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Group Delivers Free Medical Care To Okrika

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The Rivers Equity Group, last Wednesday, landed in Okrika Local Government Area in Rivers State with its message of free medical outreach in collaboration with the Linsolar Eye Clinic.
The Rivers Equity Group led by Hon. Elder Clapton Ogolo and assisted by Sir John Nalley, on arrival at Okrika Island were warmly received by the Council Chairman, Hon. Akuro Tobin, in the company of his Vice, Hon. Charity Igbulubo, and other council officials and political appointees.
Briefing the council chairman, the Deputy Leader of the group, Sir J.P. Nalley, said that the group’s mission to Okrika was to ensure that the people get free medical attention, adding that the programme was in series across the 23 local governments aimed at reaching out to the people to cater for their healthcare needs, especially their eyes and to enlighten them on the Electoral Act, the importance of the PVC, non-violent elections, and the need to live healthy and stay alive to enjoy the dividends of democratic governance.
He expressed expectation that, by the grace of God, the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in the upcoming 2023 governorship electionin Rivers State, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, would deliver good governance to the people, if elected.
Furthermore, he said that the free medical outreach was a divinely inspired project fully endorsed by Fubara, who he said, agrees with and fully supports the project as it was an avenue to not just go and enlighten the people but to also accompany it with value in the form of free medical outreach to indigent people across the state.
He thanked the chairman with his team and the good people of Okrika for the warm and superlative welcome accorded the Rivers Equity Group.
In his response, e Okrika Council Chairman, Hon. Akuro Tobin, expressed joy that the project has reached his people, and thanked the Rivers Equity Group for coming to reach out to the people of Okrika through such a laudable programme.
He said that Okrika was a complete PDP territory, adding that so long as the group was backed by Fubara, Okrika was with PDP and would stand with Fubara and all PDP candidates in the forthcoming 2023 general election.
He said that with the good works of Governor Nyesom Wike all over the state and his complementary efforts in the area,Okrika people were at home with the PDP, and had no alternative but the PDP and PDP alone.
During a town hall meeting, Tobin, told his people that the group was backed by Sir Siminialayi Fubara, who was the governorship candidate of the PDP for the 2023 gubernatorial election in the state.
He explained that with SIM as the incoming governor of the state, better days were on the horizon.
He charged the people to ensure that all hands were on deck to secure convincing victory for Fubara and other PDP candidates for the sustenance and consolidation of the giant strides in every sector of the economy of the state under the NEW Rivers Vision of Chief Nyesom Wike.
The chairman also promised that the council would take care of the bill for the treatment of those whose cases need referral as he also requested the Rivers Equity Group to come back for a repeat free medical outreach in the area so as to extend the gesture to more people in the area.
Thereafter, Tobin declared open the free medical outreach programme as he personally handed over free eyeglasses and drugs to a select 20 beneficiaries, just as he inspected the medical facilities of the partners of the team, Linsolar Eye Clinic.
He also took advantage of the moment to get his eyes tested, and was given a suitable prescribed pair of eyeglasses.
Earlier, the CEO of Linsolar Eye Clinic, Dr. Adeline Aluge, gave a brief talk on the medical services expected and procedures.
She also admonished the people to always avoid practices that were capable of damaging their eyes and always seek proper medical help for sustained healthy eyes, even as she said that to vote right, the eyes were important to avoid wasting their votes.
Earlier, the group had proceeded along with the Okrikacouncil chairman on separate courtesy visits to the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Michael Tom, and Amanyanabo of Kirike Kingdom, Air Commodore T.E.O. Ogube (rtd).
At the palaces of the two kings, the group was warmly welcomed, just as its leaders, Elder Clapton Ogolo and BarristerEmekaIchoku, briefed the monarchs on the mission of the Rivers Equity Group to Okrika.
The message was the same – reaching the unreached indigent citizens with care for their health – especially their eyes, as well as enlighten them on the Electoral Act and an admonition to shun electoral violence.
In their separate responses at their different palaces, the monarchs’ messages were the same.
They appreciated the group for the lofty project they had embarked on, especially as it was geared towards helping the poor masses.
They blessed the group for the successful execution of the project, and declared support of Okrika people for the candidature of Sir SiminialayiFubara.
They also admonished the group to carry on with the good works, especially to amplify the message of non-violence and peaceful coexistence.
The medical care included treatments, drugs administration, free eyeglasses,while more serious cases were referred for further medical attention.

By: Nelson Chukwudi

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Shettima In Ethiopia For State Visit 

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Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for an official State visit at the invitation of the Prime Minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed.

Upon arrival yesterday, Shettima was received at the airport by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Dr. Gedion Timothewos, and other members of the Ethiopian and Nigerian diplomatic corps.

Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communication, Stanley Nkwocha, revealed this in a statement he signed yesterday, titled: “VP Shettima arrives in Ethiopia for official state visit.”

During the visit, Vice President Shettima will participate in the official launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Programme, a flagship environmental initiative.

The programme designed to combat deforestation, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change targets the planting of 20 billion tree seedlings over a four-year period.

In line with strengthening bilateral ties in agriculture and industrial development, the Vice President will also embark on a strategic tour of key industrial zones and integrated agricultural facilities across selected regions of Ethiopia.

 

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RSG Tasks Farmers On N4bn Agric Loan ….As RAAMP Takes Sensitization Campaign To Four LGs In Rivers

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The Rivers State Government has called on the people of the state especially farmers to access the ?4billion agricultural loans made available by the State and domiciled in the Bank of Industry.

 

This is as the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) of Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), a World Bank project, took its sensitization campaign to Opobo/Nkoro, Andoni, Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor local government areas.

 

The campaign was aimed at enlightening community dwellers and other stakeholders in the various local government areas on the RAAMP project implementation and programme activities.

 

The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Maurice Ogolo, said this at Opobo town, Ngo, Port Harcourt City and Rumuodumanya, headquarters of the four local government areas respectively, during the sensitization campaign.

 

Ogolo said apart from the ?4billion, the government has also made available fertilizers and other farm inputs to farmers in the various local government areas.

 

The Permanent Secretary who is the Chairman, State Steering Committee for the project, said RAAMP will construct roads that will connect farms to markets to enable farmers and fishermen sell their farms produce and fishes.

 

He also said rural roads would be constructed to farms and fishing settlements, and warned against any act that will lead to the cancellation of the projects in the four local government areas.

 

According to him, the World Bank and Federal Government which are the  financiers of the programme will not condone such acts like kidnapping, marching ground and other acts  inimical to the successful implementation of the projects in their respective areas.

 

At PHALGA, Ogolo asserted that the city will benefit in the areas of roads and bridge construction.

 

He noted that RAAMP was thriving in both the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; Lagos and other states in the country, stressing that the project should also be given the seriousness it deserves in Rivers State.

 

Speaking at Opobo town, the headquarters of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, the project coordinator, RAAMP, Mr.Joshua Kpakol, said the programme would reduce poverty in the state.

 

According to him, both fishermen and farmers will maximally benefit from the programme.

 

At Ngo which is the headquarters of Andoni Local Government Area, Kpakol said roads will be constructed to all remote fishing settlements.

 

He said Rivers State is lucky to be among the states implementing the project, and stressed the need for the people to embrace it.

 

Meanwhile, Kpakol said at PHALGA that RAAMP is a project that will transform the lives of farmers, traders and other stakeholders in the area.

 

He urged the stakeholders to spread the information to their various communities.

 

However, some of the stakeholders at Opobo town complained about the destruction of their farms by bulls allegedly owed by traditional rulers in the area, as well as incessant stealing of their canoes at waterfronts.

 

At Ngo, Archbishop Elkanah Hanson, founder of El-Shaddai Church, commended the World Bank and the Federal Government for bringing the projects to Andoni.

 

He stressed the need for the construction of roads to fishing settlements in the area.

 

Also, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in the state and Okan Ama of Ekede, HRH King Gad Harry, noted that storage facilities have become necessary for a successful agricultural programme.

 

Harry also stressed the need for the programme to be made sustainable.

 

In their separate speeches, the administrators of Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas, pledged their readiness to support the programme.

 

At Port Harcourt City, the Administrator, Dr Arthur Kalagbor, represented by the Head of Local Government Administration, Port Harcourt City, Mr Clifford Paul, said the city would support the implementation of the programme in the area.

 

Also, the administrator of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Dr Clifford Ndu Walter, represented by Mr Michael Elenwo, pledged to support the programme in his local government area.

 

Among dignitaries at the Obio/Akpor stakeholders engagement is the chairman, Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council and paramount ruler of Apara Kingdom, HRM Eze Chike Wodo, amongst others.

 

John Bibor

 

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Tinubu Orders Civil Service Personnel Audit, Skill Gap Analysis 

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President Bola Tinubu has ordered the commencement of personnel audit and skill gap analysis across all cadres of federal civil servants.

The president gave this directive in Abuja, yesterday, while speaking at the International Civil Service Conference, reaffirming his resolve to achieve efficiency and professional service delivery in the civil service.

“I have authorized the comprehensive personnel audit and skill gap analysis across the federal civil service to deepen capacity. I urge all responsible stakeholders to prioritize timely completion of this critical exercise, to begin implementing targeted reforms, to realize the full benefit of a more agile, competent and responsive civil service,” the president announced.

Tinubu further directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to prioritise data integrity and sovereignty in national interest.

He called for the capture, protection and strategic publication of public sector data in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023.

“We must let our data speak for us. We must publish verified data assets within Nigeria and share them internationally recognized as fruitful. This will allow global benchmarking organisation to track our progress in real time and help us strengthen our position on the world stage. This will preserve privacy and uphold data sovereignty,” Tinubu added.

President Tinubu hailed the federal civil service as the “engine” driving his Renewed Hope Agenda, and the vehicle for delivering sustainable national development.

He submitted that the roles of civil servants remain indispensable in modern governance, declaring that in the face of a fast-evolving digital and economic landscape, the civil service must remain agile, future-ready, and results-driven.

“This maiden conference is a bold step toward redefining governance in an era of rapid transformation. An innovative Civil Service ensures we meet today’s needs and overcome tomorrow’s challenges.

“It captures our collective ambition to reimagine and reposition the civil service. In today’s rapid, evolving world of technology, innovation remains critical in ensuring that the civil service is dynamic, digital” the President said.

Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack in her welcome address told the President that his presence and strong words of commendation at the conference has renewed the morale and mandate of public servants across the country.

Walson-Jack described Tinubu as the backbone of driving transformation in the Nigerian civil service, and noted that the takeaways from past study tours undertaken to understudy the civil service in Singapore, the UK and US under her leadership, is already yielding multiplier effects.

Walson-Jack assured Tinubu that her office, in collaboration with reform-minded stakeholders, will not relent in accelerating the implementation of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan, FCSSIP 25.

She affirmed that digitalisation, performance management, and continuous learning remain key pillars in strengthening accountability, transparency, and service delivery across MDAs.

Walson-Jack reaffirmed that the civil service is determined to exceed expectations by embedding a culture of innovation, ethical leadership, and citizen-centred governance in the heart of public administration.

 

 

 

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