As an actor and also a Stakeholder in election matters, the State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Delta State Command Akinsanya Iskilu Abiodun has harped on the needs and factors that will guarantee a free, fair and credible election in the 2023 general election.

The Commandant made these revelations in his office through a press Statement issued by the State Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Delta State Command Dsc Emeka Peters Okwechime.

In the Statement, the Commandant said that the credibility of the 2023 general election will be adjudged by the level of professionalism, operational guide, regiments, standards and conduct of party men, women, youths, stakeholders, politicians, political parties, civil societies, critical stakeholders including Security Agents, exhibited before, during and after the 2023 general elections.

On this premise, I therefore charge officers and men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to be Neutral and Remain Apolitical as the political campaigns of various political parties and their candidates kick start nation wide. I urged my personnel to remain firm, committed, Proffessional and resolute in discharging their constitutional duties.

It will be recalled that the NSCDC mandate is not limited to the protection of all government critical national assets and infrastructure, licensing, monitoring and regulating the activities of private security gaurds but includes protection of electorates and professionals, orientation, early warnings, crisis and disaster Management among others.

We must display our commitment to build public trust and confidence to maintain national peace, security and a determined zeal to advance the tenets of democracy, democratic values and national security

Dsc Emeka Okwechime said that the Commandant ordered all Area Commanders, the 25Divisional Officers to work closely with INEC officials and political party leaders in their various areas and Local Government with a formidable synergy and collaboration with other sister Security Agencies in order to be aware of all political activities in the campaign time tables for the provision of adequate security protection. The idea was to address any form of conflicts in venues, dates and time during campaigns.

The NSCDC Spokes man Dsc Emeka Peters pointed out that his boss warned all private security outfits established in our local communities under different structures and operations, which have no legal roles in the Electoral Act to steer clear and allow the Electoral Security Actors (ESA) to perform their legitimate duties.

Consequent upon this, you are charged to ensure that they are not involved or used by any political or local community actor in any activity during the electioneering campaign and other electoral process. It will amount to gross illegality and also a threat to the nation’s security architecture which can jeopardise National Democratic Process (NDP) Akinsanya posited.

He warned politicians, youths and mischief makers to shun any form of violence, campaigns of calumny, character assassinations, malicious statements, hate speech among others culpable of breeching the peace. They should rather engaged on issue based campaign and proffer more solutions for a better Nigeria. He urge citizens not to take to crime but have a rethink, adding that the NSCDC is committed to deal decisively with such person or persons with the extant laws of the land.

By: Celestine Ukah

The Secretary to Warri North Local Government Council, Comrade Samuel Meyjwa Khalil, SMK has escaped kidnapped attempt on his life this evening Tuesday September 27, 2022.

The terrifying incident according to SMK occurred around 9:30pm at Aziza junction along the Sapele road at the Uvwie end and Okpe LGAs axis of the expressway in Delta state..

The Warri North Council Secretary noted this on his verified Facebook account, he stated thus : “Only about 30Mins ago, I escaped from the hands of suspected Fulani Herdsmen by Aziza junction along Warri Sapele Road, who attempted to Kidnapp me. How I escaped from the arms militia is Still a mystery to me…

“Aside a few body injury and destruction of my car, I have come to Return All glory to God, God is too faithful to fail me”. Comrade Samuel Meyiwa Khalil posited. .

Meanwhile during the day time series of security team are seen lined up on the sapele road including vigilante sometimes slowing vehicular and economic activities on the road leading to lost of time coupled to difficulty in navigating the already failed stretch of the carriage dual expressway.

By: Celestine Ukah

*Residents say state Government remains adamant to flood warning by NEMA, NIHSA

Early morning heavy rain that lasted for about two hours has taken over some part of Jeddo, Ughoton, Ugbokodo and other neighbouring communities in Okpe LGA of Delta state.

The heavy downpour disrupted business activities and students going to school were due to it delayed in going to school while others couldn’t attempt to come out of their homes to swim in the flooded streets in the area.

Some of the streets affected in Oduma layout off new Okpe road, former Cranefield road, ending of Red Beret Police Road in Jeddo lamented about the havoc caused them by the flood the rain brought to the locality as water could not find its way faster through the drains due to much flow pressure from other channels to the shallow drains.

Residents in Jeddo, Ughoton, Ugbokodo and in main Warri city centre accused the Delta state government of being adamant to flood warnings from different relevant federal government agencies including the Nigeria Environmental Management Agency, NEMA, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, NIHSA and Nigeria Meteorological Agency, NiMET.

They are urging the Delta state government to immediately intervene in the flood issue looming in the identified flood LGAs and communities in the state as predicted by the government agencies and as well evacuate those living at flood prone areas in the state.

Flood also ravaged some homes at the Jeddo area , Chairman of the Odume layout, Engr. Osuogu appealed to the Delta state government and other interventionist agencies to come to their aid by constructing the access roads in the adjoining streets to the New Okpe road as well construct more bigger drainage in order to allow easy flow of the water to the drains.

Here is the statement of the government agencies warning of intending flooding: “the Director-General, National Environment Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Mustapha Ahmed, said that the agency had identified 233 local government areas in 32 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) which were predicted to experience flooding this year. Ahmed made this disclosure at a national consultative workshop on 2022 flood preparedness, mitigation and response organised by the agency in Abuja.

“According to him, the workshop was one of the steps outlined by the agency to bring stakeholders together, and was aimed at collectively preparing and providing strategies to strengthen flood risk mitigation and effective response. According to him, this followed the 2022 seasonal climate prediction released by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and the annual flood outlook released by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).

“He said: “Efforts must be made to mitigate and respond effectively to flooding. We have sent advisory letters and maps showing predicted flood risk areas in various states to the respective state governments.” While explaining that NEMA had produced risk maps for vulnerable local government areas as forecast by NIHSA’s annual flood outlook, the NEMA boss urged state emergency management agencies and local emergency management committees to be proactive. This, he said, would ensure effective and efficient flood preparedness, mitigation and response. On her part, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Farouq, called on relevant stakeholders to take proactive measures in addressing flood and its associated impacts”.

By: Celestine Ukah

The gateway to Warri the popular Effurun Rounded in Uvwie LGA , Delta state is currently blocked as at 8pm this evening Friday September 23, 2022.

The cause of the blockade is as a result of the collapsed part of the roundabout suffering from lingering neglect by the Delta State government for the past years .

Committees and other road users were groan over the huge traffic gridlock always occurring at the roundabout daily without solution from the state government.

As at the time of filling this report heavy duty vehicles and other cars plying the route especially those transiting from Warri to Sapele, Benin, Portharcourt in Rivers State , Bayelsa and other parts of the country including entrance to the Warri and Effurun as well as Udu and Osubi in Okpe LGAs of the stare .

The young and dynamic Executive Chairman of Oshimili South Local Government, Hon. Kelvin Obi Ezenyili has eulogized the sterling leadership qualities and impeccable personality of the Iyase of Asaba Kingdom, Obi Patrick Isioma Goodluck Onyeobi, describing him as his mentor and role model.

He made this assertion while paying homage to the Iyase during his 2022 New Yam Festival (Iwaji) celebration on Thursday 22nd September, 2022, at the Iyase’s Ancestral home at Ogwa Idumuojei in Umuezei Quarters of Asaba.

The Chairman said people might not know how he got into office as the Oshimili South Council Administrator, stating that it was the making of Iyase Onyeobi.

His words, “It is a humbling pleasure on my person to identify with the Iyase of Asaba. We are not just here because of his new yam festival celebration, we are here because this is what we want to always do – identifying with him.

“Obi Onyeobi is more than a father to me. He played much role in my emergence as Chairman of Oshimili South Local Government. As long as we continue to be in office and even beyond, we will always pay our loyalty to him.

“I am exceedingly grateful to God for having such a well endowed community leader on my side. Iyase Onyeobi remains a fountain of knowledge, wisdom and intellectual prowess to always draw from, and no matter his age, he has continued to play key role in brightening our administration. He was an administrator par excellence and that is why we will not stop praying to God to grant him many more years of productivity for the good of humanity.

“On this note sir, I have come to inform you that our administration recently embarked on the construction of the Oshimili South Legislative Complex. That building is 85 percent at completion stage. When completed, we shall invite the Governor of our dear State and incoming Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa to commission it. This edifice will be named after you sir, Obi Patrick Isioma Goodluck Onyeobi as our token of honour for all you have done and stand for in Oshimili South and the entire human race. Obi Igwe!

“In a nutshell, I want to appeal for the continual support of Asaba people and Oshimili South in general to the PDP. Let us do it 5/5 this time in our collective quest to rescue Nigeria. And of course, with our son as Vice President, we should be rest assured of a better Nigeria going forward”, Ezenyili submitted.

In his response, the Iyase said he was surprised to receive such cheering news from a working Chairman.

He stated that he would live to remember this particular edition of his Iwaji celebration, appreciating Ezenyili for honouring him on his moment of joy as a traditional leader and also proposing to immortalise him.

According to him, “I am surprised at how highly this young man, assessed to have done so well thought about me. I am not a politician; I was only a professional civil servant who was taught how to dispense leadership that brings peace and development to the people. We were taught that there is no price greater than the price for peace. The Chairman has done extremely well and we must continue to support him.

“I just do what I need to do as an individual. This has shown me that people see the good works of others. And except a man dies, his goodwill continues to live on.

“Our Chairman has proven to be a true son of Anioma Nation; we must as a people keep record of such virtues and quality of humans around us. I once again appreciate him for honouring me on my Iwaji. This is a celebration of Asaba people as an agrarian community reputed for farming as their major industry. And yam as their revered staple food is the symbol of Thanksgiving to God and Ancestors for a productive farming season, while also using the period to pray for better farming seasons in future.

“The Asagba of Asaba having done his own Iwaji, the Obis then followed. I am currently an Obi, also an Iyase having first been installed as a chief and presently, I hold the position of Diokpa of Idumuojei Village in Umuezei Quarters of Asaba. So in my case, I now combine the three celebrations to have one Iwaji celebration. It’s a period of peace; Iwaji is used to harness peace and so, when we gather to celebrate the new yam, we are gathering because of the presence of peace in our community. Where people are hungry there can’t be peace. On this note, I urge the government to provide the enabling environment for people to live in peace”, Onyeobi posited.

It was indeed a day of merry making as the men, women and youths gathered in their numbers to celebrate with Obi Onyeobi and there was more than enough to eat and drink.

Renowned legal practitioner, Chief Thompson Joseph Okpoko SAN OON today said the seven months strike is an action taken too far by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.

He urged ASUU to take the green leaves to them and negotiate with the Federal Government.

Chief Okpoko made the assertion during a chat with Our Correspondent at his chamber in Warri, Delta State.

According to him,”If they negotiate, they reach an agreement, let them put it in writing with the federal government in a memo and if the government does not comply with what they want, then, they should consult their lawyer to see what they can do using the law against government because government is bound to obey the law”.

While noting that ASUU are the creators of the next generation, Chief Okpoko said if they decide not to teach again, the Nigerian University system will crash.

“If ASUU insists on striking for eternity, students will not go to school. Then, you have drop outs. The female will become pregnant, premature mothers. The result is that you are breeding poverty upon poverty and then off course,the insceurity we are talking about will multiply.

“We have cases of students who are on strike now being armed robbers, being kidnappers and so on. And off course, you saw the demonstrations in Lagos that they’re blocking the road. What has the road user got to do with the grievance of ASUU members? They’re transferring their aggression against government to the ordinary man and who is this ordinary man? Their fathers and especially those who are working to pay their school fees. So, they have extended it too much.”

Chief Okpoko said the Nigerian Students can protest against the government to settle the dispute with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.

Chief Okpoko noted that the students can appeal to their lecturers to take us into account considering the effects the strike would have on them with thw assurances of pressurising their parents to pressurise the politicians to do something.

He however stressed that ASUU should have the maturity of teachers and lecturers of olden days to resolve the matter.

Chief Okpoko also blamed the Federal Government for not making adequate budgetary allocations for the education ministry.

Chief Okpoko concluded that Nigerians should learn to do things in orderly manner for the nation can move forward.

*Says Engagement Of Tompolo Causing Oil Thieves Sleepless Nights

Members of the Ijaw Patriotic League have hailed President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylvia and the Group General Manager (GMD) of the NNPC, Mele Kyari for the award of the Pipeline Surveillance Contract to High Chief Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo, describing it as a welcome development.

In an open letter signed by Comrade Jasper Eritei (President) and Chief Jones Ebikinmi (Secretary) to the President, the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources and the Management of the NNPC, the group said that the award of the pipeline contract to Tompolo has become a source of worry to oil thieves, mindless economic saboteurs and their collaborators, saying the decision of the Federal Government was a bold one.

They wrote that; We the Members of Ijaw Patriotic League have watched with keen interest the clearly orchestrated campaign of calumny against the Management of the NNPC and the Presidency over the award of a Pipeline Surveillance and Security Contract to a company in which High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) has interest”.

“In the ordinary sense of it, we would have stuck to the resolution of our General Assembly to ignore the criticisms that trailed the announcement of the crucial contract award as the swan song of a group who lost out in the bidding process. However, the sustained campaign in the media and the ethnic dimensions to the contract had made it clear that the oil theft, the Federal Government has taken the step to fight has grabbed the strategic offensive position. It is a popular aphorism that when you fight a crime network, you must expect a backlash. This will suppose and strongly believe at the receiving signs of a band of oil thieves jolted by the government action who will not go without a fight”, they further wrote.

“As a group, committed to the peace and development in the Niger Delta, we seldom comment on such issues which we consider strictly personal business concerns of individuals. However, the sustained media campaign and the barrage of attacks against High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) has made it necessary for us with these positions”, they stated in the open letter.

According to the Ijaw Patriotic League; “First, we support and commend the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, his Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR for the ingenious decision to hire capable firms for the protection of the violated and abused pipelines and strategic national assets in the Niger Delta”.

They added; “We also commend the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mele kyari who took this bold, deliberate and rational decision to respond in a creative way to the unimaginably callous and distressing theft of the nation’s s crude resources within the contractual engagement of five firms including the one in which Tompolo has interest to fight the scourge which sabotages the economy of this country and threatens national security and stability”.

“In view of the grim reality of a band of thieves running riot in the Niger Delta and the devastating effect of oil theft on the wellbeing of the Nigerian State, those who run the oil sector should rather be encouraged to take steps in the interest of Nigeria as they have done in this case. Orchestrating a campaign of calumny is beneath expectations of citizens of good conscience”, they wrote.

They disclosed that; “Recently, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, said during a visit to the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, at the Government House, Owerri, in August that the hoodlums stealing the Nation’s resources have reduced oil production by 400,000 barrels per day (bpd), translating to an alarming drop of the Nation’s daily allocation from OPEC from 1.8 Million to 1.4 Million bpd”.

“An otherwise similar position painted by the NNPC on September 11th, 2002 by Bala Wunti, Group General Manager, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) was even more disturbing. He said Nigeria loses 700 Million Dollars every month to oil theft at the terminal. Nothing can be discomforting to a serious government than these type of debilitating figures”, they stated.

According to them also; “This we understand made the Federal Government to engage five firms, Ocean Marine belonging to an indigene of Edo State valued #5 Billion Naira per month, Pipeline Infrastructure, belonging to a prominent Monarch in Delta State covering over 350 Kilometres, (with over 200 kilometers) in Rivers State, and part of Edo and Delta States valued at about #7 Billion Naira and the firm in which Chief Ekpemupolo has interest and two others”.

They posited that; “Our investigation has so far revealed that two of these firms operated by indigenes of the Niger Delta from the Bini and Itsekiri ethnic group who have bigger surveillance contractual agreement with the Government who have been on the contract for years have not attracted comment in the media”,

“While we are not going to join issues with the ethnic irredentists who are pushing the boundaries of ethic arrogance with astonishing audacity, we are inclined to agree with the view point that oil thieves and collaborators are uncomfortable with the decision of the Federal Government to involve Tompolo for obvious reasons”, the Ijaw Patriotic League said in their open letter.

According to the group, Tompolo has a track record of firmness and dedication in the execution of a major contract in Nigerian maritime domain, adding that; “It is on record beyond contestation, Global West Vessels Specialists Limited owned by him boosted NIMASA’s revenue and reduced the then escalating incidents of piracy on the nation’s territorial waters as stated in media reports by the then Director-General of the agency Dr. Bashir Jamoh”.

“A former Director in the Agency, Captain Waredi Enuisouh, highlighted this feet when he told journalists that “before Global West’s contract, NIMASA was making about $10 million to $12 million per annum but Global West’s intervention raised the figure to about $19.5 million per month. On the local currency revenue, NIMASA’s revenue jumped from #30 Billion Naira per annum to about #80 Billion Naira. It was from this increase the Global West got paid for its services”. These verifiable facts are in the public domain”; they said.

According to the group, Nigerians are too wise to be deceived by the ruthless cabal, saying that; “It is clear that the Federal Government, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, the group General Manager of the NNPC have all acted in good faith in rising to the criminal diversion of the Nation’s oil resources”.

“The engagement of Tompolo to execute a part of a five-way pipeline security contracts can only cause oil thieves mindless economy saboteurs and collaborators sleepless nights. We encourage the Federal Government which has taken these commendable steps to resist this blackmail from those who want to sustain the cruel oil theft in such unacceptably large scale. The GMD of the NNPC and his team have chosen competence, capacity and fairness. They should be applauded by all”, they wrote.