Security: RSG Acquires Two Helicopters …As Amaechi Plans To Check Bunkering

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Engr Tele Ikuru (left),receiving the Unity Torch from Director, Rivers State Sports Council,Mr Daobu Harry (right), during its arrival in Port Harcourt, last Friday. With them is state Commissioner for Sports, Mr Fred Igwe (middle)

Rivers State Government, has placed orders for two helicopters to check the hydra-headed illegal bunkering of petroleum products and other crimes across the state. The helicopters are billed to arrive the state in December.

The state Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi who dropped the hint during the second town hall meeting with Rivers community in Abuja last Friday said the  helicopters would fly across the entire state 24 hours.  “They carry cameras and if they see armed robbers, the police, the SSS, the army will be monitoring. If they see you, they will come after you”, he said.

The Governor lamented that pipeline vandalisation and illegal refining had caused huge environmental damage in the state, saying, his administration would pursue a new environmental law that would enhance better waste management and curb pollution arising from oil bunkering.

Amaechi said the bill to that effect would be sent to the House of Assembly to tackle problems relating to environmental pollution. while hinting of plans to use the helicopters to also  beef up surveillance of oil facilities, as well as comb hideouts of criminal elements in the state.

Amaechi disclosed that the government was poised in giving more attention to environment related matters, as it had begun a new waste management scheme that would give the state a befitting status.

He said,” we are putting a law in place that will punish all those who pollute our environment”.

On waste management, he promised to engage new waste contractors next year, pointing out that the new policy would require only those qualified with modern facilities,” I want to see a waste treatment plant which we are already building at Rumukurushi. There are two plants; they are building one at Kira in Ogoni which deal with metal scraps. The Rumukurushi plant will deal with solid wastes, and work is expected to be completed next quarter of next year ‘’, he emphasised.

Commenting on road projects, the Rivers State Chief Executive noted that three road projects remained core to the heart of his administration. They include the Ogoni/Andoni/Opobo Unity Road, the Trans-Kalabari Road, while promising to also commence the Odual Road project.

He blamed low funds for the lull in roads construction, but stated that already massive road rehabilitation had begun in Old Township area, GRA, and would soon extend to D-Line and Diobu areas of the city.

The Governor while responding to some questions posed to him by the participants stated that his administration had instituted the Fiscal Responsibility Law to ensure transparency and accountability in governance.

In his address earlier, President of Rivers Community in Abuja, Barrister Bright  Saagwe observed that the state has not lagged behind in competing with other states in developmental issues, and thanked Governor Amaechi for his numerous achievements in education, healthcare, infrastructure, security and poverty alleviation.

Barrister Saagwe believed that the forum would enhance governance, “for those who are far away from home, it will give us first-hand information on what the government at home is doing with the resources available to Rivers people. It is also important that in this era of accountability, it is better you take information to the people so that you don’t allow mischief makers to hijack the system’’.

He used the forum to appeal to the State Government to assist the community in developing its proposed mini-estate in Abuja, disclosing that already a land had been acquired for the scheme.