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Soot: Back RSG’s War Against Artisanal Refineries, Nsirim Urges NMA
Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim has called on the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to collaborate with the government in the war against illegal bunkering and artisanal refineries in the state.
Nsirim made the call when the executive of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Rivers State branch, paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Port Harcourt, last Monday.
He said the association should carry out aggressive campaign on the health implications of the operation of illegal bunkering and artisanal refineries which have been identified as the major source of soot menace in the state.
He said that the voice of NMA in this direction would help to strengthen the effort of government by making the people understand the health hazard they face on a daily basis.
“We employ the NMA to join the state government to sensitise the people on the various state-owned media platforms because we really need to take this fight seriously.
“We can’t afford to begin to have a generation of men and women who would have some chronic ailment that ordinarily they shouldn’t have, simply because a few individual who are benefiting from this illegal act are doing so at our own detriment”.
Nsirim said Governor Nyesom Wike had kept demonstrating that leadership prowess in all facets of life, and that has earned him the title of the new face of democracy in Nigeria.
“Governor Wike is somebody who understands the dynamics of governance. Just last week, we saw the verdict of the court concerning the Police Trust Fund.
“It is only somebody who really wants to make a mark and position leadership in a way that it will impact the people positively that will have time for such things.
“What we do today will impact on society tomorrow.So, all leaders must follow the footsteps of Governor Wike because leaving behind a worthy legacy is what will count after we leave office,” he said.
On the huge investment put into healthcare delivery by the Wike-led administration, Nsirim described the state governor as a man who has dedicated his life to cause a change in leadership, not just of the state but of the country.
“The investment Governor Wike is putting into healthcare delivery is not just for Rivers people but for the entire Nigeria. A lot of Nigerians will come here to access medical services because the facilities are top class and modern”.
He listed the Mother and Child Hospital, the Renal Hospital, Government House Clinic and the Dr. Peter Odili Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease Treatment Centre and Medical College of the Rivers State University as some of the huge investments of Governor Wike in the health sector.
“With the award of scholarship to Rivers indigenes studying medicine in the Medical College of the Rivers State University and their counterparts in Pamo University, Rivers State is gradually transforming to a state that will export medical manpower like other nations. This is highly commendable.
“We need to support this visionary leader as he goes ahead to set these things for posterity, because the truth of the matter is, a lot of people are dying today because the facilities are not there,” he said.
Nsirim noted that the massive health infrastructure put in place by the Wike’s administration would make healthcare delivery not just accessible but affordable, adding that accessibility and affordability are the major ingredients that will make the average person to get treated and get medical attention when needed, “and this is what we are seeing under Governor Wike.
“As Rivers people we should be grateful to Governor Wike for making Rivers State a hub of medical tourism in Nigeria. There is no state in the federation that has this kind of medical blueprint where you have all facets of healthcare delivery from training to education to facilities to infrastructure and getting it at top class level,” he said.
He assured the NMA of his ministry’s support to the forthcoming delegates’ conference of the association, urging the association to join in the #OurStateOurResponsibilty campaign aimed at changing negative narratives about the state.
He thanked the NMA for offering to carry out free medical services to help staff of the ministry know their health status in order to avoid sudden deaths.
“We have every reason to change the narrative about Rivers State because Governor Wike is showing the way of purposeful leadership in Nigeria,” he said.
The Chairman of the NMA, Rivers State Branch, Prof. Chizimdu Alikor, commended the commissioner for the visibility given to the developmental strides of the governor, particularly in the health sector.
He said the purpose of the visit was to solicit the collaboration of the ministry in the hosting of the National Conference cum Delegates’ Meeting of the NMA scheduled for May, 2022, in Port Harcourt.
Alikor opined that the conference would further open up Wike’s developmental strides in the health sector to the over 5,000 medical doctors that are expected to attend the conference.
He intimated the commissioner of his association’s plans to conduct a basic minimum medical care to the staff of the ministry.
By: John Bibor
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.