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Bill Board, Mast Collapse: RSG Begins Integrity Tests …As Rainstorm Leaves One Dead, Two Injured
The Rivers State Signage and Advert Regulatory Agency, has begun integrity test to reduce hazards posed by faulty and poorly erected bill boards in the state.
Managing Director of the agency, Chukudi Dimpka made the revelation during a chat with newsmen over the destruction of many bill boards and communication masts by storm around the city on Monday in Port Harcourt during which a 16-year old girl, Miss Peace Weche was killed while two others sustained serious injuries..
Mr. Dimpka who inspected some of the bill boards that were destroyed by storm blamed poor maintenance on the part of advert practitioners, noting that most of the poles were outdated and rusty.
He regretted the level of damage done on some houses and stalls along the Mile 3 axis, as two advert bill boards fell on a building and another on a building material plaza destroying properties worth millions of naira.
After the inspection he revealed that the agency will commence evacuation of the affected poles to avert further damage and threat to public safety.
As a way of checking the occurrence of such disasters in the future, he noted that a new measure will be put in place, “part of the new criteria is such that for the agency to approve new bill boards you have to conduct a soil test, have an environmental Impact assessment report and insurance policy.”
He explained that many of the advert approvals have been revoked in order to get compliance.
On what the public should do to prevent accidents, he advised people to be alert and look around for flying object while traders should stop setting up business under bill boards.
Community Development Committee Chairman, Nkpolu Community in Mile 3, Pastor Isokwo Igwe has decried the loss of a 16 year old Miss Wechie who was killed by a telecom mast in Nkpolu Community Secondary School compound on Monday during a heavy storm.
The mast erected in the premises of the University of Port Harcourt School of Continuing Education fell and hit the girl who was selling food items for the mum in the school premises.
The Tide learnt that a football coach who was taking shelter from the rain under a makeshift building was also hit. He was said to have sustained injuries but did not die as he was rushed to a hospital.
Pastor Igwe who blamed poor maintenance of the mast as responsible for the accident said the community would summon a meeting of owners of such structures in the area.
Already, he stated that the matter has been reported to the police and the body of the girl deposited in the mortuary, as he commiserated with the family over the loss of their daughter.
Meanwhile, It was a tragic Monday afternoon for inhabitants of Oroworukwo Community in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of Rivers State following the instant death of Miss Peace Wechie.
Speaking to The Tide, the mother of the late 16-year old girl, Wechie Eucharia Charles, said the incident occurred at 4pm inside the Oroworukwo Community Secondary School, Nkpolu, during the Monday rain where her shop was, adding that the rainstorm pulled the ICT Mast belonging to UNIPORT CCE, which fell atop her makeshift shop where her late daughter and others were taking shade during the rain.
“Today, I was with my children in my shop here at about 4pm with others who came to take shade as a result of the rain. What I heard was noise. The mast fell on my daughter. I saw my daughter, coach, and one other small boy rushed to hospital in Mile 1, but on getting to the place, the doctor confirmed her dead,” she stated.
Also speaking, a community leader in the area, Apostle Princewill Nnokam described the incident as a sad one for the community, adding that such calamity has not been witnessed since the history of the community.
Nnokam blamed the woes of the community not only on the natural disaster, but also on the non-professional work done by the engineer that handled the construction of the destroyed mast.
He called on the relevant authorities, especially the University of Port Harcourt, to come to the support of the family, adding that the deceased parent has lost all she had, her business and daughter to the incident.
Nnokam, however, said that the matter has been reported to the UST Police Division, even as he called for sanction on the structural engineer that handled the work for unprofessional work done.
The small boy, David Ihiemekwalam, and his football coach, an elderly man, who were also hit by the mast, and sustained serious injuries, were said to be responding to treatment at a hospital in Port Harcourt.
The father of the boy, Mr Joseph Ihiemekwalam, who hails from Abia State, said “according to my son’s account of the accident, he (David Ihiemekwalam) and his football coach, an elderly man, were sitting on a bench right behind the late Miss Peace Weche”.
According to him, they narrowly escaped death because it was the middle of the Mast that hit them while the fence between UPHCCE and Community Secondary School, Nkpolu took much of the weight, adding that what killed Miss Peace Weche was the sharp edge of the Mast which hit directly on her head.
The UPHCCE director, who declined to disclose his identity, said due to the heavy storm, many masts such as MTN Mast and Diamond Bank Mast around the area were badly affected, regretting that it was very sad and unfortunate that the college’s Telecommunication Mast fell across the fence and killed the 16-year old.
The director hinted further that the Community Development Chairman (CDC), Isokwo Igwe and the Board members of the University of Port Harcourt, College of Continuing Education, have already scheduled to visit the family to condole with them on the death of the girl.
In an interview with newsmen, the Acting Chairman, Rivers State Signage and Advertisement Agency, Mr Chukwudi Dimkpa, said that poor maintenance culture by advertising companies and lack of proper monitoring and supervision during the mounting of heavy masts were responsible for such accidents capable of claiming lives and destruction of buildings.
Dimkpa added that soon his agency would commence total checks on all the billboards mounted in the city of Port Harcourt and its environs, with a view to correcting any anomalies.
Our correspondent, who visited the scene of the incident, reports that many buildings were destroyed, properties estimated at N200million were lost by traders along the area due to the thunderstorm.
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Nnamdi Omoni said he was yet to be briefed on the matter.
Akujobi Amadi & 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.
