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Tag: Rivers State

  • Change in NDDC rekindles hope of Niger Delta development 

    Change in NDDC rekindles hope of Niger Delta development 

    Regular visitors to the corporate headquarters of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State are seeing changes about the commission. Many things have changed within and outside the premises; it certainly looks different. There is a new air around the vicinity and members of staff. But the real changes are not necessarily physical; it is how the new NDDC now functions.

    The era when contracts are literarily hawked around the commission’s headquarters on Aba Road, when touts, hangers-on and praise singers take up strategic positions around the NDDC premises awaiting the ‘big men’ to pass through and throw wads of naira at them like some American rappers are gone.

    This new NDDC rekindles hope in the people of the region, despite the dirty politics by some stakeholders, who include governors. The awakening of the sleeping giant from its ennui towards the achievement of its core mandate, that is development of the oil-rich region, was foretold in February, when the board held a retreat for management and members of staff of the commission.

    The retreat offered the Mr. Nsima-Ekere-led commission along with the board, chaired by Ndoma Egba, the avenue to unfurl its agenda, hinged on the 4Rs of restructuring its balance sheet, reforming governance protocol, restoring the core mandate of the commission and re-affirming a commitment to doing what is right and proper.

    Topics discussed at the retreat revolved mostly round the issue of “corruption in the system”, how to initiate and execute projects that are beneficial to the people and not to serve interests; how to ensure transparency and redemption of the commission’s image in the eyes of the public.

    Erstwhile Director-General, Bureau for Pubic Service Reform, Dr. Joe Abah, said at the retreat that the NDDC of the past was the worst-managed government organisation he ever saw. It was a damning assessment from the respected reformer, who saw lots of dirty government agencies and helped in their cleansing.

    The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Ekere agreed. He lamented the image of corruption the mention of NDDC in the region and beyond conjured, and vowed that his team would work assiduously to correct the image and restore confidence in the commission.

    To this end, the management met with dozens of development partners, which culminated in the signing of Memorandum of Understanding with BudgIT and the UK’s DFID-funded Oxford Policy Management Limited, among others.

    The OPML implements the Facility for Oil Sector Transparency and Reform in Nigeria, while BudgIT is a Nigerian civic technology organisation that works towards raising the standard of transparency in institutions such as the NDDC, as well as engagement of citizens towards ensuring accountability in public finance. The MoUs, signed in May, raised the bar for the commission’s budgeting process as well as open it to public scrutiny and participation as never before.

    Under the terms of the MoU, BudgIT worked with NDDC to develop ‘Open Budget Systems’ platform and the implementation of an effective Public Data Dissemination programme. It basically assisted the NDDC to develop an online portal for the NDDC Open Budget System, effectively communicate the transparency initiatives of the NDDC, engage policymakers, private sector actors and the public about initiatives of NDDC.

    The key objectives and advantages of the collaboration, according to the two sides, include: improvement to NDDC reporting process, strengthening accountability, improvements to prioritisation of projects and budgeting, improving transparency and disciplined spending.

    It will also provide support for project monitoring and evaluation, engender stakeholder engagement and generally promote value for money. These are areas that are crucial to the core mandate of the commission, which is to facilitate rapid and sustainable development of the Niger Delta region.

    BudgIT has a reputation for transparency initiatives and it extensively works to spur members of the public to demand answers on budget and fund utilisation. BudgIT urges the public to ask questions about the nation’s resources and how their taxes are being utilised in provision of infrastructure and public services.

    The MoU aims at encouraging the NDDC to take steps to institutionalise proactive disclosure of public data and information, and partner with it to develop and execute relevant engagement programme in the communities of the region.

    Ekere described the MoU as a milestone for the management’s and board’s broad plan of action to strengthen NDDC for the achievements of its core mandate.

    “We at NDDC will continue to remain true to our commitment to continuously engage with key stakeholders and partners towards the overarching goal of the development of the people and the region of the Niger Delta,” he said.

    Besides, he noted that the partnership was in line with the Federal Government’s membership of the Open Government Partnership and its commitments towards ensuring that government and its institutions make a strong commitment to promote transparency and accountability; fight corruption and use new technologies to strengthen governance and empower citizens.

    “The expected outcomes of this initiative are to ensure that not only is real change happening within the NDDC and in the Niger Delta region but that this change is benefitting citizens,” the MD said.

    This initiative with BudgIT not only serves as a unique platform for public governance transparency reforms and illustrates the NDDC’s management’s determination and readiness for openness in its operations, but it has also provided a framework of much-needed change that helps the NDDC and its stakeholders decide what is most relevant in their regional contexts thereby leading to the successive tackling of a diversity of issues and a multiplicity of approaches taken.

    Ekere further said: “Beyond the deliverables outlined in the MoU, we at the NDDC hope that this collaboration with BudgIT, will result, among many other things, in assisting management focus efforts and resources on social outcomes that really matter to the people of the Niger Delta.

    “We hope to build a strong and broad-based transformative system that serves to provide citizens with more information about how NDDC functions and thereby enable them to be more informed and engaged and better able to hold NDDC to account. By this initiative, we hope to send a strong and clear message to the people of the Niger Delta, Nigerians at large and the international community that we at the NDDC are committed to doing the right thing regarding good governance.”

    The commission also teamed with the Oxford Policy Management Limited as part of its efforts towards provision of services to strengthen management system and delivery of developmental projects in the region. Oxford is funded by the Direct Foreign Investment Department (DFID) of the United Kingdom and implements the Facility for Oil Sector Transparency and Reform in Nigeria.

    The purpose of the MoU, according to documents obtained by Niger Delta Report, aimed “towards providing support services to strengthen the management system and delivery of developmental projects in the Niger Delta region.”

    The implementing team, among others, worked on institutionalising NDDC budgetary processes, emphasising on depersonalisation of projects, as it was in the past where individuals, for selfish gains, chose projects that have little or no benefits for the ‘benefiting’ communities.

    On his expectations for the partnerships, Mr Ekere said: “I look forward to working to deliver on the goals set out in the MoU and in the larger context, to make the Niger Delta the glorious, productive and constantly developing place we expect it to be.”

    From what is happening so far at the commission, the NDDC, since its foundation 18 years ago, has never been in a better stead than now to achieve the purpose for which it was set up in 1999.

     

     

  • Thanks, Governor Wike, thanks

    Thanks, Governor Wike, thanks

    MY friend, Simeon Nwakaudu, took exception to almost every single word in my open letter to his boss, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike. His reply published on this space last week accused me of misinforming the public on the fate of final year beneficiaries of a scholarship programme inherited by the administration.

    Interestingly, the day his reply was published, this newspaper also carried a report that Wike released $1 million for  the payment of tuition of 28 final year overseas scholars.

    Commissioner for Finance Dr.  Fred Kpakol said the Wike administration was not responsible for their admissions, but found it necessary that the education sector should be taken very seriously.

    Kpakol’s words: “We came and incurred a lot of debts because the previous government, even while it took the students to foreign universities, could not pay their fees.  And most of the students became very frustrated.

    “And as students of Rivers State and government is giving service to all and sundry, the governor felt it was necessary to look into their plights and foster a solution to that.

    “Within the first month, as we came in on May 29, 2015,  on June 10,  the governor released the sum of N200 million to the RSSDA to pay for overseas scholarships because they encumbered a lot of cost and they needed to have a good documentation of the students that are involved.  So, the first tranche of N200 million was paid.

    “On September 29, 2016, the governor released N485, 289,000.00,for part of their tuition fees. After he has done that, he considered it was necessary do an audit to know the students and how they were meeting up.

    “Now, the governor has graciously released the sum of $1 million to pay to nine universities for 28 RSSDA final year overseas scholarships beneficiaries for payment of their outstanding tuition fees. This was done in the midst of biting economy and down trend in the economy of the country.”

    In my piece, which Nwakaudu read upside down,  I asked for the governor’s understanding for the sake of the future of Rivers and Nigeria. I also made allusion to my past critical essays and pleaded they should not form the basis for assessing my plea.

    The main concern of the piece was 16 Rivers indigenes studying medicine at the All Saints University in Saint Vincent and Grenadines. These guys, which I have chosen to address as All Saints 16, found themselves overseas after they went through thorough screening under the Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi administration.

    The RSSDA found these guys worthy of overseas scholarship and sent them abroad. The overseas scholarship covered Medicine and allied courses. It was received after an aptitude test. After this, RSSDA secured admissions for successful candidates and entered into a bilateral agreement with students and the universities.

    The scheme underwent a review after Wike took over. That review led to the suspension of these guys from medical school two months to their graduation. The school had no choice than to take this line of action because of the inability of the Rivers State government to pay outstanding tuition fees and living allowance.

    Their plight made them upload a petition on www.change.org. Through the petition, the All Saints 16 pleaded with the governor to pay their allowance and tuition, which was stopped in November 2014.

    It reads: “We have not been paid our upkeep allowance for about two years and 11 months. Our tuition fees have not been paid for 5 semesters (Clinical rotation [CR2 to CR6]), and as a result of this, all 16 of us were suspended from school in September, 2016 (2 months to our scheduled graduation date of November 2016).

    “Ever since our suspension, we have been staying at home, not being allowed to conclude our remaining elective clinical rotations and all efforts to contact the Rivers State government for the release of funds proved abortive.”

    One of the All Saints 16, Promise Adimele, spoke with our award-winning star reporter Hannah Ojo. He was full of lamentation: “Feeding has been very difficult as we rely on the charities of friends and school colleagues. Most landlords have evicted us from their houses due to non-payment of rent and threatened us with legal proceedings in order to recover the outstanding rent. Life has been tough and unbearable for all of us since we were abandoned by the Rivers State government and RSSDA.”

    In my ‘offending piece’, I quoted a letter dated July 16, last year, which the RSSDA wrote the school’s management to announce changes to the scheme.

    It reads: “The point that needs to be emphasized here is that we will only sponsor students that are completing their studies in 2016 as well as settle outstanding commitment to date.

    “Kindly be assured that the outstanding tuition payment for our students in your school have been adequately captured in the list of payables that are on the front burners of the Rivers State government. We will plead strongly with you to continue to show understanding and to kindly allow a little more grace and period specifically for the 16 final year students who also fall in the category of students that the government has pledged to continue their sponsorship.”

    The letter, which was signed by Mr Lawrence Pepple, the Executive Director/CEO of the RSSDA, shows that the All Saints 16 still fall under the category the scheme is willing to sponsor.

    Hannah’s attempt to get the reaction of Rivers Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Kenneth Kobani, saw him blaming it all on Amaechi, who Nwakaudu described as The Nation’s ‘second benefactor’.

    “You are from The Nation newspaper. Have you asked the APC zonal leader who was governor who refused to pay the fees of these children since 2014?  When you ask him you can come to us and ask us what we are doing,” Kobani told Hannah and hurriedly hung the phone.

    Unlike Kobani, Commissioner for Information Emma Okah made a lot of sense in explaining the situation to Hannah.  He alluded to the bad economy, which only a dead person, would not have felt in the last two years.

    Okah told Hannah: “For those who are in final year pursing speciliased courses like medicine, the state government planned to pursue their welfare to the extent it can take. Some people have been coming and cases have been dealt with on merit. I do not know what has happened to these set of students.  I am just hearing it for the first time today.”

    He said it was baseless to feel the students were abandoned on the assumption that they are children of political opponents.

    I ended the piece by pleading on behalf of Adden Babeye Paul  (Asari/Toru), Amaechi Promise Adimele (Oyigbo),   Amadi Udochukwu Junior (Etche), Maakai Baribor          (Gokana), Precious Wifa (Khana), Baritore Princewill Ikpe   (Tai),Victor West Kpelene (Tai),  Nsiipu Namene Nsiipu (Tai) and other final year RSSDA scholars, for an arrangement to be worked out for them to earn their degrees.

    I feel happy that these guys will earn their degrees and be in a better position to lift our world.

    My final take: What more is there for me to say? Thanks your Excellency; thanks for being a listening governor. Thanks for hearing our cries.

     

  • Widow to IGP: order arrest of my husband’s killer

    Widow to IGP: order arrest of my husband’s killer

    The widow of a slain sand dealer in Umuebulu, Etche Local Government of Rivers State, Mrs. Victoria Njoku, has appealed to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, for justice.

    She lamented that her four children have stopped school since her husband was murdered on May 5.

    Leaders of Umuebulu, in a petition to the IGP, signed by the monarch, Eze James Nwagwu; the oldest man in the community Enyiazu Okere; a leader, Chief Benjamin Nwafor, and 10 others, accused a member of the IGP Monitoring Team in Abuja, Victor Nwadike, of vowing not to return the case file to Port Harcourt.

    They alleged that Nwadike attempted to pervert justice, having collected N20 million from the suspected murderer, Daniel Njoku, an engineer, which he denied.

    Mrs. Njoku said: “I want justice. The killer of my husband should be arrested; the IGP should order that the case file be sent to Port Harcourt. The murderer always bribed his way through each time he was arrested.

    “Why the special interest of Abuja in this case? Who is funding SP Victor Nwadike and his men to pay flights from Abuja to Rivers State for this murder case? Was it the IGP that funded and mobilised him? Why have members of the IGP monitoring team not bothered to hear from eyewitnesses? Why is Nwadike avoiding me and witnesses to the murder? Who is really paying for his (Nwadike’s) expenses in hotels and fares?

    “What is the rationale behind the takeover of the case by the IGP monitoring team, of an already-concluded investigation in Rivers State, even when the matter occurred in Rivers State?”

    Umuebulu leaders begged the IGP not to allow the case to be swept under the carpet, urging him to take action and perform his duty.

    They said: “The only reason Nwadike has refused to return the case file to Rivers State is to impede investigation and frustrate eyewitnesses, who cannot afford the cost of travelling to Abuja.

    “Nwadike has vowed not to hand over the case file, despite cries of the widow, the four children and community members that he (Nwadike) should withdraw from the case. His conduct has lent credence to the boast by the murderer that he has bought Nwadike.

    “The leadership of Umuebulu has restrained aggrieved youths against taking laws into their hands, but we cannot guarantee their cooperation if justice is delayed or denied. The released murderer is attempting to eliminate eyewitnesses.”

    But Nwadike said he never vowed to hold on to the case file, adding that he acted professionally while handling the matter, but he did not know how the suspect (Daniel) was freed. He insisted it happened before he took over the matter.

    His words: “It was on the directive of the IGP that I was mandated to take over the case. Before I proceeded to SCIID, Port Harcourt, to take over, my team had taken over the sister case file from another monitoring unit team. I acted as directed.

    “I did not know Daniel Njoku prior to September 15, when the case file was taken over from Port Harcourt. That was the first and only time I met him. It may also interest you to know that I never had his phone number or ever called him. My call log can attest to this. He is not my friend.

    “I am not a bribe-taking policeman. Without sounding immodest, I am not the type of officer who sees white and turns it to black. By the grace of God, my life will never condescend to that level. My accusers should know that at the right time, they will be required to prove when, where and how I received bribe from Daniel Njoku. It will be unfortunate if they fail.

    “Investigation is on. They have been invited. Yet, they have failed or refused to honour the invitation. Why are they not comfortable with the office of the IGP to look into and do justice to this case if they have nothing to hide? “

    The suspected murderer, Daniel Njoku, in a telephone interview, described the petitioners (leaders of Umuebulu) as hoodlums and impostors, who lied against him after taking over his father’s land. He denied killing Mbuchi, who he said drowned in the river.

    Njoku also denied bribing any policeman.

    Umuebulu leaders, however, called on the IG to perform his constitutional duty and bring the culprit to book.

    They pleaded with the IG to end the underhand activities of the monitoring teamin trying to cover up the case.

  • Abandoned Rivers state Monorail project

    Abandoned Rivers state Monorail project

    The Monorail Project in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, was conceived and began by the former governor of state, now Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, in his first tenure as governor in 2008. It was designed to cover 12 kilometers at the cost of N50 billion.

    But as at the point of 2.6 kilometre, it was abandoned. In what was described as Phase 1A, the monorail project has gulped the sum of N33.9billion.

    The design is down-graded and the sum of N33.9 b was expended on the project before it was abandoned at the end of the last administration.

    The original design and specification for the entire Phase 1 of the project was 12 kilometre long and at N50 billion naira, but the sum of N33.9 billion was spent on just 2.6 kilometre.

    The story in public domain on the failed project was that two companies,  Urbanord, a renown American company and TSI, a local company owned by a one-time military administrator  of Rivers State,  Colonel Anthony Ukpo, made presentations to handle the project. Sources said some members of Amaechi’s cabinet considered the presentation of Urbanord over that of Ukpo, but Amaechi insisted on the indigenous company and when it became obviously impossible to agree on this with his cabinet members, he allegedly dissolved the cabinet to have his way and later reconstituted it after the contract award.

    These were the evidence reeled out by the Director, Safety and Aviation, Engineer Says Antioch of the State Ministry of Transportation before Justice George Omwreji-led Judicial Commission of Inquiry on the Sale of Assets of the state by former Governor Amaechi.

    Antioch also told the panel members that while the foreign firm bided N25 billion to complete the 12 kilometre distance of the design, TSI quoted N50billion and Amaechi decided to go with him.

  • How I escaped death in encounters with daring gangs—Rivers F-SARS commander

    How I escaped death in encounters with daring gangs—Rivers F-SARS commander

    A lawyer and Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Mr. Akin Fakorede, who hails from Omuo-Ekiti in Ekiti State, is the Commander of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS) in Rivers State. In this interview with our Bureau Chief in Port Harcourt, BISI OLANIYI, he explains his relationship with Rivers State governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, and proffers solutions to kidnapping and other crimes.

    Most people are familiar with the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). But they suddenly started seeing your men in black T-shirts F-SARS (Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad) inscription. Why the sudden change in nomenclature?

    The full nomenclature is F-SARS, which stands for Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). It has been in existence for decades in the Nigeria Police Force, but the operational capability of SARS became improved with IGP Ibrahim Idris at the helm of affairs. He identified SARS as one of the tactical teams that could be engaged to combat various extreme crimes: kidnapping, armed robbery, communal attacks, cult-related gang wars and other violent activities that have bedevilled our country in recent times.

    Since you became the helmsman of F-SARS in Rivers State, how many of the extreme crimes have you been able to combat?

    Violent crimes are a daily occurrence in the Niger Delta. Managing extreme crimes and violent groups is done on a daily basis. We are always dealing with kidnapping, cult and robbery gangs, as well as snatching of vehicles with arms from unsuspecting citizens and gunmen who invade communities from time to time.

    With your experience over the years, what is the way out of kidnapping, militancy, cultism and other crimes in the Niger Delta?

    Tackling the crimes will require an integrated approach, especially many actors working together to deal with the security challenge in the Niger Delta. Security is key. In addition to security, we also need to fight crimes with jobs, morality and with the leaders setting proper examples for the youths to follow.

    READ: How I escaped death in encounters with daring gangs—Rivers F-SARS commander

    How can crimes be fought with morality?

    It involves leaders of churches and mosques placing emphasis on Godly principles. You must be your brother’s keeper. You must not take what does not belong to you. You must not put your hope in earthly things and you must not be too materialistic. You must develop the spirit of contentment, to live a good life. Part of what is responsible for the high rate of crimes is poor moral upbringing of our youths and the attraction to filthy lucre and material things, which have taken over the time-tested and proven principles of contentment.

    You admonished people not to put their hope in earthly things. Are you a child of God?

    I am a Christian. I am a child of God. I am a man of faith. I believe in every word of the Bible.

    Did you join the police because you did not have other options?

    I developed interest in the Nigeria Police Force and joined in 1992 as a Cadet Inspector from the Police Academy, Kano, along with Frank Mba, one-time Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police Force, and many other young people of my age. I chose a career in the Nigeria Police Force and I have not looked back since then.

    I did not opt for the police out of frustration. I joined the police because I have love for the job. I had many options then, but I decided to choose the police. The concept then was that the Police Academy, Kano, was going to start as a university during the regime of former military President Ibrahim Babangida.

    The concept of Police Academy, which is today a federal university, started way back. Part of the information we had was that the university would start as far back as 1992. Unfortunately, it did not start. But we had to go through the regular training, which was very fine, and we learnt a lot.

    How has it been, since you joined the police?

    It has been rewarding and challenging. The police force has given me a lot of opportunities. I have served with the United Nations (UN) under the UN African Mission in Darfur, a region in Western Sudan where a major armed conflict began in February 2003. I was part of the pioneer UN team in Darfur on December 30, 2007. I have also served with the African Union (AU) in Somalia. I have been privileged to go on overseas training.

    The Nigeria Police Force has also given me an opportunity to train and qualify as a lawyer from the University of Calabar (UNICAL) in Cross River State. I later went to the Nigerian Law School, Enugu Campus. Then, there was no Yenagoa Campus. I was called to the Bar in May 2007. I also have a master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from UNICAL. Presently, I am running a master’s programme in Law in a Nigerian university.

    There have been challenges and there are challenges on a daily basis. I have escaped death on many occasions from armed gangs/armed robbers. I have accosted very daring groups of armed robbers in the Niger Delta, especially in Rivers State. We fought our way to escape. We had gun battles with various armed groups. God has always given us victory.

    Also: Wike, Rivers F-SARS Commander’s face-off worsens… as Rivers council ejects anti-robbery squad

    Have you led an operation in which you lost some of your men?

    I have lost my men on many occasions in the course of duty. Death is one of the prices we pay as police officers in order to ensure the safety of lives and property of other citizens, as well as prevent the breakdown of law and order.

    How do you motivate your men when they see lifeless bodies of their colleagues?

    We always let them understand that it is a privilege to serve and give up one’s life for the greater good of one’s country. Anybody called to take up that task must consider him/herself honoured. The men have also come to understand that some people must stand up for Nigeria and stand on the path of what is right.

    On October 5, 2017, a delegation of the Niger Delta Bishops and Ministers’ Forum, also known as United Bishops and Eminent Clerics Initiative of Nigeria Inc., gave you an award. How does it feel receiving the award at a time that Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, and his allies in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) decided to declare war against you, accusing you of professional misconduct and taking sides with the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and calling for your transfer away from the Niger Delta state?

    The award was very inspiring, highly motivating and very sobering indeed. It was never arranged. I do not know the eminent personalities across the Niger Delta region who gave me the award. The award means that in the midst of all the noise and distractions, we still have people who genuinely recognised that we are doing so much to keep them safe. That is very humbling, and I am very grateful to all the members of the Niger Delta Bishops and Ministers’ Forum for the honour and their support.

    How will you react to the accusation that you and F-SARS operatives are always involved in kidnapping, armed robbery, extortion of innocent members of the public and illegal arrest of many law-abiding Rivers residents?

    The allegations against F-SARS, coming from whatever quarters, are completely false and are without a single evidence or proof. The SARS in Rivers State is a unit of the Nigeria Police Force, with operatives who are disciplined, professional and committed to their duties. We have encouraged members of the public to report any infraction from any member of the unit (F-SARS). Any officer that acts in a manner unbecoming of a police officer will be disciplined in line with existing regulations.

    On September 25, 2017, it was alleged that operatives of F-SARS killed a taxi driver, Mr. Ajibade Ademisoye, 42, at Rumuakunde community, Emohua town in Emohua LGA, accusing him of being a cult member, which led to massive protest against F-SARS. Why was Ademisoye killed?

    Ajibade Ademisoye was a notorious cult member. On the day of the incident, he was in the midst of 12 other members of his gang at Rumuakunde community, Emohua. On the fateful day, Ademisoye and his gang sighted a police patrol team, opened fire on them and shot a policeman, Sgt. Okoroma Gift, who was later rushed to the hospital. The F-SARS operatives responded to the gun attack by Ademisoye and his gang. Ademisoye was not alone. He was with other persons who took to their heels after the shootout with the police. He was not driving a taxi. He was not killed at a checkpoint. He was killed in the bush in Rumuakunde community, Emohua.

    After the shootout, we took the shot policeman and Ademisoye to the hospital. While Ademisoye was being attended to in the hospital by the medical team, they found in his pocket two rounds of live ammunition, and the medical personnel had to call the police. At the scene where the incident took place, the policemen recovered one locally-made pistol and two live cartridges.

    Ademisoye might be a taxi driver, but he was not driving a taxi when he had a confrontation with the men of F-SARS. The people who protested and the persons who were levelling unfounded allegations against F-SARS were not at the scene of the incident. We were there, but they were not there. If they were there, they would have seen the policeman that was shot by the cultists. Other gang members who were with Ademisoye on the day of the incident, why are they not coming out to identify themselves and to testify on his behalf?

    While we commiserate with Ademisoye’s young widow, his children and other members of his family, we maintain that the deceased engaged in activities that were not acceptable to the law and could only have himself to blame. Members of the public must know that Ademisoye was not an innocent citizen. His fate was as a result of the consequences of his action. You cannot shoot at policemen and expect them not to defend themselves. You cannot shoot at members of the public and feel that there will be no consequences. The consequences of armed insurrection is that the law enforcement agents will respond appropriately. That was exactly what we did.

    There was a rerun of elections in Rivers State on December 10, 2016, but you were accused by Governor Wike and many leaders of the PDP that you intimidated and beat up officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the Rivers East Senatorial District’s Collation Centre, located at the secretariat of the Port Harcourt City Local Government Council (PHALGA), near the Government House, Port Harcouurt, and also that you connived with APC leaders to rig the elections in favour of the candidates of the APC. What is your reaction?

    The allegations are completely false. I never connived with anybody. I never prevented INEC officials from doing their job. F-SARS men only provided security during the elections and collation of results, thereby ensuring that thugs, hoodlums and criminal elements who were disrupting the process and shooting at people were arrested.

    All we (F-SARS operatives) did was to respond to distress calls at various locations to recover weapons from hoodlums who were shooting at people, attacking and killing voters. A panel was set up to look into all the incidents that occurred during the December 10, 2016 elections. Members of the panel interviewed all persons/actors in the field, including myself, and they have made their submission.

    At no point was it alleged before the members of the panel that I intimidated or assaulted anybody. Nobody also stated that I snatched ballot boxes/result sheets or beat up any official of INEC.

    How will you describe the calls for your transfer out of Rivers State by Governor Wike and other leaders of the PDP for allegedly disrupting the security architecture of the state, with a claim that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Police Service Commission (PSC) are shielding you?

    The calls are uncalled for. There is no truth in all the allegations levelled against me and men of F-SARS in Rivers State. I need to state that I do not have any personal issue with Governor Wike and other leaders of PDP. I am simply doing my job in line with the ethics of my profession.

    The Rivers Commissioner of Police, Zaki Mohammed Ahmed, is always insisting on professionalism and adherence to the rule of law by policemen in the Rivers State Police Command, including the operatives of F-SARS. If the leaders of PDP, APC and other political parties approach F-SARS and demand security, we will surely oblige all of them without taking sides, which we have been doing and will continue to do by God’s grace and mercy.

    How will you describe the security situation in Rivers State, in view of the October 9, 2017 killing of no fewer than 15 innocent persons in their sleep by gunmen in a densely-populated residential area near the office of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in Port Harcourt?

    The security situation is challenging and we are living up to the challenge. We will deal with the security situation and ensure that everybody in Rivers State is safe. That is our mandate, especially to ensure the safety of all persons within the boundaries of Rivers State, and that we will do.

    What is your advice for Rivers people as we move towards 2019?

    My advice to the members of the public in Rivers State is to support the police with timely and useful information. When you see something, you say something. Everybody should also have all the security numbers that we have made available.

    Policing is a partnership. Security is everybody’s business. Everybody should be vigilant. Ahead of 2019, the youths should resist being used as thugs and should always consider their future, thereby engaging in meaningful ventures to contribute to societal development.

    There are lots of opportunities out there for the youth who ought not to resort to crime. There are many programmes designed by the Federal Government to engage the youth, like the N-Power and recruitments going on in all of the services. The youths should take advantage of all the government policies and programmes.

    We now have transparent employment processes. Employment opportunities/vacancies are advertised daily on the Internet or social media and in newspapers. Forms are now filled online. I want to encourage the youths to take advantage of these opportunities.

    The youths can also be self-employed and embrace the empowerment programmes of the Federal Government, other tiers of government, development agencies, companies, individuals and other stakeholders.

    Youths will live more meaningful lives if they are engaged. The temptations to get involved in criminality will not be there if you are doing something meaningful for yourself.

    What of the fears in some quarters that informants can be betrayed by some policemen?

    The fears that policemen will divulge useful information given in confidence by members of the public and endanger the lives of the informants are unfounded. The people that give timely information to the police are always well protected.

    In the Rivers State Police Command, especially F-SARS, nobody has given us information that we have not protected or we have not managed very well.

    Information provided is always confidential and we always ensure that the information is well managed. We do not put people’s lives on the line. We are professional enough to shield persons giving information to the police.

  • Ex-Rivers lawmaker slumps, dies

    Ex-Rivers lawmaker slumps, dies

    A a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former member of the Rivers State House of Assembly between 2011 and 2015, Andrew Miller has died.

    Miller, who represented Opobo/Nkoro constituency, slumped and died in the early hours of today.

     The former lawmaker had earlier lost his wife in an accident at Saakpenwa-Ogoni, the headquarters of Tai Local Government Area of Rivers state.

    It was learnt that the ex-lawmaker was earlier sick, but later recovered, making him to drive to the Port Harcourt venue of penultimate week’s send-off in honour of an APC chieftain, Oji Ngofa, who is now Nigeria’s Ambassador to Netherlands.

    Miller, according to reliable sources, visited a hospital in the Rivers state capital on Wednesday for check-up, but slumped and later passed on.

    It was gathered that the APC chieftain’s death might be as a result of sudden relapse of the illness.

    The Publicity Secretary of APC in Rivers State, Chief Chris Finebone, who confirmed the former lawmaker’s death in a telephone interview yesterday evening, described it as shocking and that he would be greatly missed.

  • Photos: Gov. Wike meets Ronaldo, Ramos

    Photos: Gov. Wike meets Ronaldo, Ramos

    Governor Wike Nyesom of Rivers state, met the Real Madrid stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos on Monday. The governor met with them in Spain, over the establishment of an academy in the state.

    See photos below:

     

    Real Madrid Captain , Sergio Ramos meet with Wike and Rivers State Commissioner for Sport Mr Boma Iyaye

    Read Also: Champions League: Real Madrid vs Tottenham Possible Line-up

    Sergio Ramos, Governor Wike

    Real Madrid star, Cristiano Ronaldo: Rivers state Governor, Nyesom Wike and Chief Adokiye Ameiesimaka
  • Rivers medical students stranded abroad as Wike abandons agreement

    Rivers medical students stranded abroad as Wike abandons agreement

    The gleam has gone out of the light of 16 Rivers indigenes studying medicine at the All Saints University in Saint Vincent and Grenadines. The 16 students who are beneficiaries of the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency Scholarship (RSSDA)  scheme  were  suspended from medical school  two months to their graduation as a result of the inability of the Rivers state government to pay outstanding tuition fees and living allowance running into thousands of dollars.  An invoice for an individual student obtained by The Nation pegged the tuition fee for 5 semesters at $39,975.

    In an online petition uploaded on www.change.org,  the 16 stranded students pleaded with Governor Nyesom Wike to pay their upkeep allowance and tuition, which was last paid in November 2014.

    “We have not been paid our upkeep allowance for about 2 years and 11 months. Our tuition fees have not been paid for 5 semesters (Clinical rotation [CR2 to CR6]), and as a result of this, all 16 of us were suspended from school in September, 2016 (2 months to our scheduled graduation date of November 2016).

    “Ever since our suspension, we have been staying at home, not being allowed to conclude our remaining elective clinical rotations and all efforts to contact the Rivers State Government for the release of funds proved abortive,” the students wrote.

    One of the stranded students, Promise Adimele told The Nation that the non -payment of upkeep allowance has exposed the stranded students to untold hardship and suffering.

     

    “Feeding has been very difficult as we rely on the charities of friends and school colleagues. Most landlords have evicted us from their houses due to non-payment of rent and threatened us with legal proceedings in order to recover the outstanding rent. Life has been tough and unbearable for all of us since we were abandoned by the Rivers State Government and RSSDA”, he lamented.

    In a letter dated July 16, 2016 addressed to Dr Terace Marcelle, the  Dean of  Students Affairs, All Saints University, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines;  the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency had written to the school pleading for understanding whilst also intimating the school management of some changes to the scheme.

    “The point that needs to be emphasized here is that we will only sponsor students that are completing their studies in 2016 as well as settle outstanding commitment to date.

    “Kindly be assured that the outstanding tuition payment for our students in your school have been adequately captured in the list of payables that are on the front burners of the Rivers state government. We will plead strongly with you to continue to show understanding and to kindly allow a little more grace and period specifically for the 16 final year students who also fall in the category of students that the Government has pledged to continue their sponsorship”, the letter, signed by  Mr Lawrence Pepple, the Executive Director/CEO of the RSSDA read.

    Charged with the development of human capital and agriculture resources in the state, the RSSDA was inaugurated as an agency under the ministry of agriculture and natural resources in 2008 by the Rotimi Amaechi administration.  The former governor introduced the overseas scholarship scheme in critical areas such as Medicine and allied courses, to deserving indigenes, after an aptitude test, where qualified candidates were selected and prepared for academic programmes in A-level and/or international degree foundation. Admissions were secured in universities overseas for successful candidates by RSSDA, which entered into a bilateral agreement with students and their host institutions.

    Usually, the living and tuition allowance of the students were paid in advance but problem began when the  former Commissioner for Agriculture, Onemin Jack, in December 2015, informed parents of children under the RSSDA overseas scholarship programme that only final-year students would complete their programmes abroad, with the rest to continue their studies in Nigeria.

    Finding revealed that not only did the agency reneged on the agreement to see the final year students through the scheme,  governor Nyeson Wike who spoke during a recent interview aired on channels TV claimed the RSSDA overseas scholarship beneficiaries were not Rivers State indigenes. He also added that the beneficiaries are children of his political opponents.

    When The Nation sought the reaction of the SSG to the Rivers state governor, Mr Kenneth Kobini, he directed the reporter to ask the former governor, Rotimi Amaechi;

    “You are from The Nation newspaper. Have you asked the former APC zonal leader who was governor who refused to pay the fees of these students’ children since 2014?  When you ask him you can come to us and ask us what we are doing,” he hurriedly stated and hung the call.

    The students refuted the claims of being children of political opponents in the state.  “We have no political affiliations, we are just young people trying to better our lives and become productive members of society.”

    Apart from the  16 RSSDA sponsored final year medical students are stranded at the All Saints University, St. Vincent Grenadines, there are also other final year stranded  students in fields such as engineering, Law, Science, ICT, etc scattered in various schools in India, Europe, Canada, UK and the Caribbean. Last month, parents of stranded final year medical students in the University of Debrecen in Hungary pleaded with governor Wike  to show compassion on their helpless children by fulfilling his promise by  enabling  the students  obtain their certificates and return to Nigeria.

    Also, the  petition was started one month ago by Udochukwu Amadi on www.change.org with the title “ R/State Govt: Please pay the tuition fee of 16 final year RSSDA medical students in the Caribbean” has been circulating online.  The petition targets the executive governor of River as well as some stakeholders including  the speaker of the  Rivers State House  of Assembly, Rt Hon Ikuinyi Ibani,  Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyema, Rivers Commissioner of Education, Prof Kainye Ebeku amongst others.

    Derefaka David Direh, a Rivers indigene in the United Kingdom who signed the petition, said: “I am signing this because it is a painful experience to start a programme and not conclude it. Apart from the feeling of failure, it is demoralising for these young ones to have to waste so many years of their lives in foreign lands. A commitment made by one government should be a liability or responsibility of the new government.  Not only should the 16 final year students be catered for,  others who were awardees on the programme should be apologized to and compensated for the suffering and humiliation they have been put through as a result of non- commitment on the part of Rivers state. Is it stressed or traumatized doctors that we want to produce?”

    Another respondent Owhorchukwu Anwuri who was a past beneficiary of the RSSDA scholarship believes the students who have put much effort in their studies should get what they are entitled to.  “It is wicked to leave these sons and daughters of Rivers state in limbo, they deserve better,” he intoned.

    Rivers State Commissioner for Information, Barr Emma Okah, in a phone interview, explained that the state experienced an economic downturn which affected revenue generation and as such,  government decided that for courses that can be easily pursued in Nigeria, there would be no need to pay for tuition in foreign universities.

    “For those who are in final year pursing specialised courses like medicine, the state government planned to pursue their welfare to the extent it can take. Some people have been coming and cases have been dealt with on merit. I do not know what has happened to these set of students.  I am just hearing it for the first time today,” the commissioner stated.

    He said the 16 students were not abandoned on the assumption that they are children of political opponents.

    As Wike works towards the infrastructural development in the state with an enthusiasm that has earned him the toga “Mr Project”, it is only hoped  that he reconsiders his  stance on the stranded medical students  by rescuing them from an abyss of despondency.

    Reporting done as part of BudgIT 2017 Media Fellowship

  • Gunmen kill nursing mum, 11 others in Rivers

    Gunmen kill nursing mum, 11 others in Rivers

    Gunmen yesterday killed 13 persons, including a couple and a nursing mother, at Mgbuoshimini community, Rumueme, in Obio/Akppor Local Government of Rivers State.

    The hoodlums, suspected to be members of Iceland cult, reportedly stormed the area between 3a.m. and 4a.m., shooting sporadically and killing people.

    Although there were conflicting figures of casualty, the police command last night put the death toll at 10 and several injured.

    The Caretaker Council Chairman, Mrs. Goodnews Clinton Amadi, put the death toll at 12. Eyewitness account said it was15.

    Speaking to The Nation on the phone, police spokesman Nnamdi Omoni alleged that members of Icelander cult had been attacking the area in the last few weeks, killing people.

    He said investigations were on to arrest the culprits.

    Govt to police: fish out the hoodlums  

    Rivers State government yesterday condemned the killing of innocent persons at Ngbuoshimini in Obio/Akpor Local Government, by gunmen.

    It directed the police and security agents to fish out “the perpetrators of this heinous act at all cost.”

    This was contained in a statement in Port Harcourt by Information and Communications Commissioner Emma Okah.

    The statement said: “The government is ready to spare nothing to support security agencies to arrest these killers, irrespective of where they are. Even in their holes, smoke them out from there. You should have no rest until we get to the end of the case, until we get justice.”

    It noted that the state would not succumb to criminals and their sponsors.

    According to the statement, the government commiserates with the families of the deceased.

    It urged the public to support the police and other security agencies to rid the state of crimes.

     

  • 2018 AWC: Wike appoints 13-man committee

    2018 AWC: Wike appoints 13-man committee

    The Executive Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike (CON) has appointed a 13-man committee for the 2018 African Wrestling Championship(AWC).
    The 13-man committee include:Boma Iyaye – Commissioner of Sports (Chairman),  Daniel Igali – President Nigeria Wrestling Federation (Vice Chairman), Stephen Adue – Director (Admin), Ministry of Sports (Secretary), Barrister Emma Okah – Commissioner of Information (Member) and  Professor Princewill Chike – Commissioner of Health (Member), Mrs Tonye Briggs Onyide – Commissioner of Culture (Member), Mr Honour Sirawoo – President SWAN (Member).

    Others are the  Representative of Federal Minister of Sport, Commissioner of Police/Rep member

    Chief Jackson Bidei – (Representative of Nigeria Wrestling Federation), J.J Kio – Member, Ambassador Koko – Chief of Protocol/Senior special assistant andFalilat Ogunkoya – Nigeria Olympic Committee
    Meanwhile, members are to be inaugurated at the Rivers State Government House on Wednesday, October 4, 2017 at 1 pm.