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Wike Commissions Ogbum-Nu-Abali Fruit Garden Market …Lifts Suspension On Employment Process At RSU
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has commissioned the ultra-modern Ogbum-Nu-Abali Fruit Garden Market, which was razed down by fire last year.
Commissioning the project, yesterday, Wike announced that the state government would allocate shops to traders who owned shops in the market before it got burnt.
The governor said: “Let me assure all of you, that those who are traders here will get back their shops. We already have the names of these traders.
“We shall also allocate shops to the host community of Ogbum-nu-Abali. Thereafter, we shall ballot, if there are shops remaining”.
Wike announced that henceforth, the market would be known and called “Ogbum-nu-Abali Fruit Garden Market to reflect the host community.
“We must begin to reflect the names of the communities where projects are allocated. This is important”, he said.
The governor warned the traders against selling on the road. He said there are shops and spaces to accommodate all traders within the market.
He urged the traders to always pay their taxes because such taxes would be used to develop more projects for other residents of the state, and recalled that the market was razed down during the campaign period.
According to him, several political groups made promises, but only the Rivers State Government was able to redeem its pledge.
Wike stated that fire-fighting equipment would be installed in the market to forestall future occurrence of fire outbreak.
In a project description, Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Special Projects, Mr Sunday Okere said the new Ogbun-nu-Abali Market has four buildings (one storey each) and eight buildings (bungalow), designed to promote commercial activities.
Other facilities in the market include, 232 open stalls, 72 lock up shops, toilet blocks, car park, drainage, internal roads, a warehouse, generator, transformer, perimeter fence and a security house.
In his remarks, Mayor of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Hon Victor Ihunwo said the Rivers State governor lived up to his promise to the traders, explaining that the market was the best of its kind.
“The traders are celebrating the market, and Wike, who has kept his promise”, he added.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Ogbum-nu-Abali Fruit Garden Market Traders Association, Chigozie Nnolim, expressed gratitude to the Rivers State governor for delivering the market to them.
The occasion witnessed traditional dances and wrestling exhibition matches by women and host communities.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has directed the Governing Council of the Rivers State University (RSU) to continue with the suspended employment exercise for academic and non academic staff.
Commissioning the Rivers State University Students’ Union Government (SUG) building, last Monday, at the school premises, Wike said that he was compelled to suspend the exercise because of the negative issues that bedevilled it.
The governor said: “I suspended the process for the employment exercise due to the issues that emanated from it. The committee that I set up to investigate the process has turned in its report.
“I am satisfied with the report of the committee. Therefore, I have informed the pro-chancellor to go ahead with the employment exercise”.
Wike said unlike other leaders, he has never interfered with admission and employment processes of any institution in the state.
He said his transparent approach to administration gives him the moral power to discipline erring officials.
The governor approved the construction of an ultra-modern Senate building for the Rivers State University.
He said that if the pro-chancellor and acting vice chancellor make the design available on time, the building would be completed by the first anniversary of his second term.
He called on the students’ union leadership to use the new facility to fight cultism, harassment of female students and examination malpractices.
Wike urged the acting vice chancellor to be firm and ensure that the university continues to move forward.
In his remarks, the Pro-Chancellor of the Rivers State University, Justice Iche Ndu said the completion of the Students Union Government (SUG) building was the sixth major project completed by Wike in the institution.
He assured the Rivers State governor that the Governing Council and Management of the institution would work towards making the state university, a world-class institution.
The pro-chancellor appealed to students to use the new building to fight vices, adding that the university should be a centre of learning.
In her address, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Opuenebo Binya Owei, described the delivery of the building as a milestone in the annals of student unionism.
She said: “This is a milestone in the annals of student unionism. It gives the students a sense of belonging as major stakeholders”.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of Bureau of Special Projects, Mr Sunday Okere said the magnificent building was constructed and equipped by the governor.
President of the Students’ Union Government of the Rivers State University, Comrade Precious Pepple said that Rivers people re-elected the governor because they want him to execute more projects for them.
Highpoint of the occasion was the presentation of an Appreciation Award to the Rivers State governor by President National Union of Rivers State Students (NURSS), Comrade Patrick Ogbuehi.
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RSG Approves Full Rehabilitation of State Secretariat …Unveils Housing Scheme for Civil Servants, Honours Veterans
Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Eteh Ibas (Rtd), has approved the complete rehabilitation and modernization of the Rivers State Secretariat Complex to enhance efficiency and productivity in the civil service.
Ibas made the announcement at the 2025 Civil Service Week Gala and Awards Ceremony held at Banquet Hall, Government House, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday,.
He disclosed that “initiative is designed to transform the secretariat into a modern, efficient and conducive work environment, directly supporting the civil servants who form the backbone of the state’s governance.”
The Administrator also approved the provision of 106 housing units for civil servants in the State.
Ibas paid glowing tribute to retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries, describing them as the bedrock of the state’s administration.
He stated that the awards ceremony was a symbol of deep appreciation for decades of sacrifice, resilience, and commitment.
“These interventions are designed to not only recognize your service, but also to improve your welfare in tangible and lasting ways,” the Administrator stated.
“We must build an administration that is efficient, effective, and truly citizen-centric,” he added.
The Administrator urged serving officers to draw inspiration from their predecessors and strive to make a meaningful impact in the lives of citizens.
He emphasized the importance of embracing innovation, technology, and continuous training to build a civil service equipped for the future.
The Acting Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr. (Mrs.) Inyingi Brown, in her welcome address, described the civil service as the “engine room of government” and expressed profound gratitude to the Administrator for his unwavering support and commitment to its modernization.“
“A society that does not honour its heroes is not worthy of emulation,” Dr. Brown remarked, lauding the retirees as torchbearers of discipline and loyalty.
She pledged to build on their legacy through reforms and innovation, projecting that the Rivers State Civil Service would become a model of efficiency and transparency by 2030.
Speaking on behalf of the retirees, President of the Association of Retired Permanent Secretaries, Sir Promise Njowhor,
expressed heartfelt appreciation for the historic recognition.
“For once, since the creation of the State, we are being honoured,” Njowhor said, adding, “Our morale has been lifted.”
He pledged the association’s continuous support for government programmes, describing the body of experienced retirees as a resource available to contribute to state development.
The rehabilitation of the State Secretariat and the new housing scheme represent a major investment in the infrastructure and dignity of public service in Rivers State, signaling a new era of support for the civil servants who drive the government’s policies and programmes.
The Tide reports that the Administrator also conferred awards of meritorious service on retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries in the State
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has won 20 out of the 23 local government areas in the just concluded local government election in the State, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clinched three local governments.
According to the results released by the Rivers State independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), yesterday, the APC won the chairmanship seats in Abua/Odual, Andoni, Opobo Nkoro, Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Okrika, Ogu/Bolo and Khana local government areas.
APC also won in Gokana, Tai, Oyigbo, Bonny, Eleme, Etche, Omuna, Akuku Toru, Asari Toru, Degema, Ikwerre and Emohua local government areas.
The Commission, however, said the PDP won in Port Harcourt City, Obio/Akpor, and Ogba Egbema Ndoni local government areas.
Chairman of the Commission, Dr Michael Odey, who announced the results at the Commission headquarters in Port Harcourt, said Ofori Owolabi of the APC scored 28,755 votes to emerge winner of the election for Abua Odual while Solomon Ochomma, also of the APC, emerged chairman elect for Ahoada East after scoring 54,509 votes.
Odey said Eugene Epelle also of the APC scored 84,125 votes to emerge winner in Ahoada West, while Bob Fubara was elected the chairman-elect for Akuku Toru after scoring 63,593 votes.
Similarly APC chairmanship candidate Lucky Otuo Promise emerged chairman-elect for Andoni after scoring a total of 126,181 votes, APC’s George Onengiyeofori emerged winner in Asari Toru after scoring 56,383 votes, while Pepple Blessing Abinye garnered 13,543 votes to emerge winner in Bonny Local Government Area.
Other APC candidates elected include Michael John Williams who scored 16,536 votes to emerge chairman-elect for Degema Local Government; Obarlllormate Ollor (77,452) for Eleme; Dr Chidi Julius Lloyd (114,380) for Emohua; Njoku Boniface (100,649) for Etche; Confidence Deekor (96,478) for Gokana, while Wobodo Charles got 62,746 votes to emerge winner in Ikwerre Local Government Area.
Other APC winners from the APC include Akuro Tobins (32,285 votes) for Okrika; Hon Obasi Uchechukwu (38,530) for Omuma; James A James (38,822) for Opobo Nkoro; Vincent Nemieboka (36,374) for Ogu/Bolo; Hon Mbakpone Okpe (70,080) for Tai LGA, while in Oyigbo, Okechukwu Akara scored 101,495 votes to emerge winner.
Meanwhile, the RSIEC chairman announced Dr Gift Worlu of the PDP with 328,823 votes to emerge winner in Obio Akpor; Shedrack Ogbogu, also of the PDP, scored 51,051 votes for Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area, while in Port Harcourt City, Sir Alwell Ihunda garnered 235,054 votes for PDP to emerge winner.
The APC also cleared the councillorship seats in Abua/Odual, Andoni, Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Okrika, Ogu/Bolo and Khana, Oyigbo, Bonny, Eleme, Etche,Tai, Khana Opobo/Nkoro and Degema local government areas.
Similarly APC councillorship candidates also emerged winners in Asari Toru, Degema, Akuku Toru, Gokana and Khana while PDP cleared the councillorship seats in Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt city, and Ogba Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government Areas
Meanwhile, the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions has passed a vote of confidence on the just concluded local government election in the State.
National Chairman of the forum, Hon. Mamman Nda Eri, said this in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt.
Eri said all the chairmen across the country were in Port Harcourt to monitor the election as well as gain experience in an election under emergency rule.
John Bibor & King Onunwor
