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We’ve Met Our Campaign Pledge –Wike …Orders Aba/PH Expressway Repairs
A housing unit commissioned the governor
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has said that his administration has fulfilled its campaign promises even as he commissioned 50 Medium Income Flats in Iriebe Satellite Town in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Wike was happy that the Commissioner for Housing, Hon. Emma Okah, and his team were able to complete this project before his 100 days in office.
Quite satisfied with the performance of Okah, he said: “It shows that when you are given an assignment and is committed to it, the result will always be good.”
Wike explained that the 50 housing units are for the medium income class and low–high income class for the people of Rivers State.
The state chief executive, who urged the commissioner to sell the housing units at affordable prices to people, said: ”I want to see people occupy these flats in the next two weeks at affordable prices. My government is not a business organization. My government is here to provide welfare support for the citizenry for the betterment of their lives. I want to assure the people of Rivers State in general, and Obio/Akpor in particular, that with the support you have given to my administration, I will make sure that all promises made to you during my campaign tour are fulfilled.”
Speaking earlier, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Hon. Bright Amaewhule, thanked Wike for matching his words with action.
He said: “We are happy and delighted that the enemy has been put to shame. All your projects are speaking for you, and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).”
In his remarks, Okah thanked the governor for keeping to his promises.
“I thank you for showing the way and demonstrating that there are leaders, and there are leaders. I recall that during your rigorous campaign period, you said to the people that you were going to provide affordable accommodation for those who are doing businesses in Rivers State, and the indigenes of Rivers State. You went ahead to translate your words into action”, Okah added.
Similarly, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has commissioned the Oyigbo Market Road, in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The governor, who chastised the Caretaker Committee Chairman, Hon. Nnamdi Ihute, for his poor refuse disposal mechanism, noted that Oyigbo is a gateway into Port Harcourt, and should be clean.
His words: “This is the last time I will come to this LGA for an occasion, and see refuse littered everywhere like this. I will not accept it next time. Oyigbo is one of the signpost LGAs of Rivers State, and should be treated as such.”
Wike recalled that he promised to complete the construction of the road, if voted into power as governor, and thanked God that he was able to do it within his 100 days in office.
The state chief executive promised the people of the area that from January, 2016, he will repair the road from the Railway line to the boundary between Rivers State and Abia State.
The governor also vowed to fix the road between Oyigbo and Eleme because of its strategic importance to the people of both local government areas.
He enjoined the people of the area to continuously support and pray for him, stressing that his administration was anchored on God, and promised to fulfill whatever promises he made during his campaign tour of the area.
“This administration is not a media administration; it is based on facts. It is a come-and-see-for-yourself government”, Wike vaunted.
Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Dr. Paulinus Nkwoala, disclosed that the road is 10.745 km long and 10 meters wide, with an underground drainage of 1.7km long.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has ordered the repair of the bad spot along the Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway around the Imo River bridge boundary between Rivers and Abia states in Oyigbo Local Government Area.
He made the disclosure shortly after unveiling the newly completed Oyigbo Market Road in Oyigbo Local Government Area last week.
It would be recalled that Wike had ordered similar repairs along the Eleme/East-West Road, following the poor state of the road, recently.
The governor said the measure is to ameliorate the plight of the people and road users since Oyigbo is one of the gateways into the state.
The governor also disclosed plans to reconstruct the road linking Oyigbo and Eleme saying, “whatever promise I made to you, I will complete fulfil them.”
Wike added, “We will continue to make our people happy, our administration does not thrive on propaganda but poised to touch the lives of the people.”
He promised that his administration will further extend the road from the railway down to the boundary between the state and Abia.
Calling on the people of the area to maintain the road, the governor frowned at the indiscriminate dumping of refuse along the major roads in the area, and tasked the council authorities to evolve measures to check the menace.
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.
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.
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.