Rivers

Rivers LG Auditor-General Lauds Council Boss On Achievements

Published

3 years ago

August 5, 2022

By: Theresa Frederick & Wokoma Emmanuel

The Auditor General of Local Governments in Rivers State, Mr Bema Friday, says he is impressed with the achievements of Emohua Local Government Council under the watch of Dr. Chidi Lloyd, describing as unprecedented the array of infrastructural projects executed by the Chairman within the past one year.
Mr. Friday stated this when he led a team of auditors to Emohua Local Government Area on a ‘Value For Money Audit Exercise’ on the programmes and activities of the council.
He said the value for money audit is a credible and professional exercise organised to ascertain the effectiveness and efficiency of the application of public funds by local government council administrations in Rivers State, with a view to promoting accountability and effective service delivery in the third tier of government.
Acknowledging the improvement in local government administration in Rivers State under the present dispensation, the Auditor General commended Governor Nyesom Wike for building a system that promotes effective service delivery, stressing that the present crop of council chairmen were able to change the narrative about local government administration in Rivers State because of the State Governor’s penchant for service delivery.
The Chairman of Emohua Local govyernment Area, Dr. Chidi Lloyd, who conducted the Auditor General and his team round the project sites across the LGA, said he was very happy to receive the team of auditors because his administration had left visible footprints within the past one year.
The council boss attributed the achievements of his administration to the non-interference of Governor Nyesom Wike-led Rivers State Government into funds accruing to local governments in the state from the federal allocation.
Dr. Lloyd said his administration is not indebted to any financial institution or individual, stressing that the infrastructural revolution witnessed across Emohua LGA under his administration was occassioned by his deliberate effort to reposition the LGA, to stand out in the comity of LGAs not only in Rivers State but across Nigeria.
The Auditor General and his team joined the council Chairman to the recently commissioned 1 kilometer Evekwu road, the Elele-Alimini magistrate court complex, and the Emohua local government vigilante services secretariat building, for an evidence-based investigation of the already in use projects, all conceived and completed by the administration of Dr. Chidi Lloyd within one year.
The council Chairman also took his visitors round Emohua local government council secretariat for an on-the-spot assessment of the ongoing transformation of the council secretariat as conceptualized by his administration.
Already completed and commissioned projects visited within the council secretariat include the local government primary healthcare center, the council chapel and marriage registry, the 20,000 litres braithwaite water reticulation project, the Titan Trust Bank ATM Gallery, council convenience, the council canteen and the electrification of the council headquarters.
Ongoing projects sites visited include the Emohua local government council secretariat (administrative building), the local government legislative council complex, the 350 capacity ICT studio, the 500 seater pavilion, the council office complex, the fencing and security tower building at the police divisional headquarters and court complex in Rumuji town, the one kilometer Ubimini road, 1 kilometer Chief Nyesom Wike Drive and Akpabu braithwaite water reticulation project in Akpabu Community.
Meanwhile, Dr. Chidi Lloyd has disclosed his administration’s readiness to complete the 1.5 kilometer Ukeli road project in Rundele before the end of August.
He said the contractor handling the project is expected to commence surface preparation for asphalt laying on the road in the coming days, to deliver the road ahead of the 2nd phase of project commissioning in the area.
Other projects earmarked for completion ahead of the next phase of project commissioning include the council administrative building, Chief Emeka Woke ICT Studio and the Chief Nyesom Wike Drive.
The council chairman was accompanied by the Vice Chairman of Emohua LGA, Hon Mrs Edna Nyeche, the head of local government administration, Mr Ben Taol, and other principal officers of the council.

Rivers

Rivers High Court Restrain Trustees, Knights of St. John International, Others From Conducting Election

Published

2 days ago

December 8, 2025

The Tide

The High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has restrained the registered trustees of Knights of St John International, Supreme Subordinate Commandery, Nigeria, and four others from conducting elections into Our Lady of Holy Rosary Local Commandery No 920 CIWA, Port Harcourt, District 48 Commandery elections, and Supreme Subordinate elections of the Knights of St John International, Nigeria, pending the determination of the substantive matters before them.

Justice G.C. Aguma and Justice V.C. Ugoji, in their separate interim orders of injunction issued in Suit No: PHC/4410/CS/2025 and Suit No: PHC/4359/CS/2025, respectively, restrained the defendants, whether by themselves, their privies, agents, servants, or any person or group of persons working under them, from conducting elections into Our Lady of Holy Rosary Local Commandery No 920, CIWA Port Harcourt, District 48 Commandery, Port Harcourt Commandery, and Supreme Subordinate of Knights of St John International, Nigeria.

The claimants, Sir Njoku Chukwuemeka Andrew and Sir Chukwuemeka Martin Mba, in separate suits, through their legal representatives, dragged the defendants to court, seeking an order to restrain them from appointing or installing any interim caretaker executive or leadership to run or pilot the affairs of St John International, Our Lady of Holy Rosary Local Commandery No 920, CIWA, Port Harcourt.

The defendants in the matter are: Registered Trustees of Knights of St John International, Supreme Subordinate Commandery, Nigeria; Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Ufuoma Okene, the Grand President, Port Harcourt Grand Commandery, Knights of St John International; Noble Brother Viktor Benebo, the Chairman Investigation Committee set up by the 2nd Defendant to investigate the claimants; Sir Architect Prempeh Ebiware, the District 48 Commander, Knights of St John International, Port Harcourt; and Sir Harry Oruma, member of Knights of St John International, Our Lady of Holy Commandery No 920, CIWA, Port Harcourt.

The two judges, after listening to the counsels in the matter, granted the claimants’ request and adjourned the matter to 10/12/2025 and 16/12/2025, respectively, for hearing of the motion on notice.

Rivers

Police Arrest Workman Over Attack On Supervisor

Published

2 days ago

December 8, 2025

The Tide

The Boundary Police Division in Aluu Community, in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, has arrested a workman identified simply as Joshua for allegedly attacking a site supervisor, Sopiriala Sokari, with a broken bottle, leaving him in coma.

According to information gathered by The Tide, the suspect remained in police custody over the weekend while medical personnel struggled to save the victim’s life at an undisclosed hospital in Aluu.

Speaking with journalists after regaining consciousness, Sokari explained that he had hired the suspect to carry out some work at the site for ?20,000.

Trouble reportedly began when Joshua rejected a ?10,000 part payment, which Sokari had offered with a promise to complete the balance after inspecting and confirming the work.

Sokari narrated how the suspect later trailed him to an eatery near the Obiri-Ikwerre Flyover, where he attacked him with a broken bottle even after a food vendor handed the full ?20,000 to the suspect in an attempt to prevent the incident.

“I am calling on Nigerians to help me. I have spent a lot of money. I need justice”, the victim pleaded.

An unverified video clip circulating online showed Sokari with multiple injuries allegedly sustained during the attack.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident.

“Yes, the suspect has been arrested. An in-depth investigation is ongoing”, she said.

By; King Onunwor

Rivers

Degema LGA Affirms Ngeribrama As Autonomous Community

Published

2 days ago

December 8, 2025

The Tide

The authority of Degema Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State has affirmed the autonomous status of Ngeribrama Community in Kalabari land, in the LGA.

A letter signed by the Chairman of the LGA, Dr. Michael John Williams, said to he affirmation was to give clarity and uphold dignity of the traditional institutions.

In his words,”the Council wishes to formally communicate its position regarding the status of Ngeribrama and its satellite communities.”

He disclosed that “following review of historical and administrative records, and confirmation of existing traditional structures, the Degema Local Government Council affirmed that Ngeribrama and its satellite communities were officially recognized as a fully autonomous community within Degema Local Government Area.”

He also noted that the community enjoys a distinct and independent traditional institution, acknowledged under local customs and traditions.

Against this backdrop, he emphasized the Council’s recognition of HRH, Daniel Ngeribrama (Ikata II) as the legitimate and duly acknowledged Amayanabo of Ngeribrama and its satellite communities.

The recognition, the Council’s Chairman further stated, “reflects the Council’s commitment to strengthening traditional authority, enhancing community identity, and promoting peaceful coexistence across all communities in the Local Government Area.”

Affirming the legitimacy and status of the amayanabo, Dr. Williams reiterated the Council’s readiness to collaborate with the traditional ruler to advance development, peace, and unity across Ngeribrama and Degema LGA at large.

Meanwhile, in an earlier statement the Amayanabo, chiefs and community leaders of Ngeribrama in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State have condemned recent attempts to diminish the status and autonomy of the ancient Kalabari community.

A statement signed by the Secretary of Ngereribrama and Satellite Communities, Prof. Olomabo Gillis Harry, said the clarification has become pertinent as there have been recent attempts to diminish their status and role in Kalabari land.

The statement said, “The leadership of Ngeribrama and its satellite communities wishes to issue this public clarification for the benefit of the general public, stakeholders, and the wider Kalabari Kingdom.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Ngeribrama and its satellite communities do not fall under the authority of any town or village within the Kalabari Kingdom.”

It explained that Ngeribrama constitutes a fully autonomous community, with a long-established and widely acknowledged traditional institution headed by His Royal Highness, Daniel Ngeribrama, Ikata II, the Amayanabo of Ngeribrama and Its satellite communities.

The statement noted that the autonomous status of Ngeribrama was recognised across Kalabari Kingdom and affirmed historically, culturally and traditionally.

It urged the public is to disregard any claims, statements, or insinuations suggesting that Ngeribrama is under the jurisdiction of any other community.

“Ngeribrama, located within Degema Local Government Area (DELGA), maintains its own traditional governance structure”, the statement emphasised.

Enumerating the traditional structure and levels of leadership in the community, it stated that the Amayanabo of Ngeribrama has other supporting structures with a duly constituted Council of Chiefs.

One of the chiefs is a senior member of the Royal Family, Chief Hon. Dr. Dax Kelly George, who is Da-Daigbani II.

The community, it further stated, has Elders’ Council, as well as Women and Youth Leadership.

“For historical clarity, our revered progenitor, Ngeribra, had only one child, his daughter, Princess Iwori, whose lineage forms the foundation of the Ngeribrama Community”, the statement continued.

It concluded that “Ngeribrama and its satellite communities remain committed to peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, and continued collaboration with sister communities within the Kalabari Kingdom, Rivers State, and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

By: Kevin Nengia