News
RSG Links 80% Road Accidents To Bad Driving
The Rivers State Government, has attributed
80 per cent of all road accidents and traffic jams in Port Harcourt, the state
capital and its environs, to bad driving habits and carelessness of drivers on
the city roads.
Rivers State Commissioner for Transport,
Hon George Tolofari, who gave this revelation at this year’s Road Safety
Stakeholders’ Forum in Port Harcourt, last Tuesday, said as the government
begins the expansion of the city under the Greater Port Harcourt platform, it
was a collective responsibility of stakeholders to ensure that road safety was
embraced by all, not just as a safety or health issue but as a business
principle.
Tolofari charged stakeholders in both
private and public sectors to recognise some basic underlining principles of
road safety, and commit themselves to ensuring that proper road safety habits
were inculcated at all levels of the society.
The commissioner noted that from available
statistics, millions of people lose their lives, limbs and properties every day
as a result of bad driving culture, saying that it was for this reason that the
ministry put together the intervention strategy in line with the United Nations
Decade of Action On Road Safety.
According to him, the ongoing transport
sector reforms were aimed at building an efficient and integrated transport
system anchored on proper legal and regulatory frameworks, driven by
institutions created under the law and run by professionals, adding that the
policy had resulted in the active operations of Rivers State Road Traffic
Management Authority (TIMARIV), and the construction of four mega transport
terminals at Omagwa, Eleme, Oyigbo, and Emohua, to decongest traffic in Port
Harcourt city centre, among others.
In his remarks, Managing Director, Shell
Petroleum Development Company, Mutiu Sunmonu, revealed that Shell staff and
contractors drive around 1.1billion kilometers each year globally to deliver
products and keep company operations running, stressing that this was equivalent
to driving about 75 times around the world each day.
Sunmonu noted that in spite of that, Shell
had “achieved great success in helping to keep our drivers safe through
training programmes, eliminating unnecessary journeys and enforcing global road
safety standards”,
Nelson Chukwudi
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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