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Strategic Projects Execution Earned Wike Nigeria’s Face Of Democracy -Nsirim
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has earned the title Nigeria’s Face of Democracy through well-articulated and strategic execution of legacy projects, the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim has said.
Nsirim made the assertion at a media briefing on the second leg of the second phase of the ministry’s #OurStateOurResponsibility advocacy campaign in Port Harcourt, last Monday.
He said the remarkable transformation of the state by Governor Nyesom Wike has left critics dumbfounded and bewildered.
“As you are aware, Rivers State had entered into a NEW realm of glory since May 29, 2015, as a result of the achievements of the hardworking Governor of our dear state, Nyesom Wike.
“His projects speak for themselves. It is, therefore, not surprising that all they (critics) do now is to clutch on straws and attempt to throw weak punches that cannot hurt a fly,” he said.
He, therefore, called on Rivers people to remain vigilant to ensure that the forces of darkness and retrogression that see nothing good in the efforts to transform the state remain in the dustbin of history where they have been consigned.
The commissioner said that entries for the theme song competition for the advocacy campaign began, Monday, and that it was open to all persons residing and doing business in Rivers State.
“Having successfully executed the essay competition, the ministry is ready to roll the dice for the theme song competition.
“Our desire in rolling out this theme song competition is to ensure that our best and brightest creative minds are given the opportunity to be innovative. We want our people to put their creative talents to work by searching for breakthrough ideas through thinking”.
He stressed that the theme song must align and match the #OurStateOurResponsibility.
“We expect the theme song to tell the people of Rivers State and others what to expect and what is expected of them.
He said competitors were expected to produce theme songs that people could have in their heads, something that would be simple, catchy and easy to remember, not exceeding three minutes and could establish a connection with listeners.
He announced a three-man panel of judges, including a versatile musician and former Chairman of Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Rivers State chapter, Lexi Mueka also known as Lexy M; on air personality, Baridam Charles a.k.a Vitamin C; and one of Nigeria’s best Disc Jockeys, Ofori Williams.
Nsirim announced a N300,000; N150,000 and N100,000 prizes for the first, second and third position winners of the theme song competition.
“But beyond the cash incentive lays an even greater opportunity. This competition has the potentials of throwing up the winner to the national or global stage as we have seen from little beginnings of this nature. We, therefore, expect our creative minds to look beyond the cash incentive and think about a legacy that they can be remembered for,” he said.
He said contestants should download entry forms, rules and regulations guiding the competition from the advocacy campaign website: www.ourstateourresponsibility.com on or before December 13, 2021, which is the deadline for entries.
He said completed entry forms and signed acceptance of rules and regulations as well as entry materials should be sent to the ministry’s email address: rsministryofinformationandcoms@gmail.com.
The commissioner said that the emergence of the essay competition had opened a new vista of hope that the advocacy campaign was gaining grounds among youths of the state.
Accordingly, he said, the winner who is the ambassador of the #OurStateOurResponsibility, Miss Oyibo Sophia Awajibenem, would be supported by the ministry to host a one-day sensitisation programme on November 25, 2021 at the Ministry of Women Affairs titled: “The Wind of Change” aimed at promoting and strengthening the #OurStateOurResponsibility advocacy campaign.
“She would be interfacing and interacting with youths from the 23 local government areas, youth organisations and people living with disabilities, to further drive the second phase of the advocacy campaign,” he disclosed.
Nsirim also used the occasion to acknowledge the rare qualities of Sophia, who within the few months of being an ambassador of the ministry, has continued to arouse the interest of the youths of Rivers State to understand and embrace the advocacy campaign.
Also speaking, former Chairman of Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Rivers State chapter, Lexi Mueka commended the commissioner for initiating a platform that would discover hidden talents and catapult those seeking such a platform to showcase their talents in music.
He assured that the panel of judges would be unbiased in considering the entries of competitors according to the laid down rules by the ministry.
In her remarks, the winner of the essay competition and currently the ambassador of the ministry, 18 years old Miss. Sophia Awajibenem Oyibo disclosed how elated she had been since she won the competition.
She said the new status had inspired several youths in the state who now believe in the benefits of hardwork, integrity and patience.
By: John Bibor
The Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency (RSIPA) has unveiled measures to enthrone ease of doing business and win back the confidence of the business community.
The Director-General of the Agency, Dr Chamberlain Peterside, unveiled the plans at the Breakout Session of RSIPA at the ongoing 18th Port Harcourt International Trade Fair, at the Obi Wali International Cultural Centre, in Port Harcourt.
Dr. Peterside said the agency was poised to free the state from accumulation of wrong narratives that branded it over the years as unsafe for business.
He, however, admitted that many things had gone wrong in the past where regulators joined to make the business environment difficult for investors.
He announced that the agency was rather focused on actions, solutions, and results as adopted in the mission statement of the Board.
“Our task is no mean feat. We are dealing with the perception risk that over several years branded the state as unsafe. We are also faced with the challenges of dealing with the lack of cohesion amongst MDAs, policy inconsistencies, multiple taxation, incessant harassment by miscreants, red tape and delays in obtaining operating permits, high cost of operations and opaque public sector,” he said.
“It is about listening to the investors in the field and ensuring that MDAs are carried along, hence the imperative for the setting up of our One-Stop-Center”, he added.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Warisenibo Joe Johnson, who represented the state governor, said the Fubara administration was ready to listen to the business community to see ways of reducing impediments to investments.
He listed the stages of actions being undertaken by the governor as outlined in his 37-page blue print to revive the economy of Rivers State.
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, who was presented at the event as a star investor and promoter of Rivers State reputation, said for the plans of the investment promotion agency to materialize, an enabling law should replace the Executive Order that established the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency.
He said this would insulate the agency from political instability and remove fear in the minds of investors about its sustainability.
According to him, protection precedes promotion and Local Direct Investment (LDIs) is what attracts and promotes Foreign Direct Investment (FDIs).
“It is the rat at home that reveals to the one in the bush that there is fish in the kitchen”, he added.
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?The Mayor of Housing who is also the CEO of the Alesa Highlands Sustainable Green Smart City said that Port Harcourt is like a business empire under lock and key because it is not protecting its own and also not promoting its own enough for investors to come in.
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?In the area of land documentation and inventory, China urged Rivers State Government to borrow a leaf from Abuja and adopt the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in dealing with land and property registration and documentation for ease of doing business.
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?He said Lagos understood the power of business information, adding “this creates the impression that if you are not doing it in Lagos, you are not doing it in Africa.
“We need to shout louder than Lagos, because we need more investments than Lagos and the structural integrity of Abuja. When you marry both, Rivers State would be wonderful and become green with investments,” he said.
In her speech, the President of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), Dr. Chinyere Nwoga, called on the state government to look into the menace of parked trucks now turning Trans-Amadi into a risk zone.
She outlined the activities of the PHCCIMA and invited investors and businesses to the Port Harcourt economic hub, saying peace has returned.
The Director, Investors Relations of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC), Mrs Lovina Kayode, urged Rivers State to make haste and catch up on Ease of Doing Business, saying the Council has come to help businesses in the state.
Mrs Kayode, who represented the Executive Secretary/CEO of NIPC, Aisha Rimi, commended the Mayor of Housing and his counterpart, Mr. Oliver Biedima of Rainbow Heritage Group, for their decision to invest in Rivers State, saying it is a proof that Rivers State is safe for investors and their investments.
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In his remarks, Oliver Biedemi of Rainbow Heritage Group urged government to give the private investors chance to develop the economy, saying ordinarily government does not have the funds to develop the economy.
Happy Birthday Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON
Honourable Minister Federal Capital Territory
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We’ll Drive Tinubu’s Vision in Rivers With Vigour – Fubara …Inaugurates Dualized Ahoada/Omoku Road ….Debunks Rift With RSHA
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that he will lead Rivers people to galvanize support for President Bola Tinubu to drive the vision and objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the State with vigour.
The governor, who joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, explained that his decision to join the APC was not for personal interest but for the overall benefit of Rivers State.
Fubara disclosed these while inaugurating the extension of the dualized Ahoada/ Omoku Express road in Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
He commended the contracting firm, Julius Berger, for timely delivery of the project, saying the project is a campaign promise fulfilled which will bring economic benefits to the people and tackle issues of insecurity associated with the route.
He said his administration has remained focused in delivering democratic dividends in the state despite facing glaring challenges.
The governor thanked the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas for their continuous support, and urged his supporters to remain steadfast and also support President Tinubu who he said, has demonstrated love to Rivers State as a father.
Fubara denied having rift with the Rivers State House of Assembly, stating that his meeting with the lawmakers was stalled as a result of delay in the agreed meeting to be convened by former Governor Nyesom Wike and other stakeholders for him to meet with the state lawmakers.
“I have made every effort to meet with the Assembly members, but it is not within my leadership to initiate the meeting process.
“The arrangement was for my leader, Wike, and the elders led by Anabraba to call for a meeting with the the lawmakers.
“I’m a gentleman and principled. I can’t go behind to call them when we’ve already agreed. Whoever that tell them that I don’t want to meet with them, or I rejected proposal meant for them isn’t saying the truth,” Fubara said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry Works, Mr Austin Ezekiel-Hart, who gave the project description, said the delivery of the project was a fulfillment of long time dream by the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas.
He said the road was previously a single lane and has now been dualised to 14.6 meters wide, complete with solar-powered streetlights with drainages.
He said the road significantly would reduce travel time between Ahoada and Omoku while improving economic activity in the region.
In his welcome address, Chairman of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, Hon. Chuku Shedrack Ogbogu, described the road as a symbol of unity, oneness, and development, thanking the governor for fulfilling his campaign promises.
On his part, the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Engr. Peer Lusbash, said the project was awarded to his company in 2023 with a completion period of 18 months which was achieved in best quality.
He added that Julius Berger enjoyed a good support from the Fubara administration, and assured to complete all ongoing projects being handled by Julius Berger on specification, especially the Ring Road project which is a legacy project.
