Rivers
HYPREP Inaugurates Water Project’s WCA In Rivers Community
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project(HYPREP) in conjunction with the Rivers State Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development, has inaugurated members of the Water Consumers’ Association(WCA) for the Alesa community water project, provided by HYPREP.
The inauguration ceremony, which held at Aleto community’s Town Hall in Eleme Local Government Area recently, was performed by the Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development, Barrister Patience Omereji, who was represented by the Acting General Manager of Rivers State Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Dr(Mrs) Queen Amachree.
Eleven members of the Water Consumers’ Association were inaugurated at the event, with Rev Loveday Nwafor serving as the chairman of the association.For gender balance, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Deinibarini Zabbey, however, promised to expand the membership by later appointing two females into the body to bring the number to 13.
At the event, the former General Manager of Rivers State Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Engr Martins Mmeo presented a lecture, and highlighted the need for the WCA to ensure that the Alesa-Eleme water scheme is not only owned by the community but also make it sustainable. He also harped on the need for the water to be kept safe and clean at all times.
In his opening remarks, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Deinibarini Zabbey said the inauguration of the WCA marks a new chapter in HYPREP’s shared commitment to ensuring sustainable access to clean water for the people of Alesa, Alode, Agbonchia, Aleto and some Ogale communities.
According to him, HYPREP’s mission is clear: to restore the environment and community livelihoods, strengthen public health, and improve the quality of the Ogoni communities. “Today, we take a critical step in realising an aspect of the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP) Assessment Report on Ogoniland”, he intoned.
Zabbey noted that the operational sustainability strategy for the water scheme in Ogoniland is robust, as the contractor handling the project runs it for a year upon completion, followed by two years of managing it by HYPREP, after which, the operations and management of the facility are transferred to the WCA and the Rivers State Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development.
He further hinted that during the two years of HYPREP’s operation of the water scheme, members of the WCA are trained for effective management, including sensitising and mobilising beneficiary communities for ownership.
The Project Coordinator said establishing the WCA, with membership drawn from the benefiting communities is a cornerstone of HYPREP’s operational sustainability plan to sustain operations after completion, adding that it would replicate same across all its water facilities in Ogoniland.
He further indicated that HYPREP recognises that the long term success of its efforts hinges on empowering the community to take ownership and manage the resources and infrastructure it has put in place.
Zabbey reiterated that HYPREP would build the capacity of the WCA members and the wider community to manage and sustain the water facility effectively, contending that the association would be instrumental in ensuring the continued functionality and efficiency of the water infrastructure.
“By taking this responsibility, the people of Alesa and other communities serviced by this water scheme will be equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to maintain their water supply, address issues promptly, and safeguard this vital resource for future generations,” he said.
According to him, HYPREP’s commitment to the WCA includes comprehensive training programmes, technical support and other resources for effective management.
While thanking the leaders and members of the serviced communities and the people of Eleme Kingdom for their support and cooperation, Zabbey said their active involvement has been crucial in reaching this significant milestone, stressing that, “together, we are creating a legacy of community stewardship and wellbeing as we take ownership of and protect the water scheme”.
He, therefore, charged members of the WCA to embrace their responsibility with pride and dedication, saying, “the success of this initiative depends on the community and our collective effort and commitment”.
“The association is more than an organisation; it symbolises our shared vision for participatory shareholder engagement. HYPREP is doing its part, and we expect the communities to complement our efforts”, he said.
A member of HYPREP’s Central Representative Advisory Committee (CRAC), Rev Canon Abraham Olungwe said, in a goodwill message that there had been plethora of water projects in Eleme Local Government Area which he noted had gone moribund after some time.
He indicated that the water projects put in place in the area by HYPREP are durable and sustainable, for which reason, the WCA for the Alesa-Eleme water scheme was being inaugurated, to enable the various benefiting communities to own the water facility.
Olungwe, however, regretted that instead of the people to access and utilise the water provided to them, by paying little tokens as tariffs, they rather prefer to buy water from other sources, saying, this is in spite of the fact that the water provided by HYPREP is of global and international standard.
Also speaking, the King of Eleme Kingdom, Emere Philip Osaro-Obele thanked HYPREP for the water project and the inauguration of the WCA, saying he was happy with what the Project was doing in the area, and urged it to keep the flag flying.
The monarch, who addressed the participants through the Paramount Ruler of Alesa community, Emere J. D.Nkpe appealed to HYPREP to execute more projects in the Kingdom as well as create more employment opportunities for the people of Eleme.
In his speech, the Chairman of the Water Consumers’ Association, Engr Loveday Nwafor gave the historical background of water projects in the area, and listed several technical challenges facing the people, particularly in terms of the provision and supply of potable water to the area.
He solicited for the support and cooperation of the people, and promised that the WCA would deliver on its mandate.
By: Donatus Ebi
The Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA) has given its breakdown of the Rivers’ 2025 budget.
The PHCCIMA President, Dr. Chinyere Nwaoga, gave the breakdown in a statement on Tuesday, saying the budget will unlock trapped N500 billion tax revenue from trapped or recovered assets.
She recalled that PHCCIMA had on December 31, 2024 lauded the appropriation bill of 2025 as presented by the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and promised to analyse the budget.
“We promised to analyse the budget and share our position after extensive research and analysis.
“We set up a think-tank committee to review the monetary policy with the private sector practitioners and we have come up with a position”, she said.
Nwaoga noted that the 2025 total budget approximates N1.2 trillion to be N388 billion higher than the 2024 figure of N800 billion.
However, she noted that when adjusted for inflation, “the Net Present Value of the current budget is approximately N1.1 trillion”.
She explained that the naira’s depreciation by 90 per cent year-on-year from January 2024 has reduced the budget’s net value to about N700 billion.
According to her, this further illustrates how the fiscal policies at the centre can impact even the best run states.
She commended the Rivers government’s plan to spend N678 billion on capital expenditure, which is roughly 30 per cent more than the operating expenditure.
“The plan to allocate N31 billion to Agric and support programmes for youths posits a strategy for genuine empowerment”, she stated.
The PHCCIMA President also advised the government to create a credible youth and women database for articulated disbursements and monitoring.
She said: “There may be need to update or recreate a strategic state wide enumeration targeted at Rivers State population”.
Nwaoga also suggested that the government should consider allotting a percentage of accrued funds to an investor guarantee programme to attract investment funds aimed at commerce.
She noted that “the policy to explore counterparty funding with the Universal Basic Education (UBE) to support education is smart”.
The PHCCIMA boss commended the government’s plan to source and save funds for the budget through various means, including FAAC, IGR, statutory allocation, mineral funds, VAT, refunds, and others.
According to her, the budget demonstrates financial prudence and less emphasis on bank borrowing.
She suggested that the government should re-enact the Rivers State Statutory Savings Account and ensure that assets do not deplete in value.
Nwaoga recommended that “we estimate an additional N100 billion, and the expansion of the under-declared and undeclared revenue sources with corporates”.
She stressed the need for the government to emphasise attracting new investments and unlocking value from existing assets.
“Rivers State Government should emphasise attracting new investments and unlocking value from existing assets”, she said.
She, however, urged that the government should continue to pursue clearing the backlog of pension liabilities and consider implementing a revised salary structure to motivate the workforce.
The Rivers State Government is seeking the collaboration of relevant stakeholders to improve the conditions of women and children.
Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Roseline Apawari Uranta, disclosed this during a stakeholders engagement with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) as part of activities to mark the 50th birthday anniversary of Governor Siminalaye Fubara organised by the Ministry in Port Harcourt.
Dr. Uranta also stressed the need for a network of agencies and organisations working to improve the conditions of women and children across the state.
The Commissioner said the present administration under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara has initiated policies towards improving the conditions of women and children in the State.
According to her, the present administration is ensuring that women and children have acess to quality health care and education.
She said the stakeholders’ engagement was to seek their views and opinions towards fashioning out policies and programmes that will further improve the conditions of women and children in the State.
Also speaking, the founder of Truvine Women International Ministries, Pastor (Mrs.) Ene Secondus, commended the Ministry for its commitment towards improving the conditions of women and children in the State.
Mrs. Secondus also commended the Ministry for the meeting, adding that it would provide opportunity for the various organisations to review their activities for the outgone year and also plan ahead .
She said her organisation,Truevine Women Ministry International, had visited several charity homes across the country and Internally Displaced Persons ( IDP) camps to assist them in various ways, calling on other groups to do same.
Also speaking, the Royal Father of the day, King Emmanuel Owurong, called on the Ministry to embark on sensitisation campaigns across schools in the State with a view to educating the girl child on the importance of education.
He said this would check the rampant cases of teenage pregnancies across rural communities in the State.
Earlier, the Director, Women Affairs, Rivers State Ministry of Women Affairs, Dr. Camelita Agborubere, said the Ministry is now more concerned with gender development and equality in the society.
Agborubere said the mandate of the Ministry is to bring about equality and an inclusive society where everyone, irrespective of gender, will be equal.
The Director, however, said empowerment remains the only way out for women emancipation.
The meeting was attended by various non-governmental organisations across the state.
John Bibor
The Rivers State Government says the Port Harcourt Annual Holy Ghost Rally organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has been a source of blessings to the State.
The Stae Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, stated this during the 2025 edition of the Port Harcourt Holy Ghost Rally at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt last Sunday.
Speaking through his Deputy, Professor Ngozi Nma Odu, Governor Fubara said the RCCG has been of global impartation to all those who have faith in God Almighty, stressing that he believes the good Lord would touch everybody in their different areas of need.
“I believe that Rivers State will experience an unprecedented peace after this gathering and we shall move from victory to higher victory and also move from glory to higher glory to the manifestation of God Almighty”, he said.
In his sermon, titled: “Divine Manifestation”, drawn from Jeremiah 32:27, the General Overseer of the church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, said “Divine Manifestation refers to God showing who He is, by action”, stressing that most times God introduces Himself by His actions.
According to the cleric, the first time God introduced Himself to man was in Genesis 17:1, describing Himself as Jehovah Elshaddi, which means “the God who is more than sufficient”.
He urged the Christian faithful to call on God, especially in difficult times to receive solutions.
Earlier, the Intercontinental Youth Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Belemina Obunge, expressed gratitude to the Rivers State Government for their support over the years, while praying for God’s guidance and blessings over the State.