Pollution and fishing in the Niger Delta

Written by the Editorial Bard of The Guardian Newspaper

The consistent lamentations by various civil society groups over the plight of fishermen and peasant farmers in the oil-rich Niger Delta who have deserted their long-established fishing and farming occupations due to pollution of their environment appropriately capture the pains of the devastation of the ecosystem of the oil bearing communities.

Non-governmental organisations (NGO) have over the years appealed to pipeline vandals, militants, illegal oil bunkerers and indigenous and multinational oil companies to halt the destruction of the environment in the region through their activities, a position shared by all Nigerians and even the international community.

Vandalism of oil facilities by oil bunkerers and destruction of oil installations by aggrieved militants, no doubt, are impacting negatively on the environment and living standards.

My Trial Not Discussed In Meeting With Buhari – Saraki

Senate President Bukola Saraki on Wednesday evening said the focus of the meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the National Assembly was how to better the lot of Nigerians.

He said the meeting, which was at the instance of the President, was to devise means of delivering the promises made to Nigerians during electioneering.

Saraki spoke with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting held behind closed doors at the First Lady’s Conference Hall inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said, “The meeting was an initiative of the President for an interaction with the leadership of the National Assembly.

“It was a very useful session, being the first one. This kind of interaction helps in ensuring smooth relationship between the two arms of government.

Photos: Buhari meets Saraki, Dogara, others at Presidential Villa

President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday evening met with the leadership of both the Senate and the House of Representatives for a closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, led the lawmakers to the meeting.

Speaker Dogara visits VP Osinbajo

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara visited Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the presidential villa today August 13th. 

More photos after the cut..

Oyegun lauded over Gbajabiamila issue

 Prominent politicians in the South-West geo-political zone on Sunday gave the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie Oyegun a pat on the back for a job well done.

 They also praised him for cherishing the mood of the people and using the power of the office of the national chairman to promote the interests of the Yoruba people.

 The leaders were happy with Yakubu Dogara’s acceptance of Femi Gbajabiamila as Majority Leader of the House of Representatives and the contributions made by the national chairman of the party.

 They described Oyegun as a transparently impartial father of all.

 In a statement by the chairman of Yoruba Front (YF), Alhaji Ganiyu Alao at the end of an emergency meeting in Surulere, the leaders expressed profound satisfaction with John Odigie-Oyegun’s leadership for the matured way in which the House of Representatives issue was resolved in favour of both Gbajabiamila and the Yoruba nation.