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Flood: Rivers Begins Distribution Of Relief Materials To IDP Camps
The Rivers State Task Force on the 2022 Flood Disaster Management, has commenced an on-the-spot, one-on-one assessment and evaluation of the level of damage and devastation caused by what could be best described as coastal flood.
The task force has also kicked off the distribution of urgently needed relief materials, including medical supplies, to cushion the effects of flooding on the people.
Coastal flood is caused by strong winds or storms that move towards a coast or waterline during high tide.
The Tide investigations show that when powerful waves breach the coast’s dune or dike, the area is usually flooded.
Coastal areas with fewer defenses and lower elevation are the most affected.
Speaking during the visits, the Chairman of the committee, Dr. George Nwaeke, directed that the Rivers State Mobile Clinic should be stationed at the IDPs camps for immediate medicare pending when adequate centres would be put in place.
On arrival, the members of the committee stopped at the Ahoada East section of the East-West Road where the ravaging flood had totally cut-off a lane of the dualcarriage way.
At this point, the Chairman of the committee, who doubles as the Permanent Secretary, Special Services Bureau, Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. George Nwaeke; Secretary of the committee and former commissioner in the state, Barrister Inime Aguma; and the Chairman of Ahoada West Local Government Area, Evangelist Hope Ikiriko, respectively, addressed stranded commuters and motorists who had been on that spot for about two days with perishable goods destroyed.
They assured them that the state government would immediately begin the distribution of relief materials to affected residents while adequate arrangements were being made to evacuate stranded people to higher grounds.
Afterwards, the team moved to Ula-Ehuda community, the access to the Odiokwu clan in Ahoada West Local Government Area.
At the scene, the committee resolved to immediately provide speed boats for the evacuation of stranded community dwellers.
Another point of call was at Edeoha Community where the affected persons reported that the flood swept through their community about two days earlier.
They also catalogued their immediate and long term needs to the committee, which assured them of government’s readiness to provide succour to the victims of the flood.
The committee further went to inspect the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp in Ahoada East Local Government Area headquarters.
At the location, the committee noted that the affected persons had started reporting to the camp under the supervision of the council Chairman, Hon Ben Eke.
After inspecting and addressing the agonised and devastated victims of the flood, the committee promised to commence the distribution of materials ranging from food items, mattresses to other relief materials to cushion the negative impact of the flood on the people.
Similarly, the Rivers State Task Force on the 2022 Flood Disaster Management also paid a visit to Erema Primary School I and II, in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, where Internally Displaced people were camped.
On arrival, the Chairman of the local government area, Hon. Vincent Job, told the flood victims that the committee was set up by the Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, to ameliorate the sufferings of the affected people and bring succour to the challenges they were faced with.
It was gathered that the IDP camp has a total of 1,100 people with few of them sick.
However, on arrival, the medical team of the committee provided medical treatments to the sick.
Also, the committee took boat to Ndoni to see displaced persons and houses that had been submerged by flood.
After assessing and taking photos, they were taken to the IDP Camp close to River Niger where the inhabitants were camped on a sand filled area.
Speaking at the site, the Chairman, Dr. George Nwaeke, said Governor Nyesom Wike, in his magnanimity, inaugurated the committee to provide relief materials and medical aid to cushion their sufferings.
On her part, the Secretary of the committee, Barrister Inime Aguma, said the committee has a special concern for the women and children in the IDP camps, adding that the initiative of having a mobile clinic was to ameliorate their sufferings.
She said the committee was in touch with the local government chairmen, to provide medical aid, food, shelter and facilitate their immediate evacuation from anywhere that was completely flooded.
In his remarks, the Chairman, Community Development Committee in Ndoni community, Mr. Patrick, pleaded for the Federal Government to also come to their aid.
Furthermore, the Director General of Pension Board, Ndoni Zone, Mr. Samuel, commended the good gesture of the Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, for the fund approval he has made to alleviate the sufferings and pain of Ndoni people.
Also speaking, the LG Chairman, Hon. Vincent Job, thanked the governor of Rivers State, for setting up the committee, and promised the people that the committee would start bringing relief materials as soon as possible.
Afterwards, the committee visited Ibocha and Egbema community to ascertain the level of flood and devastation in the area.
In the same vein, the committee visited the Palace of His Eminence, Barrister Nwachukwu Nnam Obi III, the Oba of Ogbaland.
Speaking at the palace, Chairman of the Rivers State Flood Management 2022, Dr. George Nwaeke, sympathised with the King and his subjects over the flood situation that has ravaged the area.
He said the state governor has inaugurated the committee to alleviate the sufferings and bring succour to the people of the area.
Responding, King Nwachukwu Nnam Obi III, thanked the governor for his commitment and responding briskly whilst he commended the committee for hitting the ground running.
Meanwhile, the King has promised to constitute a local committee at the community level to liaise with Rivers State Government on flood management for easy distribution of relief materials.
By: Nelson Chukwudi
The Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency (RSIPA) has unveiled measures to enthrone ease of doing business and win back the confidence of the business community.
The Director-General of the Agency, Dr Chamberlain Peterside, unveiled the plans at the Breakout Session of RSIPA at the ongoing 18th Port Harcourt International Trade Fair, at the Obi Wali International Cultural Centre, in Port Harcourt.
Dr. Peterside said the agency was poised to free the state from accumulation of wrong narratives that branded it over the years as unsafe for business.
He, however, admitted that many things had gone wrong in the past where regulators joined to make the business environment difficult for investors.
He announced that the agency was rather focused on actions, solutions, and results as adopted in the mission statement of the Board.
“Our task is no mean feat. We are dealing with the perception risk that over several years branded the state as unsafe. We are also faced with the challenges of dealing with the lack of cohesion amongst MDAs, policy inconsistencies, multiple taxation, incessant harassment by miscreants, red tape and delays in obtaining operating permits, high cost of operations and opaque public sector,” he said.
“It is about listening to the investors in the field and ensuring that MDAs are carried along, hence the imperative for the setting up of our One-Stop-Center”, he added.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Warisenibo Joe Johnson, who represented the state governor, said the Fubara administration was ready to listen to the business community to see ways of reducing impediments to investments.
He listed the stages of actions being undertaken by the governor as outlined in his 37-page blue print to revive the economy of Rivers State.
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, who was presented at the event as a star investor and promoter of Rivers State reputation, said for the plans of the investment promotion agency to materialize, an enabling law should replace the Executive Order that established the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency.
He said this would insulate the agency from political instability and remove fear in the minds of investors about its sustainability.
According to him, protection precedes promotion and Local Direct Investment (LDIs) is what attracts and promotes Foreign Direct Investment (FDIs).
“It is the rat at home that reveals to the one in the bush that there is fish in the kitchen”, he added.
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?The Mayor of Housing who is also the CEO of the Alesa Highlands Sustainable Green Smart City said that Port Harcourt is like a business empire under lock and key because it is not protecting its own and also not promoting its own enough for investors to come in.
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?In the area of land documentation and inventory, China urged Rivers State Government to borrow a leaf from Abuja and adopt the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in dealing with land and property registration and documentation for ease of doing business.
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?He said Lagos understood the power of business information, adding “this creates the impression that if you are not doing it in Lagos, you are not doing it in Africa.
“We need to shout louder than Lagos, because we need more investments than Lagos and the structural integrity of Abuja. When you marry both, Rivers State would be wonderful and become green with investments,” he said.
In her speech, the President of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), Dr. Chinyere Nwoga, called on the state government to look into the menace of parked trucks now turning Trans-Amadi into a risk zone.
She outlined the activities of the PHCCIMA and invited investors and businesses to the Port Harcourt economic hub, saying peace has returned.
The Director, Investors Relations of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC), Mrs Lovina Kayode, urged Rivers State to make haste and catch up on Ease of Doing Business, saying the Council has come to help businesses in the state.
Mrs Kayode, who represented the Executive Secretary/CEO of NIPC, Aisha Rimi, commended the Mayor of Housing and his counterpart, Mr. Oliver Biedima of Rainbow Heritage Group, for their decision to invest in Rivers State, saying it is a proof that Rivers State is safe for investors and their investments.
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In his remarks, Oliver Biedemi of Rainbow Heritage Group urged government to give the private investors chance to develop the economy, saying ordinarily government does not have the funds to develop the economy.
Happy Birthday Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON
Honourable Minister Federal Capital Territory
News
We’ll Drive Tinubu’s Vision in Rivers With Vigour – Fubara …Inaugurates Dualized Ahoada/Omoku Road ….Debunks Rift With RSHA
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that he will lead Rivers people to galvanize support for President Bola Tinubu to drive the vision and objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the State with vigour.
The governor, who joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, explained that his decision to join the APC was not for personal interest but for the overall benefit of Rivers State.
Fubara disclosed these while inaugurating the extension of the dualized Ahoada/ Omoku Express road in Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
He commended the contracting firm, Julius Berger, for timely delivery of the project, saying the project is a campaign promise fulfilled which will bring economic benefits to the people and tackle issues of insecurity associated with the route.
He said his administration has remained focused in delivering democratic dividends in the state despite facing glaring challenges.
The governor thanked the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas for their continuous support, and urged his supporters to remain steadfast and also support President Tinubu who he said, has demonstrated love to Rivers State as a father.
Fubara denied having rift with the Rivers State House of Assembly, stating that his meeting with the lawmakers was stalled as a result of delay in the agreed meeting to be convened by former Governor Nyesom Wike and other stakeholders for him to meet with the state lawmakers.
“I have made every effort to meet with the Assembly members, but it is not within my leadership to initiate the meeting process.
“The arrangement was for my leader, Wike, and the elders led by Anabraba to call for a meeting with the the lawmakers.
“I’m a gentleman and principled. I can’t go behind to call them when we’ve already agreed. Whoever that tell them that I don’t want to meet with them, or I rejected proposal meant for them isn’t saying the truth,” Fubara said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry Works, Mr Austin Ezekiel-Hart, who gave the project description, said the delivery of the project was a fulfillment of long time dream by the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas.
He said the road was previously a single lane and has now been dualised to 14.6 meters wide, complete with solar-powered streetlights with drainages.
He said the road significantly would reduce travel time between Ahoada and Omoku while improving economic activity in the region.
In his welcome address, Chairman of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, Hon. Chuku Shedrack Ogbogu, described the road as a symbol of unity, oneness, and development, thanking the governor for fulfilling his campaign promises.
On his part, the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Engr. Peer Lusbash, said the project was awarded to his company in 2023 with a completion period of 18 months which was achieved in best quality.
He added that Julius Berger enjoyed a good support from the Fubara administration, and assured to complete all ongoing projects being handled by Julius Berger on specification, especially the Ring Road project which is a legacy project.
