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Old PH Township Wears New Look, As Residents Hail Wike
When Chief Nyesom Wike came on board on May 29, 2015, he promised to implement an urban renewal policy aimed at revamping the outlook of Port Harcourt metropolis.
The plan came in two fronts: “Operation Zero Pothole” and massive road construction. To achieve this he divided the city into two as he awarded the project to two multinationals – Julius Berger Nigeria and Chinese Construction Company (CCCE).
While Julius Berger is to oversee works in the Old Port Harcourt Township area comprising adjoining Streets of Niger, Bonny and Victoria stretching down to Borokiri, CCCE to oversee works in Diobu and Government Reserved Areas.
So, between May and October when the governor celebrated his 100 days in office, Julius Berger achieved a massive milestone when it completed the road leading to Borokiri waterfront with two massive drains emptying into the creeks bordering the area.
Currently, residents of Borokiri are enjoying a smooth ride to their houses, including a flood free environment in many homes within the axis.
Shortly after completing the Borokiri Road, the governor commenced the reconstruction of Creek Road, a major artery link to the heart of the Old City. Not only was Creek Road notorious for its traffic jam and roadside markets, the road became a trap due to abandoned road reconstruction work by the previous administration.
Due to the poor work executed by the construction firm, the road became more dilapidated than before with poorly built drains. The project was reawarded to the German Construction firm, Julius Berger Nigeria Limited.
Today from Creek Road stretching to Tourist Beach is now a new glieglight district with night life booming more than before.
A resident of the area Comrade Iyaye Johnson told The Tide that the new urban renewal in Old Port Harcourt township is unprecedented”, though the past administration tied to reconstruct the roads, but it was not a solid job, and that is why we commend Wike for the reconstruction”.
According to Comrade Johnson, “from Captain Amangala, Bishop Johnson to Tourist Beach the drains are very good and the water flashes down into the river”.
What excites him the more is the ongoing reconstruction work on Bonny Street He believes that the current project will cover adjoining streets of Victoria and Bendel.
Another resident who spoke to The Tide on the project is Osaki Konibo, who runs a computer business centre on Bonny Street.
“I have lived in this street for 14 years,” Konibo said, “before the current work there used to be flooding around here and many businesses was affected”
The young businessman is confident that once the project is completed business will bounce back, though currently most of the access to the adjoining streets have been blocked to allow smooth construction works.
Patrick Alalibo recalled that Bonny Street was among the streets that was revamped by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) between 2014-2015, but observed that the project was poorly executed.
“The drains were totally blocked before now, “ Alalibo recalled, they just poured tar and dug a very shallow gutter for us but I want to thank Governor Wike for remembering us again”.
Johnson further said that before now, “all these streets were in bad shape, especially Victoria Street, but I’am happy the governor has approved that Bonny Street should be rebuilt.
He wants the project to be extended to other streets as he commended Julius Berger for the good job they did to revamp Captain Amangala and Adaka Boro Streets.
Commenting on the ongoing work, Emmanuel Frank remarked, “this work is commendable and we thank the government for remembering us here in town”.
Frank is one of the many youths on Bonny, Victoria and Bendel Streets who subsist from watching over vehicles parked by those who go to buy wares from Creek Road market. They make brisk money from the car owners who park in front of the houses on the Street.
By allowing vehicles to be parked in front of their houses, they ask for security fees. “Since this project started our little business have stopped”, Frank lamented to The Tide.
The same view was expressed by Alalibo who said, “they blocked all the whole access points into the Streets making it difficult for us to survive”.
With their business shut down, most of them accused the construction firm of not engaging them in the project.
“We are not engaged”, Alalibo declared, “and we want the governor to know about it. As residents here we are supposed to be engaged in the menial jobs on site but we are not”.
He is of the view since many of them lack jobs, hence they engage in providing security and parking space to those who visit Creek Road market.
Another issue bothering the residents of the adjoining Streets to Creek Road market is the dumping of wastes by those selling fish in the area.
Frank stated, “Once it’s evening time we can’t stay in our houses because of the bad odour coming out from the market”.
He said most of the wastes are rotten meats and fish thrown into the drains by the market women, as he called on the authorities to intervene.
If the activities of the market women are not checked Franc maintained that soon the new drainage being built will be blocked by wastes.
Alalibo wants the market to be relocated from the neighbourhood, as it poses health threat to those living around the area.
“There is so much mosquito and rat from the drains because of wastes from rotten fish and meat thrown into them”, Alalibo said.
The same view was expressed by Konibo, “we have fresh fish sellers around here and they dump their waste into the drainage. Government should try and move the market outside here”.
Konibo insists activities of Creek Road Market is fast affecting the safety and health of residents in thearea.
A visit to Creek Road Market shows that with the reconstruction of the road and coupled with the road barricades built to restrict roadside hawking and selling, the market is now being pushed into adjoining streets and Bonny Street is the most affected.
The Organised Labour yesterday, called on the Federal Government to ensure inclusiveness in policy making and guide against erosion of rights, such as free speech and association.
The President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero made the call at the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration held at the Eagle’s Square, Abuja.
The Tide source reports Ajaero and the President, Trade Union Congress, Mr Festus Osifo delivered a joint statement on behalf of the organised labour at the event.
Ajaero described May Day as, not only a moment to honour workers’ sacrifices, but also a platform to demand justice and accountability from those in public office.
He frowned at the alleged suppression of protests, and the erosion of rights of workers by some agents
According to him, workers have a duty to resist economic injustice, insecurity, and policies that undermine their dignity.
Speaking on the theme of the day, the NLC President underscored the need for Nigerian workers to reclaim the civic space and resist policies that contribute to worsening economic conditions.
“Our theme this year – “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the midst of Economic Hardship – reflects the urgent need for citizens to protect democracy and push back against repression.
“The civic space, where Nigerians express their concerns and challenge injustices is shrinking.
“If we fail to reclaim this space, the foundation of our democracy risks collapse,” he said
Ajaero, therefore, urged workers to unite and resist division, fear, and despair.
He also urged them to mobilise and organise for change, declaring that the right to demand better conditions is non-negotiable.
“Without workers, there is no society; without labour, there is no development. We must take our place in the fight for economic justice and democratic governance.”
Speaking in the same veins, Osifo said workers are the backbone of the nation—the educators, healthcare providers, builders, farmers, and innovators who sustain its economy -.
He stressed the need for the labour to reclaim the civic space even in the midst of economic hardship.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disassociated itself from a fraudulent site requesting payments from candidates who missed the ongoing 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The board said that the site, “Copyrightwriter Personal J Rescheduling Flw” and account number 8520641017 at Sterling Bank, associated with it, are scam.
The disclaimer is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday by the Board’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin.
Benjamin said the account is being exploited to defraud unsuspecting candidates who missed their UTME.
“We issue this urgent notice to inform the public about this nefarious scheme targeting candidates who were unable to participate in the UTME.
“Some unscrupulous individuals are deceitfully soliciting payments of N15,700 under the false pretence of offering rescheduling services for the examination.
“Let us be unequivocal: this, it is a blatant scam, and we are confident that the public will not fall prey to such cheap and regressive tactics.
” The individuals behind this scam have no affiliation with JAMB or any legitimate government agency.
“The account details provided in these communications are entirely fictitious and bear no connection to any official processes; they exist solely for the purpose of perpetrating fraud,” he said.
Benjamin called on Sterling bank to take immediate and decisive action against this criminal activity.
According to him, JAMB has reported the matter to the relevant security agencies and actively pursuing those responsible for this deceitful act.
He further said that “JAMB does not reschedule examinations for candidates who miss their scheduled tests due to reasons unrelated to the Board’s actions”.
He, however, said that the Board is conducting a thorough investigation for candidates whose biometrics failed during verification and were thus unable to sit for the examination.
He said those without discrepancies would be invited to retake the examination at no cost , stressing that “no cost is required”
“It is imperative to understand that JAMB does not charge any fees for examinations after a candidate has completed their registration.
“We strongly urge all candidates to remain vigilant and not to succumb to these fraudulent schemes.
“Protect yourselves and report any suspicious activity immediately,” he explained.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has expressed its willingness to partner with the United Nations (UN) to accelerate the development of the Niger Delta region.
Dr Samual Ogbuku, Managing Director of the NDDC, made the appeal in a statement issued by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama, in Port Harcourt on yesterday.
According to the statement, Ogbuku sought the UN’s support during his visit to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (UNRHC), Mr Mohammed Fall, at the UN regional office in Abuja.
He called on the global body to provide the NDDC with technical assistance and expert services to support the region’s development.
“We are eager to collaborate with the UN, recognising that the state governments in the region and the NDDC alone cannot achieve the level of regional development required,” he said.
Ogbuku identified key areas where support would be needed, including the provision of portable and affordable drinking water powered by high-tech solar energy sources.
He also highlighted the importance of reforesting the mangrove swamps, which have been severely damaged by decades of environmental degradation caused by oil exploration in the Niger Delta.
“Although the NDDC has made progress in providing solar-powered streetlights across the region, we still require UN support in delivering solar energy solutions for residential buildings.
“We also wish to explore the possibility of installing solar mini-grids in homes across communities, which would boost local commerce and trade,” he added.
The NDDC managing director further appealed for increased UN involvement in areas such as healthcare, education, youth training, gender development, and food security.
Ogunku stated that such interventions would significantly enhance the standard of living in the region.
In response, Fall affirmed the UN’s readiness to collaborate with the NDDC to fast track development in the Niger Delta.
He assured that the UN would support initiatives in food security, job creation, education, and renewable energy, among other areas.
“We aim to approach development in the Niger Delta holistically, rather than focusing solely on environmental pollution.
“This is merely an entry point; however, the UN’s development vision aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are designed to positively impact various aspects of people’s lives,” Fall stated.
He assured the NDDC of continued and fruitful engagements to drive the region’s development.