Niger Delta
Youths Protest Forceful Seizure Of Land By Govt
The youths of Ekit Itam II, Itu Local Government Area, on Saturday, held a peaceful demonstration over an alleged seizure of their ancestral lands by the State Government for an uninformed reason.
The dissatisfied youths of the area were led by the Youths President, Otuekong Nseobong Ekong, on a peaceful demonstration to the said land located opposite the AKTC terminus, Ekit Itam II.
Ekong while acknowledging the positive impact of the government’s presence in the area, pleaded with the government to swiftly intervene in the encroachment of the said land, which he described as the only land for the community.
He noted that the seizure was unacceptable, expressing concerns about the undisclosed and dialogued reasons for the encroachment by the government.
Addressing newsmen, the immediate past Youth President of the community, Ubon Ebong, said the host community does not understand what happened because they were supposed to have been consulted and dialogued with before anything took place.
“Two Mondays ago, we woke up to have our land seized by the government and they started building on it.
“It would have been proper for whoever did this to have informed the community. But till now, no one has given us any explanation on the goings-on on our land. And we have held down whatever activity going on here”, he said.
“Ekit Itam II is a very small community and our landscape has been acquired by the government, left only with this,” he decried.
He stated that the Water Board, West Itam Secondary School, Timber market, Ibom Specialist Hospital, Dangote depot, UAC, and some parts of AKTC, as land lots willfully donated to the government by the community.
He stressed that the only parcel of land left for succeeding generations is the said land.
On whether the people were compensated for the acquired property, Ebong said they have written a series of letters to the appropriate government quarters, but to no avail.
He called on the government to duly compensate concerned persons whose landed properties have been taken over by the government.
While expressing sadness on the shortage of farmlands for agro activities, which is the area’s mainstay, the Deputy Youth President, Comrade Emmanuel Robert, expressed fear that generations yet unborn might not have where to build their homes or have a space to call their own.
Robert wondered if the customer encroachment was done by the State’s Ministry of Lands and Town Planning and thus called on the concerned quarter to stay off their land.
The Deputy Youth President, who spoke vibrantly at press time, said was the only land set aside by the community to build a civic center.
The youths, who trooped out in their numbers as early as 7.30 a.m along the AKTC terminus road, vowed their resolve to halt subsequent activities on the land, adding that they will continue to guide the place to ward off further encroachment attempts.
The protest, which was peaceful till the end, was joined by the Youth President, his vice, Youth President emeritus, Chief Security of the area, and members of the village council and community leaders.
By: Christopher Tom, Uyo
The Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RSBOPP), says efforts are being made to strengthen the existing procurement processes leading to the award of contracts and jobs execution in the state to enhance service delivery.
The Board chairman of the RSBOPP, Lawrence Oko-Jaja, disclosed this while speaking to journalists in his office in Port Harcourt, after a meeting with staff of the agency, last Friday.
Oko-Jaja who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) stated that procurement had become a global issue, stressing that without a proper procurement plan, it would be difficult for any state or nation to move forward in the attainment of its developmental strategies and goals.
The chairman said that the Board had observed some improprieties in the procurement processes and assured that they would take every measure to ensure full compliance with the state procurement laws.
“We will ensure that the laws are followed and we have value for money. We must ensure that money is used for contract execution and not to enrich people’s pockets. We’ll ensure that the money being quoted for any job or contract corresponds with the prevailing market price. We are going to strengthen the monitoring and evaluating team of the Board to perform their duties; going to markets, verify the prices quoted for and also ensure compliance.
“We are going to look into the procurement laws to see how we can close the existing gaps noticed that are not in line with global practices. These measures will also affect local government councils in the state to ensure there is value for money and save money for the state government. And in doing so, the government can spread its services across the state and not in one place.
“His Excellency, the governor of the state has a mantra, “Rivers first”. We are going to ensure we assist him and the state government achieve this policy by ensuring that the procurement laws are complied with and things are done rightly. That is why we are here,” he said.
Oko-Jaja assured that members of the Board would justify the confidence reposed in them by the state governor for the benefit of the state.
Earlier, in an interactive meeting between Board members and staff of the agency, the Board chairman of RSBOPP told the excited workforce that the Board had approved the merger of some departments, namely Legal, Ethics Human Resources and the Facility Management departments to ensure maximum output and efficiency in service delivery.
He said that the Legal and Ethics departments had been merged as one department, adding the Human Resources and Facility Management departments had also been merged.
He told them that going forward every department would also be accountable for its responsibility and announced that the Board had also approved that conditions of service should be put in place for the staff of the agency so that they would grow like their counterparts in the state mainstream civil service.
Akujobi Amadi
The Rivers State Government says it would continue to address the needs of Civil Servants in the State.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara stated this during the Rivers State Civil Service 2025 New Year Thanksgiving Service, at the State Secretariat Complex in Port Harcourt, last Friday.
Speaking through his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, Governor Fubara said his Administration is willing and ready to do what will make Civil Servants happy, more hardworking, and more distinguished.
“I want to tell you that you have our ears, and you can tell because when the Head of Service gave his address, there were no demands because while you were yet asking, it was already executed. We want you to know that to whom much is given, much is expected. We do not take your love and support for granted.” Governor Fubara stressed.
The State Chief Executive urged Civil Servants to redouble and rekindle their energy to ensure that the Rivers State Civil Service becomes the envy of Civil Service in Nigeria, noting that the State Government is pleased to work as a family with Civil Servants.
He implored them to continue to uphold his Administration in prayers, which according to him has kept him thus far, adding that prayers would lead them for years to come while asking them to be proud of whom they are as Civil Servants.
In his address, the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nweke, expressed gratitude to Governor Fubara for the implementation of the enhanced minimum wage, payment of Christmas bonus, improved retirement benefits, and creation of employment opportunities amongst others, as well as issuance of SME loans facility to deserving Civil Servants in the State.
Dr Nweke who said the theme of this year’s thanksgiving “Peace Be Still” reminds us that even amid turmoil and uncertainties you can find peace and calm in God’s presence while urging them to pray for continuous peace and development in the State.
In his sermon, the Dean Church of God, Anglican Communion, the Most. Rev. Blessing Enyindah who spoke on the theme “Peace Be Still” drawn from Mark 4:35-41, said storms of life may manifest in different ways and forms, causing us anxiety and sleepless nights but with Jesus Christ by our side, there is hope.
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