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RSG To Impound Broken Down, Indiscriminately Parked Trucks …Gives Tanker Drivers Seven Days Deadline
The Rivers State Governments has said it would start impounding fuel tankers found broken down or indiscriminately parked in Port Harcourt and its environs.
The state Commissioner for Transport, Sam Soni Ejekwu, who declared the new order in Port Harcourt, yesterday, during an interactive session with the leadership of the tanker drivers, gave the truck owners seven days to free the roads of all trucks so affected.
He lamented that successive administration in Rivers had been unable to tackle the nuisance and hardship posed to other road users by tanker drivers who park indiscriminately on roads leading to major fuel depots in Port Harcourt.
Ejekwu, who said he drove through affected areas in Port Harcourt and environs before convening the meeting, identified Wait and Bush Road, Macobar Road, Industry Road, Njemanze Road, Eastern Bypass, Eleme Road axis of the East-West Road, among key roads being abused by truck drivers in the Rivers State capital city.
“One week from today, defaulters parking indiscriminately on the roads would have their tires deflated and made to pay.
“Owners of trucks or tankers broken down on busy roads have 24hours to fix and, or remove the same, else the government will tow them off the road with penalties on the defaulters”, Ejekwu added.
He tasked heavy-duty vehicle owners to maintain same regularly to avoid a breakdown on the roads while pledging, in the long run, to liaise with the Greater Port Harcourt Development Authority to allocate tanker park space to keep trucks from indiscriminate parking on major roads.
On their part, the tanker drivers who pledged to abide by the new government order, however, complained of a certain task force harassing and extorting monies from them on allegedly on behalf of the state Ministry of Commerce.
In his response, the Chairman, South-South chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Heady Duty Trucks Unit, Mohammed Uwarigiwa, told the commissioner, “These strange task force usually harass our men in the dead of the nights in major entry, exit routes in the state.
“They ambush our members on the road, demanding various permits, documents for which they make huge cash demands, up to N10,000 to N20,000. Those who refuse are sometimes brutally assaulted and their vehicles damaged”.
Happy Birthday Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON
Honourable Minister Federal Capital Territory
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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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