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Quit Notice: RSG Grants 21-Day Extension To Street Traders, Others …Mulls New Security Measure In Rivers

The Rivers State Government has announced a 21-day extension of the initial deadline given to street traders, car sales operators, mechanics and operators of private commercial vehicle parks to quit Port Harcourt streets and roads.
A statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim, yesterday, indicated that, “His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike, has graciously extended by 21 days, the deadline given to those involved in the illegal use of the streets of Port Harcourt for street trading, car sales, mechanic workshops and private taxi parks”.
The statement noted that, “As a responsive government, the new deadline of July 21, 2019, is to assist those involved in the aforementioned businesses to adjust to the new reality.
“Therefore, all those concerned are advised to reciprocate the magnanimity of the state government by ensuring that they do not fall foul of this directive, as government will not extend this second deadline”.
It further said that, “The Task Force set up for this purpose will impound the goods of defaulters. Impounded goods would be forfeited.
“All well-meaning residents of Rivers State are encouraged to join hands with Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike to restore the Garden City status of Port Harcourt”, the statement added.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has disclosed that the state government plans to initiate a comprehensive security architecture that would improve peace in all parts of the state.
Wike also stated that his administration would continue to encourage security operatives who support the state government to fight crime in different communities.
He spoke, last Monday, during the meeting with chiefs and security officials from Ahoada East and Ahoada West local government areas at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
The governor said, “Very soon, we will roll out comprehensive security architecture for the State to improve security in all communities of the state.
“The state government is committed to encouraging security operatives who assist us in improving security in our communities. Today, we are honouring the area commander of Ahoada East and West and the JTF Commander of Ahoada.
“They have placed their lives on the line to defend our people. It is not easy. Now that they are alive, it is for us to appreciate them. This will encourage others to serve the state. These officers have shown that they are prepared to defend the state and fight”.
On the decision by Ekpeye youths to turn a new leaf and surrender their arms and embrace peace, Wike directed the police to bind over the youths so that they don’t return to crime.
He regretted that criminal activities have negatively affected the development of Ekpeye Kingdom.
“If you have volunteered to embrace peace and drop your arms, the state government will support you. Nobody will arrest you.
“If the police bind you over, the Rivers State Government will rehabilitate you. I want peace in all communities of the state because government cannot execute projects where there is no peace”, he said.
Wike assured Ekpeye people that his administration would develop platforms that would encourage oil companies to employ the youths of host communities.
In his remarks, the Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Ehie Edison urged the Rivers State governor to forgive the youths and encourage them on the path of peace.
“We are aware of your selfless efforts to ensure that peace returns to Rivers State. It will be insensitive for us not to take the lead and support you in Ekpeye land”, he said.
Edison said that the least that Ekpeye leaders can do was to create the right environment for peace to return to the area, and urged the governor to give Ekpeye leaders two weeks to mop up arms in the communities.
Also speaking, Eze Igbu-Upata, Dr Felix Otuwarikpo said that 113 youths had earlier surrendered their weapons, with another 216 youths joining the programme, last weekend.
He said that Ekpeye leaders were committed to peace in the area, hence they ensured the arrest and prosecution of a local gun manufacturer, adding that Ekpeye people were not in support of criminality.
He assured the governor that more arms would be mopped up by community leaders in the next two weeks.
The service commanders presented the cash gifts of the Rivers State Government to the security officials.
It would be recalled that Ekpeye leaders worked out a traditional amnesty programme which led to local criminals surrendering their arms in a ceremony at the Government House, Port Harcourt, last week.
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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
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Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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