AKWA IBOM – Governor Udom Emmanuel has commiserated with Senator Chris Ekpeyong over the demise of his wife Dr. Grace Ekpeyong.

The State Governor who was accompanied on the condolence visit by the Deputy Governor, Mr. Moses Ekpo, Director General Divine mandate Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, National Legal officer of the PDP, Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem, Senator Anietie Okon, SSG Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, former SSG, Obonganwan Grace Ekong, Dr. Udoma Ekarika Dr Etido Ibekwe,Elder Aniekan Umana, some members of the state executive council and political stalwarts.

Emmanuel said the news of the demise of Late Mrs Grace Ekpenyong came as a shock and urged the family especially, the bereaved husband to be consoled by the fact that God who created her knew that a moment like this would come.

The governor said there is no better moment to loose a loved one.

He prayed God to comfort the family and to grant her eternal rest in the bosom of the Lord.

Responding Senator Chris Ekpeyong thanked the Governor and his entourage for identifying with him in his grief described the wife as a daughter of Zion and committed Servant of God as well his pillar of strength.

He thanked the Governor for the support given her during her travails to receive medical attention both at home and abroad.

Senator Chris Ekpeyong said that his late wife was an ardent supporter of the Governor and the PDP when he aspired for the Senatorial seat she gave him her blessings.

He recalled fond memories and said that he will greatly miss the companionship and her wise counsel.

He appealed to the state government to stand by him and the family to give his departed wife a befitting burial.

Prayers were offered for the family and for God to grant her Soul eternal rest .

Kelvin Onyekachukwu

DELTA – The Nigeria Petroleum Development Company, NPDC/ND Western OML 34 AMT (Asset Management Team) has said that activities of illegal bunkers are increasing in its area of operations in Delta State.

The Manager, Government, Community Relations and Security, Mr. Aiguedo Sheidu, disclosed this at a press conference in Warri.

Sheidu said, locals, surveillance guards and contractors in various communities are involved in vandalization of oil facilities and illegal bunkering.

He claimed that children and women are now recruited into the syndicate of illegal bunkers in communities, stressing that collusion between host communities, surveillance guards and contractors, to steal, was very high.

The manager noted that illegal bunkers were going after individuals who volunteer information to security and the company, thus discouraging people with useful information from speaking up.

“Someone’s properties were destroyed recently and was ostracised at Otor-Edo. Once they suspect you’re the one who gave the Company information, they destroy your properties.”

The manager regretted that the company has suffered tremendous loses to illegal bunkers despite spending billions of naira on pipeline security.

NPDC recently shutdown its operations due to vandalisation of its facilities and bunkering.

The company is employing technology to improve monitoring of its facilities, the manager said.

“We are employing technology to enhance our monitoring capacity and, at the same time trying to dig our feet on the ground so that when our lines are vandalized, we suspend you and cancel your contract.”

He said NPDC will continue to increase community awareness campaigns on the ills of bunkering.

Sheidu called on government to increase its presence in host communities to reduce the activities of illegal bunkers.

Kelvin Onyekachukwu

DELTA – The newly appointed Senior Special Assistant on Security Matters to the Delta State Governor, Comrade Ezekiel Daniel, has warned pirates to steer clear from the waterways of Delta.

Daniel said the State government will not condone any criminal acts.

“Anyone caught will be dealt with as a common criminal.”

He said Delta State will soon roll out waterway patrol which will finally put to end attacks of pirates.

The governor’s aide who handed down the warning during a chat with journalists at Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area, said the State is disturbed by frequent attacks by pirates.

He said frequent attacks on commercial transporters, riverside dwellers along Warri – Burutu routes, Agge Delta boundaries, Warri-Escravos, and Warri North Rivers, will be abated.

Daniel noted that the governor was worried by the spate of cult activities in the State.

“Another concern of the state government is the unabated increase of cultism in our dear State.

“Activities of these miscreants have destroyed night life in our cities and communities. Law abiding citizens are harassed and intimidated on daily basis.

“It makes life unpleasant in the State, and the State can no longer condone it. We are assuring Deltans that the security apparatus will do more to address this menace.

“It is our warning that those persons who are into such criminal activities should repent now, because anyone caught will be jailed”

Daniel said the government will set up special team of security to tackle street cultism and community vigilante to tackle activities of herdsmen.

He appealed to Deltans to support Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s SMART AGENDA project.

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Senator Ita Enang as Senior Special Assistant, Niger Delta Affairs.

Until his appointment, Enang was the SSA National Assembly Matters – Senate, to the President.

Senator Babajide Omoworare is now the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), while, Mallam Umar El-Yakub, has been reappointed the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives).
The reappointment was contained in a letter dated August 14th, 2019 signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

The appointments take effect from May 29, 2019.

The President has reappointed Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu as Special Adviser on Media and Publicity and Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, in that order.

Also reappointed is Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President.

The letter also indicates that Tolu Ogunlesi, Special Assistant (Digital Media) and Mallam Buhari Salihu, Special Assistant, Online Media.