Danger as Gas flaring sacks Hundreds of people in Imo oil producing communities

Danger as residents of the oil producing communities in Oguta local government area of Imo state said gas flaring has sacked hundreds if households in the Oguta council area of the state.

The residents spoke in Owerri, on Wednesday while pleading for government interventions to end the dangers facing them as regards gas flaring in their communities.

According to Vanguard, they alleged that gas flaring started over four decades ago and that it has caused them severe health problems. Some of them said it breeds mosquitoes that inflict illnesses on their children and that the situation usually worsens anytime there is flood.

Others complained that because of the gas flaring activities that they usually experience hot weather even when it was supposed to be a cold weather.

Some of the affected communities mentioned were but not limited to Umundanike, Umunkwu, Umuosuma , Umunaraukwu, Umunkwocha, Ngegwu, Umutogwuma among others.

Speaking first, the President General Oguta Community Development Union, OCDU, Sir Uche Faith Iwuorisha JP, said: “Gas flaring is burning of gas that accompanies oil production. During the extraction of oil gas is released into the atmosphere is a kind of byproduct that could not be used. That fire that is burning is causing serious hazards. Both health hazards and environmental hazards. Including economic waste.

“It has not been easy with the oil communities especially people who live close to the location, they are the mostly endangered. You know government has regulation that is guiding the operation of these oil companies and gas flaring is illegal.

“What government should do to ameliorate the sufferings of the people like i understand in some countries cannot be entirely eliminated but it can be reduced. Because modern technology made us to know that some infrastructure can be put together and this gas that is being burnt can be converted and used to cook, generate energy for electricity.”

On the impact on the villagers, he said: “The people that badly affected relocated out of their communities. Because the gas flaring generates heat even if in the cool weather you feel very hot. It breeds mosquitoes. The air they breath is no longer clean. Because of the toxics that is mixed in the air. Honestly speaking, over a hundred households have been displaced and forced out of their communities because of the gas flaring. Even, it worsens during flooding. The people find it difficult to manage the situation.”

Adding her voice, a woman leader of Orodogwum community, in Oguta council area of Imo state, Mrs. Millicent Okwuosha, described gas flaring as a disaster and that “for over 59 years gas flaring has been a disaster to the environment and the farmlands, rivers and fish ponds have been destroyed by oil pollution and gas flaring. Gas flaring is dangerous to the heath especially women and children how do we survive.”

Adding his voice, the Founder and Executive Director Center For Rural Economic and Social Development CRESOD, Christian Okororie, narrated that; “We have 27 villages in Oguta community and all of the citizens are suffering from gas flairing . The hazardous emissions of gas since the exploration of oil and gas started since 1964 to date our air is polluted , water from the rain is filed with sooth , corrugated iron sheets are always corroded with black substances , the production of farm produce , fish , forest and wild life have been grossly affected by gas flaring.

“It is these and other health challenges that we face led to the campaign for #stopgasflaring which attracted the establishment of the Nigeria Gas Flaring Commercialisation Progect, NGFCP in 2018. Many companies have indicated interest in converting the gas flairing sites in Oguta community to commercial purposes not only to stop gas flairing but utilise it in establishing modular refineries, fertilizer blending plants and LPG plants .

“These are direct derivatives of commercialisation of the process. The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, a subsidiary of NNPC PLC have started issuing licences to companies who applied to implement the gas flaring sites Commercialisation process, we at CREESOD implore the state government to pursue the matter of getting license for the company that scaled the first and second bidding process for Oguta Community gas flaring sites in other to commence operations as soon as possible.”

Some of the image makers of the oil companies were reached to know what they were doing to stop gas flaring in tje oil communities of Oguta, they pleaded not to be mentioned in the report adding that gas flaring matter would be addressed by their head offices.

The Commissioner of Imo state Ministry of Petroleum, Eugine Opara, was reached to get his reaction on what his ministry was doing to stop gas flaring in Imo oil communities he declined comment.

Also, the Managing Director of the Imo state oil Producing Areas Development Commission, ISOPADEC, Charles Orie, was contacted to know the effort of his commission to end gas flaring in oil communities of Imo state, but he did not comment on it.

Roads Infrastructure, others, Umahi Warns Expatriate Contractors Against Sub-Standard Jobs in Nigeria

The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, has warned indigenous and expatriate contractors engaged in the construction of road projects across the country against substandard works.

The minister, gave the warning in Abuja at a meeting with contractors handling federal roads, said sub-standard work was no longer acceptable.

Umahi said most of the roads currently being constructed in the country could not last for seven years after construction.

He frowned at how contractors cheat Nigerians in the materials they use to construct roads in the country.

“Our expatriate contractors, this cannot happen in any of your countries, it cannot.

“Anywhere there is a project going on, the first thing that is done is the convenience of the people. I feel we are being taken for a ride, and we are being taken for granted.

You feel you are doing us a favour, you are not doing us a favour, this is business, and this attitude must stop,” he said.

He also decried the discomfort and pains Nigerians face while travelling on federal roads, saying he had to feel their pains when he travelled to Edo from Abuja.

He said the contractors constantly increase the cost of project and cheat the country through contracts variation and the use of asphalt materials, which are subject to the international price of crude oil.

According to him, there is no project being constructed right now in Nigeria that is going to last for seven years.

“The question is, are we going to be maintaining or reconstructing our roads after every 10 years.

“That is what we have been doing. I traveled from Abuja to Benin City through Lokoja, all the stretches of the road are on contract, ongoing, this is through the policy of the last administration but how much of the roads are motorable?

“I travelled through the roads myself and I shed tears for the kind of pains our people are going through.

“I spent 14 hours on the road having started my journey from 10 a.m. and got to Benin City at 2 p.m. the next day and I was very happy I experienced the pains.

“President Tinubu said I must travel through all the projects so that I will brief him on my experience and tell him the truth,” he said.

Umahi further said he had stopped the signing of the funds to be released to contracts who are seeking price variation of their contracts, adding that Mr President was not aware of such increases.

The minister debunked the claim that cement price would go to N9,000 if the government starts doing concrete roads saying that it was blackmail against him by the people who don’t want the progress in the construction industry.

He added that he was doing his work with the fear of God.

“This is my line of instructions. I will do whatever the president instructs me to do and he is the only one and God that can cancel my instructions so don’t waste your time reporting me to anyone apart from these two.

“No matter the amount of blackmail and lies, it will not prevail. I travelled to the south west, I am not totally unhappy with the project there and supervision as I gave them 80 marks.

While critising workers in the ministry for not doing their supervision of contracts as they are expected, he said they had blood in their hands for the number of people that died in road accidents and those that were kidnapped.

“Unless Mr President does something about it, his lofty intention to help this country may not totally be achieved. Documents will be sent to the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) it will stay for six months.

“How will the contractors do the additional job you directed them to do without a backup authorization.

“I am warning all directors to get your controllers back to work, I want to see all the roads motorable, trucks should be off the road, any road where trucks fall I recall the director,” Umahi warned.

Also at the stakeholders meeting, President of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) Prof. Sadiq Abubakar, said the council was delighted to be part of the meeting.

According to him, the minister has shown a peculiar direction in bringing change to the sector.

He said COREN was going to do a follow up and have a meaningful engagement with the contractors.

He complained that there was a lot of non-compliance on the aspects that have to do with expatriates engagement in the country especially quota allocation adding that Nigeria having been admitted to the Washington Accord demand compliance.

Abubakar, therefore, appealed to the directors to bridge the gaps notes by the minister adding that COREN would do its own due diligence.(NAN).

Gov. Oborevwori congratulates Former Delta’s First lady, Roli Uduaghan at 62

Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has congratulated Mrs Roli Uduaghan, wife of former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, on her 62nd birth anniversary.

Describing Mrs Uduaghan as a brave, pleasant, kind-hearted woman and a powerful pillar of support to her husband, Governor Oborevwori in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, commended her for her dedication to the work of God and humanity.

The Governor praised her for her love of humanity and recalled the “I CARE” project, which she utilised as a platform to make a difference in the lives of many people during the administration of her husband, especially widows and prisoners.

Governor Oborevwori, said; “on behalf of my beloved wife, Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, other members of my family, the government and people of Delta, I heartily congratulate our former First Lady, Mrs Roli Uduaghan, on the occasion of her 62nd birth anniversary.

”We join you and your family in thanking the Almighty Father for 62 fruitful years of service to Him and our people. Reaching the age of 62 in grace, with continual awe of God, and in service to humanity calls for joy.

”You have always demonstrated your passion and dedication for the welfare of the underprivileged, particularly the widows and prisoners in our beloved state of Delta.

”Since the State Government began the Widows’ Welfare Scheme in 2015 to help the suffering of the impoverished and vulnerable widows, your campaign as an advocate for widows’ and children’s rights has had significant effects in the state.

”It is my prayer that God would honour you and continue to provide you good health, long life and prosperity so that you can continue to serve Him and humanity on this historic occasion of your 62nd birth anniversary celebration”.

More bombardment against Terrorists, Bàndits others as Tinubu Approves Payment of 12 Attack Helicopters for Nigerian Army

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved payment for the procurement of 12 attack helicopters for the Nigerian Army to boost ground operations and enhance national security.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, announced the development at the opening of the maiden Nigerian Army Aviation Seminar in Abuja on Tuesday. September 26, 2023.

He said that the 12 MD 530F Cayuse attack helicopters would operationalize the Nigerian army aviation unit, which was set up to improve ground troops’ agility, responsiveness, and efficacy during operations.

The COAS added that it would also contribute to the overall operational success of joint and coalition troops.

Lagbaja explained that the army aviation was generally separate from a nation’s dedicated air force, but usually equipped with helicopters and light support fixed-wing aircraft.

He appreciated the president for buying into the aspiration of the Nigerian army to have an equipped aviation unit, which would support ground troops as they focus on tactical and operational engagements.

According to him, the experiences of nations like the United States, Pakistan, Colombia, Egypt, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Uganda are instructive in this area.

“The army aviation arms of these countries have shown effectiveness in countering contemporary security threats and providing vital support to ground forces.

“In view of the need to realize this, and in its bid to appropriately respond to contemporary and emerging security threats, the Nigerian Army resuscitated its aviation aspiration in 2014.

“I am happy to inform this gathering that the Nigerian army is willing to learn from the army aviation journeys of the countries mentioned earlier.

“Our willingness to learn from them is to adapt their best practices to suit our unique operational environment and avoid their mistakes.

“I can proudly report that since 2014, the Nigerian Army has made commendable progress in training pilots, aircraft engineers, technicians, and other ground support crew,” he said.

The COAS said that the army had submitted the aviation outfit to the Nigerian Air Force for proper mentoring.

During the seminar, Lagbaja said it was to discuss likely challenges the unit may face and proffer innovative solutions.

“Therefore, this seminar is a platform for us to deliberate on critical issues and share invaluable insights regarding the future of the Nigerian army aviation, even before that future comes upon us.

“Ideas generated from our deliberations are expected to help strengthen the capabilities through capacity building, infrastructure development and guide further acquisition of cutting-edge platforms and technologies,” he added.

The Acting Coordinator, Nigerian Army Aviation, Brig.-Gen. Musa Alkali, said the unit would play pivotal role in bolstering ground operations and addressing the current security challenges confronting the nation.

Alkali said the reestablishment of army aviation was a decisive step towards enhancing operational reach and effectiveness in countering contemporary threats to Nigeria’s sovereignty and national security.

He added that the seminar was significant to the continuous efforts to operationalize the aviation unit.

By: Celestine Ukah 

**To encourage training, retaining of  teachers, sustain quality learning for students 

The Secretary General of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, NAPPS, Delta State , Mrs. Rose Obi says she will always work closely with the Chairman of the State NAPPS, Mrs. Young P.N and other executive in repositioning the association to enviable height.

Mrs. Rose Obi gave the assurance recently in Warri in a special chat with the Editor in chief of this newspaper, Celestine Ukah, Areanewsng.com, she rolled out their area of ficus to include engaging in regular meetings with their founding fathers and mothers retraining of teachers and proprietors among other notable development areas.

She added that activities will be slatted out for students and pupils, stressing that the administration is going to be all encompassing, assuring that all members of the association will be carried along.

The Delta State NAPPS Secretary General Mrs. Rose Obi who is also a member of the DBS Sports Club, will serve for a period of four years along side with the other executive according to her “I give God the glory for this honor done me by the members of National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Delta State, It is the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous in my eyes. The work of a secretary is enormous because it is the engine room of any association, I will discharge my duties religiously and faithfully with equity and respect for all my colleagues.

Close associates of Mrs. Obi from Uvwie Chapter of NAPPS said they are proud of her.

Others in their solidarity and goodwill messages poured encomiums at Mrs. Obi saying “Congratulations to my own dearest Mrs. Obi on this your well deserved election into office as the General Secretary of NAPPS Delta State, You are truly the digital Chairman, no controversy . I celebrate you. More grace and more wins.

It would be recall that Mrs. Rose Obi was elected July 25, 2023 as the General Secretary of NAPPS along side with the Chairman and Nine other executive officers to pilot the affairs of the association and their term is four years tenure

**Alleges Connivance With Some Other Yoruba People

A Yoruba indigenous rights group, the Yoruba Rights Initiative, has condemned what it alleged to be the dispossession of 1,355 hectares of land in Eti-Osa in Lagos State from an 85 year old man, Pa Faloye Awosika, by two individuals of Southeastern extraction, Samson Nnadi and Jerry Erondu, through their real estate development company, Carter-Tech Ltd.

Addressing newsmen over the weekend in Lagos, the group, through its Convener, Bamidele Adebanjo, and spokesperson, Eniola Fafunwa, alleged a case of gross injustice and naked oppression done to Yoruba people in Yorubaland by certain individuals from the Southeastern part of the country that had recently come to its attention.

The group said:

“This case involves an 85 years old Yoruba elder, Pa C. Faloye Awosika, who has been most heinously duped of his land of 1,355 Hectares in Eti-Osa, Lagos State, by one criminally inclined fellow, Samson Nnadi and his equally crooked business partner, Jerry Erondu, through their criminal organisation masquerading as a property development company, Carter-Tech Ltd.

“The background to this matter is how building permit could have been issued on land belonging to Pa Faloye Awosika without any challenge to his documentation when the documents were submitted for planning permission, yet somehow those same documents *were later said to be defective after construction had completed on the land and it was time for Samson Nnadi and Jerry Erondu through their dubious company Carter-Tech Ltd to hand over the units belonging to pa Awosika.*

“In fact, the most astonishing aspect to the case is how the same Lagos State Government transferred the rights in the 1,355 hectares of land which the Awosikas bought from Ologolo Family in Ologolo Village in 1996, to none other than their development partners, Mr Jerry Erondu and Mr. Samson Nnadi in the name of Carter-tech Ltd! *We understand this dastardly act was possible through the dubious connivance of a said lawyer Olufon and some senior officials at Alausa who using a copy CoA claimed not to have known for over 2 decades that pa Awosika had encroached on his land*.

“Just imagine officials of a Yoruba state cheating a Yoruba elder and his family of their property and handing it over to the very two Ibo men who had initially approached them for development of their land on a partnership basis!

“We find it totally intolerable that two crooked businessmen can come all the way from the East to Lagos and have the effrontery to dupe an authentic Yoruba man of his property, even to the extent of reducing the octogenarian to tears at the insult meted to him by strangers young enough to be his children.

“The heartlessness and arrogance displayed by Samson Nnadi and his partner, Jerry Erondu, along with other dubious real estate developers from their section of the country, in their various nefarious activities in the real estate sector in Lagos, which has seen them duping several Yoruba people of their property and dubiously taking over their lands, will soon come to a head and create serious crisis in Lagos State if it is not immediately nipped in the board.

“To imagine that these two questionable characters had the boldness to drive Pa Awosika, a pensioner, for that matter, along with his wife and their children from their own land when they came to demand their entitlement under the terms earlier agreed on to develop the property.

“Just imagine people coming from the East to drive Yoruba people from their plot and forbidding them access to their own land in Yorubaland, for that matter!

“Who will tolerate that?

“Will their people tolerate it in their own place?

“Indeed it is a complete disgrace that Pa Awosika has had a pending petition on the desk of Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, which the governor has completely failed to treat thus far because apparently the problem of Yoruba people in Lagos is not his priority.

“Why do we Yorubas keep doing this to our own people?

“Even members of the Elegushi Family of Eti-Osa connived with these two rascals from across the Niger to dispossess their own fellow Yoruba brother and cheated their senior brother, of his property!

“What a shame!

“Indeed, at a point, Pa Awosika was in court with the Elegushis only for Samson Nnadi and Jerry Erondu to come to him claiming that they had reached out to Oba Saheed Elegushi and he had demanded N100 million as his settlement to leave his Yoruba brother alone to peaceably enjoy his property!

“Thereupon, they managed to convince Pa Awosika that two houses be deducted from his share of the joint venture and awarded to the same Oba Elegushi as settlement!.

“As a proper Yoruba “Omoluabi”, he felt he must defer to a Yoruba monarch and forfeited the houses only for these same two common criminals to steal the entire property from him!

“To even worsen matters, the Awosikas had briefed one Barrister S. A. Oshodi of Ade-Oshodi and Co as their lawyer to represent them, protect their interest in the matter and ensure their just entitlement comes to them.

“Despite being paid fully for his services, both his spoken and body language gradually began to change while he began to seem more interested in protecting Nnadi and Erondu, the adversaries of his clients, rather than advancing the cause of the Awosikas, his fellow Yorubas, who had briefed him and even somehow managed to cough out a whooping sum of ten million naira, the bulk of which they had to borrow, in order to pay him!

“Even our elder statesman, Chief Robert Clarke, SAN, was later briefed by the Awosikas to monitor the case for them when they lost confidence in S. A. Oshodi and began to suspect him of throwing them under the bus.

The Awosikas even also managed to borrow heavily to pay Chief Clarke for his services only for them to wake up one morning to realize that the same Barrister Oshodi they had asked him to monitor for them had somehow succeeded in merging his law firm with Chief Clarke and made the legal luminary his consultant to the extent of using Chief Robert Clarke’s name in his various correspondences!

“This is what Yoruba people are doing to Yoruba people in Lagos, Nigeria!

“Whereas the Awosikas are adamant to reclaim their land through the prescribed judicial process, we find it unconscionable what they have suffered at the hands of those who describe Lagos as a NO MAN’S LAND in connivance with supposedly authentic Yoruba people they had trusted to see justice done to them.

“The Awosikas even decided to brief yet another lawyer entirely to take up their case given the highly suspicious conduct of S. A. Oshodi, only for the same Oshodi to refuse handing over the documents in his possession to the new lawyer unless the 87 year old Pa Awosika coughs out an additional 47 million naira for all kinds of imaginary fees with nothing to show for his phantom services!

“In short, Barrister Oshodi is asking the Awosikas to pay him a grand total of 47 million naira for doing absolutely nothing for them, while, from all indications, having stabbed them in the back whilst sleeping with their enemies all along!

“If we may ask, what has happened to the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, For God’s sake, that we now have so many lawyers behaving like questionable characters these days?

“Pa Awosika rightfully bought the property in question from the Ologolo family, its original owners in 1996, a purchase thereafter ratified by a Deed of Assignment issued to him by the same Ologolo Family dated 4th December, 2003 and registered as No. 44 in Volume 2087 at the Lands Registry Office, Lagos.

“Yet it is the same Lagos State authorities, led by the Registrar Of Titles, that connived with two brazen and highly arrogant criminals from the South East claiming to be property developers and hiding under that canopy to dispossess Yoruba people of their land all over Lagos.

“Can any Yoruba man be so bold as to go to Iboland, pretend he wants to help an Ibo man to develop his property as a partnership only to then connive with their own government officials to dispossess the Ibo man of his hard-earned property and chase him and his family out of the land?

“Will any Yoruba man dare try that in Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Abia or Ebonyi?

“If not that Yorubas have sold themselves to outsiders, can Ibos ever dare to try such nonsense in Delta State or even Edo State or Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa-Ibom or even Cross River?

“We can assure you that there would have been serious crisis by now but we the Yorubas are just too tolerant of rubbish for our own good which is why those from the East think they can just keep coming over here and taking our people for a ride.

“We say “No more!” Absolutely no more.

“We are not taking this lightly and insist that Pa Awosika and his family be given justice immediately, failing which we will take all necessary, ordinary or extraordinary measures to effect justice in the matter.

“Anyone can call it self-help, if they like but self-help cannot be the watery threat and cheap blackmail of only one section of the country.

“While we are law abiding and committed to the rule of law, we are quite prepared to fully demonstrate that self-help is not the monopoly of people from Samson Nnadi and Jerry Erondu’s part of this country.”

While the Awosikas, themselves, where not available for comments, and Samson Nnadi and Jerry Erondu refused to pick their calls, it remains to be seen how the matter will be resolved in the coming days given the stance of the Yoruba rights group, the insistence of the Awosikas not to be cheated out of their property, and the recalcitrance of Nnadi and Erondu not to relinquish their entitlement under the agreement, especially against the backdrop of recent ethnic tensions in Lagos

The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Udu Branch has frowned at the leadership of the Udu Local Government Council over the non inclusion of a representative of the NBA in the recent Palliatives Committee set up by the Udu Council which have representatives of various social political and traditional groups as well as the police, NULGE, and the church.

The NBA in a statement by its Chairman, Prince Kingsley Asagba Esq Sunday September 24 noted that it can be seen clearly that the Udu Council doesn’t have regards for the Nigerian Bar Association as there’s no representation from the NBA.

“It is even more appalling that the Council Vice Chairman, Mrs. Elohor Awinoron, who herself is a lawyer, was the one who inaugurated the Palliatives Committee, though on behalf of the Council Chairman, Chief Jite Brown.”

The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Udu Branch, who is also the Chairman of the forum of NBA Chairmen of Delta state while addressing the press stated that it has been observed that the Udu Council doesn’t regard the Bar in the taking of critical decisions affecting the lives of people living in Udu Local Government Area.

“We note with displeasure that only recently the Council imposed a curfew on commercial bikes riders not to carry on their trade beyond 8pm, without any consultation with critical stake holders such as the NBA.

“In spite of the visit of the Bar to the Council to ask the Chairman to reconsider his position to shift the time a bit further so as not to affect the economic life of the Udu community, which can evidently be seen as dying gradually, because residence can no longer move about after 8pm since the increase in fuel which made several residents to resort to the use of bikes, the Council refused vehemently to look into the issue, quickly citing security as a reason.

“We wonder how a slight shift in the time for the curfew will affect the security situation in the council.

“We are using the opportunity to call on the Council Chairman to always partner critical stake holders such as the NBA in taking critical decisions to avoid unnecessary litigations which will definitely unsettle the Council and in the long run will do no one any good.” He added.

By: Odeya Ogbetuo

A prominent Ijaw leader in Delta State, High Chief James Tangbowei JP has called on Nigerians to give President Ahmed Bola Tinubu the necessary support for his administration to achieve its set targets of promoting economic prosperity and peace.

Chief Tangbowei who made this call in Warri, Delta State, noted that now that President Tinubu has been victorious at the Election Petition Tribunal he should be supported to implement his programmes and policy of economic transformation.

Chief Tangbowei further said that Tinubu deserved the victory, adding that Tinubu is a strategist and well-focused leader.

According to him, “your victory is well deserved, your pedigree as a technocrat and strategist will raise our country’s level of development. Your remarkable service as Lagos state governor and a successful businessman will surely lead to a stable and progressive economy. Your victory has reminded us of your numerous achievements and initiatives that gave us assurances that we have a leader that will bridge the gap and bring development to all parts of Nigeria.”

Chief Tangbowei who is the Toimelemowei of Gbaramatu kingdom stated that under the benevolent favour of God, Nigeria will witness tremendous leadership and development in various spheres of life during the government of President Tinubu, adding that Tinubu is a visionary leader with wisdom and unwavering commitment to deliver the dividends of democracy to Nigerians.

Founder and General Overseer of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Abuja, Dr. Pastor Paul Enenche has urged the Chairman and Board members of Revelation Micro Finance Bank Limited Ughelli, Delta State, to conduct their banking affairs with the highest level of sincerity, integrity, probity, financial accountability and function according to the rules of banking.

The popular Pastor who visited Delta for the official opening of the Revelation Microfinance bank and accompanied by his wife, Dr. Becky Enenche, stated this on Saturday, September 23, 2023 at Ughelli, headquarters of Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State.

Pastor Enenche while commending the Chairman of the bank, Engr. Frank Esemudje for his vision, noted that what he saw is a sign of great efforts, great progress and great development for the land of Ughelli kingdom.

“This is just the beginning of many good things to come, and i believe that sons and daughters of the land will rise to bring such level of development home to empower people with skills, trade and expertise but do not have the resources to carry out their vision”.

He said Revelation Microfinance bank will be a platform to empower so many lives and congratulated the management and the entire kingdom for the blessings God has given to them.

He however advised the management to be financially prudent and understand that people are entrusting their lives, savings, resources, sweat and energy into their hands through banking operation, urging them to abide and function strictly according to best global standard and practices of banking and not to bend the rules in order to avoid issues of going distressed.

On his part, the chairman of the bank, Engr. Frank Esemudje disclosed that his visions were divine as he has done several businesses in Ughelli land and have never experience failure.

“I have businesses in Ughelli town with over 2000 persons under our employment. I didn’t just jumped into the banking sector, I was formally there in that sector and I seemed the faced of and God approves of the vision of establishing Revelation Microfinance bank before we ran with it”.

He said, with the establishment of Revelation Microfinance bank, more people will be gainfully employed and businesses will also be supported financially to grow and attract more development to the land of Ughelli.

He thanked the Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Dr. Pastor Paul Enenche and his wife Dr. Becky for finding time to come and unveil the bank, noting that he didn’t worth it but grace of God only made it possible.

Recounting how Revelation Microfinance bank was birthed, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the bank, Engr. Okhimamhe Patrick said, the vision to establish the bank dated back to the last quarter of 2021 when the process of registering the bank commenced, though, rigorous he revealed and coupled with the closure of about 134 microfinance banks by the Central bank at the time, but the process began and was only approved and licensed by the Central Bank in August 2023.

Okhimammhe further disclosed that due to its preparedness and capacity, the bank decided to open its doors of operation to the public within two months of receiving the final approval, saying that Revelation Microfinance Bank prides itself on having robust management team consisting of seasoned microfinance bankers who are all certified by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), and that the Board of Directors is composed of individuals with proven business strategies and exceptional corporate and leadership skills that will provide good corporate governance and leadership in the bank.

The MD/CEO noted that the core values of the Revelation Microfinance Bank revolves around Transparency, Reliability, Accountability, Integrity, and Notability (TRAIN) with the vision to create an open doors where everyone, regardless of their social and economic status, has access to financial services and opportunities, maintaining that Revelation Microfinance Bank prides itself on being fully digital and equipped with modern technology’s to make banking easy and accessible to its customers.

He said he is very optimistic that the bank will excel because it was borne out of God’ s revelation hence the motto of tge bank is Empowering dreams and enriching lives.

Notable businessmen, captain of industries and top personalities from the banking sector as well as top government functionaries amongst whom were Sen. Emmanuel E. Aguariavwodo P
Senior Political Adviser to the Delta State Governor, Chief Anthony Oboroh, Hon. Godwin Adode and others attended the ceremony.