Environment
Royal Father Backs Fubara Over Ring Road Project
The Oneh Eh /paramount ruler of Alesa kingdom in Eleme local Government Area of Rivers State HRH Emperor J D Nkpe has said that the proposed Port Harcourt Ring Road will boost the economy of the state.
The Ring Road with six bridges will crisscross six local Government Areas of the state.
The construction of the project will be flagged off Monday 17 th July by Governor Siminalaye Fubara.
Speaking in exclusive interview with the Tide in Port Harcourt, king Nkpe said apart from boosting the economy of the state, the road will also improve the security of the state.
According to the monarch, the economic importance of the road is overwhelming,as all rural communities will be linked up, thereby facilitating the movement of agricultural produce from one locations to another.
“It will be very much economical for the state as all the monies that will be spent in it’s construction will be regained
‘I have told my people that nobody should bring in any bottleneck in the construction of the ring road”.
The Alesa Monarch also urged Communities where the project will pass through to give free hands to the government and the construction company.
He also stressed the need for Rivers people to give Sir Siminalaye Fubara the full support, while mischief makers should leave the Governor alone.
“Those that want to disturb the government should leave the Governor alone
‘Fubara will surprise this state’he said.
He said with Fubara as Governor of the state, Rivers State will become the envy of other states in the country.
Meanwhile king Nkpe has decried the continuous abandonment of the Eleme section of the East West road by the federal government.
He said the continuous abandonment of the road has shown the federal government disregard to the contribution of the Eleme people to the economy of the country.
The monarch said even the companies operating within Eleme local Government Area are not showing concern to the welfare of the people.
The monarch said his people will nolonger take the federal government seriously as far as the Eleme section of the East West road is concerned.
According to him,it is not the first time Eleme people have been deceived, and denied development, adding that successive governments have been promising Eleme people and expressed the hope that the Tinubu led administration will be different as far as the road is concerned.
He however said Eleme people will not take the laws into their hands.
“The road links Akwa Ibom, Cross River,Ebonyi and even Cameroon
‘The Aleto bridge was constructed in the 50’s and that bridge is not enough to carry the volume of traffic on the road”king Nkpe said.
The Royal Father also called on companies operating in Eleme to respect the wishes of their host Communities and implement the petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
He condemned the divide and rule tactics being employed by the companies in dealing with their host Communities.
“Most of the companies are like a curse to Eleme land even with the PIA laws the companies are not listening to Eleme people”.he said.
By: John Bibor
The Lagos State Government has commenced installation of new pumps at the Iju Headworks and Akute water intake stations.
The Tide source reports that the project is aimed at increasing water production, improving operational efficiency and expanding access to potable water across the state.
A statement issued by the Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) over the weekend said the project was approved and funded by the state government.
It said the installation was part of the rehabilitation of the Iju Headworks and Akute Intake Station under Lots 1, 2 and 3.
According to LWC, the rehabilitation is designed to modernise water production facilities, strengthen operations and improve public water supply.
The Network of Female Professionals in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Nigeria (FEMinWASH) and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) are set to partner on gender-responsive systems strengthening, capacity development and WASH initiatives.
The partnership was proposed during a courtesy visit by a FEMinWASH delegation, led by its President and Convener, Dr Boluwaji Onabolu, to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, in Abuja.
Onabolu, who conveyed greetings from FEMinWASH Patron, retired Engineer Ebele Okeke, commended Walson-Jack for upholding the Federal Civil Service’s EPIC values of Efficient, Productive, Incorruptible and Citizen-centred leadership.
She praised the HoCSF’s efforts in advancing gender inclusion in WASH and the civil service, including the development of the National Gender in Water Resources Mainstreaming Policy and mentoring programmes for women leaders.
Onabolu also highlighted the INSPIRE (Inclusive Network for Supporting Progressive Leadership, Innovation, Reform and Equity for Women) programme, aimed at strengthening women’s leadership and inclusion.
She said FEMinWASH was seeking a formal partnership and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the OHCSF to support INSPIRE, WASH advocacy, capacity building and the institutionalisation of Gender-Responsive Budgeting across the Federal Civil Service.
Responding, Walson-Jack commended the diverse expertise of the FEMinWASH delegation, noting that professionals in WASH, water resources, environment, public health, town planning and education were critical to addressing development challenges.
She welcomed the proposed partnership, assuring that the OHCSF was ready to collaborate with FEMinWASH on civil service strengthening and WASH-related initiatives.
The meeting agreed to further engagements with Dr Garba, Permanent Secretary (Special Duties), and Ms Funke Baruwa, Lead for Partnerships at the OHCSF, to advance the collaboration.
The visit ended with a photo session and exchange of gifts between both parties.
The Special Adviser on Environment, Mr Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, commended the community on the massive turn-out for sanitation.
He also appreciated the chairman and his team for their support to the ministry.
Rotimi-Akodu urged the community to continue to support the council and by extension, the government, by participating in the exercise and engaging in proper disposal of wastes.
“We have heard your appeal, and I assure you that Lagos government will do something about it.
“Although we have PSP operators in this axis, maybe they were assigned to other areas.
“However, I will ensure something is done and residents will observe the improvement.” the advisor said.
Also, the Managing Director, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LASMA), Mr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said that waste management was a collective exercise.
Gbadegbesin, therefore, appealed to the residents to always dispose of their wastes properly.
“You must bag your waste at home. Make sure you have a bin to keep the waste for few days, even if there is a delay by the PSP operator.
“Make sure you pay your PSP operator on time because there is no way they can provide that service if you are not paying them regularly.
The Non Governmental Organization (NGO) Go Green Nigeria Foundation, , has called for more stringent government efforts toward prohibition of illegal sand mining in Rivers, following erosion threats.
The founder of NGO Dr John Babington made the call on last Monday in Umuechem, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers, to commemorate the International Day for the Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystems.
Babington, who sensitised the community on dangers associated with crude sand mining, donated some trees as part of efforts to promote tree planting and revitalisation of the altered mangrove ecosystem.
During an interactive session with the community, the environmental expert identified various concerns and commended residents for their willingness to work together to end the excavation.
He, however, dismissed the notion that illegal sand mining was due to poverty and unemployment, saying, ”the business is a capital intensive venture that could only be operated by a rich cartel.”
He said that though the business might have provided menial jobs for few youths, it had not in any manner addressed poverty.
Presently, the landscape is altered with an artificial river encroaching a major access road and threatening public safety,” he said.
Also speaking, a senior Chief in the community, Chief Gilbert Otamiri commended the NGO for the initiative and promised to collaborate with them.
Gilbert, however, urged the government to tackle unemployment which, he said, was a major promoter of the illegal excavation
Also speaking, The Community Development Chairman (CDC) Mr Agbam Mgbechi thanked the group for the sensitisation and donation of trees.
He called on the government and concerned induviduals to emulate the group by making efforts towards salvaging the area from further environmental damage.