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Avoid Pitfalls From Oil And Gas Exploration, Okowa Urges Mining Stakeholders
Avoid Pitfalls From Oil And Gas Exploration, Okowa Urges Mining Stakeholders
Governor of Delta, Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa on Tuesday urged stakeholders in the Nigeria’s mining industry to guard against the negative experiences from oil and gas exploration in the country.
He said that stakeholders must learn from the experience of the oil and gas industry as regards environmental degradation and youth restiveness and guard against such pitfalls.
Okowa stated this at the inauguration of Mosra Energy Idowu Falola Coal Mines and Ground-Breaking for a 600MW Mine-Mouth Coal Power Plant in Ugboba Community, Aniocha North Local Government Area of the state.
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Represented by the Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Prince Emmanuel Amgbaduba, the Governor lauded the impacted communities of Ugboba, Ugbodu, Uku-Nzu and Obomkpa for their support and cooperation and commended the project partners for their commitment and tenacity.
He said his administration had worked very hard to provide enabling environment for private investments to thrive in the state.
He urged Mosra Energy to adhere to the MOU reached with the communities and deal with issues of environmental sustainability
He said power produced from the plant will impact positively to the social-economic life of the communities and the country in general and enjoined all parties to continue to maintain peace to enable the power plant take off successfully.
According to him, Delta State is blessed with numerous mineral resources. We are familiar with oil and gas because it is the main stay of the economy. Coal is another mineral resource that is abundant in commercial quantities to drive economic activities.
“As we lay the foundation for this power plant, we should remember the lessons learnt from oil and gas exploration as it pertains to environmental degradation and youth restiveness.
“I urge the management of Mosra Energy to adhere to the terms of any MOU reached amicably with the critical stakeholders and also deal with issues of environmental protection with a view to maintaining industry standards.
“In the same vein, the communities should not be overbearing in their demands. There must be a balance struck to keep work going smoothly,” he said.
Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc. Olamilekan Adegbite, commended the state government for its support for the project adding that host communities must be the first beneficiaries of the project.
He stated that communities were the focal points in the mining industry adding that the support of communities must be sought before commencement of mining activities.
He lauded Mosra Energy for its effort assuring that the Federal Government would continue to give support and incentives for more investment in the mining sector.
Welcoming guests earlier, Chief Executive Officer of Mosra Energy Limited, Mr Olukayode Ramos said the project was a step towards meeting the energy needs of the country and lauded the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development for their partnership and continued support towards attracting more investors into the mining sector.
He commended Gov. Okowa and the host communities for their commitment in ensuring enabling peace for the company to operate.
He said construction work would create thousands of direct and indirect jobs for the host communities and people of the area.
In his remarks, the Obi of Ugboba Kingdom, Obi Ezedimbu Nkebakwu commended the company and all stakeholders for their support in bringing the project to fruition and pledged the support and cooperation of the host communities towards the completion of the project.
The groundbreaking was attended by the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development Dr Oluwatoyin Akinlade, top government officials, traditional rulers in Aniocha North among others.
Avoid Pitfalls From Oil And Gas Exploration, Okowa Urges Mining Stakeholders
Empowered for a New Life: UNFPA Supports 50 Rehabilitated Fistula Survivors in Gombe
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has empowered 50 rehabilitated Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) survivors in Gombe State through a collaborative program with the Government of Norway.
At the graduation ceremony held in Gombe on Thursday, Dr. Bajowa Lanre, UNFPA’s Sexual Reproductive Health Analyst, reiterated the agency’s commitment to eradicating obstetric fistula, a debilitating condition that occurs during childbirth. He highlighted that UNFPA continues to provide life-saving surgeries for women affected by fistula and severe perinatal tears in Nigeria, working towards a future where maternal mortality and related conditions are eliminated.
Obstetric fistula, an abnormal connection between the rectum and the vagina, is often stigmatized in communities, bringing shame and social isolation to survivors. “No woman should endure this experience,” said Lanre, emphasizing the physical and emotional toll it takes on women and families.
The empowerment initiative, which equips survivors with vocational skills and tools, is seen as key to reintegrating them into society. Sewing machines, grinding machines, popcorn processing equipment, and transportation stipends were provided to help the women become economically self-sufficient.
Gombe’s Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Ms. Asmau’u Iganus, expressed gratitude for the initiative. Represented by Mrs. Abu Hassan, she noted that the program would enhance the survivors’ livelihood and boost their social and economic wellbeing.
Dr. Musa Issa, Executive Director of the Fistula Foundation Nigeria, praised the collaboration between UNFPA, the Norwegian government, and the state, calling the empowered women role models who can inspire others in their communities.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Safiyanu Moses, shared her journey from being ostracized due to the condition’s effects to regaining hope for a brighter future. “This intervention has transformed my life,” she said. “I will use this empowerment to help my family and community while raising awareness about treatment for others.”
The program aims to foster support systems for fistula survivors and reduce the stigma associated with the condition in Gombe State and beyond.
WAFU Qualifiers: Mailantarki Care FC beat Nigeria’s Flying Eagles 1-0
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles …
The Nigeria National team U-20 (Flying Eagles) suffered a defeat in the hands of Mailantarki Care FC in one of its series of preparatory games on Wednesday in Abuja.
The reigning Champions of the 2024 International Youth Championship in Denmark (Dana Cup) produced an all-around performance against the Nigeria National team outfit, the Flying Eagles at the FIFA Goal Project pitch of the MKO Abiola Stadium.
Coach Aliyu Zubairu’s U-20 team began preparation last week ahead of the upcoming WAFU Championship scheduled in Togo, where the representatives of the zone in the 2025 U-20 nations cup will emerge.
Sensational wing wizard Miko Dalha scored the only goal of the game following a delightful footwork before smashing into the near post before the break.
The host could have equalized from the spot deep into the game just for Mailantarki goalie Abbati Muhammed to punch away the penalty kick. However, the Flying Eagles defeated Water FC 1-nil in its first game courtesy of Bayelsa United forward Rabiu Abdullahi.
USAID Urges Adamawa Officials to Sustain State2State Interventions and Reforms
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has called on Adamawa State officials to continue supporting various interventions and reforms to foster sustainable development across key sectors. The call was made during a review of Adamawa’s financial instructions held in Yola on Wednesday.
Aduku Godwin, the Regional Advisor for USAID’s Learning to Read Project, emphasized the importance of maintaining these reforms to drive long-term progress in areas such as governance, education, and infrastructure development. He affirmed USAID’s commitment to collaborating with the State2State team in Adamawa to enhance good governance and ensure quality education in the state.
Machill Maxwell, USAID Project Management Specialist for Integrated Governance, commended the improvements seen in Adamawa’s health, education, and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sectors. He stressed the need for efficient and accountable use of resources, pointing out that past inefficiencies had limited the impact of significant financial investments.
Hajiya Nafisa Ado, Senior Technical Assistant and Learning Advisor for the Learn to Read Project, expressed satisfaction with the partnership aimed at building the capacity of state officials to promote transparency, accountability, and effectiveness in governance and education.
Similar collaborative efforts are also underway in Bauchi, Gombe, Ebonyi, and Sokoto States as part of USAID’s broader initiative to support state-level reforms in
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