Niger Delta
House Decries Poor Finishing Of Contracts
Members of the Cross River State House of Assembly, have described the finishing of most jobs in Yala Local Government Council as unsatisfactory and unacceptable.
Inspecting projects in the Council Area, the Members observed that most of the contracts were not executed in accordance with the State standard.
They noted also that, the Chairman’s official residence which was one of the projects visited had very bad windows and doors while the 2600 pupil desks meant for schools in the area were poorly constructed.
The lawmakers expressed dissatisfaction that the contract for these jobs must have been awarded to incompetent contractors and certainly may not have been supervised at all.
At the Legislative site currently under construction, members condemned part of the ceiling and roofing work and called on the contractor to take steps to correct the defect.
An Architect, Mr. Robert Ule who conducted the Members round the project said the delay in the completion of work has been caused by increase in cost of the building materials and the removal of fuel subsidy.
Also speaking, the Director of Works, Engineer I. Ukam said the Chairman’s quarters was commissioned by His Excellency Navy Captain Christopher Osundu since May 19th 1999 when Ntufam Victor Ogar Ndifon was Chairman and has not been inhabited since then.
Other Projects inspected included the generator house, Staff Quarters, the ongoing 611 meter long fence, office of the Paramount Ruler, Chief of General Staff office all in the Council premises.
The State Border Communities Development Commission Project comprising an Office Block and Staff Quarters in Alifokpa were also condemned for poor window and door frames. Members queried the rationale behind the citing of the completed but abandoned Federal Government hospital under the MDGs project at the interior part of the Council Area.
The Members also visited the uncompleted hospital project in Alifokpa, the Lugard wall at Yache Gabu which is threatened by encroachment and deforestation activities of the Tivs in Benue State and also the 6 classroom blocks in South Ukele handled by Pace Surge Nigeria Limited.
Responding, the Supervisor of Works, Hon. Cyprian Uneji, said the speedy completion of the project which commenced in December 2011 was being hampered by lack of access road to convey materials as well as lack of labour.
The Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Larry Odey said it was very important that immediate steps be taken to give the people access roads, health facilities, and water to improve on their welfare.
In another development, the State Head of Service, Mrs. Mary-Theresa Ikwen, has called for collaboration between her Office and the Civil Service Commission as a way of fast tracking the reformation of the service.
Mrs. Ikwen bared her mind when the Chairman and members of the civil service commission paid her a courtesy call in her office in Calabar.
She observed the need for a synergy between the two offices in relation to their functions on personnel matters and productivity in the service.
The Head of Service recalled that while on the recent retreat at the Ranch, the issue of collaboration between the two offices addressed and commended the commission for re-emphasising its importance towards the growth of the service.
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.