Rivers

PHCCIMA, Customs Partner To Boost Business Climate

Published

3 years ago

April 1, 2022

The Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA) has reaffirmed its commitment to partner the Nigeria Customs Service, Area 2 Rivers State Command to strengthen the frontier of diligent business activities and eliminate invasion of certain regulations within the ports in the state.
President, PHCCIMA, Sir Mike Elechi, who stated this when he led a delegation of the Chamber Executive on a courtesy visit to the Customs Area Comptroller, Area Two Command, Onne Port, Rivers State, Comptroller Auwal Mohammed, said the chamber was also poised to work concertedly with the command to add value in its operation.
While describing Nigeria Customs Service as a gate keeper of the country, Elechi expressed dismay, altitude of some importers and exporters who obtain Certificate of Origin from any Chamber of Commerce outside Port Harcourt instead of the one issued by the City of Origin, and urged the command to collaborate with PHCCIMA to check the trend in the state.
The PHCCIMA president also told Mohammed that not all individuals that criss-cross Onne Port are bona fide members of the chamber, pointing out that they would work with the command to identify genuine members, as according to him, members of the chamber indulge in a legitimate and diligent businesses and never cut corners.
Elechi was well impressed with the visit, which he described as the best courtesy visit ever since his assumption of office, and thanked the comptroller and his deputies for their warm reception and high level operational capacity presentations.
Responding, the Customs Area Comptroller, Area 2 Command, Onne Port, Comptroller Auwal Mohammed welcomed the president and the delegation to his command, asserting that his command would synergise and partner PHCCIMA to entrench legitimate import and export business activities in the state and the country, describing the visit as first in the annals of the command.
Mohammed while declaring open an interactive session during the visit, emphasised that the current Onne Port under his leadership runs an open door policy in line with its statutory functions to facilitate trade operations, remove bottlenecks that hinder the Federal Government policy on ease of doing business as well as encourage patronage of Onne Port with a view to facilitating legitimate trade within the port by constantly holding stakeholders’ enlightenment forum, and commended PHCCIMA Executive for the visit.
The area comptroller and his deputies during the interactive session, spoke extensively on their concerted efforts to make import and export operations easier for operators at the port, and advised the port operators to make good use of the Customs Fast Track Scheme to facilitate their activities and the Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee of the command to resolve their challenges.
He assured Elechi and his delegation of his command’s commitment in quick resolution of operational matters, and promised to harmonise the issue of Certificates of Origin in the command.
Mohammed presented plaque of Award of Excellence to Elechi for his outstanding performance in the development of the chamber.
The chamber president also reciprocated by presenting a souvenir to the customs area comptroller.
Other distinguished members of the president’s entourage on the visit include the 2nd Deputy President, Prince Charles Beke; Publicity Secretary, Pastor Uche Onochie; elected council member, Chief Emeka Ezekwe; the President General, National Shippers Association of Nigeria and Chairman of Professional Services and Consultancy Trade Group of the Chamber, Engr. Innocent Akuvue; member of Financial Services Trade Group and Principal Partner of Madu, Onyekwena & Co. Chartered Accountants, Sir Sampson Madu; Nigeria Shippers Council Officer, Mrs. Patricia Osuma; and the Director General, Mr. Erasmus Chukunda.

Rivers

Emohua Gears For Food Production, Employment Opportunities

Published

3 hours ago

June 20, 2025

The Tide

The Administrator of Emohua Local Government Area, Mr. Franklin Ajinwo, has said efforts are now underway to boost food production and create employment opportunities for youths in the Local Government and the State at large.

Ajinwo made this knwon recently at a stakeholders’ sensitisation programme by the Rivers State Rural Access And Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) organised in partnership with the Federal Government and World Bank in Rumuakunde, Emohua, the Council’s Headquarters.

The council boss noted that Emohua, as an agrarian Local Government Area is blessed with vast arable hectares of land and waterfronts suitable for both agriculture and fish farming.

According to him, the speedy implementation of the programme will develop the area, create better employment opportunities for the teeming youths and provide good roads to ease transportation challenges plaguing farmers in the area.

“We are very favoured because we have large expanse of land used for rice cultivation in Rumuewhor and we also have fishes in our rivers. This initiative, which is geared towards improving food production, will enable us feed our locals and Rivers State by extension as it aims to broaden commercial activities that will attract others from far and near”, he said.

He also advocated for speedy commencement of the programme, pledging support, cooperation and synergy that will address unforseen challenges to ensure success.

Earlier in his keynote address, the Project Coordinator of RAAMP, Mr. Joshua Kpakol, highlighted the essence of the sensitisation visit and its benefits to those in the rural areas.

Kpakol disclosed that RAAMP has been in existence for about ten years and operational in about 19 States across the Federation with focus on food security, rural development, provision of hospitals and construction of roads that give farmers easy transportation access to their market sites.

Describing the project as a collective responsibility that is all embracing and can change the economic fortunes of the Area for good, he said synergy will help yield better results if sustained.

“The rural dwellers are the direct beneficiaries of this project. Every strata of the society will be involved as it won’t discriminate, its aims and objectives are geared towards providing modern amenities and services to our people free of charge that will make them happy”, he said.

In his overview of the Project, Engr Ibibia Owubokiri defined the project as a Third-Generation Rural Access Project aimed at strengthening the institutional and

financing base for sustainable management of State and Rural Networks.

He also revealed the focal points of the Project, which include, Improvement of rural access and trading infrastructure, Sector Reforms asset management and Agro-logistics Performance, enhancement and Institutional Development, as well as Project Management and Risk Mitigation.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications, Emmanuel Ndah, was among dignitaries in attendance.

Rivers

Okrika SOLAD Charges Students On Involvement In Drugs, Others

Published

4 hours ago

June 20, 2025

The Tide

The Sole Administrator of Okrika Local Government Area, Engr. Tamunobipiboye Thompson Isodiki, has called on the leadership and membership of the Wakirike National Students Union to play a major role in re-orienting youth against drug involvement and other criminal activities.

Isodiki, who gave the advice recently when the Wakirike National Students Union and leaders of various tertiary institutions paid him a courtesy visit in his office, expressed concern about the alarming increase in the number of drug addicts and other criminal activities involving the young people.

He noted that if this trend is not checked, it would create serious problems in the Local Government Area.

“As students, I expect you to discourage young people who are seriously involved in these acts in order to create a crime-free society”, he said.

The Sole Administrator continued that, “my stay in office is not tenured, but I will pursue people-oriented programmes and projects for the overall benefit of our people.

“My decision to embark on the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) Computer Based Testing (CBT) is aimed at reducing the pain experienced by the teeming population of candidates of our Local Government Area, to enable them write the test.”

He noted that the recent take-over of the Ogoloma Youth Centre by the Council was “a deliberate attempt to train youths to acquire skills, to provide middle level manpower, and create employment opportunities among our youth.”

He also addressed Bursary payment issue raised by the students, saying, “as essential as it is, the Government will study the situation among other pressing issues and within available resources we will pay Bursary in due time.

“Other groups have also visited the Council for one request or the other, and these are all based on funds.”

Isodiki, however, emphasized that a careful study would be undertaken to give the needed support based on the resources of the Council.

He also assured the students that the Council will partner with them in executing their planned laudable programmes.

While thanking the students for the visit, he urged them to be focused on their studies and avoid issues that would bring shame to their parents and the generality of the Local Government Area.

Also, speaking the Chief of Staff to the Sole Administrator, Dr. Paul Wakama, cautioned the students not to embark on journeys to campuses across the country for welfare, bearing in mind the prevailing security risks such journeys may entail.

He added that they should make do with the global communication advantage to reach out to other students.

Earlier, the National President of the Wakirike Students Union, Mr. Owubokiri Bright Jamabo, had congratulated the Sole Administrator on his appointment and announced him as the Patron of the union by reason of his appointment.

Jamabo disclosed that the Union would carry out summer classes during the long vacation to teach secondary school pupils in all subjects, including Okrika Language.

He appealed to the Sole Administrator to pay bursary to students and sponsor the various activities and programmes, especially the Cultural Day Programme, of the Rivers State College of Health and Science, and promised that the students would always support the Sole Administrator to succeed in office.

Soibi Max-Alalibo

Rivers

Andoni Charges Students to Prioritize Studies, Dev

Published

5 hours ago

June 20, 2025

The Tide

The Andoni Local Government Administrator, Surv. Atajit Francis, has urged students from the area to prioritize their studies to achieve their future goals and contribute to their community’s development.

Francis made this call during a courtesy visit by the National Union of Andoni Students (NUAS) led by Comrade Isaac Tugwell Owo at the council’s headquarters in Ngo Town.

WThe Andoni Local Government Administrator emphasized the need for students to manage their time and resources effectively, rather than relying on others, stressing that “prudent management would enable them to achieve their goals”.

He assured the students of the council’s commit to addressing their needs, including bursary payments, to cushion the effect of the current economic challenges and sponsorship of their proposed 4th Financial and Leadership Summit, despite limited resources.

The Andoni Local Government boss also stressed the importance of prayer and peaceful coexistence in driving development in the area.

Earlier in his remarks, the leader of the delegation, who doubles as the National President of the Andoni Students Union, (NUAS), Comrade Isaac Tugwell Owo, said, the visit was to congratulate the ANOLGA Administrator on his appointment, which he described as divine, given his track record of positively impacting lives.

Comrade Owo also sought support for their chapters’ cultural day, aimed at showcasing Obolo culture and providing training for secondary students in computer-based WAEC exams.