Connect with us

News

Ebola: We’re In Control, Amaechi Tells Citizenry …Visits Temporary Quarantine Zone

Published

on

Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi has urged citizens of the state to remain calm as the State Government has the capacity to tackle the menace of Ebola disease.
He gave the assurance shortly after visiting the Ebola Isolation Centre in Oduoha Community yesterday in Emohua Local Government Area.
Amaechi said, “I am not saying that Ebola virus is bad as we think, and it doesn’t just kill the way people think. Professional doctors have said, if Ebola virus infection is well managed, the possibility of tackling the virus is there.”
Calling on citizens not to feel shy to report any symptom of infection through the state emergency lines, Amaechi noted that doctors are at hand to attend to patients.
He said plans have been concluded to upgrade the facility to enable experts and professional medical doctors properly manage and control the spread of the Ebola virus in the State.
Amaechi assured that the involvement of technical partners like the World Health Organization (WHO), Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) also know as Doctors Without Borders, the American Embassy and the Federal Government will ensure drastic measures are put in place to tackle and eliminate the disease.
“This is a temporary approved quarantine site for the Ebola virus and we are working on it to upgrade the facility. The place is a bit out of town and we want to start from here while we continue to search for a permanent site.  I am going to address the State on the issue.  I am not saying that Ebola virus is bad as we think and it doesn’t just kill the way people think. Professional doctors have said, if the Ebola virus infection is well managed, the possibility of tackling the virus is there. The World Health Organization (WHO), Doctors without borders, the American Embassy and the Federal Government are involved and so we are sure and confident that we will control the Ebola virus from spreading and possibly eliminate it in our state,” he said.
“I don’t want anybody infected to feel shy and possibly take it to the rural areas because it could affect your children, family and relations and any result to death. That will be too disastrous. When you have high fever you cannot account for, please don’t go to any Primary Health Center, come to the corridors of government and our doctors will pick you and give you adequate treatment,” he said.
He lauded the people of Oduoha Community for assisting government to fight the menace, assuring them that the disease is not airborne hence they should not panic at the location of the Isolation Centre in their area.
Meanwhile, Rivers State has now recorded two cases of Ebola infection in the state.
These include the medical doctor who attended to a diplomat who visited Port Harcourt two weeks ago and his wife.
An autopsy test carried out on the body of the late medical doctor, Dr Ikye Enemuo, who treated the diplomat revealed he died of Ebola disease Commissioner for Health, Dr Sampson Parker announced on Thursday to journalists in Port Harcourt.
“A few hours ago the result of the test carried out on the medical officer showed it positive of Ebola virus,” he declared.
Dr. Parker revealed that the widow of Dr. Enemuo, a medical doctor had equally taken ill after contracting the disease from her husband and had been quarantined with about 100 persons currently being placed under watch.
According to him, those in the watch list may have made contacts with the dead medical officer either through the clinic or the hotel where the diplomat was housed.
Explaining how the disease came into the state, Parker stated that a staff of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), who had made contact with Patrick Sawyer in Lagos, visited the state and was checked into a hotel from where he was attended by late Dr Enemuo.
Explaining how the scourge came into the state, the Health Commissioner disclosed that the diplomat had consulted Dr. Enemuo due to illness from where he checked into a hotel. Enemuo took ill after the departure of the diplomat who is now fully recovered.
It was the physician who was taking care of Dr. Enemuo that became suspicious after his colleague showed signs of diarrhoea, fever and stooling and died two days later on 22nd August.
Already, the Health Commissioner stated that the hospital and hotel have been decontaminated in an effort to check further spread of the disease.
He therefore assured residents of the state to remain calm and go about their normal businesses as government was on top of the situation.
Parker added, “ Ebola is not a chronic disease once you are treated you are immune. We have more people who have survived than those that died, but people must avoid unnecessary bodily contacts and maintain strong hygiene”.
Noting that, “We have all the material and human resources to fight and defeat the deadly virus. Officials of the Federal Ministry of Health and other international agencies are already working with the state Ministry of Health.”

Permanent Secretary,Rivers State Ministry of Information and Communications, Mrs Cordelia Peterside (middle) making a speech during a three-day capacity building workshop for decoder installers organised by the Ministry in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday. With her are Permanent Secretary, Establishments, Mr Asoelu Gayamos Ogo (left) and Chairman, NUJ, Rivers State Council, Mr Opaka Dokubo

Permanent Secretary,Rivers State Ministry of Information and Communications, Mrs Cordelia Peterside (middle) making a speech during a three-day capacity building workshop for decoder installers organised by the Ministry in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday. With her are Permanent Secretary, Establishments, Mr Asoelu Gayamos Ogo (left) and Chairman, NUJ, Rivers State Council, Mr Opaka Dokubo

Continue Reading

News

I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo

Published

on

The Sole Administrator of Emohua Local Government Area, Barr. Franklin Ajinwo, has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to supporting community development, peace, and progress, describing it as his life’s calling.
Ajinwo made this known on when Okporowo Vanguard—a foremost association dedicated to driving sustainable development in Okporowo community—paid him a courtesy visit at the Council Secretariat, Emohua.

Speaking during the visit, the Emolga  Council boss advised the group to shun internal wranglings and leadership tussles, cautioning that such impediments could undermine their collective goals. He emphasized that unity is strength, and true power comes only from God.

Highlighting his ongoing efforts in repositioning standards within Emohua Local Government, Barr. Ajinwo commended Okporowo Vanguard for initiating plans to conduct large-scale skills acquisition training for young people in Okporowo. He assured them of his steadfast support towards such developmental initiative.

The former Chairman of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Rivers State stressed the need for selfless service, saying it is essential for achieving peace, unity, and development in any community.

He applauded the group’s vision of empowering youths through skills acquisition, aligning it with global best practices aimed at reducing dependency on white-collar jobs.

Earlier, the President of Okporowo Vanguard, Hon. Israel Emeji, outlined Barr. Ajinwo’s numerous and impactful contributions to the development of Okporowo community.

According to him, every family in the community has benefited from Barr. Ajinwo’s dedicated employment initiatives.

Hon. Emeji disclosed that during his tenure as Head of Local Government Administration (HLGA) and as NULGE Chairman, Barr. Ajinwo facilitated the employment of over five hundred (500) individuals from Okporowo community—a record that informed the association’s decision to honour him with the Excellent Leadership Award.

In a vote of thanks, the Secretary of the group, Dr. Okechukwu Godwin Amadi, praised Barr. Ajinwo’s outstanding leadership and unwavering support, both before and after his appointment as Sole Administrator.

He thanked him for the warm reception and appreciated members of Okporowo Vanguard for their strong turnout and continuous support for the present administration.

In their separate remarks, Barr. Kelvin Ajinwo, Chief Polycarp Ndala, and other dignitaries present prayed for God’s continued guidance and protection over Barr. Ajinwo, describing him as a divine gift to the Okporowo community.

They expressed hope that he would be granted even more leadership opportunities to further uplift the living standards of the people.

Continue Reading

News

RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP  …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Published

on

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their  living conditions.

This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.

Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s

She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.

According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.

The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while  bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.

Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.

Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.

According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.

He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.

Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may  lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.

During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.

The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.

He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.

Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.

They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.

At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.

King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.

Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.

Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.

At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.

He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.

Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.

 

John Bibor

 

Continue Reading

News

Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman 

Published

on

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.

Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.

Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.

In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.

However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.

Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.

In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.

Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.

“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.

 

 

Continue Reading

Trending