News
Water Taxi Scheme Trainees Appeal For Absorption Into Civil Service
A group of Rivers State indigenes numbering about 19, under the aegis of trainees trained by the state government on water taxi scheme in Portugal in 2010, have appealed to the State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara to absorb them into the civil service.
It would be recalled that on November 27, 2010, the then state government under former Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi sent 20 indigenes of the State to Portugal for training on the technical ability to manage its water taxis.
The trainees were trained in two categories as skippers and engineers. However, 14 years after, the trainees are yet to be absorbed into the civil service under the Ministry of Transportation to showcase their training expertise.
Speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt over the weekend on behalf of the affected trainees, Engr Agia Ibikari Barasua in company of Engr Bobmanuel Tekena, Engr Lemmy Praise Machismo and Capt. Geoffrey Johnson appealed to the state Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara to look into their matter and absorb them into the civil service as life has been unbearable to them.
He said that the scheme was a making of the state government an managed by the ministry of Transportation , adding that the then Commissioner for Transport Hon George Tolofari and the permanent secretary, Mr Gogo Isong were the drivers of the one month training scheme in Portugal .
He averred that the state government had promised them that they will be absorbed and deployed to the marine Transport Department in the Ministry of transport upon the return back to the state at the end of the training excise.
Ibikari however, noted that since their returned from Portugal efforts made by them for the state government to absorbed them into the civil service by the previous government had not been fruitful.
He told Journalists that they have lost one of their colleague and others are struggling to cope with the economic hardship and appealed to Governor Siminalayi Fubara to look into their plights and so as to enlist them into the civil service scheme.
“Some of us were working before were selected for the training by the state government with all assurances that will regularise our employment status when we are back but since them but we have about three or four of them that were nominated from the ministry of transport and immediately they are still working till now but for us nothing has happened” he stated.
Akujobi Amadi
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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