News
Belemaoil Constructs 50-Bed Space Hostel At UNIPORT
In a bid to address the problem of inadequate hostel accommodation in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions and to reduce the danger associated with off-campus residential accommodation, indigenous oil giant Belemaoil Producing Limited has commenced the construction of 50-bed space hostel at the University of Port-Harcourt.
This is coming barely two months after the signing of the contract for the building of the three floor 50-Bed Space Hostel being executed in collaboration with the Jack-Rich Tein Aid Foundation and Belema Aid Foundation.
The Founder/President of Belemaoil, Mr. Tein T.S. Jack-Rich said the need to provide suitable accommodation for Nigerian students in tertiary institutions and to reduce the hazards facing students who reside off-campus necessitated the gesture.
Mr. Jack-Rich, represented by the Director, Production and Engineering, Belemaoil Producing Ltd, Engr. Mufaa Welsh, said the company is committed to ensuring that majority of Nigerian students in tertiary institutions reside on campus for enhance academic excellence.
He said this would address the problem of insecurity, social vices, poor academic performance, exorbitant off-campus accommodation, high cost of transportation amongst other challenges facing students who reside off-campus.
Engr. Welsh said “We have seen what students are going through and we say we need to lessen the burden on them by asking them to come into the university. Our interest is to ensure that in the next five years 90 percent of students of this university reside on campus, by so doing they will have more concentration, they will lean more and interact with themselves, interact with lectures and other people within the campus community and not to be involve in criminality or social vices. The wish of our Founder and President is that this is accomplished, it is in the course of this that we decided to start erecting buildings for students”
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Port-Harcourt, Professor Ndowa Lale said the project which comes barely three months to the end of his tenure is timely.
He expressed appreciation to the management of Belemaoil and assured that the Hostel would be well utilized when completed.
In his remarks, the Minister of State for Education Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba who was represented at the occasion by his Special Assistant on Policy and Political Matters, Paul Odili decried the lack of hostel accommodation in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
The Minister said “There is truly a crying need for hostel accommodation in Nigeria tertiary schools. Available data show that over 75 percent of the entire Nigerian students’ population live off-campus in sometimes insecure and inhospitable environment not conducive for learning. Unfortunately there are not many corporate outfits making a non-profit intervention in Hostel Accommodation in the country, this should change. Hopefully the great gesture by Belemaoil will be emulated by other corporate entities to make it a norm”.
The Minister while congratulating the management of the University of Port-Harcourt for attracting the project, commended Belemaoil for what he described as beautiful and exemplary gesture.
Also speaking, the Manager External Relations of Belemaoil, Samuel Abel-Jumbo identified accommodation as a critical need of every student in tertiary institution. He said the gesture would be extended by the company to other tertiary institutions in parts of the country.
Mr. Jumbo said, “Education is a priority to Belemaoil Corporate Social Responsibility. This is a demonstration of our inclination towards supporting Nigerian students. We identified the University of Port-Harcourt as one of the institutions that we are going to start with in terms of extending our Corporate Social Responsibility to, and that is why we are here today to carry out this Ground Breaking Ceremony. We identified the fact that accommodation is very critical to students need, we also identified the fact that in UNIPORT it is even more critical. Being an Indigenous oil producing company with our Head Office and Operational Office here in Rivers State, Port-Harcourt, University of Port-Harcourt falls within our primary host target in terms of such Corporate Social Responsibility, so that is why we are here. We will be doing this across the country as much as possible as we try to reach out to other parts of Nigeria”.
The project is expected to be completed in four months and would be dedicated to the graduate students of the university.
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.