Represented by the State Commissioner for Environment, Dr Bello Orubebe, Governor Uduaghan said operations of oil companies should not impair the occupation and daily lives of the people of the region.

Pointing out that their people were peace-loving and keen to ensure that sustainable development took roots in the state, he said the state government was embarking on the beautification of all its cities.

He said: “We are taking steps to protect our environment. Already, we have set up a committee on green economy. The Federal Ministry of Petroleum has nominated two of its staff to join the committee.”

Earlier in his speech, the Vice Chancellor of Delta State University, Professor Eric Arubaye, said the institution had a vibrant centre for environmental studies, equipped to carry out research for problems in the region.

He urged oil firms and other environmental organization to partner with the school in solving environmental problems.

Professor A.S Akpotor, Director, Centre for Environmental and Niger Delta Studies (CENDS), said the centre was established to conduct research on the history, ethno-cultural diversity, religion, language, policies, natural resources development and management of the Niger Delta.

Vanguard

04/03/2010

Uduaghan who spoke at Oleh, headquarters of Isoko South Local Government Area while commissioning a cassava processing factory, chairman’s quarter, legislative building and caterpillars, being projects executed by the council, said the cassava plant would boost cassava production in the area.

…Says govt monitoring councils

He said the state government was monitoring councils in the state to ensure that their revenues were being judiciously utilized and said the state government was challenged by the cassava processing factory.

Earlier in his address, Chairman of the local government council, Chief Askia Ogieh said the establishment of the cassava processing factory became foremost in their minds as cassava and the production of garri had been part of their tradition, typified in subsistence production occasioned by low output with all attendant processing difficulties.

Ogieh said the factory has a production capacity of 50 tons of starch production and 24 tons of garri production per day, adding that over 100 persons would be involved directly in cassava multiplication farms and production work at the factory.

He maintained that the purchase of the caterpillar bulldozer / grader/ wheelloader would enhance the opening up of new roads in the area and said that the equipment would also be hired to private and corporate bodies so as to improve the internally generated revenue of the council.

Ogieh said his administration decided to construct an ultra-modern legislative building befitting of legislators with complete inter locking tiles and landscaping and expressed hope that with the provision of the facility councilors would have the necessary comfort for good legislative business.

Vanguard

25/02/2010

THE troubled Niger Delta region may soon become a haven for non-oil investors, going by the plans of Delta State government to upscale infrastructural development for prospective manufacturers and sector operators.

Specifically, the state government, last week, in Warri, said the challenges of power supply, transportation, information and communications technology and urbanisation would now be addressed more vigorously, under a strategic agenda to diversify the state's economy, which is currently reeling under the vagaries of oil production and its concomitant negative fallouts.

The state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, who spoke at the launching of Warri Industrial and Business Park's Masterplan on Thursday, said the strategy was scripted to bring lasting peace and widespread prosperity to the troubled region.

According to Uduaghan, the state government has already embarked on the provision of 100 megawatts of electricity, which will ultimately be upgraded to 450 megawatts.

"What we have is a modular system of power plant and our intention is to continue to add about 50 or 100 megawatts until we get to the 450 MW target for our Independent Power Projects (IPPs).

"We are hoping that with the plan, in addition to the one from the Federal Government, we should be able to improve on the power situation in the state both for individuals and industrial use," the governor said.

The governor told his audience, which included Managing Director of Bank of Industry, Ms Evelyn Oputu and other top government and private sector officials that "the second major strategy in terms of infrastructure, where we want the people to feel the impact of good governance, is in the area of good transportation system, in terms of airports, railways, roads and seaports."

He said: "We are all aware of the fact that railways, seaports and airports are all federally regulated, hence there are some restrictions here in terms of what you can actually do.

"Even the key roads that you require for transportation are all federal. So, everything about transportation is federal, but there is no way we can say we want to wait for the Federal Government to do it, hence we have started constructing the Asaba Airport, being the other side of Onitsha.

"Onitsha, we all know, is a very big economic zone and Asaba is the economic hub of the state, given its closeness to Onitsha. We hope that in the next three to four months, the Asaba Airport will be completed and planes will start to fly in there.

"The Osubi Airport, which is very close to Warri, has a very short runway and is being operated by Shell. We are discussing with the company so that it can allow us construct another runway that could take bigger planes and we are very close to an agreement on that. We plan to construct a 3.8 kilometre runway, which will accommodate the bigger planes coming to the airport in Warri.

"On the road infrastructure, we started the Asaba - Ughelli road, Warri-Effurun dualisation too. This is in realisation of the fact that the Warri port is a very busy port. The port has picked up and Onitsha market traders are big traders, so instead of using Lagos, they can use the Warri port as a very good alternative.

"This means that if their goods come into Warri, they can get it across to Onitsha by road in one and a half hours. This will save time and money and also reduce the pressure on the other roads.

The second road we are dualising, which is of course a federal government road, is the Ugbeni- Koko road, which is also commercially active, as it is very close to another port."

He explained that ICT and improved urbanisation system are critical to the state's development agenda, "given the profile of our focus to positively turn around the fortunes of the state."

Uduaghan disclosed that some areas in the state would be designated for industrial and commercial activities, "so that the investors will just come in with their portfolios and establish there. It is like buying a house that has been fully furnished and what you just do is to pay and move in.

"Warri Industrial Park is one of such areas that has been designated as an industrial cluster. We also have the Koko area too, which we have designated for that purpose. The Federal Government has just approved Koko as an Export free Zone for Delta State. We still have a place in Kwale that we have marked out as an industrial cluster and there is another one close to Asaba, which has been designated for the same purpose.

"In such industrial clusters, we put infrastructure like water, sewage, power and so on. For the Warri Industrial Business Park, we have an international and world acclaimed consultant, Jurong, from Singapore, who is working on the masterplan for the project.

"As at today, the plan is ready and that is what we are unveiling for people to look at, so that the investors can look at it and see if there are still some areas we can improve upon, before they bring out the final masterplan.

"We have also engaged KPMG, a firm of auditors and chartered accountants to look at the feasibility study of the project. This is also being presented alongside the master plan.

"We are of the opinion that the fallout of the industrial park will affect positively the bigger Warri. The spillover effect is better imagined in terms of development and that is basically why we are here to unveil the industrial park," the governor added.

Guardian

22/02/2010

The event which held at the First Baptist Church, Garki, Abuja was also used by the Governor to thank God for his 22 years in marriage.

Dr Uduaghan who was in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, when the Court’s verdict was delivered, gave testimonies of God’s divine favour in his life and in the affairs of Delta State.

The Governor, who was accompanied in the thanksgiving by senior government officials, including his wife Roli, attributed the court victory to God and re-affirmed his determination to serve the people better.

He particularly expressed delight in the Court verdict as it was delivered on the same date he clocked 22 years in marriage, pledging that he would not be tired of giving thanks to God.

Dr. Uduaghan who admitted that the governorship seat was not a bed of roses, however called for regular prayers by every segment of the society to enable Delta State overcome its challenges.

Vanguard

22/02/2010

In the judgment, which commenced at about 4.50 pm and delivered by Justice Dongbam Mensem, the court ruled that Okocha failed in his appeal which included unlawful exclusion from the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the candidate of the AC and lack of fair hearing at the lower tribunal.

Mensem said Okocha could not prove that he was duly nominated by the AC as its candidate in the election, adding that it was declared at the lower tribunal that he did not also meet the required nomination conditions as expressed by the electoral law.

The court added that about 10 members who he claimed to have nominated him were not members of the party at the time he claimed they nominated him. It noted that the membership card of the persons read 2007, whereas Okocha claimed he was nominated in 2006.

Justice Mensem also ruled that the AC candidate could not also prove that he was not given fair hearing at the lower tribunal, since the onus is on the petitioner to prove beyond doubt that he was not given fair hearing.

The court therefore dismissed all his grounds for appeal and upheld the election that brought Uduaghan to power in 2007. The Appeal Court venue of the jugdment had been besieged by the PDP supporters as early as 9 a.m since the ruling was fixed for 10 a.m, but it did not commence until 4.50p.m as the judges were said to have been in Abuja for a conference.

Guardian

20/02/2010

Executive Assistant to the Delta State Governor on Micro Credit, Dr. Antonia Ashiedu, gave this assurance when elders and members of Izu-Anioma paid her a courtesy call in her office.

Dr. Ashiedu thanked the Izu-Anioma for the valuable advice they have been giving to the state government.
According to her, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan will not have succeeded in the implementation of its three-point agenda without the full support of Deltans.

Earlier, the leader of the five-man delegation, who is also the Oza-Okita of Asaba, Chief Uso Onianwa, said they were there to intimate her on the planned civil reception by Anioma people for Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, billed for April 3 this year at the Cenotaph, Asaba.

Vanguard

19/02/2010

Uduaghan said in Asaba yesterday that the abundant mineral deposit in the two sectors has gained international recognition and attracted foreign investors.

He explained that local investors were also interested in the state's economy and would assist in realising its potential in all sectors of the economy.

The governor remarked: "As at today, we are already looking for land for Obasanjo Farms, also a company from Saudi- Arabia is interested in the gas sector. We will unveil the Warri Industrial Business Park this week."

He assured that when the partnership agreement comes to fruition, there would be abundant opportunities for economic growth in the state.

On the crippling fuel crisis in the country which has led to substantial increase by marketers in the pump price of the product, Uduaghan said that the state government would set up a monitoring team to ensure that it is available and sold at the normal price.

Guardian

16/02/2010

Utuama, a professor of law, made the remarks at the 2010 mukoro mowoe memorial lecture series which held at the weekend in effurun, Delta State.

He observed, “everyone in our country today is hitching for credible elections, because that is the only way we can achieve good governance and development.

“We all have a responsibility, having chosen the path of democracy as it provides that leadership should come through regular election where people freely chose their leaders.

“Voters must be convinced that their votes count and that majority of the people responsible for the electoral process have operated legitimately within the legal framework. In fact, these values inform all our actions as an administration.”

Utuama reasoned that good governance could only be assured through a strong commitment to set goals, declaring, “as a state, we are committed to genuine and transparent electoral process, which engenders the implementation of programmes that can promote the socio-political and economic development of our society.

“That is why we are pursuing the three-point agenda of peace and security, human capital and infrastructural development. Our interest is to go into other sectors and avoid restricting ourselves to oil and gas.”

He described the late Mowoe, in whose honour the lecture was held as “a committed and avowed custodian of Urhobo cultures and mores. Chief Mukoro Mowoe was a respected and respectable citizen, indeed, the leading Nigerian figure in the province of warri of the 1940s.”

In another development, utuama has informed that the state government was in the process of formulating policies and programmes that would cater for the welfare of the elderly in the state.

Utuama, at a lecture in honour of the 50 years ofprivate legal practice of John Alele in Warri noted that the elderly that have contributed their quota to the growth and development of the society deserved to be honoured and catered for.

Vanguard

14/02/2010

Bozimo, who started a routine visit to prisons in the state from the Warri Prisons on February 1, 2010, explained that those with no diligent evidence to prosecute them, those for which there was no case submission and detainees with serious health problems were also released.

The visit took the Chief Judge to six prisons in five different cities across the state. These included Warri Prisons with 513 inmates awaiting trial out of which 22 were released. Five inmates were released from Kwale Prisons, which had 197 inmates awaiting trial.

At Sapele Prisons where a total population of 225 inmates await trial, 20 detainees were released while three inmates were set free from Sapele Remand Home, which has 34 inmates awaiting trial.

At Agbor Prisons, the Chief Judge ordered the release of 10 inmates out of the 136 inmates awaiting trial while six out of the 277 inmates awaiting trial at Ogwashi-Uku Prisons were released by Mrs. Bozimo.

Guardian

15/02/2010

THISDAY

02/02/2010

According to IMG, “Delta State is lucky that the governor appointed the right person at the right time to manage the scheme. We know that there is still a lot of poverty around, but the effort of the woman-in-charge, Dr. Anthonia Ashiedu, pursuing the policy as a do-or-die affair to relieve the pains of the grassroots, gives us hope.”

Meanwhile, the group has sent a condolence message to the family of Prof. Grace Alele-Williams over the death of her husband, Professor Babatunde Williams.

The group said: “We sent our heartfelt condolence to our big sister to take heart; we thank her departed husband for giving her all the encouragement in life that she needed to honour our Niger Delta as the first woman vice-chancellor in Nigeria.

The beautiful life they both lived will inspire the younger generation and we beg God to give our mother the courage to bear the loss.

“We wish the governor builds a befitting headquarters of the micro-finance scheme and name it after Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a world class finance guru and current Managing Director of the World Bank for placing Delta State’s name in the history of the World Bank.

“We are still waiting for Governor Uduaghan to name either Delta State University, Abraka; College of Education, Warri or State Hospital, Oghara after Prof. Grace Alele-Williams, the manner Governor Rotimi Amaechi named the State Hospital after Justice Karibi-Whyte (rtd), an Ijaw, while he is still alive.”

Vanguard

27/01/2010

Vanguard

25/01/2010

Bozimo, who spoke at the presentation of the new rules in Asaba, explained that the procedure emphasised the quick dispensation of justice in compliance with the principle of law, that justice delayed is justice denied.

"We are all aware that to the man on the street, no less than the businessman, the courts no longer represent his last hope for having his grievances promptly addressed," she said.

Again, she said that the new rules encourage court-based mediation as reflected in the provisions of Order 29, Rule 1, which states that a court or judge with the consent of the parties may encourage settlement of any matter(s) before it either by arbitration, conciliation, mediation, or any other lawfully recognised method of dispute resolution.

According to her, this is hinged on the premise that the court or judge shall not personally conduct such settlement, which it shall instead refer to appropriate person or institution for amicable resolution within a time frame specified by the court or judge, failing which the proceedings shall resume before the court or judge.

Justice Bozimo said: "By this provision, the court user can no longer view the court as over-bearing as was the position under the 1988 Rules. The judge is now empowered to promote and encourage alternative dispute resolution in the determination of the cases in his court. This no doubt will improve the profile of the court and the face of justice in the manner it is perceived by the public. This has the added benefit of strengthening the integrity of the judiciary."

The Delta Chief Judge explained that the provision of the new rules that promotes court-based mediation, being new to the state's jurisprudence, calls for training and/or re-training of judges who are now assigned the responsibilities previously unknown under the old rules; the court registrar and other support staff; and private lawyers, as well as those in government service, in the skills of mediation and conciliation.

This, according to her, has the benefit of opening a new vista of career for legal practitioners and other interested persons to be trained as Professional Negotiators and Mediators (PNM) as emphasis all over the world now is on the benefits of the multi-door settlement of disputes that leaves former protagonists going away happy and satisfied and thus promoting a peaceful society.

The committee, which was headed by former Chief Judge of the state, (Mrs.) M.A. Okungbowa had former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Chief T.J.O Okpoko (SAN) as a member. Other members of the committee are former Justice F.A. Nwulu, Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN), Chief Albert Akpomudje (SAN), Chief J.I.Ojeh, Chief Isaac Jemide, Chief V.E. Otomiewo, Chike Onyemenam, A.O.Akpiroroh, C.Omoru, Chief C.O Ogedazi, M.M.Nnamdi, and B.O Odigwe who acted as the secretary.

Guardian

14/01/2010