Tag: Wike

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has condemned attacks on oil pipelines in Niger Delta by militants.

The governor said such actions were not in the interest of the region.

He noted that attacks on oil installations would negatively affect the revenue accruing to states for their development.

Wike pledged that in few weeks, he would launch the dualisation of the Saakpenwa-Bori Road to serve Ogoni communities.

The governor said states in the Niger Delta would work with the Federal Government and security agencies to stop militants from blowing up pipelines.

He said: “Blowing up pipelines will further decrease our revenue, which affects the payment of salaries and development projects. Blowing up pipelines will not solve any of our development challenges.

“As a servant of the people, I know that there is no need for insecurity. I will never support those who claim to be responsible for pipeline vandalism.”

Wike said those having issues with a government at whatever level should embrace dialogue.

The governor noted that violence would not resolve challenges in the region, despite its crude oil and gas.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has dissolved all the 23 Local Government Caretaker Committees in the state.

  Wike, through his Special Assistant on Electronic Media,  Simeon Nwakaudu, in a statement, yesterday in Port Harcourt, directed the caretaker committee chairmen to hand over to their respective Heads of Personnel Management (HPM).

 The governor also directed the HPMs to immediately compile lists of staff being owed salaries, adding that the lists should include the number of months owed the workers by the respective councils and that the lists be submitted to his office with immediate effect.

 Meanwhile, the governor has called on magistrates across the country to be fearless and firm in their dispensation of justice.

 Speaking yesterday at the Government House in Port Harcourt, when he granted audience to the members of the National Executive Committee of the Magistrates Association of Nigeria, Wike stated that the functions of magistrates remain vital to the dispensation of justice in the country.

 He urged magistrates to stop the practice of returning case files on the basis that they were afraid of the antics of certain interests and those who would malign them after delivering judgments.

“Judicial officers should not abdicate their responsibilities because they are afraid of petitions. If everyone throws in the towel, who will dispense justice?,” Wike asked.

 While noting that every profession had its inherent risks, Wike admonished the magistrates to always remain focused as they deliver judgments within the ambit of the law.

 He approved the request of the magistrates that the biennial delegates’ conference be hosted in Port Harcourt.

 Governor Wike reiterated that the state would be hosting many national events between May and October, in response to the improved security in the state.

 The President of Magistrates Association of Nigeria, Mrs. Victoria Isiguzo, had earlier called on Wike to support the hosting of the biennial delegates’ conference, during which a new executive would be elected for the association.

Isiguzo lauded the Rivers governor for granting financial autonomy to the state’s judiciary and approving the procurement of official vehicles for magistrates.

As part of his administration’s effort to provide clean water for the the people of Rivers State, the state governor, Nyesom Wike, yesterday launched the state’s urban water sector reform, the Port Harcourt water supply scheme and the sanitation  project.

 Performing the launch in Port Harcourt, Wike said the project would create women entrepreneurs, youth employment and provide safe drinking water for the inhabitants of the state.

 The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Onimim Jacks, stated that the project was key to the development of the state.

 Wike said: “The project is in line with our promises to the people of the state, as clearly spelt out in our blueprint, that we shall provide safe drinking water for the inhabitants of the state.”

 The governor also stated that within the first 100 days of his administration, the potable water scheme was launched in Abonnema, the headquarters of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of the state.

 He lauded the Federal Government for selecting Rivers as one of the pilot states for the scheme, noting that the state government would pay its counterpart funds as and when due.

 Wike maintained that his administration would always collaborate with the Federal Government in areas that would benefit the populace.

 The Rivers Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development, Chief Ibibia Walter, earlier in his remarks, pointed out that the project was part of a wide sector institutional reform embarked upon by the state government, as coordinated by the National Urban Sector Water Reform Office of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

 Walter revealed that funding for the project would be sourced from the World Bank and the African Development Bank (ADB), stressing that the ADB would contribute $200 million, World Bank to provide $80 million Dollars, while Rivers government would provide $48 million as counterpart fund.

 The Port Harcourt water supply and sanitation project is targeted at addressing the poor water infrastructure in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor LGAs, as well as addressing the sanitation challenge in the two urban areas.

The Rivers State House of Assembly, yesterday, gave the state governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, the nod to obtain a N10billion loan from the Excess Crude Account (ECA).

The approval, which was given through a vote by the lawmakers, was in response to a letter Wike sent to the assembly through the Speaker, requesting for the loan.

In the letter, dated April 5, 2016, the governor stated that when the loan is obtained, it would be used to fund some development projects in the state.

The letter stated: “You are aware of the huge infrastructure development challenge and our efforts to address the situation. Since we came on board, we have not only remobilized all contractors handling major road sites, but have also awarded new contracts for the construction and reconstruction of new roads and other projects.”

Continuing, the governor said: “We have also advertised for tenders for the Bori-Saakpenwa road, the Obiri Ikwerre-Airport bypass, while the contracts for the comprehensive rehabilitation of eleven secondary schools and some of the dilapidated general hospitals are also due for award.

“However, our major constraint is inadequate resources, which is worsened by shrinking returns from the Federation Account.

“On the strength of the above, it is my desire to obtain a Ten Billion (N10, 000, 000,000.00) loan facility from the Excess Crude Account to continue funding our numerous development projects.

“The loan, which attracts a single interest of nine percent and 20 years repayment period, is quite favourable to the reality of the state’s economy.”

Making their contributions, the lawmakers gave tacit support to the loan, saying it would facilitate the governor’s loan drive to develop the state.

Hon Deeya Barine, who represents Khana I Constituency, argued that, “I’m gladdened that the Bori-Saakpenwa road is one of the projects that this loan is meant for and I know it would open the gateway to Ogoniland.

“I also support the loan because all the projects highlighted there; rehabilitation of schools and rehabilitation of general hospitals are worth the value for the loan.”

Hon Opurum Iruanya, who represents Etche I Constituency in the House, submitted that the road projects embarked by the governor has yielded positive results, calling on the House to give approval to the loan.

Before hitting the gavel to give final approval to the loan, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Dabotoru Dima, said the loan is worth it, considering the percentage interest rate and the projects for which it will be used for.

The eight lawmakers, who were present at the sitting, including the Speaker, later adjourned sine die.

It will be recalled that this is not the first time the governor would be getting the assembly’s approval to obtain loan.

Last year, shortly after being sworn into office, the House also gave him approval to obtain N10 billion and another N20 billion from Access Bank and Zenith Banks respectively.

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has urged his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi, to accept the reality that his party lost the March 19 rerun and allow the government to focus on rebuilding the state.

The governor said the task to revive the state was enormous, following the alleged failure of the last administration to develop the state with the N3 trillion it made.

Wike spoke yesterday at the opening of a retreat on strengthening capacity, efficiency and service delivery for sustainable development organised for top government officials at Onne Multi-Purpose Centre.

He said: “I call on the former governor and leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state to accept the reality that the rerun has been lost by his party and that Rivers people have, again, reaffirmed their confidence, trust and preference for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“Therefore, spare us the agony of unnecessary hostility and allow Rivers State to move forward in peace and security. We expect you to use your high office and connections to attract meaningful development projects to the state, as I did during my time; not senseless and unpatriotic distraction. Enough is enough.

“All of us are aware of the sorry state of things in Rivers State before May 29, 2015. Between October 25, 2007 and May 28, 2015, over N3 trillion accrued from revenue sources to the state. Yet, they did nothing tangible with that money to develop the state. Instead, they squandered and diverted most of this money into private pockets through bogus and ill-fated projects.”

The governor said major key projects of the Amaechi administration were either abandoned or unexecuted.

He said: “Let’s briefly look at the records, since they live in denial. The visible projects initiated by former Governor Amaechi during his eight years in office include: the Karibi Whyte Mega Hospital, the Greater Port Harcourt Project, the new Rivers State University and the RSSDA overseas scholarship scheme.

“(Others are): The mosquitoes eradication scheme, the Adokiye Amiesemaka Stadium, the 500 primary schools project, the 23 mega-secondary schools, the ill-fated less than 1.5-kilometre monorail project and the dualisation of some inner city roads.

“However, none of these projects was realised before they left office, despite spending billions and billions of naira on them. For example, the Karibi Whyte Hospital was not just abandoned at the foundation stage, it turned out to be a big scam on Rivers people. The Greater Port Harcourt project existed mainly on paper without any tangible progress. The Adokye Amiesimaka stadium was abandoned half completed, while not even a stone was laid for the proposed new Rivers State University.

“Furthermore, the mosquito eradication project was another huge scam, just as the secondary school and overseas scholarships scheme were misconceived, fraudulent and unsustainable. In addition, they sold off three of the state’s four independent power plants initiated by Governor Peter Odili’s administration to cronies and diverted the proceeds to private ends.  The narrative is not different in their much-flaunted education and health projects. Their project audit before they left office showed that of 498 primary schools they initiated, only 116 were completed and the rest abandoned.

“Similarly, of the 23-mega secondary schools they initiated, only one was completed; the rest were abandoned. Throughout the eight years, no public secondary school was rehabilitated; all general hospitals were wilfully abandoned to rot and decay. I challenge the former governor to controvert these facts in a public debate.”