Rivers
Lassa Fever Kills One In Rivers
The Rivers State Government has confirmed the death of one patient from Lassa Fever in the state.
Commissioner for Health, Dr Sempson Parker, who confirmed the incident during the Open Governance Forum orgnised in Port Harcourt by the State Ministry of Information and communications, last Thursday, said that the victim died, while receiving treatment at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH).
Dr Parker also announced the alleged outbreak of Measles in Obio/Akpor and Etche local government areas as well as Iymphatic filariasis, commonly called dephantiasis transmitted by mosquitoe in Andoni and Opobo areas.
He said that the government had raised immunization level from 40 to 80 per cent, while mortality due to malaria had dropped significantly.
The commissioner also said that the government had completed more than 120 health centres, while efforts had lien made to upgrade the Braithwad Memorial Spenalist Hospital (BMSH) to intenational standard.
He stressed the need for churches to assist the government by enjoining their members to take active part in immunization exercises.
In his presentation, the state Commissioner for Works, Hon Victor Giadom said that out of the N584 billion budgeted for completion of various roads and bridges, N380 billion had been paid.
Hon. Giadom said that Rivers State had the highest number of dvalised roads in the federation, noting that the Ada-George Road would be completed very soon while the Airforce Flyover under construction would be completed in the next 30 days.
He said that 22 concrete bridges were currently under construction, some of which include’ bridges in the Ogoni/Bolo bridge, now completed, the Peter Odili-Woji bridge at 80 pre cent completion as well as the shore protection at Opobo Town, Queenstown, Obu-amongst others.
The commissioner for Education, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Richard Ofuru said that, out of the 500 primary schools under construction, 264 had been completed and functional while the model secondary school at Ebubu, Eleme was now functional.
The permanent secretary also said that the 13,000 teachers recently recruited will be issued with appointment letters in the next three weeks.
Rivers
Rivers CJ To Sanction Lawyers Who Refuse To Comply With ADR Compliance
The Rivers state Chief Judge, Justice SIMONE CHIBUZOR-AMADI has given an indication to sanction any lawyer who fail to comply with directive of a judge in the state to transferred a case to Rivers State Multi Door Courthouse for Alternatives Dispute Resolution.
Justice AMADI stated this during a brief ceremony held at the chief judge auditorium in port Harcourt Friday held to hand over certificates of operation to two private ADR chambers on Precarious Dispute Resolution Services and Harmony Arbitration and mediation center .
He urged the two private ADR centres to be diligent in the discharge of their duties and warned against compromising the standard of Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR but should observed the regulations set out in collaboration regulation by the state Multi Door Court House.
Earlier in a address, the Director of the State Multi Door Courthouse, VICTOR NWEKE esq, highlighted some of the achievements of the Multi Door Courthouse especially in decongestion of court rooms.
NWEKE while disclosing how the department certified the two private ADR centres called for serious punitive measures be taken against any lawyer who fail to comply with a case referred to Multi Door Court House by a judge or magistrates in the state.
In her acceptance speech on behalf of the two certified private ADR centres, ALICE NIMI commended the State Judiciary and Multi Door Courthouse for the approval and assured that all the rules and regulations spelt out will be followed.
In a related development; the Rivers State Judiciary has assured its readiness to collaborate with Nigerian Securityding Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC in using Alternative Dispute Resolution to resolve some of the issues in their office.
The state Chief Judge , Justice SIMONE CHIBUZOR-AMADI made the promise when he received in audience the Zonal Commander of NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General, AYINLA TALYE OLOWO and his team who paid him a courtesy visit in his office , Friday where issuees ADR utilization took centre stage.
He used the opportunity to brief his visitors on the hurdles judges faces daily in the court room and the need for the decongestion of the court room , stressing that one judge handle more than three hundred cases but that if lawyers and litigants adopt ADR practice court rooms can be releive of the daily congestions.
The state Chief Judge however urged NSCDC to ensure a wider sensitization of the members of the public on the practice of ADR for a better awareness and knowledge.
Earlier in his speech, the Zonal Commander of NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General, AYINLA TALYE-OLOWO said the visit was to seek collaboration on the use of ADR in resolving some issues which he insisted would help decongest the courtrooms.
Our correspondent reports officials of the Rivers State Multi Door Courthouse led by the Director, VICTOR NWEKE led the team of NSCDC on a technical session where information on how to the fully in cooperated into the Multi Door Courthouse and operation of ADR will be emphasized.
Akujobi Amadi