Rivers

2023: LG Boss Assures On Emohua Votes

Published

3 years ago

January 6, 2023

Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area (LGA), Dr Chidi Lloyd, says the people of the area cannot wait for the 2023 general election to register their appreciation to Governor Nyesom Wike for his numerous infrastructural projects across the area.
He said the electorate in Emohua LGA “are going to speak with their voters’ cards come February 2023 to repay the Governor for his loving kindness to the people of the area, both in project distribution and recognition”.
He said this will be by adhering to the Governor’s directive on the candidates to support in all the elective positions in the 2023 general election.
Dr. Chidi Lloyd stated this in his address at the flag-off ceremony for the construction of Akpabu/Egbeda Road in Emohua LGA undertaken by the Rivers State government, held in Egbeda Community, Emohua LGA.
According to him, he has no reason to regret his political detour back to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) under the leadership of Governor Nyesom Wike, stressing that his return to the PDP has attracted numerous infrastructure projects to the people of Ishimbam district of Emohua LGA in particular, and Emohua LGA in general.
The Council boss said the presence of Rivers State Government in the Ishimbam district after his return to the PDP did not only raise his political profile amongst his people, but also increased the followership and support for the PDP and the Governor in the area.
He lambasted those who insinuated that the Akpabu/Egbeda Road is of no value to the people of the area, describing the statement as shameful and regrettable.
Lloyd, who recalled that Governor Wike had visited the area on Monday, the 2nd day of January 2023, to flag of Itu-Odido Road, only to return to the area two days later to flag off Akpabu/Egbeda Road (Phase 2) barely one month after the Governor had commissioned the 1st phase of the Akpabu/Egbeda Road, said a lot of persons wonder what he has done for the Governor to deserve all he has been able to attract from the State Government to his people under the leadership of Wike.
While performing the groundbreaking ceremony, Governor Wike enjoined the people of the area to galvanise and mobilise support for candidates of the PDP in Rivers State ahead of the 2023 general election, stressing that the victory of the PDP in the state is an assurance of many more developmental projects in the area.
The Governor, who also announced the approval for the construction of Egbeda internal roads, commended the people of the area for their unwavering support and loyalty to his administration and the PDP in Rivers State, and directed the State Commissioner for Works to work out modalities for the take off of the Egbeda internal roads project which he said would be awarded to MCC, an indigenous construction company already handling the Akpabu/Egbeda Road project.
Wike, who noted the inability of the administration of former Governor Rotimi Amaechi to develop Egbeda Community, the maternal home of the former Governor, after eight years of his administration, said he will ensure that Egbeda people enjoy the presence of his administration even if his own mother is not a native of the community.
He said the approval for the construction of Egbeda internal roads is in fulfilment of his campaign promise to the people in 2015, promising to complete and commission the project before the expiration of his tenure in May 2023.

By; Theresa Fredrick & Charity Amiso

Niger Delta

CSOs, Bille Community Urge Solution To Persistent Underwater Gas Eruption

Published

3 days ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the people of Bille Kingdom in Degema Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State have called for government’s urgent intervention to end the suspected underwater gas eruption in the community.

The groups, under the aegis of the Environmental Rights Action and Social Action, made the call during their advocacy visit to the Port Harcourt Zonal Head of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), in Port Harcourt.

The Programme Manager of Environmental Rights Action, Mr. Kentebe Ebiaridor, said the visit was to seek clarity on the response efforts of the regulators to the development in the community.

Ebiaridor expressed concern over what he described as “inadequate response from regulatory agencies and the government concerning the incident”.

He said discussions with some officials revealed that there was still no clear timeline for action to address the situation.

According to him, in the absence of clear ownership of the facility linked to the incident, companies operating within Oil Mining Lease (OML) 18 should be held accountable.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) had in a statement issued on March 20 by its Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, said the commission had commenced an investigation into a gas bubbling incident in Bille Community.

Eyesan said the commission expressed concern over the development and assured residents of its ongoing efforts to address the situation.

Also, the Resource Justice Manager of Social Action, Dr. Prince Edegbuo, warned that the situation could escalate into a public health emergency, if urgent steps were not taken.

Edegbuo called on relevant authorities to release the results of the tests reportedly conducted in the area, stressing that residents had the right to know the condition of their environment.

He also said CSOs were prepared to intensify advocacy on the matter, urging the development of emergency response measures, including possible evacuation plans.

A legal practitioner and community stakeholder, Mr. Commission Deinbo, had, on March 20, said residents had continued to witness unusual signs on the waterways in the area.

Deinbo said the signs included boiling and bubbling from the ground and river, sometimes within residential areas, as well as fire outbreaks, which the residents had always managed to contain.

He appealed to relevant authorities to come to their aid and find a lasting solution to the problem.

In a response, the Port Harcourt Zonal Head of NOSDRA, Mr. Bello Augustin, assured the community that he would relate its concerns to the appropriate quarters.

Augustin also commended the CSOs for their advocacy and concerns to community development in the state.

By: Wokoma Emmanuel & Theresa Frederick

Rivers

Dep Gov Seeks Collaboration, Transparency Between RIVCHPP, PHCMB

Published

3 days ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, has called for renewed commitment, transparency, and stronger collaboration among stakeholders in the health sector, particularly between the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP) and the Primary Health Care Management Board.

She made the call today, during the First Quarter Review Meeting of the Task Force on Primary Health Care, held at Government House, Port Harcourt.

She emphasized the importance of honesty in addressing challenges within the healthcare system, urging all parties to remain open and truthful in their engagements.

According to her, transparency is critical to identifying and resolving underlying issues affecting service delivery.

“If we are not truthful, we will not cure the disease, but merely cover it up,” she stated.

The Deputy Governor recounted a personal experience at a primary health centre, where a patient, despite being duly registered under the RIVCHPP scheme with completed biometric capture, was still asked to pay for services.

She explained that intervention by relevant authorities later confirmed the patient’s eligibility, thereby exposing a communication gap between the scheme and healthcare providers.

Prof. Odu warned that such incidents could discourage community members from enrolling in the scheme and ultimately undermine its objectives.

“When this happens, we are disenfranchising our people. The message that goes back to the community is that even when you register, you are still made to pay,” she stated.

While commending the leadership and staff of the Primary Health Care Management Board, the Ministry of Health, development partners, and other supporting units for their efforts, Prof. Odu cautioned against complacency.

She urged stakeholders to continuously strive for improvement, raise standards, and ensure lasting positive impact within the healthcare system.

Rivers

Experts Converge To Tackle N’Delta Business Challenges

Published

3 days ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

As part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s economy, about 600 experts are billed to converge in Port Harcourt in a business conference to uplift middle-class businesses in the Niger Delta region.

The convener of the convergence, Lanre Oluseye, who disclosed this during a press briefing in Port Harcourt, said the conference, scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt for the first time, would equip middle-class businesses with the knowledge required to overcome challenges and scale up their businesses.

He explained that the convergence was conceived in response to challenges stalling business growth, particularly at the mid-level.

Oluseye noted that while Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) benefited from various interventions, middle-class businesses were often neglected despite facing significant constraints.

He added that the conference would bring together accomplished professionals and business leaders to mentor mid-level entrepreneurs on how to overcome barriers and attain greater heights.

“Convergence is a conference where thoughts, ideas and strategies come together to create a catalyst that enables business people to move to the next level.

“It is a platform that accelerates growth by bringing great minds together to chart a course for others to follow.

“Our objective is to move the Port Harcourt-based middle-class businesses to cross the barriers that are holding them down”, he said.

Oluseye continued that the conference, slated for April 18, would attract about 600 Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and middle-level managers to address business challenges in the Niger Delta through innovative ideas and strategies.

He emphasised that the event would not be a mere social gathering, but a knowledge-driven platform designed to transform participants and provide networking opportunities to enhance their businesses.

He assured that participants would gain new insights, build valuable networks and engage with like-minded professionals.

Oluseye further said that top industry leaders expected at the conference included the Managing Director/CEO of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), Leye Falade; former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; and the MD/CEO of Aradel Holdings Plc., Gbite Falade.

Others are Tope Aladenusi of Deloitte Africa; the Partner, Chief Economist and Lead, Strategy and West Africa, Segun Zaccheaus; and a global thinker and futurist, Olakunle Soriyan.

Theresa Frederick & Charity Amiso