Delta Govt Alerts Residents on flooding, reels out measures on prevention, protection of lives, property

The Delta State Orientation and Communications Bureau, has reeled out some measures to residents of the state in order to prevent flooding, and protect lives and property.

The Bureau’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, in a Mid-News interview with News Central Television via DSTV Channel 422 on Saturday, advised residents to comply with the directive and take proactive steps.

He emphasized the urgent need for residents to clean their compounds thoroughly, swiff off electrical appliances in foreseeable flood prone areas and pay attention to government and stakeholders useful tips on flooding via traditional and social media platforms.

He urged parents and care fivers to of a necessity move property and other valuables from flood plains, assist People With Disabilities (PWD), the elderly and children from homes and shelters perceived to be unsafe for habitation as torrential rain continue to wreck havoc across the country, and some parts of the state.

Dr Oghenesivbe further disclosed that the State Government has concluded arrangements for temporary IDP camps in designated areas across the three senatorial districts for those likely to be affected, as well as residents already affected by the floods, as directed by the State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori.

He identified some of the flood flashpoints to include; Oshimili South, Oshimili North, Aniocha South, Ndokwa West, Ethiope West, Isoko North, Warri South West, Warri South, Ughelli North, Patani, Burutu local government areas among others, assuring that relief materials shall be distributed to flood victims through the Flood Diaster Management Committee and other stakeholders.

“All stakeholders; including the State Flood Diaster Management Committee chaired by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Kingsley Emu, Delta State Orientation and Communications Bureau, Ministry of Environment and that of Health, National Emergency Management Agency, State Waste Management Board, the State Taskforce on Environment, and State Emergency Management Agency have commenced sensitization campaigns on proactive steps to be taken by residents at this time of flooding in some parts of the state.

“Parents and care givers are strongly advised to relocate children, People With Disabilities, senior citizens with health challenges and valuable property to upper land.

“SSG Emu is leading a team of very senior government officials under the State Flood Diaster Management Committee to ensure swift response to flood cases, provide relief materials, and arrange temporary IDP CAMPS for affected residents.

“Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, is not leaving any stone unturned in this regard, which is why we are confident that much success will be achieved as torrential rain continue to dazzle some parts of the state.

“We advise residents to clear drainage channels in and around their premises, dump refuse to PSP designated disposal points, and to also subscribe and pay for PDP services.

“The State Environment Taskforce under the able Chairmanship of the former Commissioner for Environment, Chief Godspower Asiuwhu, has governor Oborevwori’s firm instructions to enforce compliance in all ramifications, while defaulters shall be prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others.

“The best thing to do at this time is for residents to partner government by complying with government directives and environmental regulations, so that flooding will be minimized, and it’s negative effects reduced drastically this rainy season,” Oghenesivbe said.

Lagos Zonal Directorate of EFCC secures Court Jailing of Six Fraudsters for Money Laundering, Impersonation

The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction and sentence of six fraudsters before Justice A.A. Okeke of the Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The convicts are Aladeusi Korede Seun, Akande Habeeb Kunle, Aliu Faleti Opeyemi, Oseni Suleimon, Tobiloba Ebhodaghe Wadiale and Shedrack Obioma.

They were arraigned on Friday, July 19, 2024, on separate charges bordering on money laundering, contrary to Section 18(2) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same law and Impersonation, contrary to Section 22(2)(iv) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022.

They all pleaded “guilty” to the charges when they were read to them.

Following their pleas, prosecution counsel, R.A. Abdulrasheed, prayed the court to convict them accordingly.

Delivering judgment, Justice Okeke sentenced Aladeusi to two months imprisonment on each of the counts. The sentences are to run consecutively. The iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 11 and smart wristwatch recovered from him were also ordered forfeited to the Federal Government.

Akande was convicted and sentenced to one month of imprisonment on each of the counts. The sentences are to run consecutively. The iPhone 13 recovered from him was ordered forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Aliu was convicted and sentenced to two months imprisonment on each of the counts. The sentences are to run consecutively. Justice Okeke ordered the forfeiture of his iPhone 14 Pro Max to the Federal Government.

The judge sentenced Oseni to three months imprisonment on count one of money laundering and three months on count two of impersonation. The sentences are to run consecutively. He also ordered the forfeiture of his Galaxy S20 Ultra and HP Laptop to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Tobiloba, on his part, bagged two months imprisonment on each of the counts. The sentences are to run consecutively. His Samsung Galaxy, S20 Ultra, and iPhone 14 Pro Max were forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Also, Shedrack was convicted and sentenced to one month of imprisonment on each of the counts. The sentences are to run consecutively.

Warri South Chair, Agbateyiniro inaugrates, 10-man ‘Warri Investment Developmental Committee

**We will start from the Micro – Committee Chair, reveals

The Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Comrade Weyinmi Isaac Agbateyiniro, on Tuesday July 23, began the process of redirecting the downward drift of the socio-economic life of Warri, to a positive trajectory, by inaugurating a high-powered 10-man ‘Warri Investment Developmental Committee’.

The Committee, which has Warri-based Legal Practitioner and serial investor, Tsewo Edema as Chairman, a staff of Warri South Local Government Council, Mr. Happy Akpobasa, as Secretary, comprises former President of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Mr. Amaju Pinnick, Chief (Barr.) Emmanuel Omovie, Dr. Andrew Megbele, Mr. Dafe Ukuvwere, the Chief Executive Officer of Light World (representing all the importers in Delta and neighboring states) representative of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA as well as representatives of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN in Warri South Local Government Area.

Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Comr. Agbateyiniro, in his remarks, during the inauguration, explained that members of the committee, were carefully selected based on their resourcefulness, social capital and ability to attract investments to Warri South Local Government.

Whilst stressing the imperative to bring Warri back to its glory days, the Warri South Council Boss, noted: “Investment occupies a very strategic niche in the development of the economy of any society, this can therefore not be an exception. Warri has been known to be the Economic Centre of Delta state, however, in our very eyes, that status is drifting away.

“The nightlife, the oil companies, the servicing companies, the jobs meant to develop our land, are all drifting away from us. If care and some urgent steps are not taken, Warri may become a shadow of itself in no distant time.

“This Committee, is made up of people who have the technical know-how, to help us research to know why we are where we are and help find a lasting solution to the problem.”

Responding on behalf of others, the Chairman of ‘Warri Investment Developmental Committee’, Tsewo Edema, opined that only those who feel the pain of the Oil City of Warri, will want to be part of its development.

Edema, averred: “This Committee is not for Council fun, it was inaugurated of the need to see how our youths can be employed and how life can come back to Warri. Some of us have gone round the world and we have seen that people who build cities, are made up of indigenes and strangers.

“But the strangers must feel safe, experience peace and security to invest, then those who are indigenes must also have love for the city for them to invest. This is where we are from and it takes you and me to develop it. We will create an enabling environment of peace and security and then development will come in.

“We will do all it takes to ensure that investors all over the country and even outside, come and invest in the Warri. We will start from the micro, to the medium and to the largest bit, which means that this project is not for later, but it begins now.”

We’ve been in darkness, angry protesters,issues NPDC/NECONDE OML 42 JV three months ultimatum to provide electricity

Angry Protesters from Okerenkoko Community, Warri South-West Monday July 22, 2024 shutdown the flow-station in Jones Creek, an oil facility operated by the Management of NPDC/NECONDE OML 42 JV. They chased the workers out of the company’s site in anger, Areanewsng com, an Online Newspaper can report.

The Protesters who are from Egwa, Odidi, Bayan and Okerenkoko Communities said they’ve been in perpetual darkness for about three years.

They’re demanding that the oil firm must connect them to the gas turbine serving their yard for them to have light.

In a peaceful protest, the protesters issued a three months ultimatum to the company to provide them with electricity.

The protesters who are mainly women chanted solidarity songs as they danced into the premises of the company..

They beared placards with inscriptions such as,”NECONDE/NPDC No light, No Operation. Give us light”,” Okerenkoko Community is tired of darkness. Give us light. NECONDE/NPDC”,”Let there be light in Okerenkoko” and “Enough is enough of darkness.”

Action team leader of the Protest, Esther Ene in a chat with newsmen said they will remain at the flow-station until their calls are heeded to by the oil firm.

She stressed that the company has refused to provide them light but they(oil firm) enjoy to their detriment.

According to Ene,”It’s light issue that brought us here. As we are here,If darkness is sweet, they should shutdown the flow-station so that we will stay in darkness with them.”

While noting that the Community is the highest oil production in the Niger Delta, Ene said,”We are not supposed to be in darkness.”

“Anybody they will call from above, we are ready to stay with that person. If it’s Tinubu that comes here, we will stay with him here. They should find way. The highest we are giving them is ,three months we should have light day and night. They should fix the turbine for us so that we will have light.”

She said if the company fails to heed to their demand, they shutdown more of its flow-stations in the area.

Another of the protesters, Akpoaboere HelpMe who also spoke with newsmen corroborated the claims of the Action team leader saying,”We’re suffering. We don’t have drinking water. Only if rain falls before we can get water to drink.

“The situation has affected the Nigeria Maritime University,NMU. Students now go about in search of where to charge their mobile phones. Students can no longer study as many are leaving the town already. We are suffering again because there’s no network from telecommunication providers.
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NPDC/NECONDE OML 42 JV have refused to give us light. Please, give us light within the next three days or we shut you down completely.”

150 indigents in Owhelogbo to enjoy free Health Insurance from DSCHS

**As the family of Late Elder Joseph Ubuavame Erebe key into the Indigent Enrollee Adoption Initiative of the DSCHC

As the economy continues to bite hard, quality healthcare has remained an elusive dream to many Nigerians. Hence, the state government has braced up to surmount the barriers faced by the vulnerable populations in accessing healthcare, through the Indigent Enrollee Adoption Initiative of the Delta State Contributory Health Scheme.

The initiative which has been embraced by many philanthropists who have adopted and purchased health insurance for indigent persons around them, on Sunday July 21,;saw another registration of 150 persons from Owhelogbo, Isoko-North local government, Delta State courtesy of the family of Late Elder Joseph Ubuavame Erebe.

Addressing the gathering, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Dr. Isaac Akpoveta said healthcare remains a fundamental human right and not a privilege, adding that philanthropy, when directed to healthcare for the vulnerable, becomes the ultimate act of compassion.

Dr. Akpoveta commended the sponsors, the family of Late Elder Joseph Ubuavame Erebe, for the gesture, saying that philanthropy in healthcare provides opportunity for people to live healthy and productive lives, to enable people seek preventive care and avoid escalation of minor illnesses into life threatening ones.

He said the Indigent Enrollee Adoption Initiative is a platform where high net worth individuals could make a tangible difference by adopting vulnerable indigents and purchasing health insurance premiums at the cost of #7000 per individual, and called on all, including those in the diaspora to key into the initiative and ensure no one is left behind, in furtherance of Universal Health Coverage.

He thanked Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for providing strong political will and financial support to the Commission.

The representative of the sponsors Dr. James Ighoroje, thanked the state government for putting up such programs to benefit the grassroots, noting that it is a sign of commitment from the Government to its citizens.

Some of the beneficiaries, who also received their health insurance cards on the spot, expressed gratitude and prayed for the Government for providing such an initiative and the sponsors, for their benevolence.

A highlight of the ceremony was the awarding of Health Insurance Ambassador to the sponsors, the family of Late Elder Joseph Ubuavame Erebe.

NPF Clarifies Mischievous Content With IGP’s Picture Circulating on whatsapp, Other Social Media Platforms

**Warns Against Misinformation, non factual report

The Nigeria Police Force wishes to inform the general public that a message currently circulating alongside a picture of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, on WhatsApp and other social media platforms, did not originate from the police. The message, which poses several questions and opinions about protests, does not essentially represent the ideals or views of the Nigeria Police Force, urging everyone to disregard the message and other similar contents purpotedly from the NPF as the Force makes all communications via its official channels.

In a statement released Sunday July 21, 2024 from the NPF through the Headquarters Spokesman, ACP OLUMUYIWA ADEJOBI, stated that the NPF is committed to maintaining peace and order throughout the country. “We do not endorse any message that could incite division, violence, or destruction. We encourage all Nigerians to engage in peaceful and constructive activities that would contribute to the progress and unity of our dear country.

“Additionally, the NPF expressly warns against the spread of misinformation, disinformation, and fake news, or mischievous recycled contents which are capable of causing a breakdown of law and order as such actions are criminal and punishable under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention) Act, 2024 and other extant laws in Nigeria”.

NUJ in Delta Inaugurates Fresh Angle International Newspaper Chapel

The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Delta State Council, on Friday July 19, inaugurated the Fresh Angle International Newspaper Chapel in Warri, with a call on members of the chapel to uphold the ethics of the journalism professional.

The inauguration ceremony, was performed by the NUJ Chairman in Delta State, Comrade Churchill Oyowe.

Comrade Oyowe congratulated the leadership and of the chapel for their emergence.

He encouraged them to carry themselves with dignity as well as show respect for one another, especially for the elders in the profession.

Oyowe, also said they should be committed in the discharge of their constitutional duties, which Section 20 of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended) empowered them to do.

Comrade Oyowe, who was flanked by the State Secretary of the Union, Comrade Victor Sorokwu, Comrade Felix Ekwu, Vice Chairman and Comrade Celestine Afokoba, Internal Auditor, inaugurated a 3-member caretaker committee of the chapel.

The 3-member caretaker committee, comprises Mrs. Yvonne Suowari, Chairman, Onyeka Lilian Adudu, Secretary and Comrade Chimaraobi Nzeremobi, member.

In her acceptance speech, Mrs. Yvonne Suowari, assured the NUJ leadership that Fresh Angle International Newspaper Chapel will strive towards restoring the dignity of journalism.

World Football clubs transfer  window  Speculations 

Barcelona and Athletic are close to reach an agreement for Nico Williams. (Pedro Almeida)

Atlético Madrid advanced to sign Julián Álvarez (24) from Man City. (Luis Merlo)

Man City are pushing hard to sign Dani Olmo from RB Leipzig. (Di Marzio)

Manchester United have agreed on personal terms with Manuel Ugarte.

Osimhen has agreed on joining PSG and PSG want Osimhen, but club to club agreement is still not done.

Labour Leaders Praise President Tinubu Over Approval Of N70,000 Minimum Wage And Promise Of Review After Three Years

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in Abuja increased the federal government’s offer on the national minimum wage from N62,000 to N70,000, with an assurance that it will be reviewed after three years, instead of five years.

In a meeting with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and that of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) at the Presidential Villa, President Tinubu said he had to intervene in the negotiations, knowing the economic challenges faced by many Nigerians, and the need to provide urgent succour.

“I have heard all your presentations. You came here with the intention to get something on behalf of your members. It has been tough globally. And if you review my track record, I have never been found wanting in ameliorating the problems of workers. I belong to the people and to all of you in leadership. Without you, this job is not interesting.

“You challenged the thinking faculty of leadership, and we have reviewed the position. I have consulted widely, and when the tripartite committee submitted their reports, I reviewed them again and started to think and rethink.

“Last week, I brought the workload to you because we have a timeline. We have a problem, and we recognize that you have a problem too. We are in the same economy. We are in the same country. We may have different rooms, different addresses, and different houses; we are just members of one family that must care for each other.

“We must look at the parameters of things. Here, I have a speed limit, and I must pay attention to traffic warnings; slippery when wet, curved roads, and be careful not to have an accident. That is why I went as far as having this meeting today.

“We are driving this economy together. Let us look at the tenure of review. Let us agree on that, and affirm three years. Two years is too short. We affirm three years. We will review.

“I am going to move from the tripartite committee. I am going to edge a little bit forward, looking at the review that we have done. Yes, no one in the federal establishment should earn less than N70,000. So, we are going to benchmark at N70,000,’’ the President said.

President Tinubu explained that renewing the hope of Nigerians extends to providing infrastructure that will improve their livelihoods and create an inclusive economy that all can participate and benefit.

The President said the government was committed to reducing the cost of transportation with the introduction of Compressed Natural Gas-powered buses, which will be cheaper and efficient, and also assured the labour unions of providing buses that will be deployed across the country.

President Tinubu also said the entitlements of members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Allied Institutions (NASU) will be considered, urging the Ministries of Finance, and Budget & Economic Planning to look at the possibilities of clearing the backlog.

At the meeting, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, thanked the President for his consideration of issues as the “Father of the Nation’’ and scheduling two meetings to resolve the initial impasse.

“Mr. President, at the tripartite meeting, and the resolutions of the government, Organized Private Sector and labour unions; we were all united as one family to promote and grow our economy, and deepen our democracy, by implication to the benefit of all. Basically, that is what we are saying today. We have a listening President here,’’ the Secretary to the Government of the Federation said.

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, and that of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Festus Osifo, thanked the President for creating time to host two meetings on the review of the national minimum wage.

The two labour leaders acknowledged that at the last meeting, the President directed the rescheduling of an official trip in order to attend the second meeting.

The labour leaders also expressed their appreciation to the President, applauding him of his clear show for commitment to the welfare of Nigerian workers.