News
RSG Set To Improve Water Supply
The administration of Governor Nyesom Wike, last week, took a bold step towards ensuring water supply across the state as it officially signed contract with three firms for the rehabilitation and upgrading of water supply services in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas.
The contract which targets the provision of 330,000 cubic meters of potable water per day would as well create 1,200 direct and 5,000 indirect jobs to indigenes of the state.
The three firms involved in the initiative are: CGC Nigeria Limited, Top International Engineering Corporation, and Mothercat Limited.
The Managing Director of Port Harcourt Water Corporation, Chief Ibibia Walter signed on behalf of the Rivers State Government while Chen Kangle signed for CGC Nigeria Limited. Yang Gengqi signed on behalf of Top International Engineering Corporation and Iskandar Taslakian signed for Mothercat Limited.
Speaking at the ceremony, held last Monday at Government House, Port Harcourt, Governor Wike stressed the need for the firms handling the contract to deliver quality job.
“I shall be visiting all project sites unannounced, to monitor progress and compliance with specification”, the Governor said.
The state Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development, Dr Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja, explained that the project would have four new reservoirs located at Rumuola, Diobu, Moscow, and Borikiri.
He also disclosed that there would be eight elevated tanks with the carrying capacity of about 1000 to 1500 cubic meters of water and about 17 boreholes in about six cluster areas connected to water treatment plant.
The representatives of the contracting companies assured of employing indigens to deliver quality job according to specifications.
In more obvious ways, the administration of Gov Wike, last week, proved itself as one with passion for Justice and strong support for judicial officers as it unveiled pallatious residential estate for Federal and State Judges built by the state Government.
The estate known as “Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma Judges Quarters” in Port Harcourt has 20 Four Bedroom Duplexes and meant for judges of Rivers origin serving both in the state and federal judiciaries.
Governor Wike noted that the project which cost the state Government a whopping sum of N6 billion would end the sad era when Judges retired and had no shelter.
Also last week, Court of Appeal Justices Residences and Staff Quarters built by the Rivers State Government under the administration of Governor Wike was inaugurated by the Chief Justice of the Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad.
The residences comprised Bedroom Duplex with Boys Quarters for the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, with four 6 Bedroom Duplexes at Forces Avenue, two 6 Bedroom Duplexes at Akasa Street, one 6 Bedroom Duplex at Elelenwo Street and one 4 Bedroom Bungalow at Ejor Street for other Judges and 16 Flats for staff of the Court of Appeal.
The Rivers State Chief Executive stated that the provision of accommodation for judicial officers is a deliberate attempt to enhance their productivity and also ensure that they benefited like those in the Executive and Legislative arms of Government.
Stressing that the judiciary is an indispensable arm of Government in the fight against corruption, the Governor said Judges cannot fight corruption when they were not provided with the basic facilities.
The CJN who was represented by Justice Mary Odili, Justice of the Supreme Court, commended Governor Wike for his support for the Judiciary and stressed that the provision of residential accommodation for Judges would promote the rule of law and access to Justice as he urged other governors to emulate the Rivers State Governor.
As the organised labour in Rivers State issued threat to embark on strike beginning from tomorrow, the Rivers State Government has warned that doing so would amount to contempt of court since there was an injunction already restraining such action.
The Rivers State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, gave the warning at a press briefing, Saturday, in Government House.
By: Chris Oluoh
News
NAFDAC Alerts Nigerians To EU Ban On Dex Soap
The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has alerted Nigerians on the ban on Dex Luxury Bar Soap (No 6 Mystic Flower), by the European Union (EU).
The notification is contained in a public alert with No. 012/2024, signed by NAFDAC Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, and issued to newsmen in Abuja yesterday.
“The product does not comply with the cosmetic products regulation; it also contains Butyphenyl Methylpropional (BMHCA), which is prohibited in cosmetic products due to its risk of harming the reproductive system.
“It also causes harm to the health of unborn children and may cause skin sensitisation.
“It is as a result of the defective nature of the product that the EU banned it.
“The products is not in NAFDAC database; importers, distributors, retailers and consumers are to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain,” she said.
NAFDAC boss urged marketers and consumers to avoid the importation, distribution, sale and use of the product, stressing that product’s authenticity and physical condition must be carefully checked.
She enjoined members of the public in possession of the product to discontinue sale or use, and submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office.
News
Communities, Volunteers Ready To Face Upcoming Floods – Red Cross
The Country Manager of the British Red Cross in Nigeria, Karsten Voigt, says communities and volunteers are ready to face the challenges expected with the upcoming floods.
Voigt said this at the sidelines of the 56th Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), Lagos Branch.
The Tide’s source recalls that the British Red Cross donated resilience items to some communities in December 2023, to help mitigate the effects of flooding.
The items included cash, rain boots, rain coats, mosquito nets, handheld flashlights, solar powered lights with radio, USB chargers and a bridge to link the communities.
The communities that benefited included Agboyi 1, Agboyi 2, Agboyi 3 and Odo Ogun in Kosofe Local Government Area of the state.
Voigt said the Red Cross had measured the impact of the project in the communities and noticed that a lot of progress had been made.
According to him, apart from the cash and items given to the communities, simulation exercises have also been carried out to prepare the volunteers ahead of the floods.
“We have seen that people used the cash to address immediate needs they have after floods.
“Many households have used part of the cash to build up businesses.
“The solutions we have given to them are not only addressing their immediate needs after the disaster but actually building family income for their future,” he said.
News
Nimet Forecasts Three-Day Sunshine, Thunderstorms
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunshine and thunderstorm from Monday to Wednesday across the country.
NiMet’s weather outlook released yesterday in Abuja, forecasts sunny skies on Monday with a few patches of cloud over the northern cities and prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Taraba later in the day.
According to the forecast, sunny skies with patches of clouds are expected over the North Central region with prospects of morning thunderstorm over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Kogi and Kwara States.
“Later in the day, isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Kogi and Benue States.
“The southern region is expected to be cloudy with spells of sunshine with prospects of morning thunderstorms over parts of Oyo, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo and Lagos States.
“ In the afternoon/evening periods, isolated thunderstorms are expected over parts of Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, Ekiti, Ogun, Imo, Oyo, Ondo, Edo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Rivers, Lagos and Bayelsa States,” it said.
NiMet also anticipated sunny skies on Tuesday with few patches of cloud over the northern states with prospects of isolated thunderstorms envisaged over parts of Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba and Kaduna States during the afternoon and evening hours.
It envisaged the North Central region to be sunny with patches of cloud during the morning hours.
The agency also envisaged isolated thunderstorms over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kogi, Benue, Kwara and Niger States, later in the day.
“Cloudy atmosphere with intervals of sunshine is expected over the inland and coastal areas of the South, with chances of morning thunderstorm over parts of Cross River, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Rivers States.
“In the afternoon/evening periods, isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Abia, Oyo, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Rivers and Bayelsa States ,” it said.
It predicted a sunny atmosphere on Wednesday, with patches of cloud over the northern region, during the forecast period.
“Sunny skies with patches of clouds are expected over the North Central region with chances of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Plateau, Kogi, Nasarawa, the Federal Capital Territory and Benue States, during the afternoon/evening periods.
“ Cloudy atmosphere with intervals of sunshine is expected over the inland and coastal areas of the South with prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi and Abia.”
Other states to experience cloudy atmosphere, are “Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, Oyo, Cross River, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa States, later in the day.”
NiMet urged the public to take adequate precaution as strong winds might precede rains in areas where thunderstorms were likely to occur.
The agency also urged airline operators to get updated weather reports and forecasts from its office for effective planning in their operations.
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