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Flood: Rivers Begins Distribution Of Relief Materials To IDP Camps
The Rivers State Task Force on the 2022 Flood Disaster Management, has commenced an on-the-spot, one-on-one assessment and evaluation of the level of damage and devastation caused by what could be best described as coastal flood.
The task force has also kicked off the distribution of urgently needed relief materials, including medical supplies, to cushion the effects of flooding on the people.
Coastal flood is caused by strong winds or storms that move towards a coast or waterline during high tide.
The Tide investigations show that when powerful waves breach the coast’s dune or dike, the area is usually flooded.
Coastal areas with fewer defenses and lower elevation are the most affected.
Speaking during the visits, the Chairman of the committee, Dr. George Nwaeke, directed that the Rivers State Mobile Clinic should be stationed at the IDPs camps for immediate medicare pending when adequate centres would be put in place.
On arrival, the members of the committee stopped at the Ahoada East section of the East-West Road where the ravaging flood had totally cut-off a lane of the dualcarriage way.
At this point, the Chairman of the committee, who doubles as the Permanent Secretary, Special Services Bureau, Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. George Nwaeke; Secretary of the committee and former commissioner in the state, Barrister Inime Aguma; and the Chairman of Ahoada West Local Government Area, Evangelist Hope Ikiriko, respectively, addressed stranded commuters and motorists who had been on that spot for about two days with perishable goods destroyed.
They assured them that the state government would immediately begin the distribution of relief materials to affected residents while adequate arrangements were being made to evacuate stranded people to higher grounds.
Afterwards, the team moved to Ula-Ehuda community, the access to the Odiokwu clan in Ahoada West Local Government Area.
At the scene, the committee resolved to immediately provide speed boats for the evacuation of stranded community dwellers.
Another point of call was at Edeoha Community where the affected persons reported that the flood swept through their community about two days earlier.
They also catalogued their immediate and long term needs to the committee, which assured them of government’s readiness to provide succour to the victims of the flood.
The committee further went to inspect the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp in Ahoada East Local Government Area headquarters.
At the location, the committee noted that the affected persons had started reporting to the camp under the supervision of the council Chairman, Hon Ben Eke.
After inspecting and addressing the agonised and devastated victims of the flood, the committee promised to commence the distribution of materials ranging from food items, mattresses to other relief materials to cushion the negative impact of the flood on the people.
Similarly, the Rivers State Task Force on the 2022 Flood Disaster Management also paid a visit to Erema Primary School I and II, in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, where Internally Displaced people were camped.
On arrival, the Chairman of the local government area, Hon. Vincent Job, told the flood victims that the committee was set up by the Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, to ameliorate the sufferings of the affected people and bring succour to the challenges they were faced with.
It was gathered that the IDP camp has a total of 1,100 people with few of them sick.
However, on arrival, the medical team of the committee provided medical treatments to the sick.
Also, the committee took boat to Ndoni to see displaced persons and houses that had been submerged by flood.
After assessing and taking photos, they were taken to the IDP Camp close to River Niger where the inhabitants were camped on a sand filled area.
Speaking at the site, the Chairman, Dr. George Nwaeke, said Governor Nyesom Wike, in his magnanimity, inaugurated the committee to provide relief materials and medical aid to cushion their sufferings.
On her part, the Secretary of the committee, Barrister Inime Aguma, said the committee has a special concern for the women and children in the IDP camps, adding that the initiative of having a mobile clinic was to ameliorate their sufferings.
She said the committee was in touch with the local government chairmen, to provide medical aid, food, shelter and facilitate their immediate evacuation from anywhere that was completely flooded.
In his remarks, the Chairman, Community Development Committee in Ndoni community, Mr. Patrick, pleaded for the Federal Government to also come to their aid.
Furthermore, the Director General of Pension Board, Ndoni Zone, Mr. Samuel, commended the good gesture of the Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, for the fund approval he has made to alleviate the sufferings and pain of Ndoni people.
Also speaking, the LG Chairman, Hon. Vincent Job, thanked the governor of Rivers State, for setting up the committee, and promised the people that the committee would start bringing relief materials as soon as possible.
Afterwards, the committee visited Ibocha and Egbema community to ascertain the level of flood and devastation in the area.
In the same vein, the committee visited the Palace of His Eminence, Barrister Nwachukwu Nnam Obi III, the Oba of Ogbaland.
Speaking at the palace, Chairman of the Rivers State Flood Management 2022, Dr. George Nwaeke, sympathised with the King and his subjects over the flood situation that has ravaged the area.
He said the state governor has inaugurated the committee to alleviate the sufferings and bring succour to the people of the area.
Responding, King Nwachukwu Nnam Obi III, thanked the governor for his commitment and responding briskly whilst he commended the committee for hitting the ground running.
Meanwhile, the King has promised to constitute a local committee at the community level to liaise with Rivers State Government on flood management for easy distribution of relief materials.
By: Nelson Chukwudi
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.