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Rivers

RSG Moves To Protect Intellectual Property Rights …As AVRS Declares Piracy Criminal Offence

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Rivers State Government has declared its readiness to partner with the Audio Visual Rights Society of Nigeria (AVRS) to protect intellectual property rights in the state.
This follows a declaration by the Audio Visual Rights society that piracy is a criminal offence.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications Rivers State, Barrister Ibiwari Clapton Ogolo, made this known while declaring open a stakeholders forum organised by AVRS in Port Harcourt.
Ogolo also said the government was taking the steps to ensure reduction in the unauthorised use of audio visual materials in the state.
She said the Ministry of Information and Communications will also use its organs of information to educate and enlighten the public who, “through the commercial and public use of audio visual works, promote their business to also meet their copyright obligations”.
She noted that piracy, copying and unauthorised use of intellectual property has dealt severe blows to owners of such works and commended the society for the campaign.
“This your struggles over the years which culminated in the establishment of a law, which mandates organisations that publicly or commercially use audio visual works for purposes of entertainment to be licensed by AVRS.
“This action remains the catalyst for the continuous growth of the creative industry and should be supported by everyone”, she said.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the AVRS, Mahmud Ali Balogun, who declared that piracy is now a criminal offence in an interview with newsmen at the stakeholders forum, said the law has made it a criminal offence for any one who steals intellectual property.
He said the AVRS is not an association but a collective management organization that is charged with the duty of collecting royalties for copy right owners in Nigeria.
Noting that the society has been in existence since 2004, he said, “The Audio Visual Rights Society of Nigeria (Ltd/Gte) is the only organisation which by law is permitted to carry on collective management of right in films in Nigeria.
“AVRS is therefore empowered under the extant laws, to engage in the issuance of licenses on behalf of copyright owners in the film industry, for public and commercial use of films, collecting royalties accruing from such licenses and distributing same to copy right owners”, he said.
He commended the Rivers State Government for its support in sensitising the public in this direction.
Also speaking, the Director of Culture, Rivers State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Fred Ndigbara, said AVRS was an idea whose time had come.
He said his Ministry will key into the programme by sensitising hoteliers on the need to respect copyright laws.
Ndigbara also informed the forum of the move by the State Government to unbundle the hospitality sector, adding that the government is doing everything possible to ensure that people with creative ideas benefited from their works.
The Director charged them not to rest until the right thing is done as far as the sector was concerned.

By: John Bibor

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Rivers

Youth President Launches N10m Grant For Obio/Akpor Women

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The leader of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area Simplified Movement, Ambassador Chijioke Ihunwo, has unveiled a N10 million grant aimed at empowering women in Ward 1 of Obio/Akpor LGA.
Making the announcement during the recently concluded Obio/Akpor Ward 1 town hall meeting, Ihunwo revealed that the grant will be distributed in amounts of N100,000 to 20 women per community, including non-indigenes.
He stated that the gesture is a token of appreciation for the women’s unwavering support for Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Ihunwo emphasised the Governor’s commitment to ensuring that Ward 1, Obio/Akpor LGA, and Rivers State as a whole benefit from good governance.
Special Adviser on Power to the Governor, Hon. Solomon Abel Eke, highlighted the transparency and fairness that define the current leadership of the Obio/Akpor Simplified Movement, assuring that it operates without nepotism or impunity.
During the event, former leader of the Obio/Akpor Legislative Assembly, Hon. Achor Nna, criticised former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Martin Amaewhule, who is also from Ward 1, for actions deemed uncharacteristic of true sons of Obio/Akpor LGA.
Also in attendance at the town hall meeting were Hon. Darlington Orji, Special Adviser on Political Affairs to the Governor of Rivers State, along with other prominent figures as well as other sons and daughters of Obio/Akpor.
They congratulated the new Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo, and collectively reaffirmed their support for the Fubara-led administration, underscoring a shared commitment to the progress and development of Rivers State.

Theresa Frederick & Charity Amiso

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Rivers

RSG Approves N225bn For Trans-Kalabari Road Project

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The Rivers State Executive Council, on Wednesday, approved N225 billion for the construction of the Trans-Kalabari Road project.
The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr Joseph Johnson, disclosed this while briefing newsmen after the State Executive Council meeting.
The meeting was presided over by Governor Siminalayi Fubara at the state Government House in Port Harcourt.
He said the project would be funded with savings from the state’s Internally Generated Revenue.
“We shall not borrow to fund the project. We are bent on generating money to fund our projects”, he said.
Johnson stated that the contractor had been mobilised with 30 per cent of the contract, worth to commence implementation.
The commissioner further said the project would be completed within a period of 32 months.
“This is the main Trans-Kalabari Road, the one that happened in the past was building of bridges.
“We are now doing a Trans-Kalabari Road that will run from NSS Pathfinder, immediately after Mgbuodohia community and extend to about 2km to the Aker Base Road in Rumuolumeni”, he said.
He also said the road would pass through the swamps behind the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, moving southwards towards the first bridge crossing.
“It will continue through a series of bridges, connecting many communities up to Tombia Town.
“The road will traverse very difficult terrains of swamp across rivers and creeks upon which series of bridges, decking and piling works will be done”, he said.
The Commissioner further said the state recently recorded some giant strides in the sporting sector.
Also briefing, the Acting Director-General, Rivers State Bureau of Public Procurement, Dr Ine Briggs, explained that the bureau diligently managed the proceedings leading to the award of the Trans-Kalabari road contract.
Briggs said the submissions of the state Ministry of Works were reviewed and all the supporting documents examined by the Ministry.
“Having fulfilled all the necessary procurement procedures and guidelines as prescribed by the Rivers State Public Procurement Law 2008 as amended, the Bureau is satisfied that all the elements leading to this award is sufficient to issue a certificate of no objection.
“Therefore, in consideration of all the relevant documents submitted by the Ministry of Works pursuant to the construction of Trans-Kalabari Road and bridges, the Bureau has issued the certificate of no objection, and that the contract be awarded to Lubrick Construction Company Limited”, Briggs said.

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Rivers

Ongoing Elele-Omoku Road Awarded At N80bn – RSG

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The Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr Joseph Johnson, has said the ongoing dualisation of the Elele/Umudioga/ Egbeda/Ikiri/Omoku Road was awarded at N80 billion.
Johnson disclosed this in Port Harcourt yesterday while speaking to newsmen on the achievements of the Governor Siminalaye Fubara-led administration after one year in office.
He said the road, which cuts across three Local Government Areas, would facilitate easy movement of people and goods, saying “it will boost cross-community commerce.
“The farming communities along this area will find it easy to move their produce to markets in neighbouring towns.
“This project is a deliberate effort to make movement easy for our people, it’s no politics but service delivery”.
The Commissioner said the State Government had already paid 50 per cent of the contract value amounting to N40 billion.
“We are not paying lip service to governance, we mean business. We want Rivers people to see something new.
“We have devised ways of generating money to fund our projects, we are not indulging in any borrowing festival”, he said.
Analysts say the state capital will be decongested if the government successfully implements the line up of road projects in the state.

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