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Wike Commends Ariolu For Raising Bar Of Governance
Rivers State Governor, Dr. Nyesom Wike, has described the two-storey 30-room ultra-modern Administrative Building (all en-suite) built by the administration of Barrister George Ariolu, as an infrastructure structured to drive the economy forward.
The governor noted that the project, among several others will in no doubt encourage correlation between productivity and work space among teeming council staff.
Wike spoke, yesterday, in Obio/Akpor Local Government Headquarters, Rumuodomaya, while inaugurating the Administrative Building.
He was represented by the former Ambassador of Nigeria to South Korea and Chairman of PDP in Rivers State, Amb Desmond Akawor.
“I feel rightly honoured to represent him today to commission this edifice and make available these vehicles to be used by the security agencies. For a function like this that has to do with infrastructure, I am sure what the council chairman has done is not misplaced in any way but something that is right.
“Infrastructures and edifice like this defines a lot in our environment. Its only infrastructure that will drive the economy of our system and when you look at infrastructures like this, there is a correlation between productivity and working space. I’m sure what the chairman has done is to increase productivity of his workforce by making available edifice like this for them to work.”
He expessed delight over the performances of Ariolu, adding that as chairman of the governor’s local government, he didn’t expect less since the Infrastructure Governor is also an outstanding performer from Obio/Akpor.
He noted that what the council chairman has done is a reassurance to the people that he is a staunch follower of the governor’s school of thought, especially in project delivery, commending him for a job well done.
The governor pointed out that it was time to light the torch for the commencement of politics in the state, particularly in Obio/Akpor.
This, he explained, will be made possible when citizens are able to identify those who have served diligently with dedication and commitment to their people.
“Let me mention to our people, especially in Obio/Akpor, the time has come for us to play politics, that is the wave that is on now. Anywhere you go, politics is being played but the truth is that we should be able to look at those who have been able to perform, we should listen to those who will say one thing and they fulfil it. It is time to listen to those who in the past have brought us out of our woes.”
“For George Ariolu, what he has done is that adage that a lion cannot produce a pussy cat. If indeed you belong to the school of Wike, nobody should expect anything less than this from you because this is the only way that our people are confirmed that leadership is service.”
“For a Council to construct this, it could be likened to any state project in any other state but its been done. I’m sure that our people were happy when you told them that the governor never touched your allocation, that’s why you were able to perform.”
Wike further commended Ariolu for promoting the PDP through his administration’s gigantic projects, describing him as an Ambassador of the party.
He stressed that the people of Obio/Akpor cannot be taken back to the era of fake campaign promises by power hungry politicians, adding that they must identify with politicians with good results on their scorecard.
Wike also lauded the council chairman for raising the bar of governance in the local government through his developmental drive in infrastructure and human capital development.
For his part, Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Barrister George Ariolu, who spoke earlier, appreciated Wike for creating an enabling atmosphere to serve in the capacity of council chairman.
He thanked Wike for ensuring that chairmen of the 23 Local Government Councils in the state operated freely with the federal allocation assigned to them without state government’s interference.
He reiterated that the Rivers State Government under the administration of Wike has never tampered with the federal allocations of the local governments in the state, rather, he said the governor has consistently encouraged the council chairmen to put on ground, programs and policies that will improve lives.
He maintained that the ultra modern Administrative Building will help to address the wants of office spaces in the council and encourage productivity amongst workers.
As a way encouraging maintenance in the council, Ariolu noted that the Administrative complex was built for specific persons, including the Vice Chairman, Head of Local Government, Directors various units amongst other high ranking officers.
According to him, the decision was taken to avert overcrowding in offices in order to avoid wear and tear in the facility.
Speaking further, the chairman disclosed that the Legislative Building which his administration inherited from the previous government would be ready for commissioning in three months.
Ariolu explained that governance and government must add value to the lives of those who are governed irrespective of the dimensions.
Furthermore, the chairman who expressed his administration’s concern in security, presented three operational Toyota Sienna vehicles to Oginigba, Rumuodomaya and Ozuoba Police Divisions, urging them to redouble their efforts in protecting lives and properties in the local government which has been urbanised through the aggressive urban renewal programmes of Wike.
He used the occasion to reel out some of his achievements in Obio/Akpor, assuring that more projects will follow as funds are made available.
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.
News
RSG Tasks Farmers On N4bn Agric Loan ….As RAAMP Takes Sensitization Campaign To Four LGs In Rivers
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
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.