Niger Delta
Rivers INEC Boss Gets Kudos
A Port Harcourt-based Non-Governmental Organisation, Nigeria Youth and Community Development Assocation (NYCDA), has commended the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak for the peaceful conduct of the just-concluded April polls in the state.
Cordinator-General of NYCDA, Comrade Edward odum made the commendation in a chat with The Tide, during an assessment of the April elections in Port Harcourt, Monday.
Odum said by his performance during the April polls, the Rivers INEC boss has justified that he is a man of integrity.
The group gave a thumb up for Elder Ikoiwak for proving his mettle in the contention Governorship re-run election in Imo State that produced Rochas Okorocha as Governor-elect.
The Association also lauded the National Orientation Agency, (NOA) in Rivers State for its broad based sensitisation in the State, which enhanced massive participation of the people in the electoral process.
Publicity Secretary of the body, Belema Dikibo, who also spoke with Tide Tide, described the Rivers NOA Director Chief Andy Nweye as “a man of vision who has worked hard to sustain peace and development in Rivers State.
The Association which Partnered with INEC, and NOA during the voter registration exercise in the State, said it would continue to sustain their partnership with these bodies to ensure a credible electoral process in the State and Nigeria.
Taneh Beemene
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Niger Delta
D’Gov Emphasizes Agriculture In Industrialization … Tasks LG Health Authorities On Discipline
Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has said efficient and sufficient agricultural production was key to food security and gateway to industrialization of any country, including Nigeria.
He made the assertion recently when the State chapter of the Nigerian Women in Agricultural Business (NIWAB) paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Yenagoa.
Ewhrudjakpo noted that agriculture was one of the legs on which the ASSURED Prosperity Agenda of the Governor Douye Diri-led Administration stands as it holds huge potential for the state.
According to him, the key to get Bayelsa industrialized lies in agriculture, and therefore emphasized the need for every stakeholder in the sector, including NIWAB, to maximally explore areas in which it has comparative advantage to achieve food security.
While commending NIWAB for their bold initiative to key into the goal of agricultural revolution by the present administration, Senator Ewhrudjakpo, however, clarified that “henceforth government would only partner serious-minded agricultural cooperatives to drive the process”.
Earlier in her presentation, the State President of NIWAB, Mrs. Ebimotimi Leghemo, said women farmers in Bayelsa were ready to take full advantage of the fertile soil in the state to produce enough food to feed all Bayelsans and supply other states.
She disclosed that over 15,000 Bayelsan women had so far registered with NIWAB, declaring the cooperative’s readiness to work with the Prosperity Administration in agriculture, and solicited support from government.
Meanwhile, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo also charged the Chairmen and Executive Secretaries of the various Local Government Healthcare Authorities (LGHAs) in the state to enforce strict discipline in the primary health sector.
He gave the charge when he granted audience to the chairmen and executive secretaries during a courtesy visit, while also kicking against the prioritization of health infrastructure over its manpower needs in the country.
He noted that until the country gets its primary healthcare sector right, Nigeria’s overall healthcare delivery system would not be able to make the desired progress.
Responding to the requests of the LGHA chairmen and secretaries, Senator Ewhrudjakpo assured them that the issues would be looked into and addressed accordingly.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Dr. Robert Director noted the operational challenges confronting them, saying they include lack of office accommodation and official vehicles, as well as funds to carry out statutory functions such as the execution of emergency health intervention projects.
Delta State Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, has said the sterling performance of the State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, stood him out for the ThisDay and Arise Television award.
Aniagwu stated this on Monday in Asaba at a press conference while reacting to a statement credited to former Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, demanding to know what the state government has done with its finances.
The Commissioner, in company of the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Festus Ahon, and the Executive Assistant to Governor on New Media, Mr. Felix Ofou, said government would reply critics with more projects.
He said the Governor Oborevwori-led administration had defrayed over N235 billion debts from inherited projects and had initiated new ones.
According to him, the Governor is a bridge builder who does not discriminate against anyone on account of political affiliations.
He said the Governor had impacted all sectors of the state’s economy and had initiated new projects and in 2024 budgeted N1 billion for road projects across the 25 Local Government Areas in the state.
Aniagwu said given the impact of the LGA road projects, the State Government has also in 2025 increased the budget to N2.1 billion for road projects across the LGAs.
The Commissioner said the State Government has awarded over 15 kilometers of road projects in the Ndokwa Nation in addition to the many ongoing bridge constructions in the area.
According to Aniagwu, the sterling performance of Governor Oborevwori in the past 19 and half months has become the undoing of critics.
He said on account of the N1 billion budgeted for road projects across LGAs, the State Government has been able to take road projects to the community and to ward levels in the 25 LGAs.
He also said the State Government’s contributions to the education and judiciary sectors were unprecedented.
The Commissioner said the Oborevwori government has acquired and donated over 60 brand new vehicles among other gadgets to security agencies to combat crimes in the state.
He also said the government has initiated and commenced the construction of 50 units of pilot housing scheme in three locations across the three senatorial districts of the state, adding that the state capital, Asaba, would soon wear a brand new look.
Aniagwu continued that the Governor pays salaries and allowances of civil servants as and when due and was prompt in payment of the new minimum wage to the workers.
“In health sector alone, the government has renovated and equipped no fewer than 150 health care facilities across the state.
”The Governor believes in value for money, hence he engages in physical project monitoring. He has also charged the commissioners to monitor and avoid shoddy jobs if they want to remain or be shown the way out.
“We give as much as 40 per cent mobilisation and pay certificates to contractors to ensure timely completion of projects and to avoid contract reviews and in spite of all this, we remain solvent and solid financially, we have not borrowed a dime from anyone.
”So, our brother, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege need to be educated on what we are doing with our monies”, Aniagwu said.
Aniagwu warned individuals who engage in grabbing government lands to desist forth with, adding that government would not only demolish such buildings, but would subject the culprits to pay the bills for the demolitions.
He said the Governor was concentrating on good governance and would not be distracted by those whose trade in stock was to defect from one political party to another.
The Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, CP Baba Azare, has warned youths against indulging in violence, especially in oil producing communities to ensure development in the state.
Azare said this during a meeting with youth leaders and representatives of International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in the state in Uyo, yesterday.
The Commissioner warned the youths against taking laws into their hands by blocking roads in oil companies whenever there was any dispute.
Azare attributed the misunderstanding between the host communities and oil companies to a breakdown in communication.
He emphasised that there could not be any development without peace, and urged the youth leaders to work hand-in-hand with the police to resolve all disputes, stressing that the Command would not take it kindly with any group of people who disturbed the peace of the land.
The Commissioner said dialogue became important to ensure an enabling environment for oil companies to operate.
“No one should block the free flow of operations of these companies.
Without development, we cannot grow the economy. If you have any problem, inform us immediately, so that we have a common ground to resolve issues amicably.
“The factory sited in your community is for empowerment and development of the community and state”, Azare said.
He urged the youths to exhaust all avenues for dialogue and not to resort to violence.
“We are ready to partner with you, going forward we expect that peace reign in all your communities”, he said.
Responding, the Security Manager at Seplat Energy Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Mr. Johnson Oboh, blamed the community leaders for not involving the youths as contained under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Oboh noted that the PIA directs oil firms to spend three per cent of their operation cost on the communities.
He advised the youths to be conversant with the Act which has taken much of the burden of Corporate Social Responsibility from the oil companies.
He promised that going forward the oil companies would initiate communication avenues to resolve all lingering issues.
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