News

We’ll Continue To Identify, Prosecute Artisanal Refinery Operators, Ariolu Vows …Storms Rumuosi, Unearths Illegal Petroleum Depots

Published

4 months ago

January 19, 2022

In furtherance of the Rivers State Government’s directive to track down and report all artisanal refineries and their operators in the state, the Obio/Akpor Local Government Council has vowed to relentlessly identify, unravel and prosecute operators of artisanal refineries in the area.
The council Chairman, Barrister George Ariolu, who spoke to newsmen in Rumuosi, last Monday, hinted that his administration would continue to partner security agencies in the war against operators of illegal petroleum refineries and their sponsors.
The chairman, following an intelligence report and surveillance, last Monday, had stormed two artisanal refineries and repositories on Salvation Street and Rahi Avenue in Rumuosi, respectively.
“What you are seeing today is still in line with our effort to implement instructions of Governor Nyesom Wike. We have started, today, and we came here to Rumuosi through an intelligence report that we received.
“The few people we saw here had to jump the fence and ran away.If they are doing something that is not illegal, why would they run away?” Arioluasked.
He added, “We have discovered all these tanks, so many of them filled with crude oil and ‘Kpo fire’ kerosene. I don’t know what they do here, so we suspect that this is another place where the bunkering business is thriving, and that is why we are here.
“We are waiting for the DPO of this area to officially hand over the premises, and then, give the necessary information to the governor to take further action.
“But from what we have seen here, this is still part of where these illegal businesses are being carried out in the midst of where people leave, funny enough. So, it is still part of our responsibility in trying to unravel points and premises where this illegal bunkering and artisanal crude oil refining is taking place.
“It is not in our power to prosecute.We don’t have such legal powers to do so. What we have promised our people is that we will continue to unravel, my team and committee set up will not just end within the 48 hours, we will continue to identify and handover the persons and sites to the state government.”
Ariolu, during a visit to a repository on RahiAvenue adjacent to Salvation Street, also in Rumuosi, commended the surveillance and intelligence team for their discovery and commitment to the fight against illegal bunkering activities in the state.
The chairman while condemning the owner of the facility for abating such illicit act, also discovered large amount of drums containing several chemicals used for illegal petroleum refining which are harmful and injurious to human health.
He added that the separation of the market from the producers would create a natural disconnection between those refining in the creeks and marketers from the upland.

By: Nelson Chukwudi

News

LG Boss Lauds Mrs. Wike On Women’s Mentorship

Published

9 hours ago

May 25, 2022

The Tide

The Chairman of Bonny Local Government Area, Rivers State, Hon. Anengi Barasua has said that the mentorship roled played by Mrs. Suzzuest Nyesom Wike has enriched women in the State in all ramifications.

She said Justice Nyesom Wike’s display of humility and support for women was worthy for emulation.

Barasua, said this while fielding questions from journalists, at the weekend, in her office in Bonny, saying support given to the governor was enormous.

” Justice Suzzuest Wike, is a virtuous mother and role model to women, particularly in Rivers State. The women are proud of her. Her humility and inspiration she has given to women is commendable” Barasua said.

The local government chairperson urged women in authority to always emulate Mrs Wike, as she support her husband to succeed in his administration.

” I want to say an old time adage that says behind every successful man there is a woman. We have seen a real mother that has so much interest in women empowerment and deveploment.

I urge every woman in her position to emulate her and be submissive to your husbands. I also use this opportunity to felicitate with her on her birthday and wish her God protection and good health” she stated.

In another deveploment, Bonny Chairman has also congratulated all women elected in the just concluded PDP delegate and primary elections describing it as most peaceful.

She reiterated her commitment to the administration of Governor Nyesom Wike for given women more opportunity to participate in the democratic process.

News

Nigeria’s GDP Grew By 3.11% In Q1 2022, NBS Affirms

Published

13 hours ago

May 25, 2022

The Tide

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said that Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 3.11per cent in the first quarter of 2022.
The NBS made this known via its Nigerian Gross Domestic Product Report Q1 2022 released, last Monday.
According to the report, Nigeria’s GDP grew by 3.11per cent year-on-year in real terms in the first quarter of 2022.
The NBS noted that the development showed a sustained positive growth for six consecutive quarters since the recession witnessed in 2020 when negative growth rates were recorded in quarter two and three of 2020.
It added that the first quarter 2022 growth rate further represents an improvement in economic performance.
The NBS stated: “The observed trend since Q4 of 2020 is an indication of a gradual economic stability.
“The Q1 of 2022 growth rate was higher than the 0.51per cent growth rate recorded in Q1 of 2021 by 2.60per cent points and lower than 3.98per cent recorded in Q4 of 2021 by 0.88per cent points.
“Nevertheless, quarter-on-quarter, real GDP grew at -14.66per cent in Q1 of 2022, compared to Q4 of 2021, reflecting a lower economic activity than the preceding quarter.
“In the period under review, aggregate GDP stood at about N45.317million in nominal terms.
“This performance is higher when compared to the first quarter of 2021 which recorded aggregate GDP of about N40.014million, indicating a year-on-year nominal growth rate of 13.25per cent.
“The nominal GDP growth rate in Q1 2022 was higher relative to the 12.25per cent growth recorded in Q1 2021, and higher compared to the 13.11per cent growth recorded in the preceding quarter,” the report read.

News

RSG Launches RIV-CARES Programme …World Bank Rates Rivers High

Published

13 hours ago

May 25, 2022

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has launched the state COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (RIV-CARES) Programme.
The state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike performed the launching at the NBA Secretariat in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Speaking through his Deputy, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, the governor said the programme was to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the poor and vulnerable households and support micro and small-scale enterprises as a means of stimulating economic growth post-COVID.
According to the State Chief Executive, “the state government had signed in for the programme, made provisions in the 2022 Budget for Result Areas and signed Funds Release Policy, which is an assurance to the World Bank that funds shall be released for the implementation of the programme”.
Wike said the launching of the RIV-CARES Programme would create awareness for the people of the state and engender expression of interest by beneficiary households, communities and operators of micro and small businesses (SMEs).
The governor, who encouraged the Rivers people to take advantage of the opportunities provided by RIV-CARES to enhance their means of livelihood and reduce the spate of poverty in the communities, commended the World Bank and the Federal CARES for their support to the state.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Mrs. Titilola Kuna Cline, said in a bid to check the negative effects of COVID-19 pandemic on livelihoods, food security and micro and small businesses, the World Bank in partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria and the state governments, introduced the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) Programme.
She said the state scaled through rigorous preparatory stages and qualified to participate in the programme whose objective was “to expand access to livelihood support and food security services, and grants for poor and vulnerable households and firms”.
According to her, the stages include, signing of subsidiary loan agreement and fund release policy by the government.
Others include the establishment of the RIV-CARES Steering Committee, establishment of State- CARES Coordination Unit domiciled in the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and preparation of work plan.
“The NG-CARES, after domestication of programme implementation manual now known as RIV-CARES programme has the State Coordination Unit (SCU) saddled with coordinating implementation of RIV-CARES programme in the state and reporting to Federal-CARES supporting unit and the World Bank in Abuja.
“It is also a bridge between the delivery platforms and the State-CARES Steering Committee and for delivery platform under three Results Areas (RA1-3).
Cline listed the three areas to include cash transfer unit, labour intensive public works and community-driven development social (CDD-S) Plus.
The rest are, FADAMA and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
Also speaking, the representative of the World Bank, Mr. Aso Vakporaye, said the programme must succeed in order to kick out poverty from the state in view of the fact that failure to kick out poverty would make life difficult for the entire citizenry.
He, therefore, thanked the governor for making it possible for Rivers State to participate in the programme.
Similarly, the World Bank and the Federal Government have rated Rivers State high in the implementation of the COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus scheme by the state government.
Representative of the World Bank Task Team Leader, Mr.Aso Vakporaye said this, yesterday, in Port Harcourt at the official flag offand implementation of the Rivers State COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (RIV-CARES) Programme in the state.
Vakporaye, who is also the chairman of the Federal Government’sFederal-CARES Technician Committee,confirmed that Rivers State has met the requirements for the implementation of the programme.
He said alot still remains to be done,adding that the state needs to release more money for the implementation of the programme.
Also speaking, theTechnical Head of State CARESCoordinating Unitand Secretary,RIV-CARESSteering Committee,Mrs Imaonyeni Ephraim, said the programme would improve the livelihood of the poor and vulnerable people in the state.
She said the programme, which runs for two years,was open to many beneficiaries.
The flag off was performed by the state Deputy Governor,Dr.Ipalibo Harry Banigo, onbehalf of Governor Nyesom Wike.