Index to Nigerian Newspapers

A Rivers State High Court has remanded the Managing Director of Saipem Contracting, Mr. Walter Peviana; and Kelechi Chinakwe in the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre over an alleged conspiracy to cheat and with intent to defraud the Rivers State Government of $130m.

Over 112 illegal refineries have been discovered in the creeks of Ikwere Local Government Area of Rivers State. The Chairman, mr. Samuel Nwanosike said at the week end that most of the site were located in the Ogbodo community of the state. The government said his primary concern was to ensure that the health of the people were not jeopardised. Wike berated the police for being complicit in the criminal act of ilegal oil bunkering saying they were not commited to the fight to stop the operations.Wike frowned at the inability of the police to arrest members of the illegal bunkering cartel operating at athe Ibaa community in the Ikwerre Local Government Area. 

The Niger Delta crisis in Nigeria has been a contentious issue, with the Federal Government implementing the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Trans-Human Movement Law. Nigeria's past leadership has been criticised for their incompetence and deceitfulness in handling the Boko Haram insurgency and Niger Delta militancy. Acting President Yemi Osinbajo is expected to lead a delegation to Bayelsa State to restore peace in the region. The Nigerian Oil and Gas Landlords' Association of Nigeria (OMPALAN) has urged the Presidency to seek wider consultation with oil and gas stakeholders to address the crisis. The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) is not keen on meeting with security agents representing the Federal Government at proposed peace talks. The Federal Government has been advised to embrace dialogue rather than resort to war to resolve the crisis. The Federal Government has returned to the negotiation table with ex-warlords from the Niger Delta in a fresh initiative to restore peace.