Dennis

Director New Media to the Bayelsa State Governor, Dr. Kola Oredipe, has donated a table tennis board, two  playing bats and set of balls to the Bayelsa State Council of the Nigeria Union of  Journalists, NUJ. Presenting the table to the State council at its secretariat, Dr. Oredipe, said the gesture was in fulfillment of his earlier promise made to the council. The governor’s aide, who is a journalist himself said the new table tennis board was to replace the former one that is now in a bad shape. While stressing the importance of sports to human health and well-being, Dr. Oredipe, said the presentation was also part of government efforts in promoting sports development in the State and amongst his colleagues in the pen fraternity. Dr. Oredipe, also pledged to sponsor an annual or quarterly table tennis competition among journalists in the State. His words “ When I look back, I was part of the history of the first table tennis board to the State council. Here we are this afternoon, I t

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has said the Central Senatorial District road linking Oporoma, the riverine headquarters of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, was crucial to the state’s economic development. Governor Diri stated this on Tuesday when he inspected one of the ongoing bridge projects at Angiama community.  He expressed satisfaction with the progress of work on the 22.2km Yenagoa-Oporoma-Ukubie road project undertaken by his administration.  The bridge over the Silver River at Aguobiri community is already completed while that linking Oporoma is within touching distance to the headquarters of the oil-rich local government.  Diri described the project as very fundamental to the state and particularly to people of the local government and  assured that it will be delivered on schedule. The governor also stated that his administration was committed to ensuring that the project experienced no hindrances with funding. He said: “We are happy with the steady progress

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, on Tuesday directed oil marketers in the state against hoarding and raising the price of premium motor spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol. Senator Diri, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, warned that his administration will take stern measures against any filling station that flouted the directive.  He said the government had received reports that filling stations in the state capital had hiked the pump price of petrol above the usual price of between N193 and N250 per litre and now being sold at N500 per litre and above. Marketers in the state are said to have reacted to the pronouncement of President Bola Tinubu during his inauguration on Monday that the Federal Government subsidy on petrol “was gone.” The Presidency, however, issued a clarification statement on Tuesday that the removal of the subsidy was yet to take effect. The Bayelsa governor said it was wicked for oil marketers to swiftly seek to

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, congratulates all state governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that took the oath of office on Monday, May 29. Governor Diri in a congratulatory message by his Chief Press Secretary. Mr. Daniel Alabrah, said a new chapter had been opened in the lives of the newly-sworn-in governors and in their individual states. The Bayelsa governor wishes the seven new and three returning governors of the party impactful tenures as they begin and continue their journey to transform their states. Democracy thrives when the process of choosing leaders is unhindered and is not manipulated. He urged people of these states, whose will was reflected in the election of their governors, to continue to support them to succeed, noting that governance is about team work and that the people are at the centre of the process. “I congratulate my brother-governors of the PDP that have joined our fold today, May 29. “History has been record

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has reassured the people of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area that commuters would drive from Yenagoa to Oporoma before the end of his first-term in office. Governor Diri also promised that access roads would be constructed to link most of the communities in the area, including Otuan, to the all-important Yenagoa-Oporoma road to promote socio-economic development of the state. He gave the assurance during a consultative meeting with stakeholders of Southern Ijaw Constituencies 1,2,3 and 4, in Government House, Yenagoa, at the weekend. Represented by his Deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the Governor commended the various Constituencies for their continued support for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the years. The State helmsman  particularly lauded the people of Southern Ijaw for massively voting for all the PDP candidates at the last general elections and urged them to sustain their support for the party for better dividends. G

The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), has launched a N1.5billion Cooperative Fund – the Presidential Amnesty Programme (Beneficiaries) Cooperative Society Limited (PAPCOSOL) to give strategic empowerment directly to ex-agitators of the Niger Delta. While officially launching the scheme at the Amnesty Office in Abuja on Wednesday, Interim Administrator of the PAP, Major Gen. Barry Ndiomu (rtd), said the initiative is a “novel alternative economic development scheme" designed to create a more viable means of sustainable livelihood for ex-agitators with socio-economic development of their communities and making them self reliant. Ndiomu recalled that over the years, various reintegration empowerment programmes have delivered less fulfilling results, but expressed confidence that the Cooperative initiative “is considered the most practicable approach to ensuring the sustainable reintegration of ex-agitators”. The Interim Administrator further reiterated that the scheme which will

The Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri on Tuesday said the Federal Government had witnessed firsthand the comparatively high cost of executing infrastructural projects in the state.  Governor Diri stated this at the official commissioning and handover ceremony of the Federal Secretariat in Yenagoa, which is named after former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan whose administration started the project back in 2011. Represented by his Deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the Governor noted that the cost of constructing a kilometre of standard road in Bayelsa is required to construct four or more kilometers of the same grade of road elsewhere in the country. He noted that the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Federal Secretariat which was initially pegged for N2.5 billion had to undergo a cost variation after the 2012 catastrophic flood and was completed at a total cost of N3.1 billion. He expressed hope that with this experience, the Federal Government would henceforth be more cautious

Bayelsa State Government is to undertake some quick-win projects across the various constituencies alongside the ongoing big ticket projects to fast track development in the state. The State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, stated this on Monday, at a meeting with key stakeholders in  Brass Constituencies 1, 2 and 3, in Government House, Yenagoa. According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Doubara Atasi, the Deputy Governor explained that the essence of the interaction was to assess the areas of their needs to enable government address such challenges.  He said while the Prosperity Administration was handling the construction of key projects such as the three senatorial roads, it has become imperative to also provide immediate interventions in projects that would impact directly on the people across communities. Senator Ewhrudjakpo, who charged Chairmen of Community Development Committees (CDC) in the constituencies to work closely with other com

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has congratulated Team Nigeria that participated at the just-concluded African Senior, Junior and Cadet Wrestling Championships in Hammamet, Tunisia . Nigeria came tops at the tournament winning six gold and four silver medals in the senior category, two gold in the junior category and one gold in beach wrestling. The team also won three silver and two bronze medals in different categories as well as clinching the African senior female team title for an unprecedented 12th time.  Olympic silver medallist, Blessing Oborududu, won gold in the 68kg category to emerge 12-time African champion. Governor Diri in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, noted that the team, which had 10 young Bayelsa wrestlers, made the state and the country proud at the championships. He said their performance was a positive manifestation of his administration’s relentless investment in sports and youths of the state. Diri also stated tha

Bayelsa State Government has urged members of the incoming 10th National Assembly from the Niger Delta to vigorously agitate for an upward review of the 13% crude oil derivation formula to a minimum of 25%. The state Governor, Senator Douye Diri gave the charge at the 108th session of the state Executive Council meeting on Wednesday in Government House, Yenagoa. Represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the Governor expressed regret that the 13% oil derivation formula which was subject to a periodic review has remained stagnant since 2003. He also called on the President-Elect, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to fulfill his promises, especially on resource control for the sake of equity and fairness to the people of the Niger Delta, who are suffering the brunt of crude oil production in the country. While expressing appreciation to Bayelsans for their large turn out yesterday  (Tuesday) to celebrate and honour Iate Ijaw icon, Major  Isaac Adaka Boro, he recalled that the issu

Bayelsa State Government has directed the Commissioners of Justice, Lands and Housing and Urban Development as well as Local Government and Community Development to immediately resolve the conflict among the three communities of Otuabagi, Otuogidi and Oloibiri over the location of the Oloibiri National Oil Museum and Research Centre by the federal government. The State Governor, Senator Douye Diri represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo gave the directive on Tuesday at this year's Boro Day celebration at the Ijaw Heroes Park in Yenagoa, the state capital. He said the matter should not be left for the Ijaw National Congress (INC) alone to handle in order to enthrone enduring  peace and stability among the three communities in the Ogbia Local Government Area of the state. As he puts it, "It is sad to realize that we fight over the crumbs that fall from the table because of some differences. As we speak, some persons have taken the federal and state governments as

Oil pollution in Bayelsa State was on the international focus on Tuesday as the report of the state’s Oil and Environmental Commission (BSOEC) was launched at the House of Lords in London. The 211-page report titled: “An Environmental Genocide: Counting the Human Cost of Oil in Bayelsa, Nigeria,” is a detailed documentation of the over 60 years of oil exploration and pollution in the state where oil was first discovered in commercial quantity in Nigeria by Shell. The BSOEC was established in March 2019 by the immediate past Senator Seriake Dickson administration.  It had as chair a former Anglican Archbishop of York and member of the House of Lords, Dr. John Sentamu, alongside former president of Ghana, John Kufuor and another member of the House of Lords, Baroness Valerie Amos, as honorary commissioners. Baroness Amos, in her remarks, said the pollution of Bayelsa by oil multinationals was scandalous and shameful, calling on the international community to take action against polluters

The Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission (BSOEC) will on Tuesday, May 16 formally present the final report of its investigation into the impact of oil exploration activities on the state to the international community. The BSOEC is chaired by a number of renowned dignitaries in the governance and international development arena, including Baroness Valerie Amos and former Ghanaian president, John Kuffuor.  The report will be presented at the House of Lords in London to further draw global attention to the devastating effects of oil pollution in Bayelsa and indeed the Niger Delta region. The BSOEC was set up in 2019 by former Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, who is now Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, to conduct extensive investigation and research in order to establish the environmental, human and economic impact of oil pollution on the state. Its findings and far-reaching recommendations are in the report titled: “An Environmental

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has formally inaugurated the state’s Directorate on Erosion and Flood Control. The directorate, which is headed by a surveyor, Mr. Omusco W. Omusco, is in response to the perennial flood devastation and the impact of coastal erosion in the riverine state. The body is charged with the responsibility  of proffering solutions to the twin natural disasters. Governor Diri, while inaugurating the members on Wednesday in Government House, Yenagoa, stated that the impact of erosion and annual flooding on the socio- economic lives of Bayelsans necessitated the setting up of the directorate. The Bayelsa governor charged the members to put in their best and write their names in the history of the state. He assured the directorate of his support to ensure that the objectives for establishing it were achieved, noting that the members were carefully selected based on their pedigree. He said: "You were carefully and thoroughly selected. I have no doubt

  Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has called on  the Nigerian Army to be professional and  neutral during the forthcoming governorship election in the state.  Governor Diri, made the call when he played host to the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, in Government house, Yenagoa. The governor, who commended  the security agencies for being neutral during the recent general election in the state, charged them to replicate same neutrality in the forthcoming governorship election. Governor Diri, said the importance of the army and other security agencies in maintaining peace and order cannot be over-emphasized and called for a more coordinated security agencies that will enhance free, fair and credible poll. He also lauded the Army for the support to his administration, saying it should not relent in sustaining  the peace and security in the state. The State number one citizen noted that security was a priority of his administration and assured th

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has said the ruling of the country’s apex court on the Osun State governorship election was an affirmation that power in a democracy resided with the people. Governor Diri, while congratulating Senator Ademola Adeleke in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, on Tuesday, expressed joy that the Supreme Court sealed the mandate freely given to the governor by the Osun people. The Bayelsa governor also said the verdict reflected the current mood of the country where those whose stock-in-trade is to promote electoral violence and subvert the will of the people have no place in our electoral system. He expressed the hope that introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) will instill more confidence in the electoral process, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deepen Nigeria’s democracy by also introducing electronic voting and transmission of polling results. Diri urged the Osun

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, and Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, have cautioned trainees taking part in the four-day skills acquisition training programme organized by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) not to sell off their starter packs at the end of the exercise. The two leaders, who made the call at the opening ceremony of the training programme holding at the Federal University, Otuoke, in Ogbia Local Government Area of the State, noted that the success of the programme largely depends on the attitude of the beneficiaries. Speaking as special guest at the event, Dr. Jonathan commended President Muhammadu Buhari for giving his approval for the training exercise which draws participants from all the three senatorial districts in the state. While calling on NASENI and the Local Content Board to establish a functional  institute in Bayelsa for quality training in the oil and gas and other critical areas, the former President stre

Our attention has been drawn to a mischief-induced report circulating online purporting a rift in the relationship between Governor Douye Diri and his immediate past predecessor and leader, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson.  The obviously orchestrated and sponsored report credited to one feckless Christopher Orukeme, who claimed to be a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Bayelsa State, is a product of the warped imagination of a political jobber doing the bidding of an opposition political party and his desperate sponsors. This fresh attempt to create imaginary disaffection between two prominent Bayelsa PDP leaders will fail like other previous efforts. The faceless author of the report claimed, albeit falsely, that social media aides of the two leaders were engaged in an imaginary media war.  It is indeed devilish for anyone to be promoting hatred between Governor Diri and Senator Dickson. The truth remains that the two leaders enjoy a great relationship. It is, therefore, evide

Scores of prominent Nigerian leaders, on Saturday, bid farewell to Pa Abraham Joseph Michael (AJM) Diri, father of the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, at Sampou community in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of the state. The attendees included a cross-section of leaders, namely Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and his wife, Dolapo, former Presidents, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Dr Goodluck Jonathan alongside his wife, Dame Patience, ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar and National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Iyorchia Ayu as well as the Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi. State governors and governors-elect at the funeral service were Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, (Governors of Delta), Senator Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Godwin Obaseki (Edo) and wife, Betty, Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Darius Ishiaku (Taraba). The governors-elect of Akwa Ibom, Plateau, Taraba and Niger states were also present. Chief Obasanjo, in his goodwill

United Kingdom Court has sentenced Nigerian Deputy  Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and his wife, Beatrice, for organ trafficking. Senator Ike Ekweremadu, 60, and his wife Beatrice, 56, wanted the organ for their 25-year-old daughter Sonia, the couple’s trial at the Old Bailey heard. The pair and Dr. Obinna Obeta, 50, were convicted previously of conspiring to exploit the man for his kidney. It is said to be the first such case under modern slavery laws. Ike Ekweremadu, who was described by the judge as the “driving force throughout”, was sentenced to nine years and eight months in prison. Dr Obeta was sentenced to 10 years after the judge found he had targeted the potential donor who was young, poor, and vulnerable. Beatrice Ekweremadu was jailed for four years and six months due to her limited involvement. Their victim, a poor street trader in Lagos, was brought to the UK to provide a kidney for the Ekweremadus’ daughter. He fled in fear for his life and walked into a police statio

Former Nigerian president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, his spouse, Dame Patience, one-time Senate President and Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Equitorial Guinea, Steve Akpana and his wife, were among prominent personalities at the service of songs for late Pa Abraham Diri, father of Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri. The event, which took place Wednesday at the Peace Park in Yenagoa, the state capital, marked the commencement of a week-long funeral rites of Pa Diri. Inspector General of Police, Alkali Ahmed Baba represented by the new Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, Romokere Ibani, president, Ijaw National Congress, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, elder statesman and Ijaw national leader, Chief Edwin Clark represented by Amb. Boladei Igali, retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Michael Zuokumor, retired Justice of the Supreme Court Justice Francis Tabai, former Managing Director, Niger Delta Developme