News
Wike Has Set Rivers On Threshold Of Dev -Nsirim …Urges Journalists To Be Part Of NEW Rivers Vision History
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has set the state on the threshold of a development agenda that catalyses progress in all facets of life, the state Information and Communications Commissioner, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim has said.
He, therefore, charged journalists in Rivers State to work to be part of Governor Nyesom Wike’s agenda to build a society where everyone would be safe and happy.
The commissioner was speaking at a dinner he held for members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, at the Ernest Ikoli Press Centre, Port Harcourt, last Friday night.
“Governor Wike stands tall among governors in the country. He has used the NEW Vision blueprint to progressively rewrite history that has made every Rivers citizen proud.
“Governor Wike’s legacy projects speak for themselves. As Information Commissioner, I don’t need to embark on propaganda because the facts speak for themselves.
“We as agenda setters for the world must always rise up against partisanship and pecuniary benefits to speak the truth at all times.
“Journalists must not allow themselves to serve as dump sites for unverified information that anoints those who play to the gallery as social crusaders.
“As preparations for 2023 general election begin, the Media should not succumb to yellow journalism by promoting campaign of calumny.
“Media practitioners have a God-given assignment to promote good governance and every practitioner’s role will be judged by posterity,” he stated.
The commissioner advised journalists to adhere to the rule of thumb for media practitioners which states that facts are sacred, comments free.
Nsirim also called on journalists in the state to uphold the highest level of professionalism in the discharged of their duties.
He said Governor Nyesom Wike not only believes in a free press, but that media practitioners should be partners in progress, saying that journalists in Rivers State must protect the integrity of the profession.
“What we write will one day stand as a witness for us.
“We must use our God-given assignment to help build a society where everyone will be safe and happy”.
Nsirim urged journalists in the state to strive to make inputs that would speak for them as people who also contributed to the development of Rivers State during the administration of Wike.
The commissioner thanked journalists for being such wonderful allies in the past two years, noting that as agenda setters, journalists must not shy away in holding politicians accountable.
Nisirm, who said he was one of the luckiest commissioners in the country, said he owed journalists a huge debt of gratitude, and thanked journalists in the state for the cooperation given to him since he assumed office as commissioner for information.
Speaking on behalf of the Rivers State Independent Publishers Association (RIVPA), the Publisher of the Port Harcourt Telegraph Newspaper, Chief Ogbonna Nwuke, thanked the commissioner for recognising the role of journalists and bringing them together in such a forum.
He expressed the commitment of members of the association to the realisation of the development agenda of the state government under Wike.
Nwuke said private media would work hand-in-hand with the government-owned media outfits to propagate government policies and programmes for the benefit of the people of the state.
The Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the NUJ in the state, Mr. Amaechi Okonkwo thanked the state government for the gesture, and pledged the cooperation of journalists towards building a better Rivers State.
Okonkwo described Nsirim as a major stakeholder in the NUJ in Rivers State, and urged the commissioner to sustain his relationship with the council.
The Vice President, South-South of the NUJ, Mr. Opaka Dokubo called for unity among journalists in the state to achieve set goals, and commended the state government for the gesture.
By: John Bibor
The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has alerted Nigerians on the ban on Dex Luxury Bar Soap (No 6 Mystic Flower), by the European Union (EU).
The notification is contained in a public alert with No. 012/2024, signed by NAFDAC Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, and issued to newsmen in Abuja yesterday.
“The product does not comply with the cosmetic products regulation; it also contains Butyphenyl Methylpropional (BMHCA), which is prohibited in cosmetic products due to its risk of harming the reproductive system.
“It also causes harm to the health of unborn children and may cause skin sensitisation.
“It is as a result of the defective nature of the product that the EU banned it.
“The products is not in NAFDAC database; importers, distributors, retailers and consumers are to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain,” she said.
NAFDAC boss urged marketers and consumers to avoid the importation, distribution, sale and use of the product, stressing that product’s authenticity and physical condition must be carefully checked.
She enjoined members of the public in possession of the product to discontinue sale or use, and submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office.
The Country Manager of the British Red Cross in Nigeria, Karsten Voigt, says communities and volunteers are ready to face the challenges expected with the upcoming floods.
Voigt said this at the sidelines of the 56th Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), Lagos Branch.
The Tide’s source recalls that the British Red Cross donated resilience items to some communities in December 2023, to help mitigate the effects of flooding.
The items included cash, rain boots, rain coats, mosquito nets, handheld flashlights, solar powered lights with radio, USB chargers and a bridge to link the communities.
The communities that benefited included Agboyi 1, Agboyi 2, Agboyi 3 and Odo Ogun in Kosofe Local Government Area of the state.
Voigt said the Red Cross had measured the impact of the project in the communities and noticed that a lot of progress had been made.
According to him, apart from the cash and items given to the communities, simulation exercises have also been carried out to prepare the volunteers ahead of the floods.
“We have seen that people used the cash to address immediate needs they have after floods.
“Many households have used part of the cash to build up businesses.
“The solutions we have given to them are not only addressing their immediate needs after the disaster but actually building family income for their future,” he said.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunshine and thunderstorm from Monday to Wednesday across the country.
NiMet’s weather outlook released yesterday in Abuja, forecasts sunny skies on Monday with a few patches of cloud over the northern cities and prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Taraba later in the day.
According to the forecast, sunny skies with patches of clouds are expected over the North Central region with prospects of morning thunderstorm over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Kogi and Kwara States.
“Later in the day, isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Kogi and Benue States.
“The southern region is expected to be cloudy with spells of sunshine with prospects of morning thunderstorms over parts of Oyo, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo and Lagos States.
“ In the afternoon/evening periods, isolated thunderstorms are expected over parts of Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, Ekiti, Ogun, Imo, Oyo, Ondo, Edo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Rivers, Lagos and Bayelsa States,” it said.
NiMet also anticipated sunny skies on Tuesday with few patches of cloud over the northern states with prospects of isolated thunderstorms envisaged over parts of Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba and Kaduna States during the afternoon and evening hours.
It envisaged the North Central region to be sunny with patches of cloud during the morning hours.
The agency also envisaged isolated thunderstorms over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kogi, Benue, Kwara and Niger States, later in the day.
“Cloudy atmosphere with intervals of sunshine is expected over the inland and coastal areas of the South, with chances of morning thunderstorm over parts of Cross River, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Rivers States.
“In the afternoon/evening periods, isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Abia, Oyo, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Rivers and Bayelsa States ,” it said.
It predicted a sunny atmosphere on Wednesday, with patches of cloud over the northern region, during the forecast period.
“Sunny skies with patches of clouds are expected over the North Central region with chances of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Plateau, Kogi, Nasarawa, the Federal Capital Territory and Benue States, during the afternoon/evening periods.
“ Cloudy atmosphere with intervals of sunshine is expected over the inland and coastal areas of the South with prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi and Abia.”
Other states to experience cloudy atmosphere, are “Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, Oyo, Cross River, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa States, later in the day.”
NiMet urged the public to take adequate precaution as strong winds might precede rains in areas where thunderstorms were likely to occur.
The agency also urged airline operators to get updated weather reports and forecasts from its office for effective planning in their operations.
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