By Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt 

The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), at the weekend  inaugurated 969. 4 metres’ long Rebisi Dual Carriage Flyover Bridge in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Fashola commended “the massive urban regeneration and renewal programme of the Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike.

The Rebisi Flyover Bridge is one of the five overhead bridge projects started  simultaneously in the state by governor Wike.

The minister, who toured the bridge in company with Wike, said such development efforts would promote peace, tourism and return Port Harcourt to its Garden City status.

Fashola, who earlier toured the Rumuogba, Okoro-Nu-Odu, Rumuola and GRA Junction flyovers, said: “What I witnessed is a massive urban regeneration and urban renewal of Port Harcourt”.

He said ministers were mandated to support the developmental initiative and aspiration of every state in the country adding that it was the reason the Federal Government took a decision to refund money spent on federal roads by states.

He said the first tranche of refund was about N577bn, while the second tranche, for which, Rivers State was a beneficiary, was N148bn.

He said: “In the second tranche, it was five states. Out of those five states, I think  only two were APC states and it was a total of N148bn and Governor Nyesom Wike and Rivers State got lion share. He got N78bn. Don’t sit here and think he has received N78bn, he still has to go to National Assembly because this is part of Nigeria borrowing plan”.

Fashola commended Wike for naming the Rebisi Flyover, located at Garrison Junction, after the community.

“This place use to be known as Garrison. But, clearly  as we begin to shed our military toga and our democracy ages and deepen, we will see a rebirth in our unity, our oneness and our shared developmental aspiration” he said.

In his remarks, Wike said when the state government flagged off the Rebisi, Okoro-Nu-Odu and Rumuogba flyovers simultaneously in October 2019, many sceptics questioned the possibility of the  completing the projects within the estimated timeframe of 16 months.

Read Also: N6.26 trillion needed to complete ongoing road projects, Fashola tells Reps

He explained that the contractor, Julius Berger, worked assiduously, even during the COVID-19 lockdown, just to ensure that the projects were delivered on time.

“By December, we have to commission Okoro-Nu-Odu flyover. By February, we have to commission Rumuogba and Rumuola; by March-April, we will commission the GRA flyover”, he said.

Wike expressed satisfaction that his administration was able to fulfil the promise of constructing five flyovers with one of them achieved in 12 months.

The governor said the flyover bridge by CFC/Corpus Christi bus stop would be expanded to make it the sixth flyovers project under construction in the state.

The governor, who noted the leadership role played by Fashola in the assessment of the application for refund of money spent on federal projects, appealed that the money spent on the new flyover projects should be considered for a refund.

The governor frown on the refusal of traders to obey government’s directive not to display their wares along the roads said he would sign an executive order to discourage the practice.

He said  any landlord, who allowed traders to displays wares for sales in front on their buildings after the order would forfeit them to government because they would be acquired for public use.

Rivers Commissioner for Works , Mr.  Eloka Tasie-Amadi said when the Rebisi Flyover Bridge was flagged off on the 24 October 2019 and  was to be delivered in 16 months but it was achieved within 12 months.

He said the project improved the aesthetics of the city, enhance traffic flow,  relief transport time,  eradicate traffic conflict at the junction and reduce vehicular damage that bad roads cause.

By Emma Elekwa, Onitsha

Tipper drivers in Anambra State have threatened another round of protests in the state over government’s alleged refusal to obey court judgement which declared collection of fees on latrite, stone and sand illegal.

The drivers, under the aegis of Anambra/Imo Tipper Drivers Association had repeatedly blocked the Enugu-Onitsha expressway, decrying extortion, harassment and imposition of leadership by suspected officials of government.

National President of the body, Comrade Emmanuel Ezeokafor, had in a recent protest in Awka, accused government of setting up kangaroo leadership structure made up of politicians to pave way for continued perpetuation of corruption in the system.

Speaking in Onitsha during the group’s meeting, Ezeokafor regretted that harassment and extortions of his members had continued unabated even after the association agreement of a N10m remittance to government coffers.

He said, “It’s no longer news that the tipper drivers association had gone to court and won; and we have the documents. But it’s highly regrettable that the extortion had continued despite the court order.

“We’ve even written to the DSS complaining about our plight but they feigned ignorance. But they will realise how serious we are the day we will block the highway again.

“We could have done another protest if not for the #EndSARS protests. We felt that if we come out, they would mistake us for hoodlums. But we will seize this opportunity of fighting illegality until our plight is addressed.”

The National president however cautioned his members against incivility especially in their dealings with the task force.

Read Also: Obiano welcomes security beef-up in Anambra

“Don’t try to run away when they are stopping you. Otherwise, you may knock down someone in the process. We’ll only support the government activities that are legal. But forcing us to belong to where we don’t want to be will not be tolerated.”

Earlier, a human rights activist and Convener, Recover Nigeria Project, Osita Obi informed the drivers that they had what it took to hold the government to ransom.

He said, “I support revenue drive, but not the one that’s obnoxious. The essence of revenue is for development, including road construction, so you’ll have where your vehicles can ply.

“Unfortunately, the roads are in terrible conditions because the money meant for the repairs is being diverted into individual pockets.

“One wonders how a contractor should be made a leader of tipper drivers association if not for him to be used to milk money from you.”

By Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

The umbrella body of Ijaw youths, Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide (IYC), has again called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, to quickly mobilise contractors to complete the East-West Road, particularly the Bayelsa axis.

The appeal is contained in a statement yesterday by the Chairman, Central Zone of the IYC, Comrade Clever Inodu.

The IYC described the East/West Road as a death trap and wondered why the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and other critical stakeholders had been playing politics with the road.

It warned that Ijaw youths would not continue to watch the deplorable condition of the road, a major expressway that links the Southsouth to other parts of the country.

The IYC said that lack of political will and gross underfunding had hindered the completion of the critical road which started 14 years ago.

The council said: “Despite the economic importance of the road, which crisscrosses five out of the six states in the South-South, for the past 14 years, barely 50 per cent of the road has been completed, due mainly to lack of political will and funding constraints by the successive and present administrations.

“The bad road has caused untold hardship, frustration, accidents and uncountable deaths.

Read Also: Buhari: govt will no longer tolerate threat to peace, unity

“It is quite saddening to see the East-West road in such a deplorable condition. For over a decade, the road has been a nightmare to commuters and other road users who transit between the West and East of the country. Thus, it is imperative for the needful to be done.

 Nwanosike Onu, Awka and Emma Elekwa, Onitsha

 

BISHOPS of the Anglican Communion, Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger on Saturday applauded the Nigeria youths for the courage they demonstrated during the recent #EndSARS protest.

They described the protest as timely and welcome development, urging the federal government to treat their demands with urgency.

Speaking during the seventh edition of the Anglican Prayer Rally of Anambra State held at Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, Archbishop, Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger, Most Rev. Alexander Ibezim, however condemned the use of force on the protesters and the attendant loss of lives.

He said, “The federal government should without further delay respond to the demands of the youths in order to soothe all the frayed nerves during the protest and the resultant deaths that came with it.

“We equally condemn looting of properties by hoodlums, and appeal to those doing that to desist from such act. We however urge the President Muhammadu Buhari led government to take leadership and bring peace to the nation by responding to the demands of the youths.

“It is a known fact that Nigerian youths are faced with the environment that presents little or no hope. Massive unemployment, dysfunctional education system, hostile environment for business, insecurity, all points to the fact that all is not well.”

Read Also:  #ENDSARS: A revolution delayed

On his part, Bishop of Amichi diocese, Rt. Rev. Ephraim Ikeakor described the protests as a warning to political leaders that the people could not be held to ransom for too long.

“We have been warning them to look at the people’s complaints but they refused and now the youths came up with their protest because they cannot take it any longer. To me the original #EndSARS protest was a complete welcome development to tell our political leaders that we cannot continue with their deceit.”

In his sermon, Bishop of Nnewi diocese, Rt. Rev. Ndubuisi Obi urged the Nigerian masses to put their trust in God who has taken over their battles, assuring them that the battle brought to their domain had been fought and won.

Among the Bishops that attended the prayer rally included Israel Okoye of Ihiala, Prosper Amah of Ogbaru, Samuel Ezeofor of Aguata, Johnson Ekwe of Mbamili and former Archbishop of Province of the Niger and Bishop of Nnewi, Most Rev. Godwin Okpala and Bishop of Nnewi, Rt. Rev. Ndubuisi Obi.

Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

 

A NON-GOVERNMENTAL organisation, Core Advocate for Genuine Change and Peace Initiative (CAGCPI), has lamented the alleged neglect of flood victims by relevant authorities in Bayelsa State.

The Director General, CAGCPI, Mr. Jacob Obekuma, in a statement sought urgent intervention by the Bayelsa State Government for the victims before the unimaginable happened.

He blamed the misfortune of the victims on the state government, alleging that it had shied away from its statutory responsibilities to the residents.

He said the residents had been groaning under the heavy pains foisted on them by the floods that had wreaked havocs in many parts of the state.

Obekuma said many residents had lost their means of livelihoods and assets worth billions of naira following the perennial annual flood that hit the state and its environs amid the ENDSARS crisis that rocked the country.

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The ex-militant leader wondered why Bayelsa, one of the states that receive the highest allocation from the Federation Account, exclusive of the ecological fund, excess crude, among others, had yet to respond positively to the disaster.

He called Governor Douye Diri to take advantage of the coming dry season to embark on massive infrastructural projects, especially construction of new roads, the proposed flyover at Tombia roundabout, as well as putting up standard drainage system across the state to avert future flood.

He commended Bayelsans on their peaceful comportment during the ENDSARS protest in the state.

 Bassey Anthony, Uyo

 

THE Akwa Ibom State government has said it would reward some youths of Afaha Ube community in Uyo who in the recovery of property looted in Uyo during the EndSARS.

Rather than participate in the criminal activities of the looters, the youths mobilised themselves and conducted a house-to-house search of suspected looters and recovered stolen items.

Items retrieved by the patriotic youths and returned to the Itam Police Station included flat screen television sets, refrigerator, deep freezers and other electronic devices.

The executive chairman of the State Ethical and Attitudinal Re-orientation Commission, Dr. Dorathy Thompson lauded the youths for their sincerity and patriotism, saying their action will not go unrewarded.

She said the youths levied themselves and raised money with which they transported the items to the police station despite the opposition against them from the other sections of the youths.

“In such challenging times, the youths of Afaha Ube, Itam, in Itu local government area, lived the Akwa Ibom spirit.”

Read Also: A’Ibom PDP holds congresses in 80 wards

They voluntarily mobilised to search house to house to discover, recover and return to the Itam Police Station flat-screen television sets, deep freezers, refrigerators, and many other electronic gadgets the hoodlums had stolen from an LG electronics shop near the area.They even contributed money to transport those items to the police station.

“By this ethical conduct, the Afaha Ube Ilam youths have demonstrated that they are true Akwa Ibom youths, who are great people with great minds; and that they have really risen to the faith of greatness and have validated their true identity as model youths in Akwa Ibom State who are worthy of emulation by all other young people in the State.”

She commended the Divisional Police Officer in charge of ‘D’ Division Itam Police Station, CSP Francis Erhabor for effectively collaborating with the Afaha Ube Itam youths to pull off the recoveries.

According to her, CSP Erhabor who emerged recently as the Integrity Award icon of ICPC 20 years anniversary, has demonstrated a sense of commitment to high morals and dedication to duty that is really contributing to building a better Nigeria.

By Nsa Gill, Calabar

Prominent voices have continued to speak out in regret over the extent of damages and destruction visited upon numerous government infrastructures and institutions as well as individual investments in Cross River State following the violence that greeted  the #ENDSARS protest.

In separate instances, former governor of the state, Chief Clement Ebri, Paramount Rulers across the eighty local government areas in the state as well as the Chairman of Bakassi Local government council all noted that the state has suffered a collateral damage.

Former governor Ebri in a statement made available to newsmen said “I am devastated by the aftermath of the initial articulate and legitimate #EndSARS protests led by our youths who were demanding an end to Police brutality and the disbanding  of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), and for good governance across all tiers of government. It is most unfortunate that in the pursuit of a legitimate demand, we have suffered serious unintended collateral damage.”

Read Also: #ENDSARS: CBN gets go-ahead to freeze 20 accounts

“I therefore call on us all to rethink our actions and inaction, pre- and post- #EndSARS, and we may find that we all share varying degrees of passive and active culpability”

On their part, the Paramount rulers from the 18  local government areas of the state during a solidarity visit to  Governor Ben Ayade, pledged cooperation with the governor to forge ahead and address the challenge of the time.

Led by the chairman, state traditional rulers council and paramount ruler of Bakassi, His Royal Highness, Etinyin Etim Okon Edet, the traditional rulers declared total support for the governor and his administration to the last day.

By Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

The suspension of two students by the management of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE) Rivers State, has been lifted following the outrage that greeted the action.

Mr. Chibuzor Remmy of the Department of Educational Management, Faculty of Education was suspended after the school indicted him of inciting students through his social media account to protest against the university’s authority for having only one bank on campus.

Mr. Sunday Idonegit of the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, was also accused of creating panic and confusion through a post he made on social media calling for the cancellation of the final year examination of the institution scheduled for November 2, 2020, and the school’s matriculation of November 7, 2020.

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No sooner had the school announced the suspension than civil society organisations in Rivers kicked against it and demanded immediate reversal of the decision.

The CSOs insisted that that the students’ sanction was devoid of due process and amounted to a violation of their  right to freedom of expression.

The organisation in a statement co-signed by Prince Wiro and Festus Bonwin, Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign (CBRPA); Karl Uchegbu, Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) and  Gbenga Oladapo, Lawyers Watch for Justice International Initiative (LWJII), among others described the university’s decision as rash.

They said: “We note with dismay the suspension of two students of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rivers State by the management of the institution over facebook comments in reaction to a press release by the Vice Chancellor Prof Ozo-Mekuri Ndimele.

“After a meticulous study of the comments made by the suspended students, Remmy Chibuzor and Sunday Idongesit, on the press release of the VC, we state clearly that the comments of the students is not in any way inciting as alleged by the school authority to justify the undeserved suspension.”

Following the reactions against its decision, the management of the school on Thursday lifted the suspension in a statement signed by the University’s Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Okiridu.

The school,  however, warned its students to be of best behaviour adding that any student bringing the university to ridicule would be punished in line with the laws.

By Bisi Olaniyi, Southsouth Bureau Chief

The Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Marcus Onobun, has stated that the lawmakers will not hesitate to discharge their statutory function of checkmating the executive, in a non-confrontational manner.

He also stated that it was not correct to link his recent emergence as speaker to the influence of Governor Godwin Obaseki, claiming that the mantle of leadership was bestowed on him by the collective decision of the legislators.

Onobun stated these yesterday in Benin, in an interactive session with reporters.

He assured that the Assembly would ensure the success of Obaseki’s administration, but would not be a rubber stamp of the executive.

The speaker, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), revealed that Obaseki, who would be inaugurated for a second term, along with his deputy, Philip Shaibu, on November 12, allowed Edo Assembly to run without interference.

Read Also: Obaseki to hold low-key inauguration

He said: “The change of leadership in Edo Assembly became necessary, in order to strengthen the House, thereby enabling the lawmakers to function maximally towards discharging their constitutional responsibilities.

“The lawmakers have not only reunited, but we went further to commute the impeachment of the former Speaker, Rt. Hon. Francis Okiye, to resignation.

“The seats of the 14 All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers (in the 24-member Assembly) who are yet to be inaugurated, have been declared vacant.

“I am calling on the Independent National Electoral  Commission (INEC) to, as a matter of urgency, conduct by-election to fill the vacancies. I am looking forward to having a complete House of Assembly.”

One of the 14 APC lawmakers, Washington Osifo, a former Edo Commissioner for Education, however, stated that declaring their seats vacant would not stand, insisting that the night inauguration of the ten pro-Obaseki lawmakers was illegal and still being challenged in court.