Thewireng, 7, Sadiku Street, Oshodi, Lagos (2026)

09/09/2026

Bayelsa @30: Diri Unveils Anniversary Logo, Winner Gets N3m

YENAGOA____Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, on Wednesday unveiled the logo for the state’s 30th anniversary with the theme, “Bayelsa @30: Celebrating Legacies.”

Diri unveiled the logo during the 197th meeting of the State Executive Council at Government House, Yenagoa, in the presence of the Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Mrs. Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai.

The governor commended the Ministry of Information, Orientation and Strategy for creating an opportunity for young Bayelsans to participate in the design competition.

He described the initiative as an example of participatory governance and said citizens should be given opportunities to contribute to government beyond the annual budgeting process.

“I am happy that Bayelsans were given the opportunity. Nobody knows it all,” Diri said.

“This is one way to assess a government where the citizens participate in the process. It is not only when we budget that citizens participate.

“There are things in our various ministries that you need to tap from the people. And I could not have done otherwise when this was brought to my attention. And you can see the level of productivity and ingenuity of our youths.”

Diri said the quality of the submissions demonstrated that young people in the state were productive and capable of contributing meaningfully to its development.

“That is why I keep saying everywhere that the youths of Bayelsa are not lazy. It is clear that our youths are productive,” he said.

The governor also questioned the decision to disqualify entries generated with artificial intelligence, saying the technology had become an established part of modern society.

“The commissioner said some of the entries were AI-generated and were disqualified. I don’t agree with that as we are in the AI age already and some of them could have been considered for their creativity,” he said.

“Let me, on behalf of government, apologise to those who submitted AI-generated entries that were disqualified because we are moving our state towards the AI generation.”

Earlier, Koku-Obiyai presented the five finalists in the logo design competition to the governor and members of the State Executive Council.

She said the winning concept represented “three decades of resilience, culture, oil and gas, aquatic heritage and the indomitable Ijaw spirit.”

According to her, the competition lasted 10 days and attracted 465 entries, of which more than 350 were generated using artificial intelligence.

Koku-Obiyai announced Waribugo as the winner of the competition, with a cash prize of N3 million.

Prosper Jerome, Daniel Youdeowei, Ibo Tamarapreye and Success Azibapu Eligha, who were also among the five finalists, received N150,000 each as consolation prizes.

The 30th anniversary celebrations are expected to highlight Bayelsa State’s history, achievements and cultural heritage since its creation in 1996.

08/09/2026

Nigeria, Indonesia deepen oil ties, explore investment opportunities

ABUJA_____Nigeria and Indonesia are seeking to deepen cooperation in the petroleum and energy sectors, with Indonesian investors invited to participate in Nigeria’s forthcoming oil and gas bid rounds, Nigeria’s oil minister said on Tuesday.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) Heineken Lokpobiri said Nigeria remained open to Indonesian investment, technical cooperation and partnerships across the petroleum industry.

“Our objective is to harness Nigeria’s natural resources in the best interest of Nigerians and investors,” Lokpobiri said in a statement after meeting an Indonesian delegation led by Ambassador to Nigeria Bambang Suharto.

“We are positioning the petroleum sector to attract the capital, technology, and partnerships required to unlock its full potential.”

Lokpobiri said the government of President Bola Tinubu was focused on improving policy clarity, regulatory predictability and investor confidence as it seeks to attract capital into the oil sector.

He welcomed Indonesia’s interest in investing in Nigeria and invited its government and companies to participate in upcoming bid rounds.

Suharto said Indonesia viewed Nigeria as an important strategic partner and was interested in expanding cooperation through investment, technical collaboration, training and capacity development.

“Indonesia sees Nigeria as an important strategic partner, and we are interested in expanding our cooperation through investment, technical collaboration, training, and capacity development,” he said.

Lokpobiri also highlighted proposed exchange programmes involving the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna, as a platform for technical training, institutional cooperation and knowledge transfer.

The discussions come as Nigeria seeks to attract fresh investment into its petroleum industry while positioning the sector to remain competitive amid shifts in global energy markets.

04/09/2026

Gassing the Niger Delta

By Nnimmo Bassey

Up to 37 persons are reported to have breathed their last early this week, at Okrika in Rivers State, Nigeria. Others are missing. The deceased are said to have been engaging in illegal siphoning of oil from a pipeline operated by Indorama Eleme Petrochemical Company. The Indorama Pipeline is said to have been transporting what they called INDORAMA FUEL (technically known as CRACK C5) to an export jetty or terminal.

There is yet to be an official or independent investigation into what caused the fatalities. Obviously the last breath of the dead may have been of noxious gases released under high pressure. They may have been asphyxiated by inhaling hazardous gases or they may have drowned when they had gone unconscious and fell into the river.

This horrendous incident should be seen as an alarm over the extreme hydrocarbon and toxic waste pollution that has gone on for decades in the Niger Delta. It is hoped that this sad incident of mass death will rouse oil companies and responsible government agencies to their duty to safeguard the health of the people and the environment. This wake up call is a big indictment of the corporations and agencies for the crass negligence they have displayed for decades in the region.

So, 37 persons died in a sudden burst of lethal gaseous substances. Mournings will follow. Then silence. And the dead will become dead statistics. That silence that has shrouded the region is as toxic as what took the lives of the individuals. It must not continue.

This gassing of the individuals who tampered with the pipeline at the unholy hours of the night can be compared to what has been happening at Bille where methane gas has been bubbling across the community since December 2025. As we write this, the gas is still dangerously emitting in the community and could erupt in flames at any time. There has been some palliatives or relief materials by the government, and provision of a fire truck that cannot access much of the community. We also hear of provision of fire extinguishers in the community. These are all laughable actions in the face of an impending tragedy. Visitors to Bille end up getting sick within a short period of time. Residents, especially children and the elderly, develop sicknesses at rates that signal that something toxic is going on in the community and that the risks go beyond that of possible fire outbreaks. Truth is that Bille community is being gassed while the government and the oil companies are wringing our hands and watching from the side lines. I recall hearing one minister of state claiming on television that there were no oil facilities in Bille. Such crass obnoxious ignorance!

The dead will be buried. They will be branded criminals, and perhaps rightly so. But we all know that oil thievery is an industrial activity with a long value chain, and players, so to speak. Sadly, life will go on at Ofiomina-ama Alakiri, Okrika community where an inferno has been raging in their river from an oil well blowout since 26 February 2024. Life will go on at Awoye, Ondo State off whose coast the Ororo-1 Oil well has been burning since May 2020 —for over six years now. Life will go on and international oil companies and their proxies will keep dumping crude into the creeks and rivers of the Niger Delta, as happened recently at Nembe Creek on OML 29. This particular oil spill is said to have been caused by operational failure. In all cases, decrepit pipelines and facilities are involved.

Fires may not be breaking out everywhere in the Niger Delta. Not yet. But the unfolding environmental genocide is inescapable. The spilled crude, the gas flares and the burning crude contain deadly cocktail of compounds that our people should not be subjected to. These hydrocarbons contain benzene - a known carcinogen, hydrogen sulphide and other highly volatile hydrocarbons that can irritate, choke and kill.

How many more tragedies before we know it is time to clean up the Niger Delta, quench the roaring flames, dismantle and remove decrepit facilities and secure all pipelines by replacing and burying them in the ground?. It is time to implement the Bayelsa State Oil and Environment Commission Report. It is time to act on just decommissioning and not just parrot calls for unjust transition. Our lives are worth more than crude oil.

04/09/2026

FG, Contractor Pledge 2028 Completion of Oloibiri Museum

YENAGOA_____The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to completing the Oloibiri Museum and Research Centre in Bayelsa State by 2028, as the contractor handling the project also pledged to deliver it according to approved designs and specifications.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, gave the assurance on Wednesday during an inspection of the ongoing project in Oloibiri, Ogbia Local Government Area.

Oloibiri is the site where commercial oil exploration began in Nigeria in 1956.

Lokpobiri said he was satisfied with the progress of construction, describing the project as a landmark facility that would preserve the history of Nigeria’s petroleum industry and attract tourists, researchers and industry stakeholders.

“I am very happy that I came today to see what is going on here. This is a masterpiece. The main building itself is over 10,000 square metres,” Lokpobiri said.

He said the museum would document the evolution of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, including its achievements, challenges and future prospects.

The minister said about N70 billion had been paid for the first phase of the project, adding that the Federal Government would continue to meet its financial obligations to prevent delays.

He also pledged regular, including unannounced, visits to the site to monitor progress.

“I will continue to come here to ensure that we deliver this project in 2028,” he said.

The minister urged the host community to continue supporting the project and cooperating with the contractor.

Project Manager, Botha de Bruyn, said the contractor remained committed to delivering the project within the approved construction schedule.

“We are steadfast in our commitment to completing this project in accordance with the approved designs, specifications and construction schedule,” De Bruyn said.

He said the contractor would maintain its focus on quality, safety and timely delivery while working with the Federal Government, project management team and host community.

Project Director, Architect Ladipo Lewis, said the museum was designed to recognise Oloibiri as the birthplace of Nigeria’s oil exploration and development.

He said the facility would preserve the history, culture, environment, technology and heritage of Oloibiri while documenting the development of Nigeria’s petroleum industry across the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors.

According to Lewis, the main museum building covers more than 10,500 square metres, including over 4,000 square metres of gallery space, a 750-square-metre lobby and a 758-square-metre auditorium.

The research centre and laboratories occupy more than 5,400 square metres, he said.

Lewis said the project was more than 15% complete, with more than 580 foundation piles sunk to depths exceeding 17 metres and the concrete slab for the main museum building completed.

“Columns are already going up to carry the mezzanine floor and the upper floors, and that is the main structure,” he said.

He added that Oil Wells 1 and 2 had reached roofing level, while the cabana, maintenance building, accommodation facility, health centre and perimeter fencing were at advanced stages of construction.

The project director said the completed museum could stimulate tourism and economic activity in Oloibiri and neighbouring communities by attracting hotels, restaurants, conference facilities and other businesses.

“This is an opportunity to engage the entire world and put Oloibiri on the map of the world,” Lewis said.

The Oloibiri Museum and Research Centre is expected to be completed in 2028 and is intended to serve as a national heritage, research and tourism centre documenting the history of Nigeria’s petroleum industry from its beginnings at Oloibiri in 1956.

03/09/2026

43 suspected oil thieves feared dead after inhaling petroleum product in Rivers

At least 43 suspected oil thieves are feared dead after inhaling a petroleum product at an illegal tapping point in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State, according to community sources and an environmental advocacy group.

The incident reportedly occurred around midnight on Thursday, September 3, at Okari Jetty in the Okrika Mainland area.

A community source said more than 200 people, mostly youths from neighbouring communities, arrived at the jetty in locally made boats to load petroleum products from an illegally tapped point while a vessel was loading at the jetty.

The source said the product’s strong fumes saturated the area, causing several people to collapse.

“Many of them collapsed into the river, while others who escaped developed serious respiratory problems and were taken to hospital,” the source said.

The source said 37 of the dead had been identified as indigenes of Okrika, while six others were yet to be identified. Several people were also still missing, he added.

The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) confirmed the incident but put the confirmed death toll at 37.

YEAC-Nigeria Executive Director, Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, said the victims died after inhaling what is locally known as “Indorama fuel”.

“According to the report, no fewer than 37 persons suspected to be oil thieves died after inhaling what is locally called ‘Indorama Fuel’. Many others are still missing,” Fyneface said.

He said the victims had allegedly connected a pipe to a tapping point on a pipeline carrying petroleum products from Indorama Eleme Petrochemical through the Port Harcourt Refinery to vessels loading for export.

Fyneface said the product was being pumped at high pressure when the victims began loading it into their boats, resulting in the deaths.

“Some corpses have been seen floating on the river but have not yet been recovered,” he said.

However, the police said the circumstances surrounding the incident had yet to be established.

The police said the suspects reportedly died while attempting to steal crude oil but noted that no official complaint had been received in connection with the incident.

“The suspects reportedly died in the process of attempting to steal crude oil. However, no official complaint has been received in connection with the incident at this time,” the police said.

“Investigation is ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and ascertain the facts.”

YEAC-Nigeria called on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to conduct a Joint Investigation Visit to the site.

Fyneface also urged the companies responsible for the affected infrastructure to strengthen pipeline security to prevent similar incidents.

He condemned the alleged sabotage and warned youths against approaching oil and gas infrastructure because of the risks associated with high-pressure pipelines and petroleum products.

He also called on the government to create alternative livelihood opportunities for artisanal refiners, including through modular refineries and the legalisation of artisanal refining.

The death toll could not be independently verified, and police said an investigation was ongoing.

01/09/2026

Group Urges Nigerian Celebrities to Emulate Davido in Promoting Free Elections

WARRI____Former South-South Coordinator of the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), Chief Nengi James-Eriworio, has called on Nigerian artistes and celebrities to use their platforms to promote free, fair and credible elections ahead of the 2027 general election.

James-Eriworio, who described music star David Adedeji Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, as a role model for Nigerian youths and a “true democrat,” said celebrities should use their influence to promote voter education, electoral participation and the protection of democratic rights.

In a statement issued on Monday, the former TMG official said Davido’s conduct during the Osun State governorship election demonstrated courage and commitment to democratic principles.

“Despite his family relationship with a candidate in the election, Davido encouraged eligible voters to come out en masse, vote and protect their votes,” James-Eriworio said.

He urged other artistes and celebrities to avoid partisan attacks and instead deploy their platforms to defend democratic values.

“Celebrities should focus on promoting true democracy, free and fair elections, the protection of human rights and the strengthening of genuine opposition,” he said.

James-Eriworio said Davido had, through his actions, earned recognition as “a true democrat and a voice against electoral crimes and undemocratic conduct against the opposition.”

According to him, the singer deserved national, international and corporate recognition for what he described as his “exceptional bravery against anti-democratic forces and policies.”

The Niger Delta activist also supported calls for Nigerian entertainers to participate actively in voter education and mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections, particularly in efforts to curb vote-buying and election-related violence.

He further called on the international community to closely monitor the 2027 general election.

James-Eriworio commended Davido, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, the people of Osun State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies for their roles during the election.

He said the collective effort demonstrated the importance of respecting the will of the electorate and resisting undue influence in the electoral process.

Chief Nengi James-Eriworio, OON, is the Executive Director of the Niger Delta Monitoring Group, a former South-South Coordinator of the Transition Monitoring Group and a member of the Oversight Board of the Nigeria Police Force Violence Crimes Response Unit.

31/08/2026

Sylva Resigns from APC, Accuses Party of Abandoning Founding Ideals

ABUJA____Former Bayelsa State Governor and former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, has resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the ruling party of abandoning the ideals upon which it was founded.

Sylva announced his resignation in a letter dated August 31, 2026, addressed to the APC Chairman of Ward 4 in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

“Having consulted widely with my family, associates, colleagues and sympathisers, I wish to formally tender my resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC), with immediate effect,” Sylva said in the letter.

The former governor, who described himself as a founding member of the APC, said he was saddened by what he called the erosion of the party’s original principles.

“As a founding member of the APC, and one who joined other well-meaning Nigerians in building the Party with sweat and money, it is deeply saddening to witness how the ideals we espoused have been so thoroughly and unrecognisably thwarted,” he said.

Sylva also accused the party’s leadership of pursuing politics without regard for morality and basic standards of decency.

“I cannot, in all good conscience, continue to belong to a Party whose leaders believe that ‘all is fair in politics,’ and have consistently demonstrated that belief in practice,” he said.

“All cannot be fair in any endeavour of life. The demands of basic decency and morality forbid it.”

The former minister said the APC-led Federal Government had disappointed Nigerians and that he saw no credible prospect of reversing what he described as the party’s decline.

“The present Government, formed under the banner of the APC we once loved, has disappointed the vast majority of Nigerians. And I can see neither a credible attempt nor any possibility of a revamp,” Sylva said.

He added that he had been left with “no other choice than to jettison a floundering ship whose fate appears to have been sealed by its irredeemable load of iniquities.”

Sylva also expressed confidence that Nigerians would use the next general election to change the country’s political direction.

“I have no doubt that, in the coming election, Nigerians will vote for Nigeria and free the Country from this stranglehold on our beautiful country,” he said.

The former governor copied the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the letter, accusing the anti-graft agency of increasingly acting in a partisan manner.

“I am deliberately putting the EFCC in copy of this letter because, of late, it has conducted itself more as an organ of the APC than as an institution of State,” he alleged.

Sylva said he was aware that his decision could lead to what he described as a renewed “witch-hunt” against him and his associates but added that he was prepared to take that risk.

“I am fully aware that this action of mine may invite a redoubled witch-hunt against me and my associates, but that is a risk I am willing to take,” he said.

The resignation letter was also copied to the APC National Chairman and the Bayelsa State Chairman of the party. Multiple Nigerian news organisations reported the resignation on Sunday. ⁠

31/08/2026

Customs Intercepts 48 Endangered Animals, Arrests Three Suspects in Kano

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kano/Jigawa Area Command, says it has disrupted an alleged wildlife trafficking operation along the Daura–Kano Road, intercepting 48 endangered animals and birds and arresting three suspects.

The seizure was made at about 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, following what Customs described as an intelligence-led operation.

The Acting Deputy Comptroller in charge of Enforcement, Assistant Comptroller of Customs Muhammad Zanna, said the suspects allegedly offered the patrol officers N3 million to allow the consignment to pass, but the officers rejected the offer.

Zanna, who represented the Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Usman Adamu, spoke during the formal handover of the recovered wildlife.

He said the animals recovered included four caracals, four chimpanzees, two baby gorillas, seven patas monkeys, two galagos, one honey badger, two albino alligators, six rock fowls, one civet cat and 19 greater bustards.

According to him, the operation disrupted a suspected wildlife trafficking supply chain and could help reduce the illegal trade in endangered species.

The three suspects and the recovered animals have been handed over to the Special Wildlife Office at the NCS Headquarters for further investigation and possible prosecution.

Zanna commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and the officers involved in the operation, particularly for rejecting the alleged N3 million bribe.

The Kano/Jigawa Area Command said the operation was carried out in line with the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

The command said it would continue to work with relevant agencies and stakeholders to combat wildlife trafficking and protect Nigeria’s biodiversity.

30/08/2026

Oil spill pollutes Nembe Creek as Bayelsa communities demand cleanup, compensation

Yenagoa____An oil spill from crude-loading operations at the Nembe Creek oilfield in Bayelsa State has polluted waterways and mangrove areas, disrupting fishing activities in several communities, residents and environmental monitors have said.

The spill reportedly occurred on Aug. 22 when a barge loading crude oil from a manifold at the facility ruptured.

The Nembe Creek oilfield, located in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 29, is operated by Nembe Exploration and Production Limited (Nembe E&P), formerly Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company Limited.

A field report by the Environmental Conservation Agriculture and Rural Development (ECARD), said the organisation visited the affected area on Aug. 24 and observed crude oil on the creek and along mangrove banks.

ECARD’s Lead Field Monitor, Mr Alagoa Morris, said the pungent smell of crude oil was noticeable about two kilometres from Nembe Creek.

The organisation said the pollution had spread to several fishing settlements, with residents reporting the loss of fishing activities and damage to fishing equipment.

The paramount ruler of the Nembe Creek communities, HRH Agent Waya, said the spill had worsened the economic hardship facing residents whose livelihoods depend largely on fishing.

Waya said the communities reported the incident to naval personnel after the operator allegedly failed to respond immediately to their concerns.

He said women from the affected communities subsequently protested at the facility, demanding relief materials, an assessment of damages and compensation.

According to him, residents requested emergency relief within three days because fishing activities had become impossible following the spill.

Waya said the incident occurred during crude loading into a barge, which reportedly tilted and discharged crude oil into the river.

He listed Mile 1, Mile 2, Mile 3, Roka, Williamkiri, Atonbarakiri, Korukiri and Madam Wanwakiri among the affected communities.

Others include Ewelesuo, Kpongbokiri, Victorkiri, Abuja 1, 2 and 3, Pipeline 1, 2, 3 and 4, Kalakububogo and Etikiri.

The women leader, Mrs Ebi Otokolo, said the pollution had made the river unsuitable for fishing and other livelihood activities.

She said the odour from the crude oil had forced some residents to remain indoors, while fishermen could no longer access their traditional fishing grounds.

A resident, Mrs Love Mark, said fishing nets contaminated by crude oil had become unusable.

She said a fishing net costs between N150,000 and N170,000 and appealed for urgent assistance for affected residents.

Also, a former youth president of neighbouring Ewelesuo community, Mr Daukoru Benjaka, called for the inclusion of Ewelesuo and its fishing camps in the Joint Investigation Visit (JIV).

Benjaka said the spill had affected fish catches and other aquatic resources, including periwinkles, and posed a threat to the survival of fishing communities.

ECARD said its field observations showed substantial crude oil on the water surface and around mangrove roots, although residents reported that tidal movements had dispersed some of the pollution.

The organisation warned that rising tides could carry the crude oil deeper into the mangrove ecosystem and further affect aquatic organisms, including crabs, oysters and periwinkles.

ECARD said information from the Bayelsa Ministry of Environment and the Nembe Oil and Gas Committee indicated that the JIV identified operational failure as the cause of the spill.

However, it said the volume of crude discharged and the total area affected had not been determined as of Aug. 26.

The organisation called for a comprehensive cleanup and remediation of the polluted environment to restore the ecosystem and protect the livelihoods of affected fishing communities.

Waya appealed to the Bayelsa Government and relevant regulatory authorities to intervene, saying the communities were facing severe economic hardship.

He also called on Nembe E&P to provide relief and compensation to affected residents and support fishermen whose livelihoods had been disrupted by oil pollution and operational restrictions.

ECARD noted that the latest incident adds to a history of oil spills associated with operations in OML 29.

The Nembe Creek oilfield, one of the major oil and gas assets within OML 29, was developed by the Shell Petroleum Development Company from the 1970s.

Shell divested its interest in OML 29, including the 97-kilometre Nembe Creek Trunkline, to Aiteo in 2015 in a deal valued at about $2.5 billion.

Public Affairs officials of Nembe E&P declined to comment when contacted for an update on the incident.

Image is for illustration

&P

30/08/2026

Tinubu Begins Three-Week Vacation in Europe

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja today for Europe to begin a three-week vacation as part of his annual leave.

The President’s first destination is London, United Kingdom.

He is expected to return to Nigeria after the working vacation and join campaign activities ahead of the January 2027 election.

The development was announced on Sunday in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

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