Niger Delta
Delta Waterways: NIWA Set To Open Channel For Boats
Managing Director of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Chief George Moghalu, has ordered immediate deployment of technical experts and equipment to the blocked area of Pessu Market river in Warri South Council area, in order to link it up to the main Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) outlet.
The NIWA managing Director’s fact-finding visit to the area may not be unconnected to the protest by traders and women of Pessu Market led by a prominent Itsekiri traditional title holder, Chief Ritalori Ogbebor, to the NIWA Warri office recently over their challenges in taking their goods across to other parts of the riverine communities due to the blockage of the channel.
Leading other top management staff of NIWA during the ‘on-the-spot-assessment’ of the area on Friday, Moghalu, expressed concern over the low water level he witnessed at this period of high tides and wondered how difficult the situation would be for those plying their trade in the area when there was low tides.
Moghalu, who took time to inspect the remote cause of the blockage, admitted that the situation requires an urgent intervention, in order not to endanger lives of residents who are mostly waterway users, especially the women who are fishermen and petty traders.
Consequent upon his findings, he immediately directed his men to mobilise the needed manpower and equipment to the place so as to commence the process of survey towards opening up the blocked side of the river and thereafter dredge the area as a way of averting delicate situation that could lead to loss of lives if proper measures were not being taken early enough.
According to him: “It’s a total blockage we are looking at here. And if you can have this volume of water in the high tides, imagine what the situation would be in the low tides.
“So am a little bit worried about it and I have directed now that a survey team should move in to start work immediately to get the hydro-graphic survey done completely from the beginning down to the major outlets”.
Continuing; “It is after this stage that we will begin to look at the program of dislodging the entire place and dredge it out. We want to clear it, otherwise we’ll lose the body of water here and that’s not in our best interest”
“Due to urgency we are attaching to solving this problem, I will be issuing a formal letter by Monday (today) so that the work can commence in earnest and we hope to complete it in good time too”, Dr. Moghalu assured.
Speaking to newsmen during the visit, a resident who identified himself as Mr. Obaro Arieigwe, (a trader) lamented how the resident of the area had suffered for many years due to the blockage and shallow river and applauded the NIWA for the efforts being made in coming to their rescue to clear the blockage and dredge the river.
“Look at the water level you are seeing now that is the best you can get and yet we are still experiencing high tides. By the time we get to the low tides, its the ground you will be seeing and by that time we can no longer do our business of farming and trading with our neighbouring communities as our boats can no longer move”.
He disclosed that the river blockage was a result of the activities of the wood traders and saw millers who heaped the saw-dust from their business into the river for many years and after a while they started experiencing some difficulties in making their way through till it got to this present state.
Another resident, Mrs. Beatrice Omadeli, a fish trader in the market for over 25years, expressed joy over the move about to be taking by NIWA to clear the river, stating that the blockage had made doing business in the area more demanding and expensive as they had to pay extra charges on transportation to get to where they buy their goods and where they sell.
Niger Delta
Bayelsa Reassures Community Of Justice Over Murder Case
The Bayelsa State Government has assured the people of Yenezue-Epie community of the Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state of its commitment to ensuring that justice is served over unfortunate incident that led to the death of their son, Moses Akanda.
Deputy Governor of the state, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, gave the assurance during the week at a meeting with the leadership of the community, the deceased family, the State Commissioner of Police and other stakeholders in Government House, Yenagoa.
A statement issued by the Media aide to the state’s number two citizen, Mr Doubara Atasi, Tuesday, quotes him as urging security agencies to always be thorough and professional in carrying out their duties.
Ewhrudjakpo stressed that every life, including that of a suspect remains sacred untill proven guilty by a competent court of jurisdiction.
It would be recalled that one Moses Akanda was killed recently at the Yenezue-Epie community during a raid allegedly carried out by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), which sparked some protests in the state capital, Yenagoa.
Expressing his condolence and that of the state government to the bereaved family, the Deputy Governor assured that no stone would be left unturned in unravelling the circumstances that led to the death of Mr Akanda.
Consequently, the Bayelsa number two Man has directed the state’s Commissioner of Police to ensure that investigations into the incident be concluded soon for the matter to be charged to court.
“Government is aware that our son, (Moses) was unjustifiably killed. But let us give the police one week to identify the person that shot our son.
“The law is that, if you’re going to arrest a person and the person tries to escape, you shoot below the waist and not above the waist.
“While we’re waiting for the law to take its full course, I really want to appeal to all of us, particularly the bereaved family not to do anything that will make us to be unequally yoked like the killers of our son”, the Deputy Governor said.
He promised that government would support in the burial of the deceased as soon as investigations were concluded as well as take care of the immediate family, particularly the pregnant wife of the slain Moses Akanda.
He, however, cautioned youths and people of Epie Kingdom against frequent resort to street protests as a means of expressing their grievances and demands.
“The doors of the Governor Douye Diri-led Administration are open to receive and handle genuine complaints of communities with a view to addressing them to sustain the prrvailing peace in the state”, he added.
In her remarks, the Member representing Yenagoa Constituency One in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Ayibanegiyefa Egba, described the incident as sad and provocative, noting that such shooting resulting in fatalities had become one too many in Epie kingdom.
The lawmaker, however appealed for calm on the part of the bereaved family and the Yenezue-Epie Community, saying that government was doing everything possible to resolve the matter in the shortest time possible.
In their separate remarks, the Odapiri-Osusu of Epie Kingdom, HRH (Dr.) Ernest Samuel, and the President of the Oguan Youth Council, Mr. Inatimi Timothy, said they were quite pleased with the timely and mature manner the state government was handling the matter through the office of the Deputy Governor.
While appealing to government to look into the plight of the aged mother, Madam Darlin Akanda, and the pregnant widow of the deceased, Mrs Favour Akanda, they pressed for speedy investigation, arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the killing of Moses Akanda.
The Tide reports that among those in the meeting were, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Francis Idu, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, Mr Collins Ifidi.
Others were, the Paramount Ruler of the Yenizue-Epie community, His Royal Highness Young Akanda, the CDC Chairman, Mr Asuefien Osain, among other stakeholders of the community.
By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
Niger Delta
Cross River Judiciary Unveils Small Claim Courts For Debt Recovery
Twenty Magistrates have been trained by the Cross River State Judiciary in collaboration with the Secretariat of Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) to fast-track dispensation of justice to litigants seeking to recover debts in business transactions.
Chief Judge of Cross River State, Justice Akon Ikpeme, disclosed this last Tuesday in Calabar while answering questions from journalists shortly after the flag-off of the two-day training.
CJ Ikpeme, who spoke after a rigorous seven-hour of training, stated that residents of the state being owed debts in business transactions by thier business associates have no reason to visit higher courts nor hire the services of a lawyer to make recoveries of their money any longer but visit Small Claim Courts to file their complaints.
When asked to explain the reasons behind the Small Claim Courts, the CJ said: “Nigeria is evolving and you know we are really in a business interactive era.
“The aim of the small claims court is that, it’s like the regular courts you are slowed down by technicalities.
“The small claims court is about money liquidation. Somebody is owing you #5mIlion.
“In such a case, you don’t even need a lawyer provided you have genuine papers. Judgement will be dispensed within 60 days.”
She said that hearing and judgement will be fast-tracked in a manner that the bottlenecks of undue delay would be removed in the administration of justice.
“Cases that lasted 10, 15 years before, are to be dispensed within 60 days, particularly cases involving money liquidation.
“Justice has been brought closer to the doorsteps of the people as they do not need to go to the regular courts for small claims,” the CJ explained.
Chairman, Small Claims Court Committee, Justice Elias Abua, who spoke in company of two other Judges – Justice Victor Offiong and Justice Angela Obi – advised members of the public wishing to make recovery of their money to visit Magistrate Court Complex, Moore Road, Calabar to file their complaints.
Niger Delta
Eno Launches Free Food Scheme, Floats N1.5bn Loan Facility In A’Ibom
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has flagged off free food programme and access voucher for the vulnerable people to mitigate the prevailing hunger and poverty exacerbated by the current socio-economic travails in the country.
As a measure to complement the scheme, the Governor, who performed the ceremony at the popular Itam International market, in Itu Local Government Area, also announced the interest – free loan wallet of N1.5 billion for traders and business owners.
The loan facility across the three Senatorial Districts comprising Uyo, Ikot Ekpene and Eket is to be managed by the FADAMA Micro Finance Bank.
The Tide’s source learnt that the free food voucher is a key component of the Bulk Purchases Agency (BPA) Bill that was signed into law last week, and the Board inaugurated by the Governor for quick-to-crash food prices in the state.
“The key responsibility of the Agency, is to provide free staple food items: garri, rice and beans to the most vulnerable through the Social Register (SR),” the Governor explained.
He added that the intervention became necessary to alleviate the sufferings of the people in this trying times.
“We had reviewed all of the options, and this for us, remains the best. We are partnering with the market leaders and I want to thank them for the cooperation we have so far received from them.
“Let me repeat here, that this is purely an interventionist act; the solution to our food security remains the need for us to go back to the farm.
“I have heard of how some of you go to some places to get loans with very high interest rates and that has made the cost of food to go up, and before you finish paying the loans, you cannot meet up with your market or trading obligations anymore.
“I have come to tell you not to take such loans anymore. Consequently, we are releasing Five Hundred Million Naira (N500 million) interest -free loans to each of the three senatorial districts (1.5 billion Naira in total), to help your business,” Eno said.
The Governor also promised to construct a car park, provide solar panel light, modern toilet facilities, all of which were the requests of the leadership of the Itam Market.
He, therefore, directed the Transition Chairmen of the remaining 29 councils, excluding Itu and Uyo Local Government Areas to ensure they launch the free voucher food program next week.
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