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

NSE Members Tasked On National Dev

Published

4 days ago

July 11, 2025

The Tide

Members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, have been urged to work hard towards contributing to national development. This call was made at the recent induction of new members by the Port Harcourt branch of the Society. The induction ceremony was used to formally welcome new members and celebrate its elevated new fellows.

Speaking during the ceremony held a in Port Harcourt, the Branch Chairman, Engr. Idaeresoari Ateke Harriet, FNSE, called on members of the NSE to actively participate in the Society’s professional and technical activities in order to contribute meaningfully to national development. He congratulated the new inductees, describing their admission as a testament to their hard work and resilience.

Engr. Ateke also commended the new Fellows for their immense contributions to the engineering profession, reminding them that their elevation is a call to greater responsibility as mentors and role models.

The event featured a lecture by Engr. Prof. Steve Odi-Owei, FNSE, on “Opportunities and Challenges in Nigeria’s Blue Economy.” The Chairman noted that Nigeria’s maritime and aquatic resources remain largely untapped, adding that engineers have a crucial role to play in harnessing these resources for economic growth and environmental sustainability.

He thanked the first female President of NSE, Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntala, FNSE, other dignitaries, sponsors, and families of inductees for gracing the occasion.

Also, engineers, especially those in Rivers State have been advised to adhere strictly to the core ethics of the profession and to always uphold the professional ethics of the body.

This advice was given by an engineering expert, Basoene Benibo, in an interview with at the sidelines of the induction ceremony and Fellowship celebration of the Port Harcourt Branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.

Benibo stressed the need for young engineers in the state to learn and improve on their skills by tapping from the wealth of experience of older professionals in the field to enable them excel.

Benibo, who is a one-time Chairman of the Port Harcourt Chapter of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, also noted and hailed the efforts of the society in eliminating quackery in the engineering profession.

Some of the new fellows include Prof Jackson Akpa, Pereowei Jose’s and Telema Osima, while the inductees, Engr Mrs Lizzy Onwuso, Engr David Jonathan jnr and Worlu Emmanuel expressed joy in being found worthy to become full NSE members, believing that it would enable them have access to more knowledge, practice rightly and impact the society positively.

Rivers

VALVA Restates Commitment Education Advancement, Literacy In Nigeria

Published

4 days ago

July 11, 2025

The Tide

The President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Library Association (NLA), Dr. Dominic Amenaghawon Omokaro, has expressed deep commitment to the advancement of education and literacy in Nigeria through the library system.

Speaking through his state Chairman Dr. Chidara Okachukwu Nyemezu, at the formal Launching/inauguration of the Vanguard for Library Visibility And Advocacy (VALVA) at Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in Port Harcourt recently, Omokaro discribed the inauguration of the new body as a significant and passionate movement aimed at shining the spotlight on one of the underappreciated yet critical institution in Nigeria’s educational system and national development.

“We are gathered here not just to launch a group, but to launch a vision and ignite a movement to reinforce a mission to make libraries visible and valuable again for our people”, he said.

Dr. Omokaro stated that the birth of VALVA is based of the recognition that libraries, particularly school libraries, are the bedrock of promoting a reading and research culture that includes innovation and lifelong learning in the society, though the system is grossly underfunded and poorly equipped in many cases.

He recalled the theme of its first week under his watch, “Library System for National Development in 2022”, which he hinted was driven by the state chapters.

He explained that the inauguration of VALVA shows an important mission to promote the visibility and development with impact on schools and other libraries through strategic advocacy that will advance quality education and foster lifelong learning culture in Nigeria.

“The vision is clear to promote the visibility where every school and indeed every community will have access to a functional library managed by a professional Liberian”, he said.

Speaking with journalists at the sideline of the event, the founder of the VALVA, Dr. Juliet C. Akex-Nmec, stressed that no society can grow without a functional and effective library.

She urged government at all levels to ensure the establishment of effective and functional libraries across the country.

Dr. Alex-Nmec, who is also an Associate Professor of Library and Information Science, Rivers State University, called for the appointment of a Special Adviser on Library matters by the state government in order to assist the government on Library matters.

High point of the event was the formal inaugural of the new body and oath of offices to the new executive.

Akujobi Amadi

Rivers

Rivers Judiciary Denies Issuing Court Order Stopping SOLAD from Swearing in RSCSC Members

Published

4 days ago

July 11, 2025

The Tide

The Rivers State Judiciary has denied a media report claiming that Justice Frank Onyiri of the State High Court issued an injunction order restraining the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), from inaugurating the newly appointed members of the Rivers State Civil Service Commission (RSCSC).

In a statement issued by the Deputy Chief Registrar in charge of litigation at the High Court, Menenen Poromon (Esq), the state Judiciary disassociated itself from the report, describing it as malicious and fabricated.

The statement emphasized that the report was a falsehood and a misrepresentation of what transpeared in the court.

Poromon clarified that no such order was issued by Justice Onyiri or any other judge of the High Court of the state and urged the public to disregard the information, as it lacked any iota of truth.

The statement however advised the public to verify any information concerning the state Judiciary directly from the office of the Chief Registrar, High Court of the State, to avoid spreading of misinformation.