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RSG Presents Food Items, Other Relief Materials To Flood Victims …As IDP Camp Welcomes First Set Of Twins
The Rivers State Government Task Force on 2022 Flood Management has distributed trucks load of food items and medical supplies to victims of flood disaster in the Orashi region.
A statement signed by the Chairman, Rivers State Government Flood Management Task Force 2022, Dr. George Nwaeke, in Port Harcourt, said that, “With the flood situation not abating, more people have been displaced.
“Worse hit communities are in Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Abua-Odual and Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni local government areas”.
Nwaeke said that the water level has continued to rise, forcing people out of their communities.
“Trucks load of relief materials were conveyed to the camps where they handed over, each camp getting its share, expected to provide immediate succour to the people”, he said.
Nwaeke had delivered the relief items to the camps that house flood victims from Ahoada West and Ahoada East local government areas.
Their various council chairmen were present, including the Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie.
Nwaeke, who is also the permanent secretary, Special Services Bureau in the Office of the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, assured the inmates of the best support they can be offered to cushion their sufferings.
The task force chairman said what had been brought include food items, drugs and the mobile clinic.
He told the victims that the committee would set up of sick bay in each camp to would cater to the immediate health needs of everybody in the camp.
Nwaeke explained that there would be sanitary officers posited to each camp.
The sanitary officers, he explained, would work on shift basis daily to help ensure that the camps had the best sanitary conditions to forestall any outbreak of diseases.
Nwaeke urged the coordinators of the various IDP camps to ensure that the inmates live healthy communal life.
They should also endeavour to make everybody get the relief materials, he advised.
“Of importance is the issue of security of each person in the camp,” he said.
He directed for proper documentation of inmates so that infiltrators would be identified and apprehended.
Nwaeke also said, “To the Glory of God, a pregnant woman was delivered of a set of twin right inside the Ahoada Camp 1 last night with the help of medical team of the flood committee.
“The chairman of the team presented a cash gift and directed for the immediate relocation of mother and her children to a better government health facility for better medical attention with all bills on the Rivers state Government Flood Committee.
“The overjoyed 21 years old mother could not hold back her excitement”.
Nwaeke stated that this was the beginning of what the state government was going to do for its people, adding that the government would stop at nothing to restore hope to the people.
In his remarks, Deputy Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, HonEdisionEhie, said they were grateful to Governor NyesomWike for his leadership and love in sending relief materials that would provide succour to the people.
On his part, Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government, Hon Ben Eke assured that, as a council, they would be upbeat in securing the camps and make life bearable for the inmates.
Internally displaced persons in the Ahoada East Camp I and II in Ahoada town and Ihuike Primary School along East-West Road, respectively, benefitted from the paliatives.
Items given the victims ranged from bags of rice, bags of garri, tubers of yam, cartons of pasta, cartons of tomatoes and other cooking ingredients and items.
The Ihuike, Ahoada camp houses majorly, flood victims from Ahoada West.
This is largely because Ahoada West is completely submerged.
Also visited was an IDP camp right inside the Community Secondary School, Upata 1, Edeoha.
A quantum of food items were also presented to the victims in the camp.
Recall that the four Orashi LGAs are adversely affected by the flood, and her people completely displaced from their ancestral homes.
The Hausa Community in Rivers State has dissociated itself from media reports credited to one MaiwadaAdamu that the Arewa Community in Rivers State has appointed Alhaji Musa Saidu as the acting SarkinHausawa, PortHarcourt, following the inability of the former SarkinHausawa, Alhaji Isa Madaki to carry out his functions.
MaidawaAdamu, who is also the spokesman of the Arewa Initiative for Peaceful Co-existence, had briefed journalists on the change, but in a swift reaction, the Office of Alhaji Isa Madaki, has come out to say that the only recognised body which has the powers to appoint the SarkinHausawa, PortHarcourt is the Council of SarkinHausawa in PortHarcourt headed by Alhaji Isa Madaki.
The statement also said Alhaji Hussani Isa Madaki is the only recognisedSarkinHausawa, Port Harcourt, adding that his appointment follows the proclamation and endorsement by the council members of SarkinHausawa, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The statement further called on the general public and all authorities concerned to give Alhaji Hussani Isa Madaki maximum co-operation and support,as he discharges his duties as SarkinHausawa, Port Harcourt.
The Suspended Rivers State Commissioner for health, Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh, has described as baseless allegations in some quarters that she was responsible for the purported disruption of the Nigerian First Lady’s empowerment program in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh, who said this in a statement personally signed by her and a copy made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt also described the allegation as a product of the sick imagination of rumour mongers
According to Dr Oreh, “they are nothing more than a feeble and mischievous attempt to tarnish my reputation and sow discord”
In her words,”the allegations levelled against me, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, regarding the supposed disruption of the First Lady’s empowerment programme on Friday 2nd May, 2025, are entirely unfounded, completely false, and a product of the sick imagination of rumour mongers and conflict entrepreneurs.
“They are nothing more than a feeble and mischievous attempt to tarnish my reputation and sow discord.”
The suspended commissioner challenged those behind the allegation, especially the Concerned Rivers Youth Organisation to show proof of its assertion adding “It is essential to base criticisms on facts rather than speculation or puerile political agendas.
“I challenge the “Concerned Rivers Youth Organisation” (assuming such a body really exists) to provide tangible proof to support their assertions.
“It is essential to base criticisms on facts rather than speculation or puerile political agendas.
“I have neither sponsored nor will sponsor any activities aimed at embarrassing or disrupting the activities of the administration appointed by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to oversee the affairs of Rivers State following his declaration of a state of emergency on Tuesday, 18th March, 2025, and have rather spent the time of my suspension from office focused on other endeavours and my doctoral studies.
“I reaffirm my commitment to working tirelessly for the progress and development of Rivers State.
“Furthermore, I believe that it is crucial for all stakeholders to promote a culture of truth, integrity, and respect in public discourse.
“Unsubstantiated wild claims undermine trust and hinder constructive engagement, and this is not what the state needs at this difficult and delicate time.
“I urge everyone to focus on issues that unite us and foster a positive, solution-driven dialogue for the betterment of our State, and urge everyone to work together to build a brighter future for Rivers State, grounded in truth, transparency, and collective effort,”she said.
By: John Bibor
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has called on key regulators, asset owners and other stakeholders to continue to support the agency toward the goal of remediating the Ogoni environment and restoring the livelihoods of the people and building structures for peace.
The Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, who made the call during the Project’s first quarter meeting with regulators, asset owners and stakeholders in Port Harcourt, urged the stakeholders to remain resolute in supporting HYPREP’s work.
“We particularly expect each regulatory agency and asset owner to deepen their involvement and continue to provide strategic support to the project”, he said, stressing that the quarterly meeting platform remains instrumental in providing a structural avenue for regulators, asset owners, and implementation partners to offer feedback to HYPREP on project performance and deliberate on ideas that move the project forward, as well as strengthen collaboration, deepen synergy and reinforce collective responsibility.
Zabbey disclosed that the socio-economic study of Ogoni has started, as HYPREP has contacted the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organisation(WHO) to commence in the next quarter a three-year human health biomonitoring in Ogoniland.
He noted that work on several fronts of the cleanup project is progressing steadily, adding that as key project partners, the insights and shared experience of the regulators and asset owners have always enriched HYPREP’s operations.
He said the policy thrust of HYPREP for 2025 is clear, as the Project is intensifying efforts to complete within stated timelines, the various ongoing projects, including remediation works and mangrove restoration, potable water facilities, the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, the Ogoni Power Project, Ogoni Specialist Hospital, and Buan Cottage Hospital, among others.
Zabbey, however, announced that HYPREP would commence new set of shoreline cleanup, mangrove restoration and livelihood projects, to sustain the momentum of implementing the Ogoni cleanup, adding that the agency would also conduct detailed site characterisation of the high-risk complex sites, leading to remediation works at the sites.
He noted that HYPREP’s collaboration with Rivers State Ministries of Health, Power and Environment, and civil society organisations remains vital, stressing that the technical and administrative support of all relevant government agencies and funding partners is indispensable in helping HYPREP overcome operational bottlenecks, especially those encountered in interfacing with host communities.
He further indicated that “the people of Ogoni and the nation are looking to us with hope and expectation, and expect tangible results from the remediation initiative”, assuring the participants that the Project Coordination Office is committed to delivering positive results.
“We must, therefore, continue to work with diligence, transparency, and a renewed sense of purpose”, he declared, saying, “ the completion and commissioning of projects this year must reflect not only our technical ability but also our collective commitment to environmental sustainability and sustainable development in Ogoni.”
During the interactive session, the Project Coordinator briefed the participants on the progress made so far by HYPREP to conclude the distribution of starter packs to the 5,000 Ogoni trainees, and called on contractors who had already collected huge chunk of money for the project, to deliver without further delay.
In all, the regulators, asset owners and stakeholders commended HYPREP for the good works it is doing, and urged it to do more.
The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency(NOSDRA) was represented at the event by Deputy Director, Oil Field Assessment, Dr Abam Komommo Omini, while Dr Vincent Nwachukwu, Director of Medical Services, represented the Rivers State Ministry of Health.
The Rivers State Ministries of Water Resources, Power and Environment were represented by Dr Bealo Brownson; Engr K. J. Osele; and Mr James Ordu respectively, while the Society for Women and Youth Affairs (SWAYA); and the Stakeholder Democracy Network(SDN); among other civil society organisations were also at the event.
By: Donatus Ebi