News
FG Donates Relief Materials To Delta Flood Victims
The Federal Government yesterday donated food and relief materials, worth millions of naira, to Delta Government to ameliorate the sufferings of flood victims in the state.
The Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Habib Mustapha, who delivered the goods in Asaba, said it was part of the Agency’s response to the 2022 flood impacted states.
Mustapha, represented by Mr Brandon Walson, Deputy Director, Relief and Rehabilitation in the Agency, thanked the Delta Government for the timely response to the needs of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), particularly by providing camps, food and health services.
According to Mustapha, the grains approved by the Federal Government for the vulnerable persons in Delta include 105 metric tonnes of maize, 88.7 metric tonnes of sorghum and 98.7 metric tonnes of garri.
“Other relief materials include, 1,000 (10kg) bag each for rice, beans, and maize; also vegetable oil, salts, seasoning cubes, tin tomatoes, nylon mats, treated mosquito nets, Guinea brocades, toilet soaps and others.”
While commiserating with the state and the victims, he said that more items are being expected, adding that disaster assistance is on continues bases.
He said that based on the forecast by the relevant agencies, no fewer than 233 local governments areas (LGAs) in 32 states plus the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were within early probable flood risk areas for the year 2022, while 212 LGAs in 35 states are within moderately probable flood risk areas.
“Already, the Agency is inundated with the pulse of flood disaster in 450 LGAs in 36 States and the FCT and still counting, causing colossal loss of lives, livelihood and properties and infrastructure.
“What we witness in Delta and indeed other States of the federation should spur us to concrete and deliberate actions that will lead to substantial reduction of flood disaster, risk and losses.”
He advised that all stakeholders should take a critical look at the past, ask relevant questions in other to prevent a repeat of the flood disaster in the country, given its severe and dear consequences on the people and national economy.
According to him, the government in the interim should strengthen the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and other relevant agencies to be able to mitigate and manage such disasters.
Mustapha acknowledged that the Federal Government agencies alone could not compensate the traumatic experiences of persons affected by the flood.
“Yet, the Federal Government has approved the release of these food and relief materials to help to ameliorate the sufferings of those impacted by the disaster in Delta,” he said.
Handing over the items to the state government, Mustapha thanked Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa and other donors for their first line response to the plight of the victims.
Receiving the items, Delta Commissioner, Bureau for Special Duties, Johnbull Edema, thanked the Federal Government and the NEMA for the food and other relief materials.
Edema decried the colossal loss due to the flood and called for a more enduring solutions to the flood disaster.
“On behalf of the state governor and the good people of Delta, I want to thank the Federal Government for this kind gesture of approving and releasing these food and relief materials for flood victims in the state.”
While acknowledging that the Federal Government alone could not assuage the plight of the victims, Edema urged the Federal Government team to take a tour of Delta, adding that about 70 per cent of the state have been submerged.
Edema, who also thanked all donors for supporting the victims in the state, appealed to other good-spirited individuals and agencies to give their support to assuage the over 20,000 impacted citizens of the state.
He pledged the state government’s commitment to adequately distribute the items to all the flood impacted victims in the over 11 IDP camps and community settlements across the state.
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.