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Tag: Dakuku Peterside

  • NIMASA to end dumping of vessels, ship wreckage on waters

    To ensure that the territorial waters are safe and secure, they must be cleared of abandoned vessels and ship wrecks, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)  Director-General Dakuku Peterside has said. He warned local and international ship owners to stop abandoning their vessels or dumping wrecked ships into the waters or face sanctions.

    Apart from forfeiting such vessels to the agency, those involved in the illegal act, would be prosecuted, he said.

    Peterside, who spoke with The Nation, said it was necessary to ensure that the territorial waters remained safe for navigation.

    “In line with our mandate on the protection of the marine environment and safety of navigation within Nigerian waters and our powers as the receiver of wrecks, owners of all abandoned ships, vessels and derelicts are sternly warned to stop dumping them on our waters because we have put the necessary measures in place to locate them wherever they are and prosecute them,” he said.

    The NIMASA boss listed the sanctions to include the removal of such wrecks at the owners’ expense as well as forfeiting the vessels. The agency, he said, was empowered to do so by the Merchant Shipping Act 2007, other enabling Acts and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) instruments.

    Nigeria is a party to the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks  (Nairobi Convention 2007).

    The Convention is an IMO treaty  with the purpose of prompt and effective removal of Shipwrecks located in the parties’ territorial waters, including its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) that may be hazardous to navigation or the environment.

    The convention gives the authority to remove wrecks and in Nigeria’s case NIMASA is the receiver of wrecks.

    All abandoned Vessels littering the country’s waterways and its shoreline are affected by this directive.

    An environmentalist, Prince David Omaghomi, also called for the enforcement of laws against dumping of wrecked ships on the Nigerian coastline.

    Omaghomi, an Executive Director, Eco Restoration Foundation, an non-governmental organisation (NGO), which promotes the protection, restoration and conservation of coastal wetlands in Nigeria, said Nigeria had become a dumping ground for wrecked ships because people found it convenient to sink ships from other parts of the world on Nigerian coastal waters to avoid bearing the cost.

    He said ship wrecks had caused problems, which impacted negatively on the environment, hence the need to improve the Navy’s capacity on protection of the coastlines.

    “We have to save our coasts by implementation of policies, legislation and providing the Nigerian Navy with enough coastal awareness to enforce Nigeria’s territorial integrity, even from environmental hazards like ship wrecks.

    “Some people take insurance from insurance companies abroad, they dump the ships on the coasts of Nigeria because they are supposed to spend money on decommissioning the ship.

    “When a ship has served its life time, you are supposed to take it to a dockyard and dismember it, recycle the metals, but they avoid such expenses, make money from insurance and they dump it in Nigeria where nobody cares,” he said.

    According to him, there are over 3,000 ship wrecks littering the nation’s coastline, and that Nigeria is being ridiculed as the world shipwreck graveyard.

    “Nigeria has no legislation or enforcement of existing legislations that help people to remove ship wrecks. So, people find Nigeria a favourable ground to dump their ships, which are no longer in use.

    “There are particular winds on the Atlantic Ocean, which also push abandoned ships to the Bight of Benin, which is the area on the Atlantic coast that Nigerian shorelines fall within,” he said.

    Omaghomi said the money approved for some concerned government agencies in annual budgets for the removal of shipwrecks are usually not utilised for the purpose.

    He said the Eco Restoration Foundation single-handedly removed a ship wreck causing obstruction at the Lekki Beach, Lagos, in 2016 as part of its efforts to save the environment.

    He also called for protection of the Mangrove Ecosystem as natural means of preserving, protecting and conserving the nation’s coastal lines and the environment.

    “The laws need to be amended, the Oil Spill Detection Response Agencies need to be empowered to be able to enforce investigations and fund them.

    “In other cases, we have absence of laws, we have various laws that do not create the necessary environmental remedia-tion or restoration processes.

    “The laws need to be amended, fines need to be punitive, hefty and they need to deter operators from destroying the environment,” he said.

  • Peterside urges African leaders to partner on maritime resources

    The Director-General Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside has called on African leaders to partner with each other and articulate strategies for effective utilization of the continent’s maritime resources for sustainable development.

    Peterside made the call in Lagos on Wednesday, during the celebration of the African Day of the Seas and Oceans (ADSO), organized by the agency in collaboration with other stakeholders.

    The theme of the event is:  ‘Partnership Key to Sustainable Blue World’.

    The NIMASA helmsman challenged the African leaders and the stakeholders in the maritime industry to rise against the growing threat to the Seas and Oceans ecosystem health as a result of poor waste management, particularly from land based sources.

    ADSO, Peterside said, is day set aside by the African Union Commission to create awareness among African states on the importance of the Seas and Oceans to the African economy and the need to rise against the growing threat to the Seas and Oceans ecosystem health as a result of poor waste management, particularly from land based sources.

    He called on African nations to collaborate with each other and come up with effective solutions and strategies that would lead to optimum utilization of the continent’s maritime resources for sustainable development and rapid economic growth.

    NIMASA, Peterside said, is already developing a road map for building sustainable interest and passion for the maritime sector among the Nigerian youths, and urged other maritime administrations in the continent to emulate same.

    Read Also: ‘Peterside lost 2015 governorship election to sabotage’

    “NIMASA as the country’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) has considered it necessary to continue championing the awareness on Africa integrated Maritime Strategy (AIMS 2050) and the Blue Economy through the hosting of African Day of the Seas and Oceans annually.

    “Our passion for Africa‘s partneiship inspires our leadership role in the Association of African Maritime Administrations (AAMA) to continue to be innovative with ideas to pull African MARADS together for sustainable realisation of the objectives of AIMS 2050 towards a peaceful, prosperous and integrated Africa.

    “The Theme for this year’s celebration is, “Partnership key to Sustainable Blue World“. This theme could not have come at a better time when the global call for cooperative action in achieving the best result on various issues affecting mankind is prominent.

    The objectives driving this year’s theme, he said, were carefully drawn from critical domestic industry growth needs, which, according to him include the following:

    * To raise awareness of the campaign for better waste management on land to aid the recovery of our seas and oceans.

    * To popularize the strategic importance of National Maritime Strategy

    * To reopen the discourse on the National Maritime Transport Policy ( NMTP) for sustainable development.

    * To raise awareness amongst stakeholders on the critical urgency for partnership amongst stakeholders to develop our blue economy.

    * To understand our regulatory instruments for Marine Environment Management (MEM), our dynamic capabilities with implementation and problems and prospects.

    * To understand our role(s) beyond annual celebrations and partnership strategies to ensure sustainable implementation of resolutions.

    *To develop a road map for building sustainable interest and passion for the maritime sector in our young people.

    “This event is designed to offer a lot of awareness and learning opportunity and recreation,” Peterside said.

    The Board Chairman of NIMASA, Maj. Gen. Jonathan Garba (rtd) said the human planet comprises 71 per cent of oceans and critical to our survival.

    “It is the most important life-support system on earth, and almost all humans on earth depend on the sea’s natural resources. Half of the world’s population live within 200 km of the coastline. Oceans produce 50 per cent of the oxygen necessary for human survival and therefore, the sustainable use and management of the oceans, even its resources, is critical to us today and for future generations.

    “With growing dependence on natural resources, we have to ask ourselves a question: How can we forge an economically viable, environmentally sound and socially responsible vision for the use of the seas and oceans’ natural resources without compromising those of future generations,” he asked.

    He said that the world is getting more and more complicated and that healthy seas and oceans are essential for humankind as a source for global food security and engine for economic growth.

    “Oceans are also home to a rich, fragile, and largely unexplored biodiversity, which provides a variety of important ecosystem services.

    “However, with the world population reaching 9-10 billion by 2050, pressures on the oceans are expected to increase. Global competition for raw materials, food and water will become more intense, while illegal fishing, piracy, climate change, and marine pollution are already threatening our seas and oceans’ ecosystem health,” he said.

    Other speakers at the event urged African leaders and maritime stakeholders to come to together and fashion out policies and strategies that will promote the maritime sector, boost security and provide sustainable food and employment for the people of the continent.

  • ‘Peterside lost 2015 governorship election to sabotage’

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has disclosed that the Deputy Leader of APC in Rivers, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, did not lose the 2015 governorship election in the state to Nyesom Wike of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), but to sabotage by some APC stalwarts.

    He also described Wike’s move to be the running mate to PDP’s presidential standard bearer as a ploy to escape governorship defeat in 2019.

    Eze, a former Spokesperson of the defunct New People’s Democratic Party (nPDP), on Monday described the 2015 election of Wike as a sham, but the ex-Minister of State for Education insisted that he won the “free and fair” poll across the 23 local government areas of the state, in view of his popularity, acceptance and impressive performance in previous public service.

    The APC chieftain said: “If there was no internal sabotage, APC would not have lost the 2015 governorship election in Rivers State to the PDP. I can confirm that APC  lost to internal sabotage and wrangling within its fold, orchestrated by some stalwarts of the party, who conspired with external foes to undermine the chances of APC during the election.

    Read Also: APC is still evolving, says Peterside

    “The sabotage was contrived to pave way for Senator Magnus Abe (representative of Rivers Southeast Senatorial District) to contest the 2019 governorship election on the platform of APC.

    “Not minding that Wike used security agencies and militants during the 2015 general elections to intimidate the electorate, members of the opposition political parties and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to influence the outcome of the election in his favour, if some of the APC stalwarts had effectively played their parts to support the party’s governorship candidate and match Wike with all his tricks, the outcome would have been different.

    “If not for the internal sabotage, there was no way Wike would have defeated Peterside, the shining star of Rivers State politics, in a free and fair election. With Wike no longer controlling the security agencies and INEC, it is difficult for him to win the 2019 governorship election in Rivers State, if he dares to contest.”

    Eze also stated that the upland and riverine dichotomy in the multi-ethnic Rivers would work against Wike’s re-election next year, since governors of the state since 1999 were all from the upland part of Rivers, with APC leaders pushing for governorship candidate in 2019 from the riverine part of the state to ensure even development, justice, equity and fairness.

  • APC is still evolving, there will always be differences – Peterside

    The Deputy Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has stated that the ruling party (APC) is still evolving and there will always be differences.

    He stated this on Friday on a live national television programme monitored in Port Harcourt, Rivers state.

    Peterside, who is also the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), maintained that the APC-led Federal Government had done well in the past three years.

    He noted that what a lot of people had been seeing as internal combustion within the APC was part of its evolving process, where people with different tendencies would always struggle to realise their political ambitions, with all the issues being resolved internally.

    The NIMASA chief said: “APC as a party is still evolving. There will always be differences and there is no time when all the issues can be resolved, but we are doing and have done well.”

    Read Also: Peterside: APC will win Rivers in 2019

    Peterside, who was the 2015 governorship candidate of the APC in Rivers state, also admitted that some national leaders of the party might have some concerns, but the relevant hierarchies of the party were addressing all the issues.

    On the issue of farmers/herdsmen clash, he said the Federal Government was genuinely concerned about the security of lives and property, hence identifying the problem and seriously working out measures to arrest the ugly situation.

    The APC chieftain noted that since security breaches varied from one locality to another, the Federal Government decided to take multidimensional approach to identify and resolve the root cause of each challenge.

    He said: “The Federal Government is concerned about insecurity in Nigeria. The government has identified the problem and it is being tackled. The government is not living in self-denial and that is very important. It did not start today and the government is looking at multidimensional approach to resolving it.”

    On whether the service chiefs should not have been sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari, the NIMASA chief stated that without first identifying the root causes of the various security challenges, sacking them might not solve any problem.

    Peterside stressed that information at the disposal of the President would determine the kind of strategy to use and whether the service chiefs should be removed from office, pointing out that taking rash decisions because of opposition was not the best of response.

  • NIMASA targets N109bn revenue in 2018 – DG

    Dr Dakuku Peterside, Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) says the agency is targeting N109 billion as revenue in 2018.

    He said this while speaking on the 2018 budget before the Senate Committee on Marine Transport in Abuja on Thursday.

    According to him, the agency was optimistic it will generate N109 billion as revenue in 2018.

    Peterside said that the total estimate was achievable based on the number of initiatives the agency had put in place to block revenue leakages.

    “N109 billion is an estimate; we are workings toward accomplishing that, this revenue include revenue from Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF), that I have no access too.

    “It also includes our mandatory contributions to Maritime Academy of Nigeria, which is not in our disposal but we optimistic that with the numbers of initiatives we have put in place.

    “We have blocked leakages, we have done everything humanly possible to reduce our expenses to make it achievable,” he said.

    He, however, told the committee that every adjustment and amendment had been made on the budget as directed.

    NIMASA boss said that a total of N18.7 billion was remitted in 2017, which was the 80 per cent of the total revenue for 2017.

    He said that N2 billion was also contributed to Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) for the dredging of the lower Niger River, which was approved by the presidency.

    Peterside said that in 2018, the agency hopes to complete the reforms it had started by making the waterways safer than it used to be by investing in the security of waterways.

    He said that the agency intended to build offices in the eastern zone, central zone and also concentrate on capacity building, by training seafarers and scaling up its operations in 2018.

  • NIMASA, World Maritime Varsity sign MoU to develop maritime industry

    The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency ( NIMASA ), and World Maritime University ( WMU ), Malmo, Sweden  on Monday in Lagos signed a Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU ) to develop human capacity for the industry.

    NIMASA Head of Corporate Communications, Mr Isichei Osamgbi said Dr Dakuku Peterside, director-general of NIMASA signed on behalf of his organisation, while the President WMU, Mr Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry signed for the university.

    Peterside in his speech after the signing of the MoU, said that he led a delegation from Nigeria to Malmo for the purpose of maritime development.

    He expressed optimism that the MoU would help NIMASA realise its strategic plans to re-position the country’s maritime sector.

    “WMU is an important element of the strategic reforms and repositioning of NIMASA to be the leading maritime administration in Africa.

    “This is also part of ongoing reforms of the maritime sector in Nigeria which the President of Nigeria and Minister of Transportation are championing. The partnership with WMU is in line with the four pillar of NIMASA’s medium term growth plan.

    “Which addresses capacity building, particularly raising a new generation of forward looking Maritime policy makers and regulators,’’ Peterside said.

    Peterside expressed gratitude to the President and Management of WMU for their cooperation, giving a firm commitment that NIMASA would actively implement the provisions of the MoU.

    In his remarks, the President of the WMU, Doumbia-Henry expressed optimism that it would help to support Nigeria’s economic growth.

    “We are delighted with the engagement with NIMASA in the framework of this MoU which will set the stage for a new partnership with Nigeria.

    “We will also help support Nigeria’s economic growth and the competitiveness of its maritime industry as well as advance the maritime interest of the country. This MoU also supports WMU’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs ).

    “Especially Goal four which focuses on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all, and Goal 14 which covers ocean issues, including maritime,’’ the president said.

    The MoU covered academic, collaborative and reciprocal activities in the fields of training and research to be provided by WMU geared toward building capacity to grow the Nigerian maritime industry.

    Arrangements relating to fellowship funding for the WMU M.Sc programme are included as well as the M. Phil programme offered in cooperation with the IMO International Maritime Law Institute ( IMLI ) in Malta.

    The MoU provides for NIMASA officers to take advantage of WMU’s distance learning portfolio as well as Executive Professional Development Courses to reinforce the capacity of its staff.

    NAN

  • Buhari is working painstakingly to right Nigeria’s wrongs – Peterside

    The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has stated that President Muhammadu Buhari is working painstakingly to right the wrongs of the past and put the country on a sure footing.

    He also urged the people of Rivers State, especially the Christians, to continue to be prayerful and look unto God to raise leaders that would bring good to all parts of the Niger Delta state.

    Peterside, who was the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2015 election in Rivers, noted that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ exemplified courage, perseverance, pain and triumph over even the most difficult challenges.

    He stated these on Saturday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, in an Easter message by his media team.

    The NIMASA chief said: “There have been challenges and difficult moments that have faced the Federal Government, led by President Buhari, but like in the significance of the season, he is being courageous, patient and unwavering in his desire to take Nigeria out of the woods and place it on a sound pedestal.

    “I want to thank Nigerians for their support so far and I can only ask for more. The times may have been challenging, but the difficult moments are beginning to give way to hope, economic prosperity and fulfilment of our hopes and aspirations.”

    Read Also: Wike lied on Buhari’s achievements in Rivers – Peterside

    Peterside, a former member of the House of Representatives, also stated that Jesus Christ, as the only son of God, could have used his position and powers to avert his betrayal and eventual crucifixion, despite being aware, but chose to lay down his life to prove triumph over death and the redemption of mankind.

    He tasked Rivers people to exhibit courage, selflessness, generosity and good neighbourliness, pointing out that displaying such virtues would bring about a better society.

    The APC chieftain lauded Christians in Rivers state for their steadfastness, prayers and cooperation for making sure that governments at various levels kept to their promises, in order to make the society a better place.

    He praised Rivers people for uniting to fight against societal ills that negate the reason for the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

    Peterside added: “The period of Easter is also a season for friendship, forgiveness, love and rededication to the ideals of Christianity.

    “As Christians, the significance of the season must not be lost on us. We must do things that promote peace, progress and development of humanity.”

     

  • Wike’s N22b for Neighbourhood Watch, misplaced priority, says Peterside

    The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has described the N22 billion voted for the controversial Neighbourhood Watch in Rivers State by Governor Nyesom Wike as a misplaced priority.

    He noted that Wike was yet to create any employment since he assumed office on May 29, 2015, but rather took more Rivers people down the poverty line, stressing that the N22 billion to procure arms and ammunition for his private militia would have ensured that many qualified youths of the state were meaningfully engaged.

    Peterside, who was the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2015 election in Rivers, yesterday through his media team, stated that the Rivers governor was not prepared for governance.

    At a time the British government issued an advisory for its nationals to be wary of visiting Rivers state, the NIMASA chief insisted that Wike lacked the vision and ideas to run a progressive and purposeful government.

    The Rivers governor, while assenting to the neighborhood watch corps bill, maintained that operatives of the outfit would work with security agencies to provide intelligence, with a former Rivers police Spokesman, Dr. Uche Chukwuma, appointed as the Acting Director-General of the Neighbourhood Safety Agency.

    Peterside, however, insisted that it was illegal and ran contrary to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, for the operatives of the neighborhood watch to bear arms.

    The APC chieftain said: “Resorting to Neighborhood Watch is about Wike going back to his comfort zone and his old path. He will fail like all other areas where he has failed. He has not created a single job since he came to office. Every effort by his predecessor that created jobs has been abandoned.

    “We will not allow Wike to return us to the dark era, when Rivers people were placed under curfew, due to the activities of criminals and cultists, an era where Rivers people were daily living in fear of the unknown, where guns were freely used on innocent citizens of the state.

    “Our recent history does not suggest that the wrong people would not be recruited as Wike’s private militia. Already, the man appointed to lead the organisation has been accused of being a sympathiser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Wike’s government. Why will a governor want the state to be in anarchy? What does he stand to benefit and who is beating the drum for him?”

    Peterside, a former member of the House of Representatives, also advised the Rivers governor to follow the path of honour, listen to Rivers people and suspend the activities of the neighborhood watch, pending when all the grey areas had been sorted out.

    Read Also: Amaechi, Obaseki, others celebrate Peterside

    He admonished Wike to perish the thought of buying arms for the neighbourhood watch corps’ members, warning that any attempt to put arms in the hands of Rivers youths would be lawfully resisted.

    The NIMASA chief hinted that Wike planned to sack three hundred persons from the Rivers Internal Revenue Service (RIRS) for no reason, other than the fact that they were engaged during the administration of former Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

    Piqued by the Rivers governor’s seeming lack of policy direction on the economy, agriculture, power, health and ICT, Peterside, a former Rivers Commissioner for Works, said: “It is obvious that Wike was only desperate to become governor, in order to acquire wealth for himself and not for the overall benefit of Rivers people.

    “The Rivers State governor has shown to be a man of short vision, who does not see beyond the present, while some of his brother governors are busy laying the foundations for economic prosperity and legacy initiatives.

    “Ask anybody in Rivers what is the vision of the governor, nobody knows. He has no clear-cut vision on education, health, economy, power and agriculture, among others. Little wonder, no serious investor has come the way of Rivers State in the last three years. In all of these areas, the state is yet to experience any single improvement. The government Wike leads has failed in virtually all sub-sectors, thus leading to pushing more youths into frustration.

    “Rivers State is listed among the rice belts in Nigeria. Our state is rich in palm oil, cassava, rubber, banana and plantain, but what has the governor done to galvanise our youths to positive action and invest heavily in agriculture?

    “Is it not laughable that with all the potential of Rivers, the state is high on misery index and unemployment rate? At every economic and investment programme I have attended, it is always shocking that the state is not listed among the top states, due to lack of policy direction by the governor.”

    The NIMASA chief also stated that Rivers people would no longer allow lawlessness, mis-governance and misleading of the youths into engaging in criminal activities, through the due process of law.

     

  • Women playing major roles in growth, development of Nigeria – Peterside

    Women playing major roles in growth, development of Nigeria – Peterside

    The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has stated that women are playing major roles in the growth and development of Nigeria.

    He also hailed the contributions of women to humanity, as the world marked the International Women’s Day yesterday.

    Peterside, who is also the Deputy Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, noted that women had greatly contributed sweat, industry, creativity, grace and intelligence to the emergence of generations and industrial revolutions that helped to shape humanity.

    The NIMASA chief, on Thursday through his media team, in an online statement, stated that any country that desired to make progress without giving due recognition to women was doomed.

    He paid glowing tributes to Nigerian women who had challenged the status quo and risen to the pinnacle of every profession.

    According to a United Nations’ (UN’s) report, one in three women experience violence in their lifetime, while 830 women die every day from preventable pregnancy-related causes, and only one in four parliamentarians worldwide are women.

    Peterside, a former member of the House of Representatives, also reiterated that in all the positions he had held, women were given equal consideration like their male counterparts, assuring that he would continue to support every platform that seeks to promote the good of women and their emancipation.

    Read Also: Peterside vows to fight piracy

    He tasked those occupying different positions in and outside government to give women the leverage to achieve their dreams in life, insisting that women are the bedrock of any progressive nation and that any achievement they make reflects on the society.
    Quoting from a former first lady of the United States, Eleanor Roosevelt, who stated that: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent,” the NIMASA chief urged Nigerian women not to be deterred in their quest to make the changes they desire in the society.

    He said: “The APC-led Federal Government has created many platforms, policies and programmes aimed at giving women the opportunities to become whatever they desire in life, in addition to giving women sensitive positions.”

    Peterside, who was the governorship candidate of the APC in Rivers state in 2015, assured that an APC-led government in Rivers would give women equal opportunities in decision-making policies and activities, as well as providing the leverage to lift women out of poverty and contribute to the socio-political and economic wellbeing of the state.

     

  • Uchendu’s swearing-in, triumph of people’s power – Dakuku Peterside

    Uchendu’s swearing-in, triumph of people’s power – Dakuku Peterside

    Dr Dakuku Peterside, the Director-General of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency ( NIMASA ), says the swearing-in of Sen. Andrew Uchendu is a triumph of people’s power and resilience over violence.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Uchendu was sworn-in as a Senator to represent Rivers-East Senatorial District on the platform of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ).

    Peterside, in a statement on Thursday in Port Harcourt, said that the victory of Uchendu at the tribunal and subsequent swearing-in had put a stop to election manipulation.

    “As Sen. Andrew Uchendu mounted the podium and took oath of office, it has marked the collapse of the manipulation of our electoral system.

    “The swearing-in of Sen. Uchendu also marks real victory of the people’s power and conquest of resilience and determination over violence.

    “I salute Sen. Uchendu for his moment of glory and our leader, the Minister of Transportation, Mr Chibuike Amaechi, for offering leadership that strengthens our resolve, courage and gives hope to ordinary people,” he said.

    According to him, those who celebrated the shortlived victory of electoral manipulation will definitely fear God and also know that there is a limit to which they can manipulate our weak institutions.

    “Sen. Uchendu represents the true spirit of the ‘Riversman’ and the state, and his victory marks a new beginning and never again will darkness becloud our land again.

    “I join all Rivers people and particularly the thousands of young men and women who are ready to go to any length to defend their conviction to celebrate this new era,” he said.

    Peterside, who was the Rivers APC Governorship candidate in 2015, thanked supporters of the party who made necessary sacrifice to be in Abuja to witness the historic swearing-in.

    “I thank those who invested resources to celebrate our brand new Senator in both newspaper publications and various massmedia platforms,” he said.

    The National Assembly Appeal Tribunal for Rivers on Aug. 24 sacked Sen. George Sekibo of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) to issue Certificate of Return to Uchendu.