RSG Reviews C of O Approval Guidelines

The Rivers State Government has commenced plans to review the guidelines for the issuance of Certificate of Occupancy in the state.

Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari made the disclosure while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the second Rivers State Executive Council meeting of the year on Wednesday in Port Harcourt.

She stated that the State Ministry of Justice and Lands including the Greater Port Harcourt Development Authority would liaise and work out the new guidelines, adding that the inter-ministerial body would be chaired by the Commissioner for Lands.

The aim, she explained, was to work out modalities, “so that Rivers people will get and process their land documents in a shortest possible time”.

It would be recalled that last year the state government only approved about 113 Certificates of Occupancy and has unveiled plans to digitalize its land document processing registry.

Also the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, has commended the proactive measures taken by the State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi in cushioning the effects of the fuel subsidy removal on the citizenry.

The Commissioner also lauded the contribution made by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMAN) and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) including other stakeholders in the transport and private sectors for collaborating with government towards ensuring that the palliative measures introduced by the government succeed.

Also, a lawmaker representing Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area in the Rivers State House of Assembly(RSHA), Hon Evans Bipi has appealed to organised labour to suspend the ongoing strike across the country.

Speaking with newsmen after labour peaceful protest on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, Hon Evans, said the call has become imperative since the fuel subsidy removal would boost the economy, while the strike would stiffle the economy.

The lawmaker who is chairman of the RSHA Committee on Energy and Natural Resources urged organised labour to give government a chance to implement the policy, as it is aimed at improving the welfare of the masses stressing, “dialogue should be the best path. Strike will only worsen a bad situation”.

He lauded Governor Amaechi for rolling out palliative measures in Rivers State to reduce the plight of the public who are hard hit by the fuel subsidy removal, while urging the citizenry to support the President to make it work.

Mile I Market, Port Harcourt, booming with business activities in spite of the on-going strike declared by the organised labour over the fuel subsidy removal.