Rivers Will Overcome Security Challenges -Wike …Assures On FG High Court Annex

L-R: Emir of Hadejia, Alhaji Adamu Make, Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai and Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olanushakin, at the 2015 Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference in Dutse, Jigawa State on Monday

The security challenges Rivers State is presently facing will soon be over, Governor Nyesom Wike has assured.
He gave the assurance when he played host to the Nigeria Institute of Architects(NIA), Rivers State chapter led by its Chairman, Elder Dike Emmanuel at Government House yesterday in Port Harcourt.
Wike observed that security challenges were not unique to Rivers State, stating that his administration is doing all in its powers to make the state conducive for business and investment.
In pursuit of this vision, he sated that government is rehabilitating  roads, building new ones and at the same time completing some abandoned projects that are vital to the state.
He commended the NIA for hosting its national council meeting in the state, which according to him is an indication that the state is peaceful.
The governor congratulated the chapter for winning the position of national president and other key offices from Rivers State, which he says is an indication of their commitment and hardwork.
Wike encouraged them to always contribute their quota to national development, promising them that his administration is open for meaningful ideas that will move the state forward.
Earlier, Chairman of the NIA Elder Emmanuel said the governor has demonstrated uncommon zeal to transform the state through the ongoing rehabilitation and construction of road networks.
Emmanuel urged the governor to also give attention to the architectural landscape of the state, “ the beauty of cities are not only on road but in  buildings as well.”
He informed the governor of the planned national executive meeting and the upcoming West Africa Architects Weeks slated for Port Harcourt next year and solicited for government support to make it successful.
Meanwhile, Governor Wike has called on the NIA to weed out fake practitioners among them.
The governor maintained that this will avert the menace of frequent building collapse  as recorded in Lagos and other parts of the country.
He described architects as crucial agents in creating the beauty of cities and enlisted them to, “ please come and participate and make contributions to the governance of the state when you are called upon.”
Meanwhile, Rivers State Governor,  Chief Nyesom  Wike, has  reiterated the commitment of  his administration  to  complete  the  Federal High Court complex annex  in Port Harcourt  Court, to ensure that more residents of the state have access to  justice.
The governor  also announced  that the old Obio Customary  Court  will be demolished to create space for the construction  of  the Rivers State Customary Court of Appeal which will accommodate  more Customary  Courts.
Addressing  journalists  after inspecting ongoing  work at the new Federal  High Court  building  within the  existing  Federal  High  Court complex yesterday,  Governor  Wike  said  the new Federal High Court complex will have four floors, several courtrooms  and offices for judges and staff of the judiciary.
The  governor  expressed happiness  with the pace of the work, directing the contractor to maintain  the speed of work . He said that the state government  will ensure regular  funding of the project.
He said : “Our commitment  to  the  creation  of  access to justice is total. We will complete this new Federal High Court  building  of four floors with new courtrooms  and offices”.
The inspection  of the Federal High  Court building  being funded by  the  Wike administration  was witnessed  by  the  Attorney General of the State,  Emmanuel Aguma, SAN,  Judges of the Federal  High Court and the Rivers State Commissioner for Housing, Barrister Emma Okah.
A statement  by the Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu noted that Governor  Wike’s  visit to  the  Federal  High Court building is aimed at expediting action on the completion  of  the  project.
At the Customary Court of Appeal,  Governor Wike  said  that the new headquarters of  the  Customary  Court  of  Appeal will be duly funded by  the  Rivers State Government.
He stated that the present Obio Customary  Court  premise is constrained by space, hence the  need for demolition  and construction of a mult-floor building.
He urged the President  of the Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Christy Gabriel-Nwankwo to apply for the release of funds for the immediate  commencement of  work.
In her response,  President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Christy Gabriel-Nwankwo  expressed happiness  that the Rivers State Governor  is promoting the access to  justice  by funding  the construction  of  the  new complex of the court.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Deputy Governor Dr. (Mrs) Ipalibo Harry Banigo says the stand of the State Government to sustain payment of workers #18,000 minimum wage inspite of paucity of funds was in keeping with its promise and policy trust to improve the economic wellbeing of the State workforce.
A statement by her Press secretary, Paul Damgbor, said Governor Wike is mindful of the reverberative effects that salary reduction or retrenchment of workers, as canvassed by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governor’s forum, would cause the civil servants who are regarded as the engine room of government.
Dr. Banigo observed that although the present administration is yet to recover from the financial reckleness that led to the backlog of unpaid salaries of Civil Servants and pensioners by the past Government, Governor Wike would continue to place the welfare of workers in his priority list by ensuring that workers salaries and entitlements are paid regularly.
She enjoined workers to remain steadfast and committed to their duties so as to justify Government huge investment in the Civil Service.
The Deputy Governor assured workers in the State that the Wike-led administration has set in motion necessary modalities to ensure that all entitlements owed workers are paid describing Governor Wike as “Workers friendly.”
Rivers  State  Governor,  Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has directed the Greater Port Harcourt  City Development Authority to  liaise  with the  Port-Harcourt Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Mines and Agriculture for the  allocation  of  land for the establishment  of  the  Permanent  Site of the  Port Harcourt International  Trade Fair  Complex.
Speaking  at the Government House,  Port Harcourt on  Monday  during a courtesy call by the President  of  the  Nigerian  Association  of  Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Mines and Agriculture,  Chief Edem  Orok Edem, the  governor  stated  that his administration  remains committed to developing  an enabling  environment  for private businesses  to thrive.
He stated that the permanent site of the Port Harcourt International Trade  Fair  be located near the airport  to promote  accessibility  and enhance its profitability  to the state and region.
Governor Wike  noted that the State Government  started with infrastructural  development  because  of  the  need to  develop  the  right investment  climate  and also attract more investors to the  state.
“The Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mines and Agriculture should  liaise  with  the  Greater  Port Harcourt City Development Authority and the Special Adviser on Investment  for land for a permanent  site for the Port Harcourt International Trade Fair.  The chamber should  formally  apply for the land  and processes will be followed  in allocating  same.
“The Rivers State Government will continue to partner with  the  organized  private sector in our quest to develop  the  economy  of the state. That is  why  we took the  step of development  infrastructure  and  creating  access to  key business  areas like the Onne Port and NPA  Port in Port Harcourt “, Governor  Wike  said.
He explained  that  it is the policy of  his administration  to  complete  abandoned  projects because  state resources have been  committed  to  them.
Earlier  in  his  remarks,  President of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, Chief Bassey Edem Orok Edem commended Governor Wike  for  his  investment  in  the  development  of  infrastructure  to aid business  development.
He prayed the  governor  to approve the  allocation  of  land for  the  siting  of Port Harcourt Trade Fair  Complex  and  the  establishment  of  a functional  office in the state.
In Another development,  the National Association of Chamber of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture(NACCIMA) has commended Governor Nyesom Wike for the infrastructure overhaul ongoing in the state, saying it would help business and investors and put the state on the path of economic boom
President of NACCIMA Chief Bassey Edem gave the commendation when he visited Governor Wike on Monday in Government House in Port Harcourt.
He specially expressed appreciation for the attention to the transmadi,iwofe and Onne/ Eleme axis of the East West Roads which he said are key and vital routes to industries and important businesses in the state.
Edem said, “governors who care for the private sector while in office when they are out are well received by the private sector.”
The NACCIMA president however regretted that despite being a key economic city and one of the oldest chamber of commerce in the country Port Harcourt Trade Fair was yet to be given an international status.
Against this backdrop he said announced the upgrading the Port Harcourt trade fair to international status noting, “I agree to give Port Harcourt the status of international trade fair, with the promise that in two years it will provide a site. There is no way they can have such unless government assists.”
On his part, Governor Wike pledged that government would do all it could to encourage business to thrive in the state.
He revealed that most of the roads were not started by his administration but were considered vital to business hence the quest to complete them.
“ For us as a government we will always want to encourage and support investors which PHACCIMA is key to driving that relationship.” he said.
To give force to the new status of the Port Harcourt trade fair, Wike said the body should liaise with the authorities in the Greater Port Harcourt City to provide land around the airport area for the trade fair.
He further stated that government would always partner with the chamber of commerce in projects that will impact positively on the state.