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Tag: Rivers State

  • Wike: loyalty required for appointments

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has reiterated that his second term appointments will be based on absolute loyalty, commitment to the vision of the administration and the capacity to deliver.

    The governor spoke on Monday when he swore in Secretary to the State Government Tammy Danagogo, Chief of Staff, Government House, Chukwuemeka Woke, Attorney-General Zaccheus Adango and Commissioner for Finance Isaac Kamalu.

    He said: “These appointments are not based on sentiments; appointment is based on 100 per cent undiluted loyalty and competence. I will not appoint people who will run down the government. We will appoint those who believe in the vision and mission of the state government; those who will defend the government and her policies.”

    Read Also: Wike inaugurates ninth Rivers Assembly

    Governor Wike said the first sets of appointments were made to start off his second term and enhance the development of the state.

    He said: “The appointments that I made were not lobbied for. I know these officials personally.

    “Going forward, I will take time to scrutinise people that will be appointed. I learnt my lesson during the last term. I will only appoint people who want to work and those who want to make sacrifices for the state.

    “I have known the Secretary to the State Government closely; he is loyal and committed.  This second term is for people who want to work for the state,” the governor added.

  • Police: we’re not overwhelmed by insecurity in Rivers

    The spokesman of Rivers State Police Command, Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), has said the command is not overwhelmed by insecurity in the Niger Delta state.

    He spoke on Tuesday on phone while assuring residents of the safety of their lives and property.

    The immediate past Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, who is a former Rivers State governor, recently accused his successor, Nyesom Wike, of lacking the capacity to effectively govern the volatile state.

    Amaechi, a chieftain of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), insisted that there was insecurity in all the 23 local government areas of the state, especially with penultimate week’s killing of 40 innocent persons in a community in Ogoni community.

    Wike, who is one of the leaders of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), urged Rivers residents and other Nigerians to ignore Amaechi’s “lies”.

    The governor described the former minister as frustrated.

    Read Also: Wike inaugurates ninth Rivers Assembly

    Wike said he remained focused with investors trooping into the state as a result of the acclaimed improvement in security across the state.

    Omoni said: “The police in Rivers State are doing their best to contain criminal activities. We indeed have pockets of criminal activities in the state, but we are on top of the situation. We are not overwhelmed.

    “It must be pointed out that insecurity is not peculiar to Rivers State, but we are doing our best to provide tight security for more investors to be moving into the state.”

    He urged the public to continually give useful and timely information to the police to ensure the safety of lives and property.

     

  • ‘Rivers not indebted to any bank’

    The Rivers State government is not indebted to any bank in Nigeria, the government has said.

    The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Paulinus Nsirim, who addressed reporters at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, debunked the Debt Management Office’ claim as “falsehood”.

    He said: “This misinformation is another attempt by detractors to malign the integrity of the present administration, which has, since inception in May 2015, shown utmost frugality in the management of resources.

    “This appears to be another orchestrated plan to demarket the state through unconfirmed statistics since other forms of negative propaganda had failed. That with a healthy monthly Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) profile of at least N8 billion, the state does not resort to reckless borrowing that will make her run into debts.

    Read Also: Wike inaugurates Rivers Assembly

    “As a matter of deliberate policy, the present administration, desirous of leaving behind a worthy legacy, does not embark on white elephant projects that will require bogus financial obligations.”

    Nsirim added that the government operates accounts with only Zenith and Access Banks, and it has repaid all loans obtained from them.

    “The government inherited a Commercial Bank loan of N15,845,118,108.44 in 2015 which has been liquidated. All loans taken by this administration for infrastructural development from Zenith and Access Banks have been liquidated too.”

     

  • Wike raises committee to address soot

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has inaugurated a technical committee for the implementation of the recommendations of the Rivers State government report on soot.

    Wike, who inaugurated the panel on Monday, directed the Head of Service to also invite the Army, Navy and Police to participate in the implementation committee.  The governor said his administration is committed to addressing the environmental and health issues raised by the presence of soot.

    He said: “I have told the committee chairman to ensure that everybody gets the report so the committee can act for us to see positive changes. As a government, we owe our people the duty to tackle soot.

    Read Also: I’ll put Rivers first, says Wike

    “So many people have complained that the government is not doing something to reduce the soot. This is not true. We have studied the situation. It took not less than five months to identify the causes. This implementation committee is made up of environmental experts/scientists, environmental lawyers, doctors, civil society, oil majors and security services. This is a fundamental move to address the soot crisis.

    “As a Government, we are concerned and we will do everything to ensure that it is resolved. This soot does not know the governor; it does not know a poor or rich man. It affects everyone. Right here in Government House, I see it everywhere.”

    Chairman of the committee Prof. Roseline Konya assured the governor that the committee will work hard to resolve the soot crisis. She noted that most of the committee members were conversant with the process of identifying the causes of soot; hence they will bring their wealth of experience to address the challenge.

  • Wike inaugurates ninth Rivers Assembly

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has inaugurated the ninth Rivers State House of Assembly. He urged the lawmakers to work for the development of their constituencies and the state.

    The governor urged the lawmakers to work with the executive arm to ensure the implementation of policies and programmes for the good of Rivers people.

    Relying on Section 105 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the governor proclaimed: “Now therefore, I, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, (CON, GSSRS, POS AFRICA), Governor, Rivers State of Nigeria, in exercise of the power conferred upon me by section 105 of the Constitution, and all other  powers enabling me in that behalf, hereby proclaim that the eight Assembly of the fourth Republic of the Rivers State House of Assembly stands dissolved, while the first session of the ninth Assembly shall hold on this day, third day of June, 2019, at the Assembly Complex, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.

    “As we usher in the new term of this August House, I pray and hope that your deliberations will be constructive, democratic, progressive and people-oriented. I also hope that you will continue to strive hard with total commitment and sense of accountability, and facilitate the implementation of our policies and programmes to enable us set new benchmarks for development and shared prosperity for our people.

    Read Also: Wike to investigate activities of Local councils

    “On this positive note, it is my honour and privilege to official proclaim the first session of the ninth Legislative Assembly of Rivers State.”

    Wike assured the lawmakers that his administration will promote the independence of the state legislature.

    “We will continue to respect and uphold your independence as a separate arm of government as our constitution demands; in the same way that we will provide every support that you need to discharge your constitutional responsibilities to the government and people of Rivers State. Ours should continue to be that of mutual respect, partnership and progress, the governor added.

    The lawmakers have re-elected Ikuinyi Owaji-Ibani (Andoni constituency) as Speaker. The lawmakers also elected Eddison Ehie (Ahoada East 2) as Deputy Speaker.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has a majority of 30 members while the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has two seats.

    The Clerk, Stanford Obah administered the oath of office on the lawmakers.

  • Rivers, Imo join MTN’s substance abuse campaign

    Imo and Rivers states have joined the MTN led Anti Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP).

    According to the telco, this is coming after successfully mounting the capaign in Lagos.

    Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation Nonny Ugboma, said it is important to reach out to young ones across the country.

    She said: “We all bear an unshakable burden and sense of responsibility towards every young Nigerian. We cannot stand by as these ones become victims of any form of substance abuse then fold our arms despondently. This is the time to act and act swiftly too. It is for this same reason that various stakeholders from multiple organisations have come together to partner in this call to action and I strongly believe that with everyone’s support, with every input whether on social media or in the field, with every encouragement we will combat this successfully. We do not have a choice.”

    With various stakeholders such as Christ Against Drug Abuse Ministry (CADAM), Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), the Police, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Association of Community Pharmacists; and others, partnering on the initiative, the ASAP campaign has started making impact on the target audience.

    Since  May 6, 2019, various locations around the two states have witnessed the ministrations of the specially skilled team of experts whose primary focus is to spread awareness about the increasing menace of substance abuse among young Nigerians.

    Using the native dialect, passersby, motorists and traders in areas such as the Oyigbo Mass Market, Abuloma Main Market, Choba Main Park (Port Harcourt), Orlu, Egbu, Douglas Motorparks (Owerri), and its environs were sensitised on the escalating issue of substance abuse.

  • Police kill one notorious criminal in Rivers

    The Police in Rivers state on Tuesday said that they have killed a notorious criminal in the state, ThankGod Nwandiko (a.k.a Commander Buky).

    The State Commissioner of Police (CP), Musa Belel disclosed this in Port Harcourt, the state capital, while parading a group of criminal suspects arrested in the state within the month of May, 2019 and part of March, 2019.

    Belel said the victim who was arrested in his Omarelu community of Ikwerre Local Government Area (LGA) of the state following a tip-off, was however killed when he attempted to  escape while taking the Police to arrest his gang members at Isiokpo community also in the same LGA.

    The CP described Nwandiko as a notorious kidnapper, armed robber, murder and cultists who was responsible for the heinous killings and beheading of members of his rival cult groups as well as the attacks on motorists along the Omerelu/Owerri road axis of the LGA.

    The police equally paraded a Bank driver Chris Kani who supplies information to armed robbers and kidnappers about customers and key bank officials for ransom and handsome rewards.

    The criminal during interview with newsmen at the parade ground that had ones released information concerning one of the banks big customers who was later attacked and some money was given to him.

    He also admitted that he also planned the kidnap of his bank manager and head of marketing of his bank, but however said he later called up the arrangement by lying to the kidnappers that his manager had travelled overseas.

    Addressing news men, the CP said, “Operatives of the Eagle Crack Squad, acting on credible information, smashed a gang of arms dealer and arrested one Is real Amadi (41) and Micheal Okunna (35).

    “They were arrested on May 16, 2019 at Elele Alimini Barrack road in Emohua Local Government Area of the state and a total of 889 live cartridges concealed in a big sack bag, driven in a tricycle. The cartridges were meant for supply to hoodlum terrorising the East/ West road

    Also the Eagle Crack team of the Police Commamd led by Jovinus Iwu, a Superintendent of Police (SP), paraded a gang of kidnappers/armed robbers age between 19 and 31 years. They were arrested for different parts of the state and suspected to be the criminals terrorising the state, and various kinds of dangerous weapon recovered from them, including 3 AK-47, 29 rounds of ammunition six magazine s, assault rifle, locally made gums, four different cars, millitary shoes and uniforms among others.

    Also speaking on the Governor Nyesom Wike swearing-in for the second term, Belel assured of adequate security access the state as he warned trouble makers to steer clear or drop any plan to format trouble in the event.

    He said, Let me strongly assure the good people of Rivers state that the state police command under my watch, ensure that the swearing-in ceremony is hitch free, devoid of violence or acrimony.

    “Our security arrangements are so elaborate that every aspect of the state is covered in our deployments. This is intended to give everybody in the state a renewed sense of security, including those that will be viewing the event from their homes.

    “I want to state for the umpteenth time, that the state police command will not tolerate, console nor welcome any act that will undermine and/ or compromise the security situation in the state before, during and after the swearing-in programme.

    “Hence I call on those issuing threats to disrupt and disorganize the event to jettison the idea as quick as possible or prepare to face the full wrath of the law.” The CP stated.

  • Wike: commander of GOC 6 Division engaged in illegal bunkering

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has accused the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 6 Division of the Army, Maj.-Gen. Jamil Sarhem of promoting oil theft in the Niger Delta.

    Wike made the allegation when Commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF) of “Operation Delta Safe”, Rear Admiral Akinjide Akinrinade, visited him at the Government House yesterday.

    The governor, in a statement  by his media aide, Simeon Nwakudu, accused Gen. Sarham of operating an illegal oil bunkering squad to finance his ambition to be Chief of Army Staff.

    He advised that any attempt by the Army to succumb to Sarham’s desperation would spell doom for the country’s failing security.

    The statement reads: “The GOC is involved in illegal bunkering to finance his quest to become the Chief of Army Staff. He has his own team making money for him through oil bunkering.

    “We will have a security meeting and he will release the details to criminals, yet the Chief of Army Staff has left the man here because he is playing their role.

    “How will such a man be in charge of the state’s security? He will compromise when fighting to reduce crime. They sent us a GOC who destroys the security architecture of the state.”

    Wike wondered what the JTF would do when its encounters the illegal oil bunkering team of the GOC.

    He, however, assured Akinrinade of the government’s support in JTF’s mission to defend the Niger Delta, especially Rivers.

    Read Also: Breaking: Wike sacks commissioner

    “Anybody who wants to help us fight crime, I will support. I will never support those involved in illegal refineries,” the governor added.

    Admiral Akinrinade thanked Wike for the supply of gunboats, security vehicles and finances for security operations in the area. He assured him that the JTF will not relent in fighting crime in the State.

    He said: “Governor Wike is a consummate politician and grassroots leader. As a man who understands National Security, he understands that national security itself is local. We praise you for your achievements.

    “I also congratulate the governor on the renewal of your mandate to serve the people of Rivers State for another four years.”

    The Army has challenged Wike to produce evidence of his allegations.

    Spokesman of 6 Division Aminu Iliyasu said: “There is no reaction from us, neither from the GOC nor the Army, but we say that as the Nigerian law says, the onus of proof lies on the accuser. Wike should come up with verifiable evidence of his allegations.”

  • Group to security agencies: End insecurity in Rivers now

    The Ikwerre Youth Movement (IYM) International has urged security agencies to end the insecurity across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State.

    IYM, Saturday in a seven-point communiqué after a crucial emergency meeting of its National Central Working Committee at the national secretariat, stated that urgent steps must be taken to stop investors from leaving the Niger Delta state.

    The communique was signed by IYM’s President-General, Azubike Wanjoku, who is also a member of Rivers House of Assembly, representing Ikwerre constituency; the Secretary-General, Marshall Chuku; the Director of Media and Publicity, Dike Bekwele; and four others.

    Ikwerreland covers four of Rivers state’s 23 LGAs of Port Harcourt City, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre and Emohua.

    Governor Nyesom Wike hails from Rumueprikom, Port Harcourt in Obio/Akpor council, while his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi, now Transportation Minister, is an indigene of Ubima in Ikwerre LGA.

    IYM said: “The spate of insecurity in Rivers State, resulting in killings, has rapidly been on the increase in Ikwerreland. We call on security agencies, especially the Nigerian police, to tactically seek an end to the menace.

    “The Rivers State government must expedite action on ensuring that our youths are mainly engaged, to avoid idleness, as one of the major causes of insecurity in Ikwerreland is unemployment.

    “We condemn, in strong terms, the burning of the village residence of one of our highly-respected elders and ethnic leaders, Ochioha Sampson Agbaru, a former Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG) and ex-President-General of Ogbakor Ikwerre Worldwide. We call on the Nigeria Police to get to the root of the matter and apprehend the perpetrators as soon as possible. The act is not only barbaric, but also sacrilegious.

    Read Also: Drivers, ex-militants block East-West road over killings, kidnappings

    “We painfully condemn in strong terms, the gruesome murder of one of our committed members, Hon. Benson Omunakwe, at Mgbuoshimini, Rumueme in Obio/Akpor LGA. The security agencies must seriously investigate the killers of Omunakwe and also ensure that the death will bring to the lowest minimum, the continuous murder of our sons.”

    The umbrella organisation of Ikwerre youths also called on all stakeholders in Ikwerre ethnic nationality and Rivers state to rise to the challenges and make efforts at putting to an end the dastardly act of killing of Ikwerre people, while stressing that leaders across party lines must start to seek ways of ending the violence.

    It said: “The Federal Government, as a matter of urgency, must come to the aid of our people at this point in time, before all our people are being wiped out. The state apparatus seem not to be enough in handling the security challenges in Ikwerreland and other parts of Rivers State.

    “We are aware of planned invasion and attack on our lives and homes by some paid agents  within the security apparatus in Rivers State.

    “We also condemn, in very strong terms, the invasion of the residence of the Transportation Minister, which is the first in the series of planned attacks. We call on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, to investigate it and deal appropriately.”

    IYM also urged all Ikwerre youths to remain law abiding and prayerful, while assuring that this too would pass.

  • Rivers moves against cultism and kidnapping

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has said communities with prevalence of insecurity, cultism and kidnapping will no longer enjoy the government’s patronage.

    Wike, who addressed a special security meeting at the Government House yesterday, said the government will dethrone traditional rulers in communities where cultism and kidnapping are encouraged.

    Wike said: “Those councils where there are no serious cases of cultism and kidnapping will enjoy more government projects and attention.  But councils where cultism and kidnapping have become entrenched will lose out.

    “The monarch of such communities will be deposed. We will not allow crisis in our communities. If you don’t want to take the war to them, we will take the war to you.”

    The governor added that all youth groups found to be involved in cultism will be dissolved by the government.

    He noted that under the current dispensation, the government and people will take their fate in their hands by collectively addressing the security challenges. He urged stakeholders to work with security agencies to fight insecurity.

    “Enough is enough. Nobody arrested by security agencies for cultism will see the light of the day. If you say we will not sleep, you also will not sleep. Every logistic has been provided for security agencies to tackle the insecurity,” the governor added.

    He also warned that any top government official caught trying to influence the release of arrested suspected cultists and kidnappers will face the full weight of the law.

    The governor also directed council chairmen to work with their traditional rulers, Community Development Committees and youth leaders to advance the course of peace.

    Commissioner of Police Usman Belel promised that security agencies will fight to reduce crime to the barest minimum

    He said the police will use the community policing strategy to involve community stakeholders in the peace process. Belel called on the people to support the police with information to tackle cultism, kidnapping and fake news.

    Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers and Amayanabo of Opobo, King Douglas Dandeson Jaja urged security agencies to take monarchs into confidence as they perform their responsibilities.

    He, however, berated the security agencies for divulging information shared by traditional rulers.

    The meeting was attended by the Commissioner of Police Usman Belel; Director, Department of State Services (SSS) Tosin Ajayi; Commander SOG 115, Nigeria Air Force, Air Commander E.O. E Ebiowei, Commander, NNS Pathfinder Commodore SJ Bura and Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) ML Haruna.

    It was also attended by local government chairmen, traditional rulers, chairmen of community development committees and youth leaders.