Rivers
Group Decries Insecurity In Nigeria
Ashcraft Centre for Social Research, a non-governmental organisation, says the current security challenges in the country pose a big threat to her infrastructure and critical assets.
The group said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The briefing was part of activities for the South-South zone stakeholders summit on “Domesticating stakeholders’ Statutory Responsibilities Protecting Nigeria’s Critical Infrastructure and Assets”.
Dr. Chiakor Alfred, who read the text for the briefing, said the threat to security of the nation’s infrastructure and assets demands the collective responsibility of every citizen, whether in public or private sector, to protect them.
“The security of lives, infrastructure, monuments and assets is the collective responsibility of every citizen, whether private or public.
“Issues of security, destruction of lives and property, know neither religion nor ethnicity.
“We are calling on the partnership and support of all stakeholders, both the public and private sectors, with diverse political, religious and professional orientation, to put aside all prejudices to help forge a common front to confront the monster that is threatening the integrity of our corporate existence as a people and as a nation.
“It is incumbent on us all, therefore, to engage robustly on how to deter and mitigate these challenges in a systematic and coordinated manner.
“This way, we can be sure of preserving our collective heritage and sanctity of our God-endowed resources, both human, technical and material”, he said.
Alfred, who is Chief Strategist, Planning and Innovation, as well as Head of Secretariat Coordinating Committee, said the purpose of the summit was a follow up to the successful convention which took place in Abuja between February and March 2022.
According to him, the project for the summit is consistent with the provision of the National Protection Policy and Strategy 2022, Petroleum inydustry Act 2021, the National Security Strategy Framework, and the National Infrastructure Bill 2021, before the National Assembly.
The summit, he said, will be attended by people from all walks of life.
By: John Bibor
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