Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike (left), welcoming INEC’s Rivers State Resident Electoral
Commissioner, Elder Ikiowak Aniedi to Governemt House, Port Harcourt, during a courtesy visit on Friday

Worried by the dilapi
dated condition of infrastructure at the Rivers State Rehabilitation Centre, Iriebe in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area and the government-approved School, Borikiri in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, the state government plans to commence reconstruction of the various centres for effective service delivery.
The State Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehailitation, Hon. Damiete Harpert-Miller, gave this indication when he led other management staff of the ministry on a familarsation visit to all the agencies under his ministry to keep abreast with the working of the various agencies as well as take inventory of the condition of infrastructure in the centres.
Demiete averred that Governor Nyesom Wike was passionate about the plight of the less privileged  in  society, and would address the plight of the affected institutions soon.
The commissioner stated that when the reconstruction work begins in those centres special attention would be given to the rehabilitation of hostels, roads and drainage system at the Iriebe rehabilitation centre while efforts would be made to refurbish offices as well as provide electricity at the government approved school, Borikiri.
He said if the past administration had taken into consideration the sufferings of the less privileged and not abandoned the centres the condition of infrastructure in those areas would have been different.
According to him, the ministry would strive to work beyond mere adoption of children and settlement of family disputs, adding that the ministry’s scope of operation will also cover the registration of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and civil society  groups in the state.
The commissioner disclosed that the ministry would soon begin the clamp down on the various baby factories in the state with a view to bringing the children to government custody and upkeep.
Damiete used the opportunity to solicit for public and private partnership to enable it fulfil its objectives, adding that ‘people are always visiting children homes, but we have the rehabilitation centres where the lunatics and the destitutes are kept and even the children remand homes are left unattended to,  he lamented.
The commissioner used the opportunity to assure the  staff at the various agencies visited of governemnt’s support to then, adding that government was aware of the challenges confronting them.
Earlier in their various speeches, the principal of Rehabilitation Centre, Iriebe, Mr Asor Livinus an Dr Wibana, Director, Welfare Unit, Governent Approved School Borikiri ward Officer, Remand Home, Borikiri, Mr Wosu Prince, and Matron, Port Harcourt Children Home, Mrs Barile Nwakoch, lauded the commissioner for the visit.