News
Osbornegate: Rebuild PH Main Market With Recovered Funds – Sokari
An Ijaw activist and one of the living patriots of old Rivers State, Rev. Dr Sokari Soberekon, has called on the Federal government to use the over $40 million recovered in Osborne Towers in Ikoyi, Lagos State, to rebuild the Port Harcourt Main Market which was destroyed during the civil war some 50 year ago.
He was speaking in an exclusive interview yesterday against the backdrop of the recent eviction of traders at the Mile One Flyover in Diobu, Port Harcourt, arguing that the rebuilt Port Harcourt Main Market will provide stalls for many of the traders displaced at the Mile One Flyover.
Sokari, as he is popularly called, also urged the President Muhammadu Buhari government to use part of the money to build a permanent primary and secondary school for the police at the Central Police Station (CPS) football field in old Port Harcourt township which is currently being used as a scraps dump, adding that the Police Children’s School that is temporarily occupying the site of the Port Harcourt main market should be relocated to CPS football field.
Sokari said the recovered money is part of the crude oil revenue which Rivers State is a major producer and should be channelled towards the development of the state which, he said, has suffered so much neglect since oil was found in the state many years ago.
He noted that the temporary occupation of the site of the market by the Police Children’s School is a violation of the right of the people, adding that neither the Onitsha main market, the Sabongari market in Kano nor the Yaba market site in Lagos can be occupied by the police or any government agency for up to 50 days, much more 50 years.
The “Senior Advocate of the Niger Delta” said the rebuilding of the Port Harcourt main market would also save Port Harcourt the menace of street trading which Governor Nyesom Wike is trying to tackle adding: “The Federal Government should help Governor Wike to help us”.
Sokari said: “I sympathized with the Federal Government when the Niger Delta Avengers were destroying oil facilities which reduced the nation’s revenue and President Buhari was on the verge of borrowing money before some of us advised him against it. However, with this kind of recovered money, the Federal Government should be able to rebuild the Port Harcourt main market and build a permanent primary and secondary school for the police at the CPS football field”.
He explained that the police can use the Sharks Football Stadium which is a short walk distance from CPS, for its sporting activities.
Donald Mike-Jaja
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.
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