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MAN Worries Over Social Distancing Among Miners, Suspends Activities

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The Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), yesterday, expressed worry over social distancing among miners and declared suspension of all mining activities.
The suspension order was contained in a statement signed by the National President, MAN, Kabir Kankara, and National Secretary, MAN, Dele Ayanleke.
According to the statement considering peculiar nature of mining activities which are mostly domiciled in the rural communities with attendant lack of health and other basic amenities, infiltration of illegal immigrants and high level of social contacts and interactions among the miners and other camp dwellers, the association has come to the conclusion that the state of mining sites is not in tandem with social distancing as a major weapon to combat the spread of COVID-19.
The statement reads in part, “The association has been monitoring, with patriotic interest, the developments and all measures being taken at mitigating the effects of this monumental health challenge and curbing its spread, by the Federal Government, state governments and health authorities at both local and international levels.
“And having also considered the peculiar nature of our mining activities which are mostly domiciled in the rural communities with attendant lack of health and other basic amenities, infiltration of illegal immigrants and high level of social contacts and interactions among the mineworkers and other camp dwellers, the association has come to the conclusion that the state of our mining sites is not in tandem with ‘social distancing’ as a major weapon to combat the spread of ‘COVID-19’.
“It is in the light of the above that the National Executive Council of Miners Association hereby directs all our members across the nation to close all mining operations forthwith until the nation survives this global emergency.
“We also appeal to other non-member miners to heed this patriotic directive in the overall national interest. This directive becomes imperative in view of the volatility of social interactions in mining communities and the high rate of mobility of mineworkers, even across the borders. Any window of entry of the virus into any of our minefields may spell doom at all efforts at curbing its spread.
“While we are not unaware of the cumulative economic and operational costs of the adherence to this directive on the investments of our members and other miners, we plead that they should regard this call as our sacrificial contributions to deliver our nation, fellow citizens, ourselves and other residents from the pandemic of Coronavirus.”
The association also identified with President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerians over the outbreak of the virus in the country, and prayed to God to have mercy and intervene in stopping the spread of the virus.
“The Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN) hereby identifies with the President, Commander-In-Chief, Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, the entire people and residents of Nigeria on the challenge of Coronavirus, tagged ‘COVID-19’, which has become a global pandemic plaguing the entire nations and continents of the world”, it added.

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Fubara Assures Completion Of Ongoing Projects In Rivers …As Airport Road Bypass Hits 65% Completion

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Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has reassured the people of Rivers State of  his administration’s  commitment to the completion of the  various ongoing  infrastructure projects located in different parts of the state.

The governor, who gave the assurance last Friday while inspecting the level of work on the new  Airport Road Bypass in Port Harcourt, said the project had reached 65 per cent completion stage.

According to him, in spite of recent developments on the political scene, he remains in “high spirits,” and is ready  to continue with the task of  governance, especially the delivery of projects that will impact positively on the lives of the people.

“I want to assure our people that notwithstanding the situation of things, one thing that I can promise everyone, is that every good work that we have started, by the special grace of God, will continue and we will complete them. We’re in high spirits. Like, we always say, Rivers First,” he said.

Fubara said that his administration conceived the idea of constructing a bypass to the Airport Road to create an alternative route for the communities around the airport and avoid a situation where some of their activities could cause obstruction along the main highway leading to the Port Harcourt International Airport.

“We’ve always had these issues where the community may want to express their anger or dissatisfaction over some activities of the airport authorities, in the process they always block the airport road.

” We thought that in this modern society, such actions are not necessary anymore because whenever it happens, it affects the economic activities of the state. So we liaised with the community and created this bypass,” he said.

The governor, who  was conducted round the project site by the contractors, expressed delight at the pace of work on the road, disclosing that the total project will be delivered before October 2026.

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Fubara Promises To Deliver State Secretariat Early 2027

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Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that  the State Secretariat Complex which is undergoing massive reconstruction will be ready for use  by the first quarter of 2027.

Fubara stated this on Monday after a tour of the multiple and  expansive high rise buildings, located in the Old GRA, Port Harcourt.

The governor, who had undertaken a similar tour of the project earlier this year, said he decided to revisit the site to confirm the extent of the job that has been done so far.

“We just did a tour of the renovation of the Secretariat. I have been seeing the outer part of it wearing a new look,  but I wanted to really confirm how  much job is going on, most importantly, the inside and that is what I just went to inspect myself.

“I think that with the progress of work here, by the grace of God, I believe that by the first quarter of next year, it will be handed over to the government. Like I did promise, every job that we are handling, we will ensure that we put them to completion,” he said.

The Tide reports that the Rivers State Secretariat was constructed in the 1970s, shortly after Rivers State was created in 1967. It  is a massive complex consisting of multiple high-rise buildings, including the 17-storey “Point Block”, the 10-storey “Podium Block” along with three other 7-storey buildings tagged “Blocks A, B and C”.

The ongoing renovation  is a comprehensive and transformative upgrade aimed at modernizing the entire complex. It involves structural rehabilitation, improved office layouts, installation of modern facilities, and upgrading of utilities to meet present-day administrative standards.

The project is designed to create a more conducive, efficient, and technology-driven work environment for civil servants.

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Group Hails Tinubu, Chinda Emergence

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The 23 For OK & P-BAT Movement, a political pressure group championing the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the governorship ambition of Honourable Ogundu Kingsley Chinda across the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State ahead of the 2027 elections, has congratulated both leaders on their victories at the recently concluded All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries.

In a statement issued by the National Coordinator, Amb. Goodluck Braide, who also doubles as the President of the Renewed Hope Multi-Purpose Co-Operative Limited, President Tinubu’s victory at the APC presidential primaries in Rivers State was described as a reflection of his growing popularity and acceptance among Nigerians. The group noted that since assuming office in 2023, the President has implemented bold economic reforms aimed at repositioning the country for sustainable growth, prosperity, and national development.

According to the group, the outcome of the primaries is an indication of what to expect in the 2027 general elections.

The group also congratulated Honourable Ogundu Kingsley Chinda on his emergence as the APC governorship flag bearer in Rivers State, describing the primary election process as peaceful, transparent, free, and fair. It stated that Chinda’s emergence signals increasing political unity among Rivers people across ethnic and political divides.

According to the movement, the APC made a strategic and wise decision in presenting Chinda as its governorship candidate, citing his leadership experience, competence, charisma, and proven capacity as qualities that position the party for victory in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

Amb. Goodluck Braide, National Coordinator

The statement further acknowledged the role of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, praising his political foresight, resilience, and commitment to maintaining unity within the political structure in Rivers State while ensuring the state remains relevant in national politics.

The group equally commended the leadership of the APC National Chairman, Professor Nentanwe Yilwatda, noting that under his leadership since July 2025, the party has witnessed renewed strength, unity, and political growth ahead of the 2027 elections.

It also congratulated the people of Rivers State and Nigerians generally for their continued support and confidence in the Tinubu administration, which it said has made notable progress in promoting national cohesion, social integration, and economic development.

 

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