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We’ve Met Our Campaign Pledge –Wike …Orders Aba/PH Expressway Repairs
A housing unit commissioned the governor
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has said that his administration has fulfilled its campaign promises even as he commissioned 50 Medium Income Flats in Iriebe Satellite Town in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Wike was happy that the Commissioner for Housing, Hon. Emma Okah, and his team were able to complete this project before his 100 days in office.
Quite satisfied with the performance of Okah, he said: “It shows that when you are given an assignment and is committed to it, the result will always be good.”
Wike explained that the 50 housing units are for the medium income class and low–high income class for the people of Rivers State.
The state chief executive, who urged the commissioner to sell the housing units at affordable prices to people, said: ”I want to see people occupy these flats in the next two weeks at affordable prices. My government is not a business organization. My government is here to provide welfare support for the citizenry for the betterment of their lives. I want to assure the people of Rivers State in general, and Obio/Akpor in particular, that with the support you have given to my administration, I will make sure that all promises made to you during my campaign tour are fulfilled.”
Speaking earlier, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Hon. Bright Amaewhule, thanked Wike for matching his words with action.
He said: “We are happy and delighted that the enemy has been put to shame. All your projects are speaking for you, and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).”
In his remarks, Okah thanked the governor for keeping to his promises.
“I thank you for showing the way and demonstrating that there are leaders, and there are leaders. I recall that during your rigorous campaign period, you said to the people that you were going to provide affordable accommodation for those who are doing businesses in Rivers State, and the indigenes of Rivers State. You went ahead to translate your words into action”, Okah added.
Similarly, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has commissioned the Oyigbo Market Road, in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The governor, who chastised the Caretaker Committee Chairman, Hon. Nnamdi Ihute, for his poor refuse disposal mechanism, noted that Oyigbo is a gateway into Port Harcourt, and should be clean.
His words: “This is the last time I will come to this LGA for an occasion, and see refuse littered everywhere like this. I will not accept it next time. Oyigbo is one of the signpost LGAs of Rivers State, and should be treated as such.”
Wike recalled that he promised to complete the construction of the road, if voted into power as governor, and thanked God that he was able to do it within his 100 days in office.
The state chief executive promised the people of the area that from January, 2016, he will repair the road from the Railway line to the boundary between Rivers State and Abia State.
The governor also vowed to fix the road between Oyigbo and Eleme because of its strategic importance to the people of both local government areas.
He enjoined the people of the area to continuously support and pray for him, stressing that his administration was anchored on God, and promised to fulfill whatever promises he made during his campaign tour of the area.
“This administration is not a media administration; it is based on facts. It is a come-and-see-for-yourself government”, Wike vaunted.
Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Dr. Paulinus Nkwoala, disclosed that the road is 10.745 km long and 10 meters wide, with an underground drainage of 1.7km long.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has ordered the repair of the bad spot along the Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway around the Imo River bridge boundary between Rivers and Abia states in Oyigbo Local Government Area.
He made the disclosure shortly after unveiling the newly completed Oyigbo Market Road in Oyigbo Local Government Area last week.
It would be recalled that Wike had ordered similar repairs along the Eleme/East-West Road, following the poor state of the road, recently.
The governor said the measure is to ameliorate the plight of the people and road users since Oyigbo is one of the gateways into the state.
The governor also disclosed plans to reconstruct the road linking Oyigbo and Eleme saying, “whatever promise I made to you, I will complete fulfil them.”
Wike added, “We will continue to make our people happy, our administration does not thrive on propaganda but poised to touch the lives of the people.”
He promised that his administration will further extend the road from the railway down to the boundary between the state and Abia.
Calling on the people of the area to maintain the road, the governor frowned at the indiscriminate dumping of refuse along the major roads in the area, and tasked the council authorities to evolve measures to check the menace.
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.