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Minister Commissions Two Water Projects In Ogoniland
The Minister of Environment, Hon Balarabe Abbas Lawal, has commissioned two water facilities in Bomu Community and Kporghor Community in Gokana and Tai Local Government Areas respectively of Rivers State.
The commissioning ceremony, which took place in Bomu Community last Friday witnessed a large crowd of enthusiastic Ogoni people and personalities from all walks of life.
The Minister was accompanied at the event by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Engr Abubakar Momoh and some bigwigs of federal agencies.
Before the commissioning of the water projects proper, the Ministers had visited the barricaded HYPREP’s remediation site in Ogale Community in Eleme Local Government Area to assess the situation, before proceeding to the palace of the Gbere-Mene Gokana Kingdom, King Festus Babari Bagio on a courtesy visit, where they and other dignitaries were treated to a lavish reception.
At the palace, the two Ministers and the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Deinibarini Zabbey were presented awards of excellence by the Gokana Youth Council led by MeneKpakol E. Kpakol.
Lawal and Zabbey were also presented their certificates of recognition by the Gokana Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs as members, having been inaugurated into the council last year.
While inaugurating the water facilities, Lawal praised the Ogoni people for their support to the President Bola Tinubu administration and the various projects being carried out by HYPREP in their land, and enjoined them to continue to take ownership of the projects.
The Minister also issued International Maritime Organisation(IMO) Levels 1 and 2 certificates to trained community workers as well as launched the pilot cook stove project and equally unveiled GROWCOON for growing mangrove seedlings.
As a way of commemorating the 2024 International Mangrove Day which was marked that Friday, the Ministers and the Project Coordinator of HYPREP planted mangroves at the Bomu waterfront.
Goodwill messages were also delivered at the occasion by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs; the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of HYPREP, Dr Mike Nwielaghi; the representative of the United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP); representative of Shell Petroleum Development Company(SPDC); representative of Stakeholder Democratic Network(SDN); representative of the Centre of Environment and Human Rights Development(CEHRD); and the spokesman of CRAC , HYPREP, King Suanu Baridam.
In his welcome address, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey said the commissioning of the water facilities reflects the new spirit of accelerating the Ogoni clean-up project in alignment with Priority 3, Derivable 3 of the Renewed Hope Agenda, which emphasises the importance of environmental sustainability and community empowerment as critical pillars for sustainable development.
He noted that HYPREP is proud to contribute to this national agenda, reflecting a new spirit of determination and action.
According to him, the Minister of Environment’s wisdom and guidance have ensured that the Project Coordination Office proceeded meaningfully while carrying out this presidential directive.
The Project Coordinator said “the commissioning of the water projects marks another milestone in our collective journey toward successfully implementing the UNEP Report on Ogoniland recommendations”.
He further indicated that access to clean and safe water is a fundamental human right, as the people witness once again the fulfilment of this promise to the hydrocarbon impacted communities in Ogoniland, and urged the communities to continue to protect the water facilities for common use.
Zabbey hinted that HYPREP is strengthening healthcare facilities across the four local government areas of Ogoniland.
He also announced that the construction of the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration is at 60 percent completion rate, as a committee has been established to recommend a framework for its operations.
According to him, progress is being made on the Ogoni Specialist Hospital while the Buan Cottage Hospital has been roofed.
The Project Coordinator equally revealed that the training of 5,000 Ogoni youths and women in 20 skill areas is nearing completion while the Minister has graciously approved the provision of skill-specific starter packs to the trainees.
He said HYPREP is also enhancing its stakeholder engagement strategies, ensuring that the voices and needs of the Ogoni people are at the forefront of its initiatives.
He said the Project is undertaking the world’s largest restoration of oil-degraded mangroves, as it has so far planted 514,819 mangrove seedlings.
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Engr Abubakar Momoh noted in his goodwill message that the Federal Government is highly committed to the clean-up project in Ogoniland, and appealed to the youths to remain calm and not allow politicians to use them to foment trouble or to engage in anything that would disrupt and truncate the gains already achieved, saying he was delighted to witness the commissioning of the water facilities and for having come to witness what was happening in Ogoniland.
He also expressed joy that President Tinubu had within a tickle of the eye reinstated the Project Coordinator as soon as interventions were made on his behalf.
He said the Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC) in particular has taken a different shape under the President Tinubu administration, and assured the people of Niger Delta that good things would continue to come to the region.
According to him, the Niger Delta would be greatly transformed, going by the allocations made for the region in this year’s budget.
The dignitaries were treated to scintillating cultural displays at the event.
By: Donatus Ebi
My-ACE China, known as the Mayor of Housing, has won the 2024 Man of the Year. The award was announced by board of trustees of the DMOMA Awards Academy in Port Harcourt at the week.
The organisers also declared his company, the Construction and Housing Mayor Limited as the brand promoter of the year, the third in a row.
The award ceremony which was held at the Arena Event centre in the GRA area of Port Harcourt was attended by several dignitaries in the society.
The organisers led by Dr. Ezebunwo Nyeche (chairman) and Stephen Chidiebere Okoye (Awards organizer) said in a statement that China was picked for his support and impact to small and medium enterprises in Rivers State, his media footsteps and his consistent propagation and promotion of Rivers State.
They noted that China won over 10 prestigious awards in 2024 alone on his track to promote Port Harcourt as a brand destination and Rivers as a peaceful state.
Handing the award to China, the organisers said the Mayor of Housing always comes to the rescue of events that aim to promote Rivers State, saying the DMOMA Awards would be held in two more cities in 2025.
Responding, Mr China said there is need for more sponsorship of talents in Port Harcourt and the Niger Delta, saying what they lacked was support.
“There is more talent in Port Harcourt but there is more support in Lagos to artistes than in Port Harcourt. So, the top talents in Port Harcourt work 10 times harder than those in Lagos to attract sponsorship.”
He also said Nigeria has a treasure base which is Port Harcourt but that the treasure is not oil and gas but talents. He said he was highly elated to win the of Man of the Year Award with his firm winning brand of the year.
In an interview, My-ACE China said he was particularly impressed with the diligence demonstrated by the organisers and the processes they used to pick winners every year.
He also said the victory showed attention paid by the organisers to unveil the personality behind the corporate masquerade, not just focusing on the company. “It actually reaffirms one of my quotes that a brand can only grow as big as the character of the visioner behind it.”
On his plans to help Port Harcourt compete with Lagos, China said 2025 will meet him doing things with the youths of Rivers State to push the Port Harcourt brand in the social media and rally the traditional press to create a positive narrative of Rivers State beyond violence and political negativity.
“The Garden City has not been enjoying the best of media perception for some years now but this is the first time we have a governor committed to non-political bias in doing his work. He does not consider whether you are a member of his party or not before doing what is right. For the first time, we have a true father of the state to all, and he has been diligently following the blueprint that stakeholders developed at the last Rivers Economic and Investment Summit, making sure he is doing it without political cronyism.”
He said his company would be building the biggest estate and the best, the ‘Alesa Sustainable Smart City, to move from brand perception to brand experience so as to move Rivers State to the next level.
He appealed to entrepreneurs not to be carried away by the old perception but to join the new way. “Position yourself because there is going to be a boom. People are rushing into Port Harcourt and new entrants may take the ground. Think expansion not contraction, think investment not divestment. Else, you miss it.”
To fellow estate investors, he admonished them to gear up for regulation. “It is no longer going to be business as usual especially for land peddling and land grabbing. Try to grow up because tangible development is going to take over.
“It is no longer going to be who sells the most land but who develops the most houses. The housing deficit in the land requires effective land development strategies. Any serious land seller should grow into a housing developer because developments are going to be coming into Rivers State and a lot of people are coming into the state.”
He said those that have grown to be developers will be many times richer than those that are just starting or are mere land sellers and peddlers. People should also position themselves because all the foreign investments and local ones will take advantage of this influx.
“The value of influx is coming, so prepare and take advantage. Be one of those that are big enough to take advantage. Remaining small will not be good but grow big in your products, in your services, because the market is going to grow big.”
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has expressed shock and sadness over the death of a former military governor of the State, Major-General Godwin Osagie Abbe (rtd).
Late Abbe, who hails from Edo State, was military governor of Rivers State between August, 1990 and January, 1992.
Governor Fubara described late Gen Abbe as one leader who dedicated himself to the service and wellbeing of Rivers people and humanity during his administration in the State, saying that the death of the distinguished military officer, politician and administrator was a very huge loss to the State, the Niger Delta, and indeed, the entire country, having traversed the length and breath of the nation in the cause of his military and political careers.
“On behalf of my family, the Government and good people of Rivers State, I condole with the family of the Abbes, the Edo people, and the Nigerian military on the demise of this colossus, whose contributions to the unity, peace and development of the nation are legendary.
“While we mourn his painful exit at this difficult time, we pray for the eternal repose of his soul, and urge the family to take solace in the fact that late Gen Abbe lived a fulfilled life in the service of his fatherland.”
Wife of Rivers State Governor, Lady Valerie Siminalayi Fubara, has noted with delight that Rivers children are well behaved, and has admonished them to remain supportive of their parents while striving always to make a difference wherever they find themselves.
Lady Fubara gave the counsel at the 2024 Christmas Children Party, attended by children from the 23 Local Government Areas of the State, including non-indigenes, at Government House in Port Harcourt on Thursday.
The Christmas Children Party also witnessed the presence of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who stopped over to share moments with them, walking from one canopy to another, waving at them, and at other times, shaking hands with them to leave lasting memories on them.
The Rivers First Lady pointed to the importance of the celebration of Christmas, which draws attention to the birth of Jesus Christ, demanding that people have a deep reflection of the love that is demonstrated and mission of the birth, which is to redeem mankind.
Lady Fubara recalled how she took out time to visit the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital and the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, where she appreciated God for safe delivery of children born on Christmas day while felicitating with the nursing mothers.
She also stated the valuable time spent with motherless babies when she visited the Port Harcourt Children’s Home in Borikiri, old Port Harcourt Township, and celebrated their meekness, innocence and the beauty they bring to the world.
She said, “Even today, as we continue the celebration, efforts were made to extend invitation to our children in all the 23 local government areas of our State. In doing this, children from all classes of society, including the physically challenged, have been offered the opportunity to sit together as brothers and sisters, play, eat and dance.
“Whilst contemplating the uniqueness of celebrating Christmas on a Boxing Day, steps were equally taken to provide gifts for the children who are there, and also to pray for them, a qualitative fun session that will last in their memories.”
Lady Fubara advised all children in the State to remember that Jesus came into the world to make a difference, advising that they must emulate him so that they can positively impact their families and society.
She urged them to pray fervently to God to bless and prosper their mothers, daddies, aunties and uncles to better cater to their needs.
She added, “Be humble, obedient and supportive at home. Do household chores, and don’t forget to make excellent grades in school next academic session. Children are the joy of every home, and we are glad to have beautiful, well-behaved children in Rivers State.
“Thank you all for witnessing this 2024 Children’s Party, and I pray God Almighty to protect, shield and keep you safe from all negative companies in the name of Jesus. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous 2025. God bless you all,” she said.
Lady Fubara expressed appreciation to her husband and Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, for his absolute commitment to the growth of children, and the immeasurable support that ensured that Christmas Children Party was a success.
There were performances by Virtue Dancers, Kalabari Iria dancers, Wonder Time Children of Opobo Kingdom, Children of Rivers State Council of Arts and Culture, Diseye the Poet and DJ Arnold.