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Justice Wike Promises Right Environment For Dev
The wife of the Rivers State Governor, Justice Suzzette Eberechi Nyesom-Wike, has stated that the Rivers State Government will continue to create an investor friendly environment for the sustained development of the state.
Justice Nyesom-Wike further said that the state will legislate on policies that will encompass stable marco-economic situation as well as ensure security of lives and property in the state.
Delivering a keynote address titled: “Sustaining Youths Engagement and Development”, at a one-day LEAD Summit organized by the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) in conjunction with Heritage Bank Limited in Port Harcourt, Justice Nyesom-Wike said she has the passion for the empowerment of youth.
The wife of the governor, who noted that the benefit of engaging youth for entrepreneurship cannot be overemphasized, stated that the task of engaging the youths in entrepreneurial development is not only for the state government alone.
She called for the collaboration of all stakeholders in the state to enhance the empowerment of youth.
She observed that entrepreneurship was essential for rapid and sustained growth and development as it creates the required manpower and skills needed for accelerated growth as well as addresses security and societal violence.
Justice Suzzette Eberechi Wike emphasized that the efforts of the state government has reduced the level of crime and kidnapping in the state as part of efforts to woo investors.
“Young entrepreneurs have led and will continue to lead economic revolution which repeatedly improves the standard of living everywhere. When young people are fully engaged as entrepreneurs, they crystallize economic development by increasing gross domestic product, national income help improve the standard of living of citizens of the country,” she noted.
“The state government under my husband’s focused and able leadership continues to create an investor friendly environment and legislate on policies that will encompass stable marco-economic situation as well as ensure security and protection of lives and property in the state,” Justice Suzzette Eberechi Wike said.
While noting that the existence of small scale businesses in the state will provide job and employment to many citizens as evident in Colombia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia where small scale enterprise employ more than 50 per cent of the workforce, Justice Suzzette Eberechi Wike, stressed the hope that the summit will provide support for participants in order to engage youths appropriately for economic revamp and nation building.
“It is my hope that the summit will continue to provide support for participants in order to engage the youths for economic revolution and nation building,” she said.
She commended Heritage Bank Limited for sponsoring the programme
In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Onueze Okocha, SAN, described the theme of the summit: “Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Development” as apt, saying the summit was critical to the state and nation in view of the present realities of the economy.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Second Opportunity Africa, Mrs. Linda Somiari-Stewart said the essence of the summit initiated nine years ago, was aimed at opening the eyes of youth to the opportunities that abound, especially with the dwindling nature of the nation’s economy.
She lauded the wife of the governor and the deputy governor for their support in nurturing the programme to maturity.
Earlier, the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency, Mr. Lawrence Pepple, had thanked Heritage Bank Limited for sponsoring the programme and collaborating with the agency to provide the necessary support geared towards securing a single digit loan for youth of the state.
President Bola Tinubu has ordered a Federal Executive Council committee to move swiftly on measures to further reduce food prices across the country.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, disclosed this in Abuja, on Wednesday.
According to him, the directive focuses on ensuring safe passage of farm produce across transport routes to cut logistics costs.
“The President has given a matching order with a Federal Executive Council committee already handling it on how we are going to promote safe passage of agricultural foods and commodities across our various routes in the country,” Abdullahi said at a capacity-building workshop for Senate correspondents.
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Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, has faced worsening food insecurity since the removal of fuel subsidy, high transport costs, and insecurity on major highways disrupted the movement of goods.
Despite government interventions, food remains largely unaffordable for millions.
The minister said the plan is tied to Tinubu’s broader vision of food sovereignty—beyond availability to ensure affordability, accessibility, and nutrition on a sustainable basis.
To back this up, he revealed that government is set to roll out a Farmer Soil Health Scheme to boost productivity and a revamped cooperative reform initiative to mobilise resources and empower rural farmers.
“Mr. President has shown tremendous interest in the cooperative sector as a veritable tool for resource mobilisation, for economic activity generation, and to improve the livelihood of members,” Abdullahi added.
The event, with the theme, “Parliamentary Reporting: Issues, Challenges and Responsibilities,” also featured Senate Media Committee Chairman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu; ex-presidential aide, Senator Ita Solomon Enang; and NILDS DG, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman.
The Federal Government has warned contractors, including foreign firms, that any breach of regulations in road projects awarded to them may lead to arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, issued the warning during an inspection of the ongoing dualisation of the East-West Road (Section IIIA) from Eleme Junction to Onne Port Junction in Rivers State.
The section is being executed by Reynolds Construction Company (Nigeria) Limited.
Responding to questions from journalists, Umahi commended the quality of work on the project but expressed displeasure over the slow pace, stressing that the December completion deadline remains sacrosanct.
On the project, he said:“The quality of the work is excellent, but the pace of work is totally unacceptable. Let me make it very clear to the contractor that this project will neither be reviewed nor varied in price or claims.
“I’m sure we have issued over 10 warning letters to them. If they fail to comply with the completion deadline of December 15, we will not extend it.”
He added that the ministry had already put measures in place to enforce compliance
“The comptroller has negative certificates to issue, and I will recover the money from any of their other projects. All those letters are on record, and when the time comes, they will be invoked. Any contractor who refuses to abide by regulations will have the EFCC and ICPC to contend with,” he said.
Umahi further disclosed that the Federal Government had directed that road projects valued below N20bn would no longer be awarded to expatriate companies, in line with its “Nigeria First” policy aimed at strengthening indigenous capacity in the construction sector.
“This is part of the Nigeria First policy of the Federal Government. Henceforth, no expatriate firm will be awarded any project valued below N20bn. Such projects must go to indigenous companies, while expatriates focus on higher-value projects requiring more technical capacity,” he said.
The minister also noted that the Federal Ministry of Works had adopted a funding prioritisation framework to sustain road projects initially financed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.
He stressed that President Bola Tinubu had directed that none of such projects should be abandoned, adding that priority would be given to critical economic corridors.
Umahi also decried the indiscriminate parking of heavy-duty vehicles on highways, saying it was damaging the pavements of completed sections of the road.
He said letters would be sent to state governors and the Inspector-General of Police to enforce punitive measures against defaulters.
Earlier, the Federal Controller of Works in Rivers State, Mrs Enwereama Tarilade, said RCC had completed 15km of the right carriageway and commenced work on the left carriageway, with one kilometre already laid in Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement.
The Rivers State Government says it will ensure the smooth and successful takeoff of the newly established Federal University of Environment and Technology (FUET), in Ogoniland.
This commitment was made yesterday by the Administrator of Rivers State, Retired Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), during a courtesy visit by the university’s Governing Council and Management team at the Government House, in Port Harcourt.
The high-level delegation was led by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Council, Professor Don Baridam and the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chinedu Mmom.
In his address, Administrator Ibas warmly congratulated the pioneer council and management on their appointments, describing their task as both a recognition of individual accomplishment and a historic call to duty.
“This is not just a recognition of your personal achievements but also a call to history to shape an institution that will have a profound impact on Rivers State, the Niger Delta, and indeed our country,” he stated.
The Administrator commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the establishment of the specialized university in Ogoniland, describing the initiative as “timely and strategic.”
He emphasized that the university’s presence offers a critical opportunity to drive research, innovation, and community-focused solutions to the region’s pressing environmental and developmental challenges.
He further noted that the university’s core focus aligns perfectly with the priorities of his administration.“We consider this university not merely as another institution of higher learning but as a strategic partner in our collective effort to rebuild Rivers State under the ongoing state of emergency and beyond,” he affirmed.
Responding to specific requests presented by the delegation, Administrator Ibas assured the university of immediate support in critical areas essential for the its commencement.
These include the provision of operational vehicles, key facilities, and the completion of the access road to the campus, adding that other vital needs, such as perimeter fencing, refuse disposal, and the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy, would be addressed within the framework of the state’s broader infrastructure and support programmes.
To ensure swift action, the Administrator directed the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) to work closely with the university’s Governing Council to prioritize the sequence of requests, particularly those tied to the commencement of academic activities in September 2025.
“Let me assure you that Rivers State Government will stand as a dependable partner to the Federal University of Environment and Technology. We see this university as part of our long-term investment in knowledge, innovation, and the future of our youths,” he emphasized.
In his remarks, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Professor Don Baridam, reaffirmed the university’s commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and community development.
He disclosed that the Federal Government has directed the institution to formally commence its academic session in September 2025, adding that preparations are in full swing to ensure a smooth take-off with adequate infrastructure and resources in place.
“Today’s meeting marks the beginning of a strategic partnership between the Rivers State Government and FUET, envisioned to establish the university as a premier hub for research, innovation, and sustainable development in the Niger Delta”, he said.
