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Wike Urges COREN To Advocate Review Of Procurement Law
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has enjoined the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, to canvass for the overhaul of the procurement life cycle in the country.
The governor said such advocacy has become imperative because the current procurement life cycle in the country, and inadequate budgetary system are the primary reasons for prevalence of abandoned projects.
Governor Wike gave the charge to COREN during the inauguration of the Rivers State Technical Committee (RSTC) and Rivers State Expatriate Monitoring Committee of Engineering Regulation at Nigerian Society for Engineers secretariat in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Works, Dr. George-Kelly Dakorinama Alabo, attributed the infrastructural feat achieved by his administration to the proactive budgetary system adopted by the State government.
According to him, in every given year, over 70 percent of the State budget is dedicated to capital expenditure, and 30 or less to recurrent expenditure.
Governor Wike explained that on assumption of office, he had approached the State House of Assembly to adjust the procurement law to make it more realistic and practicable.
He said the adjustment of the State procurement law laid the foundation and framework for his administration to conceptualise, initial and complete projects on record time.
Governor declared that the Nabo Graham Douglas Campus of the Nigerian Law School constructed by the Rivers State government in Port Harcourt within eight months, should have ordinarily been completed between four to five years if the country’s existing procurement life cycle was followed.
“The procurement life cycle here in Nigeria is very long. If you follow the procurement life cycle religiously before you give birth to a project and commence construction, it will take like three, four, five months.
“If you follow Procurement Act 2000, which recommends for about 15 percent mobilisation fees, and then you budget 15 percent in your yearly budget, just like the federal government budget is being done.
“If you take it to the National Assembly they will put 15 percent of the cost of the project in the budget. When you put 15 percent of the cost of the project in the budget, what are we saying? we are saying that this project should be completed in 6 years or more.
“When you look at your contract completion period, if your contract completion period of the project is one year and you budget fully for that project in that particular year, then you are sure of completing that project in that particular year.
“If your contract completion project or a given project is two years, and then you budget 50 percent of the cost of that project in this year’s budget, 50 percent of cost in the next year’s budget, then you have done the right thing.”
The Rivers State governor disclosed that by adopting a realistic procurement law and budgetary system, his administration has in less than eight years achieved over 890 kilometres of roads, including dualised ones.
He further added that in one or two weeks, over 1000 Km of roads constructed would have been achieved.
“We have done drainages of over 493 Km in the past seven to eight years. We have done flyovers and overpasses of over 11km in just four years. We have done several river crossing bridges of 3Km. When I say 3 Km, some maybe 300 metres long, some maybe 400 metres long.”
Governor Wike said adoption of a practicable procurement law and realistic budget system will help eliminate the problem incessant request for variation in the construction industry.
The Rivers State governor advised every Bureau of Public Procurement in the country to have a functional price intelligence unit.
Governor Wike commended COREN for inaugurating the Rivers State Technical Committee (RSTC) and Rivers State Expatriate Monitoring Committee of Engineering Regulation as part of measures to eliminate quackery in the construction industry.
“I strongly support the formation of the Rivers State technical committees, and I can assure you that the two engineers we have as members there, are engineers of no mean repute and engineers that know their onion. I can assure you that they are going to add value to whatever you are doing.”
The national president of COREN, Prof Sadiq Zubairu Abubakar, said they were in Port Harcourt on a visit to study the achievements of the State government in engineering practice.
He said governor Wike has executed projects that are too numerous to mention, particularly the construction of 12 flyovers between 2019 and 2023.
Abubakar said it is his sincere wish that governor Wike’s sterling performance in office will change the psychic and mindset of other political leaders at various levels in Nigeria.
According to him, it is noteworthy that progress and good governance courtesy of governor Wike, is spread across Rivers State, through the delivery of infrastructure that the average citizen can see, feel, use and touch.
“We have confirmed what the President of our country, General Muhammadu Buhari bestowed on His Excellency, the governor of Rivers State, as the best governor for infrastructural development in Nigeria. we have seen the projects.
The COREN president, who later visited Nabo Graham Douglas Campus of the Nigerian Law School in Port Harcourt and some of the flyovers, said governor WIke has created a niche for himself as a person, and has changed the narrative of governance in Nigeria.
“The plan, policy and maintenance culture is very high, and we expect that these efforts will speak volumes down the road that Rivers State have indeed seen a governor that is going to leave an enduring legacy in the area he has chosen to make impact.”
The Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Chief Emeka Woke, assured COREN that the representatives of the State government in the two committees will work in accordance with the Engineers Registration Act Cap of 2004 and other operational guidelines.
A Coalition of civil society organisations has urged the Federal Government to take proactive steps towards addressing the persistent gas eruptions in Bille, Rivers.
The coalition, made up of the People’s Assembly and Bille Working Group, made the call in an open letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu, and read to journalists in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Reading the letter, the coalition’s convener, Dr Isaac Osuoka, said that the persistent gas eruption in Bille had led to serious environmental and public health challenges.
Osuoka, also the Executive Director, Social Action, urged Tinubu to establish a presidential task force to investigate and contain the gas leak in Bille.
He also called for the immediate relocation of residents to safe shelters, provision of clean water, food and healthcare services.
Dr Emem Okon, the Executive Director, Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre, stated that gas had been bubbling from the ground, creeks, boreholes and hand-dug wells in the community since October 2025.
Okon said that the gas had triggered several fires and explosions, and that residents of the community had reported respiratory problems, vomiting and other illnesses associated with exposure to the emissions.
According to her, preliminary investigations by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) have yet to identify the source of the gas.
Mr Kentebe Ebiaridor, the Coordinator, Oilwatch International, called for the publication of results from preliminary soil and water tests conducted in Bille for the residents to know the nature and extent of the contamination.
Ebiaridor urged the Federal Government to deploy medical teams to screen and treat affected residents, and immediately commence an independent study on the health impacts of the leak.
He further called for the suspension of oil and gas operations around OML 18 and 24 until the source of the gas leak was identified and the affected areas declared safe.
Ebiaridor urged the government to hold current and former operators of the oil leases accountable for environmental damage on the community.
Another speaker, Dr Bieye Briggs, urged the National Assembly to fast-track the NOSDRA Amendment Bill, 2025 to provide the agency with statutory funding and stronger enforcement powers.
Briggs urged the Federal Government to activate the regional Spill Command Centre, and make the Upstream Remediation Fund accessible for the Bille crisis and other affected communities in the Niger Delta.
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has banned drone operations and fireworks in Uyo and announced temporary traffic restrictions ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s visit to the State today.
The state Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare, announced the measures yesterday while briefing journalists at the Police Headquarters in Ikot Akpan Abia, Uyo.
He said the restrictions were part of security arrangements to maintain public order, protect strategic locations and ensure the smooth movement of the President’s convoy during his engagements.
“There will be total restriction on the operation and flying of drones within Uyo metropolis throughout the period of the visit. Members of the public, drone operators and service providers are advised to strictly comply with the directive,” he said.
The police commissioner also announced a ban on fireworks, knockouts and other explosive sound-producing devices within the state capital during the visit.
He said the measure would prevent panic and allow security personnel to respond effectively to genuine security threats.
The command also announced temporary restrictions on public access to designated routes and locations in Uyo to facilitate the movement of the presidential convoy.
The affected areas are Airport Road, Shelter Afrique Junction, Oron Road, Nung Oku Junction, Mbierebe Junction and Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
“Motorists are urged to plan their journeys, exercise patience and cooperate with traffic and security personnel deployed along the corridors.
“Members of the public are advised to avoid the routes during the restriction and use alternative routes,” Azare said.
He also urged residents to plan their journeys, exercise patience and cooperate with traffic and security personnel deployed along the affected corridors.
The commissioner said the command, working with other security agencies, had put in place security arrangements to ensure a peaceful and hitch-free visit.
He appealed to residents to understand that the temporary restrictions were necessary security measures and not intended to cause hardship.
Azare urged members of the public to remain law-abiding, avoid restricted areas and report suspicious movements to the nearest police station or through police emergency channels.
Tinubu’s visit to Akwa Ibom is a working visit during which he is expected to inaugurate major infrastructure projects executed by Governor Umo Eno’s administration under its ARISE Agenda. The projects cut across aviation, road infrastructure, tourism, healthcare, land administration and security.
Among the projects scheduled for inauguration are the international terminal building and airport hospital at Victor Attah International Airport, Aviation Village, ARISE Palm Resort, the 14.5-kilometre Nsit Atai–Okobo Road, Ring Road 3, the Command and Control Centre and the AkwaGIS building.
The state government had earlier announced plans for the President to inaugurate projects as part of activities marking Akwa Ibom’s 39th anniversary in September.
The airport projects are particularly significant to the state’s ambition to expand aviation, tourism and investment.
The international terminal is expected to strengthen the airport’s capacity to handle international operations, while the Aviation Village is intended to provide accommodation for aviation workers. The airport hospital is also among the facilities lined up for inauguration.
The road projects are also expected to improve connectivity. The 14.5-kilometre Nsit Atai–Okobo Road links communities in the two local government areas, while Ring Road 3 is designed to improve movement within Uyo and ease pressure on existing roads. The Command and Control Centre, meanwhile, is intended to strengthen security surveillance and coordination in the State.
The Rivers State Ministry of Culture and Tourism has floated a culture content platform in collaboration with digital television group, Multichoice.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Freddy Ndigbara, disclosed this after a meeting with MultiChoice Head of Content Acquisition, Don Dotun Ojon, in Port Harcourt.
He assured that content entrepreneurs and film makers would enjoy the platform by promoting culture and other contents to sell the states tourism potentials.
He said MultiChoice M-net was now open to increase its patronage for content shots on locations in Rivers State, describing the State as one that has numerous potentials for film tourism.
“We were privileged to have Don Ojon with us at the Rivers International Film Festival (RIFF) at the weekend in Bonny and he saw, first hand, the numerous sites and opportunities that are open to creatives in the State. After that, we felt it was important to deepen the conversation and he obliged. This is a cheering news for the sector in the State,” he said.
Ndigbara stated that “Rivers State has many more untold stories to tell, many more contents to reel out and the assurances from the M-net Acquisition Manager is an indication that the industry in the state will soon enjoy a new lease of life”.
The Permanent Secretary thanked Ojon for the visit and assured that creatives in the State would grap this opportunity and show the world that Rivers State is a major hub for film tourism in Nigeria.
On his part, Ojon said the visit was to discuss on ways of promoting tourism in the State using creatives and film.
Ojon said although the company has recently been acquired by canal+ France and is undergoing restructuring, he would promote the chances of Rivers State to host the MultiChoice talent factory in the State.
With Asaba, capital of Delta State, being saturated, Ojon said the next port is Rivers State, which he said is capable of building fresh crop of creatives, new locations, new story lines and concepts.
He, therefore, called for collaboration from stakeholders in the State.
Kevin Nengia
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