News
Wike Calls For Amendment Of FG’s Procurement Law To End Project Abandonment ….As Tinubu Describes Wike As Dependable Ally

Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has drawn the attention of the Federal Government to the need to amend its procurement law in order to end incessant abandonment of projects in the country.
Wike made these remarks at the inauguration of the Rumuokwuta/Rumuola Flyover (12th Flyover) on Wednesday, which was performed by the President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The governor explained that the current procurement law of the Federal Government only allows for about 15/30 percent to be paid as mobilisation fee to a contractor.
Such meagre sum, he said, usually does not allow the contractor to make appreciably progress on the project before being caught up by inflation effects and high cost of materials, which eventually requires variation of the contract terms.
Wike said when he noticed a similar snag in the procurement law in Rivers State, on assumption of duties, he interfaced with the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, who worked together with other lawmakers to amend the then existing law.
He said with the amended law, his administration got the latitude to pay an upward of 70 percent mobilisation fee to contractors handling various projects in the State.
He noted that such practice has led to the great accomplishment recorded in the delivery of development projects in the State by his administration.
Wike said the Phase two of Ahoada-Omoku -Egbema road and the Emohua-Tema Junction road projects that are ongoing are at the cost of N80billion.
He explained that the payment pattern that was adopted is a monthly deduction of N4billion by the contractor from the internally generated revenue (IGR) of the State, which will last 18 months that the projects will be completed.
Commenting on the 12th flyover bridge, Wike explained that the project was among those started from 2019 till date and delivered by his administration.
He noted that some of the flyovers are on federal roads and therefore, requested the incoming administration of Tinubu to consider a possible refund to Rivers State.
This, he pointed out, will serve as a motivation to other States, which will feel more encouraged to also work on federal roads in their jurisdiction.
Inaugurating the Rumuokwuta/Rumuola Flyover, Tinubu said that his presence to perform the duties of opening the flyover for public use is another way of building bridge, most essentially for the country.
Tinubu described Wike as a dependable ally and one who promoted the unity of Nigeria and championed justice and fairness.
He noted that Wike stood his ground as a principled man and worked for the presidency to come to the South without succumbing to gossips and speculations.
“In His Excellency (Nyesom Ezenwo Wike), I see a man of principle, he took a principle stand that the presidency must return to South and he had the courage to stand by his conviction, not minding whose ox is gored. He is, indeed, a man of great integrity, he did not chose to serve his own interest. Not about him, rather the interest of the nation. You promoted unity, you promoted fairness, you championed justice. Thank you.”, he said.
Tinubu also commended Wike’s penchant for delivering quality projects to Rivers people, and for making the citizenry happy.
The president-elect said the demand for a refund on the flyover bridges so constructed on federal roads, though a worthy request, should not be borne with the mindset that the Federal Government is owing the State because the projects are within Rivers and are used by the people.
He, however, said there would be need for Wike to further discuss the issues with him and intensify his lobby to secure the refund.
The president-elect recalled that he went through gruesome campaign, fought hard, and with the likes of Wike providing structural support, he won the presidential election squarely.
“Nyesom, I say thank you for your contribution to my victory. I couldn’t have done it without some structural support”, he said.
He also congratuled the Rivers State governor-elect, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, on his electoral victory.
In his description of the project, Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Dr. George-Kelly Dakorinama Alabo, said the Rumuokwuta/Rumuola Flyover Bridge is 1007.5 meters long, completed in eight months instead of 10 months and delivered to eliminate traffic congestion by 98 percent in the State.
According to him, the flyover is the longest of the flyovers constructed by the Wike administration and has district features because whereas the other eleven flyovers are straight, it has a parabolic curve with a curvature radios of 225 meters.
In his welcome remark, Chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, George Ariolu, said the Rumuokwuta/Rumuola Flyover bridge is the 12th among similar projects that were conceived and constructed by Wike’s administration.
He noted that the 12th flyover has greatly eased vehicular traffic, boosted commerce and improved the aesthetics of the metropolis.
Some of the dignitaries present at the occasion include the wife of the Rivers State governor, Hon. Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; governors of Oyo, Jigawa, Imo and Ebonyi States, Seyi Makinde; Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar, Senator Hope Uzodinma and David Umahi, respectively.
Other are former governors of Rivers, Osun, Delta, Ekiti, Edo and Bayelsa States, Dr. Peter Odili, Chief Abdulkareem Adebisi Akande (Osun), Chief James Ibori Chief Ayo Fayose, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Chief Timipre Sylva, respectively.
News
I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
News
RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
News
Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
-
Rivers5 days ago
Four Internet Fraudstars Get Different Jail Terms In PH
-
Opinion4 days ago
Restoring Order, Delivering Good Governance
-
Business5 days ago
PH Women Plan Alternative Stew, Shun Tomato High Prices
-
Sports5 days ago
Nigerian Athletes Serving Doping Bans
-
Niger Delta5 days ago
NDLEA Intercepts 584.171kg Hard Drugs In Bayelsa … Arrests 559 Suspects
-
News5 days ago
Tinubu Never Stopped 5-year Visa For U S. Citizens – Presidency ?
-
Business4 days ago
Food Security: NDDC Pays Counterpart Fund For LIFE-ND Project
-
Business5 days ago
Industry Leaders Defend Local Content, … Rally Behind NCDMB