RSG Votes N17bn For Roads Repair …Rewards Film Contest Winners

Wife of the Rivers State Governor, Dame Judith Amaechi (3rd right) in a photograph with council members of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Rivers/Bayelsa States Chapter during its 2012 Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Port Harcourt.

The Rivers State Government says it has released the   sum of N17billion for the repairs and
rehabilitation of roads in the state, especially Port Harcourt and its
environs.

The state Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, who
announced this while fielding questions from golfers during a dinner in honour
of the Chairman, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr Mutiu Sunmonu, last Saturday,
said the release was part of government’s efforts to ameliorate the sufferings
of motorists and residents.

He said the government was aware that most of the roads,
particularly those inherited from previous administrations, have collapsed
following aging and heavy rains in recent times, but stressed that with the
rains receding, the government would deploy its machineries to get the roads
passable again.

Amaechi noted that the road rehabilitation effort is part of
strategy to complement government’s road infrastructure development policy
aimed at returning Port Harcourt to its past glory, while at the same time
creating jobs and opening up the state’s economy to foreign direct
investment.

The governor also explained that a number of other road
contracts have been awarded, including the Woji-Elelenwo, adding that the
N13billion-Rumuokurusi-Eneka-Igwuruta would be delivered at the end of 2013.

The state chief executive commended Shell Petroleum
Development Company (SPDC)the successful hosting of the event, saying, it has
shown the significant progress made in restoring law and order and security in
the state, and hoped that the tournament would soon become a permanent feature
in national golf calendar.

Speaking, Managing Director, SPDC, Mutiu Sunmonu, promiseto
do his best to ensure the sustainability of the event in Shell Golf Club
calendar.

Meanwhile, four winners emerged last Saturday from the first
ever Rivers State Film Award held in Port Harcourt, the state capital carting
away a whooping N5million in cash prizes.

The winners, Mr Sweetman Okujagu, Ombo Ibifaa, Ejim Fortune
Kezi and Bright Orgwu notched the ach prizes in both documentary and docu-drama
categories.

While Okujagu grabbled both the star prize with a cash
reward of N2million and also pocketing N1million for emerging first position in
the documentary category, Kezi who came first in the Docu-Drama category took
home N1million, leaving Ibifaa and Orgwu placed in second position in both
Documentary and Docu-Drama categories respectively with cash rewards of
N5million each.

Speaking while presenting the prizes to the winners at a
colourful ceremony, Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi directed the
state Ministry of Information and Communications, organisers of the RIVINFO
Film competition to explore all awareness that would make the contest self
sustaining.

The governor, who was also the special quest of honour at
the award night held at the Silverbird Galleria in Port Harcourt, noted that
one of the ways to achieve this objective is to introduce gate fee in
subsequent editions of the competition.

The state chief executive also stated that the film festival
should be developed to international standards so as attract world-class
participants and  generate money.

He commended the award winners and urged them to go forward
and make Rivers State proud.

In his speech, chairman of the award night, Captain Elechi
Amadi (Rtd) lauded the organizers and participants for their success which had
made the state proud, and called for government support and sponsorship to
boost the growth of the film sector.

He reiterated the film-making and its marketing is the
economic mainstay of some countries and charged the state government and the
private sector to partner in order to benefit from the abundant opportunities
that exist in the sector.

The wife of the state governor, Dame Judith Amaechi observed
that there were many potential that were untapped and  urged film makers in the state to put in
their best so that Rivers State would produced the best movies in the world and
turn the state into an entertainment and recreation hub of the West African
sub-region.