Tag: Ibas

• Says additional variation of N171.8bn variation staggering

Rivers State Administrator, Vice-Admiral, Ibok-Ete Ibas has rejected an outrageous variation by Julius Berger to increase the cost of delivering the popular Ring Road Project from N195.3bn to N367.5bn.

It was gathered that when Julius Berger presented the variation, Ibas kicked against it describing it as a rip off and unreasonable vowing to protect the resources of the state.

The 62.640km Port Harcourt Ring Road, was conceived as a big ticket project by the administration of the suspended Rivers Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara and was flagged off by Fubara’s predecessor, Chief Nyesom Wike on July 19, 2023.

To avoid a variation, Wike on the day of inauguration announced that 77 per cent contractual sum amounting to N150bn had been paid to Julius Berger out of the N195.3bn total sum.

Julius Berger was expected to complete the project, which was designed with six flyovers, one river-crossing bridge and 19 rotary intersections and roundabouts within 36 months.

It was gathered that midway into the project which was expected to be completed in July 2027, Julius Berger forwarded a variation request demanding an additional N171,755,448,105.05bn  representing an 87.77% increase in project cost.

It was learnt that if approved, such variation would raise the total project cost to a staggering N367,451,428,344.66billion.

But Ibas totally rejected the move and insisted that Julius Berger, that designed the project with the timeline must stick to the terms of the project, which has an outstanding  payment of about N40bn.

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The rejection reportedly led to different narratives with some of them suggesting that the construction company  had pulled out of the site of the project because Ibas refused to fulfill the government’s obligations.

Confirming the development yesterday,  lbas  denied the claims against his administration.

Ibas, in a statement signed by the Senior Special Adviser on Media, Rivers State Government, Hector Igbikiowubo, strongly condemned the claim describing it as  misleading and malicious.

The statement said the insinuation came from a publication titled ‘Julius Berger withdraws from Rivers’ project sites’, authored by one Bertram Nwannekanma.

He said the report, which falsely claimed that Julius Berger Nigeria PLC had begun withdrawing its services from project sites in Rivers State following alleged shortfalls in payments by the government, was a deliberate misrepresentation of facts and a calculated attempt to tarnish the reputation of the administration.

The statement said: “Nothing could be farther from the truth. The Rivers State Government has consistently and dutifully met all its contractual obligations to contractors, including Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, which has received all payments due since the declaration of Emergency Rule in the state.

“This baseless report is nothing more than a campaign of calumny orchestrated after failed attempts to pressure the Rivers State Government into approving an exorbitant and unjustified variation request for the ongoing Ring Road project”.

“The original contract sum for the Ring Road project was N195,695,980,239.61 billion.

“Julius Berger submitted a variation request demanding an additional N171,755,448,105.05 billion, representing an 87.77% increase in project cost. * If approved, this would raise the total project cost to a staggering N367,451,428,344.66 billion.

The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (rtd) Ibok Ibas has called on participants of Senior Course 47 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, to provide practical solutions to the pressing security challenges facing the country.

The Administrator gave the charge when the Senior Course 47 participants paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Monday.

A statement signed by the Senior Special Adviser, Media, Rivers State Government, Hector Igbikiowubo, said Ibas was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Ibibia Lucky Worika.

Ibas emphasised the significance of their study tour to Rivers following the prevailing security threats to lives and property, which led to the current administration’s intervention.

He emphasised the importance of gathering credible intelligence to address insecurity, explaining that security challenges negatively impact economic productivity, reduce government revenue, and deter investments.

He said: “It disturbs our utmost conviction that those who provide human capital that fuels insecurity in urban and remote areas include, of course, our rural populace. Hence, any study channelled towards harvesting grassroots intelligence is worth embarking on, as internal security without proper feedback mechanisms will be an illusion to be pursued but cannot be attained”.

Read Also: Uproar as Ibas recovers vehicles from suspended Rivers Deputy Gov

Ibas urged the participants to ensure that their interactions with security agencies and other stakeholders, as well as the data collected, go beyond mere academic exercise and translate into practical, actionable strategies for enhancing security operations.

He expressed confidence that the study would contribute to academic scholarship and the broader security framework necessary for a safer and more secure Rivers.

In his address, the Team Leader and Director of Logistics at AFCSC Jaji, Commodore S. O. Abdularaheen, explained that his team is one of nine groups currently on a study tour across selected states in the country.

He said the tour was part of the year’s research on the Nigerian environment as it related to national security concerns.

Abdularaheen said the team was guided by the theme, Harnessing Grassroots Intelligence for Enhanced Internal Security.

He said that their findings would be compiled into a research paper for the college, with recommendations expected to be adopted by relevant government agencies and organisations for implementation.

There were agitations in some quarters on Wednesday following the retrieval of some vehicles assigned to the suspended Rivers Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu by the Rivers Administrator, Vice-Admiral lbok Ibas (retd).

The Democracy Watch Nigeria (DWN) first raised the alarm and said the operation to recover the vehicles was carried out on April 25th by some naval personnel.

 The Spokesperson of DWN, Vincent Wopara, while narrating the incident said: “The naval officers, acting on the direct instruction of the Sole Administrator, carried out the operation in a commando-style raid, taking away two Toyota Hilux vehicles and one Toyota Hiace Bus. The brazen action took place in the early hours of the day and has since sparked widespread condemnation across the state.

“This development marks a new low in the ongoing disregard for due process and democratic norms under the current administration. 

“The action is viewed by many observers as a targeted provocation, intended to intimidate and humiliate the office of the Deputy Governor, which remains a constitutionally recognized institution.”

Read Also:House Committee accepts apology from Ibas, reschedules hearing

He called on Nigerians, civil society organizations, and the international community to note what he described as the growing trend of impunity in Rivers.

” It is imperative that those in positions of authority act within the bounds of the law and uphold the dignity of democratic institutions. The people of Rivers State deserve governance rooted in law, not in brute force.”

But the Rivers State Government said its action had been deliberately misrepresented by some persons insisting that the retrieval of the two Toyota Hilux vehicles and one Hiace bus from the premises of the suspended Deputy Governor was lawful.

A statement by the SSA Media, Hector Igbikiowubo described the action as routine saying it was aimed at securing government property and lamenting that it had been twisted by political opportunists seeking to create unnecessary tension. 

The statement said: “We question the motives of those politicizing this matter: What legitimate purpose did these vehicles serve in the suspended Deputy Governor’s premises over one month after the declaration of a state of emergency?

“The Rivers State Government maintains that the recovery of its assets cannot reasonably be construed as executive overreach. This administration remains committed to prudent management of public resources and will not be distracted by baseless allegations.

“We urge all parties to exercise restraint and refrain from testing the resolve of an administration that has demonstrated remarkable patience in the face of persistent provocation. 

“The public is advised to disregard sensationalized accounts of this incident and focus instead on the government’s ongoing efforts to restore stability and good governance in Rivers State”.

Security agencies in Rivers State have intensified efforts to curb the vandalism of critical national assets, following a directive from the state’s Administrator, Vice-Admiral Ibok Ibas (retd).

The Commissioner of Police, alongside heads of key security outfits including the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS Pathfinder), the Department of State Services (DSS), the Garrison Commander of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, the 115 Special Operations Group of the Nigerian Air Force, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), embarked on widespread sensitization campaigns across local government areas.

Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said the multi-agency engagements aimed to strengthen collaboration between security forces and local communities in safeguarding vital infrastructure.

She noted that the sensitization efforts have so far reached several LGAs, including Emohua, Abua/Odual, Tai, Ogu/Bolo, Okrika, and Eleme.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, was quoted as saying during the meetings that the service commanders visited the LGAs to discuss prevailing security issues and the welfare of the residents. 

He harped on the importance of safeguarding critical infrastructures within the communities and called for synergy between the communities and security agencies to ensure the protection of national assets for the benefit of the nation’s economy. 

Adepoju also described the engagements as an avenue to identify challenges facing the communities beyond security concerns and assured that their complaints would be forwarded to the government for necessary attention.

The community stakeholders during the meetings listed the needs and challenges in their domains and called for Ibas’ interventions.

For instance in Tai, the Administrator of the council, Chief Nuka O. Gbipah, appealed for the revival of the Soghai farm to create employment opportunities. 

His Royal Majesty, King Samuel Lebura Nnee, Gbenemene of Tai, said that the council remained one of the most peaceful LGAs in the state while the youth representative, Ebenezer Letam highlighted the lack of employment opportunities and inadequate staffing in health centres and schools across Bunu, Seme, and Nonwa Tai communities.

 Adepoju and the service commanders were said to have used the opportunities to inspect the health centre and community secondary school in Botem Tai.

During the engagement in Ogu/Bolo LGA, the Administrator of the council, Eliel Owubokiri, assured the security chiefs of the council’s commitment to maintaining peace. 

His Royal Highness Acheseinimie Micah Frank, King of Bolo Kingdom, raised concerns about theft and kidnappings on waterways while the Chairman of Ogu Council of Chiefs, Adokiye Ochemiebia Chukwu, appealed for a befitting police station to replace the current temporary arrangement. 

Read Also: House Committee accepts apology from Ibas, reschedules hearing

The youth representative, Inime Emmanuel, reportedly advocated youth empowerment and employment while Mrs. Caroline Adikibiebuma, representing the women, decried the menace of scrap metal scavengers in the community. 

In Okirika, the Administrator of the council, Thompson Isodiki reiterated the council’s commitment to supporting security agencies. 

But Prof. Sotonye Fyneface Ogan, Chairman of Kireke Council of Chiefs, identified theft as a persistent problem and requested for an increased police presence. 

The youth representatives Kalada Francis and Tomquimn Satson called for youth skill acquisition programmes, the establishment of JAMB CBT centres, and modular refineries while women’s representative Nene Mordecai advocated women’s empowerment and improvements at Daka Market.

In Eleme, the council’s Administrator Dr. Gloria Dibia noted observed that the ongoing construction of the council secretariat had impacted staff productivity. 

But the community chiefs in the area raised concerns over the criminal activities of herders, including kidnapping and farmland destruction.

Chief Sunday Dudu, Chairman of Onne CDC, recommended intensified patrols to curb rising crime rates while youth representative Obo Olako called for arms mop-up operation just as one Dick Baiye lamented the epileptic power supply and high electricity tariffs faced by the residents.

In Emohua, Administrator, Franklin Ajinwo said that ensuring security was a primary mandate of his administration.

However, the Paramount Ruler of Rundele Clan, His Royal Highness Eze Damian Ejiohuo, appealed for proactive measures to dismantle criminal hideouts and for adequate funding for local security outfits. 

Also, HRH Eze Jonah Nwobodo of Ibaa and Obelle Communities urged the government to revive abandoned facilities like primary healthcare centres while others requested improved security, social amenities, and youth development initiatives.

In Abua/Odual, stakeholders harped on the need for enhanced security on waterways and around public infrastructures.

The King of Abua Kingdom, represented by HRH Temple Macdonald Jamala II, and other community leaders, appealed for infrastructural developments such as road networks, healthcare facilities, potable water, and youth empowerment programs. 

The Administrator of Abua/Odual LGA reiterated his commitment to prioritizing security, healthcare, and electrification while soliciting continued support from the communities and the state government.

The House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on the State of Emergency in Rivers State has accepted an apology from the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), following his appearance before the panel on Friday.

The retired naval chief appeared in person after previously missing invitations from the Committee. 

In a letter submitted the night before, he expressed regret over his earlier absence and formally apologized during the session.

He also appealed for a chance to return for a more detailed and substantive engagement with lawmakers.

In a statement by the Committee Chairman and House Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, the Committee described the Administrator’s appearance and apology as a demonstration of “respect and responsibility.” 

It added that, in line with the House’s tradition of fairness, the apology was “magnanimously accepted.”

The Committee resolved to reconvene at a later date, which will be communicated in due course, for the rescheduled engagement with the Administrator.

“The Committee reiterates its commitment to discharging its constitutional mandate under Sections 11(4) and 88 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) with diligence, impartiality, and in the best interest of democratic governance and national stability,” the statement reads.

Ihonvbere also emphasized the importance of cooperation from all stakeholders, assuring that the Committee remains open to constructive dialogue in pursuit of accountability and the rule of law.