News
RSG To Rehabilitate 13 Hospitals …Faults NDDC Claims On Road
Rising from its 13th State Executive Council meeting, the Rivers State Government has approved the rehabilitation of the moribund Psychiatric Hospital and nine other general hospitals across the state.
The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Dr Austin Tam-George, made the plans public during a chat with newsmen last Wednesday after the State Executive Council meeting in Government House, Port Harcourt.
He said the plan is in line with the vision of Wike to create access to quality healthcare for the people of Rivers State. The State Executive Council approved the total rehabilitation of nine general hospitals.
The hospitals to be rehabilitated are: General Hospital Omoku, General Hospital Nchia , General Hospital, Abua, General Hospital Isiokpo, General Hospital Abonnema, General Hospital Okrika, General Hospital Opobo, General Hospital Terabo, General Hospital Ngo.
The commissioner added that the state government will also rehabilitate Government Secondary School, Ogo in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area
He said, “the Governor Wike administration as promised will face the development of health and education infrastructure across the state.
“This approval by the State Executive Council is in line with the New Rivers Vision of the Wike administration.”
Already, the upgrade of the Orthopaedic Department of the Braithwaite Memorial Hospital has been completed by the administration .
He also said that as part of measures to improve quality education, Government School Ogu in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area will be rehabilitated.
Already some selected schools across the state are under rehabilitation as pilot scheme for the new boarding policy of the state government.
They include, Government Girls Secondary School Rumuokwuta, Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri and Birabi Memorial Secondary School, Bori.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government has faulted claims by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) that it constructed 64 roads in the state.
The Special Adviser to the Rivers State Governor on NDDC matters, Chief Aribitonye Okiri, who made this known in a statement in Port Harcourt, noted with dismay that NDDC under Mrs Ibim Seminitari as managing director was labeling some projects carried out by the Rivers State Government as being embarked upon by the Commission.
Okiri said the claim by NDDC was misleading, false and regrettable as it was a move to undermine the developmental strides of Governor Nyesom Wike.
He, therefore, directed the NDDC to stop forthwith, construction of all roads in the state without due permission from the Rivers State Government.
According to him, the directive was to ensure that activities of some NDDC contractors who claimed ownership of roads constructed by the Rivers State Government stopped forthwith, adding that Rivers State as host to the commission has no records to that effect.
The Special adviser also warned NDDC and other agencies against construction work on all existing structures owned by the state government without express permission from the government, and lauded Governor Wike for his resolve in developing Rivers State.
He, however, noted that the development of the Nige Delta could only be achieved through collaboration, peace and mutual respect.
Colins Barasimeye
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
