Rivers
Youths Blame Oil Theft On Unemployment
Some youths in Port Harcourt have cited?unemployment and poverty for the?increasing problem of?oil theft in the Niger Delta.
The youths made the observation on Tuesday in Port Harcourt in an interview on the sidelines of a workshop, organised by the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency.
One of the youths, Mr George Emmanuel, a graduate of the University of Port Harcourt, said that unemployment was a major factor,?luring?many youths to engage in crimes, that some ?youths believed that they could make quick money through crime.
Emmanuel said that lack of job opportunities had also made some youths to form associations to venture into all kinds of businesses to make ends meet.
He urged government to create jobs for?youths to keep them busy.
“The government should open companies to?produce goods?and close the borders against?imported goods. Our leaders should encourage Nigerians to patronise made-in-Nigeria products and upgrade our manufacturing sector by equipping our factories,” Emmanuel said.
Also speaking on the issue,? Mr Robert Chukwu, stressed the need for?government to industrialise the country to attract investors and tourists.
He said that government should not depend solely on the oil sector.
Chukwu?said that the government should utilise revenue from the sale of crude oil to develop other sectors of the economy such as was done in Dubai.
“If Nigeria has many companies and industries owned by Nigerians, the youths will?be employed for production,’’ he said.
Another youth, Mr Sampson Goodwill?said that government should empower the youths by putting infrastructure in place.
He said that government should also train and equip?youths, instead of using them as agents of destabilisation.
“If militants and members of the Boko?Haram sect were not sponsored, they will not be violent.? They will not destroy lives and property. “Our youths need to be busy in offices, companies and industries to contribute to the growth of the country,” he said.
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