City Crime
WFD: RSG Assures Proactive Agric Dev Policy
Rivers State Government has unveiled plans to embark on an aggressive agric development in across the 23 local government areas of the state.
The state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike gave this indication during this year’s World Food Day celebrations.
Against this backdrop, he called on the people of the state and entrepreneurs to invest in agriculture to create wealth, employment, and enhance food security.
Speaking through the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Fred Kpakol, the governor charged farmers to take advantage of the vast arable land and water the state was endowed with to aggressively involve in agriculture.
The 2021 World Food Day celebration held at the Rumuodomaya Farm in Obio/Akpor, yesterday, had the theme, ‘Safe Food Today For A Healthy Tomorrow.’
The governor said, “We need to put our resources together and use the agricultural products to create wealth, create business and also generate employment.
“I want to let the world know that Rivers State is an ambiguous state with the products you have displayed here today. We also want the world to know that Rivers State is blessed with good and quality food”, Wike said.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Fred Kpakol commended the governor for investing so much in agriculture with the construction of the Rivers State Cassava Processing Company in Afam, in Oyigbo LCA, and other agro-based projects in the state.
He noted that the cassava plant, when fully operational, would process 45,000metric tons of cassava tubers into 12,500 high-quality cassava flour that would be used by companies and would also provide Jobs for over 3,000 persons.
He said that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in partnership with the state government, had recently supplied 10,000 bundles of improved TMS419 cassava cuttings to farmers in the 23 local governments in the state.
“I want to encourage all of you that collected the high yielding cassava stems to cultivate it to provide food and raw material that will feed the Rivers State Cassava Processing Plant,” he said.
Kpakol also disclosed that the state government was constructing a state-of-the-art automated abattoir in Mgbousimini, Obio/Akpor LGA, and explained that the slaughterhouse can kill 400 cattle and 150 goats per day.
“The Mgbousimini abattoir is automated and will meet the demands of the people. It is strategically located by the seashore for easy accessibility to both the riverine and the hinterland; and it will generate revenue to the state, local government, and to individuals.
“Governor Nyesom Wike, just few days ago, approved the construction of a Veterinary Clinic and Laboratory here in Rumuodomaya, where animals and birds will be treated.
“Rivers State Government, in concert with the Benue State Government, has agreed to produce goods and services that they share different comparative advantage. They have identified rice as the goods, and modalities are in motion to produce what will be called ‘Benue/Rivers Rice.
“The state government through the Covid-19 Action Recovery Economic Stimulus, NG Cares is given access to input to poor and vulnerable households in agriculture,” Kpakol disclosed.
Kpakol further said that the state government has approved the rebuilding of the Taraba Jetty, also called Borokiri Jetty.
According to him, the governor has made recommendation of a high-profile company to handle the project.
He stated that the jetty when completed would promote deep sea and other types of fishing as well as creating employment.
Speaking earlier, the Deputy President, Port Harcourt Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), Eze Mike Elechi, had called on the government to encourage those that are into agriculture.
“Our vegetation encourages agriculture, and I wonder why people are talking about a bad economy when there is arable land to cultivate.
“I believe if we can feed ourselves, we won’t also talk about a bad economy,” he said.
He urged farmers to form association and reach out to PHCCIMA and the state Ministry of Agriculture so that they can be recognized and work with.
By: Kevin Nengia
The Rivers State Government has vowed to enforce strict compliance with approved building plans by property owners and developers in the State to guarantee safety and adherence to regulatory standards.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Rt. Hon. Evans Bipi, in his inaugural meeting with the Permanent Secretary, Directors and staff of the Ministry, said he would ensure full implementation of the Physical Planning Development Law of the State.
He warned that the Rivers State Government will no longer condone a situation where developers make deliberate adjustment or completely deviate from approved building plan in the execution of their projects without recourse to the Ministry.
Hon. Bipi solicited the cooperation of the civil servants of the Ministry while promising to run an open door policy and be easily accessible.
He also promised to right the wrongs, make a positive impact and leave an enduring legacy in the Ministry.
He promised to enhance the physical landscape and aesthetic of Old and New GRA as well as other parts of Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Surv. Wisdom Hebron, assured the Commissioner of maximum cooperation to foster a harmonious working environment.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has approved the payment of N85,000.00 as the new minimum wage for civil servants in the employ of the Rivers State Government.
This is the agreement reached during a closed door meeting presided over by the Governor and attended by representatives of organised labour under the auspices of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council in the State at Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday.
Briefing newsmen after the meeting, the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, who spoke on behalf of the Government, affirmed that Governor Fubara has graciously approved a new minimum wage of N85,000.00, adding that the government will begin in November, 2024.
Dr George said, “He (Gov Fubara) has pronounced a figure that is higher than the National Minimum Wage. He pronounced a sum of N85,000.00, which is higher than the minimum wage that was prescribed nationally.
“So, as the Head of Service and a major stakeholder in the labour family, I am very happy to say that the Rivers State Civil Servants have never had it this good since the inception of this State.
“The labour union leaders and all the other major stakeholders were happy with this development,” he added.
Responding to possible payment of arrears, Dr Nwaeke, said it is yet to be determined because a technical committee has been set up to critically work out a tenable payment chart, which will cater to issues of arrears.
He clarified, “Issues of arrears will be worked out by the committee that I am going to be Deputy to the SSG. We are already going to work on it in a technical committee that will now get the nitty gritty of the payment and inform the press later.”
On his part, the Rivers State Chairman of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, Comrade Emecheta Chuku, explained that this is their first meeting with Governor Fubara to discuss the issue of the new minimum wage as approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Comrade Chuku pointed to the fact that the gracious approval of N85,000.00 new minimum wage is very appeasing to the labour leaders, adding that it demonstrates love for the workers.
He explained, “For the Governor to come, against all the crisis, against all the things that he is facing and more, to say he will pay N85,000.00 minimum wage, I think our hearts are full of joy.
“Of course, we have no doubt, knowing the kind of person we have as our Governor. He is a decent man; very responsible enough; and grew through the rank and file of the system. He understands what it takes to earn a living salary; he understands the difference between gifting money and paying somebody salary that can sustain him or her from the first day to the last day of the month.”
Also speaking, the Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Rivers State Chapter, Comrade Alex Agwanwor, noted that the amount approved by Governor Fubara puts Rivers State Government ahead of Lagos State as the highest minimum wage paying State to civil servants in Nigeria.
He stressed, “Why do I say that? Lagos State said N85,000.00 and Rivers State is paying N85,000.00. The IGRs of Lagos State and Rivers State are not the same. So, for the Governor to agree to pay the same rate with Lagos, that means we are at the top of it.
“We are the best, and we want to continue to commend the Governor. We assure him that, as far as this State is concerned, labour is going to stand with him. We will be with him even until the next eight years.
“I want to commend His Excellency, Executive Governor of Rivers State, our own Number One Worker in Rivers State, he has, once again, proven that the workers in Rivers State gave him an award on May Day as the Champion of Labour, as the Most Labour-Friendly Governor in Nigeria. He, again, has shown that to us today, and I want to commend him.”
He added that they were returning to the State Secretariat Complex to inform workers of the Governor’s magnanimity and benevolence towards civil servants in the State.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has felicitated Muslim faithful as they celebrate the birth of Prophet Muhammad, urging them to show love, tolerance, perseverance, patriotism and commitment to the growth and development of the State.
Governor Fubara, in a message in Port Harcourt, the State capital, urged the Muslim Ummah to use the lessons of the 12th day of the third month of Rabi’ al-Awwal to reflect on the core teachings of the Holy Prophet, and interceed for one another as exemplified by the sacrifices He made for humanity.
The Governor charged the faithful in the State and across the country to commit to ensuring that they continue to benefit from the genuine policies and programmes of government put in place to make live easy for all living and doing business in the State, without discrimination.
He said, “I, on behalf of the government and good people of Rivers State, heartily felicitate all Muslim faithful on the occasion of the Eid-el-Maulud celebration, to honour the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, and urge for prayers for the revival and unity of Nigeria.
“The occasion, yet again, provides an opportunity to reflect deeply on the need for greater application of the Prophet’s teachings bordering on piety, charity, patience, resilience, justice and peaceful coexistence,” he added.
Governor Fubara assured the Muslim community in Rivers State, and indeed, all residents of the resolve of his administration to sustain the tempo of providing critical projects and social services to improve the quality of life of the people.