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We’re Delivering Critical Projects, Social Services To Impact Lives Directly – Fubara …Says Opobo Ring Road To Be Ready In Three Months
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that the critical projects and social services, including business opportunities being delivered to various communities across the State are targeted at addressing the immediate and remote needs of the people.
The Governor maintained that governance should be people-focused genuinely, and his administration understands that concern, which is why great care is being taken to ensure that the quality of life lived by the people is improved on a sustainable basis.
Governor Fubara gave the assurance when he addressed newsmen shortly after embarking on an inspection tour to assess the extent of work done on the 5.75km Kalaibiama-Epellema Link Road and bridge, and the Opobo Town Ring Road projects, all in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, and the 13.3km Bori Town Internal Roads project in Khana Local Government Area on Tuesday.
Governor Fubara, who had defied the rains to undertake the inspection tour, said he was out on inspection of some critical projects that will certainly have direct bearing and genuinely have lasting impact on the lives of all residents in the benefiting communities.
The Governor explained: “The first one (project) we visited was a road in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area. It is a project that, we strongly believe, will link two communities together.
“We have a community called Epellema that we normally access through the river. So, we thought it wise that embarking on a project like this that will connect Epellema to Kalaibiama will bring development, and also help in saving lives of our people as a result of boat mishaps and other things.
“We also went into Opobo main town to look at the work ongoing on the Opobo Ring Road. We are very satisfied with what we saw, and we strongly believe that in the next three months, that project will be delivered.”
Speaking on the Internal Road project in Bori Town, Governor Fubara assured that it will not only restore the glory status of the town but create ease of living and improve mobility so that activities at the Zonal Hospital can be seamless when completed and put to use.
Governor Fubara said: “We are in Bori Town. We’ve been here before, if you remember, when this project was somehow stalled. We spoke to the contractor and gave him a marching order, and after then, he came back to site.
“We are here to see what is going on, and I strongly believe that he has really done as we expected. The Bori internal road is a cluster of roads, not connected to one, but about 13.3km road, scattered around different streets.
“The essence of this road is for the Ogoni people here and the strangers that are living here to have easy accessibility, and also feel the impact of government.”
Governor Fubara explained further: “It’s an old city and part of our agenda is to rebuild it, and assure our people that those original cities that were planned by our fore-fathers; the planners and the founders of Rivers State, that we will bring those ideology back.
“So, the major reason of ensuring that this project is completed is because we want to make sure that we bring back Bori to its city position. I want to assure the good people of Bori and Ogoni that this project will be completed in a couple of months, and we will be here to commission it.”
Governor Fubara emphasised that his administration has chosen to do those things that will continue to touch the lives of our people directly, in a positive light.
He assured that all projects under construction, and particularly the Bori Town Internal Roads project, which they yearn for and are also excited about as they herald his visit to the area, will be completed in good time.
He said, “I can assure them that we are not going to limit development to only the roads. We have the hospital that we are working on, and we also intend to bring in other businesses that will create employment in Ogoniland,” he added.
At all the communities visited, residents turned out in their numbers, singing praises of the Governor and dancing in excitement over the monumental infrastructure projects being executed in their communities by the State Government.
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.