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RSG Cancels Lockdown Of Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt Local Government
? Imposes state-wide curfew 8p.m to 6a.m from June 2, 2020 till further notice
? Uncovers plan by one Bobosky to instigate violence in 6 LGAs
? Investigating alleged outbreak of coronavirus in Bonny LGA
Rivers State Government has cancelled the proposed lockdown of Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt Local Government Areas scheduled to resume tomorrow.
Governor Nyesom Wike who stated this in a state-wide broadcast also announced the imposition of 8p.m to 6am curfew in the 23 Local Government Areas of the State with effect from June 2,2020 till further notice.
The Governor also revealed that government has uncovered plans by some criminal elements led by one Bobosky to cause security breaches in Khana, Eleme,Gokana, Tai, Oyigbo and Ikwerre Local Government Areas.
“After a comprehensive review of the measures taken and further considerations placed before us by well-meaning members of the public, the State Security Council has decided to cancel the proposed lockdown on Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt Local Government Areas of the State.
“In essence, no part of Rivers State is or will be under any lockdown from this moment and this will be so, except where it becomes necessary again.
“As we all know, the regular washing of hands, religious wearing of face masks, keeping effective physical and social distance of between 1.5 to 2 meters from other people, completely avoiding touching of faces with unwashed hands, and cleaning of surfaces we regularly touch have been identified as some of the most effective measures against contracting this virus in the absence of vaccine, ” he said.
According to the Governor, government would re-enforce the decisions on the continuous implementation of the following measures throughout the State:
(i) All land borders, including all exit and entry routes into Rivers State shall remain closed to human and vehicular traffic, except those on essential services and duly exempted.
(ii) All residents must wear face masks or covering into any public space, including our roads, banks, shopping malls, shops, hotels and in any lawful social gathering.
(iii) The State task force and the security agencies have been directed to arrest and summarily prosecute any person seen on our streets or any other public place without wearing face masks.
(iv) All banks, motor parks, hotels, restaurants, shops, business centres, shopping malls, and offices must maintain social distancing and enforce the wearing of face masks in their premises.
(v) The State task force and security agencies have been directed to seal up, prosecute and confiscate to the State any bank, shopping mall, restaurant, shop, business place or office that fails to enforce social distancing and the wearing of face masks in its premises.
(vi) In addition to providing daily guest list to the Police and the Department of State Security, hoteliers must not host large gatherings, including parties and receptions. Defaulting hotels will be sealed-up and the owners summarily prosecuted.
(vii) All bars, beer palours, or drinking joints, night-clubs, viewing centres, open markets and cinemas shall remain closed until further notice;
(viii) Oil mill market in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area shall remain closed until further notice;
(ix) Oginigba Slaughter market in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area shall similarly remain closed until further notice.
(x) Mbiama market in Ahoada West Local Government Area shall also remain closed until further notice;
(xi) All public weddings, burials and large social gatherings shall remain banned.
(xii) Churches and other religious gatherings should continue to comply with the existing advisory on social distancing, initiate temperature checks and enforce the wearing of face masks during their activities;
(xiii) Dealers in Ikoku Spare Parts markets are warned for the last time to stop converting public roads to mechanic workshops or risk final closure.
(xiv) Similarly, no mechanic workshop should be found along Ikwerre road as Government will prosecute defaulters and confiscate any vehicle being repaired on any public road.
(xv) Private and commercial vehicles, including tricycles must continue to limit their passengers to the number earlier established and enforce the wearing of face masks by all passengers. Defaulters will be prosecuted and their vehicles confiscated by the Task force.
These measures, he said, are in the best interest of our State, to protect our lives, businesses, and jobs as well as, to prevent our troubled economy from suffering irreparable damage.
“This also means that, residents now bear much greater responsibility to stop and prevent our State from suffering the exponential and potentially devastating spread of the virus being experienced across the
“As 60% of the positive cases recorded in the State are connected with oil company workers, we have initiated a meeting with all the major oil companies to work out strategies on how we can stop this trend and stop the risk this category of workers now pose to the State.
“Government is also investigating the rumored or suspected outbreak of the coronavirus at Bonny Island.
“Our team of medical personnel led by the Commissioner for Health has visited Bonny Island and collected samples from suspected cases for analysis and immediate intervention should the results indicate the outbreak of the virus in the area, “the governor said.
The State Chief Executive also revealed that intelligence has intercepted a clandestine plan by some criminal elements led by Bobosky to cause security breaches in the State by instigating violence and burning down churches in Khana, Eleme, Gokana, Tai and Oyigbo Local Government Areas of the State.
He assured all residents that the State Government is fully ready and prepared to deal with the situation and continue to guarantee the protection of lives and property throughout the State.
The Governor implored all residents to be vigilant and report all suspicious characters and movements in their neighbourhoods to security agencies.
“Leaders and vigilante groups in our communities are to work with the security agencies to enforce curfew in their localities and arrest and prosecute anyone that violates the curfew order.
“We urge our people to stop the fake news on social media; stop the baseless bickering, the needless blame game, and the seditious rumours that does no good to our image or provide any solution to the common challenges that we face.
“Rather, we should all come together, put our fate in our own hands and work for the common good of all, whether as individuals, families or as communities,” he stated.
The Governor commended all health workers who have continued to put their lives at risk in the forefront in the battle against COVID-19.
Featured
Rivers State Governor, Wike Threatens To Sanction Erring Project Contractor …To Review Contract Of 5000 Capacity Auditorium At NYSC Camp
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has stated that contractors who fail to abide by the contractual agreement in handling projects in the state will be sanctioned.
Governor Wike said it is unacceptable for contractors, particularly those who have received full payment before the COVID-19 pandemic to use it as an excuse not to deliver their projects on time or compromise set standard.
The governor issued the warning shortly after inspecting projects located in Eleme and Tai local government areas of the state on Friday.
Governor Wike said while the structural work of the five thousand capacity auditorium at the National Youth service Corps orientation camp in Nonwa is commendable, the contract will however be reviewed.
According to the governor, the review has become necessary because the contractor refused to make the furnishing of the auditorium an integral part of the original design.
“I don’t know how anybody would design a modern structure and begin to talk about terazzo floor. You can’t also construct a building without talking about furnishing. These things have to go hand in hand.
“I’ll make sure that the right thing is done. We have paid 100% and what I have seen I’m not satisfied.
“Again, the contractor has no reason to use covid-19 as reason for the delay. Payment was made to him In November 2019, and covid-19 started in march 2020.
“We have to be very strict with contractors; those who do not want to fulfil their contractual agreement, government will take its stand and sanction them even if the supervising ministry or agency may not have done very well,” he added.
Governor Wike also said the various projects at the NYSC orientation camp serve as support to federal agencies located in the state as they continue to render services to Rivers people.
“They are here to serve Rivers people. There is need to give them support. We have done the internal roads within the NYSC camp, and we have completely renovated the entire building structure for them,” he emphasised.
The governor who also inspected the progress of work at the Community Secondary School in Eteo community in Eleme local government area said his administration has projects sited in every local government of the state and that he is committed to completing them.
Governor Wike said a directive has been given to the contractor handling the community school to add the construction of a library for reading activities and a chapel auditorium for regular religious worship.
Rivers state governor, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike says the three flyover bridges under construction in Port Harcourt the state capital will be completed one month ahead of the initial deadline of February 2021.
The new development is coming after Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, the Construction firm handling the projects assured of delivering the Rebisi flyover (Garrision Junction) by October 2020.
Speaking to journalists after inspecting the flyover bridges, on Thursday, Governor Wike said his administration is mindful to every promises made to Rivers people.
Such promises have included delivering critical infrastructure that will improve the economic status of the state and the life of the people.
“If you look at the Rebisi Flyover at Garrison junction, you’ll see that they are working hard to finish with the concrete super structure by October so that motorists can ply the bridge. That’s what I’ve always said, when you give work to good contractors, you will be comfortable that those jobs will be delivered.
“From what I have seen, ahead of their schedule of the work, it is important to know that Julius Berger is committed to make sure they handover the projects even before the time scheduled,” he said.
Commenting on the Rumuola flyover that is billed for expansion, Governor Wike said the chaotic traffic situation experienced there will be addressed with the planned expansion.
“Rumuola flyover was built under the military government. When there is maintenance work to do or a vehicle breaks down, it causes a lot of traffic jam, so the need to expand the flyover became necessary.
“The contract papers have been signed and I believe they are preparing to go to site within the next few days.
“Generally, we are happy to achieve such feat within the shortest possible time and with the of quality job done. We want the people to be confident that we will not take their mandate for granted and they will not regret reelecting us,” he added.
Regional Manager, Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, Mr. Juergen Fischer said they have increased the pace of work at their sites and with the concrete super structure laid, the Rebisi flyover will be delivered at the end of October 2020.
He explained that while the Rumuogba Flyover will completed one month later, the Rumuola flyover will be expanded to allow for service lanes, a new roundabout, and installed traffic light.
Rivers state governor, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has reiterated commitment to upgrading facilities in schools that have contributed in moulding prominent personalities and made the state famous, educationally.
Governor Wike gave the assurance after inspecting the progress of rehabilitation work at the Government Comprehensive Secondary School and the Enitonia High School located in Borikiri Town in the Port Harcourt local government area of the state.
The governor expressed sadness over wastage of funds by the previous administration in building new schools far away from where large number of people reside and abandoned structures of the old school.
He said if proper attention had been given to schools, which are located within densely populate areas they would have continued to produce renowned personalities as in the past to the benefit of the state.
“I feel so sad that these schools are in such bad state. They are schools that have made the state pride. I don’t know why government will believe and continue to build new schools instead of putting the old schools in a position where they can be very conducive for students.
“You know those who have made names in the Port Harcourt; some of them attended these old schools. I have promised that we will do all we can to bring back the schools to what they used to be.
I’ve rescheduled another meeting with the old students of the Government Comprehensive Secondary School, led by their chairman, Noble Abbey, to see what other things we will add to the would have continued to produce renowned personalities as in the past to the benefit of the state.
“I feel so sad that these schools are in such bad state. They are schools that have made the state pride. I don’t know why government will believe and continue to build new schools instead of putting the old schools in a position where they can be very conducive for students.
“You know those who have made names in the Port Harcourt; some of them attended these old schools. I have promised that we will do all we can to bring back the schools to what they used to be.
I’ve rescheduled another meeting with the old students of the Government Comprehensive Secondary School, led by their chairman, Noble Abbey, to see what other things we will add to the ongoing rehabilitation but the landscaping is a top priority to us, “he said.
“I won’t allow the schools to die. We must continue to retain the name. We will also look at the schools that missionaries have taken over like the Okrika Grammar Schools. We will invite the missionaries to discuss the modalities,” he added.
The governor also inspected extent of work done at the Real Madrid Football Academy located at Elekahia Town and said no excuse will be accepted from the contractor from handing over the project in August.
He said the academy must commence formal training in sports and academic activities in September when the new academic session begins.
Governor Wike commended the contractor for the pace of work that has reach the plastering stage of the administrative, classrooms and hostel blocks.
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