I may sound of appear foolish to ask such question s whether street and highway beggers in Port Harcourt have any live assurance coverage or simply put, if they are licenced to beg.
Of course anyone who witness what I would conclude as a usual sight in Port Harcourt, may also be tempted to pose similar questions if not exactly same. The reason is simple, these humans who by virtue of either their handicapped situation or choice of career, found themselves in the begging industry, are rather constituting more of a nuisance than they could attract the pity of the public.
To the motorists the risk involved, is more than the charity expected to be expressed at the sight of these ones. Their choice of points on the highways that risk their safety and that of the drivers, is one that calls for immediate intervention. I may not know that Ministry under which these beggers fall in, but I know that the government of Rivers State has what it takes to address this situation especially at this period when many road users seem to be possessed by the spirit of the last month.
Rather than allow motorists to fall victims of avoidable circumstance, I think it is quite honourable to toe the line of precautionary measures and put these victims of circumstances off the motor ways so that they are not crushed. A situation where a helpless begger would be stationed on Rumuola Flyover that is not able to accommodate just one vehicle at a time is quite appalling. It is worst given the foggy look at the mornings that impedes visibility in recent time. I therefore call on the state government and relevant authorities to please treat as a matter of importance and urgency the need to have these ones evacuated out of the motor ways in Port Harcourt.
Unique Mezie
Oroworukwo.

Ban Neighbourhood
Disturbances This Yuletide
Permit me a space in your paper to air my feelings about the menace of indiscriminate shootings in the neighbourhood as part of the euphoria that chacterize the yuletide. Even though the history, I may not be able to trace in a hurry, we know that it is quite common to have children, youths and even unguraded adults carry out some disturbing shootings into the air all in the name of celebrating Christmas.
In a period, where people are living in suspicions and fear of the activities of insurgents, it would be tantamount to a display of laxity by both the government of the day, the security operatives and the civil society to stand aloof and watch such frivolous nuisance being perpetrated in our neighbourhoods. Apart from the nuisance that such act, creates, it is quite difficult to convince any sane mind that hoodlums would not hijack the situation to hit up the environment and so create more panic and terror at a time when peace and security ought to rent the air.
In the light of this, I would want to call on the state and federal government to please see enough Nason to check the activities of miscreants who hide under the cloack of yuletidism to perpetrate evil, enough to hamper the joy of the season. In as much as we all are looking forward to the realization of the December deadline to an end of Boko Haram’s activities in Nigeria, it is imperative that we leave nothing to change as every loopehole may be capitalized on to cause havoc which consequences we may not be able to escape. For me, an outright ban on such activities as would create panic and horror at this period, such as “knock-outs”, rockets, and all manner of fireworks that go with traumatizing sounds in noise should be put in place to be able to monitor the activities of the men and boys of the underworld.
Prevention they say, is better than cure.
Chisom Woke
PH.
Nigerians Need
Decent Toilets
Recently, the world marked the 2015 Global Toilet Day with the theme: “Sanitation and Nutrition. This event like others is celebrated annually by all countries of the world. It’s organised by the United nations (UN) with the aim o raising awareness about people lack access to toilet in spite of its being a human right.
What baffles one is that these human deficiencies are highlighted an celebrated every year on specific days but without positive impact on the people.
In Nigeria in particular, some millions of Naira are always spent in organising the events but at the end of the day, the agencies concerned and the government forget all about them. It was disclosed that over 45 million Nigerians lack access to toilet facilities, while another 130 million use unimproved and shared toilet facilities.
Having gotten this data, the question now is, what step is the various governments taking towards providing solution to the problem. Growing open defecation and lack of access to safe toilets are identified as the major problem facing the people and women are more vulnerable.
The issue is not how much awareness campaign organised, but what is being done to make these facilities available to the people. This les on the shoulders of the Federal, State and local governments whose responsibility it is to ensure the construction of standard toilet facilities, especially for those residing at the waterfronts.
A visit to these areas would actually convince you that most Nigerians are living in penury and in unacceptable environment.
Nigeria needs a paradigm shift in terms of sanitation and nutrition considering her status in the world. As a giant of Africa and one of richest in oil and gas, one no longer expect its people to defecate openly.
Governments at all levels must address this menace by providing well-sanitized toilets and environment for its people.
It is shameful that Nigeria with a population of about 170 million has over 45 million without access to toilet facilities, a situation that is not healthy for human existence. Something serious must be done and urgently too.
Aduche Ajie
Diobu.
Check Harassment In Ivory Towers
It is quite heavy to state yet real, sexual harassment of female students in higher institutions of learning by their lecturers is gradually assuming a crisis dimension, what used to be an option by female students who couldn’t pass their courses, as a remedial measure, has now become an intimidating tool by lecturers with lustful desires over their female students.
It is worrisome because, unlike before when the lecturers involved did it clandestinely, with an intension to still protect their image, now, lecturers do it with levity, damning the consequences afterall. Apart from subjecting female students to sexual nitration, these same students are forced to pay the hotel bills of their chosen venue for the act as well as the entertainment within their period of stay in the hotel.
One therefore, wonders what manner of lies these students would tell their guardians to be able to extract such amount needed to settle such bills.
It must be understood that sexual assault in our citadels of learning, can, not only result to short term harms, it can also lead to a long-term emotional trauma which end-product is depression, not excluding the possibility of contracting sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea, syphilis and even HIV/AIDS.
I therefore, use this medium to call on the authority concerned, Ministry of education in particular and probably teachers registration Council (TRCN) to see how they can check and curb the excess of their employees and members respectively.
If the employment and membership of a teacher could be considered at risk when found guilty of this offence, it will help to check this trend and end its menace. There is no better time to at than now.
Ogbonna Favour
PH.

Please, Consider Xmas Bonus For Workers
Prior to the administration of Rivers State by Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, the Civil Servants in Rivers State were treated to a December largesse no matter how meager, it was assumed a practice that has come to stay, which should earn the respect of every successive administration.
Unfortunately, the regime of Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, failed to respect such tradition for whatever reason it had for doing so. Hence for his reign of 8 years, workers in the state were neglected during the yuletide. With the change of baton of leadership, and the cordial relationship the state civil servants have with the brick house, I wish to call on His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike to please revisit this old but significant tradition that was truncated by an administration adjudged to be insensitive to the plight of workers in the state.
This call has become imperative not because the state is perceived to be wallowing in wealth or excess money, no! but because it is upheld as a necessity, capable of boosting the morale of workers.
It goes a mile to explain what relationship exists between the government and its workers, seeing that Xmas period is a time to show and share love irrespective of the burdens that had weighed one down all through the year.
Your Excellency Sir, the Civil Servants in Rivers State would remain grateful to your administration if you would consider this call, a timely one, worthy of attention inspite of all odds.
Sylvie Francoise
PH.