Rivers NUJ Complex To Gulp N364m …Amaechi Performs Groundbreaking Ceremony, Today

The new secretariat building of the Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) would be completed in 44 weeks at the cost of N364million.
The state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari disclosed this during a special kick-off meeting for the ground breaking ceremony for the new secretariat complex billed to take place at Moscow Road in Port Harcourt, today by 11am.
Briefing journalists after the meeting with stakeholders, the commissioner said “he fund for the project which was not accommodated in the 2011 budget appropriation, was approved in 2012, and with clearance from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BoPP), the fund was ready and would be disbursed to the contractor accordingly”.
The commissioner, who described journalists as integral part of government, said government’s commitment to carry out the project was part of its corporate social responsibility to strengthen its partnership with the media for national growth.
Semeneitari thanked members of the Rivers State Council of the NUJ for their patience and resilience in the course of mapping out modalities for the project, and declared that the building would be  befitting the great of Ernest Ikoli.
She pointed out that part of the facilities in the project including the e-library and the resource centre would be open to the public, adding that a memorandum of understanding would be signed between the Rivers State Government and Rivers State Council of NUJ to secure the agreement.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Council of the NUJ, Mr Opaka Dokubo, expressed gratitude to the state Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi for his concern and support to journalists in the state.
The NUJ chairman said the project would not serve journalists alone but the society in general, and tasked the contractor to show commitment in executing the project.
Meanwhile, the contractor handling the project, Arch Peter Ajiente has assured that the project would be completed and delivered in 44 weeks.
He said the project has a second phase, which is the furnishing, and assured that it would be completed according to specification.
In his remarks, the representative of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BoPP), Mr BatomBari Lezor, said a baseline should be provided for the maintenance of the facilities, and tasked all stakeholders on the monitoring of all on-going projects in Rivers State.
The National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mohammed Garba, Radio, Television and Theater Workers Union (RATTAWU), and the National President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE), Femi Adesina, are expected at the ground breaking ceremony.

Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Otelemaba Dan-Amachree (left) conferring with Deputy Leader of the House, Hon Robison Ewor during the sitting of the House last Monday.

Taneh Beemene