The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kenneth Kobani

  • Onyeama receives 491 Nigerian returnees from Libya

    Onyeama receives 491 Nigerian returnees from Libya

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, has reassured Federal Government’s commitment to return all stranded Nigerians from Libya.

    Onyeama gave the assurance when he received 491 Nigerian returnees from Libya at Port Harcourt International Airport, alongside Rivers Government officials.

    The minister said there were stories of exploitation and suffering by stranded Nigerians in Libya, which compelled Federal Government to act decisively.

    He added that “we made it clear to the Libyan Government that we want to see all Nigerians there. We insisted that we should see all of them, instead of hearing from them.

    “We made it clear that they ( Libyans ) are signatories to international conventions and we expected them to have control of those who guard our children.

    “They cooperated with us because of respect for Mr President, there were people who were making money from these children and did not want them to return home.

    “We carried out rigorous outreach to ensure that we have everybody back.”

    The minister noted that the programme was a continuous process that would return all stranded Nigerians from Libya.

    The minister explained that “the Libyan Government got the message that as far as they are Nigerians, we have zero tolerance for molestation.”

    The Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG), Sir Kenneth Kobani, who led the state delegation, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for making efforts in returning the stranded Nigerians.

    He said “as a state government, we had no choice really, let me say that the Rivers State Governor made it clear to me that  we should  do everything possible to make sure that this exercise was handled smoothly.

    “The  Rivers State Government would do everything in its power to assist federal agencies handling this programme, because above everything else, we are all Nigerians and this programme is a clear indication that when we work together, we can achieve anything.

    “What you are seeing here today clearly shows that our governor and indeed the President feel same about this issue.

    “On behalf of the Rivers State Governor, Mr Nyesom Wike, I will like to thank President Muhammadu  Buhari, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and his team who worked tirelessly to make the return of our brothers and sisters successful.”

    Reports say that all the returnees were profiled at designated booths at the airport.

    The minister was accompanied by officials from the Nigerian Immigration Service, NEMA NAPTIP and military personnel.

    NAN

  • 22,430 repentant cultists surrender arms in Rivers

    22,430 repentant cultists surrender arms in Rivers

    Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers said on Monday that the State’s amnesty programme witnessed 22, 430 repentant cultists surrendered 911 assorted arms to the amnesty Committee.

    Wike dropped the hint at a Town Hall meeting and accountability Forum to mark his administration’s second year anniversary in Port Harcourt.

    He stated that the amnesty programme had reduced cult related violence and other criminal activities in the state.

    The governor noted that the programme had also resulted in surrendering 7,661 assorted ammunitions and 147 explosives by the repentant cultists.

    Wike stressed that his administration had provided over 150 patrol vans to the security agencies to fight crime in the state.

    He said that the State Government had also handed over some gun boats to the Nigerian Navy in a bid to patrol and protect the Rivers waterways.

    The governor stated that his administration had in the last two years made unprecedented investments in infrastructure, which had led to economic boom in the state.

    Wike noted that 13 General Hospitals in 13 local government areas were undergoing reconstruction with the completed ones awaiting furnishing and inauguration.

    “We are also completing the regional hospitals started by the immediate past administration, located in Etche and Degema councils to serve as referral centres for secondary and tertiary health care,” he added.

    He said that his government had released over four million US dollars to equip and maintain the Braithwait Memorial Hospital to international standard.

    Wike stated that the gesture was to enable it serve as the Teaching Hospital for the Rivers State University Medical School, pending the construction of its permanent site.

    He noted that moribund businesses were gradually re-opening in the state, while fresh local and foreign businesses were being attracted to the State.

    The governor disclosed that his administration had cancelled multiple taxation policy in order to enable business to thrive to the benefit of the people and to attract more investors.

    “We are also supporting the growth of indigenous entrepreneurs through contracts as well as encouraging small and micro-enterprises with financial support to revitalize local economies, ‘’ he added.

    Wike said that in the last two years his administration had invested over N145 billion on the construction of roads, bridges, pedestrian walkways and underground drainage systems.

    “As we speak, several road construction works are either underway or completed in Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Abua/Odual, Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Akuku Toru.

    “Also in Degema, Etche, Andoni, Opobo/Nkoro, Ikwerre, Emohua, Khana, Gokana, Okrika, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Oyigbo, and Tai Local Government Areas of the State, he said.

    The governor pointed out that his administration was improving the quality of education by creating enabling environment for the system to produce graduates with skills and knowledge to drive development.

    He noted that 300 primary schools were being refurbished and equipped across the state, while infrastructure at the Rivers State University was being upgraded to ensure successful accreditation of courses.

    The governor said that the state government had reconstructed major secondary schools in the three senatorial districts to re-introduce boarding  education.

    Wike advocated for fiscal federalism in Nigeria where every state could have complete control of its resources and develop at its own pace.

    “We must find ways to forgive one another, open avenues of co-operation and join hands together, defeat the smacks of poverty and inequality in our society,” he said.

    The Chairman of the occasion and former Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Iche Ndu hailed Gov. Wike for his developmental strides.

    The Secretary to the State Government, Mr Kenneth Kobani said that Wike administration had made giant developmental strides in the last two years.

    NAN reports that the highlight of the occasion was passing of vote of confidence on Gov. Wike by people of Rivers.

  • ‘Change Begins With Me’, aims at restoring national values – Osinbajo

    ‘Change Begins With Me’, aims at restoring national values – Osinbajo

    Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Thursday said that the ‘Change Begins With Me’ programme launched by the Federal Government was aimed at restoring national values and upholding every right thing.

    Osinbajo, represented by Chief Kenneth Kobani, Secretary to the Rivers Government, made the assertion at the swearing-in ceremony of NYSC Batch ‘A’ Corps members in Nonwa-Gbam, Tai Local Government Area of the state.

    He urged the corps members to imbibe whatever that the campaign entails.

    “This campaign is aimed at restoring national values and upholding all that is right, through each and every one of us.

    ” You must strive to fight the painful erosion of our social values as a result of greed and dishonesty.

    “If change begins with each of you, there can be nothing that will impede the progress of this great nation,”he said.

    Osinbajo urged the corps members to consider themselves as agents of change and actively live and promote it.

    “This nation depends on your labours, in no small way, and it is a great responsibility that you all bear, “he added.

    The Acting President said that the federal government was aware of the challenges facing the NYSC scheme and its duty to mitigate the issues, including security, development management and processes.

    He stated that the government would continue to encourage continued cooperation between the federal, state and local governments to ensure the smooth and effective execution of the scheme.

    Osinbajo reiterated that existing government policy did not allow corps members posted to government ministries and agencies to be rejected.

    Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike, also represented by the SSG, Kobani, said that the state government had approved all the requests made by NYSC.

    Wike urged the newly deployed corps members to be disciplined, loyal, dedicated and committed to the ideals of the scheme.

    Earlier, Mr Omotayo Adewoye, NYSC Rivers Coordinator,appealed to the state government to resuscitate payment of state allowance to serving Corps members.

    He pleaded with the government for enhanced water supply, befitting state secretariat complex and utility vehicles for proper monitoring and inspection of corps members in their various places of primary assignments.

    According to Adewoye, 2439 prospective corps members have been registered for the 2017 Batch ‘A’ service year, of which 1096 and 1343 were males and females respectively.

     

  • PDP will win re-run election – Wike

    Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers said on Sunday that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would win Saturday’s re-run legislative elections in the state because it prepared for it.
    Wike told newsmen in Port Harcourt that when the elections of the legislators were annulled in December, the party commenced preparations for re-run.
    He said that the party began campaigns and started working hard to win the elections because it was on ground.
    The governor confirmed that the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Kenneth Kobani and a Special Assistant, Mr Cyril Wite, were arrested by the Army.
    Wike said that the government officials wanted to ensure that election materials were moved to polling units when they were arrested.
    He said that it would be difficult to rig elections in the state because the people would resist the attempt.
    According to him, when somebody is not popular and attempts to rig the election, the people will say no to such move.
    He alleged that some people were creating problems to make the Federal Government declare a state of emergency in the state.
    Wike said that such ploy would not work, because the PDP was more popular in the state.
    He urged the media not to be emotional or sentimental while reporting events in the state, because such stories created wrong impression. (NAN)

  • Army arrests Rivers SSG

    The Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Mr. Kenneth Kobani, was on Saturday arrested by the Nigerian Army for alleged stalling the distribution of materials for federal and state assembly elections in the state.

    Details later…