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‘Rivers Monorail Project On Course’: As Semenitari Debunks Reports …On Lassa Fever Deaths

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The Rivers State Government says its monorail project is still on course despite speculations that the project has been abandoned.

The commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Gogo Levi Charles who said this yesterday in Port Harcourt during the break-down of the 2012 budget also said that the first phase of the project will be extended to the Waterlines junction.

Charles said that the administration is also determined to complete all ongoing projects within the fiscal year.

He said that the government intends to pursue the provision of potable drinking water, and  the construction of the model secondary schools of which six have been completed, while the on-going construction of model primary schools will be completed.

The commissioner also said that government would complete the 250-bed mother to child hospital, while the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) will not only be relocated to its new site, but will be  transformed into a world class university.

The commissioner said that agriculture will be given its pride of place in the scheme of things with the development of the oil palm initiative, while massive road rehabilitation and construction will be  vigorously pursued.

Mr Charles said that the 2012 budget which is N23billion higher than that of 2011 is predicted on a benchmark of $60 dollars per barrel of crude oil.

Improvement in federation allocation to the state owing to the return of some oil wells to the state as well as improvement in internally- generated revenue owing to the relocation of NLNG corporate headquarters to Port Harcourt.

While stressing that the board of internal revenue is being  computerized to ensure efficient service delivery, Mr Charles said that the government also intends to cut down on its administrative cost this fiscal year.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government has denied reports that the state recorded 48 deaths from lassa fever.

Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari who said this yesterday in Port Harcourt, during the 2012 budgets breakdown briefing , said that only one death was recorded in  respect of Lassa Fever in the state.

Mrs Semenitari said that the state Ministry of Health has setup medical teams to deal with lassa fever in all government heath centres.

She said that government has upgraded the Gokana Water Scheme, while the Ataba Water Project has been completed, noting that the effort of the government in the provision of water to the people of the state has attracted the assistance of the World Bank.

The commissioner also said that the ban on the sale of fuel in jerry cans is to reduce scarcity of the product in the state.

The state Commissioner for Information, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, told newsmen yesterday in Port Harcourt that the decision was not aimed at hurting any specific group of people in the state.

Our correspondent reports that last month, the state government banned the sale of fuel in jerry cans in the state to check the activities of some petrol stations.

Semenitari explained that some filling stations refused to sell fuel to cars and preferred to sell in jerry cans to make more money, adding that the policy was aimed at stopping what was going on at the petrol stations.

‘’ A situation where filling stations refused to sell petroleum products to cars and were selling only in jerry cans so that they could re-sell at a premium to road users, we found to be unacceptable”.

‘’ And, we have to sometimes take decisions that will benefit the majority of the people and that decision meant that needed to stop the sale of petroleum products in jerry cans to enable cars get petrol.

‘’ It is not meant to be a long term policy. It is an intervention to change what was going on.’’

The commissioner said the state government had tried to reduce the incidence of fuel scarcity in the state.

She said the Commissioner for Energy and Natural Resources had been monitoring the loading of petroleum products from various depots and fuel tank farms in the state.

She said government was determined to ensure that major road projects in the state were completed on schedule.

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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo

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The Sole Administrator of Emohua Local Government Area, Barr. Franklin Ajinwo, has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to supporting community development, peace, and progress, describing it as his life’s calling.
Ajinwo made this known on when Okporowo Vanguard—a foremost association dedicated to driving sustainable development in Okporowo community—paid him a courtesy visit at the Council Secretariat, Emohua.

Speaking during the visit, the Emolga  Council boss advised the group to shun internal wranglings and leadership tussles, cautioning that such impediments could undermine their collective goals. He emphasized that unity is strength, and true power comes only from God.

Highlighting his ongoing efforts in repositioning standards within Emohua Local Government, Barr. Ajinwo commended Okporowo Vanguard for initiating plans to conduct large-scale skills acquisition training for young people in Okporowo. He assured them of his steadfast support towards such developmental initiative.

The former Chairman of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Rivers State stressed the need for selfless service, saying it is essential for achieving peace, unity, and development in any community.

He applauded the group’s vision of empowering youths through skills acquisition, aligning it with global best practices aimed at reducing dependency on white-collar jobs.

Earlier, the President of Okporowo Vanguard, Hon. Israel Emeji, outlined Barr. Ajinwo’s numerous and impactful contributions to the development of Okporowo community.

According to him, every family in the community has benefited from Barr. Ajinwo’s dedicated employment initiatives.

Hon. Emeji disclosed that during his tenure as Head of Local Government Administration (HLGA) and as NULGE Chairman, Barr. Ajinwo facilitated the employment of over five hundred (500) individuals from Okporowo community—a record that informed the association’s decision to honour him with the Excellent Leadership Award.

In a vote of thanks, the Secretary of the group, Dr. Okechukwu Godwin Amadi, praised Barr. Ajinwo’s outstanding leadership and unwavering support, both before and after his appointment as Sole Administrator.

He thanked him for the warm reception and appreciated members of Okporowo Vanguard for their strong turnout and continuous support for the present administration.

In their separate remarks, Barr. Kelvin Ajinwo, Chief Polycarp Ndala, and other dignitaries present prayed for God’s continued guidance and protection over Barr. Ajinwo, describing him as a divine gift to the Okporowo community.

They expressed hope that he would be granted even more leadership opportunities to further uplift the living standards of the people.

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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP  …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

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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 

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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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