Rivers
Council Boss, CDC, PHED In Talks To Improve Power Supply In Ogu/Bolo
Due to the epileptic power supply in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area despite prompt payment of the bills by the Ogu/Bolo Local Government Council, the Ogu Community Development Committee (OCDC) has convened a meeting between the Chairman of the council, Barrister Vincent Nemieboka, management of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company Plc and members of OCDC with a view to improving power supply to the area.
Addressing the meeting, the Chairman of Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area, Barrister Vincent Nemieboka, said he was committed to ensuring that there was uninterrupted power supply in the area, but noted that it was the duty of PHED to ensure the supply of power.
He said for now, Bolo and Wakamawere still in the dark because of vandalised power lines along Nonwa community.
He said that despite this challenge, the broken down power lines in Bolo have been fixed, and the 4.6-kilometreWakama power line has been completed in anticipation of the repairs on the Nonwa section of fallen power line.
The chairman said, low tension lines electrification work would start at the new sandfill area in Ogu by the end of this month.
He added that the projects were handled by competent contractors, assuring that when completed, the projects would be donated to PHED.
He commended the officials of PHED for being committed and proactive, and advised them to look into the possibility of improving power supply and work on the enumeration of the area to foster cordial working relationship between PHED and Ogu/Bolo people.
Speaking during the meeting, the Convener and Chairman of OCDC, Mr Bara Thompson, commended the chairman for operating an open door policy, especially when it comes to community issues, and thanked him for giving opportunity to the OCDC to share ideas for the growth and development of Ogu community.
Further speaking on the prime purpose of the meeting, Thompson said the meeting was called to formally thank the Ogu/Bolo council boss for his commitment towards improving power supply in the area.
He further thanked the chairman for supporting the OCDC to fix broken transformers.
Thompson noted that the OCDC had a meeting with PHED some weeks ago to look in these issues of irregular power supply in the area.
The OCDC frowned at the four days in a month power supply pattern of PHED despite the increase of bills from N1.2million to N2million by the council chairman, which was aimed at encouraging PHED to improve power supply to the area.
He said the load shedding should be reversed and the days of supply increased.
He also suggested that since PHED had done enumeration of houses for the provision of prepaid meters but stopped half way, they should provide the records of already enumerated houses and see how the process could continue.
Responding, the spokesman for PHED said, they would look into the possibility of increasing the supply by 48 hours while awaiting a device that would enable them control power supply.
He explained that when in place and installed, the device would enable PHED supply power for 8hours daily in the area.
For the enumeration exercise, he said they have enumerated over 500 houses so far, adding that they would also call for a town hall meeting with the people where further deliberations would be made.
The Rivers State Primary Healthcare Management Board (RSPHCMB) says it will commence Supplemental Immunization activities on Saturday, May 3, 2025, to vaccinate children from 0-5 years across the State.
The State Health Educator, Dr. Diana Babbo, who stated this during a sensitisation meeting with Media Advocate for Health, Rivers State, on the update of immunization exercise in Rivers State, said the National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) is a re-enforcement of the routine immunization at the health facilities.
According to her, it is aimed at boosting polio immunisation against the circulating variance of polio virus currently threatening the total eradication of polio in the country.
She further stated that there are four pillars of polio eradication, namely routine immunization (administered on babies in the health centre), supplemental immunization activity (supplements to boost the babies), surveillance (searching for children that have weakness in their legs or some oart of their bodies), and outbreak response.
The Health Educator noted that the Novel Oral Polio Vaccination Type 2 (NOPV 2) will be administered to children under the age of 0-5 years, which targets a specific polio still in existence in communities and capable of causing paralysis among the stated categories of children, despite the country being certified a polio-free nation.
Dr. Babbo further stated that this year’s NIPDs will address the high number of unresolved non-compliance cases in the State.
She debunked what she tagged a false rumour by mischief makers which claimed that the vaccines are responsible for the development of autism in children.
She said, “vaccines are not known to be responsible for the development of autism. We’re just hearing that. The truth is that one cannot know everything.
“That aspect that has been found, have we looked into other aspects, such as genetically modified foods, drinks, and milks that our children are taking?
“Have we also looked at genetic compatibility between couples before we now say vaccines are causing x, y, z things?
“Are we looking at the environment where these things are happening, what they are peculiar to?
“It must not be peculiar to all the families, there could be something also that’s happening around that we have not known. Research is evolving, let us not accuse our precious vaccines that have succeeded so far in my knowledge, to keep as many sicknesses at bay.
“The reason we do not have small pox in our world today, apart from the lab (a bio-lab) is because we vaccinated to the point where we were able to move small pox totally out of existence from human beings. We can succeed with that same pattern with all kinds of viruses”.
She stated that the connection between autism and vaccination could merely be coincidence.
Babbo, therefore, urged all parents, churches, and school owners to avail their children/wards the opportunity to be vaccinated against polio the stated exercise.
Sogbeba Dokubo
Engr Obi Fortune, a renowned philanthropist, has donated 80 desks to four secondary schools in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State. The donation is part of his commitment to advancing education in the area.
The schools that benefited from the gesture includes- Community Secondary School Umuoye.
Community Secondary School Akwa- Government Secondary School Ozuzu and Community Primary School Okehi 2 and all the schools got 20 units each of the desks.
Speaking during the brief handing-over ceremony held recently in okehi recently, Engr Obi stated that the donation fulfills his promise to use proceeds from his book sales to procure desks for schools in the LGA.
He disclosed that more desks will arrive soon and expressed his continued commitment to supporting education in the area.
Obi urged the schools to make good use of the desks and called on other individuals to contribute to the educational needs in the area.
This gesture demonstrates Engr Obi’s dedication to improving education in Etche LGA.
A professor of social and political philosophy at Rivers State University (RSU ) Nkpolu Oroworukwu port Harcourt, Prof Agha Eresia _Eke has emphasized that citizenship participation is crucial for achieving true democratic government. He stressed that citizens’ involvement in exercising their basic rights, such as freedom of speech, assembly, and religion, is essential for a democratic institution to thrive.
Eresia _Eke stated this while presenting his inaugural lecture at the 111 university’s inaugural lecture series with the topic “Nigeria Democratic practices:a contextual paradox”held at the university senate auditorium in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
According to him, core democratic values which include:,- Respect for individual rights and freedoms, Protection of human rights and fundamental freedom, Equality before the law, Freedom of speech, assembly, and association, Protection of privacy and personal autonomy.
“Through out history, the problem that has agitated social and political philosophers has been to work _out a model for the realization of the common good of man.
Man has always sought and developed methods and systems of organising himself according to his true nature as a rational being.”he stated.
Eresia-Eke notes that Nigeria is not practicing a true federalism and highlights the importance of a pragmatic approach to democracy, where ideas and solutions are tested and refined in real-world environments.
He emphasized that citizens must hold their leaders accountable and demand respect for human rights, stressing that by doing so, citizens can undertake their civic obligations and responsibilities, strengthening society as a whole.
Earlier in his address, the Vice chancellor of the university, Prof Zeb _Obipi commended the lecturer for his brilliant performance, adding that he has justified and proven that he is a professor in his area of specialization.
The VC averred that the university has been consistent in the inaugural lecture monthly and assured that his administration will continue to continue to keep the trend.