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Rivers People Deserve Best In Healthcare Delivery -Banigo
The Rivers State Government has reiterated the fact that Rivers people deserve the best in healthcare delivery as well as other sectors of the economy.
The state Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo stated this while playing host to members of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), Rivers State Government Hospitals Branch at the Government House in Port Harcourt, last Friday.
According to Banigo, “The health sector is extremely dear to our hearts, our governor believes that if you are sick, you cannot go to school, you cannot do business, I can also tell you that he spends as much in other sectors, be it education, be it security, he spends tremendously on all the sectors, because he wants to give Rivers people a better life”.
Banigo, who expressed gratitude to Almighty God for giving the governor and his team the opportunity to work for Rivers people said, “We also thank the people of the state for giving us the opportunity to serve.We are not working as if it is our second tenure; we are working as if it is our first tenure.We will continue to do so until the very last day of our administration, and there are obviously quite a few things we are still going to do by the grace of God”.
The deputy governor commended MDCAN for the cordial relationship they have had with the government over the years, and also lauded the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) in the state for their commitment to service delivery.
Banigo, who said the Governor Nyesom Wike-led administration has a listening ear, advised them to always explore dialogue to resolve issues.
“One thing we do not like is the threat of strike, because our governor pays salaries regularly, he pays other allowances as well, he is open to discussion, but not open to striking. Please whatever you do, do not let strike be the first option, exhaust all other channels of discussion, because there is really nothing the government is unwilling to do for you at any particular time, based on available resources”, Banigo stressed.
The deputy governor, who congratulated the new executive of the Rivers State Government Hospitals Branch of MDCAN on their emergence, advised them to always administer health with compassion.
In her remarks, the newly elected Chairman of MDCAN, Rivers State Government Hospitals Chapter, Dr. Ebong Mbak said they were at the Government House to introduce the new executive to the deputy governor and to also intimate her of the upcoming MDCAN NEC meeting, which would be hosted by the state.
She commended the Wike-led administration for the upgrading of the Rivers State University College of Medical Sciences into a full-fledged medical school with the school showcasing its’ 5th year clinical students as well as all its achievements in the health sector.
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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
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Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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