ITND LINKS 23RD DECEMBER 2024

OPENING

HELLO OUT THERE AND WELCOME TO THE PROGRAMME. IT’S

INSIDE THE NIGER DELTA, THE AUTHENTIC VOICE OF NIGERIA’S
OIL-RICH REGION. I’M YOUR REGULAR HOST, MAMODE
AKUGHA.

ANN ON CAM:

BAYELSA STATE GOVERNOR, SENATOR DOUYE DIRI, HAS

REAFFIRMED HIS ADMINISTRATION’S COMMITMENT TO FULLY
ENFORCING THE ANTI-OPEN GRAZING LAW ENACTED IN 2022
IN THE STATE.

HE STATED THIS DURING THE STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

MEETING HELD LAST WEEK AT THE GOVERNMENT HOUSE IN
YENAGOA WHERE HE DIRECTED ALL RELEVANT ENFORCEMENT
AGENCIES TO REMAIN VIGILANT AND TAKE DECISIVE ACTION
AGAINST DEFAULTERS.

GOVERNOR DIRI ADDED THAT RANCHING REMAINS THE MOST

SUSTAINABLE AND MODERN APPROACH TO CATTLE REARING,
 STRESSING THAT THE STATE WOULD NOT TOLERATE
VIOLATIONS OF ITS STATUTORY LAWS.

---TRACK-UP---

ANN ON CAM: MORE GROUPS ARE DRUMMING UP SUPPORT FOR

THE ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR SHERIFF OBOREVWORI,
WITH THE LATEST COMING FROM THE PRESIDENT-GENERALS
OF COMMUNITIES AND KINGDOMS IN THE STATE, WHO
UNANIMOUSLY PASSED A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE ON THE
ADMINISTRATION.

PRINCE IGWE NZEKWUE, WHO SPOKE ON BEHALF OF THE

DELEGATION AT THE GOVERNMENT HOUSE IN ASABA LAST
WEEK, COMMENDED THE GOVERNOR FOR HIS GIANT STRIDES
IN INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL
PROGRAMMES IN THE BIG HEART STATE.

NZEKWUE FURTHER ASSURED THE GOVERNOR THAT THE

GROUP WILL CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH THE STATE
GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE SEAMLESS SERVICE DELIVERY AT
THE COMMUNITY LEVEL.

---TRACK-UP---
ANN ON CAM: THE MANAGING DIRECTOR AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE
OFFICER OF THE NIGER DELTA DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
(NDDC), DR. SAMUEL OGBUKU, HAS EXPRESSED GRATITUDE TO
PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU'S ADMINISTRATION FOR ITS
UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF THE INTERVENTION AGENCY AS
WELL AS ITS COMMITMENT TO THE RAPID TRANSFORMATION
OF UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN THE OIL-RICH REGION.

DR. OGBUKU CONVEYED HIS APPRECIATION WHILE

ADDRESSING A PRESS CONFERENCE LAST WEEK AT THE
COMMISSION’S HEADQUARTERS IN PORT HARCOURT.

HE ADDED THAT THE CURRENT BOARD AND MANAGEMENT OF

THE COMMISSION ARE WORKING TIRELESSLY TO ACTUALISE
THE PRESIDENT’S "RENEWED HOPE" INITIATIVE ACROSS EVERY
CORNER OF THE NIGER DELTA REGION.

---TRACK-UP---

ANN ON CAM: THE NIGER DELTA DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION

(NDDC) HAS CALLED ON POLICY EXPERTS, GOVERNMENT
LEADERS, AND KEY DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS TO ADOPT A
MORE DELIBERATE AND UNIFIED APPROACH IN TACKLING THE
PRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES THAT ARE
GRADUALLY ERODING THE LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS OF THE
PEOPLE IN THE OIL-RICH NIGER DELTA REGION.

THE COMMISSION'S DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL

PROTECTION AND CONTROL, ENGR. ONUOHA OBEKA, WHILE
SPEAKING AT THE ONE-DAY NIGER DELTA CONSULTATIVE
FORUM ORGANISED BY THE NDDC IN PORT COURT LAST WEEK,
STRESSED THAT ALL HANDS MUST BE ON DECK TO ENSURE
THAT THE ECOSYSTEM IN THE REGION IS PRESERVED AND
PROTECTED FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

---TRACK-UP---

ANN ON CAM: THE MANAGING DIRECTOR AND CHIEF

EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE NIGER DELTA DEVELOPMENT
COMMISSION, DR. SAMUEL OGBUKU, SAYS THE COMMISSION
WILL CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN THE OPERATIONAL CAPACITY
OF THE NIGERIAN POLICE FORCE AND OTHER SECURITY
AGENCIES OPERATING IN THE REGION AS PART OF EFFORTS TO
ENSURE PEACE AND SECURITY OF LIVES AND PROPERTIES.

DR. SAMUEL OGBUKU GAVE THE ASSURANCES LAST WEEK

WHILE PERSONALLY HANDING OVER COMMUNICATION
 GADGETS TO THE NIGERIAN POLICE AT THE RIVERS STATE
COMMAND HEADQUARTERS IN PORT HARCOURT.

---TRACK-UP---

ANN ON CAM: A GROUP KNOWN AS THE HOST COMMUNITIES

PRODUCING OIL, GAS, AND PIPELINE IMPACTED STATES YOUTH
COUNCIL OF NIGERIA HAS LAUDED THE LEADERSHIP OF
TANTITA SECURITY SERVICES FOR WHAT THEY DESCRIBED AS A
PRODUCTIVE EFFORT IN COMBATING ECONOMIC SABOTAGE
AND THEFT OF NIGERIA’S OIL AND GAS RESOURCES.

THE GROUP, LED BY COMRADE EMMANUEL FIAWEI, GAVE THIS

COMMENDATION DURING A PRESS CONFERENCE HELD LAST
WEEK IN ABUJA. THEY HIGHLIGHTED THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF
THE PIPELINE PROTECTION CONTRACTOR IN BOOSTING THE
NATION’S CRUDE OIL PRODUCTION CAPACITY AND
ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION THROUGH ITS EFFECTIVE
SECURITY SERVICES.

---TRACK-UP---
ANN ON CAM: THE PERSISTENT ISSUE OF OPEN DEFECATION
CONTINUES TO POSE SIGNIFICANT HEALTH AND
ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES, PARTICULARLY IN THE
RIVERINE COMMUNITIES OF THE NIGER DELTA.

SAFETY AND HEALTH EXPERTS ARE RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT

WHETHER NIGERIA CAN ACTUALLY MEET THE 2030 TARGET OF
ERADICATING OPEN DEFECATION, AS OUTLINED IN
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 6 (SDG-6).

THE FOLLOWING REPORT DELVES INTO THE CURRENT STATE

OF SANITATION IN THESE VULNERABLE AREAS, THE EFFORTS
MADE SO FAR, AND THE HURDLES THAT REMAIN IN ACHIEVING
THIS CRITICAL GLOBAL GOAL IN COASTAL COMMUNITIES IN
THE NIGER DELTA REGION .

---TRACK-UP---

ANN ON CAM: IN CONTINUATION OF HIS CELEBRATIONS

TO MARK ONE YEAR ON THE THRONE OF HIS
FOREBEARS, THE OVIE OF AGBARHA WARRI KINGDOM,
HRM KINGSLEY EMAKPO OREREH, IGBI II, LAST WEEK
GAVE OUT PRIZES TO THE WINNERS OF THE MAIDEN
OVIE OF AGBARHA WARRI KINGDOM GOLF
TOURNAMENT.

THE GOLF CHALLENGE, WHICH TOOK PLACE AT NNPOC

OGUNNU GOLF RESORT WARRI IN DELTA STATE,
BROUGHT IN GOLFERS FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE
COUNTRY.

---TRACK-UP---
 ANN ON CAM: THE TAX REFORMS BILLS PROPOSED BY
PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU CURRENTLY UNDER
CONSIDERATION IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY IS SHARPLY
DIVIDING SEVERAL GROUPS FROM THE SOUTHERN AND
NORTHEN PART OF THE COUNTRY AS WELL AS THE NIGER
DELTA REGION.

SOME TAX EXPERTS AND LEADERS OF NIGER DELTA ORIGIN

WHO SHARED THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE BILLS INSIST THAT
THE PROPOSED REFORMS, ESPECIALLY WITH DERIVATION ON
THE VALUE-ADDED TAX, VAT WILL DRIVE PRODUCTIVITY
ACROSS THE BOARD, ENCOURAGE TRUE FEDERALISM, AND LAY
A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR THE OVERALL DEVELOPMENT OF
THE COUNTRY.

---TRACK-UP---

ANN ON CAM: AS THE WORLD CELEBRATED WORLD HUMAN

RIGHTS DAY ON TUESDAY TENTH OF DECEMBER, 2024, THE
FOCUS ONCE AGAIN SHIFTED TO THE GLOBAL STRUGGLE AND
CONCERTED EFFORTS BY GOVERNMENTS AND DIFFERENT
ORGANISATIONS TO ENSURE THE ENTHRONEMENT OF MORE
STRINGENT EFFORTS IN DEALING WITH HUMAN RIGHTS
INFRACTIONS.
NIGERIA IS NOT LEFT OUT OF THIS STRUGGLE AS IT CONTINUES
TO CONTEND WITH AGITATORS AND EXTREMISTS FROM ALL
PARTS OF THE COUNTRY SOMETIMES IN A MANNER THAT
QUESTIONS THE COUNTRY’S COMPLIANCE WITH
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS AND TREATIES THAT UPHOLD
FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS.

IN THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL REPORT, OUR CORRESPONDENT,

TIMKAT NANBOL, REVISITED THE ODI MASSACRE OF 1999 AND
THE OKUAMA INCIDENT OF MARCH 2024, WHERE THOUSANDS
OF INNOCENT VILLAGERS WERE MASSACRED AND SEVERAL
OTHERS RENDERED HOMELESS FOR CRIMES COMMITTED BY
FEW CRIMINALS.

---TRACK-UP---

ANN ON CAM:

CLOSING

AND THAT’S THE SIZE OF OUR PACKAGE FOR TODAY. INSIDE

THE NIGER DELTA, THE AUTHENTIC VOICE OF NIGERIA’S OIL-
RICH REGION WILL BE BACK SAME TIME, SAME STATION NEXT
WEEK. UNTIL THEN, YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON OUR SOCIAL
MEDIA SHOWING RIGHT NOW ON YOUR SCREENS.
 AND PLEASE REMEMBER TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE
CHANNEL AT NDNTV NIGERIA FOR THESE STORIES AND MANY
MORE.

BYE FOR NOW.

ITND LINKS 30TH DECEMBER 2024

OPENING

HELLO OUT THERE AND WELCOME TO THE PROGRAMME. IT’S

INSIDE THE NIGER DELTA, THE AUTHENTIC VOICE OF NIGERIA’S
OIL-RICH REGION. I’M YOUR REGULAR HOST, MAMODE
AKUGHA.

ANN ON CAM: GOVERNOR SHERIFF OBOREVWORI OF DELTA

STATE, WHO ASSUMED OFFICE IN MAY 2023, PROMISED TO
DRIVE MEANINGFUL DEVELOPMENT, CREATE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR ALL, IMPLEMENT REALISTIC REFORMS, AND ENSURE
ENHANCED PEACE AND SECURITY ACROSS THE OIL-RICH
STATE.

THESE GOALS APTLY CAPTURED IN THE GOVERNOR’S BLUE

PRINT OTHERWISE KNOWN AS ‘THE MORE AGENDA’ HAS
 SINCE BECOME THE GUIDING FRAMEWORK OF THE
ADMINISTRATION.

EIGHTEEN MONTHS INTO HIS TENURE, GOVERNOR

OBOREVWORI HAS CONSCIENTIOUSLY BROUGHT NUMEROUS
POLICIES, PROGRAMMES, AND PROJECTS TO LIFE, SERVING AS
MONUMENTAL TESTAMENTS TO HIS PROMISES.

THESE ACHIEVEMENTS ALSO HIGHLIGHT THE POTENTIAL OF

WHAT HE AIMS TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE MONTHS AND YEARS
AHEAD AS HE CONTINUES TO STEER THE SHIP OF DELTA
STATE.

IN THIS REPORT, WE BRING YOU KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF SOME OF

THE INITIATIVES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE
OBOREVWORI-LED ADMINISTRATION FROM JANUARY TO
DECEMBER 2024.

---TRACK-UP---

ANN ON CAM: SENATOR DOUYE DIRI, FONDLY CALLED THE

"MIRACLE GOVERNOR" OF BAYELSA STATE, ENTERED 2024
WITH A SENSE OF FULFILLMENT, HAVING SECURED A
 RESOUNDING VICTORY IN THE NOVEMBER 11, 2023,
GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION.

THE PEOPLE OF BAYELSA RENEWED THEIR TRUST IN HIM WITH

AN OVERWHELMING MANDATE FOR A SECOND TERM.

OFFICIALLY SWORN IN FOR THIS SECOND TENURE IN FEBRUARY

2024, GOVERNOR DIRI HAS REMAINED STEADFAST IN HIS
COMMITMENT TO INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT AND
SERVICE DELIVERY. HIS ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES TO
IMPLEMENT INITIATIVES DESIGNED TO ALLEVIATE THE
CHALLENGES FACED BY BAYELSANS AND IMPROVE THEIR
QUALITY OF LIFE.

THE FOLLOWING REPORT OUTLINES THE INDELIBLE MARKS THE

GOVERNOR HAS LEFT ACROSS THE CITY CENTRE, MAJOR
TOWNS AND THE FAR-FLUNG COASTAL COMMUNITIES IN THE
STATE THAT IS RAISING A CHORUS OF COMMENDATION AND
CHEERFULNESS ON THE LIPS AND FACES OF BAYELSANS.

---TRACK-UP---

ANN ON CAM: THE YEAR 2024 WAS MARKED BY SIGNIFICANT

POLITICAL ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS IN THE NIGER DELTA
 REGION, RESHAPING THE POWER DYNAMICS AND
GOVERNANCE OUTLOOK IN NIGERIA’S OIL-RICH BELT.

IN EDO STATE, THE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTIONS RESULTED IN A

MAJOR POLITICAL SHIFT AS THE PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC PARTY
(PDP)-LED ADMINISTRATION WAS UNSEATED, PAVING THE WAY
FOR THE ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC) TO TAKE
CHARGE. MEANWHILE, IN ONDO STATE, THE APC SOLIDIFIED
ITS HOLD, RETAINING CONTROL OVER THE ONLY YORUBA-
SPEAKING STATE IN THE NIGER DELTA REGION.

IN RIVERS STATE, THE TUSSLE FOR SUPREMACY BETWEEN

GOVERNOR SIMINALAYE FUBARA AND HIS FORMER BOSS AND
MENTOR, NYESOME WIKE DEEPENED POLITICAL DIVISIONS,
FURTHER POLARIZING THEIR SUPPORTERS.

THE FALLOUT ALSO DEALT A SIGNIFICANT BLOW TO THE

RIVERS STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, ESCALATING TENSIONS
WITHIN THE STATE'S POLITICAL LANDSCAPE.

WE BRING YOU HIGHLIGHTS FROM THESE EVENTS AND MANY

MORE UPDATES ON THE POLITICAL SCENE ACROSS THE OIL
RICH NIGER DELTA REGION.

---TRACK-UP---
 CLOSING

AND THAT’S THE SIZE OF OUR PACKAGE FOR TODAY. INSIDE

THE NIGER DELTA, THE AUTHENTIC VOICE OF NIGERIA’S OIL-
RICH REGION WILL BE BACK SAME TIME, SAME STATION NEXT
WEEK. UNTIL THEN, YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON OUR SOCIAL
MEDIA SHOWING RIGHT NOW ON YOUR SCREENS.

AND PLEASE REMEMBER TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE

CHANNEL AT NDNTV NIGERIA FOR THESE STORIES AND MANY
MORE.

BYE FOR NOW.

ITND LINKS 30TH DECEMBER 2024 TRADITIONAL

OPENING

HELLO OUT THERE AND WELCOME TO THE PROGRAMME. IT’S

INSIDE THE NIGER DELTA, THE AUTHENTIC VOICE OF NIGERIA’S
OIL-RICH REGION. I’M YOUR REGULAR HOST, MAMODE
AKUGHA.
 ANN ON CAM: THE ETHNIC GROUPS IN NIGERIA'S OIL-RICH
NIGER DELTA ARE RENOWNED FOR THEIR VIBRANT CULTURAL
PRACTICES AND UNIQUE WAY OF LIFE, AS BEAUTIFULLY
EXPRESSED THROUGH THEIR DIVERSE YET SOMEWHAT
INTERCONNECTED TRADITIONS.

FROM TRADITIONAL RITES TO LIVELY FESTIVALS AND

COMMUNAL CEREMONIES, AS WELL AS THE INTRIQUES AND
STRUGGLE ASSOCIATED WITH THE SELECTION OF NEW
MONARCHS, THESE ACTIVITIES REFLECT THE SEASONS AND
LIFE'S MOMENTS THAT OFTEN STAND AS A REFRESHING
EXPERIENCE FOR LOCALS.

THESE CULTURAL EVENTS HELP CONNECT COMMUNITIES TO

THEIR ANCESTRY, PASS TRADITIONAL VALUES TO YOUNGER
GENERATIONS, AND CELEBRATE THE RICHNESS OF THEIR
HERITAGE WHILE BRINGING THE PEOPLE TOGETHER WITH
PRIDE AND UNITY.

THROUGHOUT 2024, SEVERAL OF SUCH CEREMONIES AND

CELEBRATIONS WERE RECORDED ACROSS COMMUNITIES AND
KINGDOMS IN THE REGION.
 THERE ARE ALSO INTERESTING AND SOMETIMES NAIL-BITING
TENSION WHICH CHARACTERISED THE STRUGGLES OF
ASCENDANCY TO THE THRONES OF THESE KINGDOMS.

JOIN US AS WE BRING YOU THIS HISTORIC BATTLES WITHIN

SOME OF THESE KINGDOM AS WELL AS CAPTIVATING SIGHTS
AND SOUNDS INSIDE THE NIGER DELTA, CAUGHT ON CAMERA.

THIS INCLUDES THE ENTHRONEMENT OF NEW MONARCHS IN

AROCHUKWU KINGDOM, ABIA STATE, AS WELL AS AGBARHA-
WARRI KINGDOM AND ASABA KINGDOM, BOTH IN DELTA STATE.
THE ANCIENT BENIN KINGDOM ALSO HOSTED SEVERAL GRAND
CEREMONIES, ONE OF WHICH WAS THE 8TH CORONATION
ANNIVERSARY OF ITS REVERED MONARCH.

---TRACK-UP---

CLOSING

AND THAT’S THE SIZE OF OUR PACKAGE FOR TODAY. INSIDE

THE NIGER DELTA, THE AUTHENTIC VOICE OF NIGERIA’S OIL-
RICH REGION WILL BE BACK SAME TIME, SAME STATION NEXT
WEEK. UNTIL THEN, YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON OUR SOCIAL
MEDIA SHOWING RIGHT NOW ON YOUR SCREENS.
 AND PLEASE REMEMBER TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE
CHANNEL AT NDNTV NIGERIA FOR THESE STORIES AND MANY
MORE.

BYE FOR NOW.

ITND LINKS 6TH JANUARY 2025

OPENING

HELLO OUT THERE AND WELCOME TO THE PROGRAMME. IT’S

INSIDE THE NIGER DELTA, THE AUTHENTIC VOICE OF NIGERIA’S
OIL-RICH REGION. I’M YOUR REGULAR HOST, MAMODE
AKUGHA.

ANN ON CAM: THE NIGER DELTA DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION

(NDDC), ESTABLISHED IN 2000, WAS CONCEIVED TO PROMOTE
SUSTAINABLE PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE STRUGGLING
COMMUNITIES OF THE OIL-RICH REGION.

ALTHOUGH THE COMMISSION HAS ACHIEVED SOME NOTABLE

SUCCESSES IN THE PAST, IT WAS HOWEVER ALWAYS BEEN
QUESTIONED BY MANY NIGER DELTANS WHO BELIEVE THAT ITS
PERFORMANCE WAS BELOW EXPECTATIONS.
HOWEVER, A NEW CHAPTER HAS BEGUN AT THE NDDC UNDER
THE LEADERSHIP OF MR. CHIEDU EBIE AND DR. SAMUEL
OGBUKU.

THIS DYNAMIC TEAM HAS REVITALISED THE COMMISSION,

EMBARKING ON AN AMBITIOUS MISSION TO TRANSFORM THE
REGION AND IMPROVE THE LIVES OF ITS COMMUNITIES IN LINE
WITH PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU’S VISION OF RENEWED
HOPE.

IN 2024, THE NDDC MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS AND

ACHIEVED REMARKABLE MILESTONES, WITH PROMISES OF
EVEN GREATER SERVICE DELIVERY IN THE NEW YEAR, AS OUR
CORRESPONDENT NOW REPORTS.

---TRACK-UP---

CLOSING

AND THAT’S THE SIZE OF OUR PACKAGE FOR TODAY. INSIDE

THE NIGER DELTA, THE AUTHENTIC VOICE OF NIGERIA’S OIL-
RICH REGION WILL BE BACK SAME TIME, SAME STATION NEXT
WEEK. UNTIL THEN, YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON OUR SOCIAL
MEDIA SHOWING RIGHT NOW ON YOUR SCREENS.

AND PLEASE REMEMBER TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE

CHANNEL AT NDNTV NIGERIA FOR THESE STORIES AND MANY
MORE.

BYE FOR NOW.