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Coronavirus: We’re Working Towards Zero Incidence, RSG Assures …As Ministry Hails Wike Over Support
Government says it has put necessary measures in place, including setting up of an Inter-Ministerial Collaboration Committee to ensure that no case of Coronavirus is recorded in any part of the state.
The state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim, stated this during a meeting with general managers of state-owned media organizations at his office in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Nsirim explained that with the outbreak of Coronavirus in many countries of the world and the first confirmed case of the virus in Lagos, last week, the state government has begun an aggressive enlightenment campaign to create awareness on the virus.
He said, “This meeting is designed to set up inter-ministerial collaboration with the Ministry of Health. Let me also say that the Rivers State Government places a lot of emphasis on the healthcare of our citizens and His Excellency, the Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, has always placed priority on healthcare and public health safety.
“That is why you can see the robust infrastructural development that is going on in the three senatorial districts and the upgrade of the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMSH) to a Teaching Hospital now known as the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH). You will also note the kind of equipment that has been put in the teaching hospital now.
“The Radiology Department there is second to none in the country now. This is a pragmatic effort being made by His Excellency to ensure that the citizens of Rivers State enjoy better healthcare. So, as a state, it is important that we also take our destiny in our hands to begin to enlighten various stakeholder groups, especially health workers, those who work at the airports, seaports, transport workers and even the average market woman.
“They say prevention is better than cure. That is why this meeting is convened to set up this inter-ministerial committee to begin to strengthen the enlightenment that the Ministry of Health is already doing. They cannot do it alone. That is why the general managers of the state media houses are all here,” Nsirim stated.
He further said that “going forward, the Ministry of Health will provide content for the various media houses, who will in turn begin to set up strategic platforms to reach out to the various stakeholder groups across the state”, saying, “This is a Corporate Social Responsibility and everyone seated around this table must understand that we owe our state the duty to take this very seriously.”
He recalled that when the Ebola crisis broke out in the country, the response that was set up by the state (Rivers) received widespread commendation, noting that “As a state, we need to show that leadership, we need to show our people in the state here that we understand what is going on, and then, give them the right information.
“Going forward, the various media houses need to create strategic time at their prime news hours and spaces in their newspapers, to give information on this Coronavirus. We can’t afford as a state to record any incident. That is why all hands must be on deck, and this enlightenment is key.
“As you go back to your various media houses, we need to put the machinery in motion. Get all those who are supposed to be part of the enlightenment together and kick start. We have what it takes to do this, and I believe strongly that if we all work collectively, our state will be very safe,” he assured.
In her remark, Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Chinwe Tonye-Atata explained that containment of any pathogenic disease requires multi-sectoral approach, noting that the meeting convened by the Information and Communications commissioner was a step in the right direction to ensure that everybody was on board.
By: Dennis Naku & Precious Nwiuwbari
A Coalition of civil society organisations has urged the Federal Government to take proactive steps towards addressing the persistent gas eruptions in Bille, Rivers.
The coalition, made up of the People’s Assembly and Bille Working Group, made the call in an open letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu, and read to journalists in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Reading the letter, the coalition’s convener, Dr Isaac Osuoka, said that the persistent gas eruption in Bille had led to serious environmental and public health challenges.
Osuoka, also the Executive Director, Social Action, urged Tinubu to establish a presidential task force to investigate and contain the gas leak in Bille.
He also called for the immediate relocation of residents to safe shelters, provision of clean water, food and healthcare services.
Dr Emem Okon, the Executive Director, Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre, stated that gas had been bubbling from the ground, creeks, boreholes and hand-dug wells in the community since October 2025.
Okon said that the gas had triggered several fires and explosions, and that residents of the community had reported respiratory problems, vomiting and other illnesses associated with exposure to the emissions.
According to her, preliminary investigations by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) have yet to identify the source of the gas.
Mr Kentebe Ebiaridor, the Coordinator, Oilwatch International, called for the publication of results from preliminary soil and water tests conducted in Bille for the residents to know the nature and extent of the contamination.
Ebiaridor urged the Federal Government to deploy medical teams to screen and treat affected residents, and immediately commence an independent study on the health impacts of the leak.
He further called for the suspension of oil and gas operations around OML 18 and 24 until the source of the gas leak was identified and the affected areas declared safe.
Ebiaridor urged the government to hold current and former operators of the oil leases accountable for environmental damage on the community.
Another speaker, Dr Bieye Briggs, urged the National Assembly to fast-track the NOSDRA Amendment Bill, 2025 to provide the agency with statutory funding and stronger enforcement powers.
Briggs urged the Federal Government to activate the regional Spill Command Centre, and make the Upstream Remediation Fund accessible for the Bille crisis and other affected communities in the Niger Delta.
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has banned drone operations and fireworks in Uyo and announced temporary traffic restrictions ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s visit to the State today.
The state Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare, announced the measures yesterday while briefing journalists at the Police Headquarters in Ikot Akpan Abia, Uyo.
He said the restrictions were part of security arrangements to maintain public order, protect strategic locations and ensure the smooth movement of the President’s convoy during his engagements.
“There will be total restriction on the operation and flying of drones within Uyo metropolis throughout the period of the visit. Members of the public, drone operators and service providers are advised to strictly comply with the directive,” he said.
The police commissioner also announced a ban on fireworks, knockouts and other explosive sound-producing devices within the state capital during the visit.
He said the measure would prevent panic and allow security personnel to respond effectively to genuine security threats.
The command also announced temporary restrictions on public access to designated routes and locations in Uyo to facilitate the movement of the presidential convoy.
The affected areas are Airport Road, Shelter Afrique Junction, Oron Road, Nung Oku Junction, Mbierebe Junction and Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
“Motorists are urged to plan their journeys, exercise patience and cooperate with traffic and security personnel deployed along the corridors.
“Members of the public are advised to avoid the routes during the restriction and use alternative routes,” Azare said.
He also urged residents to plan their journeys, exercise patience and cooperate with traffic and security personnel deployed along the affected corridors.
The commissioner said the command, working with other security agencies, had put in place security arrangements to ensure a peaceful and hitch-free visit.
He appealed to residents to understand that the temporary restrictions were necessary security measures and not intended to cause hardship.
Azare urged members of the public to remain law-abiding, avoid restricted areas and report suspicious movements to the nearest police station or through police emergency channels.
Tinubu’s visit to Akwa Ibom is a working visit during which he is expected to inaugurate major infrastructure projects executed by Governor Umo Eno’s administration under its ARISE Agenda. The projects cut across aviation, road infrastructure, tourism, healthcare, land administration and security.
Among the projects scheduled for inauguration are the international terminal building and airport hospital at Victor Attah International Airport, Aviation Village, ARISE Palm Resort, the 14.5-kilometre Nsit Atai–Okobo Road, Ring Road 3, the Command and Control Centre and the AkwaGIS building.
The state government had earlier announced plans for the President to inaugurate projects as part of activities marking Akwa Ibom’s 39th anniversary in September.
The airport projects are particularly significant to the state’s ambition to expand aviation, tourism and investment.
The international terminal is expected to strengthen the airport’s capacity to handle international operations, while the Aviation Village is intended to provide accommodation for aviation workers. The airport hospital is also among the facilities lined up for inauguration.
The road projects are also expected to improve connectivity. The 14.5-kilometre Nsit Atai–Okobo Road links communities in the two local government areas, while Ring Road 3 is designed to improve movement within Uyo and ease pressure on existing roads. The Command and Control Centre, meanwhile, is intended to strengthen security surveillance and coordination in the State.
The Rivers State Ministry of Culture and Tourism has floated a culture content platform in collaboration with digital television group, Multichoice.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Freddy Ndigbara, disclosed this after a meeting with MultiChoice Head of Content Acquisition, Don Dotun Ojon, in Port Harcourt.
He assured that content entrepreneurs and film makers would enjoy the platform by promoting culture and other contents to sell the states tourism potentials.
He said MultiChoice M-net was now open to increase its patronage for content shots on locations in Rivers State, describing the State as one that has numerous potentials for film tourism.
“We were privileged to have Don Ojon with us at the Rivers International Film Festival (RIFF) at the weekend in Bonny and he saw, first hand, the numerous sites and opportunities that are open to creatives in the State. After that, we felt it was important to deepen the conversation and he obliged. This is a cheering news for the sector in the State,” he said.
Ndigbara stated that “Rivers State has many more untold stories to tell, many more contents to reel out and the assurances from the M-net Acquisition Manager is an indication that the industry in the state will soon enjoy a new lease of life”.
The Permanent Secretary thanked Ojon for the visit and assured that creatives in the State would grap this opportunity and show the world that Rivers State is a major hub for film tourism in Nigeria.
On his part, Ojon said the visit was to discuss on ways of promoting tourism in the State using creatives and film.
Ojon said although the company has recently been acquired by canal+ France and is undergoing restructuring, he would promote the chances of Rivers State to host the MultiChoice talent factory in the State.
With Asaba, capital of Delta State, being saturated, Ojon said the next port is Rivers State, which he said is capable of building fresh crop of creatives, new locations, new story lines and concepts.
He, therefore, called for collaboration from stakeholders in the State.
Kevin Nengia
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