News

One Year In Office: ‘We’ve Made Tremendous Progress On Governance’ …As PDP Scores Opobo/Nkoro LG Council Boss High

Published

3 years ago

June 27, 2022

The Chairman of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Council of Rivers State, Hon Enyiada Cookey-Gam, has declared that the six-point development agenda of his administration have received tremendous attention with measured successes over the last one year of his administration.
The six-point agenda include security, infrastructure, economy, education, agriculture, healthcare of the people, among others.
Cookey-Gam, who stated this, last Saturday, at Opobo Town while commissioning numerous projects executed by the administration to mark his one-year in office, vowed to build bridges of transformation, especially at the satellite communities with the electrification of the area, provision of more empowerment and welfare programmes for the rural folks and the promotion of peace, security and progress of the people.
He called on the people to support his government to give the people better opportunities to prosper, stressing that government would continue to provide people-oriented projects, if the relative peace enjoyed by the people was sustained.
Also commissioned as part of the event, was a remodelled office to accommodate the DSS, NSCDC, NDLEA and Nigeria Immigration Service, among others.
According to him, “We were able to, apart from the office complex; complete a police station building at Nkoro Town, security post at Opobo New Layout, Opobo/Nkoro Council Staff Quarters, the procurement of office furniture for the LGA, the establishment of Opobo/Nkoro educational reading centre, and the sponsorship of capacity building for Opobo/Nkoro indigenes.
Cookey-Gam used the opportunity to appeal to faithful of PDP in the area to support his leadership.
Also speaking while performing the commissioning of the projects, former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Deacon Clapton Ogolo, commended the giant strides of the Chairman of Opobo/NkoroLGA, Hon Enyiada Copkey-Gam,describing his feat in the past one year as remarkable.
Ogolo stressed that the provision of office complex for the accommodation needs of government agencies in the area, among other projects, would go along way to alleviate the challenges they were facing while urging the agenciesto utilise and protect the facilities from theft and vandalisation.
The former commissioner further described the performance of the chairman as good omen for the electorate in the area, adding that,”We should support the administration of the chairman to enable him and his team perform creditably and deliver victory for the PDP in the 2023 general election”.
He admonished the electorate to ensure that they vote PDP candidates to victory, warning that any attempt to vote in another party would be disastrous for them.
In his remark, the PDP House of Assembly hopeful in 2023 for Opobo/Nkoro State Constituency, Hon Adolphus Orubienimigha, lauded the efforts of the chairman on projects delivery, describing him as doyen of quality governance.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, Opobo/Nkoro chapter, Mr Godwin Manfred Pepple, said that Cookey-Gam has performed fantastically well, rating his delivery of projects and people-oriented programmes very high.
Pepple said, “As we gather here today for the commissioning of the DSS, Immigration, Civil Defense, Road Safety Corp Office Complex in Opobo Town which is one of the impactful projects of the Chairman of our LGA, Hon Enyiada Cookey-Gam, I’m so delighted to be present on this great day, not only the commissioning of this beautiful structure, but also a beautiful one year anniversary of this administration”.
He said the Peoples Democratic Party, Opobo/Nkoro LGA, is proud of the achievements of Cookey-Ga in the last one year in office.
He listed some of the projects to include enrolment of 20 Opobo/Nkoro indigent students on scholarship into Nigeria Teachers Institution (NTI), Opobo chapter; re-established of two GCE centres in Opobo and Nkoro Town; sponsorship of 100 Opobo/Nkoro indigent students for the Nov/Dec 2021 GCE examination; re-opening of marriage registry and sponsorship for training of personnel from the LGA; sponsorship of members of Opobo/Nkoro 7th Legislative Assembly for training, retreats and seminar; procurement of executive office desks, file cabinets and chairs for council staff; and renovation of the chairman’s official lodge.
Other projects are the total renovation and refurbishment of Opubo Hotel and Resorts in Opobo Town; reticulation of water supply in the LGA Council Secretariat; procurement of security gadgets for all security units and personnel for enhancement of security architecture in the area; refurbishing of security outboard boats for Marine Police patrol; planting of about 800 Royal Palm trees along the Opobo/Nkoro axis of the Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Unity Road, from Nkoro entrance to Opobo waterfront; completion of the abandoned Senior Civil Servants Staff Quarters; building and commissioning of Security Checkpoint at Opobo New Layout of the Opobo/Nkoro axis of the Unity Road within 12 days; Completion of the Nkoro Police Station, Nkoro Town; the ongoing building of the Multi-Purpose Hall/Museum in Opobo Town; and procurement of five Sienna buses and two mini buses, among other projects.
Pepple also passed a vote of confidence on the impactful performance of Cookey-Gam as he celebrates his one year anniversary as the council boss.

By: Bethel Toby

News

Group Doles out N13m To Market Women In Isiama

Published

21 hours ago

September 22, 2025

Uchechukwu Okwum

The peaceful Town of Isiama in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State was at the weekend agog with activities following the donation of over N13million to market women by Engr. Justus Ngerebara in partnership with Fast Track Development Initiatives, a non-governmental organization, as part of its first phase empowerment programme.

According to Justus Ngerebara, who is also the Executive Director of the organization, the women, numbering 108, will receive various sums based on their business proposal.

He stated that the organization will carry out an annual review of the performances of the beneficiaries, with a view to rewarding those who put the money into good use.

According to him, the initiative was a collaborative effort between himself and his wife, Dr. Unyime Ngerebara, in partnership with Fast Track Development Initiative (FDI), an organization committed to youth capacity building and community development.

He said the family believe deeply in the transformative power of women’s empowerment as a catalyst for economic growth, especially in rural communities.

“As the saying goes, when you empower a woman, you empower a community. This truth resonate strongly with us, knowing that empowered women uplift households and inspire generational change”, he stated.

Ngerebara described the programme as the beginning of more things to come and urged the beneficiaries to view the gesture “as a reflection of our deep love for the community and our commitment to easing the burdens of economic hardship.

“We encourage you to invest wisely, channel these resources into your business not frivolities.

“We will continue to follow up with each participant to monitor progress and Offer guidance.

“It is our goal to see thriving business, creative solutions to households hunger and a ripple effect of prosperity through Isiama.

“We also call on the men to stand beside their spouses, offering support and encouragement to ensure these resources are maximized for growth”, he said.

In an interview, Ngerebara said the second phase of the empowerment programme will start very soon, stressing that since inception the organization has done so much for the community.

He listed some of the programmes carried out by the group in the community to include the installation of solar powered lights, and solar powered water.

While declaring the event open, a former coymmissioner for Works in Rivers State, Engr. Sampson Ngerebara, described the event as the first of its kind in the community.

Engr. Ngerebara said the programme will go a long way to improve the conditions of not only the beneficiaries, but also the entire Isiama Community.

He also charged them against wasting the resources on frivolities, adding that their success will attract more of such empowerment programme to Isiama community

Giving a brief talk on women empowerment, a lecturer at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Dr. Awajimogobo Felix MacLean, warned the beneficiaries to justify the effort of the donor by avoiding wastages.

Dr. MacLean also urged them to be consistent in their line of business as well as avoid unnecessary competition.

She also stressed the need for them to network among themselves, while working out ways of helping the community to develop.

Guest of Honour at the occasion, Professor Uriah Oboada Alafonye, said Engr Justus Ngerebara, the initiator of the programme, has set a standard for present and future generations of leaders both in the community and the rest of Andoni to follow.

Prof Alafonye who is of the department of Arts Education, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, also appealed to the beneficiaries to seize the opportunity provided by the programme to reduce poverty in the community.

Speaking, one of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Hebron Mercy Fyneface, a crayfish seller and an interior designer, said it was the first time she was receiving such gesture from any organization or government.

She thanked Engr Justus Ngerebara for remembering the women of Isiama and urged others to emulate him.

By: John Bibor

News

Fubara’s Return Excites NCSU … As Hope Rises For Civil Servants

Published

21 hours ago

September 22, 2025

Uchechukwu Okwum

The umbrella body of civil servants in Rivers State, the Nigeria Civil Service Union(NCSU) has expressed delight over the lifting of emergency rule in the State and the return to office of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Prof Ngozi Nma Odu and members of the State House of Assembly, saying, the development portends good omen for workers, the people and the State.

The Rivers State Chairman of NCSU, Comrade Chukwuka Richman Osumah, who gave the indication in an interview in Port Harcourt, said the return of the Governor to office portends good omen and better days for civil servants in particular, stressing that the union heartily welcomes the Governor back to office, to resume his good works in the State, after six months of the emergency rule, as well as his deputy and members of the House of Assembly.

He noted that civil servants in the State are not only elated over the development but are also full of hope that the Governor would start from where he stopped in attending to their welfare needs.

He contended that the political crisis that recently engulfed the State and the six-month emergency rule had for over one year pulled the State backwards, but expressed delight that a permanent solution has been found to stem further political upheavals in the State, and thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for making this possible; the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and leader of the State, Chief Nyesom Wike; Governor Fubara; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Martin Amaewhule; members of the House; and other stakeholders for agreeing to amicably resolve all contending issues.

The labour leader said this is the right time for all political gladiators in the State to bury the hatchet, work together and embrace peace and genuine reconciliation in the overall interest of the State.

He described as too hasty the resolution of the House, mandating the Governor to present a supplementary budget to it, and pleaded with members of the House to be calm, to tread with caution, and harmoniously work with the Governor.

He said the return of democratic governance in the State would fast-track progress and development in the State, and enjoined the people of the State, particularly civil servants to continue to give their support and cooperation to the Fubara administration.

Osumah expressed optimism that Governor Fubara would give prompt attention to challenges facing civil servants in the State, being a former civil servant himself, stressing that the workers truly have hope, now that the Governor has returned to office, and knowing the kind of Governor he is.

According to him, he is going to look into the controversial and contentious contributory pension scheme; rehabilitation of the State Secretariat Complex; recruitment into the state civil service; extension of service and retirement years for civil servants; provision of vehicles to industrial unions; as well as provision of befitting staff quarters for civil servants; among others.

News

NDDC Organizes ADR Capacity Building for Staff

Published

21 hours ago

September 22, 2025

Uchechukwu Okwum

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has organized a one-day sensitization program for its personnel on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) approaches to promote workplace compliance on transparency and due process.

The workshop, themed “Promoting Transparency and Due Process in the Workplace using ADR Approaches in Building a Culture of Accountability and Integrity,” aimed to equip staff with the skills to resolve disputes effectively.

Declaring the event open on thursday in port Harcourt,The NDDC Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, emphasized the importance of using ADR mechanisms to resolve conflicts in the workplace.

Dr. Ogbuku represented by his chief of staff,Rev Omeya Oworibo,noted that ADR approaches can encourage a culture of honesty, fairness, transparency, trust, and reduce conflicts among staff, ultimately promoting efficiency and productivity.

He averred that those disputes and quarrels if not proper resolved can derail the vision and objectives of the commission to the people, noting that the commission must as a team and unity as service provider in order to render a profitable service delivery to the people.

“ADR approach will encourage culture of honesty,fairness, transparency ,trust and reduce back bitting and the workforce, noting that such tendency would in turns promote efficiency and increase results in workplace.

when integrity and honesty becomes the operandi of an organisation and employees begins to trust that their matters will be handled with fairness it will breed team work and increase in productivity.”he stated

He commended the department of DCR for organising the workshop and urged the participants to make good use of the opportunity and imbibe the culture of tolerance, integrity and teamwork in workplace.

Also speaking,the NDDC acting director of DCR ,Mr Godwin Ayewumi Ogedegbe noted that the theme of the captures the core of what the commission seeks to achieve a workplace where every action is expected to be guided by openness, fairness, and a steadfastness commitment to due process, where conflicts are not merely resolved, but prevented through structured,principled processes , and where accountability and integrity are not aspirational ideals but every day practice.

In his keynote presentation on the theme “workplace Ethics and alternative Dispute Resolution Correlation,

Prof. Sylvester Odion Akhaine of the Department of Political Science, University of Lagos, delivered a keynote presentation on “Workplace Ethics and Alternative Dispute Resolution Correlation.” He stressed the importance of due process, transparency, integrity, and accountability in the workplace, noting that these values are essential for productivity and organizational goals.

The workshop aimed to promote a culture of accountability and integrity in the NDDC workplace. By equipping staff with ADR skills and promoting transparency and due process, the commission can build a more efficient and productive work environment.

By: Akujobi Amadi