News
Just in: Another massive explosion rocks gas facility in Rivers
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Just a week after a massive explosion rocked the Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, another blast occurred, this time at the Soku oil facility in Akuku Toru Local Government Area.
The explosion has further heightened concerns over the security of oil infrastructure in the region.
The latest explosion, confirmed by the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), was reported on Sunday.
The grassroots NGO, with a strong presence in the Niger Delta, disclosed that its youth volunteers had alerted the organization about the early morning blast at the Soku oil facility, operated by Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited
In a statement signed by the Executive Director, Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, YEAC-Nigeria revealed that an explosion, accompanied by fireballs, was heard and seen rising from the facility.
“The fire is still ongoing as of the time of this report,” the statement noted.
However, the facility remains difficult to access, and the exact cause of the explosion is still unknown.
As the investigation continues, speculation surrounds the cause of the explosion.
Possible causes mentioned include equipment failure, sabotage, or a deliberate attack.
This marks the third such incident in the oil-rich Rivers State within a week, raising serious concerns about the state’s oil infrastructure security.
The first explosion occurred in Ogoni, followed by another in the Oga/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.
These incidents were referenced by President Bola Tinubu in his nationwide broadcast on March 18, where he declared a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State, partly due to the repeated attacks on the region’s oil infrastructure.
In response to these attacks, the President suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, citing the governor’s failure to protect oil facilities.
YEAC-Nigeria has called for an immediate investigation into the latest Soku explosion.
The group urged the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to conduct a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) to determine the cause of the explosion and ensure accountability.
“Perpetrators of this crime must be held accountable in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021,” YEAC-Nigeria stressed in the statement, as they demanded swift action to address the escalating violence in the region.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo has declared that democracy in Africa is failing, citing the frequent use of courts as a tool to deny justice rather than uphold it.
Speaking on the state of governance, Obasanjo criticised politicians who dismiss grievances by telling people to “go to court,” even when they know the legal system is incapable of delivering true justice.
He made this statement on Monday at an event in Ladi Kwali Hall, Abuja Intercontinental Hotel.
Obasanjo stated that Africa’s adoption of Western-style democracy has not served its citizens effectively, arguing that the system is alien to African values and governance structures.
“Democracy in Africa has failed because it is not African,” he declared.
He expressed concerns that democracy in its current form had devolved into mere representation rather than true governance for the people.
“Democracy has now become representative democracy, and it hasn’t taken care of everyone,” Obasanjo said
He contrasted this with the traditional African systems of governance, which he claimed were more attuned to the needs of the people.
“Abraham Lincoln described democracy as government of the people, by the people, and for the people. But what do we have today? The Greek democracy affected everyone. Now, democracy has become representative democracy, and it has not taken care of everyone,” he stated.
The former president further criticised the lack of justice in the democratic process, particularly regarding electoral disputes.
He lamented the common refrain of “go to court” when citizens seek redress, despite the prevailing lack of confidence in the judiciary.
“You will say, ‘go to court’ when you know that you can’t get justice. Democracy is dying in Africa, and to save it, it should be made in the context of Africa,” he added.
Obasanjo called for a redefinition of democracy that aligns with Africa’s cultural realities and historical governance systems.
“We should remember that in Africa, we had a form of government which attended to the needs of the people. That is democracy,” he added.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Minister for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has sharply criticized those responsible for managing the AirtelTigo transaction, describing them as “enemies of the state” over the sale of the telecommunications company.
He raised concerns over the decision to sell AirtelTigo—burdened with a GHC3.5 billion debt—for a token price of just one dollar.
Speaking to journalists in Parliament on Monday, March 24, the Minister questioned the patriotism of those who oversaw the process.
“Those who managed the AirtelTigo process are enemies of our state and individuals who have no sense of patriotism. So for anybody to have told us that they bought AirtelTigo for 1 dollar, and now that we have taken over the ministry, ATC (American Tower Company), just one of the companies AirtelTigo owes, has presented us with a bill of 1.5 billion Ghana Cedis,” he stated.
He further disclosed that discussions with the American Embassy brought to light concerns over AirtelTigo’s financial liabilities.
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