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HYPREP Boss Tasks Minister On Workers’ Welfare …As FG Moves To Link Ogoni Communities To National Grid

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4 years ago

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The Project Coordinator of Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Dr Ferdinand Giadom, has urged the new Minister of Environment, Barrister Mohammed Abdullahi to ensure that the welfare of workers of the project is given top priority in order to motivate them.
This is even as the Federal Government has promised to link major communities in Ogoniland in Rivers State to the national grid in order to power ongoing water projects in the area.
Giadom, who made the appeal at the HYPREP office in Port Harcourt during the maiden visit of the Minister recently, said there was the need to give the welfare of HYPREP staff adequate attention because of his policy of slightly adjusting the Civil Service Rules as it concerns them, so as to fast track the implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report on Ogoniland.
According to him, he had adjusted the rules in such a way that the workers now resume work by 7am instead of the traditional 8am, while they close from work beyond 5pm.
Giadom said with this development, the workers are supposed to be paid some extra tokens as overtime allowances in order to really encourage and motivate them.
He, therefore, appealed to the Minister not to hesitate in giving his approvals whenever applications from his office are forwarded to him for this purpose.
The Project Coordinator explained that the minor adjustment of the civil service rules was to enable his office to timely execute the clean-up project, which he said had suffered undue delay in the past.
Abdullahi, while addressing the workers said the Federal Government has taken steps to link major communities in Ogoniland to the national grid in order to provide regular power supply to ongoing water projects provided by the government in the area in order to sustain them and boost economic activities.
He said in a couple of days, the Project Coordinator would put in place the necessary framework to enable the Federal Government to link the communities to the national grid.
Abdullahi noted that President Muhammadu Buhari is not happy with the slow pace of the Ogoni clean-up project, for which reason, he had approved the appointment of a new Project Coordinator for HYPREP, and also appointed him as substantive Minister of Environment to fast track the implementation of the UNEP Report.
According to him, the President wants to see a situation where the clean-up project and other ongoing water projects in Ogoniland are commissioned before leaving office on May 29, 2023.
Abdullahi stressed the need for stakeholders engagement and collaboration in the implementation of the UNEP Report, and solicited the support and commitment of the workers and all Ogoni people towards the clean-up project.
The Minister, during the visit, paid courtesy visits to the President of the Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers and Gbenemene Tai, King Godwin Giniwa; the Gberemene Gokana, King Festus Babari Bagia; the Gbeneme Babbe Kingdom, King Monday Noryaa; and the Oneh-eh Eleme X1, King Philip Obele.
Abdullahi also inspected some remediation sites at B-Dere Community in Gokana and others in Tai as well as water project sites in Gokana and Khana Local Government Areas.
The Minister, at a stakeholders meeting in Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area, assured the Ogoni people that the Federal Government would always give them a fair deal, particularly as it relates to the implementation of the UNEP Report.
He said all monies and funds approved for the clean-up project must be accounted for, and assured that both Ogoni women and youths would be adequately carried along in terms of employment and execution of contracts.
Abdullahi was accompanied on the visit by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Matters, Mr. Ajuri Ngalele; among other personalities.

Abdullahi also inspected some remediation sites at B-Dere Community in Gokana and others in Tai water project sites in Gokana and Khana Local Government Areas.
The Minister, at a stakeholders meeting in Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area, assured the Ogoni people that the Federal Government would always give them a fair deal, particularly as it relates to the implementation of the UNEP Report.
He said all monies and funds approved for the clean-up project must be accounted for, and assured that both Ogoni women and youths would be adequately carried along in terms of employment and execution of contracts.
Abdullahi was accompanied on the visit by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Matters, Mr. Ajuri Ngalele; among other personalities.

By: Donatus Ebi

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Rivers

NGO Builds Awareness On Digital Violence Against Women, Girls

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5 days ago

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January 2, 2026

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As part of activities marking 16 Days of Activism, A Non-Governmental Organizatio (NGO), OLEGH, has organised a one-day awareness creation workshop on digital violence against women and girls, for civil society and media groups in Rivers State.
OLEGH’s Executive Director, Henry Eferebo, said the programme was intended to draw attention to the theme for the 2025 16 Days of Activism tagged, “Unite To End Digital Violence against all Women and Girls.”
Eferebo said the event is an annual global campaign that focuses on violence against women, affords persons and groups all over the world the opportunity to embark on activities aimed at eliminating all forms of women and gender abuse.
“As individuals, we don’t pay attention to the things we see on the social media. We pay less attention to the abuse on the internet. Today, you can abuse a woman or a man physically, emotionally and otherwise, and go scot-free”, he noted.
According to him, women and girls have suffered the most from online violence and cyber-bullying, particularly on platforms such as TikTok, making them ready victims online and offline.
“So, in line with the United Nations principle on 16 Days of Activism and this year’s theme, there is a need for OLEGH Center to create awareness on issues resulting from the online abuse of women and girls.
“We decided to bring in a resource person who will tell us how to avoid being abused online”, he said.
He urged participants at the event to put hands together, rise up and speak against digital violence online.
The NGO’s arrow head, also explained that OLEGH was working towards creating an online help-desk for victims of online abuse and digital violence.
He urged participants to improve their security awareness while online, and adopt security protocols that would protect them in the digital space.
The Resource Person, Jacob Iniodu, in a paper titled, “Understanding Digital Abuse within the 16 Days of Activism”, listed forms of online violence to include, cyber-bullying, dozing, cyber-stalking, and invasion of privacy.
By: King Onunwor
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Rivers

Foundation Distribute Bags N5m Worth Christmas Gifts In Bundu Ama

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5 days ago

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January 2, 2026

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Armslent Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO), in Rivers State, has distributed Christmas gifts worth over N5million to aged mothers, orphans and less privileged persons in Belema, Bundu Ama (Community) in Port Harcourt Local Government Area (PHALGA).
The Foundation also gave cash gifts of N150,000 to the Community.
Presenting the gift items, comprising 5 bags of rice,10 Cartons of indomie noodles,10 Gallons of groundnut oil, 3 bags of salt and cartons of maggie cubes, to Chairman of the Community, David Oba, and the community leaders, the founder of Armslent Foundation, Comrade Richard Boma Briggs, said the foundation decided to show love and togetherness to the community by providing the gifts.
He noted that the provision was part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the community aimed at alleviating poverty and create a sense of belonging as Christian faithfuls celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
Briggs described Bundu Ama as one of its pillars in partnership, stressing that the foundation was inspired by the spirit of love to impact and rejoice with the residents of the community.
“The foundation was moved by the spirit of Christmas to give these gifts and rejoice with the people of community”, Briggs said.
Accompanied by the Managing Director of the Foundation, Richard Osigbo, and other top Executive Members, Briggs called on the leaders of the community to always pray for the foundation, promising that in 2026, it would embark on a tangible project at UPE Modern Primary School Waterfront, Bundu Ama.
Receiving the items, Chairman of Bundu Ama, David Oba, thanked the foundation for empowering the less privileged persons, assisting physically challenged persons, and aged mothers in the past.
“The foundation had done a lot for this community and today we are witnessing these gift items for the Christmas celebration”,he emphasised.
He called on the leaders of the community, women group, youths and residents to emulate the humanitarian gestures of the foundation and pleaded that they also borrow a leaf from the gesture,in order to also give to society whenever they can.
Earlier the leaders of Belema Bundu Ama, led by Oba, former Chairman, Benneth Kalio, and Secretary, Promise Mangibo, presented an Award of Excellence to the Founder of the Foundation for his Humanitarian and selfless service to the community.
Highlight of the event was the offering of a special prayer to the management of the foundation by aged mothers, youths and leadership of the community.
By: Chinedu Wosu
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Rivers

Youths Condemn Killings In Andoni

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5 days ago

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January 2, 2026

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The Obolo Youth Coalition, Rivers State Chapter, has condemned the recent spate of killings in Andoni Local Government Area, describing the renewed insecurity as alarming and constituting a threat to peace and stability in the area.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Comr. Jonathan J. Eyina, the group expressed deep concern over what it described as brutal and senseless acts of violence, while extending condolences to the families of the victims.
The coalition said the resurgence of insecurity in Andoni has continued to undermine communal harmony and called for urgent steps to halt the trend before it escalates further.
It appealed to youths in the area to shun violence and embrace peace, stressing the need for tolerance, mutual respect and collective responsibility in safeguarding the community.
According to the group, restoring peace in Andoni requires a coordinated approach involving government, security agencies, community leaders and residents to identify and address the root causes of insecurity.
It noted that increased security presence, improved intelligence gathering, and sustained community engagement are critical to preventing further violence, adding that underlying social and economic challenges must also be addressed.
The coalition called on the Andoni Local Government Chairman, Hon. Lucky Promise-Otua, the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Joseph Fubara, and the Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju Adewole, to take decisive actions to restore security.
It further demanded that those responsible for the killings be apprehended and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.
By: King Onunwor
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