News
Ogoni Dev: Wike Slams Abe …Pledges To Support Police
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has reiterated his desire to give even development to all parts of the state.
He made the pledge while addressing a huge crowd of Ogoni people at Bodo Town, ,Gokana Local Government Area, Wednesday, during an inspection of abandoned projects by the immediate past administration in the area.
He said, “just like I love Ikwerre people, that is how I love Ogoni people. When I was a Minister, I attracted projects to Ikwerre land.
I also attracted N500million fund to Kenule Beeson SaroWiwa Polytechnic,Bori. As a governor, am committed to development projects across the state and the proofs are everywhere.”
He accused Senator Magnus Abe of embezzling funds meant for the construction of critical roads and primary schools in Ogoni land, declaring that he will complete the Kpopie-Bodo City Road deliberately abandoned by the Former Secretary to the Rivers State Government.
He added that his administration is also upgrading facilities and equipment at the Bori Zonal General Hospital which was also neglected by the immediate past APC government in the state.
The governor said that his projects in Ogoni land are targeted at empowering the people and keeping his campaign pledges, unlike the immediate past administration that denied the people development projects even after releasing funds for same.
Contrary to the falsehood being peddled by Senator Magnus Abe, the governor explained that the Sakpenwa-Bori Road is being constructed by CCECC, an internationally recognised company that executed the Abuja-Kaduna Light Rail project.
The governor also submitted that CCECC won the bid to construct the road, adding that his administration works with first grade road construction companies like Julius Berger, Setraco, CGC and CCECC to deliver development to the people.
He said: “The former administration gave Senator Magnus Abe a contract of over N4billion to construct this Kpopie-Bodo City Road and he embezzled the money. I am here to physically inspect this road. I hereby direct the State Ministry of Works to complete the road,
“It is unfortunate that he abandoned the Bodo section of the road because of his dislike for Bodo people. I have also directed that the road be fitted with street lights for beautification ”
He added that the former Federal Lawmaker wasted for years in the Senate without attracting development to his people, noting that he will never get the votes of the people because of his anti-people politics.
“I have disgraced the immediate past administration of APC in Rivers State by working where they failed to work. I have reached out to Ogoni people through projects that is why they are pained by the acceptance we enjoy. I will continue to develop Ogoni land and ensure that the people enjoy the benefits of good governance denied them by the immediate past APC administration where Senator Magnus Abe played a prominent role in defrauding Rivers State “, the governor said.
The governor said steps will be taken to address the issue of embezzlement of state funds by the Rivers State APC leaders.
In his remarks, Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Architect Harrison Iheanyichukwu said his ministry will start the reconstruction of the 6.9 kilometre road in the course of the week.
An indigene of the area and Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Chief Kenneth Kobani said the people are appreciative of Governor Wike’s commitment to their development.
Meanwhile, Governor Wike says the State Government will give the Nigeria Police the necessary support and backing on the ongoing arms mop-up exercise in the state.
He made the declaration when he received the new Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Francis Mobolaji Odesanya on Wednesday in Government House, Port Harcourt.
Chief Wike commended the new Rivers State police boss for starting on a good note urged him to sustain the tempo saying, “ do your job effectively and if anybody is involved please do not look back. Don’t give politicians the opportunity to mount pressure on you.”
The governor reiterated that the current success recorded in curbing crimes and returning peace to the state must be sustained, while emphasising the need for the police to be proactive.
Chief Wike further advised the State police chief and his men to be apolitical during the forthcoming rerun elections as the people of the state will resist any plot to use instruments of State to rig elections .
He noted that the police should work professionally to create the right atmosphere for the people to exercise their franchise without molestation.
The governor stated : “If anyone uses instruments of State to rig elections, we will not fold our hands”.
He reminded the police of the need to weed out compromised officers with political affiliation, pointing out that he has written to the Inspector-General of Police on the issue.
Governor Wike maintained that the state government will continue to support the police to fight crime at all levels.
“For the past one year, we have bought over 100 vehicles for security agencies. We will always support the police to improve security.
“We have to work together to fight crime. I am happy with the level of policing in the state which has reduced the level of crime”, Governor Wike said.
The governor announced that the state government will supply additional vehicles to the police. He also directed the local government councils in the state to provide logistics support to police divisions across the state.
Earlier, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr Francis Mobolaji Odesanya said that the police under his leadership will ensure the mop up of arms to promote security of lives and property.
He said that Rivers State will not be home to crimes as measures are being implemented to root them out.
He assured the people of the state that he will be apolitical and professional in the discharge of his duties.
The new commissioner of Police is the fifth police chief working with Governor Wike since he assumed duty on May 29, 2015.
The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has alerted Nigerians on the ban on Dex Luxury Bar Soap (No 6 Mystic Flower), by the European Union (EU).
The notification is contained in a public alert with No. 012/2024, signed by NAFDAC Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, and issued to newsmen in Abuja yesterday.
“The product does not comply with the cosmetic products regulation; it also contains Butyphenyl Methylpropional (BMHCA), which is prohibited in cosmetic products due to its risk of harming the reproductive system.
“It also causes harm to the health of unborn children and may cause skin sensitisation.
“It is as a result of the defective nature of the product that the EU banned it.
“The products is not in NAFDAC database; importers, distributors, retailers and consumers are to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain,” she said.
NAFDAC boss urged marketers and consumers to avoid the importation, distribution, sale and use of the product, stressing that product’s authenticity and physical condition must be carefully checked.
She enjoined members of the public in possession of the product to discontinue sale or use, and submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office.
The Country Manager of the British Red Cross in Nigeria, Karsten Voigt, says communities and volunteers are ready to face the challenges expected with the upcoming floods.
Voigt said this at the sidelines of the 56th Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), Lagos Branch.
The Tide’s source recalls that the British Red Cross donated resilience items to some communities in December 2023, to help mitigate the effects of flooding.
The items included cash, rain boots, rain coats, mosquito nets, handheld flashlights, solar powered lights with radio, USB chargers and a bridge to link the communities.
The communities that benefited included Agboyi 1, Agboyi 2, Agboyi 3 and Odo Ogun in Kosofe Local Government Area of the state.
Voigt said the Red Cross had measured the impact of the project in the communities and noticed that a lot of progress had been made.
According to him, apart from the cash and items given to the communities, simulation exercises have also been carried out to prepare the volunteers ahead of the floods.
“We have seen that people used the cash to address immediate needs they have after floods.
“Many households have used part of the cash to build up businesses.
“The solutions we have given to them are not only addressing their immediate needs after the disaster but actually building family income for their future,” he said.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunshine and thunderstorm from Monday to Wednesday across the country.
NiMet’s weather outlook released yesterday in Abuja, forecasts sunny skies on Monday with a few patches of cloud over the northern cities and prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Taraba later in the day.
According to the forecast, sunny skies with patches of clouds are expected over the North Central region with prospects of morning thunderstorm over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Kogi and Kwara States.
“Later in the day, isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Kogi and Benue States.
“The southern region is expected to be cloudy with spells of sunshine with prospects of morning thunderstorms over parts of Oyo, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo and Lagos States.
“ In the afternoon/evening periods, isolated thunderstorms are expected over parts of Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, Ekiti, Ogun, Imo, Oyo, Ondo, Edo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Rivers, Lagos and Bayelsa States,” it said.
NiMet also anticipated sunny skies on Tuesday with few patches of cloud over the northern states with prospects of isolated thunderstorms envisaged over parts of Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba and Kaduna States during the afternoon and evening hours.
It envisaged the North Central region to be sunny with patches of cloud during the morning hours.
The agency also envisaged isolated thunderstorms over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kogi, Benue, Kwara and Niger States, later in the day.
“Cloudy atmosphere with intervals of sunshine is expected over the inland and coastal areas of the South, with chances of morning thunderstorm over parts of Cross River, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Rivers States.
“In the afternoon/evening periods, isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Abia, Oyo, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Rivers and Bayelsa States ,” it said.
It predicted a sunny atmosphere on Wednesday, with patches of cloud over the northern region, during the forecast period.
“Sunny skies with patches of clouds are expected over the North Central region with chances of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Plateau, Kogi, Nasarawa, the Federal Capital Territory and Benue States, during the afternoon/evening periods.
“ Cloudy atmosphere with intervals of sunshine is expected over the inland and coastal areas of the South with prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi and Abia.”
Other states to experience cloudy atmosphere, are “Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, Oyo, Cross River, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa States, later in the day.”
NiMet urged the public to take adequate precaution as strong winds might precede rains in areas where thunderstorms were likely to occur.
The agency also urged airline operators to get updated weather reports and forecasts from its office for effective planning in their operations.
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