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We’re Working In Line With Tinubu’s Vision On Housing -Fubara
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that the State Government would work harmoniously with the Federal Government to address the issue of housing deficit affecting low income earners in the State.
This synergy, he said, will reduce the pressure faced by citizens facing the challenge of housing, which is not only affecting low income but also medium income earners.
Fubara gave the assurance when he received the management team of the Federal Housing Authority of Nigeria (FHAN), led by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Hon. Oyetunde Ojo, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
The governor, who noted that the problem of housing has become a major issue confronting Nigerians, said the Rivers State Government recently flagged off a 20,000 housing units project to address the housing needs of low income earners in the State, which, he added, is also in line with Mr President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Let me use this medium to say a big thank you to Mr President. We all know the basic needs of a family: food, clothing and shelter. And in our country today, because of the cost of living, housing has become an issue.
“It is no longer an issue of medium income earners, because medium income earners cannot even afford housing again. So, it is an issue that the government, both at federal and state levels must come together and work together to find a lasting solution. Maybe, we may not completely eradicate the problem, but we can reduce that pressure on the citizens,” he said.
He noted, “We are thinking in the same line with Mr President. In our dear State, some months back, we did flag off a 20,000 housing units project, specifically for low income earners. What is the purpose: how many persons can afford housing in the GRAs? Just a few of us. We need to make provision for our civil servants. We need to make provision for our traders and taxi drivers. We need to make provision for our teachers and other classes of workers. That is what gave birth to that programme. And I am happy to say it today, that the project is ongoing, and there is evidence of seriousness to that.”
Fubara, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, expressed delight with the purpose of the visit, which he said, keys into the social housing policy of his administration.
He noted that FHA’s commitment to partner the State Government in providing housing would assist n mitigating the plight of the citizens.
He described President Bola Tinubu’s administration as people-oriented, given the seriousness the FHA attaches to ensuring the success of the project in collaboration with the State Government, and assured of his administration’s commitment to give the necessary support for the success of the project.
“I am really happy this evening to receive this delegation from the Federal Housing Authority, because even the houses we are providing still won’t solve the problem. So, adding this to what we are already doing, will also help in mitigating the challenges.
“Your demands are very simple. We have records available which show that lands given to some people have been undeveloped. That will not be the story anymore. We are dealing with a team that has come, made commitments, and already pledged their seriousness, telling us here that they are not interested in just the land, but want even the contractors, who must be indigenous people from Rivers State, to be part of the project. They didn’t even end there. They are also saying that this project, they want to do it in such a way that they want the state to support off-takers. What else does anybody need to show that this Federal Government is people-oriented,” he said.
He added, “I want to assure you that we will, as a Government, and as the head of the State Government, I will call the team that is concerned: the Permanent Secretary of Lands, and the Commissioner for Housing, they are going to meet with you, assess areas that are still undeveloped, and you make your choice and commence work.
“You said something very interesting. It’s not just building housing for the sake of building, but building in such a way that will consider the income of the would-be occupiers. It means, you have the people at heart.
“You are not just embarking on the project as white elephant project, you are not just embarking on the project because you want to come and flag off the project or commission it, you are interested in the end product. It shows seriousness, and that is our motto. As a Government, the few things that we are doing, we are interested in ending them well, and people seeing the purpose and the usefulness of our projects.
“So, I want to assure you, we will give you all the necessary support. Our message to Mr President is that: we are going to own the project, we will see that it succeeds so that it will also be a legacy for him in our dear State.”
Earlier, the Managing Director/CEO, Federal Housing Authority of Nigeria, Hon. Oyetunde Ojo, had said they were at the Government House to pay a courtesy visit on the governor as well as intimate him on Mr President’s mandate to the authority to provide affordable housing to Nigerians as encapsulated in the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Hon. Ojo, who noted the strategic position of Rivers State in the country, solicited the governor’s partnership in making available land to enable the authority fulfil its mandate of providing affordable housing to the people.
“We are here for two reasons: to pay a courtesy visit, and to intimate you on the mandate of Mr President given to the Federal Housing Authority of Nigeria to provide affordable housing to Nigerians. In the Renewed Hope Agenda, we all know that housing is a specified area in which Mr President really talked on.
“Right now in Nigeria, we are lacking shelter seriously. And I say, it’s not only lacking shelter, it’s about being affordable. And what is affordable? It is what the low income earners can really purchase and afford.
“Your Excellency, you all know the position of Rivers State in this country. After Abuja being the capital city, Lagos and Rivers are two major economic hubs of Nigeria which nobody can down-play in this country.
“And by so doing, we in Federal Housing Authority have decided to take a position, and what is our position of coming here today. The land is vested in your authority as the owners of the land in the State. It’s one thing that you give us the land and we go to Abuja and do a design.
“In our own tenure, we want a scenario where we have a partnership, not just collecting land, but also sitting down with your team in designing what you think is suitable with your own people. The houses will be designed and tailored towards the needs of the residents and people of Rivers State,” he said.
Ojo said that the collaboration between the Authority and the State Government was necessary to secure the buy-in of the off-takers so that they can own the houses for their sustainability.
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.