News
Mrs Wike, Family Float Foundation For Father
An education foundation to assist indigent students has been set up in honour of Elder Ikechukwu Amadi Obuzor, the father of the wife of the governor of Rivers State, Hon. Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike.
The foundation was announced by the wife of the governor on the occasion of the 80th birthday of her father at Odiokwu Community in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State, last Friday.
Hon. Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike explained that the education foundation, which is in honour of her father’s legacy, has been set up to help indigent students in Odiokwu and other parts of the state, realize their academic aspirations.
“Everywhere in the world, there is poverty. So, there are people who have need for good education. And the more education we give to people, the more light we bring into our communities.”
She stated that the Obuzor family had already started supporting, at least, 20 students in higher institutions.
According to her, there was, however, plan to extend the assistance to indigent students across the entire Rivers State.
“Starting from this little community of Odiokwu, we plan to extend it to Ahoada West, Ahoada East, the whole of Orashi, and as we have more (funds), of course, the whole of Rivers State.”
Obuzor, a United States-trained surgeon, was a former Commissioner for Health, Education, and Commerce and Industry in the old Rivers State.
He is a voracious, unapologetic giver, whose educational advancement scheme has produced the highest amount of human resource development in Ekpeye history.
He was coroneted as the Unwo Yaweh Usamali Ekpeye Logbo, which means, “One who has brought light (civilization) to his people.”
Obuzor commended his children for the establishment of the education foundation, which is in furtherance of his legacy of enhancing the human capital development of his people.
The octogenarian expressed profound gratitude to his children for their show of love, and also thanked all family members, friends and dignitaries that graced the occasion of his 80th birthday.
The mother of the wife of the governor, Deaconess Patience Horsfall Obuzor, thanked God for preserving the life of her husband, who recently experienced serious health challenges.
She also expressed gratitude to God for granting her husband very productive years during which he has been able to impact positively on humanity.
The Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, in his remarks, thanked God for the life of Dr. Obuzor and all that he has accomplished in life.
At the event, which was attended by dignitaries from across Rivers State, and chaired by Chief D.A. Ochoma, the biography of the Dr Obuzor titled, “OBUZOR: THE LIGHT BEARER”, authored by Precious Anuonyeh, was also launched.
The occasion, which had in attendance the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simon C. Amadi; Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Rivers State, Amb Desmond Akawor; former Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, Bro Felix Obuah; Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of Opobo Kingdom, and Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, King Dandeson Douglas-Jaja; Elder Ferdinand Alabraba, among other dignitaries.
In a statement posted yesterday, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said recent seizures by the agency’s officers had revealed attempts by criminal elements to introduce prohibited substances under the guise of everyday snacks.
“As parents, if your kids and young ones always crave for cookies and gummies, you may have to pay a little more attention. There may be more to it than ordinary cookies and gummies,” Babafemi wrote, sharing images of seized packages.
The photos showed colourful pouches of “Cookies Delta 8 Gummies” in flavours such as Hawaiian Rain Pineapple Guava and Thai Mango, labelled as vegan and hemp-derived, alongside the actual gummy products.
The warning comes amid a major interception by the Nigeria Customs Service at the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos.
Officers seized two 40-foot containers containing large quantities of cannabis-infused products concealed among legitimate imports such as used vehicles, generators, batteries and fabrics.
The consignment included thousands of Delta-8 cannabis pre-roll cookies, packs of cannabis-infused gummies and other cannabis-infused cookies, with a combined estimated street value of about ?373.8m.
The items were subsequently handed over to the NDLEA.
NDLEA officials described the products, which originated from the United States and were packaged to resemble ordinary vegan snacks with appealing flavours, as an emerging public health threat.
They noted that the attractive packaging could appeal especially to children, students and young people, raising the risk of accidental consumption of concentrated cannabis.
The partnership was unveiled during a meeting between officials of RIWAMA and the leadership of the Rivers State chapter of the PCRC in Port Harcourt, recently, where both organisations pledged to work together to restore the Garden City status of the state capital.
In his speech, the Supervisor of Market and Community Sanitation in RIWAMA, Mr. Omereji Ukoha, said the collaboration was in line with the vision of the agency’s Managing Director, Dr. Ibimina Wokoma, and the Board Chairman, Dr. Samuel Nwanosike, to promote a cleaner and healthier environment.
Ukoha described the PCRC as a strategic grassroots partner capable of mobilising communities and driving behavioural change through sustained public enlightenment on proper waste disposal.
He expressed concern over the increasing rate of indiscriminate refuse dumping in parts of Port Harcourt, particularly in New GRA, where blocked drainage channels and illegal shanties have continued to contribute to flooding and environmental degradation.
According to him, the agency is determined to intensify enforcement against environmental offenders, warning that unregistered cart pushers and residents who patronise them would be prosecuted in accordance with the provisions of the RIWAMA Act, 2014.
The RIWAMA official urged residents to embrace proper waste disposal practices and patronise only government-approved waste operators in order to safeguard public health and protect the environment.
Responding, the Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee in Rivers State, Dr. Voke Emore, commended RIWAMA for seeking collaboration with the committee in addressing environmental challenges confronting the state.
Emore said the PCRC would deploy its community-based structures across the state to support public sensitisation and encourage residents to comply with environmental sanitation regulations.
He also called on local government councils to play more active roles in waste management, noting that they collect sanitation levies and should complement the efforts of the state government in maintaining a clean environment.
The PCRC chairman described indiscriminate refuse disposal as a serious environmental and public health concern, stressing that sustained collaboration among government agencies, community leaders and residents remained critical to achieving lasting sanitation goals.
Both organisations expressed optimism that the partnership would promote cleaner communities, reduce environmental hazards and strengthen public participation in efforts to ensure a healthier and more sustainable environment for the people of Rivers State.
King Onunwor
The State Police Command disclosed this in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, ASP Blessing Agabe, in Port Harcourt, recently.
The suspects were arrested during a coordinated operation at Oyigbo, following directives by the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, CP Olugbenga Adewole Adepoju.
Those arrested were Ezekiel Emmanuel, 44, from Benue State; Chukwuma Mbanefor, 51, from Anambra State; Nicholas Diala, 65, from Imo State; Ndubuisi Uwakwe, 49, from Abia State; and Ifeanyi Nwakwo, 51, from Imo State.
The Command said the arrest represented another significant operational success in its ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal networks operating in the State.
According to the Police, preliminary investigation indicated that the suspects were allegedly involved in kidnapping operations within Rivers State.
The suspects, during interrogation, allegedly confessed to their involvement in kidnapping and further admitted participating in several operations carried out in Kom-Kom, Railway, Obeama and Afam communities.
The Command said investigation was ongoing, with efforts intensified to identify and apprehend other members of the suspected syndicate who may be connected with the criminal activities.
The Police boss said the operation reflected the implementation of operational directives and the intelligence-driven policing strategy of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc, NPM.
Adepoju reaffirmed the Command’s determination to sustain aggressive intelligence-led operations against kidnapping, cultism, armed robbery and other violent crimes across Rivers State.
He warned kidnappers and other criminal elements operating in the State that there would be no safe haven for them, stressing that the Command would relentlessly pursue, arrest and ensure that those found culpable were brought to justice.
The Commissioner further assured residents of the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, urging members of the public to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies in the fight against crime.
He appealed to residents to provide the Police with credible and timely information capable of assisting security operatives in preventing criminal activities and apprehending suspected criminals.
The Command urged members of the public who may have useful information on the activities of the suspected kidnapping syndicate or other criminal elements to contact the Police through its emergency lines, assuring that such information would assist ongoing investigations.
King Onunwor