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Tag: Rivers

  • ‘How I became the Oba of Yorubaland in  Rivers State’

    ‘How I became the Oba of Yorubaland in  Rivers State’

    After spending 20 years in Rivers  State, Obey Makanju Akin, was crowned as  His Royal Highness, the Eze Emene of  Ekpeye Kingdom in Rivers State, writes Taiwo Abiodun.

    Dressed in royal regalia, he swings his royal staff, adjusts his cap with beads dangling on his neck and on his wrists. Obey Makanju Akin waves his fly whisk to respond to greetings. He is happy and did not hide it. He is proud to have achieved, for he left home without beads, but returned home with one of the most honourable titles, the Eze Emene Yoruba in Ekpeye Kingdom in far away in Rivers State that has over 50 communities under it. Today, he is referred to as His Royal Highness in Rivers State as he dines and wines with first class monarchs in the state.

    According to Akin, this is one honour he never expected in his life. “To become a king in Rivers State is not easy .I never thought of becoming a chief not to talk of a King. It was based on merit. You must have been living in the community for years with good record before you are conferred any title not to talk of a king,” he said.

    The 44-year-old Yoruba king, who is from a royal family in Owo, Ondo State, said he had spent 20 years in Ekpeye Community before he was conferred the title. On how he became the king of the Yorubas, he said: “I have lived in Ekpeye Kingdom in Rivers State since 1993. I attended University of Port Harcourt where I studied Sociology, graduating in 2004. I am a business tycoon and had been involved in the development of the community and lots of philanthropic works. For example, I assist the needy by paying school fees of some children; cater for the sick, among others. Based on this I was given the title.”

    According to Akin, the search for new Eze Emene started when the former one died in 2011 due to old age.”The former one was a retired Military officer and had been there since 60s before he died.The community prayed, consulted clergymen, consulted oracles and divination before I was invited, later a letter was sent to me that I had been conferred the title by the Logbo  Ekpeye In Council in conjunction with  Ekpeye Council of Traditional Rulers  and chiefs , the  letter  was signed by His Majesty Eze Robinson .O.Robinson the Eze Ekpeye Logbo of Ekpeye Land.”

    The new Yoruba king, HRH Eze Ekpeye, said he plans to promote and foster unity among the Yoruba and the Rivers indigenes in the state. This place will be great by God’s grace. I am planning to build our palace; I will contact the Olowo of Owo, Ooni Of Ife, Osemawe of Ondo, Olubadan of Ibadan who will give me moral support and advice on how to do all these things. We are going to have a Yoruba museum that will make us proud while this place will be a tourist center.”

    On why he is called Mungo Park, he said: “It is the Yoruba community members who started calling me many names, some called me MKO, and some said I am Mungo Park; but I told them that Mungo Park discovered River Niger but I thank God I am appreciated. They said I have milk of kindness in me and some said I have contributed immensely to the development of Yorubas in the area. The Yoruba communities, who are in their thousands here, are progressing; they are not dubious as they maintain their integrity anywhere they go.”

    On the roles of his new position , he said: “I am an Ambassador of Yorubas here. I make sure no one flouts the rules and laws, we put so many things in order in order to live peacefully and in harmonious community. According to Akin  Bori, there are about five kingdoms  in the area, but we have about 77 villages ruled by His Majesty Robinson and Robinson, who  is the Eze Ekpeye  Logbo.

    “I ascended the throne last month, to be precise , October 17, when a letter was given to me.The Eze Ekpeye is like the Ooni Of Ife in Yoruba Kingdom. But we, the Yoruba speaking community, are great people and great tribe there. They don’t discriminate as we also fight for their cause. I was among those who welcomed the late Gani Fawehinmi when he came to fight for the Ogoni, and Ken Saro Wiwa. I am an activist too. I fought for Saro Wiwa’s release. I fought for the Environmental pollution. I am ready to die for the Rivers community, and I thank God that we are appreciated .And the struggle continues .I don’t know the difference between Igala, Hausa, Beriberi, Igbo for I believe we are all one, so we need to fight for emancipation of everybody. I love Adaka Boro and Saro Wiwa and I celebrate the two every year!”

    On the rituals performed over his new position, the the Eze Emene of Yoruba said “There was no rituals as such, they used bottle of schnapps, kola nuts and placed akoko leaves on my head for prayer in their shrine. Some also prayed for me by using Bible while some Muslims recited some Koranic verses. They all prayed for me and asked me to continue doing the good things I am doing. There is nothing secret; it was done in the public”.

    The monarch who is married to the indigene said the community appreciate education, he said  his father in-law challenged him “when I was going out with my wife , I had only my  secondary school certificate but her father called me and told me that if I wanted to marry  his daughter I must go to school. Since I was in love with the lady, I went back to dust my nooks, read and passed JAMB, and was admitted into the University of Port Harcourt where I read Sociology. Today, I am happy. My wife is also happy. She is now doing her doctorate degree while she lectures in one of the higher Institutions here in Rivers State.”

    On his new attires, he said: “I now wear Yoruba and Rivers dressings; it is interesting with my royal caps. My people who are Yoruba greet me like a king. I will continue to promote the cultures of the two tribes till I bow out from this world. It is interesting to see how the two cultures look similar, my wife is called Yeye or Olori too,” he said.

     

     

  • NDLEA seizes 2m kg of drugs in Rivers

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said over two million kilograms of illicit drugs have been seized in Rivers State within the past two years.

    The Rivers State Commander of NDLEA, Rachael Shelleng who made this disclosure, also said that a breakdown of the figure shows that about 1,888,900kg of cannabis sativa was seized, making it the predominant drug of choice consumed by drug addicts.

    Cocaine came second with about 4.624kg while heroine and psychotropic shared 0.577kg and 0.502kg respectively; thus bringing the total to about 1,894,603kg of illicit drugs confiscated in the state.

    Shelleng, who spoke in Port Harcourt during a Special Anti-Drug Abuse Sensitisation Campaign organised by NDLEA with support from the Rivers State chapter of National Association of Seadogs (NAS), also said that this huge volume of illicit drugs was found in the hands of 740 males and 79 females.

    The Rivers NDLEA boss also said that the category of youths within the age bracket of 16 to 35 years was mostly involved in drug abuse while those of ages 25 to 50 years were predominantly in the trafficking.

    While expressing concern that the situation portends grave danger and inimical to sustainable development, she, however, said that a total of 79 drug-dependent persons had been treated and re-integrated with their families during the period under review.

    Shelleng, who further lamented that the problem of illicit drug abuse and trafficking of controlled substances has assumed “a very frightening dimension and serious threat to the society” also attributed “the rising profile of wanton destruction with its attendant bloodshed, hostage-taking and all manner of criminalities dotting our landscape today” to high narcotic intake among youths.

    She, therefore, called for concerted effort from corporate organisations and other tiers of government to emulate the Federal Government in fighting the drug war, even as she commended the NAS for the support shown to her command.

    In a paper delivered by Ide Owodiong-Idemeko, leader of NAS entitled “Human Resource Development and the Sustainable Growth of Nigeria,” he observed that there is now an astronomical rise in the use of illicit drug.

    In Owodiong-Idemeke’s paper, which was delivered by a member of the NAS, Prince Onuoha, he lamented that “in every community you go to these days, you encounter a cluster of destitute who are wont to be often referred to as ‘Area boys.’”

    The NAS leader also said that investigations show that youths are prone to this illicit drug because of peer pressure, curiosity, ignorance, alienation, changing social structures, poverty and unemployment.

    He also said it was regrettable that these youths are “recruited as political thugs trained and armed with dangerous weapons to perpetrate mayhem during elections and rallies “only to be dumped as “decayed assets” afterwards.

    For want of better things to do with their lives, they “become ready-made agents for kidnapping, assassinations, human parts sellers, illegal bunkering, rape and armed robbery and, in extreme cases, agents of terror and suicide attacks on other innocent members of the society.”

    He then called on all well-meaning members of the society to join hands with relevant stakeholders to keep hard drugs off children and youths.

    The President of Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Okey Wali, who was the chairman on the occasion, said that, apart from hard drug, internet and films are other things that are misleading children and youths.

    Wali, who was represented by the zonal manager of Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Port Harcourt Mr. Emmanuel Dufegha advised parents and guardians to monitor the behaviours of their children, even as he urged individuals to always be ready to pin-point undesirable elements around them.

     

     

  • Peterside’s goodies for Rivers

    Peterside’s goodies for Rivers

    Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency of Rivers State is home to some of the best minds in the country. And going by recent developments in the area, which is represented in the House of Representatives by Dakuku Peterside, the area will not lag behind in the production of highly-skilled manpower for a long time to come. All thanks to Peterside, who has instituted a post-graduate scholarship scheme for indigenes of the area, who have admissions to study in prestigious colleges in the United Kingdom.

    This, said a source, is in line with Peterside’s cherished dream of raising a new generation of forward looking and visionary leaders.

    Last week, Peterside, through the Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro Economic Zone Foundation made sons and daughters of the zone upbeat when it called for applications for scholarship awards. The Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro Economic Zone Development Foundation 2014/2015 scholarship for Overseas Post-Graduate Scholarship has helped several underprivileged persons realise their dream of receiving world class education, thus many look forward to it yearly.

    To be qualified, the students must have admissions from any of these universities, Kingston University, London, University of Bristol, United Kingdom and University of Kent, United Kingdom.

    The foundation, in a statement, said candidates must be indigenes of Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas of Rivers State, adding that only 12-month master’s degree students are eligible.

    The statement said students with admissions to courses, such as Energy and Environmental Law and Oil and Gas Engineering in the University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom, would be considered.

    It added: “Candidates must not be above 35 years. They must be graduates of recognised universities with not less than second class lower division. The year of graduation must not be earlier than 2004.”

    Peterside, an ardent supporter of the Governor Rotimi Amaechi government and a former Commissioner for Works under Amaechi, also facilitates the participation of Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro indigenes in four other scholarship schemes in some government and non-government agencies. These organisations include Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC); Rivers State Government Scholarship Board; Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) Scholarship and Shell Scholarship.

    From August next year, Peterside will start a new scholarship which will benefit no less than 46 underprivileged undergraduates from the 23 local government area of Rivers State. His Development and Leadership Institute (DLI), founded in 2002, has also affected emerging young leaders through basic trainings in leadership, mentorship and development.

    Peterside, who shares the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), plans to convene a special education retreat to review post economic summit efforts in the area of education.

     

  • Pirates kidnap timber dealer in Port Harcourt

    Gunmen suspected to be sea pirates have abducted a timber dealer in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

    The victim, identified as Peter Opara, was reportedly kidnapped at Bakana creek in Asari-Tolu Local Government Area on his way to Port Harcourt around 4am.

    Four persons, including the victim, were reportedly ferrying timber from Bakana to Iwofe, near the naval base, when the sea robbers struck and abducted him, leaving the rest unhurt.

    According to an eyewitness, seven hoodlums in a speed boat ambushed Opara’s boat and demanded N20,000 as toll, but Opara offered to pay N5,000.

    Sources said the criminals ordered him to come to their boat, where they blindfolded him and drove him away to unknown destination.

    Chairman, Association of Timber Dealers at Iloabuchi Timber Market, Mr. Casmir Uzoagba expressed fear about the victim’s safety.

    He said the kidnappers were yet to contact the family.

    Uzoagba said the State Security Service (SSS) and Marine Police were notified.

    He said: “We have been calling his line but it has not been going. We suspect they might have forced him to switch off his phone.

    “We have reported the incident to the SSS and the Marine Police, but we have not gone to the Police.

    Uzoagba said: “Opara owns a timber shed in the market and also operates boat transportation business.”

    He urged the kidnappers to release Opara unharmed and unconditionally, adding that his relatives live at Owerri, the Imo State capital.

    Opara hails from Imo State.

    Police spokesman Ahmad Mohammed said he was not aware of the incident.

    Activities of sea pirates have been a nightmare to operators of water transportation and security operatives in the coastal region.

  • Rivers launches SBMC, guidebook

    Rivers launches SBMC, guidebook

    The Rivers State Government has launched School Based Management Committees (SBMC) to manage public primary and secondary schools across the state.

    The Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi launched the committees at the Dame Christy Toby Model Primary School, Elekahia, Port Harcourt.

    She said community participation in the management of schools would improve teaching and learning in the schools and enhance their facilities.

    “The rationale for the establishment of SBMC is for community ownership and involvement in school governance and maintenance of facilities. Also, SBMC creates an educational environment suitable for the teaching and learning process where the core values of accountability, transparency, integrity and good management are practiced,” she said.

    The Commissioner also said the investment of the state government under the leadership of Governor Rotimi Amaechi in the education sector in the past six years is to ensure its citizenry have access to quality education.

    She charged members of the newly constituted committees to brace up to the challenge of administering quality management in the schools.

    The Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Chika Onuegbu, lauded the involvement of community members in the administration of schools, saying it would help restore them to their glorious days.

    He urged TUC members who have been appointed on the committees to be alive to their responsibilities.

    “For our members, who are being nominated on this committee, I want to sound it loud and clear, we will demand for a report about their level of participation from the schools and from the local governments and State Universal Basic Education Board. The reason is simple: our integrity as TUC is at stake. And so if go there and you don’t do what you are supposed to do, we will request for the withdrawal of the person and replace the person with a more capable person,” he said.

    Similarly, the Chairman Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Rivers State Wing, Comrade Godfrey Nwogu, said the SBMC will make all stakeholders in education to work towards ensuring quality education is sustained in the state.

    The event also featured the launch of the SBMC policy guide books, which the Consultant to the Ministry of Education, Dr Suleiman Adediran, said would guide the committees in raising funds, determine projects to implement, keep accounts and involve stakeholders in the community.

     

  • Rivers Southeast elders: zone governorship to us

    Rivers State elders have called for the zoning of the 2015 governorship to the Rivers Southeast Senatorial District, to ensure fairness and justice.

    Political parties that would field governorship candidates during the next election were also admonished to consider only persons from the senatorial district.

    Rivers Southeast Senatorial District Elders’ Forum, through its Chairman, Dr. Martin Nwogu, in Port Harcourt, stated that the senatorial district had been denied the governorship since the creation of the state in 1967.

    The senatorial district consists of Andoni, Eleme, Gokana, Khana, Opobo/Nkoro, Oyigbo and Tai Local Government Areas in Rivers state.

    Nwogu noted that governors and military administrators of Rivers state were produced in the past on the basis of senatorial district, insisting that it was the turn of the Rivers Southeast senatorial district to produce the next governor.

    The forum’s chairman expressed displeasure that the senatorial district had always been subjected to politics of exclusivity in the position of governor in the past, maintaining that the political developments in Rivers state was a plot to scheme out the senatorial district.

    Nwogu said: “The roll call of past governors and military administrators from the other two senatorial districts are Chief Rufus Ada-George (1992-1993), Dr. Peter Odili (1999-2007). Oju Dan Kalio and Ibim Princewill were appointed military administrators in other states by the regime of the late General Sani Abacha and the incumbent governor, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi.

    “These are persons who have occupied the exalted position of the governor or military administrator from these two senatorial districts in Rivers State. We cannot be treated as political slaves in a state where we have equal stakes as others, even when the economic resources of our senatorial district are second-to-none in the state.

    “Closely watched political events, developments and posturing in our state appear to culminate in a stratagem and plot to scheme out Rivers Southeast Senatorial District for the position of governor in 2015.

    “As a people that have been denied the governorship position in the 46 years history of Rivers State, we collectively, unanimously and categorically demand that the position of governor, come 2015, be zoned to our Senatorial District for fairness and justice.”

    The forum’s chairman also stated that the senatorial district had supported others to produce governors in the past; pointing out that the Rivers Southeast senatorial district was committed to winning the position of the governor in the next political dispensation.

    Nwogu assured that the people of the senatorial district would synergise with other people in the Rivers East and West senatorial districts, who believe in fairness and equity, for their support.

  • Crowds gather in Rivers for APC

    Crowds gather in Rivers for APC

    •Police stop Amaechi’s fans
    •Lawmakers’ plane grounded

    Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s supporters, who thronged the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa to welcome All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders, were barred from the facility yesterday by policemen. The policemen said they were acting on the orders of the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu.

    Undeterred by the police action, Amaechi’s army of supporters from the 23 local government areas stayed at the junction of the airport on the Port Harcourt-Owerri Expressway, singing, drumming and dancing.

    Apparently to show total support to the Rivers governor, thousands of people stormed the Government House, Port Harcourt. They were initially at the main gate on Azikiwe Road, but the gate was later left open for them to enter the seat of power.

    The Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Chief Tony Okocha, hinted on Sunday night that the First Lady, Dame Patience, was expected to leave Port Harcourt for Abuja at 11:30 pm yesterday. The APC leaders, including former Head of State Gen. Mohammed Buhari, Chief Bisi Akande, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and some governors, would fly in from Abuja around 2 pm.

    The leaders of the main opposition party are visiting Rivers State to persuade Amaechi and his teeming supporters to join the APC. There have been similar visits to some of the G-7 governors.

    Reporters and photographers of various media houses in Port Harcourt and those from outside Rivers state, in a Toyota Hiace bus, had it rough with the overzealous policemen at the gate of the airport, as they were initially prevented from driving in.

    Two senior police officers called the security personnel to order, after the identity cards of the media men had been thoroughly checked.

    As at 3:46 pm, when our reporter left the airport, the supporters of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) chairman were still waiting at the junction of the airport, while the crowd at the Government House started dispersing around 6 pm, when it became obvious that the APC leaders would no longer visit.

    A police officer, who would not want to be named, said the supporters of Amaechi were prevented from accessing the airport to prevent the breakdown of law and order.

    When the policeman was reminded that supporters of the Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, were always allowed into the airport, even up to the VIP Lounge and the tarmac to receive Wike, Jonathan or his wife, he declined to comment.

    The Interim National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a telephone interview, said the visit to Port Harcourt by the leaders of the main opposition party was shifted till 11 am today, because of “coordination and logistics”.

    Amaechi, who spoke through the Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Chief Tony Okocha, said today’s crowd would be three times bigger than yesterday’s.

    Okocha said: “The police and other enemies of progress want to diminish the support of Rivers people for Governor Amaechi, but they have failed. Rivers people refuse to be intimidated or cowed. Their support is unwavering and they will not take the law into their own hands.”

    The First Lady, who was scheduled to leave Port Harcourt yesterday, did not leave. There was no official explanation for the change secluded.

    The wife of the President was in Rivers state for the funeral of her mother, the late Madam Charity Fyneface Oba, aka Mama Sisi, at Okrika, headquarters of Okrika Local Government Area.

    At the funeral service at the playground of Okrika National Secondary School last Friday, Dame Jonathan refused to shake Amaechi while she moved round to greet dignitaries, but the Rivers governor, unperturbed, danced to the music of Gozie Okeke, Buchi and Yinka Ayefele, among others.

    The members of the advanced team of the First Lady were already at the airport yesterday, waiting for their boss, who did not show up.

    The Secretary to the Rivers State Government, George Feyii, commissioners, local government chairmen and other top Rivers government officials were at the airport waiting to receive the APC leaders.

  • Tricycle operators beg Rivers govt for conducive environment

    The Rivers State branch of the Keke Owners and Riders Association (KORAN) has urged the Rivers State government to create a conducive environment for its members to operate.

    KORAN said its members have contributed millions of naira to the state’s coffer since inception of the organisation.

    The group said their regular payment of tax into Rivers State coffer has been recognised by the merit award, which was recently given to them in Port Harcourt by the Joint Assembly of Rivers Youth for their excellence performance and contribution in the transport sector of the state.

    The Award, which was celebrated by members of KORAN, was described by its leadership as reward for hard work and proficiency in the service to humanity.

    Mr John Ademola, the state Chairman of Keke Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (KORAN), said the award is a honour deserved.

    “We are delighted as members of KORAN to receive the Award. We are happy that the award is coming at this time when our members are soliciting support from the state government to create enabling environment for our operation.”

    Ademola said Keke-NAPEP is a Youth empowerment scheme initiated by the Federal Government in 2006 and receiving an Award from Rivers youth means that their activities and contributions to the state have been fully recognised and appreciated.

    The KORAN Chairman urged the federal and state governments to initiate another youth employment scheme that could complement Keke-Napep, adding, “Keke-NAPEP is a Federal government small scheme transport initiative that was established in 2006. It is an experimental mode of poverty eradication that seeks to empower the poor and unemployed Nigerians to a point where he or she can be valuable in the society. And in order to earn daily bread, we have proven that this three-wheel is possible to pick a street urchin and empower them through micro credits to become a productive member of the society, this is why we need more schemes.”

    Ademola thanked KORAN members for sustaining the temple and advised them to be law abiding and to understand that the establishment of the Rivers Keke-NAPEP Association is not just a tool for earning daily bread but a formidable vehicle for wealth creation.

  • Rivers communities decry ‘killer’ waste dumpsites

    Rivers communities decry ‘killer’ waste dumpsites

    He said: “Look at this place; we are no longer doing business here, because no customer will spend his money in this stinking environment. Not only here, many people have packed out of this area. I hope you saw those shops at the front; they are all locked because those who were doing business there relocated. The situation has seriously affected the landlords who now beg house agent to get tenants, even the landlords are relocating to another environment.”

    Mr. Victor Wanor, a roadside Mechanic, whose workshop is behind the dumpsite said he and his apprentice fall sick regularly, due to the odour they inhale from the waste dump. He said he stayed on because he had no money to relocate.

    Mr. Wenneka Chidah, one of the landlords in the area, had just been discharged from the hospital when our reporter met him. He suffered from bleeding nose and anus.

    He said, “I inhaled the toxic from the waste during the fumigation of the dumpsite. When I got to home, blood was discharging out of my nose and anus. I think it is time for government to listen to our cry; it is getting out of hand.”

    A senior lecturer on Public/Environmental Health at the Rivers State School of Health and Technology, Mr. Nahikpo Nyiedah, confirmed that there are diseases associated with bad waste disposal.

    “Improper disposal of wastes, such as solid waste, human excreta and sewage, is one of the major risk factors that affect the health and comfort of individuals. Poor waste handling and disposal can lead to environmental pollution. It encourages the breeding of disease-vector insects, animal scavengers and rodents. It results in a range of diseases through different routes of exposure such as lymphocytic choriomeningitis, etc.

    Nyiedah said the prevailing situations at Oyigbo and Rumuolumini could lead to “Hepatitis E, which could result to infection and inflammation of the liver. The illness starts with an abrupt onset of fever, body weakness, appetite loss, nausea and abdominal discomfort, followed by jaundice within a few days.”

    Our reporter’s effort to get the views of staff of the RSESA on site at Rumuolumini was violent rebuffed. He was even prevented from taking photograph of the scene by menacing men who accused him of being a nosy journalist who wanted to spoil their means of livelihood.

    It was later learnt that they were ‘levy’ collectors from the waste contractors. An elderly source in the community said “each of the youths represent some strong men in the community who make a lot of money from the landfill. It is these strong men in the community who make it impossible for government to listen to the cry of the people over relocation of the dumpsite.”

    Our source said the waste contractors, called service providers, pay heavily to the men at the dumpsite before their trucks are allowed to dispose waste. He said as the louder the people complained of odour, the more the levy imposed on the contractors.

    If the people of Rumuolumini are cowed by the antics of the beneficiaries, the people of Oyigbo are not. Residents of the area have protested severally of the health implication of the stinking dumpsite located in their area. During a recent protest, they gave the government, which they accused of planning to poison them, two weeks ultimatum to relocate the dumpsite.

    It was gathered that from the beginning of the construction of Oyigbo landfill, the residents had resisted the choice of the site because of its proximity to living area. But they were reportedly deceived that the government was constructing a fish pond that would employ them.

    A resident, Chief Odinaka Umezie, accused the state government of insensitivity to the plights of the people. “This odour has sent many people to early grave. Every day people get ill, infected with all kinds of skin diseases because of the odour. We are calling on the government to relocate this dumpsite to where people are not living. We will continue to protest until the dumpsite is relocated.”

    Like in Rumuolumini, the malodorous stench from the Oyigbo site is affecting the business of the area. The Headmistress of AA International School Mrs. Nkem Onu whose school is directly opposite the site lamented the effect of the site on the school. She said many parents withdrew their children because of health concern.

    “We have severally written to the authority who promised to do something but till date they have refused to do anything. The odour is very offensive; the dump is made up of both animal and human waste. I am calling on the government to do something to save the lives of the people around the area.”

    Our findings at Eliozu and Igwuruta revealed that the RSESA got it right with there. Eliozu’s is located far from the major road and residential areas. But for a few abandoned buildings near the dumpsite, human presence is minimal.

    However, the sanity in the area may not be for long as it was gathered that congestion in Port Harcourt and other parts of the metropolis are forcing desperate residents to move into Eliozu and Igwuruta. A source said almost all surrounding lands have been sold to developers, raising concerns of building springing up around the dumps.

    Conversely, it was a mountain of waste that crept in on residents of Njemanze and other areas of Mile One, Diobu. The land bordering Njemanze and the water was opened up by the state government in 2009 as part of the waterfront demolition exercise to chase away criminal.

    Since that demolition, the area has been turned into a dump site, much to the consternation of residents and business owners in the area. Worst hit is the premises of Vintage Press Limited, publishers of The Nation newspapers. Staff of the company said they have been forced to contend with revolting odour and thick plumes of smoke resulting from incineration of waste on a daily basis.

    The company’s Assistant General Manager, Mr. Olatunde Olasoga was forced to call in fire-fighters on a wet August morning when fire from burning tyres and other waste materials threatened to engulf the company’s building and ultramodern press.

    Residents said they are perplexed by the variegated forms of waste poured into the huge gulf on a daily basis. “There was one time a dead child was found among the wastes dumped there,” a resident of Nsukka Street said.

    Mr. Godwill Otenga, the youth leader in the area said, “We have severally complained to the appropriate authority to save us from dying early but nobody is listening to us. Most of the waste dumped at Njemanze water-front is rotten waste and that is what we are inhaling. Sometime if you want to pass Njemanze Street, whether driving or walking, you have to close your nostril because it (smell) could be terrible.”

    Our checks revealed that the Njemanze site was not designated as dumpsite, but was converted by the government, which now uses waste to fill the wasteland there.

    Meanwhile, there are about 35 receptacles (waste receiving point) from Mile 1 to Igwuruta. Most of them are cited in front of residential buildings, markets and schools. They create problems for those living around, especially when they are not evacuated early. When it rains it washes into compounds and contaminates sources of water.

    The Sole Administrator of RSESA, Mr. Ade Adeogun, conceded to our reporter that the landfills and receptacles may have caused harms to residents. He assured that the government was willing to relocate some of those sites to other areas.

    Speaking through his media officer, Mr. Olalekan Ige, he said: “The government has increased the deodorising of the dumpsite to reduce the offensive odour. RSESA fumigates the place weekly to eradicate the presence of any form of dangerous reptiles. I am pleading for patience from the people as it takes some time to complete the construction of landfill.”

    Ige said the state government spends over N500 million monthly to remove about 60,000 metric tons of waste generated by four local government areas in the state. He said the sum includes waste collection, disposal, sorting and fumigation.

    Ige said the RSESA covers only five Local Government Areas, including Obio-Akpor, Port Harcourt City, Eleme, parts of Etche and Ikwerre Local Governments.

    He also revealed that 70 service providers are contracted go round the areas areas daily to collect refuse at the receptacle sites designated by the state government.

    “The challenges the authority faces come from some residents who dump waste indiscriminately and in unauthorized places. In January to May 2013, over 700 sanitation offenders have been arrested and charged to the state’s sanitation magistrate court.”

    Director of Operation RSESA, Mr. Job Emmanuel, said its health officers are working hard to ensure that Port Harcourt and its environs were kept clean. He also regretted the attitude of some residents.

    He said: “When drains are cleared the water flows. I regretted that some residents in Port Harcourt intentionally dump waste at the drains. Every day we are on the road doing sensitisation campaign including using the media to inform the people on the health implication of dumping waste indiscriminately but yet only few people understand what we are talking about.”

    Pastor Kingsley Egunatu, of Numac Project Company Limited commended the Adeogun-led RSESA for discipline brought into waste management in the area. “Adeogun has sanitized the whole place. He made it compulsory that evacuation at the receptacle must be daily and should be from 6pm to 12pm. And if service provider violates any of the rules he or she will not only see his contract with RSESA terminated but he will be arrested. In fact, since he came onboard service providers are more serious than before. Trucks are being positioned at the receptacle point before 5pm to enable waste generators dump directly to the truck instead of dumping on the ground.”

     

  • Infrastructure a priority in Rivers

    Infrastructure a priority in Rivers

    Roads to mop up traffic gridlock.

    TherE is a lift in infrastructure in Rivers State. Schools are wearing a bold new look, unrecognisable from what used to be.

    Yet, Governor Chibuike Amaechi says his administration still prioritises infrastructure and that the plan to transform the state is still on course.

    To help realise this vision, Amaechi has engaged GIBB, a renowned construction firm with its headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa.

    Amaechi who spoke in Port Harcourt, recalled the poor state of infrastructure he met in 2007 when he assumed office. That is why his administration “is engaging a world-class firm like GIBB to deliver world-class projects,” he said.

    The governor spoke through the Administrator of Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority, Mrs Aleruchi Cookey-Gam at a dinner organised by the construction giant to showcase the multi-disciplinary and mega-projects it has been executing across many African countries.

    One of the projects executed by GIBB in Rivers is the monorail.

    Amaechi added that six years down the road, he is happy that his vision is on track.

    While admitting that Port Harcourt is still facing traffic congestion, the governor said that parts of the state capital are “locked up because we did not plan for the future”.

    There is a way out. GIBB has advised that “one of the things that will unlock the city of Port Harcourt is to run a road from Woji River to Elelenwo to take away traffic from Aba Road.”

    To unlock the Diobu axis of the metropolis, he said that a road would be built to link the old city of Port Harcourt to the new city and this road would connect Eagle Island, Ada George Road, Obiri Ikwerre and join Port Harcourt International Airport.

    The governor also said that he is passionate about unlocking these roads to save people from “heart attack” occasioned by traffic congestion.

    While expressing the hope that GIBB would be able to deliver the first phase of the new city of Port Harcourt, the governor also commended the company for wanting to partner with Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Port Harcourt in skills development but urged it to also consider “partnering with government in project delivery and building capacity of the people.”

    On the mono-rail, a project his government started during his first tenure and which is now being handled by GIBB, the governor said that it “is real, the first of its kind in Nigeria.”

    He added that it is one of the visionary goals of his administration.

    The Chief Executive Officer of GIBB, Mr Richard Vries gave an insight into the company which he said was established in 1923 while the South African office opened in 1956.

    Vries also said that his company which opened its Nigerian office in 2008 is independently rated as a market leader in consulting engineering and it is in operation in many countries of Africa.

    The GIBB boss who described Nigeria as “one of the 10 fastest growing economies of the world”, also used the opportunity to disclose the kind of projects they would be executing in the state, one of which is to partner with RSUST on skills development.

    He stressed that “investment in infrastructure will lead to employment and eradication of poverty.”