Connect with us

News

Fire Razes Storey Building In Rivers

Published

on

A devastating inferno has razed a storey building in the Rumuodara area of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, destroying valuables and personal documents worth billions of Naira.
The fire, which swept through #4 (8) Bakery Close, off Onukem Avenue, by Shandee’s, in Rumuodara, was ignited around 8pm, on May 5, a day after the world marked the 2022 International Firefighters’ Day, set aside to recognise and honour the sacrifices, commitments and dedication firefighters make to ensure their communities are safe.
The fire, which lasted for more than five hours, took the intervention of firefighters from the Federal Fire Service and thousands of volunteers and neighbours to put out.
However, the fire destroyed every household valuable as well as personal documents and effects in the building, including primary, secondary and university certificates; birth certificates; property and bank documents; international passports; employments documents; among others.
Personnel of the Federal Fire Service, who responded to distress calls from various individuals, arrived the scene more than one hour after the fire had started.
The firefighters, who came to the scene with water, without any support chemicals, battled the fire, until suddenly, heavy rains began pouring down, and helped neutralise the inferno.
The Rivers State Police Command’s Okporo Police Station also deployed a team of combat operatives to give cover to the firefighters and other volunteers, who helped salvage the remaining property outside the building, especially the three vehicles left at the car park in front of the building.


The owner of the building, Engr Callistus Anieheobi, a staff of Chevron Nigeria Limited, who spoke to The Tide, said he had gone to a lounge about seven minutes away from the house along with his wife to join a friend who was celebrating 16 years marriage anniversary.
Anieheobi said that less than 25minutes after they arrived the venue of the meeting on Okporo Road, his house-helps called to raise the alarm that fire was already ravaging his building.
He said that on arrival at his gate, he saw thousands of neighbours, sympathisers and volunteers with buckets of water and fire extinguishers battling to put out the fire while others were struggling to lift his cars out of the compound to avoid escalation of the fire.
Anieheobi, who was left with only a pair of trouser, shirt and shoes he was wearing, said that by the time he came back with his wife, everything in the house had been razed.
He said that his attempt to rush into the building to recover their sensitive documents and valuables was forcefully rebuffed by the raging inferno, heat and billowing smoke, which forced the roof to cave in to the main sitting room and razed everything on its way, including the dining area on the ground floor.
He noted that the fire may have been triggered by electrical fault in the CCTV Controller, explaining that before leaving the house, the air conditioner in the master’s bedroom had been switched on while his children had been asked to go downstairs to take their dinner before going to bed in the same room, where the fire started from.
He thanked everyone who rendered one form of help or the other during his trying moment, including the Federal Fire Service, police and residents around the area.
Also speaking, Dr Chidinma Anieheobi, thanked God for saving the life of her children and her mother, who were downstairs having their dinner when the fire ignited.
Chidinma, a staff of National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), said that everything they had worked hard to acquire was completely razed by the fire, adding that the only thing left was what they were wearing.
The Tide gathered that the couple and their children, since the unfortunate incident, have been surviving with the help of friends, relatives and associates, who have provided clothing, and other gifts to support the family overcome their difficult moment.
The Tide confirmed that no casualties were recorded as a result of the fire, as all residents evacuated safely from the building before fire engulfed the entire building.
The Okporo police operatives, who interviewed the owner of the property and sympathisers, at the scene, also confirmed that no live was lost to the inferno.
When contacted, yesterday, Rivers State Police Command Spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, said she was yet to be briefed on the incident.
However, Anieheobi has made written incident report before the Okporo Police Station.

By: Nelson Chukwudi

Continue Reading

News

I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo

Published

on

The Sole Administrator of Emohua Local Government Area, Barr. Franklin Ajinwo, has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to supporting community development, peace, and progress, describing it as his life’s calling.
Ajinwo made this known on when Okporowo Vanguard—a foremost association dedicated to driving sustainable development in Okporowo community—paid him a courtesy visit at the Council Secretariat, Emohua.

Speaking during the visit, the Emolga  Council boss advised the group to shun internal wranglings and leadership tussles, cautioning that such impediments could undermine their collective goals. He emphasized that unity is strength, and true power comes only from God.

Highlighting his ongoing efforts in repositioning standards within Emohua Local Government, Barr. Ajinwo commended Okporowo Vanguard for initiating plans to conduct large-scale skills acquisition training for young people in Okporowo. He assured them of his steadfast support towards such developmental initiative.

The former Chairman of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Rivers State stressed the need for selfless service, saying it is essential for achieving peace, unity, and development in any community.

He applauded the group’s vision of empowering youths through skills acquisition, aligning it with global best practices aimed at reducing dependency on white-collar jobs.

Earlier, the President of Okporowo Vanguard, Hon. Israel Emeji, outlined Barr. Ajinwo’s numerous and impactful contributions to the development of Okporowo community.

According to him, every family in the community has benefited from Barr. Ajinwo’s dedicated employment initiatives.

Hon. Emeji disclosed that during his tenure as Head of Local Government Administration (HLGA) and as NULGE Chairman, Barr. Ajinwo facilitated the employment of over five hundred (500) individuals from Okporowo community—a record that informed the association’s decision to honour him with the Excellent Leadership Award.

In a vote of thanks, the Secretary of the group, Dr. Okechukwu Godwin Amadi, praised Barr. Ajinwo’s outstanding leadership and unwavering support, both before and after his appointment as Sole Administrator.

He thanked him for the warm reception and appreciated members of Okporowo Vanguard for their strong turnout and continuous support for the present administration.

In their separate remarks, Barr. Kelvin Ajinwo, Chief Polycarp Ndala, and other dignitaries present prayed for God’s continued guidance and protection over Barr. Ajinwo, describing him as a divine gift to the Okporowo community.

They expressed hope that he would be granted even more leadership opportunities to further uplift the living standards of the people.

Continue Reading

News

RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP  …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Published

on

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

 

Continue Reading

News

Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman 

Published

on

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.

 

 

Continue Reading

Trending