News
RSG Builds 132KV Power Transmitter …Opens Rural Electrification Bids
As part of efforts to ensure efficient power delivery service in Rivers State, the Power Ministry has commenced construction of 132KV Transmission Network in Port Harcourt.
When completed, the facility will transmit electric power from the soon-to-be commissioned 100mega-watts Trans-Amadi Gas Turbine extension project to Power Holding Company Nigeria (PHCN) main transmission substation at Rumuobiakani.
Permanent Secretary of the state Power Ministry, Mr Minabelem Michael West who made this known in a statement in Port Harcourt yesterday explained that the exercise was a key variable to ensuring both completion and efficient functioning of all on-going power projects.
He explained that some sections of the state capital will experience power outage with effect from Thursday October 22 through Saturday, October 31, this year on account of the transmission works.
Areas to be affected are Abuloma, Oyigbo, Woji, Elelenwo, Onne, Alakahia, One Man Village, Aba Road by St John’s , Rumukalagbor, Trans-Amadi and Rumuokoro.
Others are Rumuigbo, Rumuodomaya, Oginigba and Choba.
Mr Michael West enjoined electricity consumers in the effected areas to show understanding and promised that the project when completed would ensure improved service delivery to them.
In a related development, the State Rural Electrification Project is set to take off with the official opening of bids from Monday next week through Tuesday, November 3, 2009.
According to the Permanent Secretary, the bids opening has been divided into the three Senatorial Districts with Abua/Odual, Asari Toru, Akuku Toru and Ahoada East Local Government areas kicking-off on Monday, while Bonny, Ahoada West, Ogba/Egemena/Ndoni and Degema local government areas all under the Rivers South-West senatorial district will take their turn on Tuesday, October 27.
They will be followed the next day, Wednesday, October 28, by Eleme, Oyigbo, Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro and on Thursday, October 29, by Gokana, Khana and Tai, all under Rivers South-East senatorial district.
The Permanent Secretary explained that local governments under Rivers East Senatorial District namely, Etche, Okrika, Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor will take their turns on Monday, November 2nd, while the rest, Omuma, Emohua, Ikwerre and Ogu/Bolo will have their bids opened on Tuesday, November 3, 2009.
He announced that all bids will be opened at the conference hall, Ministry of Justice, State Secretariat, Port Harcourt at 10.00clock in the morning and enjoined all contractors who tendered for the rural electrification projects to participate actively.
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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
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Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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