Niger Delta
Bayelsa Community Protests Over Bridge Collapse
Four months after the bridge linking Elebele community of Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State with sister communities of the area collapsed, the people of the area have indicted O.K.I Nig.Ltd, a contracting firm with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB.
The community leadership who spoke to our correspondent through their youth president and Governorship standard bearer of the Peoples Redemption Party,PRP in the last Bayelsa State Governorship polls,Mr Azibola Okala in Yenagoa, last Friday alleged that several attempts at bringing OKI to evacuate the overloaded truck which was hauling materials to their construction site in Emeyal 1 community,Ogbia LGA which led to the collapse of the bridge, was abortive that vehicle is still stuck in the River,which according to him is their only source of water.
The Youth leader maintained that with the collapse of the bridge which used to join the densely populated community with Yenagoa, the state capital,commercial activities which were usually on the increase in the area are now at the lowest ebb.
Okala who alleged OKI of having deliberately collapsed the bridge in order to isolate the community from commerce which according to him is their major source of livelihood,saying from the day the bridge collapsed to date, the company has not made any significant attempt at coming to their aide not even during the last flood that sacked part of the community,retreiting that but for the collapse,the hitherto healthy bridge would have given them access to Yenagoa and other areas where they would have sought for refuge.
“OKI is not really serious with evacuating this truck.They told us they’ll be coming since.During the flood they came without doing much to evacuate it and left.Now they’ve told us they would be coming next week and just like that.This truck and chippings in it are hazards to this community, they are not even talking of how we could get on with things even if it means constructing a wooden bridge in the interim to enable people move to the other parts of the community let alone constructing a new bridge.” He said.
Our correspondent who visited the site of the collapsed bridge last Friday evening that the no fewer than 16 trucks tyres were is still left unattended to.
Meanwhile a representative of OKI Nig.ltd at their Emeyel II site. When our correspondent learnt was interfacing with Elebele Community on the ill-fated bridge.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
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.
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