News
Wike Names New Works Commissioner
Rivers State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Hon Isaac Kamalu (3rd right), with Chief, UNICEF Field Office, Port Harcourt, Mr Wilbroad Ngambi (2nd right), Chief, UNICEF Field Office, Enugu, Mr Charles Nzuki (3rd left), UNICEF Officer in charge of Media and External Affairs, Mrs Ijeoma Ogwe (right), Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Felix O. Odungweru (2nd left) and Director, Planning/Programme Manager, UNICEF-Asstd PME, Mr Ikpe G. O, during a courtesy visit by UNICEF team to the commissioner in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has appointed Bethel Iheanyichuku as the new Commissioner for Works with immediate effect. This followed the sack of Engr Kevin Wachukwu.
Swearing-in the new commissioner, Wike took a swipe at Wachukwu, accusing him of laxity and negligence of duty.
The governor explained that his administration will not tolerate complacency as he was determined to develop Rivers State, in spite of all the odds.
According to him, “I have a covenant with the people of Rivers state to develop this state. And anybody that is going to work with me must work at my speed and not at his or her own speed.
“Nobody should come and drag me back like the former commissioner. If you are handling any project, you should be the one to brief me, and not me briefing you,” Wike said.
The governor further charged the new works commissioner to always be on the road supervising projects and reporting progress of work at all times.
He said: “The former works commissioner is intelligent, but he could not meet up with the pace of work at the ministry. Take your work very seriously. There should be no compromise.
“The day you misinform me on the status of projects, will be the day you will be sacked. The day you begin to use your office to form rings, will be the day you will lose out”.
The Tide reports that the Rivers State House of Assembly had earlier screened and confirmed Iheanyichuku as a commissioner-designate.
His screening followed a request by the state governor.
The Tide reports that the new commissioner for works hails from Ogbogoro in the Akpor area of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
In a separate development, Governor Wike also sworn-in 17 Local Government Caretaker Committee chairmen with the task to liaise with security agencies with a view to improving security situation in their areas.
The state governor also tasked them to pay salaries of staffers before anything else.
The Tide gathered that in addition o the 17 earlier secreened by the State House of Assembly more would be sworn in later after screening.
He said under no circumstance should caretaker chairmen deduct their security votes before paying salaries.
Wike further directed the caretaker council chairmen to ensure they improved sanitation in their respective areas.
He particularly charged the chairmen of Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Eleme, and Ikwerre local government areas to improve on environmental sanitation.
The Tide recalls that barely one month after the dissolution of the 23 local government caretaker committees by the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, the state House of Assembly, had last Monday, unanimously confirmed the appointment of caretaker committee chairmen for 17 local governments of the state.
Their confirmation follows the submission of the request by the state governor to the Assembly to confirm the caretaker committee chairmen.
The Speaker of the House, Mr Adams Dabotorudima, has said that the confirmation was imperative for administrative efficiency in the third tier of government.
Adams said that the local government administration was necessary for the development of the rural communities.
The CTC chairmen are Michael Amadi (Etche), Sunny Ejekwu (PHALGA), Samuel Nwanosike (Ikwerre), Oye Igenewari (Abua/Odual), Britain Ewor (Ahoada East), Rowland Sekibo (Akuku Toru), Kangban Offings (Andoni), Charles Jumbo (Bonny), Johnson Wogu (Eleme), John Wokoma (Emohua), and Prince Collins Onunwo (Obio/Akpor).
The rest are Prince Isaac Emerunu (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni), Titus Wakama (Ogu/Bolo), Bibigoka Jackbara (Okrika), Uchenna Akowa (Oyigbo), Stanley Eze Wuju (Omuma), and Parkins Kelu (Tai).
Kevin Nengia , Enoch Epelle & Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
News
We’ll Drive Tinubu’s Vision in Rivers With Vigour – Fubara …Inaugurates Dualized Ahoada/Omoku Road ….Debunks Rift With RSHA
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that he will lead Rivers people to galvanize support for President Bola Tinubu to drive the vision and objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the State with vigour.
The governor, who joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, explained that his decision to join the APC was not for personal interest but for the overall benefit of Rivers State.
Fubara disclosed these while inaugurating the extension of the dualized Ahoada/ Omoku Express road in Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
He commended the contracting firm, Julius Berger, for timely delivery of the project, saying the project is a campaign promise fulfilled which will bring economic benefits to the people and tackle issues of insecurity associated with the route.
He said his administration has remained focused in delivering democratic dividends in the state despite facing glaring challenges.
The governor thanked the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas for their continuous support, and urged his supporters to remain steadfast and also support President Tinubu who he said, has demonstrated love to Rivers State as a father.
Fubara denied having rift with the Rivers State House of Assembly, stating that his meeting with the lawmakers was stalled as a result of delay in the agreed meeting to be convened by former Governor Nyesom Wike and other stakeholders for him to meet with the state lawmakers.
“I have made every effort to meet with the Assembly members, but it is not within my leadership to initiate the meeting process.
“The arrangement was for my leader, Wike, and the elders led by Anabraba to call for a meeting with the the lawmakers.
“I’m a gentleman and principled. I can’t go behind to call them when we’ve already agreed. Whoever that tell them that I don’t want to meet with them, or I rejected proposal meant for them isn’t saying the truth,” Fubara said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry Works, Mr Austin Ezekiel-Hart, who gave the project description, said the delivery of the project was a fulfillment of long time dream by the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas.
He said the road was previously a single lane and has now been dualised to 14.6 meters wide, complete with solar-powered streetlights with drainages.
He said the road significantly would reduce travel time between Ahoada and Omoku while improving economic activity in the region.
In his welcome address, Chairman of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, Hon. Chuku Shedrack Ogbogu, described the road as a symbol of unity, oneness, and development, thanking the governor for fulfilling his campaign promises.
On his part, the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Engr. Peer Lusbash, said the project was awarded to his company in 2023 with a completion period of 18 months which was achieved in best quality.
He added that Julius Berger enjoyed a good support from the Fubara administration, and assured to complete all ongoing projects being handled by Julius Berger on specification, especially the Ring Road project which is a legacy project.
Rivers State, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring good healthcare for the people of Rivers State.
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?Governor Fubara stated this when he played host to the Country Director of UNICEF, Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef and her management team in Port Harcourt, last Tuesday.
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?The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba, said he would continue to provide the necessary facilities in order to ensure accessible and good health care for all Rivers people.
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?”We are constructing new zonal hospitals across the State. The Ahoada Zonal hospital will be commissioned in December and others are near completion.
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?”We are grateful to UNICEF for all they have done and believe we can always work together to care for the vulnerable in the society. We appreciate your physical presence, and believe that your staff working remotely, can also do more virtually. We have a capable Commissioner of Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, to help foster our relationship, communication and greater collaboration,” he said.
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?The Country Director for UNICEF Nigeria, Ms. Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef, assured Governor Fubara of UNICEF’s support to the programmes of the State Government. She appealed that health facilities such as the Oxygen Plant at Eleme Local Government Ares and the New Born Care Units be solarized.
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?”Be assured that UNICEF will continue to work and support the programmes here in Rivers State. We have seen the Oxygen Plant at Eleme LGA which has been effective because of the Public Private Partnership. We appeal that the plant be solarized.
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?”I commend your leadership of the State and assure that we are here to support your effort and assure you that you can count on our support and partnership. Rivers State is one of the states we can showcase how things are working so others can learn,” she added.
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Chairman of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has announced a N100 billion annual education support programme aimed at keeping financially vulnerable Nigerian students in school.
Speaking at the launch of the national scholarship scheme in Lagos, yesterday, Dangote said too many brilliant young people were being forced out of classrooms because of poverty.
He described education as the “strongest engine of social mobility” and a critical foundation for national development.
The initiative, funded by the Aliko Dangote Foundation, will run for ten years beginning in 2026, costing over N1 trillion in total.
Dangote said the scheme would support 45,000 scholars each year at inception, expanding to 155,000 beneficiaries annually by its fourth year, and maintaining that level for the rest of the decade.
By 2036, he said, the programme is expected to have reached at least 1,325,000 students.
“We cannot allow financial hardship to silence the dreams of our young people, not when the future of our nation depends on their skills, resilience and leadership,” he added.
A major component of the fund is the Aliko Dangote STEM Scholars programme, which will provide annual scholarships for 30,000 undergraduate students pursuing science, technology, engineering and mathematics in public universities and polytechnics.
Each beneficiary will receive tuition support aligned with the fees of their institution and course of study. Dangote said the goal is to expand access to higher education, empower innovation, and give young Nigerians the tools to compete globally.
“STEM drives development. If Nigeria must compete globally, our young minds must have the tools to learn, imagine and innovate,” he said.
