Features
Amaechi And Leadership Challenges
The wind of change blowing across Rivers State today is more phenomenal than usual considering the challenges on ground before the inception of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as Governor. The state, before this administration could be referred to as lawless, incapacitated and needing change. Only a few years ago, Rivers State was like a battle ground for criminals with high concentration in the myriad of security challenges being faced in its domiciled region, the Niger Delta; the standard of education was in shambles, schools were dilapidated, health care delivery was way below standard, roads were always being patched rather than properly fixed and bad spots persisted. What was once known and referred to as the Garden city of Nigeria turned out to be entirely different with slums and irregular structures and indiscriminate dumping of refuse defacing the environment.
This, however, has not been the case since Governor Amaechi took the reins of leadership in the state, a governor that has so far proven to be responsible, transparent and accountable to the people even in the face of seeming impossibilities. On assumption of office, Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, addressed the issue of militancy and its culmination into criminality in the state with utmost fervour leading to the significant reduction in criminal activities in the state. With the safety of the people in mind, the complete ban on motorcycle operation in the state was enforced. Governor Amaechi has since put the people first in his administration’s policies and projects, fulfilling his mandate to protect lives and property of the citizenry. His proposed demolition of shanties and slums in Port Harcourt Waterfronts and subsequent redevelopment is a vivid example of the Governor’s zeal to perpetually eliminate crime in the state as well as bring lasting development to it. This has, however, not been an easy task due to objections by some aggrieved parties but Governor Amaechi stands unshakable when it comes to dealing with issues of security and development.
Putting necessary infrastructures and policies in place, the Amaechi-Ied government is gradually turning Rivers State into a safe, clean and green abode for its residents. Health care delivery that had once collapsed has again been transformed to ensure the provision of quality health care services to the people in all areas of the state. With the aim of reducing maternal and infant mortality in Rivers State, particularly as some people live in riverine areas where health care delivery was not easily accessible, Governor Amaechi is building 153 Primary Health Care Centres simultaneously across all 23 local government areas of the state. People are now sure of getting medical care whenever, and as fast as they need it because one of those Model Primary Health Centres is in their neighbourhood. The state-owned Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital has also been given a touch of class through positioning it to be able to handle referral cases from the Primary Health Centres. The government has also completed the building of the state’s Ultra Modern Dental and Maxillofacial Hospital at the Garrison axis of the Port Harcourt-Aba expressway and the 150-bed New Niger Hospital on Emenike Street, Diobu, Port Harcourt. Work has commenced on the 150 million dollar Justice Karibi Whyte Mega Specialist Hospital in Rivers State. The state-of-the-art mega specialist hospital is billed to replace all overseas referral cases and offer quality medical services of world standard to people in Rivers State, Nigeria and other African countries. This would in essence reduce the number of patients referred abroad for treatment, making the way for patients to be flown into the country from other parts of Africa for treatment. The government has already paid $39m out of the proposed $150m for the building of the 1000 bed Mega Hospital. The Mega Hospital project, which was earlier planned to be built on the site of the former Port Harcourt General Hospital is now under construction at a larger site within the New Greater Port Harcourt City which is also under construction. However, the former General Hospital grounds will not be left undeveloped as the proposed Women and Children Hospital Project is now planned to be situated there.
In Education, there has been an overhaul following the state of emergency declared on the education sector in the state. The Amaechi administration handed over some schools back to the missionary, who originally owned them to facilitate proper administration. The governor’s determination to standardise education in Rivers State also culminated into government’s taking over of Primary Schools funding and payment of teachers from the local government councils. 250 new Model Primary Schools are being built across the state and governor Amaechi has planned to complete 750 such schools before the end of his 4-year tenure. In the same vein, 23 new model secondary schools are being built, one for each of the 23 local government areas of the state. An extra one has been added to make 24 model secondary schools being built by the same government. These schools, both primary and secondary, are to include well equipped libraries and internet facilities while the secondary schools will have boarding facilities of 2 per room and 25 students per classroom in line with United Nations standards. Meanwhile, a lot has been done to bring the state university that is, the Rivers State University of Science and Technology to an acceptable standard. A lot of courses that were not accredited before now have been accredited under the Amaechi administration. Efforts are being made to relocate the institution from its present small, congested location in the heart of Port Harcourt to the new Greater Port Harcourt city. The present location provides little or no room for expansion. But the new one under construction is a 150-hectare ultra-modern campus, has the capacity of accommodating about 60,000 or more students. 32 hostels of 8 floors each is being built to accommodate all students.
Also, a scholarship programme where 300 students are being sponsored to study in the United Kingdom and Canada is also being run by the Rivers State Government. 300 Rivers students are currently studying in overseas under the auspices of this scheme and the government under Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has provided £20,000 for each student per year.
Road construction in Rivers State, particularly Port Harcourt had also posed some serious challenges due to the number of houses that had to be demolished to restore the government’s right of way and enhance the construction, reconstruction and expansion of some roads into dual carriageways. Currently, roads in Port Harcourt are narrow single lanes which make traffic situation sometimes very difficult and which in turn justifies the ongoing construction of dual carriage ways on most major roads in the city. All the roads under construction are being done with large underground drainages which are also very important to residents of the state as the rains usually cause flooding in different areas of the city due to the lack of a proper drainage system. Some of the roads include: the Rumuokwuta/Choba Road, Rumuola Road, First Bank/Rumuobiakani/Old Aba Road, Oginigba Slaughter Road. Another very important road project is the Oil Mill/Eleme Junction Flyover and the AGIP /Rumueme/ Abacha road f1yover. Many other feeder roads have undergone rehabilitation courtesy of the Amaechi . administration.
Another major challenge where the Amaechi administration has proven its prowess and determination is the construction of roads in the coastal parts of the state. Governor Amaechi had since his infrastructural regime declared that no port of the state is more important than another and infrastructural facilities will be distributed evenly amongst communities in the upland areas and those in the coastal areas no matter how difficult the geographical terrain is. The vision of connecting all parts of the state by road has brought about government’s doggedness in the building of bridges and rural roads in almost all communities. An important project in this category is the Ogoni-AndoniOpobo Unity road project. This project will link communities in Ogoni, Andoni and Opobo local government areas with a total of 10 bridges. The project, when completed will enormously increase the pace of development in those areas and greatly reduce rural-urban migration. Governor Amaechi is spending about N 19 billion on the Unity road project, which is expected to be completed by the end of next year.
Other major rural road projects are the TransKalabari Highway and the Okirika ring road being built with three bridges amongst others. Internal roads are also being constructed in virtually all local government areas of the state. In some, there is the land reclamation and shore protection project.
In the Power sector, Governor Amaechi has stated that by December, Port Harcourt will have about 280 mega watts of power. Government has announced plans to change all the small transformers and fix distribution lines to ensure that Rivers State enjoys at least 70 per cent of power to be generated from the 280 mega watts supply. Governor Amaechi’s target is that by 2011, the state should deliver 500 mega watts of power which means Port Harcourt and Rivers State will have uninterrupted power supply by 2011. Plans are also on to award a contract for the building of a new power plant at Afam, 180 mega watts with June/July next year as target date of completion to complement what is already on ground in the state. Added together, it becomes 550 mega watts.
Meanwhile, the state government has begun the process of building 391 power projects which will cover about 350 communities spread across Rivers State with the aim of electrifying rural communities that have not been connected to the national power grid. The 391 power projects will include the installation of high tension, low tension, sub-stations, extensions etc in these communities. Also, the Amaechi administration plans to build a 300 megawatts independent power project (IPP) that would provide power for the new Greater Port Harcourt city.
A lot of other projects by the Amaechi administration are currently ongoing in different sectors of the state, all aimed at giving the people an improved standard of living and taking the state to greater heights. The Greater Port Harcourt City is a huge project embarked upon by the Amaechi administration to expand and develop Port Harcourt into a world class modern city as well as check congestion in the Old Port Harcourt city. Work has already commenced in the first phase of the Greater Port Harcourt City.
The Greater Port Harcourt City covers a number of areas from over 8 Local Government Areas in the state. They includes Port Harcourt, Obio/ Akpor, Oyigbo, Okirika, Ogu Bolo, Ikwerre, Etche and Eleme. The Rivers State Government is committed to funding the project with a budget of not less than N 1 OOb per year while open to Public Private Partnerships.
On waste management, Governor Amaechi has revealed his ongoing construction of three waste management plants. Two of these plants are to manage solid waste while one is to manage scrap or mega waste.
Urban renewal has continued with the beautification of Port Harcourt City. Roads, f1yovers, parks are now being adorned with greenery in line with Governor Amaechi’s policy of returning Port Harcourt back to its garden city status. The same goes for social infrastructure and activities. There are uncountable but remarkable changes going on in Rivers state today because the incumbent state chief executive has chosen to be upright, humane and accountable to the state and its people.
Iyofo is Gov Amaechi’s media aide
David Iyofo
From the fore going, the fight against drug trafficking should be treated as an international challenge with open collaboration, if the world leadership must win the fight!.
The circumstances or should I say the improvement on drug related activities are modifying and updating on daily basis. A close friend of mine in the United States of America who recently visited Jamaica, came with a lot of complicated information about drug trafficking and transaction. Being a qualified Nurse in US and on a visit to the Reggae Country (Jamaica), she said she was put aback when a man approached her and introduced himself as a Pharmacist. According to her, she immediately picked interest due to her professional background. To her, a business partner is birthed. But she was shocked to the narrows on learning that drug dealers or traffickers and subriquited Pharmacist in that Country. From her account, they ( The Jamaican Pharmacists), are the first set to people to meet and greet you at the Airport. No government or authority challenges them in the open due to the sophisticated nature of their transportation
Come to think of it, who would want to attack a Pharmacist on duty? Nigerians are not left out in the improvement on drug deal. A chat with a confident in the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA) Rivers State Command, so revealed. The Officer draw my attention to the movement of Dispatch Riders. He said part of the reasons they ride with almost speed equivalent of the thunder lightning, is to meet up with the appointment of delivering hard drug consignment to a client of theirs. According to him, those guys popularly referred to as Yahoo Boys are the ones who now payroll dispatch riders so that they can deliver their consignment ( hard drugs) on schedule no matter the sort of traffic or weather condition. The fear of loosing rich clients and that of the unknown treatment that may come of the Boys, as the officer puts it, drives the Riders crazy thus the reason to speed even at the expense of their lives.
The account of a prominent Party Promoter, Wayne Anthony, as obtained online recently, also pointed out that ‘No Legislation Will Stop Clubbers From Doing Drugs’ Party promoter, Wayne Anthony, arrived in Ibiza, a Spanish Island in 1988, at the same time as dance music and the party drug ecstasy. Despite hallucinating badly enough to make him give up the lifestyle forever, he says laws will never stop clubbers taking drugs. “I don’t think you can control these things,” said former party promoter Wayne Anthony. He arrived in Ibiza in 1988 and began setting up club nights and raves in some of the island’s most iconic venues. In the years that followed, the sleepy Spanish island turned into a raver’s haven of clubbing and hedonism, with party drugs like ecstasy commonly found. “What Ibiza represented was this beautiful, hot island which was visually stunning and we knew you could party there quite legally,” said Wayne. “You didn’t have to look over your shoulder. You could just be as free as you possibly could be.”
That freedom came with a price. Along with the lavish clubs, all-day-benders and hot Spanish sun came drug cartels and crime. The city transformed into one the world’s most vibrant party capitals, “fuelled by a dangerous and lucrative drugs trade which drew as many criminals to its shores as it did party animals”. Wayne, one of the contributors to the documentary, spoke to Sky News ahead of its release.”I’m not going to sit here and say the cartels aren’t there. They are all there and they’ve been there from the ’90s,” said Wayne. But he said most people tried to ignore the organised crime going on around them. According to Wayne, clubbers usually took the approach of: “‘Give me 10 E’s . Behind the scenes of the filming of Ibiza Narcos with Wayne Anthony. Behind the scenes of the filming of Ibiza Narcos with Wayne Anthony. Hallucinating giant spiders Although he described the Balearic island as the “motherland”, it was eventually a bad experience with drugs that convinced Wayne it was time to leave Ibiza.
He’d been partying for days when he realised he’d taken too many drugs. A friend told him to drink cough medicine, dangerous advice that he now says could have killed him. “I saw the worst hallucination I’ve ever seen in all of my life. I ended up locking myself in the villa with all the shutters down. When he sobered up, he realised he had “come to the end” of his party life on the island. “I never looked back. I never took another drug. I got away from the club world.” ‘I don’t think you’re going to be able to stop it’ Despite his life-changing experience, he doesn’t think criminalising drugs is a good idea – or particularly effective. “If you’re old enough to vote for who’s going to be a world leader, if you’re old enough to put your name down on debt for 25 years, I feel like you should be old enough to govern what you put inside your own body, you know?” said Wayne.
Back to Nigeria, some illicit drugs worth over N30billion seized at Onne Port in Rivers State.
This blood chilling development forced the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency at the Onne Port, following what authorities described as repeated incidents of importation of dangerous cargo, including arms and ammunition through the said port. To this effect, the government said it was immediately implementing emergency protocols at Onne Port for the next three months by conducting thorough examinations of all suspected containers in the premises.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, in charge of the port via a press conference, said it henceforth, unveiled the seizures of illicit goods by the Nigeria Customs Service, Area 2 Command, Onne in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State. In defence for his action, Adeniyi said the recurring incidents posed a threat to national security, adding that the health of citizens at the Onne Port is increasingly being used as a destination for dangerous and illicit cargo, describing it as a disturbing trend.
The customs boss stated, “Earlier today, I joined numerous stakeholders to take a significant step towards the cause of trade facilitation through the inauguration of upgraded facilities provided by the West Africa Container Terminal, Onne. “As I express delight that trade facilitation is getting traction in Onne Port, I cannot help but call your attention to a grave concern. This has to do with the repeated incidents of national security breaches unfolding in Onne Port. I appreciate your presence, as we all have a shared responsibility in safeguarding our national security. As we are all aware, the policy thrust of Mr President supports the re-energising of our business environment to drive faster import clearance and grow our capacity for exports, Our emphasis has been to promote initiatives that speak to Trade facilitation and economic development. “It is a matter of regret that criminal elements in the international supply chain are exploiting our pro-trade stance to commit atrocities bordering on national security breaches”.
“The attempts to test our will through the importation of dangerous cargo through this port has necessitated the declaration of a state of emergency in Onne Port, coming on the heels of a seizure of a huge cache of arms a couple of months ago. It is disheartening that perpetrators have not backed down on their illegal acts. Recent intelligence and seizures have revealed a disturbing trend; Onne Port is increasingly being used as a destination for dangerous and illicit cargo. The scale and nature of these illegal importations pose a significant threat to our national security and the health of our citizens. Today, we are here to showcase yet another series of significant seizures made by the diligent officers of the Area 2 Command. On display are twelve containers of illicit goods intercepted through a combination of intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration, and meticulous physical examination. Seizures on Display include: Three (3) x 40-feet containers: Containing 562,600 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine and 3,150 pieces of chilly cutters, with a Paid Duty Value (DPV) of N4,716,573,846.
“Others are, three x 40-feet containers containing 380,000 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine, 24,480,000 tablets of Royal Tramadol Hydrochloride, 5,350,000 tablets of Tapentadol and Carisoprodol, and other items, with a DPV of N17,432,506,000 were seized”.
According to the report, more seized items were, “Five (5) x 40-feet containers; Containing 892,400 bottles of 100ml cough syrup with codeine, 1,300,000 tablets of 50mg Really Extra Diclofenac, 7,250,000 tablets of 5mg Trodol Benzhexol, and other items, with a DPV of N8, 128,568,295,90. This very action of the Nigeria Customs Service, further complicated the hope of how soon the fight against drug trafficking could be brought to a halt owing to its high profile nature.
Another hair-raising report of the illicit drug deal has it that when NDLEA bursted a Snake-Guarded Shrine Used For Storing Illicit Drugs sometime ago in Edo State. This very news report was published in The Tide Newspaper on June 24, 2024. According to the report, NDLEA said its operatives uncovered a shrine, guarded by a snake, being used for storing illicit drugs, during an operation in Edo State. The Agency in a statement by its spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, added that its operatives discovered a specially constructed large hole in a wall, hidden behind wallpapers and fetish objects used for drug storage. It further noted that methamphetamine, Loud, Colorado and Arizona, all strong strains of cannabis with a total weight of 8.743kg among others, were recovered from the shrine.
To be cont’d
King Onunwor
The persistent clash between farmers and herders in Nigeria has been a longstanding issue. These conflicts, often, over resources like land and water, have led to loss of lives, destruction of property, displacement of large numbers of people, deep-seated mistrust between communities and insecurity. Herders, traditionally nomadic, move their livestock in search of grazing land and water. Farmers, on the other hand, require the same resources for their crops. This competition often leads to clashes, especially in areas where land is becoming increasingly scarce due to population growth, climate change, and environmental degradation. As these clashes intensify, there has been a growing call for sustainable solutions. Two weeks ago, President Bola Tinubu took a bold step towards tackling the issue by inaugurating the Presidential Committee on Implementation of Livestock Reforms and creating the Ministry of Livestock Development.
The committee which has the president as the chairman and the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega as the deputy chairman has the mandate to address obstacles to agricultural productivity and open up new opportunities which benefit farmers, herders, processors, and distributors in the livestock-farming value chain as well as propose recommendations aimed at fostering a peaceful co-existence between herders and farmers, ensuring the security and economic well-being of Nigerians.The establishment of the Ministry of Livestock Development was part of the recommendations of the National Livestock Reforms Committee. Part of the 21 recommendations submitted to the president include: “This agenda should include the establishment and resuscitation of grazing reserves as suggested by many experts and well-meaning Nigerians and other methods of land utilisation.
“Create the Ministry of Livestock Resources in line with practice in many other West African countries. In the alternative, Federal and State Governments should expand the scope of existing Departments of Livestock Production to address the broader needs of the industry,” among others. Experts in the agricultural sector have posited that the livestock industry can create millions of jobs directly in farming, processing, and distribution, and indirectly in related sectors like feed production, veterinary services, and marketing. It provides livelihoods for rural populations, helping to reduce poverty and improve the quality of life in rural areas. It also increases the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and foreign exchange earnings through the exports of livestock and livestock products such as meat, dairy, wool and leather.
According to them, a well-funded livestock industry supports the growth of agro-processing sectors, such as meat packing, dairy processing, and leather manufacturing, adds value to raw products and creates additional economic activity as well as stimulates the development of supply chains, including logistics, packaging, and retail, contributing to broader economic growth. It enhances economic resilience by diversifying the agricultural sector and providing a buffer against crop failures or other agricultural shocks and many more. Some other agriculturists have also opined that the livestock industry in Nigeria is currently underdeveloped and that by the creation of the ministry of livestock development will open up the industry which will be a huge money spinner for Nigeria.
Reports have shown that a Livestock Ministry can play a pivotal role in mitigating conflicts between farmers and herders by implementing policies and programmes aimed at fostering coexistence and sustainable resource management. The Ministry can work towards clearly demarcating grazing routes and farming areas. This would reduce instances of trespassing and accidental crop destruction, a common flashpoint for conflict. While introducing rotational grazing systems can ensure that land is used sustainably, preventing overgrazing and land degradation, establishing water points and boreholes specifically for livestock can reduce competition for water resources. Similarly, promoting the development of pasturelands through reseeding and controlled burns can improve grazing conditions.
According to a veterinary doctor, Dr Andrew Obadiah, by providing training for herders on sustainable livestock practices and for farmers on conflict resolution, both parties can understand the importance of coexistence. He said that extension services of the ministry can offer advice on improving livestock health and productivity, reducing the need for large herds and extensive grazing. “Setting up local committees involving both farmers and herders to mediate disputes can provide a platform for dialogue and peaceful resolution. Encouraging community-based conflict early warning systems can help prevent clashes before they escalate”, he emphasised.For Mrs. Stella Ugwu, a farmer, having a ministry dedicated to the development of the livestock industry can help in diversifying income sources for both farmers and herders and in turn reduce dependence on land.
”For instance, promoting agro-pastoralism can provide farmers with livestock and herders with agricultural produce”, she explained, adding that providing incentives for adopting sustainable practices, such as subsidies for fodder production or crop insurance, can ease economic pressures. Ugwu was however of the opinion that the creation of a new ministry to handle livestock affairs was uncalled for, since the job can effectively be done by the Technical and Service Department of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and food security and its equivalent on the states level.In some countries, the establishment of a Livestock Ministry or similar bodies has shown promising results. For example, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Agriculture includes a dedicated department for livestock which has successfully implemented programmes to improve pastoral livelihoods and reduce conflicts.
In Kenya, the establishment of the National Drought Management Authority has helped manage resources better, thus reducing clashes between herders and farmers during dry seasons.The president of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Othman Ngelzarma, sees the Ministry of Livestock Development achieving the same feat for Nigeria in the near future. He told newsmen that, “MACBAN expresses its deepest appreciation to the Federal Government for creating a ministry of livestock to unlock the trillion-naira livestock economy and create qualitative and productive jobs across the value chain to improve the Nigerian economy. With this development, MACBAN believes the hope of the Nigerian pastoralists is now achieved under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
However, the Middle Belt Forum took a different view of the proposed Ministry of Livestock Development, saying it was not enough to sustainably resolve the decades-long farmers-herders crisis in the country. According to the National President of the association, Mr. Bitrus Pogu, what is needed to end the perennial farmers/herders clashes is a deliberate action by regulatory bodies and the government to stop criminal elements from carrying out deadly attacks on innocent Nigerians, mainly farmers. Hear him: “If the reason for creating the Ministry is to stop clashes, I think it is wrong because all of these attacks and killings that are happening have nothing to do with conflicts between farmers and herders. “Farmers have never connived at any given time to go and attack herders, but rather, criminals who happen to be Fulani gang up and attack farmers, kill, maim and chase them out of their ancestral homes.
“Then, the Fulani will come and occupy them. So, it is more about invasion, criminality, and terrorism. And the majority of those they hire to do these evils are not even those who have cattle. So, a deliberate action has to be taken by the government against the perpetrators, which will address the criminality.” Mr. Pogu suggested that the government should adopt ranching for productivity and enduring peace between the pastoralists and farmers in particular and the entire country in general.While the establishment of a Livestock Ministry presents a viable solution, it is not without challenges. Funding constraints, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and corruption can hamper its effectiveness. Additionally, deeply ingrained cultural practices and mistrust between farmers and herders can be difficult to overcome.
Critics argue that without a holistic approach that includes land reform, climate change adaptation, and broader economic development, a Livestock Ministry alone may not be sufficient. Therefore, it must work in tandem with other governmental and non-governmental bodies to ensure comprehensive solutions. “A dedicated Livestock Ministry, with its focus on sustainable resource management, conflict resolution, and economic incentives, offers a promising avenue to address the root causes of these clashes. However, its success depends on effective implementation, adequate funding, and the cooperation of all stakeholders involved. With the right strategies and commitment, devoid of any political or selfish interest, it can play a crucial role in fostering peace and prosperity in affected regions”, they advised.
Calista Ezeaku