Rivers
RSG Condemns Vandalisation Of Water Facilities
The Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development, Dr Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja despite the heavy rainfall, last Friday, embarked on an assessment visit to the vandalised state government-owned water facility in Okrika Local Government Area, following reports from his staff.
The commissioner expressed dismay over the level of damage on the facility and theft ranging from armoured cables, panels, among other equipment, which ought to supply water to homes in the area.
Gogo-Jaja maintained that, government-owned water was the best and of international standard, urging the council chairman and other stakeholders to take collective ownership in protecting the water facility in their domain to forestall a reoccurrence.
In his response, the Chairman of Okrika Local Government Area, Hon Akuro Tobi, thanked the commissioner for the visit, and promised to pass down his message to the people.
The commissioner was accompanied on the visit by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Miabiye Kalio; the Director General, Rivers State Water Service Regulatory Commission, Engr Amatemaso Emmanuel; and the Acting General Manager, Rivers State Small Town Water and Sanitation Agency (RSSTOWA), Mrs Queen Amachree; among others.
In another development, Dr Tamunosisi Gogo Jaja, also inspected the on-going reticulation work at Rumuokoro in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, embarked upon by the Port Harcourt Water Corporation under the Port Harcourt Water and Sanitation Project.
By: Nelson Chukwudi
Rivers
Rivers CJ To Sanction Lawyers Who Refuse To Comply With ADR Compliance
The Rivers state Chief Judge, Justice SIMONE CHIBUZOR-AMADI has given an indication to sanction any lawyer who fail to comply with directive of a judge in the state to transferred a case to Rivers State Multi Door Courthouse for Alternatives Dispute Resolution.
Justice AMADI stated this during a brief ceremony held at the chief judge auditorium in port Harcourt Friday held to hand over certificates of operation to two private ADR chambers on Precarious Dispute Resolution Services and Harmony Arbitration and mediation center .
He urged the two private ADR centres to be diligent in the discharge of their duties and warned against compromising the standard of Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR but should observed the regulations set out in collaboration regulation by the state Multi Door Court House.
Earlier in a address, the Director of the State Multi Door Courthouse, VICTOR NWEKE esq, highlighted some of the achievements of the Multi Door Courthouse especially in decongestion of court rooms.
NWEKE while disclosing how the department certified the two private ADR centres called for serious punitive measures be taken against any lawyer who fail to comply with a case referred to Multi Door Court House by a judge or magistrates in the state.
In her acceptance speech on behalf of the two certified private ADR centres, ALICE NIMI commended the State Judiciary and Multi Door Courthouse for the approval and assured that all the rules and regulations spelt out will be followed.
In a related development; the Rivers State Judiciary has assured its readiness to collaborate with Nigerian Securityding Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC in using Alternative Dispute Resolution to resolve some of the issues in their office.
The state Chief Judge , Justice SIMONE CHIBUZOR-AMADI made the promise when he received in audience the Zonal Commander of NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General, AYINLA TALYE OLOWO and his team who paid him a courtesy visit in his office , Friday where issuees ADR utilization took centre stage.
He used the opportunity to brief his visitors on the hurdles judges faces daily in the court room and the need for the decongestion of the court room , stressing that one judge handle more than three hundred cases but that if lawyers and litigants adopt ADR practice court rooms can be releive of the daily congestions.
The state Chief Judge however urged NSCDC to ensure a wider sensitization of the members of the public on the practice of ADR for a better awareness and knowledge.
Earlier in his speech, the Zonal Commander of NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General, AYINLA TALYE-OLOWO said the visit was to seek collaboration on the use of ADR in resolving some issues which he insisted would help decongest the courtrooms.
Our correspondent reports officials of the Rivers State Multi Door Courthouse led by the Director, VICTOR NWEKE led the team of NSCDC on a technical session where information on how to the fully in cooperated into the Multi Door Courthouse and operation of ADR will be emphasized.
Akujobi Amadi