Breaking: Itsekiri Youths fulfills Protest Promise in all its Oil Communities, says its time for Itsekiris to be MD, Chairman in NDDC, urge Buhari to meet demands

 Breaking: Itsekiri Youths fulfills Protest Promise in all its Oil Communities, says its time for Itsekiris to be MD, Chairman in NDDC, urge Buhari to meet demands 

 President of Itsekiri National Youths Council, Comr. Weyinmi Agbateyiniro addressing newsmen during the protest 

 

 Topic: News 

By: Tetsoma Neyin 

Breaking: Itsekiri Youths fulfills Protest Promise in all its Oil Communities, says its time for Itsekiris to be MD, Chairman in NDDC, urge Buhari to meet demands 

The Itsekiri National Youths Council, INYC have make do its promise to stage a massive protest in all its oil producing communities in Delta and Edo States, urging President Buhari to retract the names of NDDC nominees sent to the Senate for approval for fairness, justice and equity.

 

The apex Itsekiri Youth Body, commenced their mother of all protest today Tuesday November 29, 2022 with various inscriptions of their demands to President Buhari, stating categorically that today is just the beginning of their peaceful protest which they cannot guarantee if other days will be peaceful if the President fails to listen to their lawful and rightful demands which are in accordance with the laws backing the establishment of the NDDC Commission.

 

Addressing newsmen, President of Itsekiri National Youths Council, Comrade Weyinmi Agbateyiniro averred that Itsekiris have  been shortchanged for too long despite been the highest producer of crude oil in Delta and Edo States and contributing largely to the Nigeria economy.

 

Comrade Agbateyiniro who was pained by the injustice carried by President Muhammadu Buhari on Itsekiris, reiterated that “We have stated for the umpteenth time that by divine providence, it is the turn of Delta State to produce both the Chairman and Managing Director of the interventionist agency and going by all parameters in the federal character act and institution of the Federal Republic, the Itsekiri ethnic nationality of Delta State in the 3 Warri Local Government Areas are host to the source of about 33% of Nigerians' total oil production and over 78% of Delta State oil production. 

 

 

“We reject in totality the list sent by President Muhammadu Buhari to the Senate, because the nominees are not from Oil Producing Areas in Delta State. We are demanding that an Itsekiri be given the position of the MD and Chairman of NDDC, if not, will continue in this protest. Enough is enough.”

 

 

Other prominent Itsekiri leaders and youths who also vetted their anger on the gross marginalization on Itsekiri ethnic nationality are; Chief Omolubi Newuwumi, Comrade Ben Eyitemi Eburajolo, President of National Association of Itsekiri Graduates, Comrade Ofoyeju Izuagie, Chairman INYC, Warri South Chapter and Comrade Monoyo Edon, Head of Media, INYC.

 

 

PRESS RELEASE: NDDC BOARD: ITSEKIRI YOUTHS SET TO STAGE MASSIVE PROTEST

  

                                                           PRESS RELEASE 

NDDC BOARD: ITSEKIRI YOUTHS SET TO STAGE MASSIVE PROTEST

 

Topic: News 

PRESS RELEASE:

NDDC BOARD: ITSEKIRI YOUTHS SET TO STAGE MASSIVE PROTEST 

The Itsekiri National Youths Council, INYC has viewed the nominations for both the Chairman and Managing Director in the composition of the new board of the NDDC as a calculated attempt to subjugate the oil bearing people of Warri kingdom by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

 

For the sake of equity, justice and fair play, we urge the federal government to look into the Act establishing the NDDC, the rotational principles by alphabetical order of the oil producing states and the principle of oil production quantum. This is also in agreement with the federal Character act and No. 3 and 4 of article (14) of Chapter 2 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria which states as follow;

 

"The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few State or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in any of its agencies.”

 

“The composition of the Government of a State, a local government council, or any of the agencies of such Government or council, and the conduct of the affairs of the Government or council or such agencies shall be carried out in such manner as to recognise the diversity of the people within its area of authority and the need to promote a sense of belonging and loyalty among all the people of the Federation"

 

Significantly, The principle of rotation by states in the NDDC has completed its first cycle where the itsekiri ethnic nationality has been evidently short changed or overlooked severally.

 

Curiously, for this second leg and the imminent inauguration of the new board, the Itsekiri ethnic nationality has once again raised their minority voices and take their peaceful struggles to the doorsteps of all the relevant authorities in the country to be accorded their God-given rights and privileges as determined by the NDDC act.

 

We have stated for the umpteenth time that by divine providence, it is the turn of Delta State to produce both the Chairman and Managing Director of the NDDC and going by the provisions of all extant laws, the Itsekiri ethnic nationality by virtue of being the highest producer of cude oil and gas in Delta and Edo States and being the second highest producer of Oil and Gas in Nigeria deserves to be appropriately rewarded.

 

Juxtaposing Part IV of the NDDC Act vis a vis the aforementioned, which reads, “there shall be for the Commission, a Managing Director, and two Executive Directors who shall be indigenes of oil producing areas starting with the member states of the Commission with the highest production quantum of oil and shall rotate amongst member states in the order of production", it is evidently stated that nominations should come from only oil producing areas of oil producing states. The President, President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigeria Senate should consider this as a matter of profound attention going by what we contribute to the industry as cited below;

 

 

IOCs 

 

Chevron 

Shell 

NPDC 

Conoil

WRPC

Total Energy Nig. Ltd 

etc 

 

Facilities

 

The Warri Refinery, The multi-billion dollar Chevron Tank Farm, Ugborodo

The Ecravos Gas To Liquid (EGTL ) facility, Ugborodo

Shell flow station

 

We have numerous crude Oil and Gas tank farms including Matrix Energy, Pinnacle Oil & Gas, A & E Petro, AYM Shafa, Kenonamex Petroleum, Salbas Oil and Gas etc at Ifiekporo Town, Warri.

 

The Itsekiri ethnic Nationality also hosts the Bonga, Okan and other critical major oil fields in Nigeria like Egwa, Odidi, Jones creek, Escravos Beach, Yokri, Meji, Meren, Marun, Abiteye, Saghara, Dibi, Otumara, Ogidigben, Olero Creek, Opumami, Utonana, etc operated by Shell, Chevron, Seplat, consolidated Oil, Neconde and other multinational corporations contributing billions of Dollars to the Nigerian Federation. 

 

An ethnic group can’t boast of these credentials and yet still overlooked during nomination or appointment to serve on the board of a critical agency such as the NDDC. This has been our agitation in recent appointments in the NDDC.

 

Besides the position of commisionership which other ethnic nationalities have also enjoyed severally and the abridged tenure (18months) of Engr. Tuoyo Omatsuli, former Executive Director Projects, the Itsekiris have not been allowed to enjoy a full tenure as major oil and gas producer in Nigeria.

 

Safe to say that there will be no NDDC without the statutory remittances from IOC's operating at the various oil and gas producing areas in the Niger Delta region. It will therefore be only appropriate to reason that those who bear the highest burden of the economic sustainability of the nation must be given preferential consideration on issues of appointment into the NDDC board and that is what the law establishing the NDDC accommodated. To do otherwise by always imposing or promoting the interest of those who produce little or nothing at all over the interest of those who carry such magnitude of burden for the economic sustainability of the nation is not only an infraction/ infringement on the law establishing the NNDC but also an invitation to anarchy.

 

In our despair, we can't help but wonder if our present marginalization was what our forbears foresaw when as ethnic minorities they expressed their fears of ethnic domination, subjugation and suffocation by larger ethnic nationalities in the Nigerian Federation before independence. A concern that led to the  Willink’s Commission of inquiry into the minority fears in 1958  and recommended special protection for minorities, as contained in the Mid-Western Constitution of 1964.

 

Expectedly, with all the ministerial and other appointments into various MDAs that President Buhari has done since inception of this administration, the Itsekrii nation has not protested despite been shortchanged because all of such appointments reside in the prerogative or discretional power of the office of the president but on this present marginalization of the Itsekiri nationality in the nomination of the NDDC that is stipulated by the NDDC Act itself, we shall resist.

 

We make bold to state at this juncture that given our humongous contribution to the survival of Nigeria and given the fact that we have been treated with disdain, disrespect and deprived of our due rights as stipulated in the constitution and even the NDDC Act, the non-recognition or deliberate exclusion of the Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality from the position of Chairman or Managing Director will be resisted by every fiber in our veins.

 

Our Demands

 

1. Deriving our position from all extant laws guiding the oil industry, persons from Itsekiri (foremost oil and gas producing area in Delta state) should immediately be nominated on the list. 

 

2. Specifically, the position of Chairman, Board of the NDDC zoned to Delta State should be unconditionally given to the Itsekiri ethnic nationality for the huge economic responsibility she is carrying for the Nigerian state.

 

3. The senate should suspend the screening of all nominees on that list until the right thing is done.

 

Accordingly, a Congress of all Itsekiri youths from all oil and gas producing communities both in Delta and Edo states have been fixed as published in our circular dated 24/11/2022 to take immediate actions that will put an end to this unabated serial marginalisation of the Itsekiri Nation over this NDDC board composition and other areas of interest.

 

Signed;

Isaac Oritseweyinmi Agbateyiniro,

President, INYC

 

Appearance Afejuku,

General Secretary, INYC

Itsekiri born Julius Rone, Gas King signed Multibillion-Dollar Contract with KBR, JGC Corporation, others in London

 

Itsekiri born Julius Rone, Gas King signed Multibillion-Dollar Contract with KBR, JGC Corporation, others in London 

 

Julius Dediare Rone, the Gas King

Topic: News 

Itsekiri born Julius Rone, Gas King signed Multibillion-Dollar Contract with KBR, JGC Corporation, others in London 

Itsekiri illustrious Son, Mr. Julius Dediare Rone, popularly known as the Gas King has signed a multibillion-dollar partnership with KBR, JGC Corporation, and Technip Energies to design Nigeria’s first floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) facility.

 

As Julius Rone signed the deal with his beautiful wife, Yutee Rone, the Petroleum Minister, Chief Timipre Sylva, Ambassador Sharafa Isola, High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, and others watched from behind, grinning in apparent satisfaction.

 

Julius Dediare Rone, CEO and Chairman of UTM Offshore, who was recently awarded the National Honors Award in the Rank of Order of the Federal Republic – OFR  by President Muhammadu Buhari for his leading role in driving Nigeria’s gas sector expansion, added that gas and FLNG will play a crucial role in helping the Nigerian government to meet its three priorities, namely, “security of supply, economic competitiveness, and a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.”

 

Julius Rone, CEO of UTM Offshore, stated that Nigeria, with its vast gas reserves, is well positioned to increase its supply to Europe, and that UTM’s FLNG facility will be an enabler of industry expansion and Nigeria’s best practice in addressing critical gas industry challenges. 

 

Indeed, the city of London virtually transformed into the revel dome of the earth, a pleasant trove for all good tidings for all the guests at the signing ceremony held on Wednesday November 16, 2022 at the Victorian city of London, for the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) of UTM’s natural gas project, which when completed will be Nigeria’s first FLNG plant.

 

With the recent FEED contract, UTM will move the FLNG project from the fundraising stage to the implementation phase and will continue working with NNPC Limited and ExxonMobil to expedite the development, exploitation, and monetization of stranded gas resources. The project’s completion will ensure energy security, access to energy, and clean cooking gas in Nigeria, the region, and beyond, as Europe seeks alternate gas suppliers as the bloc diversifies energy sources away from Russia due to the Ukraine conflict.

 

With the first production from the $1.8 billion FLNG facility expected before 2027, UTM Offshore’s FLNG project will usher in a new age of LNG sector expansion in Nigeria and around the region as energy demand rises.

 

Chief Timipre Sylva, Minister of Petroleum Resources, Nigeria, in a speech made during the signing ceremony of the contract, averred that “Interestingly, with the signed contract, the development of the FLNG facility in block OML 204 offshore Nigeria will kick off, enabling the west African country to maximize the exploitation of stranded gas resources in a sustainable manner while contributing to the Nigerian government’s agenda of reducing flaring and optimizing environmental sustainability in energy developments.”

 

According to the minister, “It is an honour and a rare privilege to be part of this epoch gathering to witness the signing ceremony of the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) contract between UTM Floating LNG Limited, JGC Corporation, Technip Energies (T.EN) and KellogBrown & Root (KBR) Engineering Companies for the development of the first Floating Liquified Natural Gas (“FLNG”) Facility In Nigeria.

 

”We are here today because UTM Offshore Limited was granted a License to Establish (LTE) by the defunct Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) now Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) for the installation of a Floating LNG unit on oil mining lease (OML) 104 in February 2021. Following the signing of the Pre-Front End Engineering Design (Pre-FEED) contract to start the development of the 176 million cubic feet per day FLNG facility, the Federal Government expressed optimism about improved earnings from our gas monetization scheme. We are also elated that the UTM Offshore FLNG will be the first of such a project developed by an African company on the continent even as it will also significantly contribute to the Nigerian government’s agenda of reducing the flaring of associated gas across our industry”.

 

“But first, I bring you greetings from the good people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria (“FGN”), let me use this opportunity to congratulate the leadership and management of UTM FLNG Limited under the able and dogged leadership of the Group Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Julius Dediare Rone. Let me also use this opportunity to once again congratulate Mr. Julius with the honour accorded him by President Muhammadu Buhari, with the conferment of the National Honours Award in the rank of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic – OFR on October 11, 2022.

 

“However, with factors such as a lack of investment, transportation and export infrastructure, and technological challenges disrupting Nigeria from maximizing its gas industry, the FLNG project is a step forward in the right direction for the west African country to develop, exploit and monetize its over 209 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of proven gas resources and a potential upside of 600 tcf of gas to ensure energy security, economic growth and the reduction in emissions.

 

“Given the large resources that may be developed and used for commercial purposes, we have already proclaimed that gas is our transition fuel and a destination fuel, and we anticipate that it will be a major component of our energy mix by the year 2060,” added Minister Sylva, adding that, “As a developing nation, we believe that affordable, accessible and reliable energy will continue to be essential to sustaining and powering our growing economy, and to lift millions out of poverty. As a government we know our action is essential to enable evolution of the energy system. We believe innovation, technology and policy will be the key drivers of change.”

 

Highlighting the role of FLNG technology in accelerating gas exploitation, the Minister added that “We are aware that the number of offshore gas finds has surged in recent years around the world, with LNG and FLNG becoming even more important in terms of satisfying the world’s future energy needs. According to market research analysts, the FLNG market is estimated to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 27.14%, reaching $88.99 billion by 2024. The UTM offshore FLNG project is therefore timely and will lead towards a faster-moving, more diverse and more flexible global LNG industry.”

 

He also gave reference to some of the mechanisms and policy reforms including the Decade of Gas, and the Petroleum Industry Act implemented by the government to create an enabling environment to expand the country’s gas industry and ensure a just and inclusive energy transition.

 

Speaking on how Nigeria can fast track gas developments, meet its 2030 economic growth targets and growing energy demand, create jobs and bring new investments on the back of gas exploitation, the minister also highlighted the importance of collaborative partnership, commending the “African Export-Import Bank, under the leadership of its amiable President and Chairman, Dr. Benedict Okey Oramah, for orchestrating the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UTM Offshore Limited to raise $5 billion for the development of Nigeria’s first FLNG project.”

 

Currency redesign: Festus Okotie-Eboh must be on new note-Itsekiri Graduates

 Currency redesign: Festus Okotie-Eboh must be on new note —Itsekiri Graduates

Currency redesign: Festus Okotie-Eboh must be on new note —Itsekiri Graduates

By: Tetsoma Neyin

Following the recent CBN pronouncement to redesign the Nigerian Currency, the National Association of Itsekiri Graduates, NAIG has demanded that the First  Minister of Finance and founder of the Central Bank, CBN, Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh, should be on one of new naira notes to be redesigned by the CBN as a way of recognizing his heroic contributions to Nigeria’s wealth.

NAIG, in a statement by its President, Comr. Ben Eyitemi Eburajolo, stated that the non-recognition of late Okotie-Eboh’s outstanding achievements as one of the founding fathers by successive governments is unfair and unacceptable to the oil rich tribe.

Eburajolo who spoke on behalf of his executives said: “The great contributions of Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh, to Nigeria’s greatness are some of the landmark achievements that can never be erased in our country’s history.” 

Itsekiri graduates unanimously made the declaration during their National Congress held on Sunday November 5, 2022 in Warri.

“We, the Itsekiri Graduates Body and the entire Itsekiri Nation demand that the face or portrait of the first Minister of Finance, Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh should reflect on the nation’s currency note for fairness and equity without any delay.

“We, demand that, as the founder of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, NSPMC, the Headquarters of CBN or NSPMC should be named after him like the Headquarters of the NYSC named after its founder, General Yakubu Gowon (Rtd) among several other examples in the country where their founders were honoured with the headquarters named after them.

The group further reminded the nation that it was Chief Okotie-Eboh’s economic wisdom that structured development plans in pre-independence and post-Independence Nigeria that helped the country survive the civil war and beyond.

Olu of Warri Commend Nation Builders’ Contest

 Olu of Warri Commends Nation Builders' Contest

His Imperial Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, The Olu of Warri with his notable Chiefs,  Chief Brown Mene(right) & Chief Dr. Roland Oritsejafor in a group photograph with members of Nation Builders’ Contest led by the Coordinator, Pastor Ulisanmi Edukugho 

Topic: News 

Olu of Warri Commend Nation Builders’ Contest 

The convener of Nation Builders Contest Pastor Ulisanmi Edukugho and his team recently  paid a courtesy visit to the Olu of Warri on Tuesday 1st Nov 2022 at the Olu's Palace ( Aghofen) in Warri.  

The Olu welcomed the team  through one of his chiefs, Chief Solomon Areyenka the Eson of Warri Kingdom before inviting the group to state their mission. Ulisanmi Edukugho speaking for the group çongratulated His Majesty on the recent conferment of the award of Comander of the Federal Republic on him by  President Muhammadu Buhari noting that the award is a clear attestation to His Majesty the Olu's leadership strides and achievements not only amongst his people the Itsekiris but in the nation.  

He went on to state that the team has come to seek the Monarch's blessings over their ongoing program Tagged: Nation Builder's  Contest a series of competitions for secondary age learners in Warri urban and rural communities covering Essay writing , debates , poetry recitation, cultural dancing and music. He explained that the objective of the programme is to raise a new generation of leaders for Nigeria amongst the secondary learners in order to secure a future for Nigeria . He solicited for the Monarch's support and recommendation.

Pastor Ulisanmi Edukugho presenting his speech &Programme document to His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III through  Chief Solomon Arenyeka

Responding , the Olu of Warri Ogiame Atuwatse III thanked Ulisanmi Edukugho for coming with his team. He appreciated what they are doing and  he encouraged them not to relent in their efforts . He went on to  inspire them to know that God can do for them even beyond what they imagined. He also encouraged them that support will come to them and to what they are doing in ways and from places they did not expect. He promised to look at the programme document they presented and get back to them.

Other dignitaries present at the occasion include Chief Brown Mene , the Ogwaolusan of Warri , Chief Dr Roland Oritsejafor, a one time  Federal Minister of State for Defence, Chief Eugene Ikomi, Secretary Warri Council of Chiefs, Mrs Flora Binitie , Pastor Charles Erumi , Miss Patricia Brotugbare ( aka The Nigerian Mobile Educator)  and a host of others.

Nation Builders' Contest organized by Peligate Education, a subsidiary of Peligate Resources Company Ltd, will run from October 29th 2022 to November 25th 2022 with a Grand finale at which prizes and awards will be giving to winning Students and some distinguished Nigerians.