News
RSG Kicks Off Weekly Clean-Up Exercise
In line with its vision and mission of restoring Rivers State capital, Port Harcourt to its ‘Garden City’ status and maintain a high sanitation standard in the entire state, the government, yesterday, kicked-off a weekly “clean-up” exercise for work and business places in the state. The government has also re-opened Ikoku spare parts market in Port Harcourt.
The maiden edition of the weekly “clean-up’ exercise which took place at Creek Road and Rumuwoji (Mile 1 market as well as Mile 3 park was supervised by Environment Commissioner, Barr. Kingsely Chindah and Chairman, Rivers State Sanitation Authority, Mr Nnamdi Wokekoro.
Speaking at the occasion, Barr. Chindah said there is a renewed zeal on the part of government this New Year to clean-up the state and ensure that Port Harcourt is restored to its lost glory of Garden-City, while enjoining the people of the state to team up with government in actualizing this in 2010.
Chindah said it was the lull noticed in the response to the monthly sanitation exercise in the state by operators of work and business places, such as abattoirs, markets and parks that necessitated the introduction of the weekly ‘clean-up exercise in such places.
Stressing that the exercise, scheduled for Thursdays will be a continuous one, the Environment Commissioner thanked the market men and women who do business at two markets and park for participating in the maiden edition of the exercise in the state weekly ‘clean-up’ campaign and enjoin them not to relent in the coming weeks and month of the exercise.
Said he: “Year 2010 has been set aside to ensure the sanitation success of the state in order to return Port Harcourt to its Garden City Status -during the monthly sanitation exercise, operators of public places like Abattoir parks and markets are at risk since they are not known to massively partake in the exercise. The measure (weekly ‘clean-up) became necessary to rid such places of refuse”.
Chindah appealed to council chairman in the 23 local government areas of the state to ensure their council actively participant in the state monthly sanitation exercise by mandating all Environmental Health Officers in their council exercise.
Chindah also ordered the reopening of the Ikoku spare parts market, which was closed due to poor sanitary condition and warned that they should comply with environmental regulations or face sanction.
Earlier, Mr Wokekoro commended the traders who thronged out to clean-up their environment and regretted that mechanics were not part of the exercise assuring that they would join in subsequent exercises since it’s a weekly campaign.
Wokekoro appealed to operators at the designated public places to embrace the weekly exercise and ensure they keep fate with cleaning their environment of their business and work places, adding that the task of cleaning-up Rivers State should not be left for government alone but should be the responsibility of all.
Justus Awaji
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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