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GPHCDA Scores Self Low On Dev Control, Enlightenment

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14 years ago

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The Board of The Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority (GPHCDA), said it cannot claim to have satisfied the state governor with the progress it has achieved so far, especially regarding the control of urban sprawl in the Greater Port Harcourt area.

The Administrator of the Authority, Dame Aleruchi Cookey-Gam, disclosed this in her welcome address/ progress update for the 2012 GPHCDA Board Retreat at the Rivers State Government-owned Songhai Centre, Bunu Tai, in Tai Local Government Area, on Wednesday.

She said that the Board had, in the three years of its existence, not operated at an optimal level, adding that the Management has failed to sufficiently engage all stakeholders and keep them informed on GPHCDA programmes, projects and processes for regulation and enforcement.

The former secretary to the state government, however, praised the Board for being on course in the actualisation of the Authority’s mandate and for holding a promise to increase the tempo of its activities in the New City’s development.

On the significance of the theme of this year’s retreat: ‘GPHCDA-Road Map To 2015,’ Cookey-Gam said that since the Amaechi administration would come to an end in May 2015, it becomes imperative that while the Board continues to work in the long term towards the actualisation of its goals, members must also have a clear picture of what they intend to achieve collectively between now and the end of the administration.

The Chairman of GPHCDA, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, had in his opening remarks reminded his board members that they were in the last lap of their four-year tenure and as the pioneer board of Greater Port Harcourt, it is important that they begin to reflect on their activities so far and assess the efficacies of such towards the fulfillment of the Authority’s mandate.

He expressed the hope that this will enable them to effect necessary adjustments as may be required and also reposition members to achieve the desired objectives.

Delivering a keynote address, the Minister of Land, Housing and Urban Development, Ms Ama Pepple, commended the attempt by Governor Amaechi to develop a new city out of the old Port Harcourt City.

Represented by the Director of Lands in her ministry, Mrs. Georgey Ogbutor, the minister assured the state government of her ministry’s support in undertaking the Greater Port Harcourt project.

She said that her ministry, in recognition of the importance of cities as centers of economic growth and development, considered the building of a new town for each of the six geo-political zones in the country, including the Federal Capital Territory.

Meanwhile, the Greater Port Harcourt Authority said it has paid a total sum of N5.5 billion as compensation to 226 individual and community claimants.

This was contained in a progress update presented to participants at the opening ceremony of a three-day retreat for board members of the Authority at the Rivers Songhai Centre in Bunu Tai.

Making the presentation, the Administrator of GPHCDA, Dame Aleruchi Cookey-Gam, said that the figures comprised the N3.978 billion paid to 111 individual and community claimants by the Chief Orabule Adiele Compensation Committee and the N1.538 billion disbursed to another set of 115 such claimants by the Authority as at June 11, 2012.

Other speakers at the event include the Chairman, Committee on Greater Port Harcourt and NDDC in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Sam Eligwe, who gave a goodwill message and facilitators from Samuelson Consulting and Skye Bank Plc.

 

Ibelema Jumbo

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Association Woos Govt, Coys On  Boat Operators  Employments

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2 weeks ago

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June 12, 2026

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The leadership of Bonny Maritime Boat Association has called on Rivers state Government and oil companies operating in the state to provide sustainable employment to unemployed boat Operators.
The Association also want the government, companies and other relevant employers of labour to provide trainings for boat Operators to enhance their skills
Safety Officer of the Association, Comrade Kingdom Kingsley made this known in  a  telephone interview with  The Tide.
He noted that most of the boat Operators and owners plying Bonny route lacks jobs due to the fleets of boats introduced by Bonny Road Transport that had taken over the passengers to the Island
He noted that passengers are no longer patronizing boats owned by the Association, thereby rendering the operators redundant
“Most of our operators can not afford to feed their families due to no jobs, we don’t want to indulge in crime, government should fix our members with  sustainable jobs to take care of their immediate needs”
He called on oil companies operating in the state to engage their skilled boat Operators in their companies to reduce the sufferings faced by the Association.
The Safety Officer called on the state government  to made funds available to unemployed youths in the state to start up business than roam the streets.
He noted that provision of funds to youths would reduce crime rates and reposition their mindsets for a better life
“The  youths of Rivers state are suffering, have no job to feed their families, thereby indulging in criminality daily”
“The youths need empowerment,  jobs,  recreational facilities and better things of life as citizens of this Nation”, Kingsley said.
CHINEDU WOSU
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FG Approves $1 Bn AFCFTA Credit Facility For Nigerian Exporters

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2 weeks ago

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June 12, 2026

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The Federal Government has approved a whooping $1bn credit facility to support Nigerian exporters and small scale businesses to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in order to boost production, competitiveness and intra-African trade.
The $1bn AfCFTA Adjustment Fund Credit Facility is also expected to address some of the financing gap being faced by Nigerian exporters and enhance the competitiveness of African businesses within the continental market.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, disclosed this  during the second quarter 2026 meeting of the AfCFTA Central Coordination Committee held in Abuja.
According to a statement issued by the ministry’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Obilor-Duru Okechi, Oduwole said the financing facility represented a major opportunity for Nigerian businesses seeking to expand operations, modernise production processes and increase exports to African markets.
The statement partly read, “?The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating Nigeria’s export-led growth agenda under the African Continental Free Trade Area, unveiling opportunities for businesses to access a US$1 billion AfCFTA Adjustment Fund Credit Facility aimed at boosting production, competitiveness, and intra-African trade.”
She noted that despite the progress Nigeria had made in implementing the continental trade agreement, many local businesses continued to face obstacles that limited their ability to take advantage of the single African market.
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“Many businesses still face challenges relating to export documentation, certification, standards compliance and market access,” the minister said.
She explained that the Federal Government was addressing these bottlenecks through enhanced trade facilitation measures, simplified AfCFTA guidance tools, stakeholder engagement programmes and stronger collaboration with institutions such as the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council.
Oduwole stressed the need to strengthen Nigeria’s legal and regulatory framework by domesticating key AfCFTA protocols, particularly the Digital Trade Protocol, to position the country as a major player in Africa’s growing digital economy.
The minister also highlighted some of the gains recorded in Nigeria’s AfCFTA implementation efforts.
According to her, the expansion of Nigeria’s Air Cargo Corridor Initiative to Rwanda, increased collaboration with development partners and private sector players, as well as sustained engagement with state governments, were helping to deepen awareness and participation in the continental market.
In her welcome address and first-quarter update, the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, Mrs Patience Okala, provided details of the financing initiative.
Okala said the $1bn AfCFTA Adjustment Fund Credit Facility was targeted at large African businesses with a minimum financing capacity of $10m.
She revealed that the National AfCFTA Coordination Office was working closely with fund managers to facilitate access for eligible Nigerian companies and had begun assembling a pilot group of businesses to ensure that Nigeria maximised the opportunities provided by the facility.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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NIWA Harps On  Avoidance Of Leaking Boats

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2 weeks ago

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June 12, 2026

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The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has advised Nigerians against boarding boats that require constant bailing of water in the interest of their safety.
 NIWA Area Manager for Cross River and Ebonyi, Mr Stanley Onuoha gave this warning in an interview with Newsmen in Calabar.
Onuoha who spoke on waterway
safety, said that passengers should take responsibility for their safety by inspecting boats before embarking on any journey.
According to him, repeated scooping of water from a boat is a clear indication that the vessel may be leaking.
“If you are entering a boat and see people using a bailer to remove water, it is the first signal that the boat is leaking,” he said.
He urged passengers to check the integrity of boats, including seating arrangements and other visible safety features.
The Manager restated the importance of using safety jackets, saying that damaged jackets may fail during emergencies.
He further said that passengers should ensure that safety jackets were appropriate for their body sizes in order to guarantee effective flotation.
 Onuoha reiterated the need for passengers to fill manifests before departure to aid accountability during emergencies.
The NIWA official further advised travellers to monitor weather conditions and avoid boarding boats when the weather is unfavourable.
According to him, poor weather conditions can trigger strong tidal waves capable of affecting small boats commonly used on inland waterways.
He said that waterway journeys should be embarked upon between 6.00a.m and 6.00p.m for clearer visibility.
Onuoha said  the Authority had continued to sensitise riverine communities to the need for safety precautions during waterway journeys.
He stated that sustained awareness campaigns and enforcement measures had contributed to safety waterway safety in Cross River.
CHINEDU WOSU
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