Niger Delta
School Commiserates With The Tide Over Fire
The management of Holy Rosary College, in the Rivers State
capital, Port Harcourt, has commiserated with the management and staff of the
Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, publishers of The Tide.
Group of Newspapers over the fire which razed a section of
its corporate headquarters last July.
Making the feelings of the college known during a courtesy
visit to the corporation last Wednesday, Vice President, Mrs Ruth Osazuwa, said
the management and students of the college received the news of the unfortunate
inferno with great shock and were pained by the huge losses incurred.
Osazuwa, who led a delegation of the teachers and students
to see things for themselves, regretted that they could not come earlier
because the ill-fated fire incident occurred shortly before the college closed
for the long holidays.
She regretted that the fire had affected not just the
psyche, efficiency and productivity of individual workers who did not only
loose office space but also valuable items, added that the impact of the
incident was a serious setback.
The vice president said that as a strong partner, the
college has always appreciated the support and cooperation extended to the
college by the corporation, and expressed the commitment of the college to
strengthen this collaboration with a view to achieve set objectives.
Osazuwa also commended the Governor Chibuike Amaechi-Ied
administration for swiftly intervening to reroof and renovate the corporate
head office building of the corporation, noting that the bold initiative would
give staff of the courage and zeal to put in their best for the state.
Responding while conducting the delegation round the scene
of the inferno, the General Manager, RSNC, Celestine Ogolo, said the fire razed
a section of the top floor of the building, destroying valuable documents,
office furniture, computers, among others, but expressed gratitude to God that
no life was lost in spite of the fact that some essential staff were on duty as
at the time of the incident.
Represented by the Group News Editor, Nelson Chukwudi, the
general manager informed the delegation that the state government has begun
reroofing and complete renovation of the entire building to give it a facelift,
and thanked the governor for his kind gesture.
He said the corporation was delighted to receive the
delegation on a special sympathy visit, and pledged the readiness of the
newspaper chain to improve on existing relationship between it and the college
in order to move the state forward.
Ogolo also informed the delegation of the desire of the
corporation to improve The Tide’s print run, ensure early production and
circulation with a view to attract the readership of hard-to-reach villages and
towns in the state and beyond while striving to enhance editorial content and
quality, saying that with the expected state-of-the-art Rotary machine, the
college, government and people of the state would soon find the newspaper a
worthy companion and conduit for reliable and timely information.
Also speaking, the Public Relations Officer of the college,
Idino Eluku, said the school was desirous of improving its relationship with
the newspaper organizations, stating that it was for that singular reason that
the management and students felt the urgent need to visit and share the moment
of grief with the corporation.
The Head of Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, Mrs Stella Dornubari Gbaraba, has charged the National Association of Ogoni Media House Workers (NAOMEW) World Wide, to be committed to professionalism, patriotism and effective service delivery in the discharge of their duties and rendering of patriotic gestures.
Mrs Gbaraba gave the charge yesterday when the NAOMEW, The Tide Chapter paid her a courtesy call in her office in Port Harcourt.
She expressed deep appreciation for the visit, and assured the Association of her commitment to being a worthy Ogoni Ambassador like late Mr Augustine Nwikinaka, former General Manager of the corporation, to promote the fortunes of the corporation, while counting on their unflinching encouragement, prayers and support to succeed.
“ I am very happy to receive the National Association of Ogoni Media House Workers (The Tide Chapter) today in my office. I am glad you people came to my office, for those that know me in a short while in the corporation, I am a serious-minded person. I heard that the time the corporation was functioning well was under the leadership of late Austin Nwikinaka. Any where I go to, I will rather come down and show working example and that is what the Ogoni person is known for. So I am always proud to associate myself with an Ogoni man, so your support means so much to me,” Mrs Gbaraba said.
She assured them of running an open-door policy in the management of the corporation, and urged stronger partnership between NAOMEW, other unions, interest groups, corporate organisations, institutions and the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation in professional service delivery.
Speaking on behalf of the NAOMEW, The Tide Chapter, the National Secretary of the association, Comrade Taneh Beemene welcomed her into The Tide family and also congratulated her on her very important appointment.
Taneh, who expressed confidence in her experience and abilities to deliver on her assignments, thanked her for the uncommon feats recorded in the corporation within her brief leadership. He said the corporation has been revived from its comatose status that predated her appointment.
“ Within your short time, you have given the corporation a remarkable facelift. We pray that God should give you the enablement to restore the dignity of the corporation. We have come to inform you that we are solidly behind you and will make our untiring contributions to make you succeed, “ he stated.
In his vote of thanks and closing remarks, the Chairman, National Union of Printing, Publishing and Paper Production Workers (NUPPPPROW), Comrade Keyirale Donatus Nwiueh thanked the Head of the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, Mrs Stella Dornubari Gbaraba for receiving the association in a warm manner, adding that she should count on the support of the association to succeed.
Kiadum Edookor
Niger Delta
OBALGA Sole Administrator Presents Brand New Fire Extinguishers To Council …Commiserates With Traders Over Rumuomasi Market Fire Incident …Commences Desilting Of Drainages
The Sole Administrator of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, Dr Clifford Ndu Walter has presented 150 brand new fire extinguishers to the council.
Dr Walter who spoke to newsmen at the council premises at Rumuodumanya said the gesture was part of measures by his administration to ensure safety of lives and council property from unforeseen fire incidents.
He urged the staff of the council to ensure the safety of the extinguishers, while promising to engage experts to teach them how to handle and operate the extinguishers.
Meanwhile, Sole Administrator of Obio Akpor Local Government Council, Dr Clifford Ndu Walter has commiserated with traders at the Rumuomasi Market over the unfortunate fire incident that gutted parts of the market.
Dr Walter who visited the market to assess the level of damage caused by the fire, described it as unfortunate
Addressing the crowd of distressed traders and community members, Dr. Walter acknowledged the historical significance of the market, which was originally built under the administration of the former Obio/Akpor Chairman and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief (Barr.) Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON.
He noted that preliminary findings suggest the fire may have been caused by an electrical fault, though a full investigation is still underway.
“As a local government, we will constitute a thorough investigation team to determine the root cause of the fire,
“Most importantly, we thank God that no lives were lost. I want to assure our traders that the Local Government will not abandon you.
“We will also work with security operatives to safeguard salvaged goods and prevent further losses,” he said.
He encouraged traders to adopt stricter safety measures, especially concerning electrical appliances in markets prone to fire hazards.
“There are many ways fires can ignite, even without an open flame. Let us all be vigilant and prioritise safety,” he cautioned.
Dr. Walter also commended those who stepped in to assist during the emergency.
“We are grateful to all who helped salvage goods and support affected persons during the crisis. Your kindness embodies the spirit of Obio/Akpor. The forthcoming investigation will help us put preventive structures in place,” he said.
The Chairman of the market, Mr. Prince Adele, who accompanied Dr. Walter, during the inspection, identified K-Lane as the most severely affected area.
A statement by the information officer to the council, Ominini Leslie Wokoma said no incident of death was reported by the traders during the visit.
In another development, the Sole Administrator of Obio/Akpor local government council, Sir Clifford Ndu Walter, has commenced a comprehensive canal clearance campaign with a view to identifying and removal of all blockages including illegal structures hindering the free flow of waters in the area.
A statement from the council Press Secretary, Ominini Leslie Wokoma said during the inspection of key canals in the area, several unauthorised barricades and blockages were discovered and removed.
According to the statement, Dr Walter emphasised that illegal dumping, unapproved structures and poor drainage habits endanger communities and undermine government efforts, adding that his administration is committed to protecting lives and property of the citizens.
It said the Sole Administrator also declared his readiness to ensure that all canals and drainages are cleaned, maintained and functioning effectively.
He also warned against further dumping of waste in waterways, citing impending flooding.