News
GPHDA Pays Landlords N5.5bn
The Rivers State Government yesterday said it paid at least N5.51 billion compensation claims to 216 landowners of the new Port Harcourt city currently under construction.
Administrator, Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority (GPHCDA), Mrs Aleruchi Cookey-Gam, disclosed this during the authority’s board retreat in Tai Local Government Area of the state.
Our correspondent reports that the retreat had as its theme: “Road Map To 2015”.
It would be recalled that the state government in 2009, unveiled a 50-year development plan to build a new city out of the state capital tagged: “Greater Port Harcourt”.
Cookey-Gam said the authority was presently assessing other claims toward compensating those affected by the M10 road (eight-lane freeway) at Igwuruta axis.
She said that the state government had in the last three years also awarded several contracts to fast track the development of the new Port Harcourt city.
The administrator said some of the projects included the N30.9 billion construction of an M10 (eight-lane freeway), 11-kilometre road and five bridge projects.
She said other projects included the construction of priority roads at the cost of N4.5 billion; the construction of 1, 080 housing units at N25 billion; and provision of internal township services at N9.5 billion.
She said, “we have also completed the engineering design for bulk and interim infrastructure services, bulk sewage lines and electrical distribution and reticulation of phase 1A of the city.”
Cookey-Gam said that the N709 million water reticulation contracts had been awarded and that the projects were at various stages of completion.
“We are gradually moving to the last stage of our project cycle in the provision of bulk infrastructure for our Phase 1A new city development.
“We have moved from planning to preliminary design to detailed engineering designs, tenders, procurement, award of contracts, implementing. Now we are moving on to operation and maintenance; that is a very critical part of our work.
“We must take critical steps to ensure that we put processes in place and the requisite personnel to ensure that the operations and maintenance of our facilities are efficient, effective, well priced and sustainable.”
She called for public, private partnership and improved funding to fast track the development of the new city.
In her remark, the Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ms Amal Pepple, said the new city initiative would provide employment opportunities, and improved standard of living and for the people of the state.
Pepple lauded the state government for its commitment to reducing the housing deficit faced by the people of the state and other Nigerians.
The minister, who was represented by Mrs Georgie Ogbutor, an official of the ministry, said the Federal Government would implement the National Urban Development Policy soon.
According to her, the policy would promote a dynamic system of urban settlements which would foster sustainable economic growth and promote efficient urban and regional planning and development.
She said the Federal Government would partner state governments willing to develop new settlements and model cities for their people.
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
