News
Don’t Use Ethnicity To Set Rivers Backward, Wike Warns …Threatens To Demolish Marine Base Shanties
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike says nobody will be allowed to use ethnicity to set the state backward.
The governor made the declaration while speaking at the flag-off of the reconstruction of Rivers State Government House Jetty at Marine Base Waterfront in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
Wike noted with dismay the destruction of the rich tourism opportunities, offered by the beautiful marine features around the area, by the residents of shanties at Marine Base axis of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
“What has set Rivers State back is ethnicity. What has made us not to progress so far is that we blindfold ourselves not to know the truth.
“If we have a place like this, do you know how many people will like to come to Rivers State? Today, we are talking about tourism, and how can you say that here should be a tourism centre when you have all these shanties around.
“Let me say it and I don’t care what anybody will say, nobody will set Rivers State backward”.
Speaking further, the governor noted how the residents encroached on the land where the Government House facility was located.
According to him, it took security personnel to give the trespassers a good fight before evicting them to clear the premises for the flag-off ceremony.
Wike explained that the shanties that have littered the stretch of the Marine Base Road will not be allowed anymore.
“Let us tell ourselves the truth: If I knew how this place is, I will not have agreed for this project to go on. Look at the shanties, and you’re telling me that the Government House Jetty is where you’ll have Governor’s Lodge.
“Who will come to stay here, to do what? How long can we continue to do this? Which meaningful person will drive on this road in the night without criminals blocking you?”
The governor said he would invite the Secretary to the State Government (SSG); the House of Assembly member representing Port Harcourt Constituency 2, Hon. Tonye S. Adoki; and Port Harcourt Council chairman for a meeting to deliberate on how to sanitise Marine Base.
Performing the flag-off, the Rivers State Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Amb Desmond Akawor, noted that if there were no projects, there won’t have been need for the several persons invited to perform either a flag-off or inauguration in the state by the governor.
According to him, the Government House Jetty is an addition to other completed projects within Government House, like the clinic and administrative building, for improved medical services, increase personnel efficiency and enhance the aesthetics of Government House.
“You have built a state-of-the-art clinic. You have built a new administrative block. Behind the Government House, you’ve development the fauna and flora. These can also be appreciated when you hear the whistles and chirps of the birds.
“Today, we are at the Government House Marine Jetty, an addition you’ve made to all the features in Government House. This is one jetty that defines the amphibious nature of our state”.
Providing the description of the project, the Special Adviser on Special Projects to the Governor, George-Kelly Alabo, said the jetty could be likened to a wharf.
According to him, the project has a Landing Jetty, a 170-metre reinforced concrete shoreline protection.
Alabo explained that the choice of reinforced concrete was because it will prevent corrosion from oxidation that was associated with using steel piled, despite the fact that it could be catholically protected.
“There will be three major buildings. One, will be a 2-storey building that will house 20 security personnel, all in suite; the Navy, especially.
“We are also going to have another 2-storey building which will serve as a dockyard. In it, we are going to have a restaurant, conveniences, small conference hall, a kitchen and a lounge.
“Then, we are also going to have the Governor’s Lounge. That is going to be for the governor’s convenience anytime he comes to use this wharf.
“Finally, we are going to have two floating rams to make landing very easy. One will be exclusively for the governor, one for the public. We have about 11,000-square metre of land, which is approximate 23 plots of land. We will have reinforced concrete pavement to serve as the car park.”
President Bola Tinubu has approved the nomination of four new members to the Governing Council of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement yesterday, said the appointment is to fill existing vacancies and strengthen the board’s capacity.
The statement said the approved nominees are Mr. Olusegun Omosehin of the National Insurance Commission and Engr. Wole Ogunsanya of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria.
Tinubu also endorsed the nomination of Sam Onyechi, who represents the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum and Barrister Owei Oyanbo from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
The President encouraged the new members to leverage their expertise and dedication to enhance local content development within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
It added, “The nominations arose from the exit of previous institutional representatives from the Governing Council.
“The NCDMB Governing Council, established under Section 69 of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, 2010, comprises representatives from key institutions.
“These include the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum, and the National Insurance Commission.”
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has announced plans to construct additional hostels, rehabilitate roads, and enhance power supply in the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).
NDDC’s Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, disclosed this during a visit to the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, yesterday by a delegation from the UNIPORT’s Governing Council.
Ogbuku stated that the NDDC had committed to upgrading facilities at UNIPORT as part of efforts to foster partnership with educational institutions across the Niger Delta.
According to him, the implementation of additional projects at the university forms part of a broader strategy to improve education standards in the region.
“Aside from the construction of new hostel blocks and installation of a 300 KVA solar inverter system, the NDDC will also facilitate more projects in the university.
“The commission will also deploy its engineers to assess the condition of UNIPORT’s roads and hostels for potential rehabilitation,” he said.
Ogbuku noted that upon completion, the projects would add to various initiatives previously undertaken by the commission at the university.
“These and other projects reflect our commitment to actualising President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the Niger Delta region,” he added.
He reaffirmed the NDDC’s dedication to fostering development and strengthening partnerships across the region.
Earlier, Sen. Mao Ohuanbunwa, Chairman of UNIPORT’s Governing Council, who led the delegation commended the current leadership of the NDDC for its achievements in accelerating development in the Niger Delta.
He highlighted the university’s infrastructural challenges, noting that it lacked adequate facilities to accommodate its growing student population, and appealed for the NDDC’s support in addressing the shortfall.
“Currently, UNIPORT has a total student population of about 50,000, while its hostel accommodation capacity can only cater for 5,000 students.
“We therefore urge the NDDC to assist in the construction of additional hostels, improve transportation facilities, and facilitate the acquisition of gas turbines to enhance power supply for our students,” Ohuanbunwa pleaded.
The Vice Chancellor of UNIPORT, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, commended NDDC for its impactful projects across the Niger Delta and extended an invitation to the commission to participate in the institution’s forthcoming 50th anniversary celebrations.
The Senate has rejected a motion to rename the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters after the former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission, late Prof Humphrey Nwosu.
Nwosu presided over the June 12, 1993, presidential election, which was truncated by the former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd).
The election which was won by the late business mogul, Chief MKO Abiola, was adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the electoral history of Nigeria.
The motion to rename INEC after Nwosu was re-sponsored by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe yesterday after lawmakers threw it out last Wednesday.
Abaribe called for posthumous national honours to be conferred on Nwosu in recognition of his role in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
However, the proposal sparked a heated debate once again, with lawmakers deeply divided over Nwosu’s legacy.
Senator Osita Ngwu acknowledged that Nwosu operated under a military regime, which restricted his ability to announce the results.
He argued that “there was no way he would have announced the results with a gun to his head. That doesn’t change the fact that some of us see him as a hero.”
Senator Austin Akobundu, however, described it as most uncharitable for lawmakers to dismiss Nwosu’s contributions, insisting that he deserved a place in Nigeria’s hall of honour.
On the other hand, several senators like Senator Jimoh Ibrahim dismissed the idea outright, questioning why the Senate should honour someone who failed to announce the results insisting that “nothing should be named after him”.
Senator Cyril Fasuyi argued that history does not reward efforts, but only results.
“As long as he did not announce the result, whether under duress or not, I am against naming INEC headquarters after him,” he submitted.
Also, Senator Sunday Karimi criticised Nwosu for lacking the courage to speak out, while Senator Afolabi Salisu warned that immortalising him would undermine the memory of MKO Abiola, the widely accepted winner of the June 12, 1993, annulled election.
“Any attempt to do anything beyond a one-minute silence is to rubbish Abiola’s legacy,” he tendered.
After intense deliberation, most senators rejected the motion through a voice vote.
They, however, agreed to honour him with a one-minute silence and extend condolences to his family, effectively dismissing the other prayers to immortalise Nwosu.