Rivers

Group Berates NLNG, PH Refinery over Marginalization Of Wakrike

Published

7 hours ago

December 20, 2024

Wakrike National Congress (WNC), a socio-cultural organization of the Okrika people, in Rivers State, has berated the managements of the Nigerian liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) and the Port Harcourt Refinery over alleged continuous marginalization of the Okrika people.

President of the body, Engr. Davies Solomon, said this in his address at the one year anniversary of the organization in Port Harcourt.

Solomon, whose address was read by Emmanuel Kaldick Jamabo, said despite being a major stakeholder in the NLNG and Port Harcourt Refinery projects, the Okrika has nothing to show for it, adding that NLNG and Port Harcourt Refinery have not deemed it necessary to provide social amenities in Okrika communities.

He particularly called on the two companies to ensure constant power supply to Okrika as is done in Bonny, while youths from the area should be given employment in the two companies.

The WNC President also called for the change in the name of the Port Harcourt Refinery to Okrika/Eleme Refinery, and that of Onne Port to Onne/Ikpokiri Port.

He further called for the siting of a higher institution in Okrika, establishment of a development bank for the Okrikans, establishment of Radio and Television stations in Okrika, and the Wakrike chamber of commerce.

Other demands include the Wakrike industrial park and the Wakrike historical society.

Solomon said time has come for the people to prepare themselves for the age of Artificial intelligence and for them to invest massively in the agricultural sector.

He also stressed the need for the people to extend their hands of fellowship to their neighbours in order to ensure peaceful coexistence with their neighbours.

Earlier, the Amanyanabo of Obumuton Chiri Kingdom in Port Harcourt Local Government Area, HRM King Darick Achesomie, had called for unity among Okrikans, noting that Okrika can only achieve its heart’s desires when the people are united and speak with one voice.

Urging Okrikans to use the celebration to foster unity and understanding among themselves, irrespective of differences, he said, “As we engage in discussions today, let us remember the responsibility we hold for future generations. Our decisions today will shape the world they inherit.

“We must work hand-in-hand, irrespective of our differences, to foster understanding and collaboration among our communities.

“Together we can harness our collective wisdom to propel our society forward”.

He said the congress offers the opportunity to ignite ideas, provide solutions and reinforce the commitment to progress.

“The congress is not merely a platform for dialogue, it is an opportunity to ignite ideas, provide solutions and reinforce our commitment to progress.

“I encourage each of you to share your insights openly and fearlessly. Let us embrace innovation while remaining grounded in our traditions”, he said.

King Achesomie also stressed the need for the people to advocate for quality education, quality health care and economic empowerment through the support of local businesses.

“Also, give attention to the protection of the environment by encouraging waste reduction and protect natural resources for future generations”, he urged.

John Bibor, Michael Abraham

Rivers

Immunization: Rivers Records Decrease In Women, Infant Mortality … As OPTS Donates Cold Chain Refrigerators To PHCMB

Published

6 hours ago

December 20, 2024

The Tide

Rivers State has recorded reduction in mortality of infants, children, and women who die during pregnancy and childbirth.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, who disclosed this, Tuesday, during a media briefing, in Port Harcourt, by the Primary Healthcare Management Board (PHCMB), at the donation of World Health Organisation (WHO) Prequalified Cold Chain Refrigerators, said the decrease spans the last three months.

According to her, an analysis of relevant data in the last three months from which report was presented to the State’s Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, who is the Chairman of the Rivers State Primary Healthcare Taskforce, showed an increase in immunisation, which resulted in the decrease in the mortality of infants, children, and women in the State.

“As we were analysing the data in the last three months, and providing report to Her Excellency, the Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, we were pleased and delighted to share with her and onward to the State Executive Council that we have seen an increase in immunisation coverage by virtue of the work the management and staff of the PHCMB have been doing.

“Significant increase in immunisation coverage, reduction in mortality and in newborns, in infants, below the age of one, and children under the age of five”, she said.

Dr. Oreh continued that beyond the stated reductions, there were also “reductions in the number of women who died during pregnancy and childbirth”.

In spite of these, however, the Health Commissioner emphasized the need to sustain efforts being made to ensure that “we get to the point in Rivers State where there are no Zero Dose Children, that there are no more children who don’t have access to vaccines appropriate for their age to save their lives from common childhood illnesses that threaten their survival”.

Making the donation of the WHO Prequalified Cold Chain Refrigerators, the Executive Director, Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), the donor of the refrigerators, Mr. Gwueke Ajaifa, said the donation is in the spirit of giving back to the people.

Noting that OPTS is an association of oil and gas companies in Nigeria, comprising five International Oil Companies (IOCs), and 25 Nigerian Companies, Ajaifa explained the reason for the donation.

“As individual companies, we recognise the need to take care of the people who live in our communities, because without healthy communities, there can be no progress in terms of business.

“Individual companies have been reaching out to the State, but collectively, we also see the need to reach out and ensure that we take care of our people, and Rivers State is one of the States we believe deserves our attention.

“So, this equipment has been donated to support the immunisation programme, in order to maintain the potency of vaccines, because it’s important that we store them properly”, Ajaifa stated.

Explaining the function of the WHO Prequalified Cold Chain Refrigerators, the State Immunization Officer, Dr. Inwom Joseph Urang, said it’s basically to maintain the potency of the vaccines.

“When vaccines are brought, we maintain their potency at a particular temperature, usually +2 to +8 degrees centigrade. So, you don’t allow the temperature to go beyond that.

“Once the temperature goes beyond that, the potency of the vaccines might be compromised. So, we need this equipment to actually help us maintain these vaccines.

“If anything happens to the Cold Chain, we call it ‘breakage of the Cold Chain’. Once the Cold Chain is broken, the potency of the vaccine is gone. Instead of the vaccine being a life-saver, it will now be a killer.

“This is a modern equipment with ten years warranty”, Dr. Urang explained.

Sogbeba Dokubo

Rivers

RSG Gives Illegal Dump Sight Operators Quit Notice

Published

8 hours ago

December 20, 2024

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has issued a 7-day ultimatum to operators and occupants of an illegal dumpsite sited in a residential and an industrial area along Danjuma drive, off Peter Odili Road, in Port Harcourt, to vacate or be forced out.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Rt. Hon. Evans Bipi, issued the order during an on-the-spot visit to the area along with the enforcement team of the Ministry.

He condemned the use of the large hectare of private land by scavengers as a dumpsite in an unauthorized area to gather and sort solid waste for recycling.

Hon. Bipi said operating such dumpsite in a residential and industrial area portends grave environmental and health risk.

He also condemned the conversion of the area to a slum accommodation with shanties and illegal structures by the scavengers and other individuals.

Bipi wondered why the property owner would allow such illegal activities in his property in an area designated as residential and industrial zone.

He warned that the State Government would commence the clearing of the dumpsite and demolition of all shanties and illegal structures in the area at the expiration of the seven days deadline.

The Commissioner reiterated the unwavering determination of the Ministry under his watch to mitigate the proliferation of illegal structures and slums in Port Harcourt and other parts of the State.

On his part, the Chairman, Special Committee on Development Control of the Ministry, Tpl. David Ogbanga, said the existence of such slum is impeding the efforts of the Ministry in promoting sustainable urban development in line with the United Nations Goals on Sustainable Development.

He said besides its negative impact on urbanization, slums act as a breeding ground for miscreants and promotion of social vices.

Ogbanga decried the pollution of the environment as a result of activities of the operators of the illegal dumpsite and the slum dwellers.

He vowed that in the coming days the Enforcement Team will go tough on slum dwellers and operators of such unauthorized dumpsite in Port Harcourt and its environs.

Wokoma Emmanuel & Charity Amiso

Rivers

MNCH Week Ends Today … As Rivers Prepares For Malaria Vaccination In Jan

Published

1 week ago

December 13, 2024

The Tide

The 5-day Maternal and Neonatal Child Health (MNCH) Week, which started last Monday, comes to a close today in Port Harcourt.

The MNCH Week, which is part of healthcare campaign and interventions for Rivers people, witnessed interventions for pregnant women, non-pregnant women, children under five years old, and men as well.

Disclosing this during the 2024 last quarter strategic meeting of the “Media Advocacy For Health in Rivers State”, the State Health Educator, Dr. Diana Babbo, of the Primary Health Care Management Board, said, the MNCH Care Week, is part of several health campaigns and interventions planned for Rivers people.

“We call it MNCH Care Week. Our ‘one-stop-shop’, from 9th to 13th December, we will be in the health facilities, we hope that our care givers and mothers will bring their children, and partners/spouses to come amd access care in our facilities”, she stated.

According to the State Health Educator, the second part of the campaign and intervention is the roll out of MPox or Monkey Pox vaccination which is a targeted immunisation campaign, and scheduled to last for ten days in Rivers State.

Dr. Babbo, said the Monkey Pox vaccine will be rolled out in six states: Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Bayelsa, FCT, and Benue States.

She stated that the MPox vaccines roll out, which started on the 2nd of December, will also end today.

She explained that the MPox vaccination is targeted at communities, health workers, who are the frontline workers, and key population.

Such key populations include: commercial sex workers, People Living With HIV, transgender community, People Who Inject Drugs (PWID), and Men who have Sex with Men (MSM).

“We’re also saying that after the COVID-19 year, we noticed that there was a drop in immunisation generally worldwide. So, the world is trying to catch up”, she explained.

Towards this end, she stated that a team of Nigerians have been put in place with an aim to quickly close the gap, through intensification of routine immunisation.

Dr. Babbo said, “we will go to different communities where they are found and carry out what we call ‘Zero Dose Children'”.

Zero Dose Children, Babbo said, “means that they have not got their series vaccines, which are pental vaccines. They are those that have not completed their vaccines despite having started. So, we are going to target those categories of children”.

She further disclosed that in continuation of the interventions, malaria vaccines will be rolled out in Nigeria in January 2025, with Rivers State being one of the beneficiaries to have the vaccines in the public space.