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Rivers, Number One State In Security, Investments, Wike Declares

The Rivers State Chief Executive, Chief Nyesom Wike has reiterated the determination of his administration to continue to provide the enabling environment for the Ease of Doing Business in the state.
Wike restated this during the Maiden National Conference of the Guild of Optometric Directors of Nigeria (GOODON), last Friday, in Port Harcourt.
Represented by his Deputy, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, the governor said, “Rivers State is the number one state in terms of safety, security, investments coming in. We will do everything possible to keep the position because we are doing everything possible for lives to keep getting better. We are, indeed, delighted to have you here, and we know that this is the place to be, if you want to do business. So, we are not surprised that you are here.”
The governor, who urged them to always keep to the ethics of their profession, disclosed that a loan facility was provided for private medical institutions in the state, adding that it was not political as it was done across the board for all who needed to upgrade their facilities and their practice.
He said he was desirous to ensure that quality assessable and affordable healthcare services were available for those who live and do business in Rivers State, stressing that the health sector must work as a team for the public to respect and have confidence in them and avoid patronising quacks.
In his remarks, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, who spoke through the Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Dr. Dennis Allagoa said they were meeting at this time to preserve and advance the profession of optometry through the promotion of high-quality optometric care, in the private sector in Nigeria.
He added that it was coming at a time in the nation’s journey towards attaining world-class service delivery.
Ehanire expressed the hope that as the AGM progresses it’s discussions and resolutions would bring to the fore, issues and action steps that would drastically improve the landscape of optometric care in Nigeria, especially in the private sector.
Also speaking, the Registrar of Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria, Prof Ebele Uzodike had said the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria was committed to the delivery of quality eye care services to Nigeria by ensuring that only qualified optometrist and dispensing opticians were allowed to practice according to the ethics of the profession.
She said the fight against quackery in eye care delivery was a continuous one, adding that “we can only achieve a total eradication of quacks in the profession if all hands are on deck to fight the menace”.
Earlier, the President of the Optometric Association of Nigeria, Dr. Obinna Awiaka, charged all members to do everything possible to make GOODON that powerful voice they could use in defining and shaping the desired direction of private sector optometry practice in Nigeria.
Awiaka said across the world, the private sector drives change and innovation, noting that in Nigeria, optometry would also tow that path and set standards and heights that would be emulated.
The theme for the inaugural conference is, “Business of Eye Health in a Changing World”.
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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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