Rivers

Medical Tourism: PFN Chieftain Urges FG To Fix Nigeria’s Health Sector

Published

1 year ago

January 28, 2024

The youth wing of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has appealed to the Federal Government to urgently fix the health sector to check medical tourism by Nigerians seeking better alternatives.
National President of the body, Rev. Edward Joseph, made the appeal at a news briefing in Port Harcourt on Thursday.
Joseph, who is also the President, Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (Youth Wing), said fixing the health sector would help to reduce the rate at which Nigerians die due to the poor state of the public health facilities in the country.
The clergyman, who is also the President of Light Bearers, a security outfit that coordinates Christian security matters, further urged the Federal Government to disregard the recent call by a renowned Islamic cleric, Sheikh Gumi, for schools and hospitals to be built for bandits.
Joseph urged the Federal Government to rather build good health facilities for Nigerians to discourage Nigerians seeking healthcare abroad and not encourage terrorism by building hospitals for them.
Joseph, who is the General Overseer of Freedom Chariot Church, called on Rivers residents to support Governor Siminalayi Fubara-led administration to provide good governance to the people.
He appealed to the Governor to build standard health facilities in every community in the state.
“This is what the Pentecostal youths are asking for. We, the young people in Nigeria, are calling on the government at all levels to give priority to the health sector.
“Nigerian youths love you and are with you, hoping you will rule with the fear of God.
“We can get the medical attention that we are looking for here, instead of going abroad for treatment.
“Government-owned hospitals can be equipped more than private facilities to save the lives of Nigerians.
“This country can afford uninterrupted power, water and other amenities in government-owned hospitals”, Joseph said.

Rivers

Bonny Protest Neglect, Seeks CSR MoU Implementation

Published

59 mins ago

February 5, 2025

The Tide

A protest by Bonny Kingdom in Rivers State have given ultimatum to international oil firms and the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas Limited (NLNGL) operating in the island on the need to transform the island in line with the memorandum of understanding (MOU) provided by the Train 7 agreement.

The Chairman of Bonny Kingdom Development Committee (BKDC), Amaopusenibo Amairigha Hart, accused the oil and gas multinationals of neglecting their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) obligations, marginalizing Bonny people, and violating agreements.

Hart warned that the Kingdom would no longer tolerate what he called the flagrant disregard for its developmental needs.

“Bonny Kingdom is known for its peaceful and hospitable nature, but this should not be mistaken for weakness. While individuals, nations, and organizations hail Bonny Island as a blessed geographic location, the land and people have very little to smile about.

“This stems from the abject neglect, total exclusion, rights and privileges denial, and obnoxious disregard for the people of Bonny Kingdom in the scheme of things with regards to how the companies operating in Bonny Island do their businesses”, he said.

Indigenes of the island had planned to begin an indefinite shutdown on January 13, 2025, to demand the implementation of stalled development projects and agreements.

However, the BKDC announced the suspension of the protest following interventions by NLNG and security agencies, who requested an opportunity for dialogue.

“While the plans to commence the protest were at their peak, government agencies and NLNG reached out to us for a chance to discuss and resolve the issues amicably. The Kingdom considered the requests and had decided to suspend the planned peaceful protest”, he explained.

Despite this temporary suspension, the BKDC stressed that it remains steadfast in its demands.

“This is a strong note of warning: things cannot remain as they are. A people grounded may be buried but cannot die twice”, Hart stated.

The BKDC Chairman decreied the failure to implement the CSR projects under the NLNG Train-7 project, including road expansions, construction of a mini-stadium, a waste-to-wealth facility, and other infrastructure.

He alleged that despite adequate funding from Train 7 investors, NLNG has withheld the project funds and failed to deliver.

“For emphasis, NLNG and SCD-JV signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) to execute the following projects in the Kingdom under the Train 7 Project: Expansion of the road from Shell Gate to Coal Beach with a spur from Amaomu Junction to the King Perekule Palace; construction of a 5,000-capacity mini-stadium and sports academy; construction of a vehicular terminal; and construction of a 2.5km road from Workers’ Camp to Simidia Junction. But none of these projects has seen the light of day up till now.

“Interestingly, the people of the Kingdom are well aware that investors in the Train 7 Project provided adequate funds for the implementation of CSR projects in the Kingdom, but unfortunately, NLNG has ensnared these funds in its custody and continued to exercise sole authority over them without any input from the Kingdom”, Hart alleged.

He further lamented the poor living conditions in Bonny despite its immense contributions to Nigeria’s economy.

He continued that “As at today, Bonny Island lacks clean, potable, and drinkable water. It lacks basic social amenities. There are no internal roads except the few constructed by the Bonny Local Government.

“The Bodo-Bonny Road remains under construction since 1975 and is yet to be completed. Roads in the Kingdom remain one-lane narrow roads despite the intense traffic utilization occasioned by the activities of these companies”.

Noting that the kingdom is grappling with severe environmental degradation, Hart said, “The shores around Bonny Island continue to be washed away by the sea waves, a situation aggravated by the strong waves caused by the heavy traffic of large seagoing vessels owned and operated by the multinationals.

“The air pollution is at an all-time high with attendant environmental and health hazards which residents of the Island are being subjected to. Acid rain is a normal occurrence, which continues to undermine the sustainability of buildings in the Island”.

The BKDC further urged the Federal Government, Rivers State Government, and IOCs to take immediate action to address the Kingdom’s grievances, warning that failure to do so could result in renewed action from the people.

“This is a cry for help by the people of Bonny Kingdom and a strong note of warning that things will no longer remain as they are. It is time for the Federal and State Government as well as the companies operating in the Kingdom to rise to the occasion and act right, urgently and in the interest of Bonny people”, Hart stated further.

The committee emphasized that while the Kingdom values dialogue and collaboration, it expects concrete results and a change in attitude from the companies operating within its borders.

In his response, the management of NLNG, through the General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Ms. Sophia Horsfall, assured stakeholders that plans for Train 7 CSR projects remain on course.

Kevin Nengia

Rivers

NOSDRA D-G Disburses N150m To 300 Farmers In Rivers

Published

59 mins ago

February 5, 2025

The Tide

The Director-General, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Chief Chukwuemeka Woke, has disbursed N150 million to 300 farmers in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Woke told newsmen in Isiodu, Emohua, on Monday that the gesture was in support of the Back-to-Farm initiative of the president’s wife, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu.

He said the grant would not only boost food security, but also empower small-scale farmers in the 14 wards of the local Government Area.

The NOSDRA chief said the grant would enable small holder farmers to contribute towards massive food production in 2025.

”The grant will enable our local farmers to procure inputs, pay for land lease, and cater for other needs ahead of the planting season.

”The aim of this support is to enhance crop yield in the 2025 harvest, especially cassava, this will reflect in the cost and availability of food in the state”, he said.

Mr. Chukwuemeka Aaron, factional Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers, commended the Federal Government for the initiative.

Represented by the secretary, Mr. Benibo George, Aaron said the gesture would boost local food production in the area.

He urged the beneficiaries to put the grant to judicious use in the interest of food security.

Also speaking at the event, the factional Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Rivers State, Tony Okocha, described the grant as a good omen.

Okocha said agriculture was critical to the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Tinubu-led government.

He urged the beneficiaries to take advantage of the opportunity to contribute to the food security initiative of the Federal Government.

Some of the beneficiaries commended the NOSDRA D-G for the gesture, and described it as well-intended.

One of them, Uchechukwu Otuonu, diescribed the grant as a rare privilege to famers in the area.

Rivers

Police Confirm Vehicle Insurance Policy Enforcement In Rivers

Published

60 mins ago

February 5, 2025

The Tide

The Police Command in Rivers State has commenced the enforcement of the Third-Party Vehicle Insurance Policy for vehicles across the state.

The Command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, who confirmed this development to in an interview in Port Harcourt on Monday, explained that the enforcement began on February 1, in line with the directives issued by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, to Police commands nationwide.

According to her, the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, has already instructed officers to maintain the highest level of professionalism and integrity throughout the enforcement process.

She added that the commissioner had also warned against misconduct by officers, emphasising that severe sanctions would be applied to those who fail to adhere to the directives.

”Vehicle owners, therefore, are urged to obtain their Third-Party Insurance cover without delay”, she advised.

She disclosed that the enforcement team include the Divisional Traffic Officers (DTOs), members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), and officials from the Rivers Board of Internal Revenue.