2013 Flood: RSG Identifies Relief Camps

Following this year’s flood prediction by the Nigeria Metrological Agency (NIMET) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in some parts of the country, Rivers State is now reassessing the flood camps in the state.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Special Duties, Barr Dickson Umunakwe during a tour to some flood camps at Ahoada East Local Government Area, said the state was prepared to reduce the impact of the impending flood as plans were also in top gear to deploy a marine ambulance and six flying boats in each of the flood prone LGAs for prompt evacuation.
The commissioner represented by the Director of Administration in the ministry, Mr Victor Charles said the state government was working round the clock to ensure that the flood relief camps were habitable.
Corroborating, one of the Administration officers in the ministry, Mr Anthony Oghani said the aim of the identification of the flood relief camps was to take stock of the basic amenities at the camps for the comfort of the would-be flood victims should the disaster finally step in.
A press release by the ministry’s Press Officer, Mrs Martha Igbiks said the exercise would continue in Abua/Odual, Ahoada West and Ogba/Emgbema/Ndoni LGAs.
It would be recalled that the Ministry of Special Duties had earlier embarked on sensitisation to the flood prone LGAs where the inhabitants were enjoined to identify higher grounds in their various communities as muster points for easier evacuation and ensure the safe keeping of their vital documents, including birth and  marriage certificates, Certificates of Occupancy or other title deeds before the flood.
Meanwhile, The Rivers State Ministry of Education says the study of French will provide the students in the state an opportunity to learn other foreign languages outside English Language.
The Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi stated this while on an inspection tour of facilities at the new site of Alliance Francaise at the Amadi Flats in Port Harcourt.
The commissioner said the world was now a global village and the need to give our students an alternative was necessary.
The Commissioner said the project when completed would enable Rivers people to have access to the facilities in the institute especially those who want to learn the French Language.
She also said that the Ministry of Education had been collaborating with the French Institute in the area of teacher training and organising of summer holiday school for pupils and students in the state.
“We have been working with them since I became the Commissioner for Education. We have sent quite a number of our teachers for courses and also have sent our students on holiday tours and summer schools to enable them speak the French language. You know the world is now a global village and the need to give our students the opportunity to learn an alternative foreign language outside English was necessary”, she said.
The Consul General of France in Lagos, Francois Sastourne said the French Institute has very good relationship with the Ministry of Education and believe that the partnership will bring positive results.
He said that partnership with the Rivers State Government would bring a new face in teaching of French Language in Port Harcourt and the Eastern Nigeria.
“It is a good thing that we have very good cooperation with the Government of Rivers State and the Commissioner for Education on this issue of developing French Language.
There has been a long standing cooperation but in the years past, there have been few hitches especially on the location of the premises of Alliance Francaise but this has been resolved. We now have a new place which is going to be completed soon and we should bring new face to the teaching of French Language in Port Harcourt and the Eastern Nigeria”, he stated.
The Director Alliance Francaise in Port Harcourt, Helene Geneau-Okutue said the partnership with the Ministry of Education had been very fruitful.
She said that the French Institute had trained some French teachers in the Rivers State-owned schools and stated that they would continue to promote the study of the language in the state.