Rivers
Rivers, ECOWAS Partner On Malaria Eradication
Rivers State Government and the Economic Community of West African States(ECOWAS), has begun collaboration to build a new mosquitoe biolarvicide factory to curb malaria in the sub-region.
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sampson Parker, made the revealation during a chat with newsmen in Port Harcourt last Tuesday.
The factory Dr Parker revealed is to be run on a 50 to 50 basis and which is capable of creating over 500 jobs for indigenes.
Explaining the rationale why the government is collaborating with the sub-regional body, the Commissioner stated that the cost of importing the chemical from far away Cuba is huge hence its better to set up a factory close where it can serve Nigeria and the entire ECOWAS states.
His words,” When we came, ECOWAS said we can eliminate malaria and we added to it the biolarvicides and we were working with the Cuban government through their company Labiofam and for some period we used aircraft to spray, health officials were also at work in the effort to kill the larvae of mosquitoes at every mosquito breeding sites including lakes, overhead tanks etc.’’
Dr. Parker explained that the introduction of the simple strategy assisted the state government in curbing the menace and which made the state to clinch first position consecutively in malaria elimination nationwide in 2009 and 2012.
This feat, he stressed, prompted ECOWAS to commence talks on how to build a factory in the state to feed other parts of the region where malaria spread is high.
He however pointed out that the citizenry has a huge task to ensure the malaise is checked, as he underscored the importance of sanitation and environmental hygiene,” even a small piece of pure water can gather water’’.
For him, while the government has about 20 per cent role the citizens have about 80 percent as he harped on more publicity to raise public awareness. Apart from malaria, Dr Parker stated that mosquito is also responsible for the recent lymphatic filariasis(local elephantiasis) and yellow fever and therefore called on the citizenry to join the fight to eliminate malaria and other vectors of diseases in the environment.
Rivers
Rivers High Court Restrain Trustees, Knights of St. John International, Others From Conducting Election
The High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has restrained the registered trustees of Knights of St John International, Supreme Subordinate Commandery, Nigeria, and four others from conducting elections into Our Lady of Holy Rosary Local Commandery No 920 CIWA, Port Harcourt, District 48 Commandery elections, and Supreme Subordinate elections of the Knights of St John International, Nigeria, pending the determination of the substantive matters before them.
Justice G.C. Aguma and Justice V.C. Ugoji, in their separate interim orders of injunction issued in Suit No: PHC/4410/CS/2025 and Suit No: PHC/4359/CS/2025, respectively, restrained the defendants, whether by themselves, their privies, agents, servants, or any person or group of persons working under them, from conducting elections into Our Lady of Holy Rosary Local Commandery No 920, CIWA Port Harcourt, District 48 Commandery, Port Harcourt Commandery, and Supreme Subordinate of Knights of St John International, Nigeria.
The claimants, Sir Njoku Chukwuemeka Andrew and Sir Chukwuemeka Martin Mba, in separate suits, through their legal representatives, dragged the defendants to court, seeking an order to restrain them from appointing or installing any interim caretaker executive or leadership to run or pilot the affairs of St John International, Our Lady of Holy Rosary Local Commandery No 920, CIWA, Port Harcourt.
The defendants in the matter are: Registered Trustees of Knights of St John International, Supreme Subordinate Commandery, Nigeria; Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Ufuoma Okene, the Grand President, Port Harcourt Grand Commandery, Knights of St John International; Noble Brother Viktor Benebo, the Chairman Investigation Committee set up by the 2nd Defendant to investigate the claimants; Sir Architect Prempeh Ebiware, the District 48 Commander, Knights of St John International, Port Harcourt; and Sir Harry Oruma, member of Knights of St John International, Our Lady of Holy Commandery No 920, CIWA, Port Harcourt.
The two judges, after listening to the counsels in the matter, granted the claimants’ request and adjourned the matter to 10/12/2025 and 16/12/2025, respectively, for hearing of the motion on notice.
