Niger Delta

Justice Nyesom-Wike Visits Christmas Babies, Prays For Them

Published

8 years ago

December 27, 2017

Wife of the Rivers State Governor, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike has stated that God will do wonderful things for the state through the 2017 Christmas babies.
She also called on Rivers people to pray for the leaders of the state as a way of showing them love.
Speaking during her visit to Christmas babies at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital and the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital last Monday, Justice Nyesom-Wike urged the privileged class to use the season to assist the less privileged.
She thanked God for the birth of Baby Promise, Baby Tambari Numopre and Baby Divine at the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital and the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.
Justice Suzzette Nyesom-Wike who noted that the fact that the Christmas babies were born into the families of Rivers people, signify greater days ahead for the state.
She said that the birth of the babies reminds the people of the birth of Jesus Christ, noting that the visit was to felicitate with the parents of the babies and also support them.
She said: “We are really amazed because in the two hospitals we went to, the first and second children were born after 12.00am this morning. They were born into Ogoni families. So all four Christmas babies are all Rivers children and are Ogonis. So we thank God for that. It is a blessing and it tells us that wonderful things are going to happen in Rivers State.
”Christmas stands for the remembrance of the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, which is characterised by love and affection. So we are here to show love as part of the 2017 Christmas celebration.
”The essence of Christmas is love. So I urge all residents of the state to pray for the leadership and the sustenance of peace in the state”, she said.
The Medical Director of Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital, Dr. Paul Kua and Acting Chief Medical Director of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Dr. Charles Tobin-West thanked the Wife of the Rivers State Governor for always investing in the welfare of the less privileged.
Also speaking, the mothers of the Christmas babies, Mrs. Eebu Promise and Mrs. Elizabeth Promise expressed joy for the visit and gifts showered on them by the First Lady.
Baby Promise who weighed 3.5kilogrammes was born at 1.59am while Baby Divine was born at 4.40am and weighed 2.5kilogrammes.
Highpoint of the visit of the Wife of the Rivers State Governor to the hospitals was the distribution of gifts and cash to all mothers in the maternity ward.
She also led special prayers for the mothers of the babies.
She was accompanied on the visit by her children and wives of commissioners.

Niger Delta

Royal Father Endorses PH Arsenal Community, Pledges To Support

Published

18 hours ago

May 29, 2026

The Tide

The Amanyanabo of Koniju town, in Okrika Local Government Area, Rivers State, His Royal Majesty, King Winston Odiye Alamina Oputibeya XII, has expressed satisfaction over the activities of Port Harcourt Arsenal Community.

He further said that bringing Arsenal fans together for a common purpose, which is love, unity, and peace, is commendable and pledges to support the community in his own little way.

HRM Oputibeya said this when some members of the community, led by Ugochukwu Oputa, paid him a courtesy visit in his house in Port Harcourt yesterday.

According to him, he started supporting and following Arsenal Football Club some decades back, saying that anybody who loves good football must love Arsenal because players in Arsenal play good football.

“I was longing to meet leaders of the community to also be part of it because I like their organizational structure and I love Arsenal.

“The activities of the Port Harcourt Arsenal Community for me are satisfactory; that is why I am associating with it.

“I would like members to conduct themselves in a civil manner because football fans all over are the progress of their club and love,” he said.

Earlier, the coordinator of the Port Harcourt community, Ugochukwu Oputa, thanked the royal father for accepting the community, assuring that the group will do her best to get recognition and connection with Arsenal FC in London.

Oputa narrated the activities lined up by the community on Saturday, saying that everything had been put in place for the street procession.

In his vote of thanks, a member of the Arsenal Community, Com. Tonye Orabere also thanked the Amanyanbo for his magnanimity and pledged to assist the community. He prays God to continue to bless him.

Tonye Orabere

Niger Delta

BPP Backs NDDC’s Digital Procurement Reforms

Published

20 hours ago

May 29, 2026

The Tide

The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has commended the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for initiating reforms aimed at digitising its procurement processes to enhance transparency, efficiency and accountability.

Speaking at the NDDC Procurement Policy Reform and Digitisation Stakeholders’ Sensitisation and Training Summit in Port Harcourt, the Director-General of the BPP, Adebowale Adedokun, described the initiative as a significant step towards modernising public sector operations.

Adedokun said the transition to paperless governance had become imperative as government institutions seek to reduce delays, eliminate waste and improve service delivery.

According to him, public procurement remains central to the execution of government policies and must embrace modern technology to boost productivity and strengthen public confidence.

“Procurement lies at the heart of public service delivery. It determines how resources are allocated, how projects are executed, and ultimately, how development reaches our people”, he said.

The BPP boss stressed the importance of inter-agency collaboration in ensuring a seamless transition to digital operations, noting that the reforms align with the broader agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to build a more responsive and citizen-focused public sector.

In his remarks, the Managing Director of the NDDC, Samuel Ogbuku, said the sensitisation workshop formed part of the Commission’s efforts to strengthen institutional capacity and adopt innovative solutions in line with global best practices in governance and service delivery.

He stated that the Commission was implementing the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration in the Niger Delta region, while commending the BPP for supporting the Commission and facilitating the speedy completion of projects.

Ogbuku noted that the workshop came at a critical period when public institutions across the country were embracing reforms aimed at improving governance systems, eliminating inefficiencies and rebuilding public trust.

He said empowering stakeholders, contractors and service providers with the required knowledge would accelerate development and create sustainable value across the Niger Delta.

“We are not only reforming, but we are also transforming the Niger Delta region”, he stated.

Ogbuku explained that the Commission’s reforms would move procurement processes from manual, paper-based operations to a fully digital platform designed to improve accessibility, reduce delays and minimise opportunities for corruption.

According to him, digitisation of procurement processes goes beyond technological advancement and represents a critical governance reform aimed at promoting transparency, improving service delivery and ensuring responsible management of public resources.

Earlier, the NDDC Director of Procurement, Chuks Osuji, said the policy reform and digitisation initiative would improve workflow, eliminate inefficiencies and strengthen accountability in the Commission’s procurement system.

He added that all contractors engaging with the Commission would henceforth operate through the online procurement platform, which would also provide an effective feedback mechanism for stakeholders.

Speaking on behalf of contractors and consultants, Maraizu Uche lauded the initiative and pledged their cooperation towards ensuring a seamless transition to the digital platform.

He, however, appealed to the Commission to review its payment system to address delays in settling executed contracts.

The workshop, themed “Promoting Best Procurement Practices and Digital System for the NDDC”, was held across the nine states of the Niger Delta region.

Niger Delta

Navy Inaugurates 8 Housing Units In Calabar

Published

20 hours ago

May 29, 2026

The Tide

The Nigerian Navy has inaugurated eight units of two-bedroom flats at the Ikot Ansa Senior Staff Quarters as part of efforts to boost personnel welfare and operational efficiency.

Speaking at the event in Calabar on Monday, the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, said similar housing projects would be inaugurated in Port Harcourt and Uyo.

Represented by Rear Adm. Chidozie Okehie, the Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, Abbas said the navy would always give priority attention to personnel welfare.

He stated that the housing units would not only translate to decent homes for officers, but boost their morale for greater efficiency.

“I have repeatedly tied welfare projects to better operational readiness against maritime crimes.

“We are very deliberate about closing the accommodation gaps for officers and ratings”, he said.

The CNS charged recipients of the housing units to ensure good maintenance culture while in occupation.

Abbass reiterated the commitment of the navy to initiate new housing projects while taking steps to complete all pending ones.

“The newly inaugurated units of flats are part of the projects that we inherited from our predecessors”, he said.