The Rivers State Government has pledged to sand-fill the shore of Bille Kingdom in 2018, Governor Nyesom Wike has said.
The governor spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, when the Council of Chiefs of Bille Kingdom visited him.
He noted that the project would be added to next year’s budget.
Wike said the project was vital to the sustenance of Bille town, adding that it would be executed in phases.
The governor also announced his administration’s plan to complete Bille Primary Health Centre and Model Primary School.
He said his administration was building the Bonny/ Bille/Nembe Jetty in line with approved specifications.
The Amanyanabo of Bille Kingdom, Chief Ibitamino Minapaka (Opu Angula XVII), hailed Wike for building the Bille/ Bonny/Nembe Jetty.
The governor said it would create safe and secure marine transport in the kingdom.
Tag: Rivers
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Rivers to protect Bille Kingdom’s shores
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Rivers APC apologises to Benue gov, over insults from Wike
The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has apologised to the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, and the people of the state on the insults from Governor Nyesom Wike.
Rivers APC, yesterday in Port Harcourt, through its Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone, stated that Wike, a former Minister of State of Education, should have acted much better.
It said: “As the news continues to pop up about a plan by the Rivers State Governor to execute road projects worth N4 billion in Benue State, the Rivers State Chapter of the APC has maintained a studied silence, believing that it was an episode taken from Hephaestus: a Greek Mythology Circus Tale that will soon come to an end.
“Despite our initial dismissal of the story as mere comic relief from the governor’s deep bag of tragic jokes, it soon became clear that Wike actually made the revelation in an exclusive interview with The Sun newspaper that, not too long ago, named him their Man of the Year – an award that reminds us that the famous Time Magazine named the dictator, Hitler Man of the Year on the eve of World War II in 1938. So also was Stalin given the award twice by Time Magazine in1939 and 1942.
“A day or so later, the Governor of Benue State, speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, made a comprehensive response to the fatal comedy by Wike, giving him a thorough dressing down.
“Assuming that the good people of Rivers State have had enough of Wike’s theatre of the absurd, the APC declined to throw itself into the ring, for the sake of saving the people yet another distraction and needless embarrassment.
“Surprisingly to the APC, the Rivers governor has continued with his gory market-square dance, to the unending shame and embarrassment of the good people of Rivers State.
“The APC is dismayed that a governor (just like any other) facing the present crunchy economic times has embarked on making expensive jokes that suggest that Rivers State has overcome its own infrastructural, educational, health and other glaring developmental deficiencies, as to go offering road projects to other states of the nation.
“In a twist of fate, just as Wike disparaged and taunted Ortom for not being able to pay striking pensioners, the next day, pensioners in Rivers State, who are owed up to eight months pensions, marched to the Government House, Port Harcourt. They were joined by suffering staff of Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), whose months of outstanding salaries we have lost count of.”
APC also stated that in Rivers State, many ongoing projects were begging for completion, while it reiterated that Wike had since withdrawn Rivers youths on overseas scholarships, with the state-of-the-arts modern secondary schools started by his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi, now Transportation Minister, had been closed and abandoned.
It noted that many of the primary schools had been overgrown with weeds and had become homes for reptiles.
Rivers APC said: “All you see are superficial and deceitful projects that cannot stand the test of time. Yet, Rivers State ranks among Nigeria’s most indebted states, under less than two years of the Wike administration. Yet, the governor thinks he is better off than his Benue State counterpart.
“The APC wishes to apologise to Governor Samuel Ortom and the good people of Benue State for the undeserved insults from Wike. We re-iterate that the Rivers State governor is not near the example of who true Rivers people are.”
The main opposition APC also stated that the tragedy that afflicted Wike on Rivers people had become too well-known to Nigerians, while taking solace that God would surely heal the people of the affliction, much sooner than later.
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Rivers Govt demolishes Rumuwoji market,Traders count losses
Traders in Rivers said they had lost goods worth millions of naira following the demolition of the Rumuwoji temporary market in Port Harcourt.
Mr Eddy Bright, President-General, Rivers State Traders Union, told newsmen in Port Harcourt on Monday that the demolition came as a shock to the traders.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state government on Friday demolished the structure being temporarily occupied by the traders.
NAN reports that some traders were allocated spaces at the temporary market because there were not enough stalls at the completed phase of the Mile One Market in Port Harcourt.
Bright said that the traders were unable to remove their wares because the demolition came unannounced.
“No trader removed a pin; no trader knew that demolition will take place, so, goods worth several millions of naira were destroyed,’’ he said.
He called on the state government to set up a joint committee to ascertain the losses incurred by the traders.
Bright urged the traders to remain calm and await the outcome of the union’s meeting with the state government.
“We are sure of meeting with the government; we are also sure of arriving at a favourable decision,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, new sales stands were beginning to spring up in different parts of Diobu, a densely populated area of Port Harcourt, following the demolition.
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New Rivers nba division promises speedy dispensation of justice to grassroots
To ensure that justice is not delayed or denied the people at the grassroots, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has opened a new branch in Okehi, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Apart from making it possible for the rural people to access speedy dispensation of justice, the new branch would also help to build the capacity of lawyers and regularly update its members.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the NBA branch in Okehi, Mr Felix Amadi, the NBA Branch Chairman, stressed the importance of providing the right environment to enhance the administration of justice in all parts of the country.
Amadi, who is also a law lecturer at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, (RSUST), Port Harcourt , noted that the standard common room for lawyers at the Okehi High Court, which was also inaugurated, would serve as a temporary centre for the NBA branch in the division.
Amadi said: “Having achieved this milestone, our next target is to commission an NBA secretariat or NBA house in Okehi. We will soon embark on this project and I am confident that we will accomplish it.”
He also said it was necessary for the association to establish its presence in all judicial divisions in the country to boost the synergy between the bar and the bench.
Highlighting the benefits of having a functional NBA centre in judicial divisions, Amadi said the presence of the association would help to strengthen other institutions in the society.
Justice Chioma Okirie, the Presiding Judge of the Okehi Judicial Division, expressed delight to be part of the epoch-making ceremony.
Okirie also said the branch centre and the common room would provide the needed comfort and convenience for lawyers who come to appear in courts in the division.
She advised members of the executive of the NBA branch to provide good leadership for lawyers in the area, adding that the value of the services of the association could not be over-emphasised.
The Secretary of the NBA branch, Mr Sylvanus Nwankwo, said the association in Okehi would enhance the administration of justice in the area.
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Wike promises befitting state secretariat for NYSC in Rivers
Rivers Governor, Mr Nyesom Wike, has promised the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) a befitting secretariat in the state.
The Governor made the pledge on Tuesday when the new state Coordinator of NYSC, Mr Omotayo Adewoye, paid him a courtesy visit at Government House in Port Harcourt.
Wike said that the state government would provide the secretariat and name it after a slain corps member, Samuel Okonta, who lost his life during the 2015 general elections in the state.
He promised to fix dilapidated infrastructure at the permanent orientation camp at Nonwa-Gbam in Khana Local Government Area to alleviate the sufferings of corps members.
The Governor also promised to provide a bus for the corps members to ensure their mobility in the state.
Wike gave assurance that he would retain a corps member who had demonstrated an exceptional zeal in agricultural activities.
He said that he would pay allowances to corps members serving in the state and promised to increase allowances of those serving in the rural areas.
The Governor stated that corps members’ lodges would be fenced to ward off criminals, to ensure adequate security for corps members in the rural areas.
Wike condemned attacks by hoodlums on innocent corps members who were serving their fatherland.
He said that in a bid to provide adequate security for corps members and the people, the state government would identify the local government areas that had security issues and address them.
Wike promised that the state government would host the NYSC team that made an outstanding sporting performance in recent sporting activities.
In his remarks, the new Rivers NYSC Coordinator, Mr Omotayo Adewoye, commended the governor for his developmental strides in the state.
The NYSC boss commended the Governor for the amnesty programme, adding that the programme had brought peace to the state.
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Rivers gets police commissioner
A commissioner of Police has been deployed in Rivers State.
This followed the death of the former commissioner, Francis Odesanya.
The Commissioner is Zaki Ahmed. He resumed work as the 38th police chief of the command yesterday.
Ahmed, who hails from Kogi State, last served in Bauchi State.
Upon resumption at the command’s headquarters in Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, he met with high ranking officers of the command for a brief meeting and familiarisation.
Speaking briefly after inspection at the Quarter Guard, Ahmed thanked the press for their cooperation with the police, noting that he would address the media later.
He stated that he will work with the media to ensure transparency and urged them to give him assistance. -
Wike: Rivers ‘ll continue to develop
Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike has said that the pace of development under his leadership will be consolidated.
He said he has invited foreign and local investors to take advantage of the rapid developmental strides to invest in all sectors of the State’s economy, in order to create jobs.
Wike assured that first-time investors in tourism and hospitality, housing and property development, as well as agriculture and ICT skills development, would receive attractive tax incentives and easy access to land in the State.
The Commissioner for Information and Communication , Dr Austin Tam-George, who spoke of the government’s tax plan, also dismissed security concerns about the State, saying that Rivers State is among the safest destinations for investment in the country.
“The narrative that Rivers State is unsafe is an ugly slander against the State by a disgruntled political opposition “, the commissioner said, adding that as the oil and gas hub in the country, Rivers State has offered the highest return on investment in Nigeria since 1958.
Tam-George said that activities marking the Golden Jubilee celebrations in Rivers State in May would showcase the different opportunities for investment in the State. -
Rivers govt. urged to investigate air pollution in community
Residents of Obagi Community in Ogba/Egbema Local Government Area of Rivers on Friday urged Rivers Government to investigate the current air pollution in the community.
The paramount ruler of the Community, Chief Abella Benson, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt.
He said that gas flared by some oil and gas companies in Obagi could partly be responsible for the air pollution popularly identified as ‘black soot’.
“The soot has made life difficult for residents of my community due to their inability to breathe quality oxygen.
“We appeal to Rivers Government to immediately come to our aid and save us from health risk associated with black soot pollution in Obagi community.
“Aside the health challenges, it is more visible to the eyes when you spread white cloth after washing because the cloth will become black few minutes later.
“This development has thrown people of the area into panic as they now live in fear of the effect of the soot to human lives and those of plants and animals.”
Benson urged companies operating in the area to adopt environmentally friendly methods to avoid exposing the people to health risk and destruction of the ecosystem.
He further urged relevant agencies and non-governmental organisations to wade into the matter, to alleviate the sufferings of residents of the area.
NAN recalls that state government recently constituted a committee to discover and shut down the source of the black soot which pollutes the atmosphere in Port Harcourt and environs.
Three companies, including an asphalt producing company have been shut over the soot.
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Rivers to check restiveness through gmou
Rivers State Government has declared that the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMOU) would help to check restiveness in oil-bearing communities.
Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs Dr John Bazia made this declaration when he inaugurated the Community Trust Board (CTB) to manage a N1 billion five- year GMOU between Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and its Residential Area (RA) Landlord Communities in Port Harcourt.
The RA Landlords communities comprise Rumuorianwo and Rumuejiminehu in Rumuokwurusi as well as Rumuibekwe and Mgbuesilaru which are all in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state with three members each to represent them on the CTB.
Bazia explained that the GMOU is a process that would discourage communities from disturbing the activities of corporate organizations in their various communities pointing out that instead of barricading offices of companies operating in their land, all that the people “need to do now is to do a petition to this ministry to say that a company has refused to do this, then we will invite the company and the community and amicably resolve the problem.”
Bazia also said that “as a government, we have come with this noble idea because before now, they used to say that those of us in Niger Delta are restive but I know that even in family, people would disagree but what is important is that we can disagree to agree, hence the need for this GMOU.”
Continuing, the commissioner said the GMOU “is one of the surest ways of driving development to all nooks and crannies of our state and I also believe that the corporate organisations that are here have taken so much from our people and there is need for them to give back to our people and this is the way to give back.”
He also advised members of the board not to be selfish or be parochial but to rather think about community and development for their communities.
“So this is another opportunity for you people to serve your communities, think well and think good of your communities, see how you can drive projects to your communities because I believe in the GMOU,” he said.
He further cautioned them against the formation of parallel government saying that they should not begin to see themselves as different leaders of the community as this is not the intention of the formation of the CTB.
He said: “This is not an opportunity for you to start antagonizing your paramount rulers, which is not the intent. If you ask me, the intent is that as from today, you will begin to respect your paramount rulers; work with them and all of us will work together with the ministry as government so that our people will enjoy the benefits of this GMOU.
“It is your paramount rulers that nominated you so first and foremost you owe your allegiance to them and to your community. Therefore I charge you to go and improve on your communities. Your communities should be better than how you met it.”
“It is our duty to create the enabling environment for corporate organizations to go about their business unhindered and in doing so to fulfil their social corporate responsibilities and obligations.”
However, commenting on the GMOU, Eze Sir Morgan Nweneda Amadi of Okwurusi Kingdom said that he and his subjects are delighted for what SPDC has done and the state government for coordinating the GMOU and bring it to conclusion.
Amadi added: “You know part of the anger of the Niger Delta people is to make sure that they are part of the resources of the oil industry. For Shell to agree to invest about N1 Billion in this five-year GMOU, it is a remarkable thing.”
He also advised members of the CTB to ensure that their communities get the benefits of the GMOU such as scholarship, roads, infrastructure, youth, women and general wellbeing of their people.
Eze Ambassador Ray Elewa, the Paramount ruler of Rumuibekwe, said the GMOU is a way of trying to develop the host communities.
Elewa said: “What we have done today is to bring development to our various communities and we are indeed grateful to SPDC and RVSG for the successful outcome of today’s event.”
Though SPDC was not present at the inauguration, but the traditional rulers explained that all the documentations on the GMOU were prepared by the company in collaboration with Rivers state government and both are ensuring that there is peace in the host communities.
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Cult clash kills 2 in Rivers-Police
The Rivers police command on Thursday confirmed the death of two persons during a clash between two rival cult groups at Ikokwu motor spare parts market in Port Harcourt.
The command`s spokesman, Mr Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the incident took place on Wednesday.
Omoni said during the shoot-out, some persons were wounded and had been taken to hospital for treatment.
“ We have made some arrests and the tactical unit of the command is on top of the situation. The police have restored normalcy in the area.
“ Investigation on the incident is on. The state police command is working hard to get the perpetrators of the act.
“ We also appeal to the public to give us useful information that will assist us fight crime,” he said