Rivers
RSG Assures On Livestock Diseases Eradication

L-R: Senibo Paul Ben-Cookey, World Class President, Port Harcourt Central, Rtn Tonye Margaret Nria-Dappa, President 2015/2016 Rotary Club of PH Garden City, Rtn Yomi Kumolu-Johnson, immediate past President, Rotary Club of Port Harcourt Garden City, Rtn Chidi Ikeja, Assistant Governor, Zone 20, during the induction of Rtn Tonye in Port Harcourt, recently.
The Rivers State Commis
sioner for Agriculture, Bar Onimim Jacks has assured the public and the livestock farmers in particular that her ministry was committed in ensuring that epidemic and infectious disease affecting livestrocks are eradicated, controlled and contained in the state.
The commissioner who was represented by permanent secretary in the ministry , Otonye Okoye gave the assurance at the handover of biosecurity materials to live bird market operators and poultry farmers in the state.
According to her, it is the desire of the state government in ensuring that the present status of zero incidence of the livestock disease in Rivers State is sustained.
“Unfortunately, Rivers State had the first outbreak of Avian Influenza in 2001 in which 1,200 birds were depopulated in one farm. During this period, the production and consumption of poultry products fell to a very low level and the livelihood of many poultry farmers was dislocated,” she said.
Okoye however advised farmer to maintain surveillance on their farms and report any suspicion of Avian influenza disease to the veterinary staff of the Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture for immediate action.
She also called on the farmers to cooperate with the state government towards achieving set objective.
Also speaking, the Director of Livestock Services, Mrs Francesca Fiberesima, said the event was designed to show that government was ever ready to support livebird market operators and poultry farmers.
“As major players in the poultry industry, we will request that you take care of your trade for your interest and also for public health. This event is also aimed at increasing your confidence in the government because they are always supportive of your trade”, she said.
She also thanked the state government for her effort at ensuring that Avian influenza was brought under control in the state and to avoid further outbreak.
Benice Iragunima
Rivers
Rivers CJ To Sanction Lawyers Who Refuse To Comply With ADR Compliance
The Rivers state Chief Judge, Justice SIMONE CHIBUZOR-AMADI has given an indication to sanction any lawyer who fail to comply with directive of a judge in the state to transferred a case to Rivers State Multi Door Courthouse for Alternatives Dispute Resolution.
Justice AMADI stated this during a brief ceremony held at the chief judge auditorium in port Harcourt Friday held to hand over certificates of operation to two private ADR chambers on Precarious Dispute Resolution Services and Harmony Arbitration and mediation center .
He urged the two private ADR centres to be diligent in the discharge of their duties and warned against compromising the standard of Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR but should observed the regulations set out in collaboration regulation by the state Multi Door Court House.
Earlier in a address, the Director of the State Multi Door Courthouse, VICTOR NWEKE esq, highlighted some of the achievements of the Multi Door Courthouse especially in decongestion of court rooms.
NWEKE while disclosing how the department certified the two private ADR centres called for serious punitive measures be taken against any lawyer who fail to comply with a case referred to Multi Door Court House by a judge or magistrates in the state.
In her acceptance speech on behalf of the two certified private ADR centres, ALICE NIMI commended the State Judiciary and Multi Door Courthouse for the approval and assured that all the rules and regulations spelt out will be followed.
In a related development; the Rivers State Judiciary has assured its readiness to collaborate with Nigerian Securityding Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC in using Alternative Dispute Resolution to resolve some of the issues in their office.
The state Chief Judge , Justice SIMONE CHIBUZOR-AMADI made the promise when he received in audience the Zonal Commander of NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General, AYINLA TALYE OLOWO and his team who paid him a courtesy visit in his office , Friday where issuees ADR utilization took centre stage.
He used the opportunity to brief his visitors on the hurdles judges faces daily in the court room and the need for the decongestion of the court room , stressing that one judge handle more than three hundred cases but that if lawyers and litigants adopt ADR practice court rooms can be releive of the daily congestions.
The state Chief Judge however urged NSCDC to ensure a wider sensitization of the members of the public on the practice of ADR for a better awareness and knowledge.
Earlier in his speech, the Zonal Commander of NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General, AYINLA TALYE-OLOWO said the visit was to seek collaboration on the use of ADR in resolving some issues which he insisted would help decongest the courtrooms.
Our correspondent reports officials of the Rivers State Multi Door Courthouse led by the Director, VICTOR NWEKE led the team of NSCDC on a technical session where information on how to the fully in cooperated into the Multi Door Courthouse and operation of ADR will be emphasized.
Akujobi Amadi