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AUPCTRE Raises Alarm Over Decay In Govt Parastatals

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16 years ago

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The Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) have raised alarm over the deplorable conditions in the Rivers State owned public corporations.
Making public the view of the union at its 3rd quadrennial state delegates conference held in Port Harcourt, Secretary General of the labour body, Comrade James Kobah decried that if swift action is not taken those corporations would go moribund.
According to the AUPCTRE report, about five government owned public agencies are seriously crippled by long years of neglect and under funding. Only the Rivers State Transport Company was given a clean bill of health even though it was still constrained by politicisation of its activities, poor manpower and equipment.
Those seriously needing fresh revitalisation according to the AUPCTRE report included, the Nigerian Tide, the State Sports Council, the Rivers State Water Board, Rivers State Housing and Property Development Authority and the Sports Institute, Isaka.
Comrade who identified serious defections in which the agencies were currently operating specifically observed that the, Nigerian Tide, “would soon be a source of shame to this state if a resuscitating plan is not considered now.”
The AUPCTRE scribe blamed the decay in the Rivers State Housing and Property Development Authority (RSHPDA) on the inability of previous governments to empower the agency in carrying out its mandate of implementing the housing policies of the state.
He called on the Rivers State Government to transfer all abandoned and uncompleted public buildings to the agency to manage.
The labour union frowned at the poor condition of the Sports Institute at Isaka saying, “the conference in – session is inviting His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Rivers State, to personally visit the sports institute at Isaka and see things for himself.
The same view was expressed by the body on the State Water Board, which it says currently operates skeletally with 271 staff. “The 271 workers may not even be enough to cover Port Harcourt city alone,” adding the absence of water board in government activities means the absence of water in the state.”
It frowned at the neglect of the sports council saying “sports council has less than 300 workers both coaches, athletes and other professional staff. There are no facilities whatsoever to enable them perform their duties. The situation is as bad as this.”
On the way to reverse the trend the labour union recommended that government need to give these agencies adequate attention, stressing that the injection of funds of which the Health and Education sectors are enjoying currently should also be spread to the parastatals.
Reacting to the report, Head of Service Mrs Esther Anucha blamed the situation to poor attitude to work, indolence and lack of creativity in government owned agencies.
Unless this was reversed, she maintained that it would be difficult to revive the parastatals, but however assured that the Amaechi led administration is poised to improve the lots of civil servants in the state.

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Rivers

NGO Builds Awareness On Digital Violence Against Women, Girls

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7 days ago

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January 2, 2026

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As part of activities marking 16 Days of Activism, A Non-Governmental Organizatio (NGO), OLEGH, has organised a one-day awareness creation workshop on digital violence against women and girls, for civil society and media groups in Rivers State.
OLEGH’s Executive Director, Henry Eferebo, said the programme was intended to draw attention to the theme for the 2025 16 Days of Activism tagged, “Unite To End Digital Violence against all Women and Girls.”
Eferebo said the event is an annual global campaign that focuses on violence against women, affords persons and groups all over the world the opportunity to embark on activities aimed at eliminating all forms of women and gender abuse.
“As individuals, we don’t pay attention to the things we see on the social media. We pay less attention to the abuse on the internet. Today, you can abuse a woman or a man physically, emotionally and otherwise, and go scot-free”, he noted.
According to him, women and girls have suffered the most from online violence and cyber-bullying, particularly on platforms such as TikTok, making them ready victims online and offline.
“So, in line with the United Nations principle on 16 Days of Activism and this year’s theme, there is a need for OLEGH Center to create awareness on issues resulting from the online abuse of women and girls.
“We decided to bring in a resource person who will tell us how to avoid being abused online”, he said.
He urged participants at the event to put hands together, rise up and speak against digital violence online.
The NGO’s arrow head, also explained that OLEGH was working towards creating an online help-desk for victims of online abuse and digital violence.
He urged participants to improve their security awareness while online, and adopt security protocols that would protect them in the digital space.
The Resource Person, Jacob Iniodu, in a paper titled, “Understanding Digital Abuse within the 16 Days of Activism”, listed forms of online violence to include, cyber-bullying, dozing, cyber-stalking, and invasion of privacy.
By: King Onunwor
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Rivers

Foundation Distribute Bags N5m Worth Christmas Gifts In Bundu Ama

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7 days ago

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January 2, 2026

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Armslent Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO), in Rivers State, has distributed Christmas gifts worth over N5million to aged mothers, orphans and less privileged persons in Belema, Bundu Ama (Community) in Port Harcourt Local Government Area (PHALGA).
The Foundation also gave cash gifts of N150,000 to the Community.
Presenting the gift items, comprising 5 bags of rice,10 Cartons of indomie noodles,10 Gallons of groundnut oil, 3 bags of salt and cartons of maggie cubes, to Chairman of the Community, David Oba, and the community leaders, the founder of Armslent Foundation, Comrade Richard Boma Briggs, said the foundation decided to show love and togetherness to the community by providing the gifts.
He noted that the provision was part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the community aimed at alleviating poverty and create a sense of belonging as Christian faithfuls celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
Briggs described Bundu Ama as one of its pillars in partnership, stressing that the foundation was inspired by the spirit of love to impact and rejoice with the residents of the community.
“The foundation was moved by the spirit of Christmas to give these gifts and rejoice with the people of community”, Briggs said.
Accompanied by the Managing Director of the Foundation, Richard Osigbo, and other top Executive Members, Briggs called on the leaders of the community to always pray for the foundation, promising that in 2026, it would embark on a tangible project at UPE Modern Primary School Waterfront, Bundu Ama.
Receiving the items, Chairman of Bundu Ama, David Oba, thanked the foundation for empowering the less privileged persons, assisting physically challenged persons, and aged mothers in the past.
“The foundation had done a lot for this community and today we are witnessing these gift items for the Christmas celebration”,he emphasised.
He called on the leaders of the community, women group, youths and residents to emulate the humanitarian gestures of the foundation and pleaded that they also borrow a leaf from the gesture,in order to also give to society whenever they can.
Earlier the leaders of Belema Bundu Ama, led by Oba, former Chairman, Benneth Kalio, and Secretary, Promise Mangibo, presented an Award of Excellence to the Founder of the Foundation for his Humanitarian and selfless service to the community.
Highlight of the event was the offering of a special prayer to the management of the foundation by aged mothers, youths and leadership of the community.
By: Chinedu Wosu
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Rivers

Youths Condemn Killings In Andoni

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7 days ago

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January 2, 2026

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The Obolo Youth Coalition, Rivers State Chapter, has condemned the recent spate of killings in Andoni Local Government Area, describing the renewed insecurity as alarming and constituting a threat to peace and stability in the area.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Comr. Jonathan J. Eyina, the group expressed deep concern over what it described as brutal and senseless acts of violence, while extending condolences to the families of the victims.
The coalition said the resurgence of insecurity in Andoni has continued to undermine communal harmony and called for urgent steps to halt the trend before it escalates further.
It appealed to youths in the area to shun violence and embrace peace, stressing the need for tolerance, mutual respect and collective responsibility in safeguarding the community.
According to the group, restoring peace in Andoni requires a coordinated approach involving government, security agencies, community leaders and residents to identify and address the root causes of insecurity.
It noted that increased security presence, improved intelligence gathering, and sustained community engagement are critical to preventing further violence, adding that underlying social and economic challenges must also be addressed.
The coalition called on the Andoni Local Government Chairman, Hon. Lucky Promise-Otua, the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Joseph Fubara, and the Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju Adewole, to take decisive actions to restore security.
It further demanded that those responsible for the killings be apprehended and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.
By: King Onunwor
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