News

NULGE Hails Garden City Games …Says It’ ll Bring Incentives

Published

15 years ago

July 1, 2011

As the 17th National Sports Festival “Garden City Games” gets underway, the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Rivers State chapter, has commended the Rivers State Government for hosting the sports festival.

NULGE believes that the 17th National Sports Festival will bring a lot of incentives to the state and help to shore-up the state’s image, erasing whatever misconception that participants at the games might have heard about the state, and Port Harcourt, the state capital in particular.

Speaking in an interview on the Sports Festival yesterday in Port Harcourt, NULGE state President, Barr. Franklyn Ajinwo said Governor Rotimi Amaechi deserves commendation for accepting to host the games because of what is involved, noting that it is not an easy task but could only take a man with a large heart.

Ajinwo said, he believed that at the end of the 14-day games, Rivers State would not remain the same, as the games would surely boost the state’s economy and usher in development, and influx of more people into the state.

His words: “Hosting the 17th National Sports Festival is a good thing; it’s a good thing because sports is a unifying factor; it’s recreational, it unites various groups, you have people from various parts of the country coming together for the purpose of sports. You see that by the time they leave here, somebody from the North will be able to make one friend from the West or South or East”.

“The fact that this Sports Festival is holding here in Port Harcourt goes to confirm that Port Harcourt is safe for all kinds of activities and it goes to show-case some of the things we have here in Port Harcourt so that while people leave after the festival, they should have been able to know one or two things which they can tap from”, he said.

The NULGE boss said that apart from visiting the state for sports, the august visitors could come back for other things like tourism and personal business in the state, and by so doing boosting economic activities further in the state.

He noted that while the festival lasts, there will be a lot of buying and selling, patronage of hotels and other advantages associated with the festival.

Ajinwo emphasized that “some misconceptions people, before now, have about the state, by the time they come and go back, will be corrected. They’ll see Rivers State as a better place than, may be, what they thought of before now”.

Justifying his commendation of the Rivers State government’s hosting of the event and why all well-meaning people should dof their hat for the government, Ajinwo said, “ofcourse yes, we should commend Governor Amaechi because if you look at what is involved, hosting the entire nation, somebody, who does not really have a larger heart, a lion heart will shy away from it.

“He will be intimidated when he looks at what is involved so the fact that he was able to brace-up accept it and say “I will do it”, “we need to commend him because things that add to the personality of a nation, of a state, of a person are things like this”, he said. He noted that “by the time we do it and do it very well like we are already doing, I think people will have a better impression about Rivers State as they go back to their homes”.

News

HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

Published

13 hours ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Head of Service (HoS) of Rivers State, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi S. I. Brown, has commended Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, for approving befitting accommodation for Permanent Secretaries in the state.

This commendation was contained in a press release made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt.

According to the Head of Service, Governor Fubara has continued to demonstrate uncommon commitment to the welfare of civil servants in Rivers State, stressing that such gestures underscore his people-oriented leadership style. She urged civil servants across the state to remain supportive of the governor’s administration in order to sustain good governance and effective public service delivery.

Speaking on behalf of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, Dr. Brown congratulated Governor Fubara on the occasion of his 51st birthday, describing him as “a Governor who leads by serving.”

She further praised the governor’s service-driven and people-centred leadership approach, noting that it has significantly contributed to institutional stability and improved efficiency within the state’s public service. Special appreciation was expressed for the approval of a befitting accommodation complex for Permanent Secretaries, which she said reflects the governor’s commitment to staff welfare and enhanced productivity.

As part of activities to mark the governor’s birthday, the Body of Permanent Secretaries announced the sponsorship of 329 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms for indigent students across the state.

A breakdown of the initiative shows that 319 forms will be distributed across the 319 political wards in Rivers State, while five forms are allocated to non-indigenes and five forms to persons living with disabilities.

Interested applicants are advised to contact the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, for further details.

The Body of Permanent Secretaries wished Governor Fubara continued good health, divine wisdom, and greater accomplishments in his service to the people of Rivers State.

By John Bibor

News

Allegation of Disrespect to President Tinubu Unfounded — Rivers Government

Published

14 hours ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to a statement credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), purportedly authored by one Bestman Innocent Amadi, alleging that the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, removed the official portrait of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, from the Government House, Port Harcourt.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers State Government wishes to categorically state that there is no policy, directive, or intention on the part of the government or the Governor that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government.

On the contrary, the Rivers State Government, under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, currently enjoys a robust, cordial, and collaborative relationship with the Federal Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Renewed Hope Agenda—a partnership that is already yielding positive and tangible benefits for the people of Rivers State.

Consequently, the insinuation that the Governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” is misleading, irresponsible, inflammatory, and entirely unsupported by verifiable facts, and should therefore be disregarded by the public.

It is regrettable that a body expected to promote youth unity, peace, and responsible engagement would resort to incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated claims capable of overheating the polity at a time when Rivers State requires calm, dialogue, and mature leadership.

The Rivers State Government therefore calls on well-meaning members of the public, particularly its esteemed and hardworking youths, to disregard and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups bent on advancing divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Rivers State belongs to all of us. Political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, peace, and the collective pursuit of progress.

Members of the public are further urged to remain vigilant and avoid lending credence to inflammatory statements or the activities of fifth columnists pursuing dubious agendas aimed at sowing discord.

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News

Rivers Government Dismisses Allegations of Disrespect to President Tinubu

Published

14 hours ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has dismissed as unfounded and misleading allegations that Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara removed the official portrait of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the Government House in Port Harcourt.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the state government reacted to claims credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), describing the allegation as false, irresponsible, and unsupported by any verifiable facts.

The government clarified that it has no policy, directive, or intention that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government. It emphasized that Governor Fubara maintains a cordial, respectful, and collaborative relationship with President Tinubu and the Federal Government.

According to the statement, the relationship between Rivers State and the Federal Government has grown stronger under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with tangible benefits and positive impacts already being felt by residents of the state.

The Rivers State Government described insinuations that the governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” as deliberately provocative, noting that such claims are capable of misleading the public and unnecessarily heating up the polity.

It further expressed concern that an organization expected to promote youth unity and peace would engage in what it termed incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated accusations at a time when the state requires calm, dialogue, and responsible leadership.

The government called on well-meaning members of the public, especially the youths of Rivers State, to disregard the claims and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups spreading divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Reaffirming its commitment to peace, unity, and progress, the state government stressed that political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, and the collective interest of the people.

Members of the public were also urged to remain vigilant and not give attention to inflammatory statements or individuals described as fifth columnists bent on causing division within the state.