News

PHED, RSNC Chart Path To Improve Service Delivery

Published

4 years ago

June 6, 2022

The managements of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) and Rivers State Newspaper Corporation (RSNC) have agreed on strategic partnership to improve service delivery to their various customers and publics.
Both organisations made the commitment during a courtesy visit by the management of the corporation to the electricity distribution company (DisCo) in its Moscow Road headquarters in Port Harcourt, last Friday.
Speaking at the event, Managing Director of the company, Dr Henry Ajagbawa, said that PHED was committed to working with the newspaper outfit to increase public awareness on the challenges facing the DisCo, the opportunities offered by the operating environment, and the prospects for improved services to energy consumers in the four franchise states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers.
Ajagbawa, who was represented by the Chief Services Officer, Ochuko Amah, said the company was doing its best to create the necessary awareness on its obligations to energy consumers and the people’s responsibilities to the DisCo in the four states, but added that PHED was willing to do more as there were rooms for improvement.
He noted that since the birth of PHED about eight years ago, enlightenment campaigns have been consistently implemented across all the franchise states to create awareness on the dangers of vandalisation of electricity assets, consequences of energy theft, and the blow-back of refusal to pay for electricity consumed by customers.
The managing director added that in addition to media campaigns and public education initiatives, special community liaison officers/teams have been engaging beneficiary communities to further deepen interactions with the aim of fostering understanding and cooperation while creating buy-in of stakeholders to protect PHED facilities and also ensure improved revenue inflow.
He said that PHED has also been implementing impactful corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes that contribute to national development in many ways through interventions to enhance quality education, healthcare delivery and social development in communities, particularly among the vulnerable ones.
Ajagbawa said, “On our CSR, during the COVID-19 pandemic era in 2020, we donated over 1,400 bags of rice, we held a women’s week in 2020; we visited the Motherless Babies’ Home in Port Harcourt in 2020; we supplied complete set of school bags to one of the state government-owned primary schools in Port Harcourt.
“We sponsored Innovate Arts Academy for schools worth over N2.8million in Bayelsa State in 2021; we sponsored school children’s competition in 2021; and most recently during the 2022 Children’s Day, we donated over 1, 000 writing materials to schools in Rivers and Cross River states,” he said.
He said that the initiatives were designed to build confidence in the people as a good corporate citizen working to enhance the livelihoods and living conditions of customers in the franchise states, adding that people in communities need to see PHED staff as friends and facilities as critical infrastructure they should protect at all times.
Responding to the corporation’s request for smoother working relationships and collaborations, Ajagbawa said that PHED was ready to escalate its media penetration and presence to reach more target groups and customers, just as it was committed to fashioning novel strategies to improve partnership with RSNC to deliver quality services to the people.
In his remarks, the General Manager, RSNC, Chief Ernest Chinwo, thanked the management of PHED for the warm reception, and said that the management of the corporation was at PHED to seek areas of mutual collaboration.
He said that as a newspaper publishing outfit, which was also involved in other commercial printing jobs, the corporation desperately needed the support of the DisCo in the regular supply of electricity, especially on its production days: Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Chinwo said that the partnership has become even more compelling because of the rising cost of alternative sources of energy due to high cost of petroleum products and inflation, and suggested possible channels of collaboration that could add value to their respective businesses.
“The RSNC, most people know us as publishers of The Tide, but we are more than just that: We do all kinds of commercial printing jobs. In fact, we have a full commercial printing department, and we can do a lot of content designs and printing for agencies, organizations and individuals.”
He said that although the corporation was paying its bills regularly, it was also ready to open more areas of synergy to guarantee a win-win business solution to both partners and their various stakeholders.
The general manager expressed surprise at the huge investments PHED has made to sharpen its CSR interventions in the four franchise states, and the serious challenges it was facing, and added that The Tide was desirous of working with the DisCo to further engage the people with a view to improving the operating environment for profitability.
“Most people are not aware of the many CSR interventions you have been making in your franchise states and the serious challenges posed by the massive vandalisation of your infrastructure and assets, sustained energy theft, huge debts owed by electricity consumers who refuse to pay bills, and frequent attacks on your staff by people who are deliberately trying to run away from their responsibilities.
“Maybe, you are not communicating the issues enough to the populace. Therefore, you need to do more. We offer you our platform to tell your stories on a regular basis,” Chinwo said.
He also said, “Of the state government-owned newspapers in the whole of South-South and South-East, and indeed, Nigeria, we make bold to say that we are not just outstanding but we are the most regular on the newsstand. We come out three times a week and we are reliable and steady. Sometimes, when special occasions demand, we come out four or five times a week. We have been in the business of serving the Government and people of Rivers State, and of course, Niger Deltans and Nigerians for more than 50 years. And we are still very strong competitors in the business and confident about the future”, he added.

By: Nelson Chukwudi

News

Horsfall’s Legacy ‘ll Inspire Generations Yet Unborn -Fubara

Published

14 hours ago

November 2, 2026

The Tide

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has described the late Chief Albert Korubo Horsfall as a distinguished statesman whose contributions to national development brought honour and distinction to the Kalabari Kingdom and Rivers State.

Fubara said Horsfall’s life of service, patriotism, integrity and commitment to humanity had left an enduring legacy that would continue to inspire generations.

The governor spoke through the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr Dagogo Wokoma, at the funeral service of the late elder statesman last Saturday in Buguma, Asari-Toru Local Government Area of the State.

He described Horsfall as a patriotic Nigerian whose leadership and dedication to the country’s development earned him a place in the nation’s history.

“Chief Horsfall was a distinguished statesman whose life was defined by service, patriotism, integrity and commitment to humanity.

“His contributions to our nation, particularly through his service as Director-General of the State Security Service, pioneer Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency and Chairman of OMPADEC, remain significant milestones in our national history,” Fubara said.

The governor noted that the late Horsfall’s contributions to national security, intelligence administration and the development of the Niger Delta would remain part of his enduring legacy.

“His legacy of leadership, national service and dedication to development will remain an enduring source of inspiration to generations yet unborn,” he added.

Fubara urged the bereaved family, the Kalabari people and other Nigerians to uphold the values of peace, unity and selfless service exemplified by the late elder statesman.

The funeral service attracted several dignitaries, including the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), a representative of the Bayelsa State Governor, the Managing Director of NDDC, Chairman of PENDEF and the Regent of the Kalabari Kingdom.

Also in attendance were the Rivers State Commissioner for Education, the Commissioner for Special Projects and other government officials, traditional rulers and stakeholders.

News

Fubara Reaffirms Commitment To Grassroots Dev

Published

15 hours ago

November 2, 2026

The Tide

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to partner with local government councils that prioritize the welfare and development of people at the grassroots.

Fubara stated this last Thursday in Nkoro Town during the commissioning of the newly built Sir Siminalayi Fubara Corps Members’ Lodge, executed by Hon. James A. James, the Chairman of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area.

Represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr Sunny Ewule, the governor said the project goes beyond a building to represent hope, hospitality and responsible leadership.

According to him, providing decent and safe accommodation for Nationl Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members who leave their comfort zones to serve in communities is the least government can do.

“Today we are not just commissioning a building, we are commissioning hope, hospitality and responsible leadership. The Chairman of Opobo/ Nkoro LGA, Hon. James A. James has understood a very simple truth that those who come to serve us must serve with dignity,.

“Our young graduates who serves under the NYSC scheme leave the comfort of their homes and travel far to contribute to our communities, they teach our children, they work in our health centres, and they become parts of our families.

“The least we can do is give them a decent, safe and befitting place to lay their heads. What Hon. James A. James has done today is in total alignment with the vision of this administration, an administration that believes in people, that prioritises welfare and that believes development must be felt in every local government and not just in Port Harcourt” he said.

Fubara further urged the beneficiaries of the corpers lodge to make good use of the facilities of the newly built edifice and be good ambassadors of Nigeria, respect the culture and traditions of the host community while continue to serve with dedication and patriotism.

“This Corpers lodge will enhance the security and welfare of serving corps members, boost their morale and make Opobo/Nkoro and even more attractive place for posting, it is a strategic investment in human capital and in peace building,” he said.

He commended the Opobo/Nkoro Council Chairman for aligning with his administration’s vision of ensuring development is felt in all 23 local government areas of the State, and not just in Port Harcourt, adding that the lodge is a strategic investment in human capital, security and peace building.

In his goodwill message, the Rivers State NYSC Coordinator, Mr. Moses Oleghe, said the accommodation was 85 percent of Corps members’ challenges.

Oleghe thanked Governor Fubara for the recent increase in the State allowances for Corps members to N35,000 for those in 21 rural areas and N20,000 for those in Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt City LGAs, describing the gesture as a moral booster for the corps members.

News

IGP Secures Foreign Training Offer For 5,000 Police Officers

Published

15 hours ago

November 2, 2026

The Tide

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, has secured an offer of specialised training for up to 5,000 Nigerian police personnel under a proposed security cooperation involving Nigeria, the United States and Italy.

The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed this in a statement issued at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, at the weekend.

The initiative is aimed at strengthening the operational capacity of the Nigeria Police Force to tackle insurgency, terrorism, kidnapping, arms trafficking and other emerging security threats across the country.

According to the statement, the proposed training programme will focus on counter-insurgency operations, intelligence-led patrols and tactical operations, particularly in difficult rural and forested environments.

Other areas of training include critical infrastructure protection, digital and scientific forensics, cybercrime investigations, explosives detection, financial investigations, asset tracing and anti-extortion operations.

The programme is expected to extend beyond the Police Mobile Force to other specialised units, including explosive ordnance disposal and forensic teams.

As part of the engagement, Disu met with the Commander-General of the Italian Carabinieri, Lieutenant-General Salvatore Luongo, to explore areas of technical assistance, professional training and institutional cooperation.

The police chief and his delegation also visited the Carabinieri Centre of Excellence for Stability Police Units in Vicenza, Italy, where they assessed training facilities and explored opportunities to adapt specialised policing programmes to Nigeria’s security needs.

Proposals discussed during the visit included command courses for 40 senior police officers, leadership training for 100 junior commanders and the deployment of a mobile assistance team to support Police Mobile Force training schools in Gwoza, Borno State, and Ila-Orangun, Osun State.

The discussions also covered the development of a national stability policing doctrine and standard operating procedures to improve professionalism, operational coordination and civilian protection, particularly in communities recovering from conflict.

Other areas of proposed cooperation include canine operations, forensic science and mounted policing, including horse breeding and local capacity development for effective public order management.

To formalise the proposed partnership, the IGP has initiated moves towards a Memorandum of Understanding covering specialised training, technology transfer and operational procedures.

He also invited an Italian Carabinieri assessment team to Abuja to identify priority needs and develop implementation arrangements.

Disu reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to international partnerships that will strengthen operational readiness, improve investigative capacity and enhance the protection of lives and property.

The statement did not, however, indicate when the proposed training programme would commence or provide a definite implementation timetable.