The Rivers State Government Reconciliation Committee on Lockup Shops at Mile 1, Rumuwoji Market in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area has denied allocating stalls to any one.
Chairman of the commitee, Mrs Ibiwari Clapton-Ogolo, said this in an interview with The Tide during the commencement of the first phase verification of the market allottees in Port Harcourt.
Mrs Clapton-Ogolo also insisted that original owners of shops will be given automatic allocations as long as they can prove themselves.
“No allocations for now. We are here to verify the allottees. Original owners of shops will have automatic allocations as long as they can prove themselves”, she said.
Mrs Clapton-Ogolo, who is the Permanent Secretary/Solicitor General of Rivers State, said the traders are happy that they are getting back to business.
She insisted that all prospective allottees must come with all required documents, including their National Identification number (NIN) before verification.
She also commended Governor Siminalayi Fubara for his efforts in getting the traders back to business.
Other members of the committee who also participated in the verification exercise are the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Housing, Mr Boma Wakama, who is the Secretary of the committee; Mr Lawson Ikuru, Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Commerce and Industry, amongst others.
Some of the allottees, who spoke to The Tide shortly after the verification exercise, described the process as fair and transperant.
They told their colleagues not to embark on further protest, but follow the template put in place by the Committee to get verified.
Over six hundred allottees participated in the verification exercise.

John Bibor

The Rivers State Government, in collaboration with the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Rivers State, has sealed off two hospitals in Bonny Island.
The two hospitals sealed are Saint Child Surgery, Bonny, and former Ndukwe Clinic, currently operating at Macauley Plaza, Bonny.
At a joint media briefing, Wednesday, in her office, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh, said the two health facilities were sealed off for negligence and unprofessional conduct as well as non-registration of facilities.
The sealing of the two hospitals brings to three the number of hospitals so far sealed off by the government in the State.
Recall that last week, one Divine Love Hospital in Port Harcourt was also sealed off for unprofessional conduct.
The Commissioner said some of those engaged in unethical practices have also been arrested and being tried.
She explained that the situation goes against the philosophy and the determination of the Governor Siminalayi Fubara-led administration to ensure quality health care delivery in the State.
According to her, the present administration of Governor Fubara is determined to fight all incidences of quackry in the State, adding that when inaugurated, the committee will also go after those who use fake certificates to practise as medical doctors.
“It is important that we are not looking at it sorely from the perspective of the qualifications, the requisite qualifications of health care providers, the services that they provide, and the facilities, but those services delivered is also of paramount importance”, she said.
She continued that the State Ministry of Health is collaborating with the Nigerian NMA to ensure that the health sector is sanitized of quackery.
The Commissioner urged the public to give useful information to the Ministry on the existence of quack doctors and locations of substandard hospitals in the State.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the NMA, Rivers State, Dr Ebi Robinson, said the organisation has zero tolerance for quackery as far as the profession was concerned.
He said the fight against quackery was not motivated, but was borne out of necessity to sanitise the health care delivery system in the State.
According to him, the fight is not against only those who fake certificates, but also against unethical and unprofessional practices.
“In recent times, some hospitals have been sealed with the help of the Ministry of Health and some individuals who faked certificate to practise as medical centres have also been prosecuted by the NMA.
“On the 23rd of April, two hospitals in Bonny Island were also sealed by the Ministry of Health for non-registration of their facilities and for some unethical practices.
“The NMA was part of the team to ensure no one was victimised”, he stated.
Robinson thanked Governor Fubara and the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oreh, for their support towards the fight against quackery and efforts to sanitise the health care delivery sector in the State.
He said the association is not leaving any stone unturned until the sector is sanitised for better medical practices.
Also speaking, the Director of Medical Services, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr. Vincent Wachukwu, said the government is putting all necessary things in place to ensure that Rivers people get access to quality health care services.
He, however, expressed regrets that some persons are making a mockery of government effort in this direction by not registering their facilities.
Wachukwu said government cannot allow these individuals to continue, and called on those wishing to offer medical outreaches to communities to get approval from the Ministry.

John Bibor

More groups have continued to declare unalloyed support to the Governor Siminalayi Fubara-led administration.
The latest is Ori Foundation, a non – governmental group in Ogba/ Egbema / Ndoni Local Government Area.
Speaking in an interview at Omoku during the thanksgiving service for the election and supreme court victory of Governor Fubara, the founder, Ori Foundation, Amb Ogbonna Chukwudi said no doubt ONELGA, Ward 12 are Simplified.
Amb Chukwudi said ONELGA people have no reason whatever not to throw their weight behind Governor Fubara who has shown great interest in the development of the area.
Amb Chukwudi said the group has over 2,000 supporters who are on group to join ONELGA people in solidarity to the Executive Governor and his Deputy.
Amb Chukwudi, Eze Ori 1 of Orashi Nation said the people of Ward 12, Egbema and ONELGA are in total support to Governor Fubara considering his efforts to transform the length and breadth of the State.
He noted that Governor Fubara is focused, determined and earger for the overall development of the entire State, hence, all hands should be on deck to assist him.
Amb Chukwudi said the peace and tranquility experienced in the entire State are attributable to his uncompromising desire to change the narrative and give the average Rivers man or woman a sense of belonging.
“We have no reason not support Governor Fubara and his team .I can tell you for free Ward 12, Egbema and the entire Rivers Stare are Simplified. It can be attested to through the unprecedented crowd at the thanksgiving service in honour of the governor and his Deputy. ONELGANS are united more than ever in charting this noble course. ONELGANS have every reason to thank God for Governor Fubara. Governor Fubara has made us proud .As a people, we are grateful for all the visible things Governor Fubara has done for us as a people.
The Deputy Governor who happens to be our daughter, two Commissioners, one Special Adviser and Acting RIWAMA boss. It has never been seen in our annals. The ongoing Ahoada, Omoku, Egbema Road, the newly awarded Eleke, Omoku road that cuts across so many communities between Ikwerre, Emohua LGAs and ONELGA deserve applause. It can only come from an administration which has the interest of the people at heart. Governor Fubara has demostrated his love for the people of ONELGA. We will not hesitate to reciprocate. It is exactly what you are seeing here today. ONELGA people are resolute and undeterred towards giving our dear governor necessary assistance to lead us to the promised land. As it is seen, Ward 12 where I found myself is not left out. You can see yourself that both women, the youths, the elderly and relevant stakeholders are out to prove to the world that it is either Governor Fubara or nothing else. Rivers people have never seen it like this for a long time. Governor Fubara has shown through his actions and inactions that he truly means well for us,” he said.