By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja

The Federal Ministry of Environment has disagreed with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) over the approval given to an oil company, Aiteo E and P, operating in Nembe, Bayelsa State, to carry out barging activities.

Representatives of the company at a hearing by the House of Representatives Committee on Environment said it got approval from NUPRC to barge, which means transporting crude from their facility in Nembe through the Brass River out to the Atlantic Ocean.

The hearing was to probe the environmental impact of transporting crude oil by mega seagoing vessels from Nembe Creek Trunk to offshore crude oil storage in the Atlantic Ocean by Aiteo E and P, as well as the oil spillage in Olugboboro Community in Southern Ijaw Bayelsa State from Nigerian Agip Oil Company (now Oando Oil Ltd) facility.

Chief Operating Officer, Aieto, Ewarezi Useh Aieto said it was a temporary measure which started last year borne out of necessity due to the activities of vandals on the pipelines.

However, the representative of the Minister of Environment, Dr Musa Gashau, said the approval given to the company to operate did not include barging activities.

Chairman of the committee, Pondi Gbabador, queried the inconsistencies in the approvals between government agencies over the same issue.

Useh said they had no other option, otherwise they would shut down production.

On the time agreed for the barging, the Aiteo woman said the Environment Impact Assessment, which gave the approval has a lifespan of five years and it was gotten in November 2020.

She said it was still valid.

But the Ministry of Environment insisted Aieto does not have a valid approval to carry out their barging activities in Nembe.

He said, “The Eia approval did not cover barging. Records available to the Ministry indicate the approval only covered the installation of a 54km crude oil pipeline and a 14 storage platform of the capacity of 3.5 million barrels. It did not cover barging.”

Aiteek woman said for the agreement with the Ministry of Environment, barging was not part of the agreement, but the NUPRC which is also a regulator they went through all the whole hog of getting all the requirements for barging crude.

Responding to enquiries, the Manager Health Safety and Environment, Aiteo, Augustina Amaka Bisong, said their activities do not damage the environment as all considerations have been made to address such.

She said there was no spillage in the entire process.

He said they were supposed to be a 120, 000 barrels producing facility but because of the theft and even with the barging, they are struggling to do between 30, 000 and 40, 000 right now.

The Director General of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Engr Chukwuemeka, said there has been no incident of oil spillage since the operation commenced.

However the committee expressed reservations about the claim that their activities did not have adverse effects on the environment.

It resolved to embark on an oversight to have first-hand information about the true state of things for further necessary legislative actions.

Also, the Deputy Manager Environment Oando, Akuduro Philip, called for legislative support to address the issue of oil theft and vandalism which he said has far reaching consequences.

He said they operate in four states including Bayelsa and statistics show that about 90 percent of all their spill events are caused by third party interferences on their facilities.

He further said particularly in Bayelsa State 80 percent of spillage is within Southern Ijaw, where Olugboboro Community is.

From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

The Inspector -General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun has bowed to pressure over the quit notice issued by popular Hotel owner, Euphemie Motel, with a direct order for the SWAT to quit the premises of the motel occupied inside Opu-Nembe in Nembe Bassambiri community of Nembe Local Government Area of the State.

The Order was issued following the threat to drag the IGP to Court over the alleged unpaid debt incurred by the Police SWAT team deployed from 12th of August, 2023 till date.

The lodging debt, according to the report, was incurred by the Police Special squad identified as SWAT led by one CSP Silas Adebayo for a reported sting operation in the Opu Nembe community ahead of the last Governorship elections in the area.

The SWAT team had allegedly invaded the Opu Nembe community and occupied the Euphemie Motel, turning it into their operational base without due permission from its owners.

The SWAT teams were allegedly drafted to the area on the request of the Former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and the Governorship flag bearer of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the last election, Chief Timipre Sylva.

The Counsel to the owner of the Euphemie Motel, Inemoye Maxwell Brown Esq. in a letter dated 9th of October, 2024, confirmed to newsmen in Yenagoa that the Nigerian Police, “as a respectable and responsible establishment has gracefully implemented on the prayer one as contained therein within the time frame provided as the SWAT team vacated our clients hotel on the 3rd day of October,2024”

Inemoye Maxwell Brown Esq however called on the Inspector-General of Police,Kayode Egbetokun and the top echelon of the Nigerian Police to attend, with utmost dispatch to the second prayer in the petition of the Client requesting for the sum of N625,000,000 only covering the above period from 12th August, 2023 to 12th September, 2024 be paid within six weeks upon receipt of the correspondence.

Recall that the popular Hotel owner, Euphemie Motel,had through his prayers informed the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun and the Chairman, Police Service Commission, stated that the 50-bedroom hotel with lodging fee of N25,000 per night and two conference rooms of N100,000 per day with indoor and outdoor relaxation spots, was occupied by the Police Personnel without payment for over 13 months.

According to Inemoye Maxwell Brown, “Our client’s business premises and the facilities are almost in complete ruin and a complete renovation is imminent. And it is imperative to restore their facilities with a view to return to normal business.”

“We therefore call on the Police IG to use his good office to direct your men and officers, who had forcefully moved into and occupied our client’s hotel as described from 12th of August, 2023 till date and counting in Opu Nembe to immediately vacate within six weeks upon receipt of this correspondence”

“That the sum of N625,000,000 only covering the above period from 12th August, 2023 to 12th September, 2024 be paid within six weeks upon receipt of the correspondence.”

By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

The Department of Development Control of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), on Thursday, reiterated commitment in its fight against activities of land grabbers in the city, with removal of illegal structures in Sabo Lugbe area of Abuja.

To this end, FCTA officials accompanied by joint security personnel stormed and removed about 10 buildings, mostly duplexes and bungalows at their different stages of completion in  today at Sabon Lugbe Southwest area, which is part of the phase five district of the Federal Capital City (FCC), for development without approvals from relevant authorities on Thursday.

Director, Department of Development Control, FCT Administration, Mukhtar Galadima explained that this was in continuation of its reinvigorated enforcement exercise targeted at mitigating land use contraventions especially in notorious land grabbing spots in Lugbe, Idu Train Station which is now part of Gosa and Kyami, Apo Tarfi respectively.

Galadima recalled that sometimes back, there was caution over the issue of land grabbing, during which the government warned that it was going to bounce on land grabbers, so that to make sure that all the structures that are close to 50 structures (duplexes and bungalows) will be brought down.

According to him, “We are here for a removal exercise today at Sabon Lugbe Southwest area, which is part of the phase five district of the Federal Capital City (FCC). We just started with just about 10 structures, but tomorrow we are coming back in full swing

“And recall that sometimes back we warned that we are going to bounce on land grabbers. So this is in continuation of the enforcement exercise, which had started.

“We want to inform the general public that for any person to buy any property in Abuja, please  ensure that  it is rightly titled property with approved development plan, but failing to do so, you could fall into the hands of these land grabbers, and please don’t blame the FCTA.

“There are areas where these land grabbers are really having their feed day. They Idu Train Station, which is now part of Gosa and Kyami, Apo Tarfi area and Lugbe. And today we are in Lugbe, and we will continue as it is a continuous exercise. So, illegal developments will not be entertained.

“The people that are deceiving them that they are going to be integrated into the phase 5 of the FCC   should be warned and bewared. There is nothing like integration. Illegality is illegality, and we will continue to remove them.”

On when the design and upgrading of the new phase 5 of the FCC into the Abuja Masterplan will be ready for use, the Director said: “I think the FCT Urban and Regional Planning is working hard on that.”