Niger Delta
CRHA Wants Relief Materials For Windstorm Victims
The Cross River House of Assembly, has urged the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to provide relief materials to victims of the recent windstorm that swept across the state.
The House also directed SEMA to evaluate the cost of human and material damages caused by the windstorm and present its findings to the Federal and State Assemblies for deliberation.
The House made the called following a matter of urgent public interest raised by Mr Jacob Enyia, representing Boki 11 constituency.
Enyia said that he raised the motion to draw attention to the sufferings and devastation caused by the wind storm which, he said, had destroyed about 1,000 houses across the state in the last three days.
“There is no community in all the local government areas of the state that was not affected by the windstorm.
“We decided to bring this matter to the House and call on the relevant authorities in the federal and state to come to the aid of our people.’’
In his contribution, Mr Agbiji Agbiji, representing Ikom 1 constituency, expressed regret that after 10 years of its existence, SEMA still lacked vehicles and staff to enhance its operations.
He urged the House to seek intervention that would go beyond the provision of basic relief materials for the victims, adding that it should seek intervention that would deepen the disaster management in the state.
Mr Wilson Ekpenyong, representing Odukpani constituency, appealed to the state government to increase the budgetary allocation to SEMA to enhance its activities.
The legislator expressed concern that the affected communities would not feel the impact of SEMA due to the ‘selective’ ways of its intervention.
Also, the Speaker of the House, Mr Larry Odey, stressed the need for the assembly to interface with SEMA to know the modalities and measures put in place to prevent future occurrence.
“I think what we should do is to interface with SEMA to enable us know what modalities it has put in place to ensure that such disasters do not reoccur.’’
After extensive deliberation on the matter, the House called on SEMA and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide relief materials to the people to cushion the effect of the windstorm.
The windstorms affected all the 18 local government areas of the state.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning, Rt Hon Evans Bipi, has eulogised Gen Gabriel Asabuja over his recent birthday celebration in Port Harcourt.
Bipi said Asabuja is worth celebrating following his numerous contributions and support to the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
He described Asabuja as a strong pillar of governance in Rivers State, adding that the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning is happy working with him.
He noted that Asabuja’s position as a team leader of the Ministry’s taskforce has been amazing, saying the Ministry is proud associating with him.
The former lawmaker hinted that since Asabuja assumed office as leader of the taskforce, the Ministry has witnessed tremendous improvement.
Bipi said the Ministry will always stand by him to ensure that the dreams of the Governor Fubara-led government are achieved.
On his part, the celebrant, Gen Gabriel Asabuja expressed gratitude to God and the Commissioner for the honour done him.
Gen Asabuja also commended Governor Fubara for his tremendous and good leadership in the State, saying his group will continue to give the Governor maximum support in order to achieve more for Rivers people.
Gen Asabuja described Rt Hon Evans Bipi as one of the best brains working with the Governor, saying under Bipi, the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning has shown capacity to leverage on the Governor’s mantra of Rivers First.
He said both the personnel of the Ministry, the Directors and adhoc staff are happy with his style of leadership.
The Joint Provincial Council, East of the Niger, Anglican Communion, held its 2025 Annual General Meeting at St. Michael’s Church, Rumuomasi Deanery, Diocese of Evo from Saturday 15th — Sunday 16th February, 2025.
The meeting which had the theme, “Kept By His Mercies”, with text from Lamentations 3:22-23, had the Archbishops, Bishops, their wives, Chancellors, Financial Secretaries and Synod Clerical Secretaries of the 58 Dioceses as delegates.
At the opening ceremony on Saturday, the Dean of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and Chairman of the Council, Most Rev Blessing Enyindah, charged delegates to stay focused and committed to the matters for discussion and implement decisions reached for the growth of the Church in the region and the advancement of the business of God’s Kingdom.
Most Rev Enyindah, who is also the Archbishop of the Niger Delta Province and Bishop of the Diocese of Ikwerre, lauded the Diocese of Evo for the giant strides recorded in just 15 years of existence while tasking the leadership not to rest on its oars but to strive further to complete the work of the Kingdom in their hands.
Addressing the council in his welcome address, the Bishop of the Diocese of Evo and host of the Joint Council, The Rt Rev Innocent Ordu, welcomed the delegates, and reminded them that the theme is apt and fit as it reminds the Church of God’s inexplicable and instructible mercy towards mankind, which supersedes His righteous judgements.
Bishop Ordu further lamented the many challenges bedeviling the country, such as skyrocketing cost of living, ravaging sicknesses and ailments, proliferation of harmful drugs, natural disasters, high level corruption in public offices, inept political leadership, amongst others, which he said could not consume mankind because of God’s mercies.
In their separate speeches, delegates saluted the Diocese of Evo for willingly accepting to host the council and the comfort they enjoyed during their stay.
Earlier, the council appointed the Synod’s Clerical Secretary of the Diocese of Evo, Rev (Canon) (Dr) Ebenezer Owhor as the Assistant Secretary of the Joint Council.
Also, before the commencement of plenary, the women of St. Michael’s Church, Rumuomasi Deanery thrilled delegates to good traditional tunes and dance steps while His Royal Highness Eze( Sir) Raymond Chinda led the chiefs and elders of Rumuomasi community in Oropotoma Kingdom, to appreciate the council for choosing the community to host the meeting.
They solicited for prayers of peace, unity and development from the council.
The meeting ended on Sunday evening while the Archbishops and Bishops worshipped in various churches in the Diocese of Evo.