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S’South Monarchs Meet Tinubu Over Abandoned East-West Road, Others
Royal fathers from the South-South geopolitical zone yesterday met with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where they presented a catalogue of demands to the government.
The paramount rulers under the aegis of South South Monarchs Forum, lamented that the area that produces the wealth of the nation has nothing to show for it.
The monarchs’ visit came barely 24 hours after a Warri Chief and Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Ayiri Emami, declared that fighting criminality in the Niger Delta without putting in place infrastructure in the region will not achieve any results.
Chief Ayiri also lamented the poor state of infrastructure in Delta State area, especially the road leading from Warri to Escravos and the need to dredge the Koko and Warri ports.
The Itsekiri Chief disclosed that oil theft has drastically reduced to about 80 percent as a result of the efforts of the communities in the state.
Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting with the President, Chairman of Delta State Traditional Rulers, Major Gen Felix Mujakpiruo, said that issues bordering on dilapidation of infrastructure were presented to the President.
He said, “We come to our listening President with a catalogue of our requests in the region. In the region we produce, we give resources to the country and yet we are suffering in the midst of plenty.
“So, we just have to catalogue our sufferings and what we want the President to do for us so that we can feel that we are part of this country.”
“Oh! the President said he will listen, he will look at our request and he will do the needful.
“There are a lot of things that we said he should do for us like the East West Road that has been abandoned for so many years and most of the roads in the South South you cannot have access to Abuja. From Port Harcourt to Aba is not passable, from Benin to Uromi to Okene are not passable.
“We also felt like he should try and link up the Itakpe Railway to Abuja Railway so that right from Warri we can drive to Abuja. What about the abandoned ports?
“We feel that if those ports are revived it will bring employment for our people and it will improve the economy of this country.”
Also speaking to journalists, the Minister of Niger Delta Development, who led the delegation, Abubakar Momoh said, “These are the owners of the region, the more you engage them, they will talk to the youths and those who are involved but when you keep them away it becomes a problem because they will not have that sense of belonging of continuing to talk to the people.
“And above all, it is also to look at the infrastructure of the region.
“When we engage the youths in entrepreneurship training and the rest of them, it can also step down the wave of theft.
“The door should be opened to the people like this because they are the custodians of the peace of Niger Delta. The meeting that has happened today I can regard as a huge success.”
Asked on the state of infrastructure of the region and how it is been taken care of, he said, “Generally I think we may also carry out some kind of wholistic examination on what we call oil theft in Nigeria whether it is not even the kind of professional stealing from even the people who are even producing the oil because if there is no vandalisation and yet you are talking of oil theft I think it has got to a point where government will also look critically into this so-called oil theft whether it is actually oil theft or those people who are in charge are the ones stealing the oil and giving it a different name believing that it is the youths of the region because I understand that even at the point of loading to overseas.
“They can reduce the figure and at the end of the day you think the oil is stolen. I think that these are areas that the government will have to look at in due course.”
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.