News
Good Governace: Anglican Bishops Plan Thanksgiving For Wike …As Monarchs Assure Synergy With Security Agencies
Anglican Dioceses in Rivers State have said that Governor Nyesom Wike sterling performances in the first four years of his administration was the reason behind its proposed thanksgiving service for the governor and his deputy this Sunday.
At a press briefing in Port Harcourt, Rt Rev. Tubokosemie R. Abere who is the leader of the Anglican Bishops in Rivers State said that the service which holds this Sunday at the St Paul’s Cathedral Diobu Port Harcourt will also be used to thank God for the return of peace to the state after the general election.
“The purpose is to thank God for many of His mercies and favours on Rivers State.
Moreso, the successful first tenure of Governor Nyesom Wike and the Deputy Governor, Dame Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo”.
Bishop Abere listed the achievements of Governor Wike to include peaceful governance in the first tenure, construction and development of infrastructures in the state, and expansion of major roads and construction of internal roads.
The dioceses also listed other achievements to include; improvement on the educational institution, introduction of college of medicine at the Rivers State University, introduction of more polytechnic campuses amongst others.
Also speaking, chairman of the thanksgiving organising committee who is also the Bishop of Evo Diocese, Rt Rev Innocent Ordu said that the Anglican Communion in Rivers State is proud of Governor Wike and his Deputy Ipalibo Harry Banigo both of who are faithfuls of the Anglican Church.
Bishop Ordu said that the service will be attended by all senior \clergies of the eight dioceses in Rivers State.
Also speaking, the Bishop Diocese of Etche, Rt Rev. Okechukwu Nwala said that Governor Wike has shown great commitment in the development at churches adding that the event is to celebrate God’s goodness in the victory he granted to Governor Wike and his deputy Ipalibo Harry Banigo.
The briefing was attended by Rt Rev Ralph Ebirien of the Diocese of Niger Delta, Wisdom Budu Ihunwo of Diocese of Niger Delta North, Tubo Abere of Diocese of Okrika and Solomon Enyindah of the Diocese of Ikwerre.
Also in attendance were Rt Rev Clement Ekpeye of Diocese of Ahoada and Gberegbara of the Diocese of Ogoni
Meanwhile, traditional rulers in Rivers State under the aegis of “Andoni Area Traditional Rulers Council/Chiefs”, have expressed determination to synergise with security operatives to step up surveillance on coastal communities.
The Paramount Ruler of Ikuru Town and Chairman of the council, King Aaron Ikuru, made the assertion after a thanksgiving service at St. Simon’s Anglican Church, Ikuru Town, Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The service was to thank God for the released Lebanese construction workers abducted in Andoni territory.
Ikuru, on behalf of the council, assured the people that the area would no longer be a safe haven for criminals as there were redoubled synergy with relevant security agencies, a strategy aimed at tackling kidnapping and other criminalities in the area.
It would be recalled that three Lebanese construction workers who were kidnapped on site in Andoni Local Government Area had regained freedom.
While in their abductors’ nest, the state government had threatened to dethrone traditional rulers of the area if the foreigners were not released.
The paramount ruler said that consequently, the security agencies in collaboration with traditional rulers in the area worked in synergy until they were released after two weeks.
“We are advising our youths, especially those ones who call themselves militants to retrace their steps and return to the fold.
“For those of them who are willing to surrender their arms to the local government council, such ones will be entitled to an immediate reward.
“And for those strangers who sneak into Andoni through our coast, they should know it’s no longer business as usual because the state government is very worried and more than ever before.
“The search light is now beamed on Andoni, so any body aiding or abetting any form of crime in this area should desist forthwith.
“We are now abreast with their tactics, remember that when men have learnt how to shoot without missing, the birds learn how to fly without perching.
“This time around, the state government is ready to take the war against insecurity to all nooks and cranny of the state and we won’t relent in assisting to achieve success in this laudable initiative.
“For those of them who are indigenes of Andoni, we strongly advice them to change their ways or relocate because those people they call their friends have already exposed them by way of information, so this place is no longer safe for kidnappers,” he said.
The paramount ruler thanked security operatives, the state, local government and well meaning people of Andoni for their support, especially on intelligence gathering.
He called on the state government to ensure completion of the road project which, he described, as pivotal to the economy of the area.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for an official State visit at the invitation of the Prime Minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed.
Upon arrival yesterday, Shettima was received at the airport by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Dr. Gedion Timothewos, and other members of the Ethiopian and Nigerian diplomatic corps.
Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communication, Stanley Nkwocha, revealed this in a statement he signed yesterday, titled: “VP Shettima arrives in Ethiopia for official state visit.”
During the visit, Vice President Shettima will participate in the official launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Programme, a flagship environmental initiative.
The programme designed to combat deforestation, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change targets the planting of 20 billion tree seedlings over a four-year period.
In line with strengthening bilateral ties in agriculture and industrial development, the Vice President will also embark on a strategic tour of key industrial zones and integrated agricultural facilities across selected regions of Ethiopia.
News
RSG Tasks Farmers On N4bn Agric Loan ….As RAAMP Takes Sensitization Campaign To Four LGs In Rivers
The Rivers State Government has called on the people of the state especially farmers to access the ?4billion agricultural loans made available by the State and domiciled in the Bank of Industry.
This is as the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) of Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), a World Bank project, took its sensitization campaign to Opobo/Nkoro, Andoni, Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor local government areas.
The campaign was aimed at enlightening community dwellers and other stakeholders in the various local government areas on the RAAMP project implementation and programme activities.
The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Maurice Ogolo, said this at Opobo town, Ngo, Port Harcourt City and Rumuodumanya, headquarters of the four local government areas respectively, during the sensitization campaign.
Ogolo said apart from the ?4billion, the government has also made available fertilizers and other farm inputs to farmers in the various local government areas.
The Permanent Secretary who is the Chairman, State Steering Committee for the project, said RAAMP will construct roads that will connect farms to markets to enable farmers and fishermen sell their farms produce and fishes.
He also said rural roads would be constructed to farms and fishing settlements, and warned against any act that will lead to the cancellation of the projects in the four local government areas.
According to him, the World Bank and Federal Government which are the financiers of the programme will not condone such acts like kidnapping, marching ground and other acts inimical to the successful implementation of the projects in their respective areas.
At PHALGA, Ogolo asserted that the city will benefit in the areas of roads and bridge construction.
He noted that RAAMP was thriving in both the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; Lagos and other states in the country, stressing that the project should also be given the seriousness it deserves in Rivers State.
Speaking at Opobo town, the headquarters of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, the project coordinator, RAAMP, Mr.Joshua Kpakol, said the programme would reduce poverty in the state.
According to him, both fishermen and farmers will maximally benefit from the programme.
At Ngo which is the headquarters of Andoni Local Government Area, Kpakol said roads will be constructed to all remote fishing settlements.
He said Rivers State is lucky to be among the states implementing the project, and stressed the need for the people to embrace it.
Meanwhile, Kpakol said at PHALGA that RAAMP is a project that will transform the lives of farmers, traders and other stakeholders in the area.
He urged the stakeholders to spread the information to their various communities.
However, some of the stakeholders at Opobo town complained about the destruction of their farms by bulls allegedly owed by traditional rulers in the area, as well as incessant stealing of their canoes at waterfronts.
At Ngo, Archbishop Elkanah Hanson, founder of El-Shaddai Church, commended the World Bank and the Federal Government for bringing the projects to Andoni.
He stressed the need for the construction of roads to fishing settlements in the area.
Also, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in the state and Okan Ama of Ekede, HRH King Gad Harry, noted that storage facilities have become necessary for a successful agricultural programme.
Harry also stressed the need for the programme to be made sustainable.
In their separate speeches, the administrators of Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas, pledged their readiness to support the programme.
At Port Harcourt City, the Administrator, Dr Arthur Kalagbor, represented by the Head of Local Government Administration, Port Harcourt City, Mr Clifford Paul, said the city would support the implementation of the programme in the area.
Also, the administrator of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Dr Clifford Ndu Walter, represented by Mr Michael Elenwo, pledged to support the programme in his local government area.
Among dignitaries at the Obio/Akpor stakeholders engagement is the chairman, Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council and paramount ruler of Apara Kingdom, HRM Eze Chike Wodo, amongst others.
John Bibor
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the commencement of personnel audit and skill gap analysis across all cadres of federal civil servants.
The president gave this directive in Abuja, yesterday, while speaking at the International Civil Service Conference, reaffirming his resolve to achieve efficiency and professional service delivery in the civil service.
“I have authorized the comprehensive personnel audit and skill gap analysis across the federal civil service to deepen capacity. I urge all responsible stakeholders to prioritize timely completion of this critical exercise, to begin implementing targeted reforms, to realize the full benefit of a more agile, competent and responsive civil service,” the president announced.
Tinubu further directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to prioritise data integrity and sovereignty in national interest.
He called for the capture, protection and strategic publication of public sector data in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023.
“We must let our data speak for us. We must publish verified data assets within Nigeria and share them internationally recognized as fruitful. This will allow global benchmarking organisation to track our progress in real time and help us strengthen our position on the world stage. This will preserve privacy and uphold data sovereignty,” Tinubu added.
President Tinubu hailed the federal civil service as the “engine” driving his Renewed Hope Agenda, and the vehicle for delivering sustainable national development.
He submitted that the roles of civil servants remain indispensable in modern governance, declaring that in the face of a fast-evolving digital and economic landscape, the civil service must remain agile, future-ready, and results-driven.
“This maiden conference is a bold step toward redefining governance in an era of rapid transformation. An innovative Civil Service ensures we meet today’s needs and overcome tomorrow’s challenges.
“It captures our collective ambition to reimagine and reposition the civil service. In today’s rapid, evolving world of technology, innovation remains critical in ensuring that the civil service is dynamic, digital” the President said.
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack in her welcome address told the President that his presence and strong words of commendation at the conference has renewed the morale and mandate of public servants across the country.
Walson-Jack described Tinubu as the backbone of driving transformation in the Nigerian civil service, and noted that the takeaways from past study tours undertaken to understudy the civil service in Singapore, the UK and US under her leadership, is already yielding multiplier effects.
Walson-Jack assured Tinubu that her office, in collaboration with reform-minded stakeholders, will not relent in accelerating the implementation of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan, FCSSIP 25.
She affirmed that digitalisation, performance management, and continuous learning remain key pillars in strengthening accountability, transparency, and service delivery across MDAs.
Walson-Jack reaffirmed that the civil service is determined to exceed expectations by embedding a culture of innovation, ethical leadership, and citizen-centred governance in the heart of public administration.