News

RSG Cares For The Poor, Destitute –SSG

Published

16 years ago

July 13, 2009

The Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Hon. Magnus Abe, says the present administration in the state is set to affect the lives of the poor and destitute.

Hon. Abe made the promise while unveiling renovated hostels and facilities at the Iriebe Rehabilitation Centre on Thursday.

He stated that the present administration would want to make sure every person in the state becomes a functional member of the society no matter his or her situation, saying that the aim is to clear the streets of destitute, and insane people.

In addition to rehabilitation, Abe said the government is building a process whereby all would have a stake in the resources of the state.

He thus called on members of the public to assist in taking care of destitutes and mentally-deranged people, saying that the responsibility cannot be solely left for the government alone.

He called on the managers of the facility to maintain it well since it is part of their contribution in building the state.

In his remark, Chairman of the state Rehabilitation Committee, Chief Albert Horsfall, while commending the authorities in the Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation said the present administration has done so much for the less privileged in society.

“A new dawn has come to Rivers State,” he said, but noted that the state should not be a place to far habouring destitute because “ there is abundance everywhere.”

He recalled that after the civil war in 1970, Rivers State, unlike other states, did not have destitutes or refugees because the people harboured their brothers and sisters who were disempowered after the crisis.

Chief Horsfall commended the officials of the facility and the Iriebe community for their good disposition in ‘accommodating the inmates of the centre.

Earlier, Chairman of the occasion, and Executive chairman of the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Hon. Timothy Nsirim, speaking through an aide, Ikechi Okpobiri, described the facility as a major project to tackle the problem of the society.

He prayed the government to continue the good works it is doing to transform the state, while calling on the managers to maintain the facility.

Earlier in her welcome address, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Mrs. Louisa Ezinwo, disclosed that though the centre was initially built as a widows rehabilitation centre, the government deemed it fit for use as a rehabilitation centre for destitute, beggars and vagrant lunatics.

She stated that the renovation had become necessary due to the gloving decay of the facility. Beside, she said, the increase in the ministry’s overhead also led to the refurbishment.

Among the updated facility are a furnished one hundred bed space hostel, a new dinning room and kitchen, a waiting hall and a new toilet system.

She also expressed appreciation over the manner the Iriebe Council of Chiefs have hosted the facility, despite the challenges.

News

Over 1,500 RSU Students Apply For Education Loan

Published

2 days ago

August 22, 2025

The Tide

About 1,500 students of the Rivers State University (RSU) have applied for the National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), while 10 local government areas in the state have so far benefitted from the LIFE-ND programme introduced under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, disclosed this during a one-day sensitization campaign organised by the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation at the Federal Secretariat, Port Harcourt.

Speaking at the event, the Minister, represented by the Head of the Information Centre, Port Harcourt, Gabriel Obokuru, said the sensitization exercise was aimed at educating Nigerians on the importance of supporting government initiatives at both state and local levels rather than antagonizing them.

“Every administration comes up with policies and responsibilities basically to please the citizenry which in some cases are proved to nullity. This message today aimed at educating citizens on how we can support government plans to our respective states, constituencies and localities other than criticizing.

“In most cases, unbelief comes as a result of ignorance, it is time we resisted such thoughts of can it be true? Try something rather, if you do! You will be surprise with the results.

“We do not need to the told about the challenges and hardship people are going through this period, but we cannot fold our arms and keep doubting policies and programmes formulated by the Federal Government. Our full participation is required at this point, otherwise we will continue to doubt and there will be no solution to solve the problem of hardship,” he stated.

The NELFUND Coordinator at RSU, Professor Sunny Orike, and the Rivers State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Paul Bazia, commended the Federal Government’s economic policies, stressing that more awareness was needed so that vulnerable citizens could take advantage of the programmes.

Similarly, the Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to improving livelihoods in the Niger Delta through the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) Project and other intervention programmes.

The Coordinator of LIFE-ND, Dr. Jarus Uvieghara, highlighted projects which cover the nine Niger Delta states of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers, designed to empower young people and women in rural communities through agriculture.

According to him, LIFE-ND focuses on seven commodities: cassava, rice, cocoa, oil palm, plantain, fish and poultry, with each state selecting four commodities based on local demand.

He said the project runs on an incubation model, which links youths with experienced agri-preneurs who train them to become agricultural business experts.

“We have a situation where youths who had no prior knowledge of fish farming or poultry now become trainers themselves. It is a continuous process that builds an ecosystem of agribusiness experts across the value chain,” Uvieghara said.

He added that President Bola Tinubu recently approved an additional $32 million through the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to upscale the project across the Niger Delta states.

Also speaking, Public Relations Officer at the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Dr. Helen Nsirim, highlighted key achievements of the Tinubu-led administration in the South-South region over the past two years.

These include the payment of ?70,000 new minimum wage to civil servants, the ongoing construction of the 700km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the passage of four new tax reform bills to boost revenue and investments, the disbursement of ?500 million to 1,797 farmers through LIFE-ND in Edo State, and the rollout of the Students’ Loan Scheme under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

She also listed the Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, the Renewed Hope Housing Scheme, and financial support through the Bank of Industry as other major initiatives impacting lives in the region.

“In just two years, the Tinubu administration has delivered tangible programmes and reforms that are touching lives in the South-South. What is left is for citizens to key into these opportunities by registering and applying for them,” Nsirim said.

The sensitization campaign featured testimonies from beneficiaries of LIFE-ND and other federal programmes, who shared how the initiatives had improved their livelihoods.

News

EFCC, Immigration Repatriate 51 Foreign Cybercrime Convicts

Published

2 days ago

August 22, 2025

The Tide

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Immigration Service have repatriated 51 more foreign nationals convicted for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.

The latest group of deportees, according to a statement by the EFCC, yesterday, includes 50 Chinese nationals and one Tunisian.

The repatriation, which took place yesterday, brings the total number of convicted foreign nationals deported in the ongoing exercise to 102 since its commencement on Friday, August 15, 2025.

These convicts were among the 192 foreign nationals apprehended during a recent sting operation conducted by the Commission in Lagos.

The operation followed actionable intelligence regarding the activities of one of the largest foreign-led cybercrime syndicates operating within Nigeria.

The EFCC statement read, “This exercise demonstrates our unwavering commitment to ensuring that Nigeria is not a safe haven for international criminals.

“The successful conviction and repatriation of these individuals send a clear message: we will not tolerate the use of our nation’s digital space for illicit activities that undermine our economy and national security.”

The Commission stated that further deportations are scheduled to take place in the coming days as the exercise continues.

NELFUND To Stop Students’ Upkeep Loans During Holiday

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) says the upkeep loan disbursement is now strictly tied to the academic session of each institution.

NELFUND made this known yesterday in a statement signed by its Director of Corporate Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi.

“In line with this directive, students shall only be entitled to upkeep loans for their current academic session. Upon the conclusion of an institution’s academic year, upkeep payments for that session shall automatically cease.

“Consequently, students who transition into a new academic year will no longer receive upkeep disbursements for the preceding session,” Oluwatuyi said in the statement.

NELFUND further stated that interested loan applicants are required to apply for the loan at the beginning of every academic session to be eligible for both institutional charges and upkeep for that particular session.

“To ensure accuracy and transparency, the NELFUND loan portal is being automated to reflect this adjustment. The portal will henceforth display only the upkeep loans that have been collected by each student within the relevant session.

“Institutions are therefore strongly advised to upload their academic calendars and sessional information in a timely manner to guarantee that their students receive the full upkeep benefits due to them for an entire academic year,” he stated.

Apart from institutional loans disbursed directly to institutions, beneficiaries of the student loan scheme enjoy monthly disbursement of N20,000 which amounts to N240,000 yearly.

With the new directive, students will only enjoy the monthly N20,000 during academic session while payment will be ceased when students embark on holidays.

News

ASUU Threatens Fresh Strike, Rejects FG’s Loan Scheme

Published

2 days ago

August 22, 2025

The Tide

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU) has warned that it may be forced to embark on industrial action following what it described as the Federal Government’s persistent failure to honour agreements and address lingering challenges in the nation’s university system.

Speaking at a press conference held yesterday at the University of Jos, ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, said the union has been “pushed to the wall” after over two years of patience without results.

He accused the government of deliberate delay tactics in renegotiating the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, addressing outstanding salary arrears, and implementing measures to revitalise universities.

“Trust has been destroyed by government. It is, therefore, up to them to regain it to avert any strike,” Piwuna said.

Speaking on the 2009 Agreement and Collective Bargaining, the union lamented that despite the submission of the Alhaji Yayale Ahmed Report in February 2025, the government has failed to act on its recommendations.

ASUU expressed concern that this undermines the principle of collective bargaining, to which Nigeria is committed as a signatory to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention.

The draft agreement, it noted, covers crucial issues such as conditions of service, university autonomy, academic freedom, funding, and the review of laws governing JAMB and NUC.

While acknowledging a planned government meeting on August 28, ASUU warned that time was running out.

The union strongly rejected the government’s proposed Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF), which seeks to provide loans to lecturers.

Describing it as a “poison chalice,” ASUU insisted that what its members need is improved wages through the renegotiated agreement, not more debts.

“Our members do not lack where to find loans; indeed, they are already deep in debt. This loan will incapacitate cooperative societies and enslave our members. After deductions, nothing would be left for families. How can the government ask us to take loans to pay for our health and our children’s education?” Piwuna queried.

The union also criticised the unchecked establishment of universities, accusing successive governments of turning them into tools for political patronage rather than genuine centres of learning.

According to the union, Nigeria now has 339 universities—72 federal, 108 state, and 159 private—yet many lack basic facilities and staff.

ASUU urged the government to extend its moratorium on new public universities to private ones, warning that the current trend will only worsen quality and global rankings.

The union decried the plight of retired professors and lecturers under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), noting that many who served the system for decades are left with as little as ?150,000 monthly in a harsh economic environment.

“This situation is cruel and unacceptable. Our retired colleagues are battling chronic illnesses and caring for dependents with meager pensions. Government must reverse this ugly trend,” ASUU declared.

ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC), after its recent meeting at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, resolved to wait for the outcome of the government’s August 28 meeting before taking further action.

However, the union announced plans to hold rallies across university campuses next week as a warning signal to the government.

“We cannot continue this journey with empty tanks. If the government fails to act, ASUU will have no choice but to embark on action to defend public university education,” Piwuna warned.

Reiterating its demand, which includes renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement, revitalisation of universities, sustainable funding, and an end to the victimisation of members, ASUU stressed that the ball is in the government’s court.

“The general public should note that ASUU has tried every possible means to resolve these issues amicably. It is the Federal Government that has consistently pushed our union to the edge. If a strike happens, Nigerians should know who to hold responsible,” Piwuna concluded.