News
OPM Dedicates Free Restaurant To Leah Sharibu
The General Overseer of Omega Power Ministries (OPM), Apostle Chibuzor Gift Chinyere has rededicated and renamed its free restaurant after the tone Dapchi Schoolgirl in Boko Haram captivity, Little Miss Leah Sharibu.
Speaking during the rededication and renaming of the OPM Free Restaurant at Rumuagholu, in Port Harcourt, last Friday, the cleric charged Rivers State youth involved in criminal activities including kidnapping and prostitution, among other negative vices to desist and emulate the faith of little Sharibu.
The Tide reports that Leah is the only Dapchi Schoolgirl, among the 110 others, abducted by Boko Haram this year in Yobe State, who is still being held for refusing to renounce her faith in Jesus Christ.
“We decided to rename this OPM Free Restaurant, which has been in existence for the past five years, in honour of our beloved Sister, Leah Sharibu in solidarity with the exceptional faith she showed to the world that Jesus Christ was the only answer to all human problems, no matter the pressure. Surely, God said ‘weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning’.”
Chinyere reminded the congregation that they must hold on to their faith no matter the challenges of life just as little Leah did not to renounce Jesus Christ, but rather stood firm as did the three Hebrew brothers, Daniel, Shedrach and Abednigo, despite their sufferings by Satan, adding that Miss Sharibu stands as a symbol, hero and an icon of faith to all in the world, especially those that would come into the restaurant to eat.
He restated his resolve to offer free scholarship to the highest level of education to Leah, once she regains freedom, adding that construction work was already ongoing on a three bedroom flat he promised her parents, noting that in the soonest Leah would be set free by her abductors as the body of Christ was praying fervently for her release.
He charged other churches to emulate the free-spirit driving the 11-year old OPM’s success in transforming lives positively, frowned that many churches were not impacting lives positively with their huge offerings, tithes, and seeds of faith due to greed and corruption that have beclouded many men of God.
“When Jesus Christ came to spread the gospel and the people were hungry, He gave them both physical and spiritual foods to eat. This is why I make it a point of duty to ensure that every Sunday, we have food for those who need it, and are able to come to church.
The man of God emphasized that apart from the skills acquisition training, rehabilitation of militants, giving of physical foods to the hungry, over 30 ex-militants have also been assisted to gain meaningful employment the church also embarks on other charitable works.
He further listed them to include eight different estates built donated to less privileged persons, extending alms to prisoners by availing them opportunity to acquire computer and tailoring skills while in prison, so they could be useful to themselves and society after life in prisons, opening of businesses for their wives, providing platform for educating their children in schools, among others.
In his remarks, President, OPM Divine Distributors, Chief Matt Offeh extolled the worthy contributions of Chinyere’s to peace and social stability in the state through his selfless services, affirming that in OPM, there was no social stratification on the basis of class or tribe.
Offeh stressed that OPM’s mission was to bring salvation to the needy, rather than Christians, through the provision of economic and spiritual foods to sinners who were hungry for Christ’s love and care.
OPM’s Welfare Director, Mrs Maureen Chukwu stated that the Leah Sharibu Free Restaurant was mainly to reduce the high level of hardship if not alleviating completely and specifically dedicated to the less privileged, the widows, widowers, orphans and the down-trodden in the society, while calling on the government and other well-meaning individuals to come to the aid of the down-trodden in the society that need food to be strengthened and move on in life.
In his testimony, one of the repentant cultists, Nnabuife Emmanuel said OPM has demonstrated that a church was not only a place where sermons were preached, but also where spiritual blends with material foods to salvage the sinners, thereby returning them to Christ, while also expressing gratitude to the servant of God for giving a new meaning and focus to their lives.
Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has described the ongoing construction of the brand new 13.52-kilometre Ngo-Atlantic-Oyorokoto Road as a bold and visionary effort by his administration to open up the coastal region for economic growth and harness the full potential of the state’s blue economy.
The Governor made this remark during an inspection visit to the project site in Andoni Local Government Area. The road, being constructed by Monier Construction Company (MCC), cuts through challenging coastal terrain and leads to a newly identified beachfront facing the Atlantic Ocean.
Governor Fubara explained that while the original plan was to construct a road leading to Oyorokoto Town and its popular beach, his administration decided to expand the project to create an entirely new route that would open access to another pristine beachfront.
“We are doing another inspection today. This particular one is a virgin road, 13.52 kilometres of a new pathway to the blue economy,” Governor Fubara stated.
“Initially, we were constructing a road to Oyorokoto Beach, one of the finest tourist centres in this area. But as we progressed, we discovered another beach directly facing the Atlantic Ocean. It became clear that we shouldn’t limit development to just one site. We want to harness this new beach front as part of our broader plan to develop the blue economy.”
The Governor emphasised that the project, once completed, will not only improve access to coastal communities but also stimulate tourism and economic activities, boosting revenue for Rivers State.
Describing the area’s difficult terrain as challenging, he commended the contractor for its dedication, and expressed confidence that the road would be completed and commissioned by March next year.
“You can see for yourself, it’s a brand-new road in a very difficult terrain, just like the one we saw yesterday. But I strongly believe we will overcome it. From what we’ve seen today, the contractor, MCC, is doing their best, and by next year, hopefully by March, we’ll have the cause to commission this project and give God all the glory,” the Governor affirmed.
Governor Fubara also visited Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area to assess the progress of work on the Epellema axis of the ongoing 5.2km Kalaibiama-Epellema road project featuring a 450-meter bridge.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has expressed satisfaction with the level of progress recorded on the ongoing Trans-Kalabari Road project, revealing that about 75 percent of the critical piling work has been completed.
Governor Fubara made this known while addressing journalists after an on-the-spot inspection of the 12.5-kilometre road project, which will connect the state capital to several Kalabari communities across the sea.
The Governor rode on a boat from a jetty at Rumuolumeni in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area through the rivers and creeks on the project route during the inspection.
The project was awarded to Lubrik Construction Company Limited, on May 15, 2024, with an initial 32-month completion timeline.
The Governor said the visit was aimed at verifying reports from the Ministry of Works regarding the project’s advancement. He commended the contractors for their dedication, and described the progress as “a true reflection of hard work and commitment to excellence.”
“The first phase of the project takes us to Bakana, and features four major river-crossing bridges and nearly five deck-on-pile structures. The terrain is difficult, and the engineering work required is complex. But to the glory of God, I can confirm that the reports I’ve been receiving are accurate. Almost 75% of the piling job, which is the most critical part of the project, has been achieved,” Governor Fubara said.
He emphasised that the Trans-Kalabari Road is one of the most technically demanding infrastructure projects in the state due to its challenging marine terrain but reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to deliver it on schedule.
Governor Fubara highlighted the strategic importance of the road in connecting the Kalabari Kingdom to Port Harcourt, and stimulating economic growth across riverine communities.
“This is a key project that will turn around the lives of the Kalabari people immediately it is concluded. By the grace of God, in the next six months, if we return here for inspection, we might be driving across the bridge,” he said.
Governor Fubara assured Rivers people that his administration remains focused on delivering transformative infrastructure projects that will improve lives and bring lasting development to rural communities.
“We have made a promise to our people to embark on projects that will change lives and bring development, and this is a testament to that commitment,” he added.
The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, says that the impact of flooding and erosion on the inhabitants of Rivers State, especially those living in coastal communities, are of great concerns to the government.
Governor Fubara lamented the consequences of flood on both human and biotic life, which sometimes lead to loss of life, property, and degradation of the environment.
The Governor made the remark in Port Harcourt during the launch of a book titled, ‘Coastal Zone Flooding And Erosion in Developing Communities, Principles, Cases and Strategies,” written by Emeritus Prof. Wiston Bell-Gam.
According to the Governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Benibo Anabraba, his administration, would continue to undertake and encourage adaptation strategies to combat flooding.
In his words: “The Rivers State Government will continue to undertake and encourage adaptation strategies, such as construction of seawalls and breakers, canals and channels, restoring coastal ecology and ecosystem for coastal resilience and where necessary, the relocation of communities on the coastline.
“These issues are currently receiving the much needed attention and intervention by the recent approval of the construction of shoreline protection along the coastlines of more than five communities in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni and Opobo/Nkoro LGAs respectively.”
“It is important that as stakeholders in the protection and preservation of marine environment, we all act and advocate for mitigation strategies such as reduction in emission of Green House Gasses that causes climate change and rise in sea levels. Let us promote the use of clean energy and against fossil fuel.
Governor Fubara further cautioned residents to desist from building on waterways.
“We also need to encourage our people to stop developing buildings on and along natural water courses, indiscriminate sea mining and dredging activities on our coastline without consideration for mangroves and swamps,” he stressed.
He appreciated the author for his advanced contributions to the body of knowledge in both Rivers State and globally.
Also speaking, a former Military Governor of the old Rivers State and Amayanabo of Twon Brass, King Alfred Ditte-Spiff, who was Royal Father at the Event, stated that the book was timely to enable stakeholders manage the challenges of global warming.
“Global warming is real. If it’s not addressed globally, a time will come coastal areas will find themselves under water. The coastline of Nigeria is shocking with many mangroves gone,” he noted.
The Reviewer of the Book, who is also the Vice Chancellor of Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Ondo State, Prof Temi Ologunorisa, explained that the 14-chapter book is timeous as it fills literary gaps between desire and available knowledge on coastal flood and erosion in developing communities.,
“A major beauty of the book that sets it apart is the detailed consideration of flood and erosion control from around the world,” he stated, adding that the book is based on detailed field investigation.