Rivers
HOS Tasks Civil Servants On Retirement
The Rivers State Head of Service, Mrs. Esther Anucha, has advocated for early preparations by civil servants against their retirement.
Mrs. Anucha said this during a send-forth ceremony in honour of Pastor Christopher Briggs, retiring permanent secretary of the Ministry of Land and Survey organized by the Rivers State Civil Servants Christian Fellowship in Port Harcourt.
Mrs. Anucha said that investment in business venture by civil servants will enable retiring civil servants to have something to sustain them after retirement.
The Head of Service who described Pastor Briggs as a civil servant per excellence, also said that the retiring permanent secretary has left a befitting legacy for others to emulate.
She also urged civil servants to use the opportunity provided by the send-forth ceremony to reflect on how to render services to the state.
Also speaking, the chairman of the occasion, who is also the permanent secretary, Ministry of Environment, Pastor Rufus N. Godwin, said that Pastor Briggs who was the outgoing coordinator of the Rivers State Civil Servants Christian Fellowship, has provided a big challenge for civil servants to win laurels for Christ.
Pastor Godwin also stressed the need for civil servants in the state to recognize Christ in their daily activities.
In his welcome address, the incoming coordinator of the Fellowship, Mrs. Margaret U. Peterside said that the departure of Pastor Briggs from the fellowship is a big challenge to members.
“Today he is leaving the service, it is a big challenge to us all. We should not allow the glory which Pastor Briggs has brought to God and the Christian community to wane down”, she said.
Pastor Briggs in his comment urged all to put their trust in God as he never disappoints.
He also used the occasion to thank the fellowship for the honour done to him.
Rivers
Group Faults Shell In Ogale, Bille Environmental Pollution
Rivers
Crisis Looms In Emohua Over Land Grabbing Allegation On Awuse
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There are palpable indications that if urgent steps are not taken promptly, major crisis may errupt in parts of Emohua Community in Emohua Local Government Area of the Rivers State.
This is sequel to land grabbing allegations against its King, the Nne Nwe Eli Emohua, HM, King Sergeant Chidi Awuse, by members of the Mgboh Royal family.
The people penultimate week, in a peaceful protest, called on the Rivers State Government and other relevant authorities to urgently come to their rescue.
Speaking during the protest walk to Government House in Port Harcourt, one of the protesters, Chief Nwosu Okachukwu, alleged that the land grabbers, working under the directives of King Sergeant Awuse, have commenced fencing of the disputed land despite a court order barring them for proceeding with work until the court hears the substance of their case.
“We are protesting because this land belongs to Mgbo family. We’ve written several times to the Commissioner of Police and others, no any action. The matter is also in the court.
“Sergeant Awuse and the group, they are the ones. We want government to intervene over this, come to our aid and hear what we are shouting, what we’re crying, because we want peace, we’re the peace-loving family”, he said.
Another member of the Mgboh Royal Family, Ogbondah Samuel, while appealing for swift government intervention, said the land in question is where their farms were and where they also rear animals.
Speaking in pidgin English, Samuel said Awuse is not a member of the Royal Family and that he just came and took over what belongs to them because nobody gave it to him.
He continued that if the land was officially given to Awuse, he would have also gotten the C of O, and with the Seal of the Royal Family.
“Let government come and help us. Give us what belongs to us because we don’t have strength. As you are seeing us, we’re facing hunger”, he said.
The protesters carrying placards with various inscription appealed for urgent government intervention to salvage the situation and prevent violence that may arise between Mgboh Royal Family members and agents of the land grabbers.
Some of the inscriptions read: “Our Land is not for sale”, “lies cannot prevent our truth”, “Awuse, you are not from Mgboh Royal Family and will not be”, “Awuse, you cannot purchase Royalty with money”, and “live the way God has created you”.
In his reaction, His Majesty, Ohna Chidi Sergeant Awuse, Nye Nweli Emohua XIII, Oloh IV, and Paramount Ruler of Emohua Kingdom, described the protesters as merchants of crimes and vices, who have through financial inducement taken advantage of a less fortunate circumstance of some individuals to stage a defamation protest against the personality of Ohna .
The monarch, who reacted through a statement issued by his press team, wondered the reason for a protest in a matter which the protesters had already taken to court and is still pending .
The statement further alleged that those behind the protest are the same group of people that peddled the death rumour of Awuse sometime last year while he was on medical trip abroad .
The statement further alleged that the sponsors of the protesters are fully aware of the absence of the King, who is again away on a medical trip in London, and for which they consider a good opportunity to manipulate lies against facts.
While exonerating the Emohua King of the protesters’ allegation of any other wrong doings, the statement appealed to the unsuspecting members of the public, the Emohua people, and the Rivers State Government to be wary of the protesters and to advise Royal Father’s accusers to purge themselves of evil capable of triggering break down of peace and order in the Kingdom, which it said has witnessed peace and stability since the Ohna Sergeant Awuse mounted the saddle of leadership.
Rivers
NAFDAC Destroys N4.7bn Worth Expired, Substandard Products In Rivers
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The National Agency For Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sai it destroyed fake, expired, substandard drugs worth N4.7 billion in Rivers State.
The Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Christiana Adeyeye, made the remark during the destruction exercise at the Rivers State dump site in Port Harcourt on Friday.
Adeyeye, represented by Mr. Chukwuma Oligbu, the NAFDAC Director, South-South Zone, explained that the products were all seized from the six states of the South-South region.
The states are Rivers, Bayelsa. Edo, Delta, Akwa Ibom and Cross River.
She stated that the investigation, enforcement and destruction exercise was an unwavering resolve and commitment of the agency to protect the lives of the people.
According to her, the destruction of these harmful products was not just a routine exercise.
“It is a firm statement of our unwavering resolve and commitment to protect the lives of the people from the dangers of counterfeit and substandard medicines, unwholesome food, medical devices and other hazardous regulated products.
“These products, if allowed to circulate, could cause untold harm including treatment failures, drug resistance, prolonged illnesses, and even loss of lives”, she said.
Adeyeye explained that the products destroyed were made up of substandard and falsified medical products, unwholesome processed food products and food additives, unsafe cosmetics counterfeits.
She mentioned others as expired NAFDAC regulated products seized by the agency from manufacturers, importers and distributors.
According to the DG, some damaged and expired products were voluntarily handed over to the agency by compliant companies, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Association of Community Pharmacists (ACPN) and Trade Unions.
She stated that the feat was achieved through intelligence gathering in July, 2024, adding that the estimated street value of the destroyed products was N4.7 billion.
Adeyeye further said the agency discovered several warehouses in Port Harcourt where some alcoholic beverages were being re-validated and re-introduced into circulation.
“After a properly coordinated surveillance, the warehouses were raided and products confiscated.
‘’Also, through this operation, a warehouse of unregistered cosmetics product was raided and products worth several millions of naira were confiscated.
“Seized unregistered imported vegetable oil without Vitamin A fortification and assorted unregistered cosmetics product from Delta state were also among the products destroyed”, she explained.
She acknowledged that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Edo State handed over two 40ft containers of various Pharmacological classes of unregistered and substandard drugs which was part of the items destroyed.
The DG commended the sister agencies who assisted NAFDAC in the feat for their unflinching support in the fight against substandard and falsified medicines and harmful products.
The agencies included Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Department of State Security (DSS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
She also recognised the assistance of Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) and the media, assuring the agency’s commitment to protect the public from the harm of such products.
Adeyeye called on all stakeholders including health professionals, law enforcement agencies, industry players and the general public to support the fight by reporting suspicious activities and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.
The dignitaries present at the occasion were the Commander of Narcotics, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the Comptroller, Nigeria Customs Service Eastern Marine Command,
Others include, the Deputy Commander, NSCDC; the Rivers Chairman, Association of Community Pharmacists; the Sole Administrator, RIWAMA; the State Fire Service, and the Coordinators of NAFDAC, South-South Zone.
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