IN THE COURT OF APPEAL

IN ASABA JUDICIAL DIVISION

ON FRIDAY 12TH MARCH 2021





BEFORE THEIR LORDSHIPS



MOHAMMED A. DANJUMA, JCA

JOSEPH EYO EKANEM, JCA



ABIMBOLA O. OBASEKI-ADEJUMO, JCA



BETWEEN

THE GOVERNOR OF DELTA STATE OF NIGERIA & 2 Ors

And

OLUKUNLE OGHENEOVO EDUN, ESQ

(Lead Judgment delivered by Honourable Justice Joseph Eyo Ekanem, JCA)



Facts of the case:

The Respondent, a Legal Practitioner based in Warri, while driving his vehicle along Afisere Road, Ughelli, Delta State, was intercepted by Officers of the 3rd Appellant, through a road block; and was asked to produce his Certificate of Road Worthiness.

The Respondent maintained that he had none and that, as a private car owner, whose vehicle was not used for mercantile or commercial purpose, he was not required to apply for roadworthiness.

This led to serious traffic which prompted the 2nd Appellant to release the Respondent. Upon inspection of his documents, the Respondent discovered that he was actually issued a Certificate of Road Worthiness by Officers of the Appellant.

He therefore initiated an action by way of Originating Summons at the High Court of Delta State, seeking the interpretation of whether a Certificate of Road Worthiness was needed for private owned vehicles.

The trial court found in favour of the Respondent.

The Appellant, aggrieved, lodged an appeal to the Court of Appeal.



Issues for determination:

1.Whether the suit of the Respondent filed against the Appellants on 21 November 2014 is not statute-barred, in view of the provisions of Section 2(a) of the Public Officers Protection Law, Cap. P.23, Vol. IV, Laws of Delta State of Nigeria, 2006.

2.Whether the 3rd Appellant “Senior Vehicle Inspection Officer (Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State), is a juristic person that can be sued.

3.Whether by virtue of the provisions of all relevant laws relating to Road Traffic, the Certificate of Road Worthiness has no application to private motor vehicles.



Counsel’s Argument

On issue 1 Appellants’ counsel submitted that the suit of the Appellant is statute-barred.

He referred to Section 2(a) of the Public Officers Protection Laws of the Delta State and submitted that the Appellants are Public officers within the intendment of the provision.

He contended that the cause of action arose on 5 August 2014, while the suit was filed on 21 November 2014, which is over the 3 month period prescribed by the Public Officers Protection Law.

He placed reliance on Ibrahim v. Judicial Service Commission, Kaduna State (1998) 64 LRCN 5044, among other cases.

Respondent submitted that the Public Officers Protection Law is not an all-embracing bar against actions brought against public officers, but admits exceptions, which he set out in his Brief of Argument.

He further submitted that the act of the Appellants was ultra vires, and had no semblance or colour of authority, and so cannot be protected under the law.

He referred to Egbe v. Alhaji (1990) 21 NSCC (pt. 1) 306, among other cases.

The Respondent argued further that the illegal retention of the fee for the Road Worthiness Certificate means that there is a continuous wrong or injury to the Respondent.

This, he said, takes the case outside the application of the law.



Judgment of the court and the reason

Their Lordships held that the purpose of the Public Officers Protection Law, is to protect public officers from civil liability for any wrongdoing that occasions damages to any citizen if the action is not instituted within 3 months after the act, default or neglect complained of.

The law is designed to protect only the officer who acts in good faith and does not apply to acts done in abuse of office and without semblance of legal justification.

Their lordships held that there is however one well-established exception to the applicability of the Public Officers Protection Law, namely that it does not apply to acts of a public officer which are outside the scope of the authority or which is in abuse of his office or without semblance of legal justification.

Their Lordships relied on Nwankere v. Adewunmi(1966) 1 All NLR 129.

On whether the 3rd Appellant “Senior Vehicle Inspection Officer (Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State), is a juristic person that can be sued.

Their Lordships held that the 3rd Appellant, “Senior Vehicle Inspection Officer (Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State)”, is not a natural person.

RELATED POSTS
Royal family lays claims to Gberigbe land

Feb 22, 2022
‘Make access to water, others fundamental right’

Feb 22, 2022
Church workers charged with alleged N13m theft

Feb 22, 2022
Yellow Card Ads
Their Lordships held that there is no express provision of the Road Traffic Law of Delta State or any other law which confers on him the right to sue or be sued eo nominee.

The Senior Vehicle Inspection Officer is only an administrative head of his zone and not the overall body, to wit: the Vehicle Inspection Unit.

The right to sue or be sued does not arise from the mere fact that a statute recognizes the existence of a body or office for the performance of a function.

The right must be donated by statute expressly or impliedly.

Their Lordships placed reliance on Erokoro v. Government of Cross River State (1991) 4 NWLR (pt. 185) 322.

His Lordship Joseph Eyo Ekanem, JCA held that, ‘‘The position of a Senior Vehicle Inspection Officer is akin to the position of a Divisional Police Officer who is the administrative head of a Police Division.

In the case of African Ivory Insurance v. Commissioner for Insurance (1998) 1 NWLR (pt. 532) 50, at 57, it was held that while the Commissioner of Police could be sued eo nomine as it is known to the Constitution, the Division Police Officer being an office set up merely for administrative convenience, cannot be sued.

It is, therefore, my opinion that the 3rd Appellant is not a person that can sue or be sued eo nomine’’.

Whether by virtue of the provisions of all relevant laws relating to Road Traffic, the Certificate of Road Worthiness has no application to private motor vehicles.

The Appellants’ counsel argued that Certificate of Road Worthiness has application to private vehicles.

He referred to the learned trial Judge’s interpretation of Section 48(1), (4) and (5) of the Law and submitted that it cannot be the correct intendment of the lawmakers.

This he said is because the law defines “Motor Vehicle” to mean mechanically propelled vehicle intended or adapted for use on roads. He also referred to Section 3(2) of the Road Traffic Law.

He contended that if the intention of the lawmakers was that private vehicles be exempted from carrying the Certificate of Road Worthiness, it would have been expressly so stated.

He stated that this is on account of the fact that Section 48(1) and (2) of the Law, which empowers persons authorized to impound vehicles plying the road without certain particulars includes Road Worthiness Certificate as one of the particulars meant to be carried by vehicles plying the road.

The Respondent submitted that a perusal of the Law and its Regulations shows that there is no provision therein that empowers the Appellants to issue Certificate of Road Worthiness in respect of vehicles used for non-commercial purposes.

Rather, the only section that authorizes the Appellants to examine vehicles is Regulation 58 of the Regulations, which relates only to examination of commercial vehicles and the issuance of certificate therefor after such examination.

He referred to Section 2 of the Law (the interpretation Section) and submitted that his vehicle does not fall within the definition of a commercial vehicle.

He also referred to Regulation 2 of the Regulation and Section 43 of the Law, which empowers the State Execution Council to make regulations on various matters relating to road traffic and Regulation 5 of the Regulation made pursuant thereto, which he said relates to the examination of commercial vehicles only.

He argued that there is no similar provision in respect of vehicles used for private purposes.

Their Lordships held that Paragraphs (2), (3), (4) and (5) of Regulation 5 of the Road Traffic Regulations (RTR) made detailed and comprehensive provisions for the factors or matters that must be present for the registration of categories of vehicles as follows:

(1)Paragraph (2) is for registration of commercial and passenger carrying vehicles, to wit: categories (iv), (v), (vi), (vii) and (viii) of the paragraph (1).

(2)Paragraph 3 is for registration of trailers (that is to say category (iii) of paragraph (1).

(3)Paragraph 4 is for registration of agricultural machine, that is to say category (ix) of paragraph (1).

(4)Paragraph 5 is for registration of tractor, that is to say category (x) of paragraph 1..

The requirements include the production of a Certificate of Road Worthiness issued under Regulation 58 at the time of the application for registration.

Regulation 58(1) and (2) of the RTR states:

(1) Every commercial vehicle, trailer, taxi, stage carriage, omnibus, shall before being registered or licensed and every 6 month thereafter, be examined by a Vehicle Inspection Officer.

(2) Examination Certificate – where at such examination a vehicle is found to be roadworthy, the Vehicle Inspection Officer shall issue a certificate to that effect as in Form M. L. 9 in the Sixth Schedule, which shall remain valid for 6 months. Such certificate shall be carried in the registration book and produced when required by Licensing Authority, a Vehicle Inspector or a Police Officer.”

Their Lordships held that this requirement applies only to vehicles that come under paragraphs (2) and (3) only, that is, commercial and passenger carrying vehicles and trailers.

Their Lordships held that it is, therefore, clear from the above that the provisions of Regulation 5 is loudly silent in respect of private motor vehicles.

I agree with the learned trial Judge. The provisions for particulars of motor vehicles are to be found in the RTR which as I have already demonstrated do not require a private motor vehicle to have a Certificate of Road Worthiness.

It follows therefore that the words “any of the particulars…” refer to the particulars as are required in respect of each category of motor vehicle as set out in Regulation 58 of RTR.

Their Lordships held that from the foregoing it can be drawn that a private motor vehicle is a motor vehicle belonging to a particular person, or which is for the use of a particular person or group, and for the carrying of their personal effects and not for public use or for hire or reward.

His Lordship Joseph Eyo Ekanem, JCA held that

‘‘Before drawing the curtain on this judgment, I need to remind public bodies and public officers that a public body or public officer vested with statutory power must take care not to exceed or abuse its or his power.

“It or he must keep within the limits of the authority committed to it. This is to prevent arbitrariness and the rule of man rather than the rule of law. See Wilson v. Attorney-General of Bendel State (1985) 1 NWLR (pt. 4) 572, at 591.

“The Vehicle Inspection Officers went beyond the powers vested in them by the law and the Road Traffic Regulations, by violently stopping the private motor vehicle of the Respondent on a public highway, using menacing tactics and dangerous implements to demand for Certificate of Road Worthiness which the said vehicle is not required to have.

“Such conduct sends a wrong signal to the citizens who may adopt such strong-arm tactics as a means of settling disputes’’.

The Appeal was dismissed.



Representation

O. Monye, Esq. (Director, Civil Litigation, Ministry of Justice, Delta State, (with him, G. I. Ugbechie, Esq – Senior State Counsel) – for the Appellants.
Respondent in person.



https://thenationonlineng.net/private-vehicle-does-not-require-roadworthiness-certificate/

Yemi4luv:


Buhari government is the most useless and corrupt govt and we nigerian doesn't have sense yet we are still clamouring for Tinubu presidential ambition we need to have sense

Is Tinubu and Buhari the same man?

connkg:
"No more bribes or settlement on the road?"

Really? The electronic medium will remove the gangs of people on the road? This is like the Police "assuring" Nigerians of security, if they have made one payment or the other for a new permit or license plate.
The e-valuation will not physically remove anyone from the roads leading to the ports. NCS should mount that patrol on access roads to validate this increment.

What will custom officers be asking bribe for again after you don pay all the necessary charges with documents to back then up?

If you pay any bribe, you mumu be that

okeysoninv:
funny it's not the importers that are crying but agents. Lol more like crying more than bereaved. Well It has been explain already.

The importers will pass the extra expenses to the buyer of the car

FreeStuffsNG:

God bless you sir!

On the fx side, the importers have been overinvoicing while the exporters have been underinvoicing.

By the time we fix that port system, you will be shocked to realize how much has been stolen from the system. These protesters are fronts for the same people that wrecked the system. The N600K old rate is the corruption rate!

But the money too much o

Esseite:


What are you saying?... an increase from 600m to N3m is shortchanging the Government? Is it not the end user that pays the 600k that if approved, would be increased to N3m which will inturn escalate inflation on cars, machineries, products, transport and 98% of our household items because they are imported one way or the other either as raw material or finished product.

I doubt Buhari do know about this stupid policies

Penguin2:
Bayelsa with its 9 Local Governments collects one of the highest allocations from the Federation Account.

What they have been doing with that money since 1999 is Penguin don’t know.

Every Bayelsan is supposed to be rich or at least self sufficient.

But here they are celebrating construction of 4.5km of road; calling it a miracle.

I wonder what they will then call a miracle.

Lol

The PDP don really deal with them in Bayelsa.

Bayelsa is a state that is suppose to be one of the leading State in every positive index in Nigeria.

Penguin2:


Oh! They are not even up to 9?

I doubt Bayelsa population is up to 1 million.

Exclusive: Investigation uncovers evidence of contaminated air and water from one of Indonesia’s largest nickel mines


AGuardian investigation into nickel mining and the electric vehicle industry has found evidence that a source of drinking water close to one of Indonesia’s largest nickel mines is contaminated with unsafe levels of hexavalent chromium (Cr6), the cancer-causing chemical more widely known for its role in the Erin Brockovich story and film.

The investigation also found evidence suggesting elevated levels of lung infections among people living close to the mine.

Recent years have seen a race between mining companies to gain control of the world’s largest nickel reserves in Indonesia.

Nickel, an essential component in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, could bring transformational wealth to a country where Covid has pushed the number of people in poverty up to 10.19%.

Yet people living on the remote Obi Island, which has recently become home to one of Indonesia’s largest nickel mines, just want clean and safe water.

Unlike other minerals used to power EVs such as cobalt and lithium – which have been linked to environmental damage and human rights abuses –nickel’s supply chain has so far gone largely unscrutinised.


The mining companies operational on Obi Island say their works pose no threat to local communities. Yet in the village of Kawasi, people are scared.

One villager, Richard*, says that since the mine arrived the water has become dangerous to drink.

“In the past, before there was a company, even though we lived without electricity, we were safe. Now we are afraid,” says Richard*. Water samples taken by the Guardian near Kawasi and tested at government-certified laboratories suggest high levels of contamination from hexavalent chromium (Cr6), a cancer-causing chemical.

The villagers also claim that since the mine arrived, people have been falling sick.

Children play on Kawasi beach as building work for a mining company port takes place along the shore.
Children play on Kawasi beach as building work for a mining company port takes place along the shore. Photograph: Adlun Fiqri Pramadhani/The Guardian
The Guardian was told by the village midwife clinic of more than 900 cases of potentially deadly acute respiratory infections (ARI) among the approximately 4,000 residents of Kawasi in 2020. More than half of the cases were reported to be in newborns or toddlers aged four and under.

According to Indonesian health officials, the ARI prevalence in Kawasi was just under 20% in 2020, compared with a national average of 9%. Aside from the midwife clinic there was no active local health centre in the village when the Guardian visited.

“The difference [since the mining started] is enormous. The beach was still clean, the sea was not muddy like this and not red yet. People still fished in front of their houses,” says a nurse who has lived in the village since 2009, before the mine started operating. “The trend of [higher] ARI cases began at the same time as [mining] exploration also began,” adds the nurse.

“I keep thinking: is there any future for the children?” says Maria*, who grew up in the village.

Given its extreme remoteness, it is unsurprising few activists or journalists have visited Obi Island to talk to residents until now. From the capital, Jakarta, it takes a three-and-half hour flight, an overnight boat and another two hours at sea to reach Kawasi’s port.

A mine employee shows a photo of raw nickel.
A mine employee shows a photo of raw nickel. Photograph: Adlun Fiqri Pramadhani/The Guardian
The plywood buildings and sporadic streets lights in Kawasi couldn’t feel more distant from glitzy city showrooms acclaiming fossil fuel-free travel.

As you disembark you can hear the constant creak and crash of cranes as they distribute their loads around the busy mining operations. The $1bn site, owned by the Indonesia-based Harita Group and China’s Lygend Mining, digs and processes nickel for use in EV batteries.

The Chinese battery component producer GEM has signed an agreement to purchase nickel from the company, PT Halmahera Persada Lygend. GEM supplies battery components to many of the world’s leading EV battery manufacturers, including Chinese-owned CATL, which controls about 30% of the global battery market.

The ultimate beneficiaries are likely to be many of the most well-known EV brands, with nickel from these mines used to produce batteries that could end up in cars sold by Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen (VW).

Booming nickel prices and a “battery arms race” have seen a rush to develop mines but there are fears that regulatory oversight has failed to keep up with the pace of development.

“They [the Indonesian government] are trying to remove red tape to make the industry more attractive for investment, but without proper environmental assessments, it could be risky given the way the industry is heading,” says Indonesian nickel mining expert Steven Brown.

Land and forest around the Kawasi village have been occupied by the mining company.
Land and forest around Kawasi are occupied by the mining company. Photograph: Adlun Fiqri Pramadhani/The Guardian
Holding mining companies and the supply chain to account for pollution is difficult, says Matthew Baird, an environmental lawyer based in south-east Asia, especially when there could be multiple sources for the contamination.

“These big mining operations are very much in areas that are very inaccessible and where they are operating as a de facto local government ‘company town’,” he says. “Mining companies may blame other problems and that all may be correct, but because they are there, there is a likelihood they are contributing to the problem.”

Near the village of Kawasi, water samples collected by the Guardian from a fountain less than 200 metres from the mining site and tested at government-certified laboratories suggest high levels of contamination from carcinogenic Cr6: 60 parts per billion (ppb). The maximum contaminant level allowed by law in Indonesia is 50 ppb.

Cr6 can cause liver damage, reproductive problems and developmental harm when ingested or inhaled. Long-term exposure through drinking water has also been linked to stomach cancer. Evidence has shown that Cr6 in drinking water can be a result of industrial processes.

A fountain for household water.
A fountain for household water. Photograph: Adlun Fiqri Pramadhani/The Guardian
The fountain the Guardian’s samples were taken from comes out of rocks above Kawasi; villagers claim it is their only source of water for drinking, bathing and washing fruit and vegetables.

“The impacts of this [type of] mining are persistent, long term and in some ways subtle. It’s not like a large catastrophic failure. These are Erin Brockovich long-term, persistent and subtle impacts that the regulatory system is not necessarily equipped to deal with,” says Baird.

In response to questions from the Guardian, Halmahera Persada Lygend said ARI was common in developing countries, especially in tropical regions. It said the solution included adequate nutrition for children from the time they are in the womb, proper hygiene within homes and improved awareness through education.

Canals made by the company drain away water and mud from mining activities. This canal runs through a residential area and into the sea.
Canals made by the company drain away water and mud from mining activities. This canal runs through a residential area and into the sea. Photograph: Adlun Fiqri Pramadhani/The Guardian
In response to the allegations of unsafe levels of Cr6, the company said tests it had conducted on Kawasi’s spring water from 2013 to 2021 showed that it met the water quality standards set by the government, with results of Cr6 content in the range of 5 to 40 ppb. It said its tests had showed there was no Cr6 discharge from its system or impact on the water quality of the Kawasi springs.

An employee secures battery pack cable on a Volkswagen e-Golf electric automobile at the Volkswagen AG factory in Dresden, Germany.
Battery power: five innovations for cleaner, greener electric vehicles
Read more
Brown says mines in Indonesia are only required to check for chromium (Cr6 and Cr6+) once a month and are probably not yet fully aware of the risks.

Halmahera Persada Lygend said that the positive and negative impacts of its projects had been assessed in an environmental impact analysis, which has been reviewed and approved by the government. It also said provincial and district environmental offices regularly conducted site inspections to review company operations and take samples for analysis if needed.



Mercedes-Benz said it took the allegations seriously and was immediately contacting its direct supplier to clarify the issues raised, even though it does not buy nickel directly. VW was contacted for comment.

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2022/feb/19/we-are-afraid-erin-brockovich-pollutant-linked-to-global-electric-car-boom

BeardedmeatR:
. Dsalvo wants to buy this video off the internet, name your price.

I don't understand you boy?

So kidnappers don reach Kebbi state too?

I do think Kebbi state is the safest state in the North West, and one of the safest in Nigeria.

9182736455O1999:
Our miracle Govo

He needs to do more with the amount of money Bayelsa dey receive from the FG.

Do you think the APC will dethrone him in the next Governorship election in Bayelsa?

omenkaLives:
Little progress, but progress nonetheless.

I just hope the growth is sustained to an extent the average Joe on the streets feels the impact


God bless my dear country, Nigeria.

Nah the most important thing be that in bold

The street is not smiling

May God bless Nigeria

Good one from the Akwa ibom state Government

BoBiafra:


HOW TINUBU STUMBLED AND ALMOST LANDED ON THE FLOOR AT ANNUAL AREWA HOUSE LECTURE VENUE, WATCH VIDEO
How una dey push dis man; to his early grave nah.
If na your relatives ,someone you love ;una for don tell am to relax nah ;una wicked ooo.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLykfgjiGJQ

I thought you had sense.

Bye

Thursday, February 10, 2022 was a day of joy for the people of the Igbedi community in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

And to demonstrate their feeling in this regard they had put on their dancing shoes and trooped to the venue of the inauguration of the newly constructed 4.5km Igbedi community road.



Before this time, Igbedi shared with Angiama, a riverine community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, the misfortune of being inaccessible by road. Before help came their way, residents of the ancient community relied mainly on the only available earth road that even the ubiquitous motorbikes found very difficult to ply, especially during the rainy season.

ADVERTISING

So, to celebrate their liberation from this long-term suffering, they came out on D-Day in their numbers, all beautifully attired: women, men, youths, children. And waxing lyrical, they sang and danced with joyful abandon while chanting praises for the man they called their Miracle and Prosperity Governor, Senator Douye Diri and waving placards in his support and honour. For them, he is the modern day Moses who God had sent to deliver them from their predicament and suffering of many years.



Indeed, when on February 14, 2021, Governor Diri flagged off construction of the Igbedi road, many of them thought that the day of its completion and commissioning would never come. But to their great delight, the day finally came. So, as Governor Diri and his special guest, Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State who did the honour of cutting the tape, took turns to speak on the significance of the moment there were resounding cheers from an elated and grateful gathering made up of different women and youth groups.

Among the most conspicuous of these were the Miracle Boys and Miracle Girls, obviously so-named in honour of Governor Diri. According to Sylvia Atikpa, a member of the Miracle Girls: “We are here today to express appreciation to our Miracle Governor for this road that has been commissioned today. We the people of Kolokuma/Opokuma and all Bayelsans are happy today because for years there was no road to this community. It has been like that even before I was born. Before this road was constructed we could only travel by boat. There was no other way to come to Yenagoa. But now thanks to our miracle governor our travelling problem is now over”.




Igbedi road
Douye Josephine Yalah, spokesperson of a women group that sang and danced all through the event had this to say: “It is a thing of joy to witness the commissioning of this road. This is a special day for us. Before the governor constructed this road we could only come here after crossing the water by boat which is very expensive as it may cost you at least N2000. But now it’s safer, cheaper and faster. Before the road we usually would spend two to three hours travelling from Igbedi to Yenagoa. Now, it takes 20 minutes to make the same journey and it may cost you less than N500. So, people can now come and go without stress.”

For those who don’t know, the commissioning of the Igbedi community road was one of several activities marking the second year anniversary of the Diri administration. Other projects completed by the administration and inaugurated were the Bayelsa Mega Media Complex housing the state radio and television stations as well as the newspaper corporation; the Bayelsa Health Insurance Scheme complex; lecture halls and laboratories at the Bayelsa Medical University; the Igbogene-Okarki road; transport terminal building, the New Yenagoa City link bridge and access roads; Elebele Bridge and the Nembe Unity Bridge which collapsed during the crisis between the Ogulamanbiri and Basambiri communities.



Other activities included groundbreaking ceremonies of the Smart Learning Centre housing the Diri Industrial Skill and Entrepreneurial Training Centre and that of the new commissioners’ quarters as well as flag-off of the dry season farming in the state and a made-in-Bayelsa agric expo.

Prominent personalities who graced the anniversary celebrations and projects inauguration included former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the Peoples Democratic, PDP, chairman Iyorchia Ayu; Governor Makinde and his PDP counterparts: Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Chief Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta); Senator Bala Mohammed (Bauchi) and chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) as well as Diri’s immediate predecessor, Senator Seriake Dickson.



Two years ago, precisely on February 14, 2020, Senator Douye Diri was sworn in as the Bayelsa State governor. Remarkably the signifance of this day, much like his miraculous emergence as governor, was not lost on the people of the state as they soon began to see him as their Valentine governor who has come to usher joy and love in the state. And two years after, the people and government of Bayelsa State have cause to roll out the drums to celebrate the significant accomplishments of an administration ably steered by Diri whom they proudly describe as a Miracle and Prosperity Governor.

Activities for the two-week anniversary celebration began on February 7, climaxing on February 19 when Vice President Yemi Osinbajo performed the historic flag-off of the bridge constructed to link Oporoma headquarters of the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area from Angiama Community on the Yenagoa-Oporoma road. Indeed, a visit to Yenagoa, the state capital, tells the story. The story line is that of a governor who had for the past two years been quietly but steadfastly working to change the development narrative of the 25-year-old Bayelsa State.

And after taking stock of the various sectors such as infrastructure to education, health, sports, youth and women empowerment, human capacity development, urban renewal, promotion of peace, reconciliation and unity as well as worker-friendly policies, the verdict in many quarters is that the governor has so far largely succeeded in etching his name in bold letters of a miracle achiever. Indeed at the various events during the celebrations, the governor received loud votes of confidence for his performance so far. This was particularly the case during the thanksgiving service at the Bayelsa State Ecumenical Centre on Monday February 14, where Dr. Jonathan, Ayu, Diri’s fellow PDP governors and other prominent personalities present took turns to shower praises on him for a job well done in governing the state.

But given the many challenges that dogged his state during the period, how was he able to achieve all that were credited to him? Speaking during an interview he had modestly submitted thus: “In spite of the odds that we faced occasioned by the COVID-19 and down turn of the economy, the little that we have achieved have been a source of joy to the people. I think to a large extent God has been faithful to us because we have done something reasonable and I think we should be proud of what we have been able to achieve so far.”

But to do this, he had to first unite his people. “When I came in, my immediate challenge was to first unite the people by preaching peace, by offering the olive branch because… there was too much of bitterness in the political system of the state; there was too much of hatred. My immediate concern was peace. I don’t know who was APC and who was PDP. I was prepared to work with all manner of people and political parties provided it’s for the security and stability of our state. I was also determined to continue with the projects I met on ground. So some of the projects we have done were initiated by the previous government. We have completed some of them, not all of them, and also adding some new ones,” he informed.

But for many who visited the state during the celebrations, it was indeed surprising that within two years the Diri administration had 20 projects to showcase by way of commissioning apart from those for flag-off. Among the ones visited by Vanguard are the Isaac Boro Road (second phase), the 89km Sagbama-Ekeremor Road, the 38km Yenagoa-Oporoma Road and the 22km Elebele-Igbogene Ring Road, which first phase from Igbogene-Okarki is ready has since been inaugurated.

According to his Chief Press Secretary, Dan Alabrah: “The governor inherited uncompleted key projects from past administrations. In his wisdom, he reasoned that state resources had been spent on such projects and that it was proper not to abandon them to immediately begin new projects. For instance, phase two of the Glory Drive Road from Igbogene to Onopa, where the Government House is located, was started during the Timipre Sylva administration.

Very little was done on the road before he left office in 2012 after five years.

“When former Governor Seriake Dickson took over in 2012, the administration could not continue the project due to litigation issues arising from disagreements with the contractor. So, for another eight years, the project was stalled.

But upon entering the saddle, Governor Diri not only succeeded in clearing the litigation bottleneck he also ensured work resumed. Now it is one of his administration’s big-ticket projects to be inaugurated before his first term ends.”

There were also other big-ticket projects from the immediate past administration which the Diri government is continuing.

Another standout project that the Diri administration inherited and has also put in huge funds as part of its continuity policy is the Bayelsa International Airport. The facility was constructed and inaugurated by the Dickson administration before it left office in February 2020. However, it was under the new administration that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, certified the airport and granted the operational licence in April 2021. Courtesy of the Diri administration, flight operations commenced with an inaugural flight of the United Nigeria Airline touching down at the airport on August 11 last year. On February 8, 2022, Ibom Air became the second airline to commence commercial operations with its inaugural flight landing at the airport.

To enable night-time flights at the airport, the Diri administration has procured Instrument Landing System, ILS, and other required equipment. It had earlier undertaken the construction of the airport’s perimeter fencing, a condition that the NCAA insisted upon even though there were other considerations for delaying the operational licence.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/02/two-years-after-its-dancing-time-in-diris-bayelsa/

Iseoluwani:


69 is his football age alaye

Where's your evidence?

Iseoluwani:
I like the man jagaban. But he is too old to be a presidio.

Youths arise now.

He is only 69 years old. Too old is someone in his or her 80's.

Flexherbal:
Yeah, the election will indeed come and go but the country will remain.

Anybody that knows, have known the truth and will have peace of mind.

For those who knows this and know the truth, but don't want to accept the truth will never have peace of mind.

Rithner:


Dem go hear? Dem want aluta to continue...


Tinubu might end up disgraced beyond redemption. People would have voted him massively, but the man he forced down on Nigerians has spoilt things for him.


Nigerians no longer want a London based sick, old, and senile Presido.

All this talk no dey tire una?

Luhansk and Donetsk regions recognised as as independent states by Russia – as it happened
Russian president has recognised Luhansk and Donetsk regions as independent states: Zelenskiy says ‘we are not afraid’.


Zelenskiy urges peace and refuses to cede ground in TV address

Western governments dismayed by Putin’s sending of forces into Ukraine

Putin orders troops into Donetsk and Luhansk on ‘peacekeeping duties’

What would Russian recognition of breakaway Ukraine regions mean?
Putin signs decree recognising Ukraine's two breakaway regions – video
Samantha Lock (now); Jennifer Rankin , Lauren Aratani and Elias Visontay (earlier)
@EliasVisontay
Tue 22 Feb 2022 00.19 EST
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email
Key events
00.19 EST
This blog is closing now but you can continue to follow our live coverage on our new liveblog here. Thanks for reading

Updated at 00.19 EST
00.02 EST
Lithuanian prime minister Ingrida Šimonytė has said Russian president Vladimir Putin’s move to recognise two separatist pro-Moscow regions in Ukraine puts “Kafka & Orwell to shame”.

Putin just put Kafka & Orwell to shame: no limits to dictator’s imagination, no lows too low, no lies too blatant, no red lines too red to cross.

What we witnessed tonight might seem surreal for democratic world. But the way we respond will define us for the generations to come.”

Lithuanian foreign minister Gabrielius Landsbergis also tweeted that Russia’s recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk “proves a total contempt for international law & UN charters.”

Lithuanian prime minister, Ingrida Šimonytė.
Lithuanian prime minister, Ingrida Šimonytė. Photograph: Mark Thomas/REX/Shutterstock
He added that Russia “must be recognised for what it is: a state outside international rules & civilised norms,” and he called for other nations to respond with sanctions.

Putin just put Kafka & Orwell to shame: no limits to dictator's imagination, no lows too low, no lies too blatant, no red lines too red to cross.

What we witnessed tonight might seem surreal for democratic world. But the way we respond will define us for the generations to come.

— Ingrida Šimonytė (@IngridaSimonyte) February 21, 2022
Updated at 00.09 EST
23.36 EST
US and allies to announce new sanctions against Russia on Tuesday
The United States is coordinating with allies and will announce new sanctions against Russia on Tuesday, according to a Reuters report citing US officials late on Monday.

The initial sanctions are reportedly in response to Moscow recognising the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine as independent and sending “peacekeeping” forces there.

However it’s unclear how significant the sanctions will be. The US earlier said it would not be imposing a broader sanctions package on Russia as its actions on Monday had not constituted a further invasions.

US ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, speaking after the security council meeting on Monday. Photograph: AP
US ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, speaking after a UN security council meeting on Monday evening, said:

Tomorrow, the United States will impose sanctions on Russia for this clear violation of international law and Ukraine sovereignty and territorial integrity.

We can, will, and must stand united in our calls for Russia to withdraw its forces, return to the diplomatic table and work toward peace.”

Earlier on Monday, Joe Biden signed an executive order to prohibit trade and investment between US individuals and the two breakaway regions that Russia had recognised as independent.

Updated at 23.36 EST
23.15 EST
Earlier we reported Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy gave a televised address in the early hours of the morning, saying Ukraine is “not afraid of anyone or anything” after Russian president Vladimir Putin recognised separatist regions of eastern Ukraine as independent and then ordered in forces.

“Ukraine most certainly considers these last Russian actions as the violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country,” he said. “All responsibility for all the consequences connected with the decision mentioned above lies on the Russian political leadership”.

Watch the highlights from his address in the video below.

Zelenskiy tells Ukrainians 'we are not afraid of anyone' – video
Updated at 23.15 EST
23.14 EST
United Nations security council summary
After a tense 90 minutes, the United Nations security council meeting has come to an end.

It was an extraordinary war of words as representatives from the United States, the UK, France, Germany, India, Ireland, the UAE, Kenya and Ghana all emphatically urged peace and diplomacy in a bid to avert war in Ukraine.

Addressing the session, US ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield cast doubt on Putin’s assertion that the Russian troops would take on a “peacekeeping” role in the Donetsk and Lugansk areas.

He calls them peacekeepers. This is nonsense. We know what they really are.

Referring to Putin’s recent allegations, the ambassador said his words amounted to a “series of outrageous, false claims” that were aimed at “creating a pretext for war.”

Putin wants to travel back to a time when empires ruled the world. This is not 1919,” she added.

The UK’s permanent representative to the UN, Dame Barbara Woodward, highlighted the humanitarian impact of a possible invasion.

The actions Russia has chosen today will have severe and far-reaching consequences. First, to human life. An invasion of Ukraine unleashes the forces of war, death and destruction on the people of Ukraine,” she said.

In seeking to redraw borders by force, Russia’s actions show blatant contempt for international law.”

After about an hour we finally heard from Russia ,with Vasily Nebenzya calling the prior statements a “direct verbal assault” and saying they would go “unanswered”.

Nebenzya also attacked the west for “nudging” Ukraine towards conflict and accused other nations of overlooking the plight of those in the Donbas.

Most of you did not find any place for the nearly four million residents of Donbas ... Our western colleagues have been unashamedly cramming weapons into Ukraine.”

Russia then alleged Ukraine was on the brink of “military adventure”.

Allowing a new bloodbath in the Donbas is something we do not intend to do.”

Finally, Ukraine’s ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya took the stand, insisting that his country’s borders remain “unchangeable” despite Russia’s actions.

We are on our own land. We are not afraid of anything or anyone, we owe nothing to anyone and we will not give away anything to anyone. There should be no doubt whatsoever.

The international borders of Ukraine are and will remain unchangeable.

We demand from Russia to cancel the decision on recognition and return to the table of negotiations.

We condemn the order to deploy additional Russian occupation troops to the territories in Ukraine.

We demand immediate and complete verifiable withdrawal of the occupation troops.

The United Nations is sick. That’s a matter of fact. It has been hit by the virus spread by the Kremlin. Will it succumb to this virus?”

Updated at 23.14 EST
23.00 EST
Nicaraguan president Daniel Ortega has controversially defended Russia’s stance over Ukraine, saying president Putin was right to recognise two regions controlled by Moscow-backed separatists as independent, Reuters reports.

Ortego, a long-time opponent of US influence in Central America, defended Putin’s move to recognise the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk during a speech in Managua.

“I am sure that if they do a referendum like the one carried out in Crimea, people will vote to annex the territories to Russia.”

Ortega also said Ukraine’s attempt to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) represented a threat to Russia.

If Ukraine gets into Nato they will be saying to Russia let’s go to war, and that explains why Russia is acting like this. Russia is simply defending itself.”

Updated at 23.00 EST
22.38 EST
The selloff on Asian stock markets has deepened – and the rush to safe havens has accelearted – in the past hour so as investors become more and more jittery about the Ukraine crisis.

The Nikkei is now off 2.3%, the ASX in Sydney has slumped 1.6%, and the Kospi in Seoul has retreated 1.75%. Bitcoin is down 6% at $36,633.

The Nikkei 225 stock average has lost more than 2%. Photograph: Jiji Press/EPA
Markets are also down heavily in China but the situation there has been complicated after tech stocks were hammered in the wake of news that state-owned firms and banks have been to told to start a fresh round of checks on their financial exposure and other links to Ant Group, which is owned by Jack Ma’s Alibaba.

The Hang Seng has been worst hit, down 3.2%, while Shanghai is off 1.25%.

Hong Kong markets needs that lunch break ASAP. Hang Seng Index off over 700 pts (-3%). Erbody down except oil names. Tech stocks through the floor. pic.twitter.com/J6IzHWzNTj

— David Ingles (@DavidInglesTV) February 22, 2022
In contrast, Brent crude oil rose 2% to $97.21, touching a new seven-year high on worries Russia’s energy exports could get disrupted, and spot gold hit a new six-month top of $1,911.56.

Updated at 22.38 EST
22.29 EST
Ukraine has responded.

“It is with unease that I will now remove my mask”, Sergiy Kyslytsya says in his address, not because of Covid but because of “the virus that has hit the UN - the virus that is spread by the Kremlin.”

Kyslytsya adds:

We are on our own land. We are not afraid of anything or anyone, we owe nothing to anyone and we will not give away anything to anyone. There should be no doubt whatsoever.

The international borders of Ukraine are and will remain unchangeable.

We demand from Russia to cancel the decision on recognition and return to the table of negotiations.

We condemn the order to deploy additional Russian occupation troops to the territories in Ukraine.

We demand immediate and complete verifiable withdrawal of the occupation troops.

The United Nations is sick. That’s a matter of fact. It has been hit by the virus spread by the Kremlin. Will it succumb to this virus?”

Kyslytsya: "We demand immediate and complete very verifiable withdrawal of the occupation troops...The United Nations is sick. That's a matter of fact. It has been hit by the virus spread by the Kremlin. Will it succumb to this virus?"

— Julian Borger (@julianborger) February 22, 2022
Updated at 22.44 EST
22.19 EST
Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations has responded to the string of emphatic pleas from world leaders and delegates at the security council meeting to de-escalate conflict in Ukraine.

“I’ll leave the direct verbal assault on us unanswered,” Vasily Nebenzya told the meeting in New York.

Russian ambassador to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, at the security council meeting. Photograph: Carlo Allegri/Reuters
Nebenzya pointedly blamed Ukraine for sabotaging the Minsk agreements by not speaking to the Moscow-backed separatists in the east.

Ukraine has been in conflict with pro-Russian breakaway rebels in eastern Ukraine since 2014. The Minsk accords were thrashed out in 2015 to end hostilities.

Nebenzya also attacked the west for “nudging” Ukraine towards conflict and accused other nations of overlooking the plight of those in the Donbas.

Most of you did not find any place for the nearly four million residents of Donbas ... Our western colleagues have been unashamedly cramming weapons into Ukraine.”

Russia alleged Ukraine was on the brink of “military adventure”.

Allowing a new bloodbath in the Donbas is something we do not intend to do.”

Updated at 22.43 EST
22.10 EST
China has given a very short address to the security council meeting.

“All parties concerned must exercise restraint and avoid any action that may fuel tensions” and “seek reasonable solutions to each other’s concerns,” Zhang Yun said.

He added that Beijing welcomed and encouraged “every effort for a diplomatic solution”.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/live/2022/feb/21/russia-ukraine-news-latest-crisis-putin-biden-summit-kyiv-kiev-russian-invasion-threat-live-updates

lonecatt:
Another Proposed Confusion.APC

They don't want buni to lead them to the 2023 elections yet they will not cool down and allow him conduct the convention. You guys should just bury the party already

The guy has been there for over a year

Hmm

juman:
But next president MUST be a Christian man.
Tinubu is campaigning on behalf of apc candidate.

Why will a grown adult keep on lying to himself?

Person don make an clear say he wants to be the president, but some of you guys still choose to lie to yourself he will step down for someone else

Nah wah o

Karlovych:
Only people will think that countries like Australia, United States and others with Caucasian majority aren't racist.

There is no Caucasian country one won't find racist, them just better pass themselves.

Is so crazy in Eastern Europe.

Karlovych:
I'm aware of what your screenshot says, surprisingly United States was left out in the second one.

Like I said you're in for a huge surprise if you think that Scandinavian countries aren't racist or some other ones on that list.

Just do your best to develop thick skin and don't let it get to you if you experience it.

I'm talking to the guy base on the experience of two of my guys that lived there, but he will rather believe that report

Ishitinyourlife:

The first one was with my landlord,that complained about the smell of African food that I make,the werey said they're not used to that kind of smell and I should Dial it down,I basically told him to suck my d!CK , I've had a couple of rendezvous with white police officers as well that try to racially profile me but I always clear them and most of them apologize because of the fear of getting cancelled,one was it a white friend of mine who called me a niggar jokingly,I knew he didn't mean it in an offensive way but I still head-butted him and burst his lips,he apologized though

Hmm

Danisaint112:



I will give to you what I just gave to someone who also mentioned me plus pictures to prove my point. Oya read.

There are racist in every country and racism occur in every country.
Even if you ask Google if the Finish are racist it would tell you Yes (article related) because of few people that has experience a little bit if Racism there.

But here is the thing, there are some countries that there are least racist.

And European countries won that list. Even your darling Nigeria is more Racist than 97% of European countries.

As a matter of fact Europe is the least Racial continent on Earth quote me anywhere. Asia and Africa are the most racist continent on planet Earth.

Talking about English speaking countries U.S.A IS A Racist country.

England in Europe is out of the contest of least racist. As a matter of fact they are the chief architect of Racism and even your darling Nigeria is a Racist country, 10 times more Racist than Finland if you don't know it, know it today.

Majority of Nigerins dislike Chinese and are fond of trolling people of Asia descent. Before I mentioned Finland here, trust me I have done extensive research about this country.

Please do your due diligence before you approach me. I'm not just speaking from research carried out.

I have family members scattered around Europe and Asia and people from Asia has complained more about Asia racism (especially China, India and some Arabian countries) than Europe.

View the pictures below. Can you see your darling Nigeria there (In number 15 of the worst) .

I'm talking to you base on the feedback I do get from two of my friends who once lived in Finland

Is all good sha, have a good day.

Danisaint112:


Chairman clam down! There are racist in every country and racism occur in every country but there are some countries that there are least racism.

And European countries won that list. Even your darling Nigeria is more Racist than 97% of European countries. If you want prove I will give it to you.

As a matter of fact Europe is the least Racial continent on Earth.

Lol


Is more better migrating to Canada, USA, Australia and New Zealand sef

Those European countries are crazy o bro, them go dey clear you say make you go back to your country, say dem no want you. That finland hmmm

Finland, Russia, Norway etc where are you even getting all this your facts from sef? Say a country is the Most peaceful country no mean say their are no racist.

Botswana, Singapore, Austria, Canada etc are one of the most peaceful countries too.

Make we just forget sha

OBALOLA55:


ABEG WETIN LAMIDI AMOUDA SANGODELE AKA BOLA AHMED TINUBU WIN



JUST ASKING FOR MY VERY GOOD FRIEND SEUNMSG

Stop behaving like a kid online.

Wantedmiller:
President Buhari....cannot disband Buni and committee.

Why?