News
Amaechi Assures On Unity Road Delivery …Mourns Five Eminent Rivers Indigenes
Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi, has assured the people of Opobo community on the early completion of the Ogoni/Andoni/Opobo Unity Road.
Amaechi gave the assurance during the Iria thanksgiving of Mrs Felly K Minimah, wife of the General Officer Commanding the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj-Gen Kenneth Minimah at Minimah Town in Opobo Nkoro Local Government Area of the State.
The State Chief Executive noted that with construction work nearly getting close to Kalaibiama Town, the project would soon get to Opobo, where it is expected to terminate.
Said he, “I think we are close to Kalaibiama with two bridges and we know how the Opobo creeks are and if you close them, you will have challenges in the future. But the 500 metres bridge is important and that is the major one”.
According to him, once the bridge is crossed, the remaining part of the project will be easy to conclude,” and promised to release more funds this January to fast-track the project.
It would be recalled that the Governor had through his deputy, Engr Tele Ikuru last year challenged the contracting firm, Rivigo JC after being financially mobilised.
Worth over N20 billion, the road is targeted to link about 30 riverine communities in the South-East Senatorial District of the state.
Meanwhile, Governor Amaechi has congratulated Maj-Gen Minima for his elevation in the army.
The Governor remarked, “I don’t think we have had a GOC before but even if we have had it, this is the first time we are having one in recent times. So we have come to honour him by participating in his wife’s Iria thanksgiving service”.
Earlier on, Maj-Gen Minimah had expressed appreciation to the Governor for his transformational agenda in the state.
He used the opportunity to appeal to the Rivers State Chief Executive for the completion of the Unity Road,” I understand there are still one or two bridges remaining and so once that is done, there will be a new dimension to infrastructural development in Opobo,” Minimah said.
Meanwhile, the New Year news of the demise of five prominent citizens of the state has thrown the state into mourning.
Among the late prominent Rivers sons are, HRM, Eze Apara Rebisi, Eze Sunday Woluchem and two time governorship candidate, Chief Eric Aso.
Others are Prof N C Ejituwu, Prof Boma Obuoforibo and Alhaji Ahmed Okiri, a muslim leader.
The Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi has expressed sympathies with the families on behalf of the state Government.
At the family home of Late Chief Aso, Governor Amaechi said the state dearly missed the contributions made by the deceased in his lifetime.
“The State Government is here because of the contributions Chief Aso had made to the development of the state and we want to sympathise with the family”, Governor Amaechi said.
Responding on behalf of the family, Mr Okechukwu Aso, one of the sons of the late politician thanked the Rivers State Governor for the condolence visit, “we thank you for remembering us at this time”.
Mr Aso described his late father as one who had always stood for the truth and always wanted to create an impact on the lives of the less-privileged.
At the Palace of the Paramount Ruler of Port Harcourt, Eze Sunday Woluchem, Rt Hon Amaechi urged the bereaved family to take solace in the fact that the late traditional ruler lived a great life.
He said, “be satisfied by the fact that HRM Sunday Woluchem lived a great life and that he would not be forgotten in the history of Rivers State.”
He urged the family to continue with the legacies their late father left, “don’t forget the tenets that he lived with. He was patriotic, he was both an Ikwerre and a state leader and was detribalised”.
A son of the late traditional ruler, Mr Alex Woluchem thanked Governor Amaechi for coming to sympathise with the family at this period of loss.
Also, at the family home of Late Prof N C Ejituwu, Governor Amaechi said the deceased made great contributions in academics and also to the state government when he served on the State Economic Advisory Council.
In his response, nephew to the late academic,, Barrister Edward Ejituwu thanked the governor for the visit. He said the death of Prof Ejituwu even though painful was full of good memories, since he lived a fulfilled life.
On the death of Prof Obuoforibo, Amaechi described his demise as shocking, noting that, “he was a gentleman, an academic and a leader who contributed a lot to healthcare development issues”.
Responding, widow to Late Obuoforibo, Mrs Rose Obuoforibo stated that her late husband loved the state and enjoyed working for the State Government, and thanked the Governor for remembering the family at the period of mourning.
Governor Amaechi was also at the family home of Late Alhaji Okiri, where he conveyed his sympathies and that of the state to the family of Muslim leader.
He described Alhaji Okiri as a leader and patriot who loved the state and his people, while urging the children to continue to promote peace as their late father did.
Representative of the family, Chief Aribitonye Okiri expressed the family’s gratitude to the Governor for the visit stressing that his late father ensured the peaceful co-existence of Muslims and Christians in the state.
The ECOWAS Parliament has adopted a budget of 19,636,030 Units of Account (UA) (26 million dollars) for the 2026 fiscal year, and announced plans to commemorate its 25th anniversary in November.
The Speaker of the Parliament, Hadjia Memounatou Ibrahima, who announced this, said the development followed the recent conclusion of its 2025 Second Extraordinary Session in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
She said the budget was adopted by the Parliament during plenary, stressing that, beyond being a mere accounting act, it was the engine of parliament’s commitment to West Africans.
”It will enable us to carry out our priority missions, including implementing the conclusions of the seminar on AI, while ensuring virtuous and transparent management of public funds entrusted to us.
”This budget represents a five per cent increase compared to the 2025 fiscal year budget, reflecting an upward adjustment of UA 939,233 from last year’s UA 18,996,897.
”Out of the budget of UA 19,636,030 for 2026, the sum of UA19, 368,394 representing 98.64 per cent is expected to be financed through the proceeds from the Community Levy, while UA257,636, equivalent to 1.36 per cent, will accrue from other sources,” Ibrahima said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ECOWAS Community Levy is a mandatory 0.5 per cent tax imposed on goods imported into ECOWAS member states from non-ECOWAS countries.
Member states are under statutory obligation to pay the community levy, which is the main source of funding for ECOWAS institutions and their activities.
Ibrahima, however, expressed dismay that some members of the community were still defaulting on the payment of the levy, and warned that, going forward; such would be met with sanctions.
She also said that the commemoration of its 25th anniversary in November would highlight the ECOWAS Parliament’s achievements in deepening regional democracy, cooperation and growth, amid formidable challenges.
The Speaker described the forthcoming anniversary as “a chance to showcase resilience and chart a more innovative, youth-focused future for the community”.
The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has begun the celebration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary with a Juma’at service where prayers were offered for the progress of the state and Nigeria.
Governor Fubara, who advocated for peace and unity of Nigeria during the prayers on Friday at the Rivers State Central Mosque, Port Harcourt, indicated that without peace, the accelerated development of Nigeria will remain in a limbo.
Governor Fubara, who was represented by Alhaji Abdurrazaq Diepriye, therefore urged citizens to remain patriotic.
According to him, “Allah has brought us this far. Without peace, we can not have progress and economic development. I call on all citizens irrespective of creed or tribe to remain patriotic.”
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for restoring peace in Rivers State while also using the forum to appreciate security agencies for their relentless effort in upholding the peace and unity of Rivers State and Nigeria.
The Chief Imam of Rivers State Central Mosque, Imam Ibrahim Yaloo, admonished Moslem faithful to always speak the truth, adding that those who obey Allah will be directed to good deeds and their sins forgiven.
Prayers were offered for Rivers State and Nigeria.
Other activities to mark the 65th Independence anniversary in the state include an Inter-denominational Church Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, 28th September and Parade Ceremony on Wednesday, 1st October.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima departed New York on Sunday after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In a statement released on Sunday by the VP media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President is now headed to Germany, where he will hold strategic meetings with officials of Deutsche Bank.
The statement read, “Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed New York, United States, after successfully representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“During his participation at UNGA 80, VP Shettima secured UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ commendation for Nigeria’s bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat.
“He also showcased Nigeria’s $200 billion energy transition opportunity to global investors and strengthened strategic partnerships with the UK on trade, defence, and migration issues.”
Nkwocha added that the VP delivered Tinubu’s national statement, calling for UN reforms and a permanent seat for Nigeria at the UN Security Council, and “demanded Africa’s control over its $700 billion mineral wealth, and digital inclusion initiatives.”
“He also engaged with the Gates Foundation on healthcare and education expansion, positioning Nigeria as the natural hub for the African Continental Free Trade Area’s $3.4 trillion market.
“VP Shettima was seen off at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, by cabinet Ministers who were part of the UNGA 80 delegation and Nigerian Mission officials.”
The aide noted that Shettima will return to Nigeria immediately after his engagements in Germany.
The Tide source recalls that the VP departed Abuja, yesterday.
He led other Nigerian officials at the Assembly.
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