News
Ikuru Urges Proper Engineers Use
Rivers State Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru, says Nigeria’s progress in terms of infrastructural development lies in the proper utilization of qualified engineers in critical sectors of the economy.
Engr. Ikuru said this yesterday when the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Port Harcourt Branch, led by its Chairman, Engr. Dennis Dania visited him in Government House, Port Harcourt.
“If this country wants to move forward we need to begin to focus on engineers and properly engage them, “Engr. Ikuru, who is also a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE) said, stressing that the contribution of engineers is critical to national development, declaring that “it is time for the leadership of this country to focus on engineers, to put engineers where there should be engineers”.
Regretting that the power sector is still in the doldrums, the state Deputy Governor observed that “we can’t get power right in this country until we put square pegs in square holes,” calling on stakeholders to ensure the right thing is done and the right personnel utilized in the power sector.
He stressed the need for engineers to update their knowledge continuously in order to remain relevant in their profession, urging engineers in the State to contribute positively towards the building of the NSE’s proposed Engineering Resource Centre in Port Harcourt, expressing optimism that it would enhance their capacity to deliver on their jobs.
Earlier, Engr. Dania, who is also the Head Engineer, Federal Ministry of Works, Housing and Urban Development, Rivers State Office, expressed delight at the infrastructural revolution in the State, especially in the education sector, saying “I am pleased with what the Rivers State Governor, for the contributions to the Governor Amaechi led administration in the state.
He congratulated Engr. Ikuru on his appointment as the South/South representative on the Board of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), noting that “it is a great achievement to represent the South/South on the Board of COREN”, appreciating his efforts at repositioning the Port Harcourt branch of NSE, while commending his commitment to professionalism.
In a related development, the Rivers Sate Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru, says the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) is poised to ensuring that engineering practice in the country is standardized.
Engr. Ikuru said this yesterday while presenting a Communique on the outcome of a Meeting of Chief Inspectors of COREN, South/South. In Government House. Port Harcourt.
The State Deputy governor, who is also the Chairman, South/South Zone of COREN disclosed that this was part of the decisions reached at the meeting, decrying the anamlies associated with engineering practice in the country, stated that “this is both a proactive measure to standardize engineering practice and also a reaction to the sad incidences of collapsed buildings across the nation.”
“COREN will henceforth commence the process of regulating engineering practice in the South/South and ensure our presence is felt by companies industries and organizations Engr. Ikuru declared adding “we solicit the cooperation of engineering establishments and engineers to make it work easy.”
Engr. Ikuru who is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE) stressed that “we want to ensure that companies engage engineers who are qualified, registered and authorized to practice in the country,” noting that “it is when we ensure that the right people are doing engineering work in the country that we can ensure that development is assured and properly done.”
Also speaking, Deputy Vice Chancellor of the Rivers Stat University of Science and Technology (RSUST) and Chairman Engineering Regulation and Management COREN South/South. Professor Howells Hart, disclosed that COREN is working in tandem with tertiary institutions in the country and the National Universities Commission (NUC) to streamline curriculum content, staff and facilities in ternary institutions across the country to ensure that quality engineering graduates are produced.
News
I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
News
RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
News
Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.