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ITF Set To Train N’Delta Militants

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16 years ago

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The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) says it is prepared to create avenue for sustainable training programmes for repentant militants in the Niger Delta.

The Public Relations Officer of the Fund, Felix Oluwarikpo who made this declaration weekend in Port Harcourt explained that the move was part of effort of ITF to incorporate sustainable programmes that would engage the restive youths in useful self-sustaining skills.

He noted that the Fund has the capacity to provide skill acquisition training programmes, but regretted that lack of funds had become a setback in realising its mandate for the meaningful industrial development of the society.

He explained that funds shortage was the main impediment to the ITF in its drive to provide the opportunity to fulfill its mandate, insisting that the state and federal governments should partner with the Fund to achieve its set objectives.

Oluwarikpo reasoned that if states in the Niger Delta region partner with ITF, the unemployed youths would be provided the necessary skills to provide themselves employment.

According to him, ITF would bring in the resources and back-up training to integrate the youths into the society.

He maintained that the Seven-Point Agenda cannot be achieved without the necessary technical vocational training.

To him, the state government should take proactive steps to embrace ITF various proposals to practicalise vocational training for youths in their states.

He said ITF has training centres in Ikeja, Jos, and Kano adding that the Fund has the capacity to train all the repentant militants in the Niger Delta region, if only the states within the region would send them to ITF.

On the educational system, Oluwarikpo observed that Nigeria has for long adopted an educational system that is not peculiar to its environment.

He stressed the need for Nigeria to adopt an indigenous education system for the training of youths.

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Rivers

RSG Commences Revitalization Of 200 Health Centres 

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1 day ago

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August 22, 2025

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The Rivers State Government has  commenced the revitalization of over 200  primary health care centres across the state.
Senior special Adviser to the State’s Sole Administrator on Health Matters, Professor Chituru Orluwene, said this during an Enrollment Sensitization Campaign organized by the Rivers State Contributory Health protection programme (RIVCHPP) at Ogale in the Eleme Local Government Area.
He said the government is also equipping all Zonal hospitals and revitalizing all General hospitals across the state.
Orluwene said the ongoing programme was in line with the promise by the Sole Administrator of the state, Rtd. Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas, to bring affordable  and quality health care services to the door steps of the people, adding that this will not only increase the average lifespan of the people, but also reduce poverty and sufferings.
The Senior Special Adviser also called for mass enrollment into The Rivers State Contributory Health Protection programme (RIVCHPP) and listed some of the benefits to include free and and affordable health care services, and identifying good health facilities for enrollees.
Meanwhile, over 108,000 persons have so far enrolled with the RIVCHPP within the last one year.
Executive Secretary, RIVCHPP, Dr. Vetty Agala, who disclosed this during an Enrollee sensitization Campaign at Eleme, said the programme, which started during the administration of the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalaye Fubara, also has the backing of the Sole Administrator of the State, Rtd. Admiral Ibas
She said over the years lack of acess to quality health care has not only affected the average lifespan of Rivers people, but also increases poverty and suffering.
Dr. Agala said it was to check this that government came up with the health protection programme for the state, adding that registration will guarantee free and affordable health care services to the people.
According to Dr. Agala, government is also ensuring that all vulnerable groups, including those with disabilities, widows, pregnant women, the under-aged children and the down trodden benefits maximally from the programme.
The Executive Secretary, who stressed the need for the people to embrace the programme, said free medical treatment will be given to those who enroll in it.
She said her team will move round the 23 Local Government Areas to sensitize the people on the benefits of the programme.
Meanwhile, the Eleme local government council is to sponsor over 2000 less privilege persons from the area for the RIVCHPP programme.
Administrator of the council, Dr. Gloria Obo Dibiah, who announced this at Ogale during the sensitization programme, said enrollment of 100 persons out of the 2000 will start immediately.
According to her, the 2000 will include people with disabilities, pregnant women, the aged and children.
Dr. Dibiah further promised to assist them get their National Identity Numbers as soon as possible to enable them qualify for the registration.
She said this was part of her administration’s commitment to improving the health care needs of the people of Eleme and commended RIVCHPP for choosing Eleme to flag-off the sensitization programme.
John Bibor
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Rivers

Macobarb Faults Rivers High Court Verdict In N5.74bn Dispute with NLNG … Says Judgment Ignored Evidence, Misrepresented Facts

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1 day ago

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August 22, 2025

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An indigenous engineering firm, Macobarb International Limited, has faulted a recent judgment by the Rivers State High Court in a contract dispute involving the company and the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), describing the verdict as “deeply unjust” and “legally flawed”.
The ruling, delivered on July 16, 2025, by Honourable Justice Chinwendu Nwogu in suit number HC/2013/CS/2022, dismissed Macobarb’s N5.74 billion claim against the NLNG.
The judge ruled that the company’s failure to complete the project stemmed from alleged loan mismanagement rather than any breach of contract by the gas giant.
But Macobarb’s Managing Director, Mr. Shedrack Ogboru, insists the court erred fundamentally by ignoring contractual evidence, including 49 exhibits showing that NLNG failed to make agreed milestone payments, which ultimately stalled the project.
“We executed over 60 successful jobs for NLNG under lower categories. This was our first EPC-level contract a significant upgrade.
“We delivered as agreed, but NLNG withheld critical payments without reason. It became clear that something bigger was at play”, he said
According to Ogboru, the contract stipulated a N32 million first milestone payment, of which NLNG paid only N8 million over a span of two years.
He also explained that despite having payment certificates endorsed by the relevant NLNG official, payments were blocked repeatedly not for lack of work, but due to one official’s refusal to sign.
Macobarb claims it exhausted internal channels, including formal notices and requests for arbitration, before reluctantly heading to court on NLNG’s insistence.
However, he said the judgment revealed why the company preferred the legal route.
He also criticized the judge’s handling of Macobarb’s claim for Standby Cost compensation for idle time caused by NLNG delays.
 “Our contract allows standby cost claims at specific rates. We submitted this using agreed calculations. The judge confused this with ‘Stand-down cost’, which is not part of our agreement, and dismissed it entirely”, he said.
In a further twist, the court expunged the testimony of an independent forensic auditor who validated Macobarb’s claims. Justice Nwogu ruled that the expert was an “interested party” and that his involvement came during the pendency of the case, a claim Ogboru firmly denied.
“The expert was engaged in 2018, long before the matter reached this judge. He simply updated the same audit for court use in 2024. His role was to independently confirm figures already in our contract. Declaring him an interested party was shocking”, he said.
Macobarb also expressed concern over the court’s refusal to provide the Record of Proceedings, a vital document for preparing the final address and filing an appeal.
Ogboru further argued that NLNG never contested the computation of the N5.74 billion claim, nor did it submit alternative figures.
 “We expected them to counter or question our calculations. They did not. Yet the court ruled as though our figures were invented”, he said.
As the company prepares to file an appeal, Macobarb is raising broader concerns about the treatment of local contractors in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
Efforts to obtain official comments from NLNG were unsuccessful as of press time.
King Onunwor
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Rivers

ROHI Urges Traditional Rulers To Promote Peace, Dev. … Commends NDDC for Grassroot Development

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1 day ago

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August 22, 2025

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The Executive Director, Rivers of Hope and Humanitarian Initiative (ROHI), Mrs. Josephine Emmanuel Oyibo, has urged traditional rulers in Bayelsa and Delta States to promote peace building inclusiveness through traditional rulers.
Mrs. Oyibo, who stated this during a one-day training programme on the role of chieftaincy institution in community development and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in Bayelsa and Delta States, urged relevant authorities to recognize the importance of the traditional institution in peace building and sustainable development.
Oyibo, who was represented by the Programme Manager of ROHI, Mr. Etido Umoafia, said the training will go a long way to enhance development in various communities in the states.
“Note that traditional rulers, who are the custodians of land, culture and spiritual authority, should be able to promote peaceful dispute resolution mechanisms in their communities”, she said.
She commended the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for supporting peace building and development in the Niger Delta states, saying “the gathering is the initiative that highlights the enduring relevance of our traditional institutions in promoting peace, justice and grassroot development”.
Earlier in his speech, the facilitator of the programme, Mr. Tombari Quote, stated that the objective of the programme was to explain how traditional rulers or leaders can mobilize resources for community development.
He said they can do it in different ways, which include: applying local Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms in real-life contexts and promoting peace building and inclusiveness through traditional systems.
Also speaking, HRH, Olotulu Levi Beringhen IV, the Paramount Ruler of Foropa, thanked ROHI for the laudable programme in Delta and Bayelsa States.
According to him, ROHI should endeavor to map out strategies to continue the programme in other to enable other Niger Delta states to benefit from such exercise.
“I want to thank the organizers of the programme, we are praying that you come yearly to educate more states on community administration and development.
On his part, HRH Job Darius David commended NDDC for deeming it fit to sponsor this initiative and for recognize the importance of traditional institutions in peace building and sustainable development in communities.
Highlight of the programme was the presentation of certificates of participation to attendees.
Sogbeba Dokubo
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