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ARAN; RSG Targets Quality Road Projects

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The automated project monitoring and assessment vehicles, known as the Automated Road Analyser (ARAN) unveiled by Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi in Port Harcourt, last Thursday. Photo: NAN

The automated project monitoring and assessment vehicles, known as the Automated Road Analyser (ARAN) unveiled by Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi in Port Harcourt, last Thursday. Photo: NAN

Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has unveiled a new programme to ensure quality road construction in the state with two Automated Road Analyser (ARAN) vehicles.
Speaking while commissioning the vehicles acquired by the state Bureau of Public Procurement (BoPP) on Friday in Government House, Port Harcourt, Amaechi said he is bent on leaving an enduring legacy by ensuring that all roads constructed meet required standards.
He said the measure would check fraudulent activities of some road contractors who fail to adhere to project specifications when constructing roads in the state.
“The project has been commissioned already by what I directed them to do. I asked them to take the measurement of the quantities on Ada-George Road because we have paid up a lot of money on Ada-George and the road is supposed to move from 15cm to 80cm both on the wearing cost and the final cost, so that it can last for a very long time; the same quality of work we did on Port Harcourt-Owerri Road. There is also Elioparanwo Road where I also asked them to take measurements.
“What this does for you is that contractors who are used to fraud in road construction will now know that they cannot succeed, because as they are working, these vehicles are expected to take measurements of the quantities that they have put in place because there are quantities on all contracts; and most contractors who want to cheat you will just not do that, because you can’t see the quantities unless you measure by scientific means. What this does is that you bring science and technology into monitoring and evaluation of the work that they have done,” he said.
The monitoring device would be manned by trained personnel from the state’s Ministry of Works and from the office of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BOPP).
Director General, Bureau of Public Procurement, Mr. Franklin Nlerum said the equipment were secured to introduce a scientific basis of assessing level of work done on roads in the state with exact information on specifications achieved on the projects and promote transparency in execution.
The BoPP boss stressed that the programme is part of the due process aimed at checking poor project delivery.
Nlerum said, “The purpose of the Automated or Automatic Road Analyser (ARAN) is to introduce an empirical or a scientific basis of assessing roads and managing road infrastructure. So, once you drive it on a road, it will be able to give you the conditions of the road, the smoothness of the road and it will help you determine when to repair or reconstruct a road.
“It will give you the exact information from each road; that would be used to assess what the specifications of each road are. You know, when engineers go to the field, they do monitoring work and write report. The room for dispute and disagreement is large but when you have a scientific basis like this automated process that is reputable, the accuracy is guaranteed; because it doesn’t matter who. Once you know how to operate it, you will get the same result. So, what it does is to improve transparency and make for reputability of the exercise,” Nlerum said.

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NPF Warn Applicants Ahead Of Constable Recruitment Exam

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The Katsina State Police Command has cautioned applicants for the upcoming police constable recruitment examination to adhere strictly to laid-down procedures and avoid falling victim to fraudsters.
The Commissioner of Police, Ali Umar-Fage, issued the warning in a statement released on Sunday by the command’s spokesperson, Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu.
He disclosed that the nationwide examination is scheduled to take place from April 28 to April 30 in Katsina State and that the exercise will be conducted at Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic along Dutsin-Ma Road.
According to the commissioner, only candidates who successfully passed the recently concluded physical and credential screening will be eligible to sit for the examination.
Applicants have been directed to log on to the official recruitment portal from April 24 to print their coloured examination invitation slips, which contain details of their specific date, time, and venue.
Mr Umar-Fage stated that candidates must present a valid National Identification Number (NIN) slip issued by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), bearing a clear photograph, alongside their printed coloured invitation slip and a writing pen at the examination centre.
He added that the approved dress code for the exercise is a white T-shirt, white shorts, and white canvas shoes.
Reiterating that the recruitment process is entirely free of charge, the police chief warned applicants to be wary of individuals or groups seeking to extort money under the guise of facilitating recruitment.

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Monarch Pledges Strong Action Against Gender-Based Violence

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The Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council has pledged to take decisive action to curb the rising cases of gender-based violence (GBV) across the state, in partnership with ActionAid and other relevant organisations.
The commitment was made during an event organised by ActionAid in collaboration with the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation in Port Harcourt. The programme, titled “Convening of Traditional Rulers for GBV Prevention,” carried the theme, “From Custodians to Champions: Redefining Culture for GBV Prevention and Community Protection.”
Speaking on behalf of the council, the Okilomuibe of Engenni Kingdom, HRM King Moore MacLean Ubuo, said traditional rulers are determined to move beyond mere responses to incidents of violence by adopting proactive strategies.
“We will establish and empower community-led structures, including traditional cabinets and women leaders, to identify early warning signs of violence and intervene before harm occurs,” he said.
King Ubuo added that traditional institutions are committed to enforcing the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law within their domains, stressing that the longstanding culture of silence surrounding abuse would no longer be tolerated.
“We will ensure that our subjects understand their rights and that the law is respected as the ultimate standard for justice,” he added.
Also speaking, the Rivers State Government emphasised that tackling GBV requires more than policies and enforcement, noting that a transformation in societal attitudes is essential.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Mrs. Lauretta Dimkpa, who was represented by the Director of Child Welfare, Mrs. Fumilayo Adebayo, highlighted the critical role of traditional rulers in shaping societal values.
“As traditional rulers, your voices command respect, your decisions influence behaviour, and your institutions are trusted platforms for conflict resolution and social guidance,” she said.
She urged them to promote cultural norms that uphold dignity, respect, and equality, while also encouraging victims to report abuse without fear of stigma.
In his remarks, the Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Dr. Andrew Mamedu, described the gathering as timely, noting that GBV remains a widespread violation of human rights and a major obstacle to sustainable development.
Represented by Dr. Adedeji Ademefun, he cited data showing that 31 per cent of Nigerian women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence, with many cases going unreported due to fear, stigma, and cultural silence.
“National surveys indicate that nearly three in ten women have experienced physical or sexual violence, underscoring the scale and urgency of this crisis,” he said.
Earlier, the Coordinator of the Rivers State Multi-Stakeholders Action Committee, Barrister Evelyn Asimie Membere, described GBV as one of the most persistent human rights violations, cutting across age, class, and geography.
According to her, traditional rulers are uniquely positioned to influence behaviour and drive meaningful change at the grassroots level.
“In many of our communities, your voice carries more weight than any policy or legislation,” she said.

The event brought together key stakeholders committed to strengthening community-based approaches to preventing GBV and protecting vulnerable groups across Rivers State.

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Tinubu Support Group Canvasses Second Term For President Ahead Of 2027

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A socio-political group, the Tinubu Youths Vanguard Organisation (TYVO), Rivers State chapter, has called on Nigerians to support the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, citing the need to consolidate ongoing economic and infrastructural reforms.
The State Coordinator of the group, Hon. Emmanuel Fubara, made the appeal over the weekend in Port Harcourt on the sidelines of a meeting of the Southern Traditional Rulers Council.
He said granting the Tinubu administration a second term would enable it to fully implement its transformation agenda, particularly under the Renewed Hope initiative.
“It is important that the Tinubu administration is given another opportunity to complete its economic and developmental programmes for the benefit of the country,” he stated.
Fubara disclosed that the group is preparing for its formal inauguration in the State, along with the unveiling of its local government, ward and unit structures, including student and market women wings.
According to him, the organization will be fully mobilised to promote the policies and achievements of the current administration, with a focus on issue-based campaigns aimed at restoring public confidence in the nation’s economy.
He noted that the administration has made strides in revamping the economy and executing key infrastructure projects, including the ongoing coastal road development in parts of the country.
Fubara expressed confidence that the group’s campaign strategies would resonate with Nigerians, adding that opposition voices would be effectively countered through sustained grassroots engagement.
He also urged members of the group to intensify sensitisation efforts across communities, highlighting what he described as visible results of the administration’s reforms.
On security challenges facing the country, Fubara said the situation was inherited from previous administrations but maintained that the current government is taking decisive steps to address it.
He expressed optimism that ongoing efforts, including international collaborations, would significantly curb insecurity in the near future.
When asked whether the group would also campaign for Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, the TYVO coordinator said the organisation would take a position at the appropriate time, noting that directives from the All Progressives Congress (APC) would guide its activities.

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