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PAP Trains Additional 1,500 Ex-Agitators, Others For NIRSAL Loan
The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has trained additional 1,500 ex-agitators for single-digit interest loans offered by the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL).
The training, which took place at designated centres in Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom states, was in continuation of a programme for NIRSAL loans which PAP commenced, last November.
The initiative was part of efforts by PAP to raise the economic prospects of people of the Niger Delta region by attracting financial support for small and medium scale enterprises.
Speaking at the training programme in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, the Interim Administrator, PAP, Col. Milland Dikio (rtd), said the focus was to facilitate and enhance single digit interest loans for entrepreneurs in the region.
Dikio, who was represented by the Head of Reintegration, Mr. Alfred Kemepado, said that the training would help beneficiaries of the loan to grow their businesses and mitigate risks.
Dikio, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Media, Neotaobase Egbe, admonished the beneficiaries to judiciously use the loans to become successful entrepreneurs, warning that diverting the facility would create more hardship for them, and further plunge the region into extreme poverty.
The statement said that at the Yenagoa and Port Harcourt centres, Dikio through his Special Adviser on Projects, Mr. Godwin Ekpo, asked the beneficiaries to form cooperatives and focus on agriculture.
Dikio said: “The facilitators were very engaging, and it just gives us hope, and we are hopeful that once we are done with this set, and we go into the next batches.The subsequent things we will do with these people will yield result.
“We have asked them to form themselves into cooperatives, look at the agriculture value chain: production, processing, packaging and logistics end to see where they fit in.
“A lot of them have shown interest, and I am hoping that maybe by tomorrow, they will form themselves into different clusters in the value chain of several products.
“We are saying to everybody that cares to hear that the Niger Delta is ready for development. Come back to the Niger Delta, come back and invest here. We are ready to receive you, and we are ready to support you.”
A senior Reintegration Officer in PAP, Mr. Benjamin Appah, who stood in for Dikio in Warri, explained how the beneficiaries were drawn across the region for the various centres.
He said: “The names were compiled across impacted communities, PAP success stories, PAP cooperatives and the documented bona fide beneficiaries of the Amnesty Programme. We received the names through their camp leaders, their cooperatives and the post training units.
“We also gathered from the success stories of people who have been previously empowered by the Amnesty Office, and are doing well in their businesses.
“So, the office of the Interim Administrator thought it wise to say that since they are doing well in their businesses, why don’t we help them expand?
“This loan is a scheme organised by the Federal Government of Nigeria. However, PAP decided to bridge that gap and facilitate training by engaging a consultant who will train beneficiaries and show them the prerequisite of accessing the loan, and also guide them through getting a credible business plan.
“In a nutshell, the current PAP administration is trying to facilitate access for the beneficiaries to benefit from the Federal Government’s single digit collateral free loan programme.
“All the beneficiaries have to do is come down to their training centres, receive their training, and the office is responsible for all the other expenses that qualify them.”
Some of the facilitators said that the training, besides giving them access to funding and skills to promote their businesses, would also make them good employers of labour.
Certificates of participation were issued to the beneficiaries across all centres at the end the five-day workshop.
The certificate qualifies the beneficiaries for other Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), accredited loans, grants and credit facilities.
By: Akujobi Amadi
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.