‘Why We’re Demolishing Rivers Shanties’

The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has explained  that the on-going demolition of criminal  hideouts  in the state was aimed at improving  the  security of lives and property and not to displace the residents of  affected shanties.
The  governor  further stated that no government will fold its  arms while criminals terrorise residents from known hideouts.
Speaking, yesterday, when he received  the management of the University of Port  Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) at the Government House, Port Harcourt, Wike said his administration will always take the necessary legal steps to sustain and improve the  relative  peace being enjoyed in the state.
He said: “Our security  measures  are not targeted at any group. But we are interested in the security  of  lives and property, which  remains paramount. No right thinking government  will fold its arms and allow criminals to torment residents  and drive away investors”.
The governor  added that the government  is ensuring  that the human rights of the people  are not violated,  but noted that the security  of  the  vast majority  of  Rivers people must be paramount.
He assured the management of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital that his administration  will  support it to deliver quality  healthcare  services  to the people of the state.
He directed the Ministries of Works and Housing to liaise with the hospital to work towards the rehabilitation  of  its  access road and the quarters for the house men in the health facility.
The governor  also directed the state Commissioner for Health to study the 2010 report prepared  by the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital and the Ministry of Health  on steps to be taken to improve health collaboration in the state.
He pointed  out that  health  remains  critical  to  the  state government, hence, it introduced the intervention  scheme that will empower private hospitals  to improve health  care services  to the people.
Earlier, the Chief Medical Director of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Prof. Aaron Ojule, had said that the hospital, as the foremost tertiary health institution in the state, has been working hard to deploy its skills-set in tackling the health challenges  in the state.
He said: “This visit is to consolidate with your administration those areas of mutual cooperation with regards to healthcare delivery, while exploring those that offer new opportunities and prospects for improved healthcare delivery for the good people of Rivers State”.