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NBA Lauds Fubara’s Records On Governance, Infrastructure
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has lauded the giant strides the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara has recorded in the areas of good governance, restoration and maintenance of peace and unity, provision of massive infrastructure projects as well as promotion of economic prosperity in Rivers State.
The NBA made the commendation when a delegation of Chairmen and Secretaries of the various branches of the Association in the State had audience with the Governor at Government House in Port Harcourt, last Tuesday night.
The delegation, which was received in a closed door session, was led by Chairman of Port Harcourt Branch of the association, Mr Viktor Ibim Benibo.
Speaking with newsmen after a fruitful interaction with the Governor, Mr Benibo explained that the leaderships of NBA branches across the State were inspired to pay the visit by the level of peace and economic prosperity experienced within the short time that Governor Fubara has been on the saddle.
This, he attributed to the manner Governor Fubara has handled the affairs of the State with peaceful demeanour, maturity and wisdom, which have ensured that unity of purpose and progress permeated the entire State.
Mr Benibo said, as a result, key players in the economy and other service providers now enjoy some level of confidence because Governor Fubara has contained the monster of political crisis that erupted seven months ago, adding that the people were benefitting from the gains of peace and economic rejuvenation.
It is for these reasons that he said, “We are encouraged by the peaceful disposition of the Governor, and we have decided to say thank you to him for the peace he has given to this State.
“You know, the way he has handled the affairs of this State with maturity, the economic prosperity experienced within this short time, including the Port Harcourt Ring Road, the Trans-Kalabari Road, and other projects that impact the people positively are good signs for our people.”
Mr Benibo further said: “These are very massive projects which so many administrations had deliberately skipped from reaching the masses.
“But from the way he (Governor Fubara) is going, you understand, it seems we are in to see so many other good things in very short time. These are things the people have been expecting for years.
“So, we are here to say to the Governor, even though notwithstanding your age as a young man, you are doing what older ones could not do. So, we are saying thank you to him for what he has done, and to encourage him and his administration to remain focused in doing those good things lined up for the people of the State.”
Commenting on whether they were in Government House to felicitate with Governor Fubara on the celebration of his one year in office, Mr Benibo restated the apolitical nature of NBA, explaining that the visit had no political colouration but designed to appreciate the good works of the administration.
Mr Benibo, however, noted that the NBA observed at the State Banquet to celebrate the 57th anniversary of the creation of Rivers State, that a number of Rivers leaders with integrity who had hitherto been alienated from governance, voluntarily dedicated their time to associate with the government.
He stated that such display of friendship and brotherliness has erased the politics of bitterness that had characterised the State in recent past, adding that with such sense of purpose and direction, the State will emerge stronger politically, economically and otherwise.
He said, “Honestly, we didn’t have that at the back of our minds because we are not politicians, but inasmuch as we are here, we have come to show support and appreciation for the way he (Governor Fubara) has run the affairs of the State in a peaceful, inclusive and purpose-driven manner.
“This is because yesterday (May 27) was our 57th anniversary as a State, and we are also happy, particularly at the calibre of leaders across all spectrum of endeavours we saw during the State Banquet. It shows that the people of the State are more united now in support of the Governor and his Administration. That support is what we need to move the State forward.
“So, we saw many people that were before alienated politically, and I was happy to see them, and it tells you that just because we are enjoying peace, everybody has come around. That is governance. And we will continue to encourage them to come around because their coming together will help the State grow faster.”
Mr Benibo emphasised: “I am not a politician. I’m not APC, I’m not PDP. And I’m sure most of us here are also not politicians. But as lawyers, we are trained to talk the truth at all material times.
“So, we are here to encourage our dear performing Governor, to say: please, go ahead and provide leadership and good governance to the people of Rivers State,” he added.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for an official State visit at the invitation of the Prime Minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed.
Upon arrival yesterday, Shettima was received at the airport by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Dr. Gedion Timothewos, and other members of the Ethiopian and Nigerian diplomatic corps.
Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communication, Stanley Nkwocha, revealed this in a statement he signed yesterday, titled: “VP Shettima arrives in Ethiopia for official state visit.”
During the visit, Vice President Shettima will participate in the official launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Programme, a flagship environmental initiative.
The programme designed to combat deforestation, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change targets the planting of 20 billion tree seedlings over a four-year period.
In line with strengthening bilateral ties in agriculture and industrial development, the Vice President will also embark on a strategic tour of key industrial zones and integrated agricultural facilities across selected regions of Ethiopia.
News
RSG Tasks Farmers On N4bn Agric Loan ….As RAAMP Takes Sensitization Campaign To Four LGs In Rivers
The Rivers State Government has called on the people of the state especially farmers to access the ?4billion agricultural loans made available by the State and domiciled in the Bank of Industry.
This is as the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) of Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), a World Bank project, took its sensitization campaign to Opobo/Nkoro, Andoni, Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor local government areas.
The campaign was aimed at enlightening community dwellers and other stakeholders in the various local government areas on the RAAMP project implementation and programme activities.
The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Maurice Ogolo, said this at Opobo town, Ngo, Port Harcourt City and Rumuodumanya, headquarters of the four local government areas respectively, during the sensitization campaign.
Ogolo said apart from the ?4billion, the government has also made available fertilizers and other farm inputs to farmers in the various local government areas.
The Permanent Secretary who is the Chairman, State Steering Committee for the project, said RAAMP will construct roads that will connect farms to markets to enable farmers and fishermen sell their farms produce and fishes.
He also said rural roads would be constructed to farms and fishing settlements, and warned against any act that will lead to the cancellation of the projects in the four local government areas.
According to him, the World Bank and Federal Government which are the financiers of the programme will not condone such acts like kidnapping, marching ground and other acts inimical to the successful implementation of the projects in their respective areas.
At PHALGA, Ogolo asserted that the city will benefit in the areas of roads and bridge construction.
He noted that RAAMP was thriving in both the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; Lagos and other states in the country, stressing that the project should also be given the seriousness it deserves in Rivers State.
Speaking at Opobo town, the headquarters of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, the project coordinator, RAAMP, Mr.Joshua Kpakol, said the programme would reduce poverty in the state.
According to him, both fishermen and farmers will maximally benefit from the programme.
At Ngo which is the headquarters of Andoni Local Government Area, Kpakol said roads will be constructed to all remote fishing settlements.
He said Rivers State is lucky to be among the states implementing the project, and stressed the need for the people to embrace it.
Meanwhile, Kpakol said at PHALGA that RAAMP is a project that will transform the lives of farmers, traders and other stakeholders in the area.
He urged the stakeholders to spread the information to their various communities.
However, some of the stakeholders at Opobo town complained about the destruction of their farms by bulls allegedly owed by traditional rulers in the area, as well as incessant stealing of their canoes at waterfronts.
At Ngo, Archbishop Elkanah Hanson, founder of El-Shaddai Church, commended the World Bank and the Federal Government for bringing the projects to Andoni.
He stressed the need for the construction of roads to fishing settlements in the area.
Also, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in the state and Okan Ama of Ekede, HRH King Gad Harry, noted that storage facilities have become necessary for a successful agricultural programme.
Harry also stressed the need for the programme to be made sustainable.
In their separate speeches, the administrators of Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas, pledged their readiness to support the programme.
At Port Harcourt City, the Administrator, Dr Arthur Kalagbor, represented by the Head of Local Government Administration, Port Harcourt City, Mr Clifford Paul, said the city would support the implementation of the programme in the area.
Also, the administrator of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Dr Clifford Ndu Walter, represented by Mr Michael Elenwo, pledged to support the programme in his local government area.
Among dignitaries at the Obio/Akpor stakeholders engagement is the chairman, Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council and paramount ruler of Apara Kingdom, HRM Eze Chike Wodo, amongst others.
John Bibor
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the commencement of personnel audit and skill gap analysis across all cadres of federal civil servants.
The president gave this directive in Abuja, yesterday, while speaking at the International Civil Service Conference, reaffirming his resolve to achieve efficiency and professional service delivery in the civil service.
“I have authorized the comprehensive personnel audit and skill gap analysis across the federal civil service to deepen capacity. I urge all responsible stakeholders to prioritize timely completion of this critical exercise, to begin implementing targeted reforms, to realize the full benefit of a more agile, competent and responsive civil service,” the president announced.
Tinubu further directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to prioritise data integrity and sovereignty in national interest.
He called for the capture, protection and strategic publication of public sector data in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023.
“We must let our data speak for us. We must publish verified data assets within Nigeria and share them internationally recognized as fruitful. This will allow global benchmarking organisation to track our progress in real time and help us strengthen our position on the world stage. This will preserve privacy and uphold data sovereignty,” Tinubu added.
President Tinubu hailed the federal civil service as the “engine” driving his Renewed Hope Agenda, and the vehicle for delivering sustainable national development.
He submitted that the roles of civil servants remain indispensable in modern governance, declaring that in the face of a fast-evolving digital and economic landscape, the civil service must remain agile, future-ready, and results-driven.
“This maiden conference is a bold step toward redefining governance in an era of rapid transformation. An innovative Civil Service ensures we meet today’s needs and overcome tomorrow’s challenges.
“It captures our collective ambition to reimagine and reposition the civil service. In today’s rapid, evolving world of technology, innovation remains critical in ensuring that the civil service is dynamic, digital” the President said.
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack in her welcome address told the President that his presence and strong words of commendation at the conference has renewed the morale and mandate of public servants across the country.
Walson-Jack described Tinubu as the backbone of driving transformation in the Nigerian civil service, and noted that the takeaways from past study tours undertaken to understudy the civil service in Singapore, the UK and US under her leadership, is already yielding multiplier effects.
Walson-Jack assured Tinubu that her office, in collaboration with reform-minded stakeholders, will not relent in accelerating the implementation of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan, FCSSIP 25.
She affirmed that digitalisation, performance management, and continuous learning remain key pillars in strengthening accountability, transparency, and service delivery across MDAs.
Walson-Jack reaffirmed that the civil service is determined to exceed expectations by embedding a culture of innovation, ethical leadership, and citizen-centred governance in the heart of public administration.