Nation
FG Hands Over 192km Rehabilitated Internal Roads To Law School Management
The Federal Government yesterday handed over the 1.92km rehabilitated internal road network to the management of the Nigerian Law School, Bwari, Abuja.
The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, while performing the handing over, said the road was part of the 43 road interventions within tertiary institutions across the country aimed at closing infrastructural gaps.
Fashola was represented at the occasion by the FCT Controller of Works, Mr Yakubu Usman.
“While it is true that a lot of work needs to be done in many sectors of our national life, including education, the Buhari government has stepped up to lead the process of getting that work done.
“The gap of our infrastructure needs is steadily being bridged by a gradual process of repairs, renewal and construction on major highways and it has reached the schools.
“It is undeniable that quality of education will be impacted by the quality of infrastructure and the learning environment.
“The point must be made that although this is a civil works project, it is an investment in education,’’ Fashola said.
The minister explained that 43 road interventions were earmarked within tertiary institutions, 29 of which had been completed and 17 handed over in 2020.
Fashola urged the school to ensure that the asset was put into proper use and not mismanaged.
Speaking earlier, Prof. Isa Chiroma (SAN), Director-General, Nigerian Law School, expressed the school’s appreciation to the government for the intervention, adding that it couldn’t have come at a better time.
Chiroma, who was represented by Mrs Elizabeth Max-Uba, Secretary to Council, Nigerian Law School, appealed to the government that the intervention should not be a one-off event, noting that there were so many infrastructural needs in the school.
“The law school has five other branches in addition to the headquarters, we have a campus in Kano, Yola, Enugu, Yenogua in Bayelsa state and the old law school in Lagos campus.
“All faced with different challenges of infrastructure decay and we hope that this good gesture and initiative will be extended to all the campuses, investment in education is an investment that yields,’’ Chiroma said.
Speaking also, Mrs Hauwa Abubakar, Managing-Director, Kiwi Engineering and Construction, an indigenous company that carried out the project commended the government for the opportunity to serve.
She appealed to the government to give more room to indigenous companies to show their worth and thereby promote local content and Nigerian engineers.
Members of the school community, who were full of praise for the government, said that the road would impact greatly on the academic environment and enhance social activities on the campus.
The Director of Exams and Council Matters, Mr Babatunde Bello, said the construction of the road, which was full of potholes initially, had alleviated their suffering.
Bello said that both students and members of staff who used to park their vehicles at a distance because of the deplorable condition of the road could now drive smoothly to the campus.
The School’s Director of Admissions, Mrs Stellamaris Nosike, commended the intervention of the government in repairing the road.
The Rivers state Government has identified six local government areas with the highest burden of maternal and Neonatal mortality in the state.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh said this in an interview with newsmen at the Maternal and Neonatal Reduction innovation initiative ( Mamii)Rivers state activation workshop and state engagement meeting in Port Harcourt.
The event was organized by The Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with its Rivers state counterpart in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh also restated the preparedness of the state government to support current efforts by the federal government towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortalities in the country.
She mentioned the affected Local Government Areas to include, Andoni,Akuku Toru and Ahoada West
The rest according to the Commissioner are, Bonny, Etche and Emohua Local Government Areas.
She said the workshop will enable the team from the federal ministry of health and social welfare to brainstorm with the view to finding solution to the problem.
The Commissioner also gave reasons why the Mamii initiative was the best as far as finding solution to maternal mortality was concerned.
“The uniqueness of the Mamii initiative driven by the federal ministry of health and social welfare was that we used evidence to elicit the reasons for this deaths, so that the solutions will be context specific and tailored to the particular environment where those deaths are occuring
“For us in Rivers state we have six Mamii LGAs , nationally we we have 172 local government areas “the Commissioner said.
Earlier in her opening remarks,Dr Oreh said the state government is prepared to work with the federal ministry of health and social welfare to check the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
She commended The Minister of Health and Social welfare Professor Ali Muhammad Pategi for driving the Mamii initiative across the country and expressed optimism that the programm will see to the end of maternal mortality in the country.
Also speaking the National Coordinator Nigeria health sector Renewal Initiative Dr Adam Ahmed said Rivers state is the last state among Mamii states in the country to host the team.
He said the team will visit the affected Local Government Areas with the view to interacting with the people on how to check the trend.
He expressed the hope that with continuous efforts, maternal mortality will be checked.
Also speaking the permanent secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health Professor Justinah Jumbo said the government is not leaving any stone unturned towards reduction in maternal deaths.
The permanent secretary said Governor Siminalaye Fubara is a health friendly Governor who is desirous in improving the quality of health of Rivers people.
John Bibor
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rivers state has declared a one day fasting and prayer to seek divine intervention on the political crisis rocking the state.
The Association said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt.
State chairman of the Association,Most Rev. Dokiboeriya B. Kaladokubo said the fasting and prayer which holds February 5th at the Ecumenical center Abonnema wharf was in furtherance of the Association peace, advocacy, good governance and political stability in Rivers state.
He said the Association has observed with disappointment the dangerous trend and and gradual descent of governance in Rivers state into uncertainty and near oblivion, adding that the trend has exposed Rivers citizens to insecurity, economic hardship, loss of livelihood and the destruction of lives and property.
Kaladokubo said the association has also watched with dismay the unfolding political crisis in the state, stressing “what we see today is not merely a disagreement among political actors,it is a dangerous drift that threatens the very foundation of governance, peace, security and the collective well-being of our people”
According to him,”as the custodians of the spiritual and moral conscience of Rivers state,we can not remain silent while the state is pushed steadily towards chaos, institutional breakdown and avoidable suffering
“We are not oblivious of the fact that Rivers state like some other states in the federation often experience tension between the Executive and the Legislature “adding”when disagreement escalate they can hinder governance, delay budgets ,erode public trust and impede peaceful, constructive development”
The Christian body stressed the need for parties involved in the conflict to seek for peaceful resolution, stressing that as Christians and children of God “we should seek the path of peace and reconciliation as Christ Himself taught us”it said
The Association further encourage the both arms of government to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness and prioritize good governance in Rivers state
“We also advised all the parties in these conflict to call their supporters to exercise restraint in all their utterances and de-escalate tension in the interest of peace in Rivers state ”
CAN also described as disturbing the role some elder statesmen and individuals in the state have played and continue to play in the crisis when they should have serve as voices of wisdom, restraint and unity
“Rather than guiding the process towards peace, some have taken sides,fueled division and encouraged instability becoming more dangerous than those currently holding power”,it said.
John Bibor
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