News
2013 Flood: RSG Identifies Relief Camps
Following this year’s flood prediction by the Nigeria Metrological Agency (NIMET) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in some parts of the country, Rivers State is now reassessing the flood camps in the state.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Special Duties, Barr Dickson Umunakwe during a tour to some flood camps at Ahoada East Local Government Area, said the state was prepared to reduce the impact of the impending flood as plans were also in top gear to deploy a marine ambulance and six flying boats in each of the flood prone LGAs for prompt evacuation.
The commissioner represented by the Director of Administration in the ministry, Mr Victor Charles said the state government was working round the clock to ensure that the flood relief camps were habitable.
Corroborating, one of the Administration officers in the ministry, Mr Anthony Oghani said the aim of the identification of the flood relief camps was to take stock of the basic amenities at the camps for the comfort of the would-be flood victims should the disaster finally step in.
A press release by the ministry’s Press Officer, Mrs Martha Igbiks said the exercise would continue in Abua/Odual, Ahoada West and Ogba/Emgbema/Ndoni LGAs.
It would be recalled that the Ministry of Special Duties had earlier embarked on sensitisation to the flood prone LGAs where the inhabitants were enjoined to identify higher grounds in their various communities as muster points for easier evacuation and ensure the safe keeping of their vital documents, including birth and marriage certificates, Certificates of Occupancy or other title deeds before the flood.
Meanwhile, The Rivers State Ministry of Education says the study of French will provide the students in the state an opportunity to learn other foreign languages outside English Language.
The Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi stated this while on an inspection tour of facilities at the new site of Alliance Francaise at the Amadi Flats in Port Harcourt.
The commissioner said the world was now a global village and the need to give our students an alternative was necessary.
The Commissioner said the project when completed would enable Rivers people to have access to the facilities in the institute especially those who want to learn the French Language.
She also said that the Ministry of Education had been collaborating with the French Institute in the area of teacher training and organising of summer holiday school for pupils and students in the state.
“We have been working with them since I became the Commissioner for Education. We have sent quite a number of our teachers for courses and also have sent our students on holiday tours and summer schools to enable them speak the French language. You know the world is now a global village and the need to give our students the opportunity to learn an alternative foreign language outside English was necessary”, she said.
The Consul General of France in Lagos, Francois Sastourne said the French Institute has very good relationship with the Ministry of Education and believe that the partnership will bring positive results.
He said that partnership with the Rivers State Government would bring a new face in teaching of French Language in Port Harcourt and the Eastern Nigeria.
“It is a good thing that we have very good cooperation with the Government of Rivers State and the Commissioner for Education on this issue of developing French Language.
There has been a long standing cooperation but in the years past, there have been few hitches especially on the location of the premises of Alliance Francaise but this has been resolved. We now have a new place which is going to be completed soon and we should bring new face to the teaching of French Language in Port Harcourt and the Eastern Nigeria”, he stated.
The Director Alliance Francaise in Port Harcourt, Helene Geneau-Okutue said the partnership with the Ministry of Education had been very fruitful.
She said that the French Institute had trained some French teachers in the Rivers State-owned schools and stated that they would continue to promote the study of the language in the state.
News
Mba Seeks Closer Synergy To Check Road Accidents
Worried over the high rate of accidents on Nigerian roads, resulting in the death of hundreds of thousands of people, the Governor of Enugu State, Barr Peter Mbah, has called for closer synergy and cooperation among security agencies to check the ugly trend and ensure safety on all the roads within the country.
Governor Mbah, made the call in an address at the Graduation Ceremony of Senior Course 2 of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Command and Staff College, Udi near Enugu.
Represented by the state Commissioner for Information, Chief Aka Eze Aka, governor Mbah noted that closer security and intelligence sharing on incidents on roads within the country by various security formations and agencies both military and para-military would lead to greater security and safety of lives and property on roads.
He stated that the state government had keyed into the FRSC vision of reduction in road crashes and fatalities, adding that it had equipped the state traffic officers with the same set targets.
“As an administration, we are making all efforts to fix and improve on all roads and road infrastructure within the state; while we are calling on the Federal Government to do the same.
“Our partnership with the FRSC for training and retraining of our road traffic officers will continue and be strengthened so that as a state it will also build its own capacity to deal with road traffic issues and challenges,” he said.
Governor Mbah, however, congratulated the graduating participants of the course, while commending the FRSC management for being in the forefront of raising the standard and quality of its staff.
According to him, “my administration will continue to partner with the FRSC and strengthen existing engagements of mutual benefits”.
Earlier, the FRSC Corps Marshal, Dauda Biu, said that the event was significant to the Corps as it marked its commitment to continuously improve its educational and operational standard and capacity.
Biu, represented by the Deputy Corps Marshal (DCM) Bisi Kazeem, who is in-charge of FRSC Training, said that the Corps was building resiliency and increasing its service delivery capacity by equipping its officers with quality and international standard training.
By: Canice Amadi Enugu
News
PDP Opobo/Nkoro Hails Fubara On Peace, Projects
Stakeholders of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Opobo/ Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State have commended the state Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara for his disposition that has fostered peace in the State.
Rising from an expanded stakeholders meeting last Saturday in Opobo Town, the body in an eight-point communique signed by its Chairman, Hon. Benneth Daminabo, Chairman of Council, Rt. Hon. Enyiada Cookey-Gam and LG party Chairman, Warisenibo Godwin Pepple commended the governor for linking Opobo/Nkoro LGA to the national grid.
In addition, it lauded the effort of the governor in pursuing the 50.15 kilometre Dual Carriage Ring Road, Elelenwo internal road, Aleto-Ebubu-Eteo Road in Eleme and Andoni Road projects.
Despite the distractions, the stakeholders said they were impressed that the governor had equally done projects in health-the unveiling of Prof. Kelsey Harrison Hospital, Agric projects at Tai and Oyigbo and improving welfare of civil servants.
In their words, “members reaffirmed their unalloyed loyalty and implicit confidence in his administration.”
Condemning the unfriendly and discourteous utterances of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Tony Okocha in different fora in the State, the forum urged the duo to desist from such action in order not to heat up the polity.
The forum pledged to stand by the governor through, “thick and thin”, the stakeholders acknowledged the contributions of women, who through prayers for the government has impacted positively in the direction and posture of the governor.
Finally, the forum unanimously expressed gratitude to the Simplified Movement and other bodies that have thrown their weight behind the governor to ensure that the administration is stable and successful.
By: Kevin Nengia
News
‘Rivers People Are Now Breathing Fresh Air Under Fubara’
Aformer Caretaker Committee Chairman of Abua/Odual Local Government Council of Rivers State, Hon Elamo Arogu, says under Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the people of the State are now breathing fresh air.
Hon Arogu said Governor Fubara has given Rivers people hope, considering the impactful and people-oriented projects being carried out by his administration.
The former CTC chairman made the assertion during the Simplified Movement’s thanksgiving service and rally held in honour of Rivers State chief executive last Friday in Abua .
Arogu said under Governor Fubara, the Abua/Odual people have the confidence that the dividends of democracy will definitely get to them.
He noted that the Governor has the strong will to change the narrative in Rivers State, being the reason he is receiving massive support across the State.
“The people of Abua/Odual are strongly behind him. Our doors ate open for everyone because there is government in place to attend to the needs of the people. I believe that he will develop Abua/Odual and other Rivers council areas, hence, the massive support. This government is business- oriented and we are ready to encourage him succeed and invest in our land. The issue of a bank; road networks and other necessities of life bordering on development as demanded by the people will be considered by Governor Fubara”, he said.
He called on the opposition to team up with Governor Fubara to build a stronger, united and viable Rivers State.
He maintained that ward nine under his leadership is Simplified.
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