Continued from yesterdayThe sums acquired by the Fee beneath subsection (1) (a) of this part shall: (a) be used for the rehabilitation and improvement of the oil mineral producing areas on the idea of the ratio of the oil produced within the specific State, Native Authorities Space or neighborhood and never on the idea of the dichotomy of on-shore or off-shore oil manufacturing and(b) represent a particular fund which shall be maintained in an account with the department of the Central Financial institution of Nigeria at Moscow Street, Port Harcourt.(1) The Fee shall include—(a) a Chairman; (b) one member to signify every of the oil mineral producing states, that’s – (i) Rivers State, (ii) Delta State, (iii) Akwa-Ibom State, (iv) Imo State, (v) Edo State, (vi) Ondo State, (vii) Abia State and (viii) Cross River State.
On October 1, 1996, Basic Sani Abacha (20 September 1943 – 8 June 1998) created Bayelsa State out of Rivers State and named Yenagoa because the state capital. He additionally named my buddy, Captain Phillip Oladipo Ayeni (1949-April 21, 2017) from Oke-Imesi in Ekiti State because the pioneer governor. On June 5, 2000, President Olusegun Obasanjo (87) established the Niger Delta Growth Fee (NDDC).
The NDDC mandate is formulation of insurance policies and tips for the event of the Niger Delta space, conception, planning and implementation, in accordance with set guidelines and laws, of initiatives and programmes for sustainable improvement of the Niger Delta space within the subject of transportation together with roads, jetties and waterways, well being, employment, industrialisation, agriculture and fisheries, housing and concrete improvement, water provide, electrical energy and telecommunications, surveying the Niger Delta with the intention to confirm measures needed to advertise its bodily and socio-economic improvement; getting ready grasp plans and schemes designed to advertise the bodily improvement of the Niger Delta area and the estimation of the member states of the fee.
It additionally mandates the implementation of all of the measures authorised for the event of the Niger Delta area by the Federal Authorities and the states of the fee; establish elements inhibiting the event of the Niger Delta area and aiding the member states within the formulation and implementation of insurance policies to make sure sound and environment friendly administration of the assets of the Niger Delta area; assessing and reporting on any undertaking being funded or carried out within the area by oil and gasoline corporations and every other firm, together with non-governmental organisations, in addition to guaranteeing that funds launched for such initiatives are correctly utilised.
NDDC additionally has mandate in tackling ecological and environmental issues that come up from the exploration of oil mineral within the Niger Delta area and advising the Federal Authorities and the member states on the prevention and management of oil spillages, gasoline flaring and environmental air pollution; liaising with the assorted oil mineral and gasoline prospecting and producing corporations on all issues of air pollution, prevention and management and Executing such different works and performing such different features, which within the possibility of the fee are required for the sustainable improvement of the Niger Delta area and its folks.
The folks of that area owe an important debt of gratitude to former President Umaru Musa Yar’adua, who on June 25, 2009 established the Amnesty Programme to militants who immediately or not directly participated in militancy. Yar’adua additionally sustained the NNDC and as well as as earlier talked about created the Ministry of Niger Delta. He did lots for that area. Not solely as a result of it’s the hen that lay the golden eggs for the nation however due to the plight of the folks of that area. Yar’adua named Air Vice Marshal (rtd), Fortunate Ochuko Ararile (70), the Ovie of Umiaghwa-Abraka Kingdom in Ethiope-East Native Authorities Space of Delta State because the pioneer coordinator of the programme.
The scrapping of the Niger Delta is a giant setback.Within the wrestle for full emancipation of the Niger Delta, a number of women and men had been within the fore entrance. They embrace Main Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro (September 10, 1938 – Might 9, 1968), generally known as “Boro”, Ken Saro Wiwa (October 10, 1941- November 10, 1995), Dr. Okoi Arikpo ( September 20, 1916 – October 26, 1995), Sir Egbert Udo Udoma, KBE, (June 21, 1917 –February 2, 1998), John Togo, Chief Wenike Opurum Briggs (March 10, 1918 – April 21, 1987), Chief Eyo Ita Esua (January 14, 1901 – December 6, 1973), Obong Victor Bassey Attah (86), the late Captain Samuel Timinipre Owonaro (rtd), Nottingham Dick, Chief Harold Dappa-Biriye (1920-2005), Authorities Oweizide Ekpemupolo (born 1971), Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark (97), Asari Dokubo, Jaja of Opobo, Nana Oadelomu (1852–1916), Henry Okah (65), Ateke Tom (60), Farah Dagogo (42), Soboma George, John Togo, Solomon Ndigbara and plenty of others.
Between February 20, 1966 and March 7, 1966, at Yenogoa within the Port Harcourt Judicial Division, Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro, Samuel Timipre Owonaru and Nottingham Dick appeared earlier than Justice John Aniemeka Phil-Ebosie from Anambra State, for treason, opposite to part 37 (1) of the Prison Code (Federation). The identical Justice Phil-Ebosie later grew to become Justice of the Federal Court docket of Enchantment.
The case was retried on December 5, 1966 within the Supreme Court docket with the then Chief Justice of the Federation, Sir Adetokunbo Adegboyega Ademola (February 1, 1906 – January 29, 1993), Justice Charles Dadi Omeha Onyeama (26 April 1916- 5 September, 1999) and Justice George Baptist Ayoola Coker (27 January 1917-7 February 1981), presiding.
By Part 108 of the Electoral Decree 1977, the fourth Chief Justice of the Federation, Hon. Justice Darnley Arthur Alexander GCON, named Justice Ebosie together with Justice S.J. Ete and Justice Alkali Alhaji Abubakar as a member of the Gongola State Electoral Tribunal on July 2, 1979.
In 1982, Justice Phil-Ebosie was awarded the Commander of the Order of the Niger by President Aliyu Usman Shehu Shagari GCFR. Earlier than saying judgment on June 21, 1966, Justice Phil-Ebosie requested Adaka Boro to make his speech, he mentioned “Immediately is a superb day’ not solely in your lives, but additionally within the historical past of the Niger Delta. Maybe, it will likely be the best day for a very long time. This isn’t as a result of we’re going to convey the heaven down, however as a result of we’re going to reveal to the world what and the way we really feel about oppression… Bear in mind your 70 yr previous grandmother who nonetheless farms to eat, bear in mind too, your petroleum which is being pumped out day by day out of your veins, after which combat endlessly your freedom.” My folks “had lengthy sought a separate state, not as a result of they beloved energy however as a result of their situations had been peculiar and the authorities didn’t perceive their issues. There’s nothing mistaken with Nigeria. What’s mistaken is the entire lack of mercy in our actions”.
I feel Main Adaka Boro was proper afterall. We don’t perceive the folks of Niger Delta. We have a tendency to guage the folks of that area by the bluff, blusters, life-style, threats and uncoordinated efforts of some their leaders. We assumed that since we made one among them, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (67) who served as President between 9 February, 2010 and 29 Might, 2015, that now we have discovered options to their issues. Under no circumstances. A whole lot of thriller has enveloped that area. Actual misery. The web page will not be turning there.
Actual struggling continues to be happening in that area. Very horrible struggling. If we’re to go together with the argument that the large budgetary allocations to the Niger Delta Ministry, the Amnesty Programme and the NDDC can’t be justified then there is no such thing as a Ministry or company within the centre, that may escape the hammer.
By Presidential fiat, President Muhammadu Buhari on August 21,2019 established the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Catastrophe Administration and Social Growth. He then put the next companies beneath the ministry. Nationwide Fee for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Individuals, North-East Growth Fee (NEDC), Nationwide Emergency Administration Company, Nationwide Company for Prohibition and Trafficking in Individuals (NAPTIP), Nationwide Senior Residents Centre and Nationwide Fee for Individual with Disabilities.
The affect of that Ministry has not been absolutely felt in most elements of the nation. All we examine of the Ministry are scandals upon scandals of excessive proportion.
On October 23, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu established the Ministry of Livestock Growth by a fiat. The identical authorities that scrapped the Ministry of Niger Delta, the world that produces the goose that lay the golden eggs, has not solely sustained the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Catastrophe Administration and Social Growth however has established the Ministry of Livestock Growth.
It is rather advanced understanding the federal government today.Concluded.Teniola is a former director within the Presidency.
