Politics
RVHA To Streamline TIMARIV Operations
Following outcry at the Public Hearing on the bill to amend the Rivers State Traffic Law 2009, the Chairman of the House Committee on Transport, Hon. Victor Ihunwo, has assured that the lawmakers would streamline fines for offenders.
Hon. Ihunwo said the amendment to the Traffic Law became imperative because of several lapses in the principal law which the current amendment is determined to address.
The Transport Committee chairman who stated this Wednesday during a public hearing on a bill to amend the State Traffic law No. 6 of 2009, to regulate Road traffic, said the forum was an opportunity for interaction in the process of improving the wellbeing of Rivers people.
He said the gathering would help the committee to find out what will be best for Rivers people and urged the public to make useful contributions.
In his presentation a representative of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Mr. Emperor Ogbuka, urged the Assembly to redefine the operations of TIMARIV as the present body has been grossly abused.
Mr. Ogbuka lamented a situation where TIMARIV would recruit agents who adopt all sorts of tricks to exploit motorists in the state, citing a situation where the establishment impounded a vehicle for failure of the driver to wear seat belt and the owner made to pay between N20,000 to N30,000.
He called on the lawmakers to caution the outrageous fines charged by TIMARIV to enable the public accord them the respect they deserve and the multiplicity of task forces that harass motorists.
Comptroller General of TIMARIV, Mr. Nelson Jaja, said the Authority should be a service-oriented organi-sation but the law establishing it, confers punishment.
Mr. Jaja noted that despite the punishment, nature of the Authority had not been able to control the madness on the roads, acknowledging that some of its officials abuse the functions of the body.
A representative of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr. Chima Igwe, solicited for inclusion of various fines for traffic offenders, stressing that TIMARIV as presently constituted has a one sided penalty whereas the law should stipulate that any officer that contravenes should also be liable.
Mr. Igwe argued that the establishment is today seen as a revenue agent rather than the good services the public expects from it and advised that penalty and fines should be reasonable considering the economic realities of the time.
Mr. Sanye Antioch of the Ministry of Transport called for International best practices in traffic management in the state.
The zonal legal officer of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr. B.O. Nwanani, said the law should exclude person below 18 years and above 70 years from being issued driving licence and suggested inter agency relationship.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit the list of candidates for the 2027 governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections from Saturday, August 8, to Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
The commission announced the extension in a statement issued on Saturday and signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna.
According to INEC, the decision followed appeals by political parties for additional time to complete the submission process through the dedicated online portal.
“The submission window, which according to the revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the General Election was originally scheduled to close on Saturday, 8th August, 2026, has been extended to Tuesday, 11th August, 2026,” the commission said.
In a a related development, INEC announced the suspension of PVC collection in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The commission said voters who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced Permanent Voter Cards would have until midnight on Sunday, August 9, to print downloadable copies of their cards.
The electoral body explained that the deadline was necessary to enable it compile data on downloaded PVCs and produce final statistics on the total number of cards collected ahead of the election.
INEC said PVC collection in Osun commenced at the Registration Area level from July 22 to 28, 2026, but was extended to July 31 following complaints about large crowds and difficulties experienced by voters at collection centres.
The exercise subsequently moved to the local government level and ran from August 1 to 7.
The commission also disclosed that replacement downloadable PVCs had been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas following the theft of cards during attacks on the two collection centres.
It stressed that the stolen cards could not be used to vote.
INEC reassured Osun residents of its preparedness for the August 15 governorship election.
“The commission reiterates that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
“INEC reassures the people of Osun State of its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election on 15th August, 2026,” the statement said.
The commission said the deadline, initially set for Saturday, 8 August, has been extended to Tuesday, 11 August 2026, following appeals from political parties for more time.
INEC also announced that the window for voters who applied to replace lost, damaged or defaced PVCs to download their replacement cards will close at midnight on Sunday, 9 August.
The move is to enable the commission compile final PVC collection figures ahead of the 15 August Osun governorship election.
INEC said replacement downloadable PVCs have also been provided to affected voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas after hoodlums carted away cards from two collection centres, stressing that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
The commission reaffirmed its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive election in Osun State.
Gov. Kefas made the remarks over the weekend at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo, during the flag-off of the second phase of the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach in Taraba State, organised as part of activities marking Prof. Yilwatda’s 58th birthday.
The governor commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing to mark his birthday by providing medical care to people in need.
“What Professor Nentawe did is a powerful demonstration of what leadership should be,” Gov. Kefas said.
He assured that his administration would continue to support initiatives that complement government efforts to improve healthcare delivery and the wellbeing of residents.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Yilwatda called on Nigerian leaders to embrace the culture of giving and use their positions to touch the lives of the less privileged.
He said his decision to celebrate his 58th birthday in Taraba State was deliberate and informed by the needs of underserved communities, particularly people who face difficulties accessing healthcare because of distance and financial constraints.
According to him, the intervention followed a needs assessment and was extended across the three senatorial districts of the state.
He said the exercise commenced on August 3 at Takum General Hospital and covered the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Wukari; First Referral Hospital, Sunkani, Ardo-Kola Local Government Area; General Hospital, Bali; General Hospital, Gembu; and FMC Jalingo.
Prof. Yilwatda said the intervention provided medical services to thousands of beneficiaries, including people who required surgical procedures.
He said sustainable national development could only be achieved when strong institutions placed Nigerians at the centre of development.
“Leadership is about service,” he said, urging political and public leaders to make giving back to society an important part of their responsibilities.
He reaffirmed his commitment to serving Nigeria and its people, saying his personal vision was to make every day of his life useful to humanity.
“Every day that I live, the vision is: let it be useful to humanity,” he said.
The Taraba State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bordiya Buma, commended the initiative, saying it was consistent with the Renewed Hope agenda and efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery in the state.
Dr Buma said the second phase followed the successful completion of the first phase, which was conducted simultaneously in six local government areas, with two LGAs selected from each of the three senatorial districts.
According to him, more than 10,000 patients were attended to during the first phase, including people with medical and surgical conditions.
He disclosed that 327 general surgeries, 71 eye surgeries and 575 dental procedures were carried out during the exercise.
The commissioner expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach and thanked Prof. Yilwatda for supporting the initiative and choosing Taraba State as a beneficiary.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, also commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing Taraba State to mark his 58th birthday through a medical outreach.
Prof. Pate said making healthcare the centrepiece of the birthday celebration was significant because health affects everyone.
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