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Ogonis Laud Buhari Over Work On East-West Road … As IPMAN Backs FG’s Deregulation Policy

There was excitement in the air as chiefs, elders and youths of Ogoniland trooped out enmasse at the Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) Yard, Eleme, Rivers State, to welcome the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who was on scheduled projects’ inspection tour of the area at the weekend.
The minister, who was accompanied by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Babayo Addo and the Acting Executive Director of Finance and Administration of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr Akwa Effiong, inspected Sections 3 and 4 of the East-West Road.
Speaking on behalf of the communities along the East-West Road, representative of the traditional rulers, Chief B.P. Festus, and the Leader of Ogoni Youths Federation, Comrade Legborsi Yamaabana, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his renewed commitment towards the completion of the East-West Road, and pledged the total support and cooperation of the people in ensuring the timely completion of the project.
Conducting the minister round the Okuru Bridge in Aleto, along the East-West Road, the Chairman of Eleme Local Government Area, Barrister Philip Okparaji, lamented the state of the bridge, which he said was constructed in 1956 but was in serious state of dilapidation.
Okparaji said the road and bridge, which lead to Akwa Ibom and Cross River State and eight local government areas of Rivers State, needed urgent attention, and appealed to the Federal Government to expedite action on the road and bridges which were the gateways to multinational oil and gas companies in the Niger Delta.
In his response, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godwin Akpabio, said the President has shown the political will in completing the East-West Road, which was started by the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration.
He commended the President for the release of funds for the project, and hinted that the contractors have already been mobilized to the sites.
Akpabio said that because of the importance of the East-West Road to the economy of the country, the ministry would work with other agencies to source for funds to complete the project by the end of 2021, adding that he has directed NDDC to make provision in the budget for the completion of East-West Road.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), South-South Zone, Dr Joseph Obele, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the reform in the oil and gas sector, especially the removal of oil subsidy and deregulation of the petroleum sector.
“The subsidy was a racket to a cabal, and the President has taken a bold step by removing the subsidy. We want to appeal to our brothers in the labour unions to shelve the proposed strike action and engage in dialogue and negotiations,” he said.
He gave kudos to Akpabio for his zeal in getting the East-West Road completed.
The IPMAN chairman said that Section III of the East-West Road, which construction started six years ago, would have been commissioned before now, but for lack of commitment the project suffered a lot of setbacks until the minister was appointed and the project transferred to the ministry.
Obele appealed to the minister to look into the payment of compensation for property owners affected by the expansion of the road.
Earlier, Senator Godwin Akpabio and his entourage were similarly received at Ikot Usekong, Eket Local Government Area section of the East-West Road where the community defied the rains to welcome the inspection team.
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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
News
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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