Rivers

PDP Takes Campaign To Elele-Alimini …Emohua Campaign Train Visits Ward 9

Published

3 years ago

February 6, 2023

In continuation of the ongoing Ward to Ward campaigns across the 14 political wards in Emohua Local Government Area (LGA), Chairman of Emohua LGA, and Director General (DG) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Council in the LGA, Dr. Chidi Lloyd, last Wednesday led the LGA campaign train to Elele-Alimini community (Ward 9) to sensitization and mobilize voters in the ward ahead of the 2023 general election.
Dr. Lloyd, who described Elele-Alimini as one of the major beneficiaries of the State Governor, Nyesom Wike’s infrastructural revolution in Emohua LGA, charged stakeholders of PDP in the community to improve on their previous strategy to ensure that the PDP wins convincingly across the polling units in the ward in the forthcoming general election.
He stressed that the party doesn’t need to campaign in Elele-Alimini Community to win the election because the PDP-led Rivers State Government already left a campaign statement in the community with the construction of Elele-Alimini internal roads.
He said the entire Elele-Alimini should be secured for Sir Siminilayi Fubara and other candidates of the PDP in Rivers State in the 2023 general election, in appreciation for the dividends of good governance in the community.
The leader of PDP in Elele-Alimini and former Chairman of Emohua LGA, Barr Emmanuel Nyema Wonodi, and other stakeholders in their separate remarks, reassured that all candidates of the PDP in Rivers State will be delivered in the Ward as they have always done since the PDP was founded.
Chief Emma Wonodi, who was also a Special Adviser to Governor Nyesom Wike, noted that Elele-Alimini was one of the first communities to benefit from Governor Wike’s rural development program with the construction of Elele-Alimini internal roads, said the community will reciprocate the Governor’s uncommon love with their Voters Cards in the general election.
Former Chairman of Emohua LGA and leader of PDP caucus in the LGA, Eze Paul Wonodi, urged voters in Elele-Alimini to take advantage of the forthcoming general election to appreciate Governor Nyesom Wike for keeping to the promise made to the community during the electioneering campaign in preparation for the 2015 general election.
Wonodi, who expressed optimism that the State Governor will not hesitate to keep to his promise of constructing the section of the community road that was not captured in the internal road project, said the only way to attract more government presence to Elele-Alimini community was to secure all polling units in the community for the PDP candidates in Rivers State.
The Chief of Staff, Rivers State Government House, Engr Chukwuemeka Woke, in his brief remark, lambasted the APC governorship candidate, Pastor Tonye Cole, who recently gathered the remnant APC supporters at a private facility in Elele-Alimini to ask what the PDP Governorship Candidate, Sir Siminalayi Fubara intends to consolidate if elected into office.
Woke, who enumerated the number of infrastructure projects sited in Emohua LGA by the PDP-led Rivers State government, said the blueprint of PDP governorship candidate, SiM Fubara, is centred on consolidating on the achievements of the Nyesom Wike-led administration, which the governorship hopeful understands better than any other candidate.
He rebuked Pastor Cole for comparing himself with the Governorship candidate of the PDP in Rivers State, saying that the former Acountant General of Rivers State is not operating in the same frequency with him.
He advised the APC governorship candidate in Rivers State to be more concerned about the absence of his godfather in his campaign train.
Earlier, the member representing Ikwerre-Emohua Federal Constituency, Hon Barr. Boniface Emerengwa, who enumerated his constituency projects across Ikwerre and Emohua LGAs, promised to capture Elele-Alimini community in the next phase of his constituency project distribution if re-elected to the national assembly.
The immediate past Chairman of Emohua LGA, High Chief Tom Aliezi, who spoke on the sideline of the ward sensitization rally in Elele-Alimini, thanked Governor Nyesom Wike for his magnanimity towards the people of Elele-Alimini through project distribution and political recognition.
He said the 2023 general election would be a payback for those who neglected Elele-Alimini community when they were in power, stressing that the people have resolved to stand by Governor Wike, who, he said, remembered the community after the previous administration abandoned the community.
In his own remark, former Caretaker Committee Chairman of Emohua LGA, Engr Nnamdi Abah, who expressed optimism that the PDP in Emohua LGA will come out victorious in the forthcoming general election, said he returned to the PDP to contribute and be part of the victory of Sir Siminialayi Fubara and other PDP candidates in Rivers State.
Engr Abah stated that the existence of the APC in Emohua LGA was traceable to Dr. Chidi Lloyd and himself, describing his resignation from the APC to join the Emohua Council Boss who had earlier left the APC back to the PDP where he was a founding member as added advantage to the PDP in the forthcoming general election.
He stressed that the PDP has no strong opposition in Emohua LGA in the 2023 general election.

By: Theresa Fredrick & Charity Amiso

Rivers

NDDC Provides Lifeline To Flood-Hit Ogu-Bolo Community

Published

6 hours ago

April 2, 2026

The Tide

In response to the recent flood disaster that displaced families, destroyed farmlands, and worsened economic hardship in Ogu/Bolo Community, The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has distributed relief materials to residents of the community.

Presenting the items on behalf of the Managing Director, the Director II, Education, Health and Social Services, Engr. Jeremiah Onolejoloni, said the intervention underscores the commission’s commitment to alleviating the plight of vulnerable communities across the Niger Delta.

According to a statement by the Director of Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, the gesture followed the devastating impact of flooding on livelihoods in the community.

The Managing Director noted that the commission, in collaboration with the Derek and Davia Foundation, provided financial support to facilitate the distribution of essential food items and household materials to affected residents.

He described the initiative as part of efforts to address pressing needs, adding that it also reflects government’s solidarity with citizens facing economic challenges.

“This intervention goes beyond palliatives. It is a demonstration of government’s presence, compassion and commitment to supporting families in distress, in line with the renewed hope agenda of the President,” he said.

He urged community leaders to ensure fair distribution of the items and encouraged residents to sustain peace and support development programmes.

The Paramount Ruler of Ogu-Bolo, Chief Joachim Amachiri, commended the Commission for the timely intervention, noting that it would provide much-needed relief to victims of the flood.

He reaffirmed the community’s support for NDDC initiatives aimed at improving living conditions in the region.

Also speaking, a consultant on the programme, represented by Dr. George Smile, praised the commission’s responsiveness to disaster-affected communities, disclosing that plans were underway, in partnership with development stakeholders, to extend similar support to neighbouring areas.

Wokoma Emmanuel & Theresa Frederick

Rivers

Don Traces Nigeria’s Highway Woes To Design Failures … Proposes Mechanistic-Empirical Design Approach

Published

9 hours ago

April 2, 2026

The Tide

A lecturer at the Rivers State University (RSU), Professor Emmanuel Osilemme Ekwulo, has called for a fundamental overhaul of Nigeria’s highway pavement systems, stating that poor design practices and weak standards, not just inadequate funding, are at the heart of the country’s persistent road failures.

Delivering the 128th inaugural lecture at the Rivers State University, titled “Removing Roadblocks: Rebuilding The Foundation For Reliable Highway Pavement Infrastructure”, Ekwulo argued that Nigeria’s roads will continue to deteriorate prematurely unless critical engineering principles are strictly applied and enforced.

According to him, recurring defects in the nation’s highways stem from a combination of faulty design processes, substandard construction materials, weak regulatory enforcement, poor drainage systems, and widespread disregard for professional ethics.

He stressed that these systemic failures have undermined the durability of road infrastructure despite significant financial investments.

“Premature pavement failures in Nigeria are not due to lack of funds alone, but largely due to poor design decisions, weak material standards, and absence of accountability,” he said.

Ekwulo proposed the adoption of the mechanistic-empirical design approach, a scientifically grounded method for predicting pavement performance, as a pathway to improving road quality.

He also advocated for the development of a localized framework, the Nigerian Empirical and Mechanistic Pavement Design System (NEMPADS), to reflect the country’s unique environmental and material conditions.

He further recommended stricter quality control measures, including independent audits, the establishment of a national database for material characterization, and compulsory traffic load analysis for all road projects.

The use of modified binders and advanced materials, he added, would enhance pavement resilience.

To ensure sustainability, the Professor called for the implementation of a National Pavement Management System to coordinate maintenance and monitoring efforts nationwide, noting that consistent upkeep is essential to prolonging road lifespan.

Ekwulo emphasized the need for stronger collaboration between academia and industry, urging universities to lead applied research initiatives and pilot projects that can deliver practical solutions to Nigeria’s infrastructure challenges.

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, Professor Isaac Zeb-Obipi, said universities must play a frontline role in addressing national development issues through research-driven interventions.

He described the lecture as timely, noting that the neglect of core engineering standards has contributed significantly to the country’s failing highways.

The event, held at the Dr. Ezenwo Wike Senate Building in the campus, also featured the formal decoration of Ekwulo as the institution’s 128th inaugural lecturer.

Reiterating his position after the lecture, Ekwulo stated that with proper design methods, quality materials, and strict adherence to global standards, Nigeria’s roads can achieve their intended lifespan of 10 to 20 years or more.

“Without a return to engineering fundamentals and accountability, investments in road infrastructure will continue to yield poor results”, he concluded.

Rivers

CP Reaffirms Commitment To Human Rights, Community Policing In Rivers

Published

9 hours ago

April 2, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, has assured residents of the command’s commitment to upholding human rights and delivering people-oriented policing.

He stressed that officers under his watch would continue to operate within the confines of the law, while strengthening community relations.

Adepoju gave the assurance during a sensitisation walk organised by the State Police Command as part of activities marking the National Police Day in Port Harcourt.

He noted that the exercise was aimed at fostering trust and enhancing cooperation between the police and the public.

While expressing appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving a special day for the Nigeria Police to celebrate its achievements, he described the gesture as a morale booster that would spur officers to greater efficiency and professionalism in service delivery.

The CP also commended the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, for initiating a week-long celebration, which he said had provided an opportunity for the police to reconnect with citizens and showcase reforms within the force.

According to him, the large turnout of residents, stakeholders and members of the business community during the exercise was a clear indication of the growing confidence reposed in the police by the people of Rivers State.

He reiterated that the Command would sustain its sensitisation efforts, adding that officers had been adequately briefed to respect the rights of citizens, maintain professionalism and work closely with the media to promote transparency and accountability.

Adepoju disclosed that the week-long activities commenced with environmental sanitation across commands and divisions, alongside public enlightenment campaigns targeted at strengthening police-community relations.

He further revealed that the Command had also embarked on free medical outreach for both officers and members of the public, as part of its corporate social responsibility and commitment to public welfare.

The CP added that financial support would be extended to widows of fallen police officers through the presentation of cheques, in line with directives from the police high command, to cushion the effects of their loss.

In his response, the Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) in the state, Voke Emore, said the initiative was geared towards rebuilding trust between the police and the communities they serve.

Emore noted that the renewed synergy between the police and residents in Rivers State had created an enabling environment for effective policing, urging the public to continue supporting security agencies with useful information.

Also, a representative of the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA), Mrs. Chima Nnaji, said the group participated in the walk to show solidarity with their spouses.

The event drew attendance from senior police officers, members of the PCRC, and stakeholders from various sectors of the state.

King Onunwor