Monday, 27 February 2017
Sunday, 26 February 2017
Saturday, 25 February 2017
Friday, 24 February 2017
Thursday, 23 February 2017
Wednesday, 22 February 2017
Tuesday, 21 February 2017
Monday, 20 February 2017
NEED FOR SEWAGE TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL IN BAYELSA STATE
THE NEED FOR SEWAGE
TREATMENT PLANT AND APPROVED DISPOSAL SITE IN BAYELSA STATE:
[An Article written
and published in 2006,but still VERY relevant to the Bayelsa State Scenario]
Some people are of
the view that governments are like horses. They believe these horses won’t run
unless they are prodded no matter how people-oriented their programs appear. I
am not one of those who believe in an all-knowing government. It is wrong to
assume that those who are in government knows everything and as such
super-humans. Any society that has the government as all-knowing will suffer
because anything those in governments doesn’t know, no other person or group
can know.
Thank God that we
have a society where others make input to governance and such contributions are
taken seriously. Sometimes due to the crowded programs of our leaders they
forget some of their good intentions for the people and, when we write; in most
cases, it is assumed that it will remind and strengthen their resolve to act
even where the idea suffered some setback due to lack of will by the leaders.
The sea of ideas is great, but like the rivers, it is always flowing and unless
those ideas are downloaded; they will just flow away. 
Anybody who has spent
a reasonable time in Port Harcourt will attest to the fact that the present
administration of his Excellency, Dr. Peter Odili deserves some kudos and
support for his dogged fight against the heaps of refuse that used to occupy
our streets [in the 90s] and continued to be produced from our homes, markets
and business outfits daily. The steps taken by the government to ensure that
the days when refuse took over the streets are over are commendable. While more
strategies are being formulated to enlighten and rid the streets of refuse by
the state government, let me also commend the NDDC for the refuse receptacles
provided in the Niger Delta states. These receptacles have also helped in some ways.
However, the crux of
the matter here is far different. It has to do with the disposal of human waste
[excreta]. I remember, as one who grew up in Port Harcourt, that, apart from
those houses in Government Reserved Areas [GRA]; almost every other house in
Port Harcourt and its environs [in the 70s and 80s] either used the pit or pail
toilet system. Water-closet toilets were mostly seen in the GRAs and places
like Amadi flat [where I first used one, at No.8 Nzimiro street, around 1972/73].
Yes, things have
changed. In those days it was a common sight to see young men wearing mask and
carrying pails filled with human waste on their heads. They go from backyard to
backyard and from one street to the other. Their duty was to empty the waste
from each compound in their areas of jurisdiction i.e from the pail in the toilet of each particular
yard into their own bigger pails used for final disposal. In the Port Harcourt
old township, these men [popularly referred to as Onyeburu] start as early as
6:00pm each day; going about their business [of evacuating human waste].
Sometimes, as youths, we used to call names; the most popular one being Onyeburu
and which often infuriate them and cause them to give us a hot chase often around
the streets. While this was the scenario
in the township, those in the Diobu area were not as bold and as such, come out
only after mid-night to do their job. It was difficult to see one in Diobu
unless you keep late nights.
The dumpsite for the waste for those in Port Harcourt township
used to be somewhere around Creek Road, after the yam market and down into the
river. Those at Diobu also dispose the waste at a waterfront around Elechi
beach. Even so, both Town and Diobu; these men sometimes offload the content of their buckets or pail in
unathorised places or even at the doorsteps of those who provoked them while
they engaged in their legitimate jobs. They were very powerful in terms of
deciding where they disposed the waste especially when you call them Onyeburu
[Carrier].
So, while the pail
system was considered unhealthy, old fashioned and had problems with disposal,
the pit system which also existed in most of the adjoining communities, never
had that disposal problem. It can only be discontinued when filled, though it
also had its disadvantages.
Coming from the above
past, it became a delight when, around the early 1990s or thereabout, the
Rivers State government came up with a decision to phase out the above systems.
And, instruction was given to all landlords to change over to the modern system
[water closet toilet system]. That was a real, landmark decision as far as
sanitation is concerned.
However, people have
observed that the decision to effect the change not far reaching. There was no plan
to go ahead. The lack of focus and observed inadequacies of the above and
intention of government has placed responsibility to carry on, on the present
government of not only Rivers state, but all Niger Delta governments that does
not have an approved sewage disposal site where sewage is dumped and treated
before disposal. This is very crucial and remains the crux of the matter here.
The non-provision of
adequate sewage disposal site may be viewed in some quarters as a real neglect.
Yet more state governments, e.g Bayelsa state; are issuing instructions to
landlords to provide toilets. Though, it is commendable to order the landlords,
this was what took an NGO, The Eagle’s Eye of Bayelsa [TEEB] to the office of
the Hon. Commissioner for Environment, on 22nd September, 2005.in
their address, they cited the African Charter on Human and Peoples Right which
stated that ‘’All people shall have the right to[a] generally satisfactory
environment favourable to their development’’.
Believing that
accountability does not begin and end with money alone but also on the acts of
omission and commission in relation to the job positions individuals occupy in
government, TEEB said ‘’ The ministry of environment,we believe, has more to do
in relation to that order to landlords in Bayelsa state. It is a responsibility
which the ministry owes the society. While it is the responsibility of
landlords to to provide toilets [water closet]; it is equally the duty of your
ministry to provide adequate sewage dumpsite for disposal’’.
The number of sewage
trucks plying the streets of Port Harcourt has increased over the years. Since
there are no central street sewer lines, as is the case in developed nations,
these trucks are the only alternative. But , before the current upswing in sewage
disposal , only few organizations like Shell, Federal Ministry of Works and
Housing, Nigerian Ports Authority, etc that used to dislodge septic tanks and
its soakaways. And as very few persons knew about these trucks, some of them
took advantage of the people’s ignorance to dispose the contents of the vaccum
truck anyhow. Now that the masses are aware of what these trucks really are; it
is difficult to just dump at the nearby bushes. People are very vigilant now.
It is most
unfortunate that not much thought is devoted to this very important matter. Yet,
the New Modern Medical Counsellor has it on page 96, that ‘’the disposal of
human excreta is probably the most important problem in sanitation….Good
sanitation is an excellent kind of health insurance’’ And according to
Badey [2001], pollution is the ‘’unfavourable change in our surroundings,
caused either by natural means or human activities which affects our water
supplies, soil and air we breathe’’.
When I was growing
up,the most common illness used to be malaria. But these days, as you are treating
for malaria, the medical experts will tell you ‘’you have typhoid’’. How
precarious the situation is [lack of sewage treatment plant and dumpsite]in the
Niger Delta is made more obvious when is realized that ‘’sanitation alone in
the leading countries of the world has reduced illness and death from most
infectious diseases to a small fraction of what they were a few decades ago.
This is understandably true of typhoid fever. Thus, we need to protect our water
and food from any chance of fecal or
sewage contamination by proper disposal of all human excreta.’’ [New Modern Medical Counsellor].
Let me put the
present situation in perspective. Before the present upswing in sewage
evacuation and disposal , sewage truck operators were discharging on trial and
error basis. At the fore was the crew of the Federal Ministry of Works and
Housing. It is to their credit that even the present disposal sites [illegal]at
Trans-Amadi, Choba, Eastern Bypass [Marine Base] and others such spots were
discovered.
While doing the trial
and error, somewhere around the Eastern Bypass [between Julius Berger and
Redemption Ministry]was being used as disposal site. Along Aba Road [near the
former toolgate] and even the Rivers state government recognized Elechi beach
were used. But, the Rivers State House of Assembly, having listened to the
protest of inhabitants of Elechi beach; stopped further recognition of the
place as disposal site.
So, right now, all
the sewage disposal trucks go to somewhere in Trans-Amadi or a borrowed pit
near Uniport, in Choba; to discharge. Security is provided for these sewage
operators by those individuals who allow them to discharge in the above
mentioned places, i.e. Trans-Amadi and Choba. The fee per day per truck is
N3,000.00 for anyone coming to dispose sewage there.
One of the reasons
why states like Bayelsa and others in the Niger Delta[ with similar terrain]
must take the matter of sewage treatment and disposal seriously is the unique
topography of the environment. The situation demands that something urgent be
done to prevent avoidable epidemic. In Bayelsa State, it is unarguable, now
that orders have been issued to landlords,within the next one year or
thereabout the sewage trucks will be everywhere. The government should
therefore be proactive in meeting the challenges posed by urbanization and
upswing in sewage disposal. While the borrow pits in and around Port Harcourt
are deep and can hardly fill with water, those around Yenagoa are shallow and
often filled with water,. They are often used as fish ponds, swimming pools
and, sometimes drinking and washing. In the rainy season, water flow easily
from one place to the other.
So, the need for an
adequate sewage dumpsite, with treatment plant installed; is more than a
necessity for the good health and safety of the people and environment. More
so, as these sewage operators apply chemicals such as diesel, kerosene and
others, it will not be ideal for these waste to be allowed to freely flow into
our fish ponds, swamps, rivers and creeks; especially the fresh water areas of
our environment, without being treated.
It becomes expedient
therefore, to conclude by calling on the NDDC and our state governments to take
proper study of the environment and locate ideal spots for the treatment and
disposal of sewage. Apart from saving lives, a well prepared sewage disposal
site will generate revenue for the maintenance of the site and, even employ
some persons. It is envisaged that government or any organization that establishes
such a site will be making not less than N30, 000.00 daily. Already, some states like Lagos are either having such on-going or about to embark on
this dual purpose project.
Anything worth doing,
they say, is worth doing well. It is good to order landlords to change to water
system toilets, better still is the treatment and disposal of sewage in
approved dumpsite provided by government. Without the later, the order to
landlords is not complete and lacks aesthetic value.
An Article written
by Alagoa Morris and
published in some papers, including the Wednesday/Thursday [1st/2nd March, 2006]
editions of The Tide, page 9. 99% of the
article remain as it was written then.
N/B: All the attached photos were shots taken in Yenagoa,Bayelsa State.
Sunday, 19 February 2017
Saturday, 18 February 2017
Oceanification:An Environmental/Ecological Threat In Bayelsa State
OCEANIFICATION/COASTAL EROSION:MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL/ECOLOGICAL THREAT TO COMMUNITIES IN BAYELSA STATE.
 |
| Abandoned NDDC shoreline protection project at Sangana community,Brass local government area. |
Oceanification or Coastal erosion: Major threat to
communities in Bayelsa State,in the Niger Delta.
When Environmental
challenges of Niger Delta Region of Nigeria is mentioned, the mind of most
folks, including Nigerians, would race first of all to the much talked about oil
industry-induced pollution and related environmental degradation; especially
those caused by routine gas flaring, gas leaks/eruptions and oil spills.
However, there are other environmental challenges peculiar to the area;
especially the most deltaic State like Bayelsa which has the longest share of
the Atlantic Coastline running through three local government areas of :Brass,
Southern Ijaw and Ekeremor. Bayelsa
State has no physical features like hills, valley or mountain; it is just a
low-lying geographical expression with several Rivers, Creeks and rivulets
which empties the water received from the River Niger into the Atlantic Ocean.
As some would say, Bayelsa State is more riverine than Rivers State and more
deltaic than Delta State. This is a fact.
Communities around the fringes of the Atlantic ocean are
threatened by what is now referred to as Oceanification [as coined by Chief
Nengi James], the opposite of desertification sailing in the Northern part of
Nigeria. Unfortunately, even though these communities are watching how crude
oil is taken away from their land daily, the authorities at the State and
Federal levels have done little or nothing to show concern about their plight.
Communities such as Odioama, Sangana,Twon-Brass,Okpoama, Koluama, Ekeni, and Ezetu,
are just few to mention; along the coastline experiencing this ecological
threat. The Nigerian Agip Oil Company
[NAOC] had tried in the past to protect the Shoreline at Twon-Brass, but that
effort has not be good enough as everything has been washed off and the threat
has returned to stare the people. Some efforts started by the Niger Delta
Development Commission at Sangana community has been abandoned since; without
completion.
Properties lost to this phenomenon include houses, electric
polls/wire, community roads and graveyards and vast expanse of land. Every now
and then the government would talk about how much funds that has been released
to tackle ecological problems in states. But, it is difficult to ascertain
where the ecological funds are being directed in the state. It is indeed a
great puzzle that where a nation/state is deriving the bulk of it revenue is so
neglected, alienated and abandoned.
This is not only unjust, unfair…it smacks of dereliction of
duty by those in authority.
Photos shows efforts made at Sangana community some years ago by the Niger Delta Development Commission [NDDC],but abandoned since.
Alagoa Morris
INSECURITY IN THE CREEKS OF BAYELSA STATE: Occasioned by Sea Pirates and Kidnappers
 |
| Alleged kidnapper caught and given jungle treatment by locals. |
Most Bayelsans whose communities are in the Creeks or who
sail in the creeks of Bayelsa State; especially in Brass, Nembe and Southern
Ijaw local government areas would agree that the security situation is more
precarious now than when there was militancy in the Niger Delta Region. During
the era of militancy, it would be recalled that Bayelsa State had more militant
camps than any other state and, most of the camps were situated in the creeks
of Southern Ijaw local government area. It was not just a fact that Southern
Ijaw had more of the militant camps; the leaders of those camps were all indigene
of the local government and they include: General Africa, General Ogunboss,
Pastor Rueben, General Boyloaf, General Joshua Macaiver, Priest Igodo [terror
of the creeks], General Young Shall Grow, and others like Okpotu, etc, etc.
To a large extent then, the militants were under the general
control and command of their leaders and there were rules of engagement. And,
even though there were instances where community folks suffered injuries, death
and discomfort owing to the activities
of militants; cases of Sea piracy and kidnapping of locals were VERY rare; as
the main targets were oil company staff [mostly foreigners] and the military or
the Federal Government. The two main excuses for militancy or the uprising in
the Niger Delta were: Environmental degradation and underdevelopment/gross
neglect by successive governments.
 |
| Alleged kidnappers caught and given jungle treatment |
It was, however, not difficult for some observers to put
forward that a time would eventually come when locals would become targets of
kidnappers; after the phase of kidnapping foreigners and oil company
staff/contractors for ransom. However, that phase was relatively delayed by
youths getting engaged in Local or bush refineries; locally refining crude oil.
Yet, even before the authorities came down heavily of these local refinery operators;
the region had sailed into the phase whereby public officers and their
relations became victims of kidnap and gradually sea piracy crept in. And so, while some families have paid heavily
to rescue kidnapped victims; some have lost lives and ransom…even as victims
suffer torture, rape and other dehumanizing treatments. Even as this piece is
being written, some known victims are in captivity, in the den of kidnappers;
especially from the Brass axis. These twin crimes have increased lately; making
travels a thing of fear in the creeks. Traders are often molested and wares,
money and other valuables taken away by the criminals [some are even raped]
The Authorities, both Federal and State have not done enough
to contain the unacceptable, sailing ugly situation. There is need for effective collaboration
between government and communities to ensure this threat to lives and property
is eliminated as soon as possible. Unfortunately, even though the Niger Delta
Region, particularly Bayelsa State is highly militarized; the military/Join
Task Force is more interested in their mandate; of protecting National Assets,
oil facilities and ensure unhindered access or flow of crude oil/gas sine crude
oil/gas is the main revenue earner for the country. And so, little or nothing
is done to protect lives of locals and their property.
The subject matter was the main topic of a live, weekly
Radio program, VIEWPOINT on Silverbird Rhythm FM 94.7 this morning, where
Alagoa Morris and the State Chairman of Maritime Workers Union, Comrade Lloyd Sese
featured. Although some who called in indicted the military in the area of extortion
of transporters and traders and doing little or nothing to assist them in
tackling the security challenges, someone sent in this as text while I wrote
this piece and it read:’’ In
the case of Sangana community we have no rest. On Thursday while I was on my
way to the village I was engage by pirates so we divert taking another route to
Kongho community. Then I took a bush part before getting to Sangana .Yesterday was
the same thing; same pirates came to the river and it was the JTF in Igbomotoru
that escort the passengers and the speedboat to Sangana.The escort by the JTF
was not free either, as some quantity of petrol had to be provided for them.
This is the scenario even at the Atlantic shoreline of Sangana. So our
fishermen are finding it difficult to fish now. This is a current issue
bordering the Sangana community, in Brass local government area of Bayelsa
State and; we need help’’.
The question is, WHEN WILL THE Nigerian
government really take the protection of lives and property of citizens as serious as all legitimate and responsible governments should?
Alagoa Morris
Friday, 17 February 2017
Friday, 10 February 2017
Ag. PRESIDENT, YEMI OSINBAJO TOWN HALL MEETING REMARK IN YENAGOA
 |
| Photo Credit- Alagoa Morris |
On Monday January 17, 2017, the Vice
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Prof. Yemi
Osinbajo, SAN, GCON, started a series of "Interactive Engagements" with
oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta region with the visit to Gbaramatu
Kingdom, Delta State.
Earlier today, the Acting President,
Osinbajo continued the engagement in a town hall meeting with leaders and
stakeholders from oil-produicing communities in Bayelsa State.
BELOW IS THE FULL SPEECH:
REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, THE Ag.
PRESIDENT, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, GCON, AT A TOWN HALL MEETING HELD AT THE
BAYELSA STATE GOVERNMENT HOUSE BANQUET HALL, YENAGOA IN CONTINUATION OF THE
SERIES OF INTERACTIVE ENGAGEMENTS WITH OIL-PRODUCING COMMUNITIES IN THE NIGER
DELTA
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2017
PROTOCOL
I am extremely pleased and honored
to be here today visiting the warm, friendly and hardworking people of Bayelsa
State.
It is a privilege to be hosted in the
Jerusalem of the Ijaw nation and to interact with a people whose rich ancestry
is notably marked, since the precolonial era, with a determined quest for
fairness and justice.
I am here as an emissary of our
President, President Mohammadu Buhari, who after the visit of leadership of The
PAN DELTA FORUM in November 2016, decided that we must undertake visits to
engage with the leadership and people of our oil producing communities, to hear
them, to seek to understand their problems and concerns first hand and to offer
to these communities in the Niger Delta, a new vision and a new compact.
It is in this great State of Bayelsa
precisely at Oloibiri that the history of oil exploration in Nigeria began. It
is here that this great source of the wealth of our Nation was discovered. And
this oil became the source of 70% of our National earnings and 90% of our
foreign exchange earnings.
Over 50% of non-oil revenues is
determined by oil revenues. But for the people of historic Oloibiri and the
many oil-producing communities in this State and the Delta region of Nigeria,
the blessing of oil paradoxically became a curse or at best a burden.
Their means of livelihood, fishing
and farming has consistently been destroyed by pollution. Worse still huge
resources earned over the years have simply disappeared.
The roads, schools, hospitals and
social amenities that the oil wealth should have provided are either not there
or are patently inadequate. The majority of people of these communities and
several parts of the oil producing states have heard of the wealth that oil has
brought but have hardly benefited from it.
And so we have come today on behalf
of the President and Commander-in-Chief, with cabinet colleagues, and heads of
relevant agencies to propose a new vision and to signpost a new era to the
people of the oil producing communities of this state and Nigeria.
The Federal Government will begin a
partnership with the oil producing states, local governments, oil companies,
private sector, and civil society organizations for the rapid development of
these communities.
We must convene an oil-communities
intervention meeting to work out what can be done in the short to medium term
and the long term possibilities. We must focus on how to ensure that the people
see the benefits of the wealth of the land.
This new vision will define the
future of the region. Oil exploitation by itself cannot suffice to assure our
people of decent jobs and a decent income. We must make our oil producing
communities hubs for petro-chemical industries, small and large. We must make
these communities hubs for refining and related activities.
The Ministry of Petroleum in
collaboration with the oil companies is working on several initiatives for host
communities including working with illegal refiners in oil bearing communities
to participate in modular refineries that will be established. There is no
doubt that thermal power stations should be stationed here, it makes sense, the
gas deposits are here.
The biggest benefit we can obtain is
to attract more investment to the region. I listened to my brother Udengs,
President of the Ijaw Youth Council, who is one of the most articulate
advocates of the Niger Delta cause that I have yet heard. I also listened
carefully to the Agricultural economist, Zigha Ayibakuro.
A key point they make of the several
important points, is that the young men of Bayelsa are entrepreneurs, driven
and dynamic and this is critical. Societies are built on the resourcefulness,
innovativeness and drive of the people.
India does not have a drop of oil
but it now home to the largest refinery of Petroleum in the world. I want to
challenge the young professionals and entrepreneurs to set up A Niger Delta
Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship Council. Where we can identify those
involved in technology, Agriculture, Oil and Gas, manufacturing and the
professions. A chamber of commerce properly organized will attract the right
kind of local and international partnerships and even funding. I am prepared to
work with you on that.
Today new investments in the oil and
gas sector have slowed down so badly because investors have a choice all over
the world, even here in Africa, and they will not put their resources in a
dangerous or unstable environment.
This is why our oil producing
communities must now refuse to participate in the destruction of pipelines and
oil facilities. Aside from loss of revenues this also means further pollution
of the land and aqua culture.
We must not allow anyone to persuade
us that we need to destroy investments, pollute our environment to prove a
point or to get a few benefits. That is cutting our nose to spite our face!
|
| Photo Credit- Alagoa Morris |
From 2015 Nigeria began to lose 1
million barrels of oil daily. Almost 60% of revenues lost to vandalisation.
This affected all states, and especially states in the Niger Delta region. All the requests Udengs made the
road to Brass, Airport, etc can only be done when the FG and the states earn
revenue. We cannot destroy the sources of revenue and expect revenues.
Your Excellencies, your Royal
majesties and the great people of the Ijaw nation, we must make haste. We must
move quickly. Day by day the world is moving away
from oil. Other energy sources are getting cheaper, America that used to be the
largest importer of our oil, has not imported one drop of our oil since they
started producing from Shale.
Our oil now sells to Asia, but even
they do not plan to depend on oil forever. China and Japan are now
manufacturing electric cars.
In Japan there are more charging
stations for cars than petrol stations. We must be wise, to use our oil for
development when it is still valuable. Our guarantee of future well-being is to
act today. It is time to set our sights on a great future for our people.
Once more, I thank you most
sincerely for your very warm welcome, and I especially thank my dear brother,
the Governor of the State, Governor Seriake Dickson.
God bless Bayelsa State.
God bless Nigeria
Released by
Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to the President
Office of the Vice President
February 10, 2017
Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to the President
Office of the Vice President
February 10, 2017
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