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RSG Wants Drug-Abuse Counselling Units In Schools

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The Rivers Government, on Thursday advised secondary school principals in the state to set up drug abuse counselling units in their schools to combat the social menace.
The state’s Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, gave the advise at a town hall meeting organised in Port Harcourt by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Port Harcourt Zone ‘N’, in collaboration with the State Government.
The sensitisation on the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) was organised for principals of secondary schools in the state.
Odu, represented by her Senior Special Assistant on Administration, Mrs Nye Oyi, encouraged the principals to embrace the WADA campaign by the agency “to save the lives of young people in schools”.
She also urged them to ensure that they put all the necessary facilities in place to enable them to identify drug abuse early in the day for their quick intervention.
The Zonal Commander of the agency, Anthonia Edeh, said the essence of the sensitisation was to collectively map out strategies that would stem the increasing use of narcotic drugs and other substances of abuse by the youths.
Edeh, who was also the convener of the event, said drug abuse and illicit trafficking posed significant threat to the socio-economic well being of every family, community and nation.
According to her, drug abuse has been identified as one of the major factors that fuel the rise in crime rates and several security breaches, including terrorism, banditry and kidnapping, among others.
“The devastating effects of drug abuse and illicit trafficking are often associated with anarchy, violence and under development.
“Everyone should be concerned about the drug scourge because a lot of families are suffering its consequences.
“People at the grassroots should know and understand that drug abuse is bad and inimical to public health.
“Having identified the circumstances of drug abuse, we can no longer be in denial that we did not have a drug problem in our society, the question now becomes, what is the way forward?” she said.
Edeh said NDLEA in its proactive nature set up an advocacy programme, WADA, to curb the menance of drug abuse in society.
She advised school managements to find a way of engaging the students by organising educational programmes, like debates, quiz competitions, sporting activities, like football, basket ball, other general games and establishment of WADA clubs, etc.
Edeh promised that the agency would partner with the state Ministry of Education to train counsellors and create evidence-based school programmes, positive school and classroom environment.
In a remark, Mr Innocent Umesi, the state President, All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools, urged his members to key into the WADA initiative and join the NDLEA in evolving a drug-free society.
The NDLEA State Commander, Ahmed Mamuda, urged the public to support NDLEA by providing useful information to help in the arrest and prosecution of drug dealers in the state and nation at large.
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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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