a tourist island.In case of power generation, the state has just signed a contract with IPP America for the generation of additional 120 megawatts of power to add to what we have. We are also looking at power clusters scheme with hydro electricity.

Curled from the Vanguard news online

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF CONSULTATIVE MEETING OF IJAW ELDERS AND LEADERS OF THOUGHT HELD IN GOVERNMENT HOUSE , YENAGOA ONSUNDAY 30TH NOVEMEBER 2013

 COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF CONSULTATIVE MEETING OF IJAW ELDERS AND LEADERS OF THOUGHT HELD IN GOVERNMENT HOUSE , YENAGOA ONSUNDAY  30TH NOVEMEBER 2013 

A one day meeting of Ijaw elders and leaders of thought took place in Government House, Yenagoa on Sunday 30thNovember 2013. The meeting which was presided over by the Chairman of Ijaw National Conference Pa E. K. Clark , had in attendance over 200 leaders of thought of Ijaw extraction drawn from Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Rivers and Ondo States.

 2.      The Consultative Meeting expressed great grief over the demise of the leader of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), late Senator Dr. Tari Sekibo, Odoabaji the Seventh  . The meeting observed one minute silence in honour of the INC leader.

 3.      The discussion focused on several issues of interest and concern to the people of Ijaw ethnic nationality and Nigeria in general. Amongst other things these include; 

i.       The state of the Nigerian Nation dwelling on national security, economic and social development. 
ii.      Political developments in Nigeria especially the National Dialogue, peace and stability and the move towards 2015 elections. 

4.      After exhaustive deliberations, the consultative meeting noted as follows;

i.       That the Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government led by President Goodluck Jonathan is making steady progress in various areas. . These include rehabilitation of roads, railways and airports nationwide; Power sector reforms; The completion of NIPP projects; Job creation through SURE P and YouWin; Massive healthcare reform through upgrading and modernatization of Teaching Hospitals and Federal Medical Centres; Agricultural Transformation including enhanced production of rice and staples; Unprecedented Investment Inflow and so on.
 ii.      That President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has brought Nigeria to an uncommon level of International respect, acceptance and prestige as reflected in outcome of recent visits to South Africa, Kenya, China, United States, Israel , and in Nigeria’s recent election into the United Nations Security Council. iii.     The Federal Government has achieved remarkably well in restoring peace to various troubled parts of the country ravaged by the Boko Haram menace. The measures taken by the Federal Government is yielding positive results.
 iv.     That the decision of the Federal Government to create a platform for discussion, dialogue and brotherly exchange of ideas underscores its commitment to addressing the yearnings of its people is commendable.                
 v.      That the determination of the Federal Government to continue to uphold he rule of law, Due process and constitutionalism in the nations body polity, especially in the match towards 2015 underscores its commitment towards building on the globally acclaimed success and transparency in the 2011 elections and subsequent polls.  

5.      After elaborate discussions, the Consultative Meeting affirmed and resolved as follows;
 i.                                 Expresses its vote of confidence in President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for his uncommon commitment to the progress, peace, harmony and stability of the country.
 ii.                               Appreciate the support given to Mr. President by other ethnic nationalities in Nigeria. 
iii.                             Calls on President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to remain steadfast in his labour and his toil and service to this great country.
 iv.                             Calls on all Nigerians to work with the Federal Government to build a Nigerian Nation in peace and progress.     
 v.                               Condemns the various voices of distraction aimed at thwarting the lofty achievements of the Federal Government     

    Dated in  Yenagoa , 30th November 2013.

BUSTED!!! DANGOTE TRUCK IN ILLEGAL OIL BUNKERING

BUSTED!!! DANGOTE TRUCK IN ILLEGAL OIL BUNKERING

RECENTLY the Minister for Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Allison Madueke raised an alarm over the Rising level of Oil Theft especially in the Niger Delta region. Statistically, a total of 350,000 barrels per day (bpd) were lost to illegal bunkering in 2012, and the trend continued in 2013 with even more Alarming figures. No wonder the Minister described it as “another face of Terrorism” capable of worsening the country's economic problems.

Within the past 16 months Men of the Bayelsa State's Operation Doo-Akpor outfit, (which is a special police security outfit that is funded by the Government of Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson) has added the fight against oil theft and illegal bunkering to their lengthy list of state security operations.

During a visit to the operation Doo Akpor camp base located along Imiringi road in Yenagoa yesterday, we could not help but notice the numerous barrels of illegal crude oil products recovered by the outfit.  

However what was more interesting was the presence of; approximately a 50ft wide Dangote truck loaded with Bags of what looks like flour from a distance. But in a discussion with the Operation Doo akpor policemen, it was revealed that each bag of the supposed golden penny flour was as a matter of fact loaded with over 50 litters of illegally bunkered diesel products.

According to them, the Dangote truck with registration number YKS 190 KA JIGAWA,(ICT-5E-034)  was said to have been intercepted by the men of operation Doo- Akpor  team along the ox bow lake road of the State’s capital  Yenagoa.  During a Random search, it was discovered that the Dangote truck was carrying over 75 bags of illegally bunkered diesel products. The driver of the truck absconded leaving his conductor and another passenger, who are now in police custody.

The big questions now:

1. How large is the syndicate of oil theft and illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta?  

2. Are our security Outfits capable of deciphering the new and criminally genius ways these oil thieves are concealing products and carrying out their operations?  

By Matilda Barakemi
For Inside Bayelsa Online
30th Nov,2013

NIGERIA-BAYELSA; PROTECTING THE UNDERWATER CULTURAL HERITAGE

Underwater Cultural heritage encompasses all traces of human existence, that lie or were lying underwater and has a cultural or historic character.
The richness of the worlds Underwater Cultural heritage is often underestimated. While over the last century, archeological sites on land has yielded an abundance of information on the development of civilization, the oceans, which covers the larger part of our planet, still retain any of their secrets. However, they contain a unique testament to the spirits of our ancestors for exploration; and many shipwrecks and ruins of cities lost to the waves are inched better preserved than similar sites found in land. This is why the UNESCO convention for the protection of the underwater Cultural heritage, adopted by the UNESCO general conference in 2001, intends to enable states to better protect their underwater heritage.

UNESCO fosters the preservation, research and protection of this underwater Cultural heritage. Its major tool to do so is the UNESCO 2001 Convention on the protection of the underwater cultural heritage. This convention is the leading legal instrument guiding underwater archaeology worldwide, it is designed to strengthen legal protection, research, co-operation, awareness-raising and capacity building. Especially important for the African region are its clear prohibition of the commercial exploitation of sites as well as its guidance in the development of underwater archaeology.

The First African regional meeting of the protection of the underwater cultural heritage, organised by the federal ministry of Tourism, Culture and national orientation in collaboration with the United Nations Education,Scientific and Cultural organization(UNESCO) and the Bayelsa state ministry for Culture and Ijaw affairs was Held in the Ijaw House Yenagoa, Bayelsa state.

The conference which will run through the 10th to 14th November 2013, had in attendance representatives from 16 African nations, Angola, Togo, Guinea, Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Comoros, Niger, Republic of Congo, Seychelles, Mauritius, Equatorial Guinea,  Namibia, Tanzania, Gambia, Mali, and South Africa. Representatives from UNESCO, Nigeria's Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National orientation as well as representatives of the Bayelsa state ministry for Culture and Ijaw affairs where also present.

By Matilda Angaye
Coined from fascinating Nigeria programme

Dickson’s Handshake across the Atlantic

Dickson signing Memorandum of Understanding during his visit to Lincoln UNIVERSITY..

The recent two-day visit to the historic Lincoln University in the United States of America by the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson and his appointment into the university’s Board of Visitors opens a new vista for Nigerians, writes Segun James

Education, they say, is power. This is probably why since his inception as governor of Bayelsa State, South-south of Nigeria more than two years ago, Henry Seriake Dickson, has accorded education a pride of place in the running of his administration.

By doing this, the governor, not only aspires to increase the literacy level of his people, but also to build a new crop of well-educated and enlightened citizenry that will contribute meaningfully to the well-being of the populace in particular and the overall development of the state in all facets of human endeavour, in general.

During his recent two-day visit to historic Lincoln University in the United States of America, Dickson’s devotion to creating opportunities for young people in Bayelsa State through provision of quality education was, once more, on display. The visit brought the governor and his entourage, face-to-face with top leaders of the university community.

Located in the state of Pennsylvania, Lincoln University was the first institution in the United States of America and the entire western world which was established for the purpose of providing university degrees to Black people. This was at a time the colour on a man’s skin could mean a whole lot of difference in the perception of the people in that clime where the university was situated. 

Though situated in America, Lincoln University has played a vital role in Africa’s political history and its development. For instance, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first president of Nigeria matriculated at the university.So also was Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president and leading pan-Africanist, who, together with other notable black people from all over the world, also studied at this revered institution.Of course, hundreds of other African intellectuals and professionals who have contributed greatly to the growth and development of the continent also trained at Lincoln University. The institution also has played a pivotal role in American civil rights movement. Leading lights such as Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American Supreme Court Justice graduated from this university.

Perhaps, these great accomplishments and many more by this prestigious institution of higher learning, was why Dickson was quite at home walking the same grounds these heroes walked.Interestingly, the governor’s visit to the university a few weeks back coincided with his appointment to the University’s Board of Visitors by its president, Robert Jennings. The Board of Visitors is an influential committee established by President Jennings to help Lincoln University forge working relationships with innovative institutions and organisations throughout America and other parts of the world. So Dickson was invited to join the board because of his reputation for good governance and educational reform, a trait that has endeared his administration to the heart of Bayelsans. Thus, the governor’s visit to the university was a further proof and demonstration that his selection as a member of the esteemed Board of Visitors was a wise choice.

 During his numerous meetings with President Jennings as well as other senior University officials, Governor Dickson showcased firm knowledge of the operations and administrative imperatives of a tertiary educational institution of the 21st century. 

Always forward looking, he did not only show strong grasp of the imperatives of today, he exhibited rare vision for a better tomorrow regarding education sector.With this visit, the governor has achieved a mileage of progress that will benefit his state and Nigeria for generations to come. This is because agreements were reached to established a formal institutional relationship between Bayelsa State and Lincoln University. Pursuant to this agreement, Bayelsa State will establish a fund whereby it shall provide scholarships for eligible, competent students from the oil-rich state to pursue undergraduate degrees at Lincoln University.

  Discussions during the meeting also explored areas of academic and administrative exchange programs to provide capacity-building to staff of the Niger Delta University, NDU, in Bayelsa State. These programmes will include NDU staff visiting Lincoln University with opportunity for Lincoln University staff to be seconded to NDU as well.Another important aspect of the governor’s discussions was the understanding that Lincoln is willing to serve as a formal liaison between Bayelsa State and other historical black colleges and universities (HBCUs)  in America.

Through this understanding, Lincoln will serve as a connection point for Bayelsa State to the large network of HBCUs.  This will allow the state to tap each HBCU in its areas of comparative expertise. For instance, Lincoln University does not have an active programme in agriculture but will begin to open doors for Bayelsa to those schools with agricultural programmes that may benefit Bayelsa State and NDU.

It is widely expected that Bayelsa State and NDU will take advantage of this arrangement to help develop actual government projects as well as enhance NDU programmes in  such areas as tourism/hospitality industry, agriculture and aqua-culture, environmental protection and nature conservation, business development, job creation, entrepreneurial development, public education as well as public administration and social service delivery.

Viewed critically, governor Dickson’s maiden visit to Lincoln University was a resounding success. Not only did it rekindle positive memories of the historic relationship between Nigeria and the African-American community, the visit also showed that the relationship is not just a memoir of the past.

This is why immediately on arrival back to Nigeria, the governor has put in place, a committee to screen eligible students of Bayelsa origin for scholarship awards to study in Lincoln. The committee is headed by Prof. Steve Azaiki, author and one time Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government as well as the Co-coordinator of the National Think-Tank.

The first batch of students will leave for the United States in December, this year.To be sure, with vision and purpose, the historic bridge between Nigeria and Africa, on one side and the African-American community on the other, can be remodelled to build an even more constructive relationship that will lead both sides to a more hopeful future.  Perhaps this is why governor Dickson’s visit is an attestation to the rebuilding of the historic bridge with this famous American University.

By Segun James
From Thisday
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/dickson-s-handshake-across-the-atlantic/163551/

ODI MASSACRE: Court Upholds Decision to pay N37billion compensation-Odi Threatens Criminal Suit Against CBN

COUNCEL to Odi Community of Bayelsa State in its case against the Federal Government over 1999 army invasion of the community, has threatened to press criminal charges against the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, if it fails to pay the N37.6 billion compensation awarded to the community by a court.

The counsel, Ifedayo Adedipe, spoke, yesterday, after Justice Lambo Akanbi of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, described as baseless and dismissed CBN’s application to set aside the judgment ordering payment of the N37.6 billion to Odi.

Justice Akanbi had, on February 19, 2013, convicted the Federal Government for genocide against Odi and awarded N37.6 billion compensation to be paid within 21 days from date of judgment.

Following government’s reluctance to respond to the ruling, the plaintiffs (Odi) on May 3, filed a motion exparte demanding a garnishee order absolute to be made to the CBN to effect the payment of the judgment sum, an application the court granted.

The CBN, in response, claimed it was not given ample time to be heard as an affected party and consequently filed an application to the same court asking that the garnishee order be set aside and the matter retried.

In his ruling yesterday, Justice Akanbi insisted that the apex bank was duly represented in the matter on June 17 as its legal representative did not ask for extended date to allow the motion to mature.

Ifedayo Adedipe, SAN, after the ruling, said of his client (Odi), “We are very happy about that ruling. The application was misconceived from the beginning. It is part of the long term ploy of those who invaded Odi to ensure that they do not get justice.”

Extracted from codewit world news.

Bayelsa Plans Low Cost Houses For Civil Servants

In a bid to improve the living conditions of civil servants, Bayelsa State government has disclosed its intention to build low cost houses for them. It has directed the relevant ministry to acquire 100 hectares of land for that purpose.Governor Seriake Dickson, who announced the plan in Yenagoa at a three-day retreat on strategic management for permanent secretaries in the state, said the development was part of the welfare package for civil servants.

The retreat is organised by the state government in collaboration with the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON).Dickson said the project would commence at Agbura in the next two months just as another housing scheme for senior civil servants would be located opposite the five-star hotel in the state capital.

The governor also assured of government intention to add four more buses to the existing fleet of six for the mass transport scheme for civil servants, saying it will take off at the end of the month.He said, “The reforms being undertaken in the civil service were geared towards enhancing the productivity and professionalism of the workforce as the civil service is the instrumentality through which government policies and programmes are implemented”.

He described as wrong and criminal the development where some civil servants without the requisite medical qualifications were benefiting from the medical and health workers salary scale.

Dickson also directed the Ministry of Finance to work in conjunction with the Head of Service and Treasury Department to expunge the names of such medical workers from the special salary scale with effect from this month.In his words, “There is an unhealthy practice in this state.

There are people who are not entitled to earn the medical and health workers’ allowance. Entitlement depends on qualification and not membership of a union. We are working together to lay a foundation of a new Bayelsa State and if we do not do so, Bayelsa will self-destruct.

We must not allow this illegality and impunity to continue.”On the need for workers to pay appropriate taxes in conformity with the Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) of the Federal Government, Dickson said government would soon evolve a tax policy for the private sector in the state to enable all stakeholders to participate in the development of the state. 

SAMUEL ESE, Yenagoa
From Business Day news..

Bayelsa State College of Education is back to life

Bayelsa State College of Education is back to life
June 28, 2013

Recently, the Bayelsa State College of Education was not only renamed Isaac Jasper Boro College of Education to immortalise the Niger Delta legendary hero, but  relocated  to Sagbama local government  area  and  has consequently resumed for normal academic activities for 2012/2013  session, with  students and staff applauding Governor Dickson’s decision, writes  AHERHOKE OKIOMA

Normal academic activities have resumed at the permanent site of the Bayelsa state, Isaac Jasper Boro college of Education, Sagbama in Sagbama Local Government Area with a student population of 701 and 25 programs with introduction of Theatre Arts and Music as new courses. A source told Blueprint that students would soon matriculate awaiting formal accreditation of courses.

To this end a theatre Hall is to be constructed, and to forestall the fate that had earlier befallen it, this time around, a bill was signed into law not only for its relocation, but naming by the state governor who is a lawyer and former Attorney -General and Commissioner of Justice.

 The prayers in the lips of Bayelsans is that Sagbama should remain the permanent site which would not be changed when the government of Seriake Dickson comes to an end as it has become a norm in Nigeria history that every leader wants a higher institution to be sited in his area and no doubt the Sagbama choice was not an exemption to that consideration.if it were to be subjected to an opinion poll, majority of Bayelsans would have preferred  Okordia-Zarama where a similar institution was once sited and abandoned  with the facilities wasting away probably waiting for when somebody from there would become governor for it to be remembered.                                                                                                                                                          To kick start this citadel of knowledge the state governor appointed professor Savior Agora as the pioneer provost of Isaac Jasper Boro College of Education, Sagbama. Prof  Saviour Agoro who had lectured at the state owned  Niger Delta University and a pioneer staff of the Peremabiri Campus of Rivers State College of Education ,warned against truancy and absenteeism  among staff and urged them to show commitment and dedication to duties as the management of the institution was poised to provide a friendly and conducive atmosphere  for them to perform their functions  effectively.

In a maiden meeting with academic and non-academic staff he warned against truancy and lateness to duty. He declared” Those who are willing to work should prepare to make sacrifices that are associated with a new institution  and those who are not ready to face these challenges should resign their appointment now , we are here to work and will not beg anybody to work” he stressed.

The Bayelsa state college of Education has suffered policy somersault in the past that has resulted to its relocation to Agudama -Epie and later to Okpoama , the home town of Former Gov Timipre Sylva where for over an academic session,  the college could barely admit about 50 students. 

With over 200 lecturers, the students and staff were scared of the location, which was politically motivated until its relocation was revoked by the present administration of Governor Dickson who sited it in a more central upland area.

At that time, lecturers found it demoralizing after much research to meet an empty class, sometimes there will be no students at all to be taught and it’s lavish liaison office at Yenizue -Epie, Yenagoa became a veritable opportunity for staff to idle away their times , just as some only signed their attendance register daily and go home to Waite for the next day.

By Aherhoke Okioma
Source: blueprint newspaper online.

Devt Board Inaugurates Projects in Bayelsa

Nigeria: Devt Board Inaugurates Projects in Bayelsa

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA, 2 JULY 2013

The people of the oil rich Tarakiri clan in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, last week had cause to celebrate as the Tarakiri Cluster Development Board commissioned some mega projects in four of the six communities that made up the cluster.Communities that benefited from the projects include Agbere, Ayamasa, Isampou and Ofoni.

However the board had to postpone the projects commissioning at Egbemo-Angalabiri and Agbiadiama communities for security reasons.Agbere community can now boast of a modern Information Communication and Technology, ICT Centre while, its dilapidated schools I, II and III, were renovated and now wearing a new look, the board commissioned an ICT centre and the newly renovated schools I, II and III.Ayamasa was not left out as it now has a new civic centre as well as a newly renovated and equipped Women Development Centre to cater for the capacity development of women in the community.

At Ofoni, which for now could only be accessed by water, an ICT centre was commissioned and handed over to the community. Isampou community also had a modern ICT centre while Zarama and Zion communities had newly constructed blocks of teachers' quarters.The projects were bank-rolled by the oil giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), under its Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) entered into with the Board.

The Tarakiri Cluster Development was inaugurated on April 16, 2010 and metamorphosed into a foundation on February 4, 2012.Speaking at the commissioning, which turned into a mini carnival by the elated indigenes of the area, the Chairman of the Cluster Board, Dr. Jude Ebibokefie, lauded its sponsor, the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), and the mentoring Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO, Self Help and Rural Development Association, SHERDA, for the successful completion of the projects.Represented by his Vice, Chief Godspower Akpandara, the chairman re-iterated the board's commitment to human capacity development in the communities.

Commending the state government for providing the enabling environment and Shell for facilitating the dividends of democracy in the various communities through the projects, he enjoined the benefiting communities to be responsible and make optimal use of the projects and protect them from vandals.

The board chairman also gave the assurance that the gesture would be extended to Egbemo-Angalabiri and Agbiadiama as soon as the security situation improved in the communities.Representatives of the various communities thanked the Board, SPDC and SHERDA, as well as the state government for making the projects' completion a reality.

They not only promised to protect, maintain and keep the projects in good condition, but also asked that more projects be executed in their communities.

From the vanguard