News
Amaechi Berates Oil Firms …For Not Investing In N’Delta
Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has said that the lack of interest by multinational oil companies operating in the Niger Delta in investing in the region, is affecting the economic growth of the region.
Speaking at a one-day meeting of the Forum of Niger Delta Bishops of the Catholic Church in Port Harcourt, Wednesday, Amaechi noted that any investment, no matter how little, had the capacity to produce a multiplier effect on the economy. He berated oil firms for refusing to invest in the Niger Delta economy so as to boost its performance and therefore urged the oil firms operating in the Niger Delta region to be proactive to the needs of their host communities to engender a conducive business climate.
He stated that the excuse made by oil companies concerning the Petroleum Industry Bill, that has not been passed into law, could not be taken in this regard since it was not yet operational, and called on companies like Shell Petroleum Development Company to invest in the state.
The State Chief Executive noted that the recent assessment which put the state as the biggest market for cement was based on the level of construction work going-on in the state, which is facilitated by construction activities of the state government.
Governor Amaechi attributed the wave of kidnapping, which started from the Niger Delta region, to poverty, pointing out that on assumption of office, he confronted the insecurity challenge with the realisation that without peace, no development could take place.
The governor also identified three critical areas that affect Nigeria as a country, namely, insecurity, instability in government and the lack of constant power supply, describing them as critical factors in attracting foreign investments.
He used the opportunity to intimate the clergymen that positive changes were coming into the governance of the country, particularly in Rivers State where modest achievements had been recorded and called on the church to play its role by making government do what would improve society.
In a lecture, Monsignor Matthew Hassan Kukah, said the Church needed to reclaim its role as teachers, noting that the country had gone through a period of moral meltdown, which required the tackling of the frustrations of the people.
Monsignor Kukah, urged the Church to teach the people positive engagements by renewing its role as builders of society, adding that free and fair elections alone could not guarantee good governance in the country.
In his remarks, the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Chris Cooter said leaders should be responsible to their people, and re-stated his country’s readiness to partner with Nigeria in the areas of health and power generation, while commending Governor Amaechi for his interest in the development of education.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Niger Delta Catholic Bishops Forum, Archbishop Joseph Ukpo, lauded Governor Amaechi for his positive attitude to governance and urged him to remain upright to serve the people better.
News
I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
News
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
News
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.
-
Business2 days ago
Cassava Flour Initiative Revival Can Up Economy By ?255b – COMAFAS
-
Women2 days ago
What To Know About Fufu, Loi Loi
-
Niger Delta2 days ago
Don Highlights On The Potential Of Groundwater As Hidden Wealth For Sustainable Future
-
Rivers2 days ago
Group Seeks Prosecution Of Clergy, Others Over Attempted Murder
-
Opinion2 days ago
Restoring Order, Delivering Good Governance
-
Business2 days ago
CRG Partner JR Farms To Plant 30m Coffee Seedlings
-
Sports2 days ago
Eagles B Players Admit Pressure For CHAN Qualification
-
Niger Delta2 days ago
NDLEA Intercepts 584.171kg Hard Drugs In Bayelsa … Arrests 559 Suspects