The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Rivers

  • Wike moves to decongest traffic in Port Harcourt

    Wike moves to decongest traffic in Port Harcourt

    Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers said on Monday that the newly constructed Rumuokoro market would help in decongesting traffic in Port Harcourt.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the newly constructed Rumuokoro market in Port Harcourt has 608 open stalls, 91 lock up shops and modern parks for transporters.

    The governor made the assertion in Port Harcourt while inspecting the level of work done on the market.

    Wike, who expressed satisfaction with the quality of work done on the project, noted that it would help in decongesting traffic along the Rumuokoro axis in Port Harcourt.

    He said that he visited the market to ensure that contractors executed key projects in the State, in line with approved specifications.

    According to the governor, the construction of Rumuokoro Market and Bus Station were steps towards ending street trading in that area of Port Harcourt.

    Wike noted that upon completion of the market, traders would not be allowed to operate on the  roads, adding that illegal parking of commercial  vehicles on the roads would also be stopped.

    According to him, the government would also stop criminals from operating along the road to ensure that the Rumuokoro axis was secured.

    “Once we complete the Rumuokoro Market and Bus Station, those trading on the road will be relocated to the market, we shall therefore no longer allow people to trade on the  streets.

    “The community will be accommodated in the market as well. We will also build a community health centre for Rumuokoro people,” Wike said.

    The governor said that his administration would continue  to  promote  community  development  across the state, adding that project execution was a means of appreciating the people  for their loyalty  and support.

    The governor also inspected the rehabilitated Government Girls Secondary School, Rumuokwuta in Obio/Akpo Local Government Area.

  • Wike assures investors of security in Rivers

    Wike assures investors of security in Rivers

    Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers said on Sunday that the state was becoming safer for investors on a daily basis due to the state government’s investment on security.

    The governor stated this in Port Harcourt at a dinner to mark the 20th Anniversary of Air France’s first flight to Port Harcourt International Airport.

    He said that the state government would do all in its power to build on the confidence of investors to conduct business in the State.

    Wike said that wooing investors remained critical to the development of the state, because it would generate employment.

    “It is a priority for us to attract investors for our people to be employed; that is why we make security a priority,” he added.

    The governor claimed that Rivers was safer than Lagos, Kogi, Kaduna, Benue and Kano states “where kidnappers and murderers terrorized residents as reported daily”.

    “Investors are coming to Rivers regularly and they are talking about insecurity. Look at what is happening in Lagos, Kogi, Kaduna and Kano and you will realize that this state is the safest,” he said.

    In his remarks, French Consul, Mr Laurent Poloceaux, stressed that French investments were doing well in Rivers, with schools, businesses and Air France.

    Air France Manager, Mr Jean Tanzin, said that the airline became the first international airline to fly into the Port Harcourt International Airport 20 years ago.

    Tarzin stated that Air France had gone through challenges to deliver quality services to Rivers and other Niger Delta states.

  • Governor: Rivers didn’t get N34b Paris refund

    Governor: Rivers didn’t get N34b Paris refund

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has declared that the Federal Government did not disburse N34billion to Rivers State as Paris Fund refund.

    Wike challenged the Federal Government to publish the account where it paid N34billion in respect of the Paris Fund Refund due to Rivers State.

    Speaking during the First Session of the 8th Synod Thanksgiving Service of the Anglican  Province of Niger Delta, Wike said: “As I speak to you, no N34billion has been paid to Rivers State. I challenge the Federal Government to show Nigerians the account they paid the N34billion “.

    He said the Federal Government released N14billion as Paris Fund refund to Rivers State.  According to him, after protests that the state had been short-changed, the Federal Government released another N3billion to the state, totalling N17billion.

    The governor explained that the state government judiciously deployed the N17billion and monitored the  use of the Local Government funds for the  payment  of outstanding salaries.

    Wike accused the Federal Government of deliberately short-changing Rivers , Akwa Ibom and Delta states by ignoring the approved payment plan.

    He said: “I read on the pages of newspapers that Rivers State received the highest amount of the refund of the Paris Club to  the tune of N34billion.  I want to say categorically, that is not correct.

    “The President approved that every state and Local Government should receive 50 percent. They came to say that they cannot pay 50 percent, but they can pay 25percent. Now, the 25 per cent of the 50 per cent, they paid Rivers State Government and Local Government Areas, N14billion.  They short paid Rivers State , they short paid Akwa Ibom and they short paid Delta States , which are PDP states.“

    The governor added: “We are the only three states that were short-changed. They paid all other states completely.  So we started fighting. We raised alarm and they said we still have N3billion.

    “For the remaining of the 25 percent , they called a meeting.  They now said, we cannot pay you that 25per cent fully. We will pay you part of the 25 per cent now, pay part in September, pay part in December.  If they pay part now, part in September  and pay part in December; then it will mean that they have paid Rivers State Government, N34billion. If they say that , we are entitled to N34billion, okay. Being entitled and paying the money are two different things”.

  • Burkinabe refs for Rivers, KCCA clash

    Burkinabe refs for Rivers, KCCA clash

    CONTINENTAL soccer ruling body, CAF, has appointed Burkinabe referees for the CAF Confederation Cup game between Rivers United and Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) in Port Harcourt later this month.

    The Nigerian club play host to the reigning Ugandan champions on 20 June at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium with a win crucial to both sides’ chances of reaching the knockout stages of the competition.

    Juste Ephrem Zio is the referee with his two assistants, Seydou Tiama and Max Phillipo Toe, who are also from Burkina Faso.

    The fourth official for the game, Boukari Ouedrago, is also from Burkina Faso while the match commissioner, Frederick Eric Crentsi,l is from Ghana.

    Alexander Sakyi Asante, who will act as the game’s general coordinator, is also from Ghana.

    Meanwhile, technical manager of Rivers United, Stanley Eguma says failure to win in the game against KCCA in Port Harcourt will effectively sound the death knell for the ‘Pride of Rivers’ with regards to their prospects of reaching the quarterfinals of the competition.

    Eguma was in the dugout as the Port Harcourt club suffered a 2-1 defeat to KCCA at the Phillip Omondi Stadium on 2 June in the reverse fixture. The experienced trainer says mistakes from the past must be eliminated if progress to the knockout stages is to be secured.

  • Estate administration tears family apart in Rivers

    Mr Emmanuel Jaja, the head of  the Jaja extended family in Opobo,  has told a Rivers High Court sitting in Port Harcourt   that a child born out of wedlock cannot claim the father’s property.

    Jaja, a chartered accountant,  said this on Wednesday  while being  cross examined  by Mr Ishmael Blue-Jaja,  the counsel to Charles Jaja, the claimant.

    The case was instituted by Charles who is seeking the leave of the court to include him in the administration of  the estate of  his late father,  Dr  Joseph Jaja.

    The head of the family, a witness in the case, alleged that  Charles’s mother was not legally married to the late Dr Joseph Jaja who was his brother.

    He, however, said his late brother had introduced Charles to him as his son in London when he visited.

    “ Where a man is not legally married to a woman, her child has no claim to the father’s estate.

    “This is the Opobo custom and tradition.

    “The child is only his mother’s property,” he said.

    Mrs Barbel Jaja, the wife of the late Jaja,  claimed that her husband only told her that Charles was his son after she gave birth to Daniel Jaja in London.

    She insisted that the claimant was born out of wedlock and did not attend his father’s burial ceremony in Germany and Opobo.

    Daniel had obtained a letter of Sole Administrator of the estate.

    The claimant , however, said he was sick during his father’s burial ceremonies in Germany and  Opobo.

    The presiding judge, Justice Silverline Oragunima,  adjourned the matter to Nov. 18 and  Nov. 22 for continuation of hearing.

  • Rivers APC won’t dump Buhari, says Abe

    Rivers APC won’t dump Buhari, says Abe

    Senator Magnus Abe who (Rivers South) on Thursday said  that the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), will not dump President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Speaking in Abuja when while receiving leaders of various legislative assembly from Rivers State, Abe called on waring parties in Rivers APC to unite.

    The lawmaker also called on the National Judicial Council Commission (NJC) to intervene in the prolonged local government case, currently pending in court.

    Abe said, “Port Harcourt is so unsafe so people are coming to Abuja. Let us face the issue. I am not shying away from anything. Whatever I have set out to do, I will do it.

    “The case of local government issue in Rivers State has been pending in the court for almost two years. I urge the judiciary to hurry up.

    “The last time they were to sit, the Rivers State Government said they were renovating the courts. They went and removed the roof.

    “This was a deliberate attempt to frustrate the case. I am urging the NJC to intervene the same way they did with judges facing trial.

    “We have over fifteen pending cases in Abuja. We are praying that the matters will be resolved in our favour. For me, the whole issue bedeviling APC in Rivers State is not a big deal.

    “We have to remember that we are members of the party. Any disagreement can be resolved in-house. Rivers APC is for Buhari and the direction of the Federal Government is where we will go.

    “Today, we cannot do business in Rivers State. The growth that should stimulate prosperity is dropping. There is insecurity in Rivers State and the trend is worrisome”.

  • Oyo dredging of streams, rivers

    The Oyo State government has started the dredging of streams and rivers to save areas prone to floods during the raining season and avert a recurrence of August 26, 2011 flood disaster.

    The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Chief Isaac Ishola, kick-started the dredging yesterday at the Restoration Bridge at Awolowo Area of Bodija in Ibadan, the state capital.

    Ishola said the Restoration Bridge and some streams in the state were prone to flood, adding that it was the reason they were marked for dredging to avert flooding.

    According to him, when the state government was alerted by the Nigerian Metrological Agency (NiMet) that Oyo was among the six states that would likely experience floods this year, the state government, in collaboration with Ibadan Urban Flood Management Agency (IUFMA), earmarked 37 streams for dredging with the approval of the World Bank.

    He noted that within two to three weeks, the dredging will be completed.

    The rivers and streams to be dredged include: Ogun River Phase II, Papa Eleyele section, Zumuratu-Hujaj Stream, Odinjo, Molade Stream, Iwo-Road, Isabatudeen Stream, Akobo, Oke-Suna Stream, Eleta, Asamajuna Streams, Moniya, Upper Ona River, Akinrinola Ewenla, Agbamu Community near IITA, Adaba Stream, Kuola, Alaro Stream, Oluyole, Abobo Stream, off Elebu Road, Anuoluwapo Stream, Orita Challenge, Abimbola Stream, Onireke, Alafara Stream and Gbekuba.

    Other streams are: Upper Ogun River, Restoration Bridge, Awolowo Area, Agodi, Ikolaba Stream, Agodi, Orogun/Agbowo Stream, Upper Ona Ara River- Ajibode section, Behind U. I. Botanical Garden, Life Holiness Stream, Arulogun Road, Daku Stream, Lalupon, Egberi River, Olodo, Jenriyin Stream, Kute, Oluwatedo Stream, Olosan Area, Alakia, Onidewure Stream, Gbagi, Abepe Stream, Apete, Alapata Stream, Amuro Olode, Attio Stream, Apata, Ajipaala Stream, behind the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Apata, Olokun Stream, Apata Estate River, Akako Stream, Odo Ona Apata, Igisogba Stream, off Omi Adio, Oke-Omi Stream, Ogungbade, Para Stream, Ogbere Gangansi, Onikokoro Stream, Oje, Mesio Stream Akanran Road and Oluyoro Stream, near Oluyoro Hospital, all in Ibadan.

    Ishola urged the residents to desist from dumping solid wastes in the drainages and streams, as well as erecting structures on the culvert.

    He said water finds its ways when there are blockages.

    The General Manager of Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project, Mr. Dayo Ayorinde, admonished communities where dredging would take place to embrace the exercise.

    He said the government did not aim at taking their land but to ensure free flow of water.

     

  • Rivers to review environmental laws

    The Rivers State House of Assembly is to hold a summit on the environment.

    The Chairman, House Committee on Environment, Christian Ahiakwo, in a statement in Port Harcourt, the state capital weekend, said the summit would discuss how to protect the environment.

    Ahiakwo, who is also the chairman, steering committee of the summit, said the conference with the theme “Our environment, our heritage: Environmental sustainability in Rivers State, a right for all” holds at the floor of the assembly between June 13 and 14. It is organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and the Rivers State Waste Management Agency.

    He said: “The summit is aimed amongst other issues, to review the environmental issues in the state, with a view to presenting a bill to the House for possible enactment into Law.

    “Some of the environmental laws that exist in the state are not elaborate enough to capture most areas of environmental concern; for example the noise pollution law currently in place in the state is limited to only to music players.”

    The event is expected to be attended by members of the diplomatic corps, top functionaries of government, top members of the management staff of oil and gas companies among others.

  • Panic as gunmen kill 14 in Rivers

    Panic as gunmen kill 14 in Rivers

    More than 14 people were feared dead and many others injured yesterday in Sime community, a suburb of Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State after unknown gunmen invaded the area. Six people were also reportedly abducted in Andoni Local Government Area of the state. Many people were said to have sustained various degrees of injuries during the operation that crippled the area. The invaded Sime community is the hometown of the People Democratic Party (PDP) aspirant, Hon. Jacobson Mbina who had raised alarm recently over security in the area.

    The Nation gathered that unknown gunmen invaded the Ogoni community, shooting sporadically and at the end left 14 people dead and several others with bullet wounds. An eyewitness within the who simply gives his name as Friday said the remains of the victims had been deposited at mortuary. He said the unknown gunmen invaded the houses of their targets, shot them and operated for hours before fleeing the scene. Friday said: “This is what happened this evening. Some unknown gunmen entered the community and started shooting and people were running from one direction to another.

    It was after the shooting had ended that we got to know that about 14 people had been murdered. “Many people sustained bullet wounds during the attack. The people are living in anxiety. This is not the first time this evil men are killing people in Ogoni land.” The National Coordinator Ogoni Solidarity Forum (OSF) Comrade Celestine AkpoBari, said OSF and the entire Ogoni people have condemned the incessant killings taking place in the area and other parts of Rivers State.

    He called on the Rivers State government to protect the lives of Ogoni people and that of the people of Rivers State, adding that residents of the state are no longer comfortable with the way people were being slaughtered like animals. AkpoBari said: “We are not happy and Rivers people are not happy that we wake up in the morning on daily basis hearing one killing or the other. These people are human beings. They are not goatS or chickens. The government must be proactive on the issue of security to life.

    We will continue to condemn what is happening in Ogoni land. Ogoni people cannot run away from their land. But it is time to come together for the peace and progress of the area. Those who are killing should know that some day, they would be killed by someone.

    A source in Andoni Local Government Area where no fewer than six people were reportedly by unknown gunmen said the abductors rode on two gunboats and seven speedboats and raided a fishing settlement in Asaramatoru area and escaped with six of their targets. The source said that the gunman left an unconfirmed number of casualties during the attack. Efforts to speak with the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer , Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) was not successful as he did not pick his calls nor respond to a text message sent to his gsm line.

  • NWFL: Rivers Angels hopeful of trophy despite string of draws

    Rivers Angels FC  says it hopes to retain the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) back-to-back despite string of draws in the first stanza of the season.

    Edwin Okon, Technical Adviser of the club, said in Port Harcourt on Friday that they would work hard to retain the title when the second round of the league begins on June 7.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the club played six matches in the first stanza; won three and drew three.

    Okon in a statement, said despite the team’s failure to win all the matches, he was satisfied with his girls’ performances.

    “If you check all the teams in the first round, you can see that almost everyone lost one or two matches, but we didn’t.

    “We tried as much as we could to get points on the road and we nearly won away as teams had to force us to draws at their own backyard.

    “The matches we drew were games we could have won, but we didn’t. I’m happy with the way the girls played in the first round,” he said.

    According to Okon, a huge task awaits the ‘Jewels of Rivers’ in the second round.

    The former Super Falcons’ gaffer said, “I am not worried. I am looking forward to maintaining our position in the second round.

    “If we can get a level playing ground, then you can be sure we would win our group.” he said.

    Rivers Angels would kick-start her second round of the NWFL when they play  Bayelsa Queens on June 7 in Nembe.