City Crime
Security Challenges And Achievements In Rivers
The importance of security cannot be over-emphasised. It is the bedrock of sustainable development in every country. More so, it is the foundation on which economic growth strives as such promotes and beefs up the confidence reposed in the leaders entrusted with the governance. Although achieving absolute security is desirable, it is not probable. Society devoid of peace is bound to collapse.
Attaining high level of security comes with a lot of sacrifice and commitment from both the leaders and the led.
In Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Wike‘s administration has intensified its efforts to ensure the security of inhabitants and caused the prevalence of the much needed peace through a deliberate and concerted effort. This was done through massive support to security operatives in the state.
There is no gainsaying of the fact the state occupies a strategic position in economic and political sectors of the country; that is why all hands must be on deck to complement government’s efforts. Consequently, government’s effort to ensure a conducive environment for inhabitants of the state is underscored by both financial and logistic support given to the security agencies.
Apart from providing the aforementioned support for the security operatives, the state government has also provided for families of security operatives, who had lost their lives in active service, while enforcing and maintaining peace.
Despite all odds, security operatives in the state recorded major achievements in 2020; they carried out aggressive onslaught against criminal gangs by taking the war to their hideouts in every nook and cranny before the novel COVID-19 pandemic shut down the country.
Interestingly, the pandemic did not deter the security agencies, especially the Rivers State command of the Nigerian police, from carrying out its statutory responsibilities as they were available to enforce the state-imposed lockdown and other COVID-19 rules.
In the month of July precisely, the state government launched a joint security outfit codenamed “Operation Sting,” to address the issue of violent crimes such as: kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism and sea piracy, among others.
The state government supported the outfit through the provision of patrol vans, gunboats and sophisticated weapons. In spite of the frequent changes in the leadership of the state police command, the security outfit lived up to expectation and maintained law and order.
The incumbent Commissioner of Police, Mr Joseph Mukan, assumed office as the 40th Commissioner of Police in Rivers State on April, 2020, swung into action, and ensured that there was peace. Most importantly, CP Mukan has reduced crime to the barest minimum.
The nightmarish cultism and kidnapping have almost been consigned to the rubbish heap of history because of the onslaught against criminals spearheaded by the state police under Mukan, thereby ushering in a new lease of life for Rivers inhabitants.
Again, the ferocity of sea piracy has ebbed with the tide. Many hoodlums have abandoned the twin crime of kidnapping and cultism leaving in its wake a friendlier environment, courtesy of the commitment of the CP.
Under Mukan, the Rivers State Police Command achieved a major feat in 2020, when the notorious cultist Honest Digbara (aka Bob Risky) was killed. Digbara had killed many and committed a plethora of heinous crimes along the Ogoni axis of the state. consequently at his death, residents in the area heaved a sigh of relief.
CP Mukan is elated about the achievement so far recorded by his command.
“On assumption of duty as the 40th Commissioner of Police in April, last year, I met some challenging situations on ground. But with the benefit of hindsight, I re-strategised and repositioned my men, with a strong charge to embark on aggressive intelligence- driven policing with a view to gathering actionable information, which ultimately led to dislodgment of criminals. A case in point being the arrest of the most dreaded gang leader, Honest Digbara(Aka Bob Risky) who was declared wanted by the state government with a bounty of N30,000, 000. He was eventually arrested and the bounty redeemed,” he said.
“Not resting on the oars of that achievement, I continued with my sustained onslaught against all criminal elements in the state. To this end I can proudly tell you between April and now, I have been able to arrest and prosecute a good number of suspected kidnappers, armed robbers, rescued kidnap victims and recovered large cache of arms/ammunition, among other achievements.
As you can see, we are again in another period, characterised by upsurge in criminal activities. The command is not oblivious of the fact that, this is the period where criminals take advantage to unleash havoc on unsuspecting persons. In the view of the above, therefore, we have put in place elaborate and workable security measures that will contain the curtail these nefarious activities.”
The police deployed its personnel in to strategic locations in the state, in line with visibility policing strategy and ensured that critical government infrastructure, vulnerable and key points are given special attention, including worship and fun centres.
“Our strategy has also captured the coastal to ensure that, those travelling to riverine communities are safe. The Marine police, the mobile police and the tactical units have been put on red alert to ensure a seamless celebration, including the undercover operations,” he stated
The police with other security agencies were able to curtail the excesses of members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who were on rampage in some parts of the state within the year under view
Caches of weapons and ammunition were rescued, while over 20 kidnapped victims were also released from their captors.
The Oyigbo, Umuebula and Afam Divisional Areas in the command, were burnt and looted and remain at a gory state till the moment.
Again, the police in its avowed affront on criminals in the state confiscated one radio transmission set belonging to Biafra Radio, large quantities of IPOB T-shirts and face caps
A calendar bearing the photograph of Nnamdi Kanu, one Television set, customised machetes, bearing members’ names
Substances used in worship of their god, ezumezu amadioha juju.
Again another cheering story of the year 2020 was the arrest of one Godspower Saturday, male, aged 23 years and David Simeon, suspected kidnappers, whose gang kidnapped a staff of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Tamuno Igbikibere-bima Esq.
Igbikiberebima Esq was kidnapped at his residence in Rumuigbo in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state but was freed through the effort of the police.
The police have given assurances that they would improve on their performances in 2020 but they need to improve on their relationship with the rest of the society. Unfortunately, not many people believe on the ability of the police to guarantee unblemished law enforcement. Most people have lost confidence in the security agency.
The #ENDSARS protest in the state was another ugly situation which made the police to become the highest victims as about five personnel alongside other security men lost their lives.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has presented N1.188 trillion as budgetary estimate for the year 2025 to the State House of Assembly for consideration and approval.
This figure is an increase from the 2024 budget of N800 billion that was presented in 2023 to the Assembly.
Governor Fubara presented the 2025 Appropriation Bill shortly after delivering his address to lawmakers at the Assembly Auditorium, Administrative Block of Government House in Port Harcourt on Monday.
He said the 2025 budget christened: “Budget of Inclusive Growth and Development”, will be implemented to achieve sustainable economic growth, accelerate the development of the State, while improving the living standards of all residents in the State.
Governor Fubara explained that with the set out objectives, the 2025 budget will strengthen the capacity of the State to weather possible external shocks from the volatility of the national economy while building a resilient economy that will advance the collective development and prosperity of the people.
He said, “The total projected revenue for Rivers State for the 2025 Fiscal Year is N1,188,962,739,932.36.
Two components of the budget are constituted as follows: Recurrent Expenditure of N462,254,153,418.98; Capital Expenditure of N678,088,433,692.03; Planning Reserve of N35,688,864,931.16; and a closing balance of N12,931,287,890.1935. This gives a Recurrent/Capital Expenditure ratio of 44:56%, indicating the sincere commitment of our administration to both infrastructural and human capital development of our people and state.”
Governor Fubara said nearly N31 billion has been allocated to support interventions in agricultural development to ease the implementation of a comprehensive agriculture transformation and support programme for Rivers youths in order to significantly resolve issues of youth unemployment and poverty.
He emphasised that the commitment is also to address food insecurity in Rivers State, provide land preparation, farm inputs and extension services, including training, tractors, and access to improved seedlings and fertilizers to farmers to enhance their productivity and farm yields.
In education, Governor Fubara assured that his administration will continue to provide access to quality education at all levels, enabling Rivers children have the knowledge and skills they need to excel in their careers and contribute to the development of the State.
The Governor said, “Consequently, we have proposed to spend over N63 billion, representing 9.3% of the budget on education in fiscal year 2025. With this, we shall access all outstanding matching grants from the Universal Basic Education Commission to rehabilitate, equip and furnish dilapidated public primary and junior secondary schools, and continue to provide free basic education to our children.
“We will also rehabilitate, equip and furnish as many senior secondary schools as possible across the State, including the provision of new classrooms, perimeter fencing, water and electricity, to provide a conducive environment for effective teaching and learning to take place.
“We shall work with the school-based management boards, administrators, parents and teachers to fix our broken school system, improve enrollments, keep learners in school, promote effective teaching, and improve learning outcomes.”
Governor Fubara said with the proposed N97.750 billion for the health sector, representing 14.4% of the budget, all zonal hospitals, the upgraded neuropsychiatric hospital, and the new general hospital at Rumuigbo under reconstruction will be completed to provide quality and affordable healthcare services to the people of the State.
He also assured of rehabilitating more general hospitals, health centres across the State, ensure the procurement of essential drugs, medical supplies and equipment for effective and efficient healthcare delivery, while also providing more infrastructure to strengthen the capacity of the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital for quality, effective, and efficient tertiary healthcare services.
On Road and Transport Infrastructure, Governor Fubara said over N195 billion has been earmarked to complete all ongoing road projects and initiate new ones, support and facilitate the modernization of the public transport system through necessary incentives to improve the quality of public transportation services in the State.
Governor Fubara assured that all ongoing electrification projects, including delivering transformers and replacing the generator-powered streetlights with solar energy-powered streetlights across Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas will be concluded, and restated the determination to ensure the passage of the Rivers State Electricity Market Bill to regulate and open the State’s energy sector for private sector investments in order to achieve energy security and accelerate the industrialization of Rivers State.
He said, “In Social Development and Investments, Mr Speaker, we have proposed to spend N15.4 billion for the social development subsector of our economy to advance youth and gender empowerment, jobs and wealth creation, sports development, and social inclusion.
“We will collaborate with Local Government Councils to establish youth resource and digital transformation centres to enable access to digital tools, Internet services and training programmes for our youths to become economically successful and sufficiently self-reliant.
“We will also continue to support and strengthen the capacity of State-owned sporting teams, especially Rivers United, Rivers Angels, and the Hoopers to enable them excel and win more laurels in both national, regional and international contests.”
Governor Fubara, who said the 2025 will be funded from FAAC, Internally Generated Revenue, Statutory Allocations, Mineral Funds, Valued Added Tax, Refunds/Escrow/ECA and others, explained that the 2014 budget performed excellently with IGR figure hitting N100billion increase over the 2023 figure.
In his speech, Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Victor Oko-Jumbo, applauded Governor Fubara for recording over N100 billion increase in IGR, which shows high level of transparency and accountability in governance, with the plugging of financial leakage, adding that it is also a testament to how attractive Rivers investment climate has become.
Rt Hon Oko-Jumbo pledged the continual support of the Legislature to the Excutive to ensure that the Governor remained focused, sustain financial prudence, deliver democratic dividends, and make life better for the people.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has explained that he is guided by the commitment to deliver projects that are strategic and significant towards improving the lives of people in the State on an enduring scale.
The Governor made the explanation during the inauguration of the remodelled Government Girls’ Secondary School in Ahoada Town, Ahoada East Local Government Area on Friday.
At the event, Governor Fubara was conferred with the traditional title of Eze Yawe Ugo of Ekpeye land (The King who brings happiness and joy to Ekpeye land) by the Ekpeye Council of Traditional Rulers.
Governor Fubara stated that he inherited the school project when he assumed office on May 29, 2024, and decided to continue with the three contractors because education issue is a top priority in his administration.
He said that the investment made will definitely translate into providing quality educational training for the girl-child in the area to become bold, resourceful and responsible citizens.
The Governor noted, “So, we will not celebrate things that will not have meaning. That is why we are here today to inaugurate this school, a special school for people that are going to be mothers in this great nation.
“They are people that will be wives to great men. And if you don’t produce a quality girl-child, it means the nation is gone. So, you can see, everybody can attest that we are strategic; it is not just doing, but doing what is right.
“I assure our people that we will not do anything that we cannot stand and be proud of ourselves that we did something right.”
Governor Fubara said when he declared, last Wednesday, that he will be the first Governor, in the last eight years, to deliver pro-people projects in Omuma Local Government Area, most people did not understand the import of his revelation.
But Governor Fubara insisted that what his administration is doing is separate from what has happened in the past, as according to him, projects’ delivery is not for mere fanfare but strategically provided to address critical development needs of the people.
He added, “I stand here to say that even if there was a project commissioned at that time (in Omuma), it was a farm road. It has no connection to anything.
“The project we are commissioning has significance, and that is what we should be talking about… We are talking about projects that will add value to the lives of the people that you have decided to govern with the support of your people.”
Governor Fubara took a swipe at someone he described as ‘a data boy and an online dog seller’ who knows nothing about governance despite being close to a Governor for eight years.
He wondered the impetus of the ‘data boy’ who, reportedly, reacted to the projects delivered in Etche-Omuma, without understanding the overarching impact of the project on the people.
He said, “On Wednesday this week, we inaugurated a project: an 11.8km Okehi-Umuola-Eberi link road. It is a road that connects Omuma and Etche Local Government Areas.
“And we made very bold statement there to say that, very soon, we will be going to Omuma to also inaugurate another project. And we challenged them that the project we are going to commission in Omuma will be the first project that they are seeing.
“A few days later, those people who felt that the only thing that they can do to survive is social media and to sell dogs. I wonder why you will go to school, your parents will spend money, and the only profession you chose is to be a data boy and to sell dogs.
“If they love you, the appointment they gave to one boy the other day, if you were good, why didn’t they give you that appointment? Go and check yourself, something is wrong with you.
“It is not about coming (on social media) to abuse people; think about your life. Are you living a quality life? Even if you are asked to abuse people, at times, you should ask: what will people talk about me, knowing fully well that what I will say is not true?”
Governor Fubara expressed appreciation to Ekpeye people for their unalloyed support to his administration in the face of harassment and intimidation.
He said that some of their traditional rulers: Eze Ekpeye Logbo, His Imperial Majesty, Eze Kelvin Anugwo; and Eze Cassidy Ikegbidi were harassed and arrested while the Chief of Staff, Government House, Dr Edison Ehie, was declared wanted by the Nigeria Police Force on trumped up charges.
He said, “When the Eze Ekpeye was talking, a lot of you didn’t understand what happened. Because of their support for me, he was arrested, charged on false accusations. He stayed in police custody for more than four months; himself and Cassidy.
“We are not even talking about my Chief of Staff. Because of the support that he has publicly displayed, he was even declared wanted so that they can, maybe, reduce our influence.
“But the truth is always very clear: enemy has a time, his team cannot last forever. And I can assure you with all boldness today that they are gradually coming to an end.
“What we just need is to be patient. We have promised that our tactics will be following this process with patience and the fear of God. And we will get there.”
Governor Fubara promised to grant the request made by the Eze Ekpeye Logbo and other traditional rulers to recognise some designated traditional stools.
He also said that when he drove on the access road during project inspection tour, he decided to reconstruct the road, which has started, and assured that with availability of funds, the remaining 1km and the bridge will be attended to.
Governor Fubara said the contract for the internal roads will be revoked and re-awarded to a competent contractor who will deliver the project in line with the mantra of the administration.
Providing the project description, Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr Ovy Chinedum Chukwuma, said there are three distinct buildings handled separately by three contractors: Mcaretrace Nigeria Limited – Lot A; Azunda International Company Nigeria Limited – Lot B; and Ketdeg Ventures – Lot C.
Dr Chukwuma explained that there are two blocks of 12 classrooms, making a total of 24 classrooms; common rooms; science laboratories fitted with computers for chemistry, physics, agriculture and biology.
There is a library; he said, an Assembly Hall; offices; stores; Principal Quarters of 3-bedroom semi- detached bungalow; Vice Principal Quarters of 2-bedroom block of 4 flats of one-storey building.
Dr Chukwuma also listed an administrative block of offices, staff common rooms and conveniences, generator house with 2 nos 40KVA sound proof generator, gatehouse, roads and landscaping, perimeter fencing, overhead water tank for supply, and sports facilities.
In his welcome address, Executive Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government Area, Chibudom Ezu, said that as the only girls secondary school, it had suffered neglect over the years with the structures becoming dilapidated, hideout for miscreants and unfit for academic activities, and thanked the Governor for his intervention.
Speaking on behalf of the three separate indigenous contractors, Engr Azubuike Odum of Azunda International Company Nigeria Limited, said in October, 2023, Governor Fubara had charged them to speed up the work while adhering to agreed specifications, and thanked the Governor for the opportunity given them to serve the State.
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