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Nigeria, Not ailed State, Says Jonathan …Inaugurates Exco

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President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday, in Abuja dismissed insinuations that Nigeria was a failed State.

President Jonathan, who was speaking at the official inauguration of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), noted with delight that Nigeria was blessed with talented and hardworking people.

“Our nation has been described by certain persons as a failed state, but we are definitely not a failed state.

“We are a country of talented people who have the capacity to address whatever challenges our country may be facing now.

“Other nations have passed through their own trying moments. In no way is our experience peculiar.’’

Jonathan told the ministers that they were carefully selected to serve at a most trying and challenging period of the nation’s history.

According to him, some of the ministers are returning to their old portfolios to ensure not just continuity, but also the consolidation of projects and processes embarked upon in the administration.

He charged them to give proper account of their stewardship to the people at all times.

He noted that service to the nation was a patriotic duty that every citizen must look up to, and support, saying: “There is no greater responsibility than service to the nation.’’

He challenged the ministers to be the change agents that Nigerians craved.

He said: “We are expected to stabilise power supply in the country as a minimum pre-condition for strengthening national productivity.

“We are expected to generate employment for our unemployed youth; we are expected to revolutionise the agricultural sector and ensure food security for the people.

“We are expected to sanitise the oil and gas sector; the people also want good roads, a more qualitative public school system as well as more efficient public health and transportation systems, and so on.

“These expectations cut across all sectors. Most importantly, we are expected to protect life and property and guarantee the welfare and happiness of all Nigerians.’’

President Jonathan warned that his administration could not afford to disappoint the people.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan said yesterday that his administration would conduct a comprehensive audit of all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) of Federal Government beginning from June 2007 to date.

Jonathan stated this in his remarks at the swearing-in ceremony of the last set of nine ministers and the inauguration of his cabinet at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The President said the decision was in line with his administration’s zero tolerance for corruption and his resolve to remove the country from the embarrassing rating in the global corruption index.

“Corruption is therefore the monster that we need to confront and defeat, in order to raise the country’s integrity profile. The war against corruption in this dispensation will start at the centre.

“The anti-corruption agencies have been directed to beam their searchlights on the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government, and also focus on the states and local government areas, in order to send out a clear signal, that no form of abuse will be tolerated,’’ he said.

He asked members of the cabinet not to see their position as a reward for status, but as an opportunity to serve the people of Nigeria and to be an agent of transformation agenda of his administration.

Jonathan also told the ministers not to compromise their integrity but ensure that the ministry they head serves the interest of public good and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct.

While promising the ministers that everything would be done to provide the enabling environment for them to function, the President reminded them that the tasks ahead would be arduous and tasking.

Jonathan restated his commitment to the transformation of the country and to deliver democracy dividends to the people while asking the ministers to be committed along the line of his agenda.

“Our task is to address the issues which preoccupy Nigerians. We must act quickly while at the same time, working on sustainable responses to long-term challenges.

“This is the debt we owe the electorate who turned out in large numbers in the April 2011 elections to make a statement with their votes.

He charged the Ministers and Ministers of State to work together as a team, eschew rivalry and one-upmanship that has been a problem in the past.

He also reiterated on his campaign promise to run a transparent government and ensure significant improvement in the economy.

The nine ministers who were sworn in include, Dr Mohammed Ali Pate (Bauchi), Chief Edwin Duke (Cross River), Mrs. Omobola Johnson (Ondo), Hajia Adiza Mailafia (Kaduna) and Dr Nurudeen Mohammed (Jigawa).

Also sworn in are Mrs Sarah Ochepe (Plateau), Ms Amma Pepple (Rivers), Mr Ezeilo Nweke (Rivers) and Dr Akinwumi Adeshina (Ogun). The ministers have yet to be assigned portfolios.

Our correspondent recalls that Jonathan had on July 2, sworn in the first group consisting of 14 ministers while the second set consisting of 17 ministers were sworn in on July 8.

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RSG Cancels ?134BN Secretariat Contract, Orders Refund Of ?20BN Mobilisation … Revalidates Four Projects

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The Rivers State Executive Council has revoked the ?134bn contract awarded to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) for the renovation, retrofitting, and furnishing of the Rivers State Secretariat Complex by the State of Emergency Administration.

 

The council directed the immediate refund of the ?20bn mobilization fee already paid to the contractor.

 

Relatedly, the Council also approved the revalidation of the bidding processes for four contracts, consisting of the renovation of the State Secretariat Complex, construction of reinforced concrete shoreline protection and reclamation works in several riverine communities of Opobo/Nkoro, and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Areas. The projects earlier advertised for which bid documents were cancelled by the Emergency Administration and fees returned to the companies that had earlier purchased them.

 

The decisions were reached during the State Executive Council meeting held on Thursday at the Government House, Port Harcourt, and presided over by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

 

Briefing newsmen, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Dr. Austin Ezekiel-Hart explained that the contracts had been awarded in a hasty manner without following due process. He said the council, therefore, approved the revalidation of the bidding process for all four contracts that were earlier advertised in national dailies on February 19, 2025.

 

With the revalidation process now on, Dr. Ezekiel-Hart stated that a fresh bidding will be advertised in newspapers for competent and experienced contractors to prequalify and submit both technical and commercial bids.

 

He listed the projects to include, “The construction of 4.8km reinforced concrete shoreline protection and reclamation of Queenstown, Epellema, Oloma, and Minima communities in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area in Rivers State. The construction of 2.5km shoreline protection and reclamation in Ndoni-Onukwu, Isikwu, and Aziazagi communities in Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area.

 

“The construction of 2.5km shoreline protection and reclamation in Utuechi, Obiofu, Isala, Ani-Eze, and Odugri communities in Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area. The renovation, retrofitting and furnishing of the Rivers State Secretariat Complex,” he added.

 

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr. Azibaolanari Uzoma-Nwogu, announced that the council approved the constitution of a committee to develop a proposal for the creation of Computer-Based Test (CBT) Centres and ICT Laboratories across the three senatorial districts of the state.

 

She explained that the initiative is in line with the Federal Government’s directive that beginning in 2026, all examinations conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) will be computer-based.

 

The committee, chaired by the Deputy Governor, has the Secretary to the State Government, Permanent Secretaries from the Ministries of Education, Works, Information and Communications and Commissioner for Energy as members. Dr. Uzoma-Nwogu said the move will prepare Rivers youths for a digital future and improve the quality of education across the state.

 

On issues of employment, the Commissioner for Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment, Dr. Chisom Gbali, said the council reviewed ongoing efforts to create jobs for Rivers youths. He disclosed that his ministry has been directed to develop a framework for job creation and economic empowerment, noting that the government is determined to open up more opportunities for the young population.

 

“We want to assure Rivers youths that there will be a rising tide of employment and steady waves of economic empowerment,” Dr. Gbali said. “We know our Governor, when he makes a promise, he ensures it is fulfilled.”

 

On his part, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications, Dr. Honour Sirawoo, said council also deliberated extensively on the recent flash floods experienced in some parts of the state. He said the council directed immediate remedial intervention to address the situation, and cautioned residents against the indiscriminate disposal of waste into drainage channels and building on waterways, which worsens flooding.

 

Dr. Sirawoo further noted that Governor Fubara remains deeply committed to the development of Rivers State and determined to accelerate the pace of governance despite time lost. He added that the administration’s renewed focus and energy will soon place Rivers State firmly back on the path of sustainable growth and progress.

 

 

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Fubara Reassures Rivers People Of Completion Of PH Ring Road Project

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Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the completion of the 62.650km Port Harcourt Ring Road project, despite the setbacks that have slowed its progress.

 

The Governor gave the assurance during an on-site inspection tour of the project on Monday, where he emphasised that the state government remains resolute in its determination to deliver the massive infrastructure for public use.

 

Addressing journalists at the Eneka Flyover axis of the project, Governor Fubara stated that his visit was to verify the level of compliance and commitment shown by the construction firm, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.

 

Governor Fubara noted that discussions with the contractor had been ongoing to ensure that work resumes at full capacity after a period of financial challenges that affected the project’s continuity.

 

“You are aware that this project was, I won’t say abandoned, but somehow, for lack of funds, the contractor withdrew from the site. We have been discussing with them, and they gave me their word that although we have not finished all the discussions, they have already moved back to site, and I’m here to confirm that.”

 

The Governor described the Port Harcourt Ring Road project, which traverses six local government areas, as one of the most significant infrastructure undertakings in the state’s history, noting that its completion would not only ease traffic congestion in the capital city but also stimulate economic activities across multiple local government areas.

 

Governor Fubara reiterated his administration’s resolve to continue prioritising infrastructure development as a foundation for economic growth and social progress.

 

“I want to make this promise to our good people of Rivers State,” the Governor declared. “This project that we started, by the special grace of God, we are going to complete it. We owe our people a responsibility to deliver on our commitments, and this project will not be an exception,” he added.

 

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Use Service Year To Build Capacity, Fubara Urges Corp Members

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The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has charged the 2025 Batch B, Stream II National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members deployed to the State, to  use the NYSC skill acquisition training programme to build capacity.

 

Governor Fubara gave the charge on Tuesday when he declared closed, the 2025 Batch B Stream II orientation exercise in the State.

 

Represented by the newly sworn-in Secretary to the State Government and Chairman NYSC State Governing Board, Hon. Benibo Anabraba, Governor Fubara enjoined the Corps members to embrace skill acquisition wholeheartedly in order to elevate themselves as wealth creators and employers of labour.

 

“Take Rivers State as your home. Be assured of the warmth, hospitality, and accommodating disposition of the good of our people at all times.

 

“Take the skill acquisition and entrepreneurship development post camp training very seriously and equip yourselves with the capacity to compete favourably in the nation’s huge economic space,” he stressed.

 

The Governor called on the Corps members to see their mobilization into the NYSC Scheme as a fundamental way to provide humanitarian services.

 

“Remember that you owe it to yourself, family, and the nation, the responsibility to serve selflessly and honourably,” he admonished.

 

In his farewell address, the State Coordinator of NYSC, Mr. Moses Oleghe appealed to the Corps members to use the opportunity of the service year to discover their true purpose.

 

He further encouraged them to embody selfless service and empathy in serving the people.

 

The colourful ceremony witnessed a vibrant parade.

 

 

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