Rivers

Obuah Tasks Professionals On Campaign For Cleaner State

Published

4 years ago

December 20, 2021

The Sole Administrator, Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA), Bro. Felix Obuah, has called on professionals in all strata of society, to join the ongoing campaign against indiscriminate disposal of wastes, as well as comply with the dumping hours of 6pm to 12 midnight, to achieve a cleaner state.
Bro. Obuah who made the appeal while receiving an award as ‘Business Administrator of the Year’ last Thursday in Port Harcourt, said the task before the professionals and all those residing and doing business in the state, was not only to sustain the current clean state of Rivers, but to return it to its famous status as the Garden City of Nigeria.
He charged members of the Institute of Business Administration and Knowledge Management (IBAKM) who bestowed the prestigious award on him, to join hands with the administration of Governor Nyesom Wike to do the needful and build a greater state that would be celebrated by posterity.
“How do we do this? I think one way of achieving this is by keeping our environment clean and safe all the time.
We cannot achieve this if we allow the roads and streets to be littered with garbage.
We must fight against indiscriminate dumping of wastes in and around our environment. We must ensure that wastes are not disposed outside of the approved dumping hours of 6 pm to 12 midnight”, Bro. Obuah said.
The RIWAMA boss, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Pastor Jerry Needam, recalled the sad spectacle of a former Permanent Secretary in the state who was recently arrested by the Agency’s Monitoring Team for littering the road with large quantity of refuse.
“As professional business administrators and knowledge managers, you form the elite and senior citizen’s class, and the society is looking up to you for good examples. I urge you to use your platforms and vigorously campaign for restoration of the Garden City status of our dear state”, Bro. Obuah said.
The RIWAMA Sole Administrator expressed reservation over recent incidents of dumping of new-born babies on the median of roads and described the act as the height of cruelty.
Vowing that the Agency would not hesitate to bring down the full weight of the laws against any culprit caught in the act, Bro. Obuah further appealed to IBAKM to become an Ambassador of RIWAMA and promote clean and safe habits among the citizenry.
In his opening speech, Chairman of the occasion and Hon. Commissioner for Information, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim commended the Institute for the three-pronged activities namely membership investiture, induction and certification/inauguration of the South South branch of the Association of Business Administration and Knowledge Management Professionals.
Represented by the Director of Public Enlightenment and Sensitization in the Ministry, Mr. Celestine Ogolo, the commissioner said the timing of the event was apt while also commended the organizers for making Port Harcourt, the host city.
“The array of inductees shows that the Institute is hitting the right target in the quest to develop the knowledge economy. I urge all inductees to make use of this opportunity to ensure that the knowledge economy is expanded”, he said.
Pastor Nsirim revealed the conscious revolution by the Governor Nyesom Wike administration to build the knowledge industry in the state, pointing at the wonderful attention being given to improve all tertiary institutions in the state.
The Commissioner also charged the professionals as well as members of the public to key into the ongoing advocacy to change the ugly narrative that was painted about the state, stating that Rivers State belongs to all, and that whatever affects the state, affects everyone living and doing business in it.
Earlier in his welcome address, the President and Chairman, Advisory Council of IBAKM, Dr. Gangadhar Joshi outlined the objectives as well as mission and vision of the Institute, assuring that the decision by the inductees to become members was, in his words, “one of the best career development choices you have ever made in life”.
“The Institute of Business Administration and Knowledge Management is a unique and an innovative global professional body duly licensed and statutorily empowered for advancement of business administration and knowledge management profession in Nigeria and the global community”, he said.

Rivers

Don, Stakeholders Urge Environmental Laws In N’Delta

Published

5 days ago

March 9, 2026

The Tide

A lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Ibibia Worika, has called for stronger implementation of legal and policy frameworks to address the conflicts and environmental challenges facing the Niger Delta region.

Worika, who is the Director of the University’s Centre for Advanced Law Research, Faculty of Law, made the call during a stakeholders’ workshop held in Port Harcourt, with the theme, “Building Peace in the Fire.”

Worika, a Professor of Comparative Petroleum and International Environmental Law and Policy at the University of Port Harcourt, said the workshop was aimed at promoting dialogue to enhance the utilisation of legal and policy provisions.

He explained that such provisions were designed to combat extractive industry-related conflicts in the Niger Delta region.

In his paper titled “Addressing the Challenges of Hydrocarbon Mining and Related Conflicts: Towards Promoting Rights-Based Actions for Combating Climate Change in Rivers State”, he noted that pollution and environmental degradation in the region were widespread and well documented.

According to him, deliberations at the workshop focused on Nigeria and international legal frameworks that support oil extraction, while safeguarding environmental responsibilities and human rights.

Worika explained that although Nigeria’s Constitution did not expressly provide for enforceable environmental rights, the domesticated African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights contained provisions on environmental rights that courts could enforce when necessary.

He urged multinational oil companies operating in the region to comply with established international norms, including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guidelines and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

“These companies are largely from OECD member countries. They should internalise biodiversity safety measures and other international standards in their operations in the Niger Delta,” Worika said.

The Professor also urged the Federal Government to establish an environmental remediation trust fund for the Niger Delta, similar to the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project set up for Ogoniland.

He noted that while one billion dollars had been earmarked over 25 to 30 years for the Ogoni clean-up, other parts of the region suffering similar environmental damage required comparable intervention.

Worika further called for the effective implementation of the Host Community Development Trust provisions under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), with minimal political interference and equitable representation of host communities.

He emphasised transparency and accountability in managing the trusts, adding that communities should be fully informed about membership criteria and project implementation processes.

On the remediation of Ogoniland oil pollution, Worika advocated for greater community engagement and inclusiveness in project planning and implementation.

“I would like to see greater community engagement, especially in cases where agencies decide how and where to intervene without adequate consultation with those affected. That is certainly not a good approach”, Worika said.

He stressed that communities most impacted by environmental degradation should be included at the planning and design stages and integrated into the project implementation process.

According to him, while technical aspects may require specialised expertise, local residents can handle less technical tasks such as sand removal and soil excavation, thereby enhancing ownership and empowerment.

Similarly, the President of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), Mr. Olu-Andah Wai-Ogosu, attributed rising youth restiveness and communal conflicts in Ogoni communities to poor mentorship and leadership failures.

“Our youths today are so much in a hurry. They don’t take time to understand issues before taking sides. They are easily swayed by short-term benefits and often fall prey to politicians”, he said.

He added that the crisis in traditional and political leadership had contributed to conflicts in the area.

Wai-Ogosu used the opportunity to urge parents and community leaders to instil discipline and moral values in young people to promote sustainable peace and development in the Niger Delta.

The workshop was organised by the Habitat Protection and Sustainabley Development Initiative, in collaboration with the Centre for Advanced Law Research, Rivers State University.

By: Theresa Frederick & Charity Amiso

Rivers

KENPOLY Rector Promises To Prioritise Students’ Welfare

Published

5 days ago

March 9, 2026

The Tide

The newly appointed Rector of Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori (KENPOLY), Dr. George Chile Wadike, has said he would prioritize the welfare of students by improving the learning environment.

Dr. Wadike, who disclosed this to The Tide during an interview in his office, said his administration would reduce acts of social vices in the Polytechnic and make it more learning friendly.

“We want to ensure that the school environment is more peaceful and friendly to all.

“We also want to curtail the act of social vices, especially cultism experienced in the Polytechnic”, he state.

According to him, under his watch as Rector, he would ensure zero tolerance for social vices on campus.

On the infrastructures, the Rector said his administration would improve in the existing infrastructures in the school to enhance adequate learning.

He also said his administration shall improve electricity supply on campus to enable students read their books and better their academic performance

Kenpoly, Wadike said, would compete globally with its counterparts in all fields of learning.

“I promise to sow the seed of hard work, learning and teaching amongst others in the Polytechnic as a Rector.

“We shall also improve the Polytechnic by working with its Alumni and improve students welfare. That is why we are really here”, he said.

He assured on protection for students of the school in their academic pursuit and urged them to take their academics seriously.

On cultism and other social vices, Dr. Wadike said his administration shall partner with security agencies and the host community to eradicate acts of cultism in the institution

He also appealed to the students to embrace peace and take their academics seriously, rather than indulging in acts that will be inimical to their life.

The Rector further promised to build a cordial working relationship with the host and neighbouring communities, noting that such relationships shall improve the activities of the Polytechnic.

Dr. Wadike, an Accountant, who promised to reposition the image of the Polytechnic globally, said the activities of the Polytechnic would be publicised to the international communities to earn more credibility.

By: Chinedu Wosu

Rivers

Lulu-Briggs Commends Tinubu On State Police, Peace In Rivers

Published

5 days ago

March 9, 2026

The Tide

A former Accord Party Governorship candidate in Rivers State, Chief Dumu Lulu-Briggs, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinibu for his “pragmatic support” for State Police in Nigeria.

Lulu-Briggs lauded the President on Friday during an exclusive chat with Journalists at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, in Rivers State.

According to him, State Police will help in reducing criminal activities across the country, saying that the security of life and properities is essential and it is a collective responsibility.

The former Governorship candidate called on governments at all levels to support the State Police in order to make the society crime-free.

He said the State Police would not only reduce crime, but will also boost employments across the country.

Lulu-Briggs also used the medium to applaud President Tinibu for intervening in the face-off between the Executive and Legislative arms of Government in Rivers State.

He expressed happiness that peace has returned to the state, noting that the fued between the two organs of the governments has delayed the speed of developments in the state.

The two-time governorship candidate also expressed optimism that the peace accord will give more rooms for development and also create a better atmosphere for empowerment of the youths and Women.

“Now that peace has returned in the state, there is need to queue behind the peace to be sustained for the overall interest and betterment of all in the State..

“On the political tussle in the state, I thank President Tinibu on the recent reconciliation. Now that the problem has been settled by the aggressive parties, it is the responsibility of the people to embrace peace and work towards the growth of the state and continuous sustainability of developments in the state”, he said.

On 2027 election, the Kalabari-born politician said politics is not a do-or-die affair, and advised both the public and politicians to play politics in accordance with the rules.

“To me, politics is not a do-or-die affair, whoever that wins election is still our brother or sister, the important thing is that let them do the needful, they should develop the area and the people.

“The problem we are having in Nigerian politics is that some of our politicians in positions of trust sometimes abuse the opportunities given to them”, he said.

By: Enoch Epelle