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Crude Oil Spills in Bayelsa Community Now a Routine, Says EDEN

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From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

The incessant oil spills in Ogboinbiri Community in Southern Ijaw LGA of Bayelsa State has been described as a monthly occurrence, with the most recent happening on Nov. 15, 2024.Since the Nigerian Agip Oil Company [NAOC] divested its shares in the Joint Venture totally to Oando, the company’s Ogboinbiri/Tebidaba pipeline within Ogboinbiri community environment has experienced four spill incidents from four different spill points.

According to a statement by Elvira Jordan, Media Manager EDEN said, the first spill occurred on 5 September 2024, and two incidents happened in October 2024.Following the report from the community on November 20, the EDEN team in Yenagoa led by Nimiemi Morris and Alagoa Morris mobilized and visited the affected area on November 21, 2024, and was led to the site of interest by community guides.
A native of Ogboinbiri community, Bosin Izonakpo who spoke to the EDEN team, stated that the community has been living in devastation because of the rate of spills in the area. He revealed that the community suffered greatly during the October spill which occurred during the flooding season,spreading the crude all over the environment, destroying aquatic life and damaging their farm lands.“We want to tell everybody, including the government, that the spill is massive. These spills that have taken place within this year have been really massive and devastating. If you can come to Ogboinbiri and see the environment you will see the damage it has done to the environment; including the aquatic environment. When there is flood this entire [pipeline] environment is covered with water. So, it really affected the aquatic environment and also plants within the impacted areas. We used to have a lot of farms. But since this pipeline came and the spills continued, we have not been able to farm.Even if you farm, the yields are not encouraging; very poor harvest. When you come for fishing during the flood, the catch would be poor because crude oil has chased away the fishes from the environment. And this has affected the local economy and livelihood of the indigenous people of the community. So, everything possible should be done to clean up the impacted environment and pay damages.’’Another community member, Esinkumor Richard, who was also one of EDEN guides to the spill area; stated that the excavated area which is about 6 feet deep has been filled with crude oil, which has polluted the environment, making it unfit for life to exist there.He lamented that the spills have affected the sources of livelihood of the Ogboinbiri people. Throwing them into deep hardship, as lands have been lost and even animals are running away from the environment.‘’The whole environment has been polluted. Investigation showed that it is an equipment failure related incident. So, it means that Oando has work to do. They should come and clean up, pay compensation and then; they should try as much as possible to repair their pipelines and other facilities because it cannot continue like this. The people are suffering. The proceeds of the crude oil and gas are feeding the whole Nigeria and then a few individuals who are hosts to oil installations would be suffering all these negative effects. As it stands it has affected our means of livelihood due to the pollution.We are now hungry. Oando should rise up to their responsibilities and do the needful. Otherwise, when the people rise up in anger they should not blame anybody. Nigeria is benefitting but indigenes of Ogboinbiri are suffering from the negative impacts of these incessant oil spills.”According to the field report by Nimiemi Morris and Alagoa Morris, the crude oil spill was caused by equipment failure, which makes three out of the four spills recorded in the area. It was also observed that none of the previous spills that impacted the environment have been cleaned up. Only recovery of spilt crude oil has been done.Speaking on the issue, the Executive Director of EDEN, Chima Williams called on Oando to take immediate and adequate steps to clean up the present spill site and all previously impacted environments, and to replace the aged oil bearing pipes within the environment, to put an end to these monthly oil spills and further environmental degradation.Williams also admonished government regulatory bodies at the Federal and State levels to do the needful; ensuring proper cleanup/remediation and replacement of aged pipelines.He charged the people of Ogboinbiri community to continue to remain vigilant in terms of monitoring their environment, peacefully and legally demanding environmental justice from Oando and the Federal Government.

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They Planted Juju in my Jacket at Davido’s House – Peruzzi

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Singer Peruzzi has narrated how a charm was planted in his jacket during his stay at Davido’s house.

Peruzzi was signed to Davido’s record label, DMW, in 2017.

Davido dissolved the label in April 2024.

However, discussing his experience during his stay at Davido’s house, Peruzzi narrated how a charm was planted in his jacket.

Speaking in a video interview online, he said, “I took a shower one evening, like at 6 pm. Just a shower and then went to go and meet them back downstairs because I was chilling there before I went upstairs in David house when I was still living there.

“And then I was done taking the shower. I go to my wardrobe to get my clothes, and then one of my jackets is just telling me, ‘Pull me, wear me, wear me, wear me.’ I don’t know how to explain it, but I was just having the urge to wear it.”So, I carry am (the jacket), and something just dropped inside, and when I looked, it was jaz, better juju inside my room. A jacket that just came from the laundry.”

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AFSNET Business Conference Kicks off in Calabar

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From Ene Asuquo, Calabar

The 6th African sub – sovereign Governments Network Investment Conference has started in Calabar the cross river state capital as Afreximbank opens a $2 billion tap for Cross River State and other African sub-sovereign governments for the financing of bankable projects that can turn around their economies.

Making the disclosure in Calabar in a press briefing, The Director, Trade Facilitation and Investment Promotion, Afreximbank, Dr.

Gainmore Zanamwe, said the 6th African Sub-Sovereign Governments Network Investment Conference (AfSNET 2026) is going to be a three day event, running from Thursday 12th to Saturday 14th November, 2026.

Dr Zanamwe stated that, the Bank has the facility ready to finance. According to him, “Some people say funding is a problem. From Africa we say no. The $2 billion is there,” Zanamwe said. “Go and tell your people. You people in the media, go and tell people that money is there,” stressing that the bank is fully prepared to spend the next three days, November 12, 13 and 14, in Calabar enlightening states on how to access the fund. “How do you then access the funding?  He asked.

“That is what we’ll be telling everybody in the course of the next three days. We’ll be showing you how you can tap into the $2 billion to do your projects. We’ll make it very simple.” He maintained.

Zanamwe stated that only states that present properly packaged, bankable projects will benefit. “We’ll start tomorrow with a training on how to identify projects in your states. Some normally start by saying there’s a project in this, they then run to the investors. It doesn’t work that way. We’ll be breaking it down,” he said.

“We would like, under the leadership of your Governor, to be able to start from the vision and say this is the vision in terms of promoting trade investment in your states. Once you start from that big vision, you cannot do everything. You need to focus. Identify two or three sectors that you really need to focus on and promote,” he added.

He explained that capital can be raised in two ways: by preparing a project and making it bankable for financial institutions like Afreximbank, or by preparing a pitch deck to generate interest from potential investors.

He also promoted Africa Direct Investment, saying an investor from Lagos or South Africa can as well enjoy the same privileges and incentives given to an investor from America.

He stressed that governors will pitch their projects on November 13 and 14, adding that in the last five years, the initiative has facilitated opportunities worth more than $3 billion, trained over 2,000 people, and worked with 21 African countries.

Also speaking on behalf of Governor Bassey Otu, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Pastor Ekpenyong Cobham, welcomed investors to the state.

“With Cross River State’s agrarian economy being rejuvenated by this administration, for the first time a very deliberate attempt is being taken to be able to make sure that our diverse products are being properly processed to meet international standards,” Cobham said.

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RMAFC Advocates Fair Share of 13 Per Cent Revenue Derivation Among Oil Producing States

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By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has advocated a fair distribution of the 13 per cent derivation revenue among states that produce oil and gas.

The Chairman of the commission, Mohammed Shehu, made the appeal on Thursday in Owerri during the inauguration of an oil and gas wells verification exercise.

Shehu explained that the commission’s constitutional responsibilities under the 1999 Constitution, as amended, include monitoring revenue generated into and disbursed from the Federation Account, including funds allocated under the 13 per cent derivation arrangement.

He said the exercise would focus on identifying and confirming the geographical coordinates of disputed oil and gas wells, alongside newly drilled wells between 2017 and 2026.

According to him, an Inter-Agency Technical Committee established for the assignment would carry out physical inspections of the affected wells, verify their locations and ensure that their coordinates were accurately recorded using officially approved maps.

He added that the committee would also take relevant court judgments into consideration when addressing disputes involving oil and gas well locations.

Shehu said the committee would forward its technical findings directly to the commission for review, ratification and eventual adoption.

He described the verification exercise as essential to ensuring that revenue allocations from the Federation Account are accurate and fairly distributed, explaining that the geographical positions of oil and gas wells determine the financial entitlements of producing states.

“This exercise represents a crucial phase in establishing statutory accuracy, technical fidelity, and fiscal equity within the Federation Account allocation framework,” he said.

He further explained that the precise coordinates and geographical positions of oil and gas wells have direct implications for the legal and financial rights of the respective states.

The RMAFC chairman urged officials participating in the exercise to adhere strictly to professional surveying procedures, recognised maps and relevant legal requirements in carrying out their assignments.

He reiterated that the technical committee’s report would be submitted solely to the commission for administrative review and formal approval.

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