Rivers
RSG Assures On Disabled Persons’ Welfare
The Rivers State Govern
ment has re-stated its commitment to the implementation of the law on the welfare of persons living with disabilities.
The Governor of the State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. George Feyii gave the assurance yesterday in a keynote address at the 2013 –International Day of Persons with Disabilities in Port Harcourt.
According to him, all the necessary mechanism had already been put in place to ensure that the law was implemented by early months of next year.
The Governor urged the persons living with disabilities to change their mentality about themselves, and shun disrespectful and debasing activities such as begging on the streets, as they were not inferior to anybody in the society.
In his welcome address, the state Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Hon. Joe P. Poroma listed the achievements of Governor Amaechi’s administration in relation to persons with disabilities in the state.
Hon. Poroma stated that, the Rivers State government had offered special overseas scholarships to persons with disabilities.
He also mentioned the provision of special taxi cab scheme pioneered by the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) in collaboration with ESI for persons with disabilities, which is the first of its kind.
The Commissioner therefore urged the private sector to join hands with the state government to better the lot of persons living with disabilities.
Earlier, the Chairman Special Committee for Welfare of Persons with Disabilities, Mr. Sunday Peter Ikeugwu appealed to the state government to fast track the implementation of the 2012 law on the welfare of persons with disabilities.
He commended the state government for its commitment in ensuring that persons with disabilities benefitted immensely from government’s programmes.
Mr. Ikeugwu assured the state government of their support in making life more meaningful for the people of the state.
Enoch Epelle

Director-General, Rivers State Tourism Development Agency, Mr Sam Dede (right), chatting with Dr Harry Agiriye (left), during the Route Appraisal for 2013 CARNIRIV at Liberation Stadium, Elekahia, Port Harcourt last Wednesday. With them is Divisional Police Officer of Abua Police Station, Mr Uche Chukwuma (middle).
Photo: Nuieh Donatus Ken
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