Erosion

Control Project Not Abandoned – Diri

The Bayelsa State Government has described reports that it abandoned the erosion control project in Obogoro Community in Yenagoa Local Government Area as incorrect and grossly inaccurate.

Governor Douye Diri, who gave the clarification in a press release by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, said, on the contrary, the project was on course and that the government was committed to finding a lasting solution to the erosion menace.

Nigeria's Petroleum Minister Sylva Resigns

Presidency Confirms THEWILL's Exclusive Report

Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, has resigned from office, the Presidency said on Friday, to confirm THEWILL's exclusive report.

Special Assistant to the President on Digital Communications, Bashir Ahmad, confirmed the development, just exactly a week after THEWILL exclusively reported his resignation.

THEWILL had reported on March 24, that he resigned from office in compliance with the Electoral Act to contest the governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State.

Ahmad, in a tweet on his official Twitter handle on Friday, wrote: “Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, and former Bayelsa State Governor, H.E. Timipre Sylva, has resigned his appointment to contest in the next Bayelsa governorship election.”

It was recently reported that some APC members in Bayelsa State had called on the national leadership of the party

Fagbohun Succeeds Aigoro as Ogun Head of Service

to disqualify Sylva from contesting the governorship primaries of the party over his refusal to resign his position as a minister.

The report stated that party members from 43 Wards in Ekeremor, Ogbia, Sagbama, Kolokuma/Opokuma and Southern Ijaw Local Government Areas of the state, in a petition to the party national leadership, pointed out that as at the time the minister was screened, he had not resigned.

The APC primaries are fixed for April 14 with six aspirants vying for the sole ticket of the party.

They include a former Governor-elect Chief David Lyon, Former Vice Chancellor of the Maritime University Okerenkoko Delta State Professor Maureen Etebu, Barrister Festus Daumiebi Chief Mrs. Isikima Johnson Ogbomade and Joshua Machiver and Chiefs Timipre Sylva.

The winner will square up against the incumbent governor Senator Douye Diri who is the sole contestant of the ruling People Democratic Party (PDP) and other political parties.

C'River Gov-Elect, 25 Elected Lawmakers Receive Certificates of Return

The incoming governor of Cross River State, Sen. Bassey Edet Otu, his running mate, Peter Odey and the 25 elected members of the State House of Assembly have received their Certificates of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Resident Electoral Officer for the state, Prof Gabriel Yomere, issued the certificate to the elected officers at Mike Igini Hall, INEC headquarters, Calabar.

The REC said the event marked the end of the election process in the state and the exercise aligned with Section 72(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) which empowers INEC to issue certificates of return to elected members within 14 days after an election.

In a vote of thanks, the Governor-elect, Senator Bassey Otu thanked all – INEC, security agents, the media, Cross Riverians, and non-indigenes for making the election a success, calling his fellow recipients to put the people first.

The governor-elect reiterated that his government would be all-inclusive and allow youths and women to contribute their quota.

Member-elect for Akamkpa State Constituency Okon Owuna said the outcome of the election spelt victory for the people and it would lead to the transformation of the state.

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has appointed Mr Kolawole Peter Fagbohun as the new Head of Service in the state. This is contained in a statement issued in Abeokuta on Monday by Mr Tokunbo Talabi, the Secretary to the State Government.

According to the statement, the appointment takes immediate effect. Fagbohun succeeds Dr. Nafiu Aigoro, who retired from public service last Friday.

A multidisciplinary specialist with a rich social science background, with core competence in human resources, perception and reputation management, Mr. Fagbohun was the winner of 2007 Merit Award Winner in the Ogun State Public Service.

Until his appointment as Head of Service, he was the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. He had also worked as Permanent Secretary in the Bureau of Cabinet and Special Services and Bureau of Service Matters, among others.

Born on April 10, 1964, Fagbohun is a native of Ilobi in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State. He holds a B.Sc in Political Science from the University of Benin in 1988 and Master’s degree in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management from the University of Lagos.

He has attended several International and Local Management and Leadership Training Programmes, including Performance and Change Management at International Management Training Centre, Worthing, West Sussex, England.

While empathisng with the community over the negative effects of the coastal erosion, including the loss of lives, land, property and sources of livelihood, Diri urged the community to keep faith with the government to rescue the situation. He said he had visited the community and had also been briefed about the outcry of the community over the issue.

He advised those trying to use the project to fan the embers of discord to desist from doing so.

The governor said Obogoro was not the only community affected by erosion and similar environmental menace in the state as his own community, Sampou, and others were also affected.

Diri revealed that he had just received a detailed report from the State Ministry of Environment on the Obogoro erosion project and had given directives on how to address the menace permanently.

He explained that part of the report showed that the site clearing and part-dredging had been done and that the sum of N750 million had been spent on the ongoing project so far.

He further stated that at a meeting between government and the community, agreement was reached to suspend the dredging works and that the project be redesigned to shoreline protection.

“Also, the ministry subsequently engaged a technical team, which carried out survey map of the project site, bathymetric and topography survey and geo-technical studies.

“Obogoro cannot therefore claim to be neglected as this administration has built schools, health centre and roads among other projects in the community as well as appointed a commissioner and other senior officials of the government from that community.”

Tinubu