Port Harcourt Mundial

By Kelechi Nwaucha Women in the Niger Delta have commended the House of Representatives over its decision on the controversial divestment of onshore holdings by oil multinationals. The House of Representatives had passed a resolution against granting of consent, by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), to divesting International Oil Companies (IOCs) until there is full compliance with the guidelines for decommissioning and the regulations made under the Petroleum Industry Act. In a statement on behalf of oil-impacted community women in Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Delta and others in the region on Thursday, executive director of Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre, Dr. Emem Okon, said the Niger Delta commends the House of Representatives, especially the Committee on Environment, "for heeding to the voices of Niger Delta Women, by speaking up against the illegal divestment without proper consultation with the communities and full restoratio...

By Godwin Chukwumaechi The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has faulted what it described as the misrepresentation of the ongoing process for the return oil exploration in Ogoni to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing persons with selfish motives of falsely presenting themselves as the drivers of the process. Factional MOSOP President, Fegalo Nsuke, who made the allegation in a statement after the group's emergency meeting in Port Harcourt, described the action as economic sabotage, accusing the representatives as impersonators. He said that some of the persons who claimed to represent the Ogoni people in a meeting held on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 with the President in Abuja, lack the mandate of the Ogoni people. He described those who claimed to represent the Ogoni people as paid chiefs driven by selfish interests, which contradicts the expectations of the Ogoni people on the development aspect of oil resumption. "MOSOP wants to emphatically state th...

By Kelechi Nwaucha For over 50 years of oil exploration in Nigeria, more than 1.5 million tons of crude oil were spilled in the Niger Delta, leading to biodiversity loss, health crisis among the region's over 30 million inhabitants, socio-economic tensions and an environment severely damaged. Of note, however, is the growing threat in the mining sector, and it's likely impact on mining host communities. Following an over 30% spike in mining activities, in Nigeria's quest to diversify revenue earnings from oil, host communities in the mining sector and their environment have began to show early signs of repeating the Niger Delta scenario. A situation that has seen mining communities in Nassarawa, Niger, Kogi and others record incidents of land degradation, water and soil pollution, lead poisoning (and blindness), among others. These informed a training for journalists, drawn from various media and states across Nigeria, held in Abuja on May 9, essentially to create awaren...

By Kelechi Nwaucha Despite the devastation brought on the Niger Delta environment by decades of oil exploration activities, mangroves remain effective natural defense against climate change manifestations in the region. According to research findings, mangroves, indigenous to the Niger Delta, "are one of nature's most effective tools in the fight against climate change," and contribute to the promotion of a sustainable ecosystem. Against this backdrop, non-governmental organisation, Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre, with support from Both ENDS, recently embarked on the regeneration of 5,000 propagules (mangrove seedlings) in five riverine communities. The project, which began with the regeneration of 1,000 propagules in Ibaka community, in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State, last Friday, is to traverse four other riverine communities, that include Bundu (Port Harcourt City LGA), Rumulumini (Obio//Akpor LGA) and Bodo (Gokana LGA). Project off...

The saying that a golden fish has no hiding place played out recently as Engr Adokiye Tombomieye was honored with an award for his meritorious service to the nation and humanity by the umbrella media body in the Niger Delta, the Niger Delta Media Forum (NDMF). According to president of the NDMF, Prince Gbasam, Engr Tombomieye was honored in recognition for his outstanding leadership and contributions to the development to the oil and gas industry as well as support to the less privileged in the society through several empowerment and employment opportunities which have improved the economic status of several families and homes in the Niger Delta and the nation. "It is gratifying to note that the award recipient who bestride the oil and gas industry like a colossus where he left indelible footprints and retired as executive Vice President, Upstream, in the Nigeria National Petroleum Company limited without blemish, is no doubt a role model to the younger generation in the Nig...

A business mogul, Ofirima Adieleuwa C. Allison, has called on Niger Delta people to close ranks and support the "lofty initiatives of the managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr.Samuel Ogbuku, so as to fastrack development in the area." Ofirima stated this recently, while speaking with journalists at his country home. He said that words are inadequate to describe the qualities of the administrator who is "exceptional and unique in the history of the interventionist agency through his sound policies and programmes." Ofirima maintained that Dr. Ogbuku is focused and a result-oriented administrator with unparalleled pedigree, noting that his purposeful agenda in repositioning the agency will be achieved. Read more: https://phmundial.com/nddc-boss-a-trailblazer-ofirima/

By Kelechi Nwaucha - Against the backdrop of worsening Environmental crisis in the Niger Delta, occasioned by decades of oil exploration activities, environmental rights groups have intensified calls for urgent remediation measures and environmental justice in the embattled region. According to a United Nations report, life expectancy has dropped to 45 years in the region as a result of the hydrocarbons released into the water, air and soil pollution, with the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and other IOCs roundly accused by locals and NGOs of leading an "environmental assault" on the Niger Delta. Thus taking an advantage of the World Press Freedom Day last Friday, leading non-governmental organization in region, Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Center, drew media attention to the harrowing cases of environmental injustice against communities and persons in Rivers State and the Niger Delta. Executive Director of Kebetkache Women Development and...