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East-West, PH-Aba Roads: RVHA Petitions NASS

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The Rivers State House of Assembly, yesterday unanimously passed a motion to petition the National Assembly over the deplorable state of federal roads in the state, especially the East-West Road and Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway.
The lawmakers were of the view that these two major roads and the only link with other states were in decrepit situation to stagnate economic activities and unleash untold hardship on the people of the state.
Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi- OwajiIbani said it amounted to neglect and deliberate act of abandonment on the part of the Federal Government considering the status of Rivers State as a major economic contributor to the country’s revenue.
He said that the state has continuously suffered near break down of infrastructure.
Though the motion was initiated by the Majority Leader, Hon. Martins Amaewhule, other members, including those from the opposition joined in support, arguing that an immediate action be taken by presenting the matter before the National Assembly.
In his words, Amaewhule said, “people going to Andoni, Opobo and Ogoni can no longer go to their communities … It’s a pitiable situation, and it’s the same at Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway. You cannot believe we are part of Nigeria”.
For the member representing Obio/Akpor Constituency 11, Hon. Michael Okechukwu Chinda, the Federal Government has displayed non-challance to the needs and challenges of Rivers people considering the poor state of the two roads.
Chinda noted, “The usual action of flying in Federal Government officials on visits to the state should be discouraged. Let them inculcate the habit of travelling by road, so that they can feel the pains of our people. This issue has become a recurring decimal, and the Federal Government needs to sit up as far as the East-West Road is concerned”.
Members of the opposition, who supported the motion include Hon. Innocent Barikor representing Gokana State Constituency, Victoria Nyeche representing Port Harcourt Constituency 1, and Josiah John Olu of Eleme Constituency.
Barikor pointed out that the deplorable state of the East-West Road had inflicted pains on the people which are both “tangible and intangible”, but pleaded that the state government should not abandon the plight of the citizens by ensuring that remedial works are sustained on the route.
Consequently, the state House of Assembly  called on the Federal Government to refund monies spent by the Rivers State Government on repairing and maintaining of federal roads.
Member representing Eleme State Constituency, Hon. Josiah John Olu, who raised the matter on the floor of the House, as part of a motion seeking for repairs of the East-West Road, said so far, the state has expended N106billion since 2013.
The motion was upheld by the House as the Speaker concluded that, “Monies spent by the state government on federal roads should be re-imbursed.
Ibani stressed that, “the RSHA will seek justice, and we will continue to engage the Federal Government, and ensure that all relevant agencies live up to their responsibilities”.
The speaker observed that the poor state of federal roads in the state has become a nagging issue, insisting that, “If the Federal Government has done its responsibility, negligence wouldn’t have arisen. The word negligence is moderate to say the least of what our people have suffered over the years”.

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Why Wike Is Playing God In Rivers -Asari Dokubo

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A former Niger Delta militant, Asari Dokubo, has claimed that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is “playing god” in the current political crisis that has pitched him against the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
Dokubo also chided President Bola Tinubu for, according to him, handing over “Rivers and Bayelsa” to the ex-governor.
“He is now playing god. It is dead on arrival, all those things that he is doing,” Dokubo said in a video that surfaced on X.com on Monday.
He added, “I advise my friend, President Bola Tinubu; what you are doing to all Ijaw, Ikwerre people in Rivers State (sic). You took Rivers state and gave it one man”
In April, Fubara revealed that the administration has raised the monthly Internally Generated Revenue of the state from N12 billion which he met upon assumption of office to N27 billion.
Dokubo described the development as commendable while alleging that the governor only had access to N6 billion when he assumed office.
“The governor had come out to say that the IGR for Rivers State is now N27bn up from N12bn. The governor is even being economical with the truth. When the governor came in, they were giving him a paltry sum of N6bn,” he said.
Meanwhile, in another twist to the ongoing crisis, Fubara on Monday said that he would set up a panel of inquiry to look into the affairs of governance in the state.
He disclosed this during the swearing-in and administration of the oath of office on Dagogo Iboroma, SAN, as the Attorney General of the state and Commissioner for Justice.
The governor criticized recent comments by the former Attorney-General of the State and Justice Commissioner, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, SAN, who resigned from his cabinet over a fortnight ago and urged the new Attorney-General to defend the state.
He stated, “It is not the one that while you were here… the only thing you do is to sabotage the government.
“Instead of you to close your mouth, you publicly claim that you’re a learned person to tell people that you’re the Chief Law Officer. Chief Law Officer, you were here and went to stand before a Magistrate Court.
“At that time you didn’t remember that you’re a Chief Law Officer going against the ethics of your job.”

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Investors, Tourists To Get Visa Within 48 Hours, FG Assures

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The Federal Executive Council chaired by President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a tripartite committee to streamline visa processes and acquisition for investors interested in investing in Nigeria.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, revealed this, yesterday, after the FEC meeting held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“Our visa processes are becoming cumbersome. The ease of doing business is also tied to our visa processes.
“Going forward, those investors, tourists would find it easy to acquire a visa within the next 48 hours,” Idris said.
The meeting which began on Monday was adjourned till Tuesday to allow for other “far-reaching” decisions, the information minister had told journalists.

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Panel To Probe Governance In Rivers Underway -Fubara …Swears In Iboroma As New Attorney-General

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Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared his readiness to set up a panel of inquiry to look into the affairs of governance in the state.
Fubara disclosed this during the swearing-in and administration of the oath of office on Dagogo Iboroma, SAN, as the new Attorney General of the state and Commissioner for Justice.
The governor criticised recent comments by the former Attorney-General of the State and Justice Commissioner, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, SAN, who resigned from his cabinet over a fortnight ago and urged the new Attorney-General to defend the state.
Fubara stated, “It is not the one that while you were here… the only thing you do is to sabotage the government.
“Instead of you to close your mouth, you publicly claim that you’re a learned person to tell people that you’re the Chief Law Officer. Chief Law Officer, you were here and went to stand before a Magistrate Court.
“At that time you didn’t remember that you’re a Chief Law Officer going against the ethics of your job.”
Addressing the new AG, the governor said, “You have a big task. As it is today in the local parlance, they say the jungle has matured. We will be setting a panel of inquiry to investigate the affair of governance.”
The governor further said there was a deliberate attempt to sabotage his administration, saying, “If we disagree, no matter how bad it is, it should be resolved.
“But it has become very clear that this disagreement there is no headway to it, and for many reasons, there is very visible evidence that there is sabotage, a deliberate attempt to sabotage this administration.
“Maybe where they are they are telling them nothing will happen, it is happening here live, we have our own legislators that are performing their duties according to the Constitution. So that record is threatened.”

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