Rivers

Wike’s Road Projects Excite Stakeholders

Published

9 years ago

June 3, 2016

Stakeholders across the
divide have expressed excitement over the numerous world-class road infrastructure development projects embarked upon by the Rivers State Government in the 23 local government areas of the state within the last one year.
Speaking in an interview with The Tide shortly after flagging-off construction work on the dualisation of the Saakpenwa-Bori Road, President, Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), Legborsi Pyiagbara, said that the commencement of the construction work on the road would not only assuage the feeling of marginalization of Ogoni people, but will reassure them that the Wike administration will not abandon any of the promises made to the people during the electioneering campaign period.
The MOSOP president said that the road project would no doubt create thousands of direct and indirect new job opportunities for Ogoni people, and charged them to take advantage of the construction work to better their livelihoods by actively supporting the two tiers of government to deliver genuine dividends of democracy to the people.
Also speaking, Chairman of Ogoni Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers, and former Chairman of the State Traditional Rulers Council, Gbenemene Tai, HRM Godwin Giniwa, described the project as a welcome development as it will alleviate the suffering of the people, and challenged the contractor handling the project to ensure completion of the road in record time, and within design specifications.
Similarly, Caretaker Chairman of Tai Local Government Area, Hon. Belekalo Sua lauded the vision of the Wike administration for initiating the project, noting that, “It will improve the economy of the area from Ogoni to Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro people.”
In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Works, Bathuel Iheanyichukwu Harrison, explained that the Saakpenwa-Bori-Kono road stretches 16.077kilometres in length and 7.3metres width on both sides, with median of 2.0metres, and would become the first-ever dual carriage way connecting three Ogoni local government areas of Tai, Gokana and Khana to other local government areas of the state.
The commissioner said that the project would boost business and social activities in that critical part of the state, and assured that the Wike-led government would leave no stone unturned to complete the road with the agreed timeframe, and tasked the contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) to comply strictly with all terms of the contract, and deliver the project to serve the people for which it is meant for.
Earlier, the works commissioner had given details of some other road projects undertaken by the Wike administration, especially in Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor local government areas, and added that the premium placed on construction of roads was to fast-track the development process in the state.
Iheanyichukwu listed road projects to include the 14-kilometre Rumuokurusi-Eneka-Igwuruta Dual Carriage Road connecting Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway. and East-West Road in Obio/Akpor to Airport Road through Igwuruta, in Ikwerre Local Government Area.
The works commissioner further listed other roads to include the 6–kilometre Rumueprikom-Rumuolumeni Road, the 3.5-kilometre Elioparanwo Road, the 12-kilometre Tam David West Boulevard, and Mogho/Bodo Road.
The rest are the Eliozu-Rumunduru-Elimgbu (Oro-Igwe) Road, Rukpokwu-Eneka Road, the former SARS (Nelson Mandela) Road at Rukpokwu, now renamed Sir Celestine Omehia Road, Rumuagholu Road, as well as Azikiwe and Bishop Okoye streets.

Susan Serekara-Nwikhana

Rivers

MCDI Inducts 150 Professionals In PH

Published

3 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The Mentoring and Career Development Institute of Nigeria (MCDI) has inducted about 150 new members into various categories of membership during a special induction ceremony and dinner in Port Harcourt.

Aimed at expanding the institute’s membership base, the event offered new inductees an opportunity to engage with senior members and integrate fully into the organisation’s professional network.

The induction ceremony was part of the 2025 national conference of the institute.

National President of MCDI, Dr. Collins Edebiri, administered the oath, while the new members promised to carry out their duties faithfully, following the institute’s rules and constitution.

Dr. Edebiri emphasised the institute’s core mandate of instilling values that will shape individuals and institutions.

He emphasised the theme of the conference, “Mentoring for Individual and Corporate Leadership”, noting that last year’s focus centred on national development and value reorientation.

Edebiri explained that the induction ceremony is a key feature of the institute’s annual conference, though inductions also occur quarterly.

On the criteria for membership, he said the most important factor is the desire to be mentored or the readiness to mentor others, and urged the new inductees to become ambassadors of value-driven leadership in their respective workplaces.

Guest Speaker at the ceremony, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, who was a former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), shared her experiences from her early days in journalism, attributing much of her professional growth to strong mentorship.

She encouraged members to embrace mentorship as a catalyst for personal and societal advancement.

Seminitari was later presented an award.

New members, including Wisdom Egberi Woniepiriye, and Mrs. Grace Ajinwanyiekwu, expressed their excitement and hope to be mentored well so they can eventually mentor others.

There were a dinner and networking session, marking another success for MCDI in its efforts to build leadership values nationwide.

By: Theresa Frederick & Charity Amiso

Rivers

Fisherman Gets Thumbs-Up Over Patent Creation

Published

3 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) has commended a renowned fisherman, Mr. Ricky Brown Owunari, for what it described as a remarkable stride in global engineering content creation.

In a congratulatory message signed by the Association, weekend, the SPE said the patented “Dewaxer Flow Enhancer and Downhole Tool” had secured official endorsement under U.S. Patent No. 12,448,868 B2.

They said the development has been highlighted as a significant indicator of Rivers State’s growing intellectual and technological capacity, with observers noting that such breakthroughs position the state as a rising hub for innovation.

According to those familiar with the innovation, the achievement serves as proof that Niger Deltans have moved beyond the era of militancy and are now producing world-class content, research outputs, and technical solutions.

The SPE officials described the patented technologies as timely tools designed to tackle wax deposition in crude oil wells, a major challenge that frequently disrupts production and increases maintenance costs.

They further stressed that the milestone underscores the need for Rivers State to invest more in supporting innovators whose works demonstrate global potential.

Industry experts revealed that the tool originated from years of field observation, experimentation, and rigorous research aimed at improving flow assurance in challenging well conditions.

They also urged the Federal Government to show greater appreciation for home-grown innovations, calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to formally recognise and encourage technological breakthroughs emerging from the Niger Delta.

Stakeholders at the event warned against piracy, emphasising that unauthorised copying of patented technologies undermines national progress and discourages genuine innovators.

Analysts observed that the breakthrough strengthens the narrative of a new Rivers State built on creativity, content development, and technical excellence rather than conflict.

The session concluded with a call for stronger collaboration between government authorities and industry players to protect intellectual property and position Rivers State as a greenhouse for innovation-driven content.

The content, The Tide gathered, is expected to solve critical challenges in the oil and gas sector, as well as other relevant areas of the national economy.

By; King Onunwor

Rivers

NBA Seeks End To Mass Abductions, Targeted Killings

Published

3 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has warned against mass abductiond and targeted killings in Nigeria.

President of the NBA, Mazi Afam Osigwe, who gave the warning, noted that Nigeria was faced with a growing wave of violence following fresh attacks in Kebbi and Borno States.

The association issued the warning after terrorists attacked the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga on November 17.

According The Tide’s source, the gunmen killed a teacher and abducted at least twenty-five students during a shootout with security personnel.

The President said the latest attack shows the country has become unsafe for schoolchildren and civilians.

He further noted that Nigeria also lost Brigadier General M. Uba earlier that day in an ISWAP ambush in Borno State.

According to Osigwe, the nation was witnessing a rise in terrorism, kidnapping, and lawlessness that has overwhelmed security agencies, adding that rural communities, travellers, farmers, and security officers are all exposed.

The NBA President also warned that Nigeria was facing a dangerous breakdown of public safety.

Quoting recent reports, he said about 145 people went missing in mass abductions across Kebbi, Niger, and Zamfara within four days.

“The country must stop recording deaths while hoping for peace through negotiations with terrorists”, he said.

The NBA further revealed that recent intelligence alerts, including the DSS warning of ISWAP plans to strike in Ondo and Kogi, show a widening threat.

Osigwe questioned why terrorists still control forests and highways without challenge, with criminals levying taxes on communities, displace families, and attack convoys.

The NBA demanded an urgent national security overhaul with transparency and strong political will.

Osigwe, however, praised the teacher who died in Kebbi while protecting students.

By; King Onunwor