News
FG Shifts East-West Road Completion Date
The Supervising Minister, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Darius Ishaku, has said that the East-West Road could not be completed by December 2014 as earlier promised.
He said on Friday in Abuja during the defence of the ministry’s 2014 budget estimates before the Senate Committee on Niger Delta.
The immediate past Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Godsday Orubebe had given assurances that the road would be completed and inaugurated by the end of 2014.
Ishaku, however, told the committee that funds allocated to the ministry in the 2014 budget proposal by the Budget Office would not be enough to complete the project.
He said that despite several funding interventions from SURE-P and loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB), the road could not be completed by the end of 2014 as earlier proposed.
He said that the climatic condition in the Niger Delta posed serious obstacle to quick completion of the road, adding that the long rainy season in the area hampered construction work.
“We cannot complete the road as earlier promised due to funding gap. We had earlier hoped that there would be some funding.
“In 2013, we had hoped we would bridge the gap by getting more funds. We got some funds from SURE-P far more than the budgetary allocation but it was still not as anticipated.
“We still have some shortfall. Because of that shortfall, we will not be able to commission the project by December 2014 as earlier anticipated unless there is sufficient funding.
“The funding has to come immediately and soonest since we are talking about the Niger Delta region where the wet season lasts longer than the dry season.
“If you are giving me funds during the peak of the rainy season, it will not be utilised until another dry season.
“The quicker we get the funding, the possibility of delivering would be higher by December 2014, otherwise, it would be an unrealistic date.
“If you give us money now during the dry season, we would work far more and achieve far more, but if you give us money at the peak of the rainy season, the work would have slowed down,” he said.
The minister told the committee that the ministry required N111billion to complete the road.
He said a total of N49.1billion was proposed for 2014 by the Budget Office, out of which, the ministry intends to spend N46.8 billion on capital projects.
He said that out of the N49.1billion proposed as capital expenditure for the ministry, N8.73 billion would set aside for the continuation of the East-West road project.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. James Manager, decried the failure of the ministry to commission a single project within the five years of its existence.
Manager observed that there had been continuous dwindling of funds to the ministry which was allocated N144billion in 2008.
“We must appreciate the fact that the East-West road is the flagship of the Niger Delta Ministry because it is very important to the region and Nigeria in general.
“We have to do all we can to rescue the ministry because the ministry is terribly underfunded.
“Therefore, whatever we are doing as far as this ministry is concerned, we must be serious minded, so that we do not get back to where we are coming from,” he said.
In his remarks, the Deputy Leader of the Senate, Sen. Abdul Ningi, said all hands must be on deck to ensure the timely completion of the project.
“The key to any presentation of good governance rests squarely on the East-West road. Therefore, priority should be placed on the road.
“If we cannot get this project before the end of the tenure of this administration, then all of us would be indicted,” Ningi said.
The committee directed the minister to furnish it with financial details on the amount so far spent and outstanding payments on the road project.
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.
News
Rivers State University Cooperative Society Elects New Leaders
The United Port Harcourt Peoples Cooperative Investment & Credit Society Limited, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, has elected new leaders to pilot the affairs of the cooperative for the next two years.
They are Pastor Dr. Barine Aeba (President); Dr. Gift N. Nkweke (Vice-President), Dr. Kenneth Chima Adiele (General Secretary), Victor G. Banigo (Assistant General Secretary),
Rose Yeyeda Nwosu (Treasurer), Adaku Nwogu (Financial Secretary) and Stella Ereba (Public Relations Officer).
Inaugurating the new Management Committee after a keenly contested election held recently at the University Amphitheatre, the Director of Cooperatives in Rivers State, Dr. Elizabeth Chidi-Wike, congratulated the seven-member Executive for emerging winners at the election, charging them to uphold the bye laws of the Cooperative Society and hold regular congress meetings.
Dr. Chidi-Wike used the forum to commend the outgone Management Committee for reviving the Cooperative and placing it on an enviable pedestrial.
In her remarks, the Acting Registrar of the University, Mrs. Ibimonia Sotonye Harry applauded Cooperative members for keeping faith with the Cooperative Society, stressing that the goal of the society in helping members save for retirement cannot be over emphasised.
In his valedictory speech, the outgone President, Dr. Mie-Idala Jones Amachree expressed gratitude to God for the successful completion of his four-year tenure, thanking his fellow Management Committee members who gave him the needed support that transformed the Cooperative Society.
In his acceptance address, the President, Pastor (Dr.) Barine Aeba thanked the university management for providing the enabling environment for the peaceful conduct of the election, pledging that he will fulfill all his campaign promises.
A total of 165 Cooperative members participated in the electoral exercise which was conducted by an Electoral Committee led by Engr. (Dr.) Joseph D. Enoch.
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