The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

  • Will East-West Road be ready next year?

    Will East-West Road be ready next year?

    The Federal Government believes the East-West Road will be ready next year. The joint National Assembly Committee on Niger Delta, led by Senator James Manager and Hon. Warman Gorima, had cause to doubt this after a tour of the project.

    Niger Delta Affairs Minister Godsday Orubebe was also on the tour of the project which spans Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom states.

    The tour began from the dualisation of the Warri section, a 102km stretch road, where work is said to be in the region of 73 per cent.

    The next stop was the Patani bridge, crossing river Facados. It is the longest of the bridges on the road. This bridge is said to have reached 69 per cent completion stage and would be ready by December next year. Work at the Okoso bridge was also inspected and here members of the committee raised alarm over the pace of work. Though the contractor allayed their fears, adding that the set back observed was as a result of security challenges and the recent flooding.

    Senator Manager asked the contractor how the National Assembly could assist to ensure that they meet the deadline without compromising standard. Besides, he wanted the supervising ministry and contractor on site to be factual on the completion period.

    But, Orubebe assured members of National Assembly that if there was any difficulty along the line, he would not hesitate to let Nigerians know.

    At the end of the tour, which lasted a whole day, both parties agreed to the fact that the project might be hampered by lack of fund. Also, there was an indication that there might be variation in the cost of the Niger Delta road projects as a result of the impact of last year’s flood.

    Orubebe said the variation would be included in the next budgeting year.

    The project, which has consumed billions of naira, still needs over N100 billion.

    Though it is assured of a N50 billion African Development Bank loan and another N40 billion from the 2014 budgetary allocation, about N48 billion is still needed to be sourced to complete the work.

    Speaking shortly after completion of the tour, Manager said: “Talking about the East-West Road, you know you have the topographic challenge, you also have these seasonal challenges that are there because you know construction of road projects in the Niger Delta takes about three or four months out of the twelve calendar months for you to do an effective job. So, that huge challenge is there and you have the challenge of funding of the project. Even if you have all the finding for the project, which is not there right now, it is impossible. You also saw that water has taken over some major parts of the road, particularly from the end of Delta to the beginning of Port Harcourt. So, construction work cannot take place right now and from what we are seeing, realistically speaking to deliver that road on December 2014, I want to feel that it is not very realistic with what is on ground. So, for them to do an effective job, I think we talk about 2015, the end of 2015. I am not a civil engineer anyway, but from what I saw on ground, 2015 December is far realistic than December 2014, which is about one year from now. So, we just have to be realistic that is what is on ground and it is not just the fault of anybody. The road itself is a massive one. The stretch is from Delta to Akwa Ibom, it is not a small one. I think the contractors are also doing their job.”

    Gorima said: “What we have experienced is the oversight function basically on the East-West Road… We also did oversight function on section 1,II, III and IV of the East West Road. Section I is from Delta to part of Bayelsa.

    “The contractors are on sight and they are doing very well. The only problem we observed as a committee is the issue of funding, and I think at this stage, we will appeal to the Federal Government to look for alternative source of funding. We have come to the conclusion that the budgetary allocation for the East-West Road is not enough if we must finish that road. We subscribe to the fact that the East-West Road is very important to the people of the Niger Delta and indeed Nigerians as a whole because all Nigerians pass that road.

    “The minister has promised that they are going to hand over the road in 2014, but we still have our doubt as a committee. Because he said that with the fact that all things being equal, in terms of funding and weather conditions and so many other factors, but as a committee we still have our doubt.

    “Now that we have seen the whole stretch of the road, we will go back as a committee to look at the issues and we will also invite the contractors and minister to discuss.

    “The minister is sure that by next year they will receive N50 billion from ADB and if we receive N50 billion from ADB, the SURE-P funding in 2014 and the budgetary allocation for 2014, we will still have a shortfall of N50-60 billion in 2014 and that means we will still have a carry over to 2015.

    “If you look at the structure of the road, specifically Section II, which is between Bayelsa and River states, you find out that nothing has been done there and nothing will be done there this season and when it is filled with sand, you need the rain to fall and solidify the sand before you can now put the asphalts and this is the issue.”

    But the Orubebe would not agree with the two members of the National Assembly. He said: “What is required to complete the road is about N141 billion. That is what is expected of us to inject to complete East-West Road. It is a road of over N339 billion. We are looking at N141 billion. Once we have that one we will be able to complete the road very well.

    “Now, because of funding constraints in government resources, we have also look outward for external funding. We are expecting N50billion from ADB. I can tell you that we have gone very far and any time from now, that loan will be ready and when we inject that one into the financial plan, we will be working towards delivering that road.

    “This is a government that believes in what it says and if there are challenges along the line, this government will not hesitate to tell Nigerians that because of this challenge or the other, we have this kind of constraint. For us, you know the last time I told Nigerians, particularly the people of Niger Delta, explaining the situation of things and how this project was awarded, and I said first we were looking at 2013 when we took over this project in 2009. And somewhere along the line, we realised that because of funding, the challenges of the terrain, it was shifted to 2013 and I said lots of things have been put in place and I said it would be completed in 2014.

    “When we toured the road, we all saw what was happening. This is a peculiar area. A lot of the areas are already flooded now and that makes it difficult for work to go on; we also have security challenges. You will see that every expatriate is being protected by six soldiers. That was not an expenditure that was expected to eat into the budget of the project. So many things have happened. The desire of the ministry is to deliver this road by December 2014 and we are working towards that.

    “Financial arrangements are being put in pace. And as we go along, because we want to be transparent and upright with the people of this country, if there are issues, we should be able to tell them that we now have this issue, but we are working towards 2014 December.”

     

  • ‘Why I want to govern Cross River’

    ‘Why I want to govern Cross River’

    Motivation to govern

    Governance is a continuous process. From time immemorial, people have come contributed their lot and moved on. As we march forward, desires of everyone is that we would be better off. Everybody wants progression and change. So whether you find yourself aspiring or not, whether as individuals or professionals in your offices, you want some progress in this state. If there is prosperity there would be few people knocking on your door for one help or the other. Those who know me would tell you I am a very humble person. I am from Obanliku, a small local government. I come from here as I said and naturally if God has blessed me, and I feel able to offer myself to serve. I feel it is a thing I need to share comfortably with the people I meet. Cross River is our state and it must continue to strive. The efforts of the last two administrations have essentially put the state on a very high pedestal but much more needs to be done. It is work in progress, but we need to put in our efforts to ensure much more better is done. I have practised for over 20 years. I am married with children.

    I hope to stand down by next year, so I can have an early retirement and have enough time to properly articulate myself and seek the office I hope to get. As a matter of fact, I want an exotic debate on the issues. I want a research or exposition even into the candidates. Nothing should be left out. I want us to know the individuals, everything about them, if we gain nothing out of this, at least let us help to get a better person to run our state.

    The particular advantage of Cross River State is not many but they are very important. But people take it for granted. First our advantage is our land and our people too. We have educated people and people are tempted to think it is a civil service state. I think it is an area of advantage. The middle class is blossoming people with a lot of skill and capacities that need to be properly placed to take full advantage of this people. I grew up in even worse or similar circumstances like some of us. I have positioned myself constantly to seek greater heights and I have excelled with singleness of purpose and determination to succeed. These are the things that drive me always.

    Impression of governance

    Governance is more like being in the kitchen. Those who are working with government now would understand that sometimes tough decision that come out from nowhere and you have to make them or destroy the whole administration. So I looked at myself and I am satisfied that I can stay in that kitchen and cook the food well and come out still smelling like a rose. So by that extension I commend those who have stepped out to come and offer. Governance is not easy, let us get that straight. We are a bundle of complicated people with various aspirations. As governor you have to be able to give leadership without shutting down very excellent voices on the table. It is a very difficult complicated task so governance is not easy.

    Whether we like it or not, the last two administrations have raised the ante and have created a large pool of capacity and now Cross River is no longer that small state. It is now a state with personalities therefore the country and the world would be looking to the next dimension. I tell people that it was easy for Donald and Liyel to come and run the state because they had name recognition, the rest of us coming now with little name recognition, therefore for the first task is to get people to recognize you enough for them to want you to lead. By the time we get to 2015, we would have developed people with much more capacities coming to rule. Donald inherited people who knew very little, Liyel inherited people who knew much better and the next person is going to inherit people who know so much and the challenge of steering the ship would be really challenging.

    When my wife and I started having kids we interviewed up to 20 people to get a house help. We had to interview them. The screening process for a house help was so huge. What is the screening process for our leaders? None. A house girl takes care of one child at a time; a leader takes care of over 2million people in the case of Cross River State. Yet with all the resources and power at his disposal, we take a less than passing interest.

    If you have a government you don’t own there is usually a problem. A government you don’t own in terms of participation, it is difficult to reach that government. Governing is different from campaigning. Governing is our challenge, campaigning is not. Governing is day by day coalition building. If I put nice posters, nice speeches, nice clips, I can win an election. In Nigeria if you have a lot of money you can win an election, but guess what, giving delegates N1m would not give us the prosperity we are seeking for. When you finish buying the delegates and you win, then you have to govern.

    If you have a simple problem, apply a simple solution. Every Cross Riverian has an idea to governance. Yes, most of them may not be okay, even stupid, but most of them are excellent. And if you don’t have the allowance to be swarmed by people and hear them and pick sense then you are not prepared. If you are just a glee personality type who just wants to throw money in our faces and even laugh at our poverty then you are not the type. Recently somebody made a comment and said we are very poor and that is why we are peaceful, I hate comments like that. We are really not poor. Poverty is an index not used just because of cash. We are very happy. Everybody has his own capabilities and that is what the next governor should realize. I am not going to be the security man at my gate. My security man is the most important person for me here, but he does not own this big house. He just stays at the gate and rolls it open and close, but he is very important. We get so carried away by the serious things we forget about the small things.

    Dealing with challenges

    I am not the easy guy to sell myself. In the governorship you will find the high-sounding type, the good looking type, the rich type, the politically connected type. Indeed I have been told two things that I don’t have political capital and financial capital. And that these are the two ingredients for government and how do I want to do it. They tell me political capital means those that have been in government, they have been elected and appointed, so it is like acquiring points. If you have been elected once you have ten points, if you been elected for times you have 40 points. If you have been appointed once you have 10 points and so on. So someone asks you have you been elected or appointed before and you say no, and he tells you have no points.

    Another guy asks me, ‘do you have N20 billion?’ and I say ‘no’; he says ‘you don’t have economic point. So, I say how much points to N1billion and he says 10 points. Now I say to the guy I have social capital and he says ‘what is social capital?’ And he says ‘Tanko, you are joking, you are in dreamland. In Cross River, we don’t need that. I told him I respect him but disagree with him. I am not saying I am going to be better than others but I am going to be different because I want people to have access to governance. I want us to be all involved. The small man and the big man should be on the table.

    The office of governor is a religious thing, a calling almost beyond my imagination, but we are taught as children to aspire to be better and bigger and offer services. When God has blessed you, you look back and ask yourself, ‘what can I do?’ That is what I am trying to do. I want to offer something back. I know it is like moving into the kitchen instead of remaining on the dining. In due course, I will also unfold my manifesto.

     

     

  • Tricycle operators beg Rivers govt for conducive environment

    The Rivers State branch of the Keke Owners and Riders Association (KORAN) has urged the Rivers State government to create a conducive environment for its members to operate.

    KORAN said its members have contributed millions of naira to the state’s coffer since inception of the organisation.

    The group said their regular payment of tax into Rivers State coffer has been recognised by the merit award, which was recently given to them in Port Harcourt by the Joint Assembly of Rivers Youth for their excellence performance and contribution in the transport sector of the state.

    The Award, which was celebrated by members of KORAN, was described by its leadership as reward for hard work and proficiency in the service to humanity.

    Mr John Ademola, the state Chairman of Keke Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (KORAN), said the award is a honour deserved.

    “We are delighted as members of KORAN to receive the Award. We are happy that the award is coming at this time when our members are soliciting support from the state government to create enabling environment for our operation.”

    Ademola said Keke-NAPEP is a Youth empowerment scheme initiated by the Federal Government in 2006 and receiving an Award from Rivers youth means that their activities and contributions to the state have been fully recognised and appreciated.

    The KORAN Chairman urged the federal and state governments to initiate another youth employment scheme that could complement Keke-Napep, adding, “Keke-NAPEP is a Federal government small scheme transport initiative that was established in 2006. It is an experimental mode of poverty eradication that seeks to empower the poor and unemployed Nigerians to a point where he or she can be valuable in the society. And in order to earn daily bread, we have proven that this three-wheel is possible to pick a street urchin and empower them through micro credits to become a productive member of the society, this is why we need more schemes.”

    Ademola thanked KORAN members for sustaining the temple and advised them to be law abiding and to understand that the establishment of the Rivers Keke-NAPEP Association is not just a tool for earning daily bread but a formidable vehicle for wealth creation.

  • Good times for Bayelsa’s expectant mums

    Good times for Bayelsa’s expectant mums

    The Tombia community hall in Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State was congested on Monday. Pregnant women and teenagers trooped to the hall to catch a glimpse of the event and perhaps to assuage their doubts.

    “Is it true that henceforth the government will be paying us for going to health centres?” One of the women inquired from another. “That is what they are saying. But it is strange that our husbands will impregnate us, the government will treat us free and still give us money”, the woman who sat close to Niger Delta Report responded with doubts.

    But shortly after the brief conversation, the women paid attention as the organisers of the programme started calling first set of beneficiaries. Seridon Pere was among the beneficiaries.

    She received an envelope containing N4,500. She got the money for registering at the Tombia Health Centre, completing her ante natal and for giving birth at the health centre.

    “I am very happy”, she told Niger Delta Report. “This to me is unbelievable. I want to advise women who are pregnant to register in government-approved health centres for safe delivery and to benefit from this cash.

    “I registered at the health centre when l was pregnant. I followed it up with ante-natal and l was also delivered of my baby at the health centre. I and still taking my child through immunization there.”

    The event was the pilot programme of maternal and child health Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT). It is a new strategy adopted by the Federal Government to reduce maternal mortality in line with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

    By the scheme, a pregnant woman who registers in government-approved health centres, receives N1000. If the woman goes through her ante natal, she gets another N1000. If she is delivered of her baby in the health centre, she gets another N1000 while she gets N2000 for taking her child through immunisation.

    The scheme, which is aimed at using cash to lure pregnant women to approved healthcare centres for maternal care, was inaugurated under the Maternal and Child Health component of the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P).

    The Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, SURE-P, Dr. Ado Muhammad, said President Goodluck Jonathan has demonstrated his commitment in saving the lives of women and children through the programme.

    He said the scheme was part of the global Midwives Service Scheme (MSS) which he said was being implemented by National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

    He said it was additional mechanism by the Federal Government to fast-track Ngeria’s progress towards the achievements of goals four and five of the MDGs.

    He said the SURE-P MCH, had enlisted and deployed over 4000 midwives and 1000 community health extension workers to 1000 primary healthcare facilities linked to 250 general hospitals in the country.

    He said the maternal and child health component of the SURE-P aspires to contribute to the reduction of maternal and new born morbidity and mortality and increase maternal access to health services.

    Explaining further, he said: “The conditional cash transfer programme provides cash incentives to pregnant women in communities as a means of encouraging them to go through the full continuum of care”.

    He named the full continuum of care as antenatal care visit, post natal care, first immunisations and family planning visits.

    “Completing this continuum of care allows for safety during and after pregnancy for both mother and child. It is important to note that the SURE-P MCH programme is one of the main platforms by which we intend to save lives under the Saving One Million Lives Initiative”, he said.

    For the purpose of the programme, he said 43 midwives, 66 community health extension workers have been recruited, trained and deployed to 12 primary health care facilities in the state.

    Following the gap between the selected primary health care centres and the communities, he said SURE-P MCH decided to invest in female village health workers, a development he said was an innovative addition to healthcare workforce in Nigeria.

    He said: “They have been selected by the Ward Development Committees (WDCs) with the support of Bayelsa State government officials.

    “This additional cadre of village health workers who are residents of their communities are very critical because of the challenges of retention and getting healthcare workers to live and work amongst the rural communities doing outreach work.”

    The paramount ruler of the community, His Highness C.A.O. Otobotekere, said the community was delighted at the programme. He described it as the first step towards taking care of the human factor in line with the transformation agenda of the President.

    He, however, called for the sustainability of the programme observing that Tombia, Gbarantoru and Akibiri communities had done their best for mother and child.

    He said: “Already, the Tombia community out of its own steam has provided a functional health centre with increasing clients, provided adequate water system, installed electrical gadgets and dug the foundation of extension of the health centre by four rooms to meet demands.

    “We are determined to achieve all this for the society around, indigenes, strangers, visitors, government workers and all.”

    He, however, demanded assistance from the government to provide security personnel, midwives and salaries of workers at the health centre.

     

  • Ataba youths send SoS to Amaechi

    Youths from Ataba Community in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State have urged Governor Chibuike Amaechi and the Commissioner of Police (CP) Mbu Joseph Mbu to help solve a crisis in their land.

    They said if the governor and the CP do not intervene, the crisis would be more disastrous than that of August 2004 in which about 30 people died and property worth millions of naira were destroyed.

    In a letter to Amaechi and Mbu, the youths under the aegis of Ataba Youth Organisation (AYO) said the impending attack is going to erupt from attempts by some people in the community to cause division in the youth body.

    In the letter by Ntegun Lazarus Walter and Sokuru Georgewill Adolphus, President and Secretary General respectively, the youths explained that having observed that “all conflicts that ensued in Ataba in recent times resulted from opposition of factional youth bodies in the community” they decided to come together under one umbrella.

    “It is in line with this that the youths of Ataba resolved to register a youth organisation called Ataba Youth Organisation in March 2010” and followed it up by making a constitution to guide their activities and conduct.

    Walter and Adolphus said the youths conducted “a historic, peaceful and successful election, which was supervised by the Andoni Local Government Council officials.”

    They accused a police officer from their area and many others for allegedly being the masterminds of the crisis rocking the youth body.

    “People should tell them not to bring out this confusion because Rivers and Bayelsa states are brothers. They were one before Bayelsa was created out of Rivers in 1996.”

    Apostle Ogu, who is the President of Arm of Hope World Outreach, expressed concerns that while politics and perceived ambitions are

    allowed to take the centre stage in the controversy, common people of the state are bearing the brunt and suffering unnecessarily.

    He also flayed the role of the Rivers State Police Command in the crisis.

    He said the controversy is more than the alleged vice president ambition of the Rivers State governor, adding that “allowing the situation to degenerate to the level where the police becomes irresponsible is ‘unacceptable’.

    “Wherever the problem is, it is politics and intrigues.

    The players played it to get to where they are; it should be allowed. What cannot be allowed is a situation it degenerates to the police holding a state to ransom, where the courts are undermined, where lives and properties are under threat, where people, who could until now not open their mouth to speak because of criminal records, now come to the television parade themselves as whatever and people cannot speak! We now become cowards,” he lamented.

     

  • Rivers communities decry ‘killer’ waste dumpsites

    Rivers communities decry ‘killer’ waste dumpsites

    He said: “Look at this place; we are no longer doing business here, because no customer will spend his money in this stinking environment. Not only here, many people have packed out of this area. I hope you saw those shops at the front; they are all locked because those who were doing business there relocated. The situation has seriously affected the landlords who now beg house agent to get tenants, even the landlords are relocating to another environment.”

    Mr. Victor Wanor, a roadside Mechanic, whose workshop is behind the dumpsite said he and his apprentice fall sick regularly, due to the odour they inhale from the waste dump. He said he stayed on because he had no money to relocate.

    Mr. Wenneka Chidah, one of the landlords in the area, had just been discharged from the hospital when our reporter met him. He suffered from bleeding nose and anus.

    He said, “I inhaled the toxic from the waste during the fumigation of the dumpsite. When I got to home, blood was discharging out of my nose and anus. I think it is time for government to listen to our cry; it is getting out of hand.”

    A senior lecturer on Public/Environmental Health at the Rivers State School of Health and Technology, Mr. Nahikpo Nyiedah, confirmed that there are diseases associated with bad waste disposal.

    “Improper disposal of wastes, such as solid waste, human excreta and sewage, is one of the major risk factors that affect the health and comfort of individuals. Poor waste handling and disposal can lead to environmental pollution. It encourages the breeding of disease-vector insects, animal scavengers and rodents. It results in a range of diseases through different routes of exposure such as lymphocytic choriomeningitis, etc.

    Nyiedah said the prevailing situations at Oyigbo and Rumuolumini could lead to “Hepatitis E, which could result to infection and inflammation of the liver. The illness starts with an abrupt onset of fever, body weakness, appetite loss, nausea and abdominal discomfort, followed by jaundice within a few days.”

    Our reporter’s effort to get the views of staff of the RSESA on site at Rumuolumini was violent rebuffed. He was even prevented from taking photograph of the scene by menacing men who accused him of being a nosy journalist who wanted to spoil their means of livelihood.

    It was later learnt that they were ‘levy’ collectors from the waste contractors. An elderly source in the community said “each of the youths represent some strong men in the community who make a lot of money from the landfill. It is these strong men in the community who make it impossible for government to listen to the cry of the people over relocation of the dumpsite.”

    Our source said the waste contractors, called service providers, pay heavily to the men at the dumpsite before their trucks are allowed to dispose waste. He said as the louder the people complained of odour, the more the levy imposed on the contractors.

    If the people of Rumuolumini are cowed by the antics of the beneficiaries, the people of Oyigbo are not. Residents of the area have protested severally of the health implication of the stinking dumpsite located in their area. During a recent protest, they gave the government, which they accused of planning to poison them, two weeks ultimatum to relocate the dumpsite.

    It was gathered that from the beginning of the construction of Oyigbo landfill, the residents had resisted the choice of the site because of its proximity to living area. But they were reportedly deceived that the government was constructing a fish pond that would employ them.

    A resident, Chief Odinaka Umezie, accused the state government of insensitivity to the plights of the people. “This odour has sent many people to early grave. Every day people get ill, infected with all kinds of skin diseases because of the odour. We are calling on the government to relocate this dumpsite to where people are not living. We will continue to protest until the dumpsite is relocated.”

    Like in Rumuolumini, the malodorous stench from the Oyigbo site is affecting the business of the area. The Headmistress of AA International School Mrs. Nkem Onu whose school is directly opposite the site lamented the effect of the site on the school. She said many parents withdrew their children because of health concern.

    “We have severally written to the authority who promised to do something but till date they have refused to do anything. The odour is very offensive; the dump is made up of both animal and human waste. I am calling on the government to do something to save the lives of the people around the area.”

    Our findings at Eliozu and Igwuruta revealed that the RSESA got it right with there. Eliozu’s is located far from the major road and residential areas. But for a few abandoned buildings near the dumpsite, human presence is minimal.

    However, the sanity in the area may not be for long as it was gathered that congestion in Port Harcourt and other parts of the metropolis are forcing desperate residents to move into Eliozu and Igwuruta. A source said almost all surrounding lands have been sold to developers, raising concerns of building springing up around the dumps.

    Conversely, it was a mountain of waste that crept in on residents of Njemanze and other areas of Mile One, Diobu. The land bordering Njemanze and the water was opened up by the state government in 2009 as part of the waterfront demolition exercise to chase away criminal.

    Since that demolition, the area has been turned into a dump site, much to the consternation of residents and business owners in the area. Worst hit is the premises of Vintage Press Limited, publishers of The Nation newspapers. Staff of the company said they have been forced to contend with revolting odour and thick plumes of smoke resulting from incineration of waste on a daily basis.

    The company’s Assistant General Manager, Mr. Olatunde Olasoga was forced to call in fire-fighters on a wet August morning when fire from burning tyres and other waste materials threatened to engulf the company’s building and ultramodern press.

    Residents said they are perplexed by the variegated forms of waste poured into the huge gulf on a daily basis. “There was one time a dead child was found among the wastes dumped there,” a resident of Nsukka Street said.

    Mr. Godwill Otenga, the youth leader in the area said, “We have severally complained to the appropriate authority to save us from dying early but nobody is listening to us. Most of the waste dumped at Njemanze water-front is rotten waste and that is what we are inhaling. Sometime if you want to pass Njemanze Street, whether driving or walking, you have to close your nostril because it (smell) could be terrible.”

    Our checks revealed that the Njemanze site was not designated as dumpsite, but was converted by the government, which now uses waste to fill the wasteland there.

    Meanwhile, there are about 35 receptacles (waste receiving point) from Mile 1 to Igwuruta. Most of them are cited in front of residential buildings, markets and schools. They create problems for those living around, especially when they are not evacuated early. When it rains it washes into compounds and contaminates sources of water.

    The Sole Administrator of RSESA, Mr. Ade Adeogun, conceded to our reporter that the landfills and receptacles may have caused harms to residents. He assured that the government was willing to relocate some of those sites to other areas.

    Speaking through his media officer, Mr. Olalekan Ige, he said: “The government has increased the deodorising of the dumpsite to reduce the offensive odour. RSESA fumigates the place weekly to eradicate the presence of any form of dangerous reptiles. I am pleading for patience from the people as it takes some time to complete the construction of landfill.”

    Ige said the state government spends over N500 million monthly to remove about 60,000 metric tons of waste generated by four local government areas in the state. He said the sum includes waste collection, disposal, sorting and fumigation.

    Ige said the RSESA covers only five Local Government Areas, including Obio-Akpor, Port Harcourt City, Eleme, parts of Etche and Ikwerre Local Governments.

    He also revealed that 70 service providers are contracted go round the areas areas daily to collect refuse at the receptacle sites designated by the state government.

    “The challenges the authority faces come from some residents who dump waste indiscriminately and in unauthorized places. In January to May 2013, over 700 sanitation offenders have been arrested and charged to the state’s sanitation magistrate court.”

    Director of Operation RSESA, Mr. Job Emmanuel, said its health officers are working hard to ensure that Port Harcourt and its environs were kept clean. He also regretted the attitude of some residents.

    He said: “When drains are cleared the water flows. I regretted that some residents in Port Harcourt intentionally dump waste at the drains. Every day we are on the road doing sensitisation campaign including using the media to inform the people on the health implication of dumping waste indiscriminately but yet only few people understand what we are talking about.”

    Pastor Kingsley Egunatu, of Numac Project Company Limited commended the Adeogun-led RSESA for discipline brought into waste management in the area. “Adeogun has sanitized the whole place. He made it compulsory that evacuation at the receptacle must be daily and should be from 6pm to 12pm. And if service provider violates any of the rules he or she will not only see his contract with RSESA terminated but he will be arrested. In fact, since he came onboard service providers are more serious than before. Trucks are being positioned at the receptacle point before 5pm to enable waste generators dump directly to the truck instead of dumping on the ground.”

     

  • Group advises Jonathan on NDDC appointments

    A group, Cross River State Niger Delta Council (CRONDEC), has called on President Goodluck Jonathan not to bow to pressure from any governor in appointing the Managing Director and board members of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    President of the group, Etim Okon said in Calabar, “We wish to advise Mr President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan not to listen to those governors who always want things their own way. Why should the governors feel they can nominate ministers, board chairmen and just to mention but a few for the president all the time.

    “Our concern is as it affects the Niger Delta Development Commission to nominate state representatives and at the same time nominate the Managing Director and chairman of the commission which is a prerogative of Mr President. We strongly appeal on Mr President not to bow to any pressure from the governors whose mission is to continue to use politicians to siphon funds from the commission.

    “We have seen this happen since the inception of the NDDC and we strongly call on Mr President to put a stop to this ugly trend. It is no longer a secret that state jobs from the commission is usually placed before the governors who then decide who takes what.

    “They have squeezed all local governments in the region by taking virtually all their funds.

    “We will resist any attempt from them to continue with this fraud in NDDC. The commission was set up to develop the region and the Poor masses and not the governors.

    “We therefore appeal to Mr President to appoint technocrats to head the commission and not people who will be loyal to only the governors at the detriment of the region. We will not suggest who to be appointed. He should search for people with clean records and integrity to deliver. We want to see a complete departure from the past.”

     

  • Mass failure indictment on lecturers, says college Provost

    The new Provost of the College of Health Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Dr. Charles Amadi has tasked lecturers on dedication to duty.

    He said mass failure of students was reflective of the laxity of lecturers.

    He pledged his commitment to the welfare of staff, adding that the harmonised salary structure for other institution will be adopted.

    The Provost disclosed that best performance award would be introduced yearly to promote excellence among staff.

    Meanwhile, the Director, Medical Laboratory Science, in the college, Mr. Kingsley Okpara, has congratulated the provost on his appointment.

    Mr. Okpara, in a good will message, described Dr Amadi’s appointment as a divine elevation and assured him of the collective support of the staff and students to enable him succeed.

    The Director, who led other members of the department on a solidarity visit to the provost also called on the Provost to remain resolute and proactive in his leadership style, as the college taps from his wealth of experience.

    In this remark, a former director of school of Medical Laboratory Science, who was on the delegation, Dr. Clement U. Nyenke, said the appointment of Dr. Charles Amadi was the step in the right direction, as he was conversant with the college policies as an insider.

    He said the College would leverage on his excellent potentials to develop and called for total support for the new Provost.

    Dr. Nyenke also called for the extension of retirement age of lecturers to what is obtainable in other higher institutions.

    Highlight of the visit was the presentation of a portrait to the Provost.

     

  • Edo Speaker inaugurates mobile clinic

    Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon Uyi Igbe, inaugurated a mobile clinic and free health care services provided by Hon Elizabeth Ativie representing Uhunmwode Constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly.

    The speaker said all dilapidated roads in need of government attention would be fixed when contractors are mobilised to site.

    “Government is aware of the state of the roads. We are aware that we are in the rainy season and much work can not be done in the rainy season. I can however guarantee Edo people that immediately when the rain subside that action will begin again on the roads in every area of the state”.

    “Very soon men and machines will be on site to carry on with the good works the state government has started.”

    Mrs. Ativie said the provision of the fully equipped mobile clinic van was part of her promise during her electioneering campaign to provide free Health care services to the People of Uhunmwode.

    She said: “Our people are rural dwellers who are financially challenged and have no ready access to quality health care services.Consequently our people patronize quack medicine sellers and untrained traditional Birth attendants and as a result die of preventable sickness and diseases especially among women and children”.

    “The two weeks Free Health care Services to the 10 wards of Uhunmwode is to improve the health status of the people. The mobile clinic is fitted with state of the art facilities with medical pesonnels mobilized to ensure the optimal improvement in the health needs of the people.”

    In his remark, the Edo state chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association NMA, Dr. Emmanuel Ighodaro, said health care is very expensive and enjoined the people to embrace the free health care programme by making themselves available for testing, medical check up and treatment.

  • ‘APC will rescue Delta from PDP’

    Amorighoye Sunny Mene (KSM), popularly called ‘AS Mene’, was the ACN flagbearer in the April 2011 general elections for the House of Representatives, Warri Federal Constituency. Now a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, he speaks with POLYCARP OROSEVWOTU on 14 years of PDP in Delta State.

    What is the APC’s plan for Niger Delta area?

    APC has brought a breath of fresh air to the political space in Nigeria. You can see that with the berthing of APC ship, the PDP is already torn apart. The APC symbolises freedom for Nigerians because they now have a big party with a national spread to beat the PDP. Most importantly, APC stands for social justice which has been lacking in Nigeria for a long time. PDP has failed Nigerians because it lacks social justice, which is the fulfillment of their responsibility to the electorate. This has given room to despondence, frustration and desperation. There is only one thing that binds members of PDP together, that is what they can get from the system and democracy of a few for a few.

    As a leader of the APC party in Delta State, I am very optimistic on the chances of APC, I can tell you that the prospect of our great party is quite high. The APC will do everything differently. We will enter into a social contract with the electorate, which will be kept and respected. The electorate will come first. We will do the greatest good to the greatest number of people. We will meet the expectations of Deltans in their developmental aspirations. The resources of Delta-state will not be given to political godfathers. The fulfillment of electoral promises is clearly evident in Edo State, where Comrade Adams Oshiomhole was returned to Government House through massive popular support to ACN. APC is a party of promise.

    How do you rate leadership of Delta State in the past 22 years?

    To rate the leadership of Delta State in the first eight years, we must situate it within the political setting at that time especially at the national level. Governor Felix Ibru’s stint in government house was too short to give a fair assessment of his performance. The seven years of military rule in Delta state were spent trying to stabilize the state.

    The 14 years of democratic dispensation under PDP have not been very remarkable despite being the highest oil producing state in a number of those years, we recorded very modest development. The Governor James Ibori administration (1999-2007) did not make the best use of the resources available at its disposal to build the critical infrastructure required for our development.

    The oil producing areas where completely abandoned, a good example is the utilisation of the 13 per cent derivation fund. Under Governor James Ibori, there was no Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commissions. As if this was not bad enough, Ibori ceded 162 oil wells in Warri North LGA to Ondo state to appease President Olusegun Obasanjo. Itsekiri leaders went to court to challenge this unconstitutional conduct and got judgment against Ondo state Government. This case is on appeal and the Delta State Government is not showing any seriousness in the matter.

    How would you rate Governor Uduaghan?

    Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan is my kinsman, but when it comes to the welfare of our people, I will not be blinded by primordial loyalty. I challenge all Nigerians to call for a media tour of our Oil producing communities, the level of neglect and abandonment will shock them. As a candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the 2011 general election, where I contested for the seat of the Federal House of Representative in Warri Federal constituency, I visited every oil producing communities on campaign and more recently to distribute relief materials to our people after some Ijaws attacked our communities in Warri North LGA. There is nothing to show that these communities are oil producing despite the 13% derivation funds provided for their development. The destruction of their economic main stay and massive environmental devastation is very evident. The truth is that, Government is very disrespectful of our people.

    A review of the past six years of Governor Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan administration will make Governor James Ibori look like a hero in terms of development. Apart from the media blitz on the Governor’s three-point agenda, no serious development has taken place, despite the resources available at his disposal.

    A visit to the state will reveal an abysmal failure on the part of the government to build an infrastructure backbone to jumpstart industrial development. At a meeting with the Itsekiri Leaders Forum in Delta State Government house in Lagos after his inauguration, Uduaghan revealed how he planned to develop Delta State economically. Then, of priority to him was the reactivation and revitalization of the Warri and Koko ports to boost economic activities. He promised to dredge the sand bars on the Benin and Escravos rivers to allow bigger vessels, the dualisation of Ughelli-Asaba road through Isoko, to allow assess of importers to the eastern markets and the Ugbenu- Koko road.

    With the exception of the Asaba airport which is still an ongoing job, all his promises have been abandoned. No single bridge has been built in six years in a typically coastal state to link our communities. All the roads in Warri are failing, including the ones leading to his house in Ajamimogha in Warri. The Ugborodo new town development where billions of naira has been expended still has nothing to show.

    This sorry state persists in all other sectors like health and education. There is poor planning, execution and monitoring, therefore, there is infrastructural decay. Our cities are dirty and fast becoming slums. I travel a lot; I can tell you that Warri is one of the dirtiest towns in the South-South.

    Some Deltans will disagree with you, especially in the area of healthcare delivery….

    (Cuts in) We have followed with keen interest the Delta state government campaign on medicare, ranging from its 0- 5years child care, maternal health care and the mother and child Medicare. The Governor of Delta state is a medical doctor promoting Delta Beyond Oil, ordinarily Delta state ought to be a haven for medical tourism in Nigeria. The facts on ground are that the efforts of Delta state government on medicare has fallen short of our expectations.

    It is so because basic requirements that are supposed to be in every hospital in Delta state are missing. Our investigation on the state of our hospitals has revealed very embarrassing developments. In accidents and emergency units, for instance, the hospitals lack or in short supply of simple necessities like oxygen delivering systems and suctioning machines.