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Speed Up Investigations, Trials To Decongest Prisons, Fubara Urges Police, Judiciary …As Reps Affirm Low Crime Rate In Rivers

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has called for speedy investigation of suspects arrested for crime and taken through unimpeded process of legal trails to ensure that they did not eventually get dumped in the correctional centres unduly on awaiting trial list.
This, he said, will place more demand on the Nigeria Police Force and the Judiciary to rise up to the challenge of ensuring that their institutions truly function effectively towards achieving desired successes of decongesting correctional centres and dispensing justice.
Governor Fubara insisted that such approach will contribute largely to solving the incidences of overcrowded correctional centres with awaiting trial inmates across the country, including the attendant financial burden required for their upkeep.
The Governor gave the charge when he received the House of Representatives Committee on Reformatory Institutions, led by its Chairman, Hon. Chinedu Ogah, on a courtesy visit to Government House in Port Harcourt on Monday.
The Governor said: “I know that the State Government, from time to time, I mean, through the Chief Judge, had visited the Correctional Centres, and after evaluation, and I have seen a few letters he has written about what he saw on his visit, and having confirmed, and accessed a few of the inmates, he had granted them either bail or pardon.
“But this issue goes back to one major thing: institutions that we call the Police Force and the Judiciary. Most of these issues that we are talking about; overcrowding of the Correctional Centres, might be due to delay in the trial of their cases. That is the truth.
“The other aspect is that you arrest somebody wrongfully or whatever, and the process of investigation takes two, three, four years. So, we need to make sure that our institutions are functioning effectively.
“And, if they are functioning effectively, I strongly believe that most of these issues of over-crowding of the Correctional Centres won’t be there.”
Governor Fubara said: “But, this is where we are, and we will continue to encourage our system to do it better. Maybe, if we had made these complaints earlier, some of the corrections would have been done.
“So, now that we are saying it, I believe they are hearing, and they will expedite action to make sure that some of these things are put to check.”
The Governor said his administration is focused on the need of Rivers people, adding that while addressing those needs, it is also mindful of the importance of properly integrating ex-convicts into the society.
Governor Fubara, however, advised: “We also need to ensure that proper evaluations are done to ensure that we are not endangering our people.
“It is not just to say we need to reintegrate them. We also need to do the proper thing to make sure that when they leave the centres, they can fit into the society.
“I think even in the Correctional Centres, they have vocational activities there. Some of them have the opportunity of running academic programmes online.
“So, first of all, they should also show this commitment that they want to change, that they want to be part of the system, coming back to the society, and we as a government, will do all we can make it possible.”
The Governor expressed delight that issues of the correctional centres attracted the attention of the National Assembly, which means that government is alive and up to its responsibility.
Governor Fubara also thanked members of the committee for the visit, and acknowledging the modest achievements of his administration so far, particularly in ensuring a reduction of crime in the State compared to what was inherited.
He said, “It goes to say just one thing: we know what the problem is, and we are tackling the problem from the root cause.
“What is the problem associated with crime: unemployment, insecurity. This insecurity is economic insecurity and that is what causes crime.
“It is a global issue, though but as a State, we will continue to do our best to see to it that our youths are engaged meaningfully, and are discouraged from associating with anything that will bring bad image to our State.”
Governor Fubara explained that his administration has continued to support the Controller of the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre with monthly subvention to assist in the day-to-day running of his office as well as other levels of assistance.
The Governor noted that most of the correctional centres were built over 80 years ago when nobody envisaged that the number of inmates will increase astronomically as witnessed now.
But he said that what the Federal Government is doing in the State by building new facilities to house inmates and the plan to relocate correctional centres in the city centre will be something to support.
“I will mandate the Secretary to the State Government to go and access what is going on there, and liaise with the appropriate authorities and see where we can come in to complete it so that this issue of having these Correctional Centres in the centre of the city which is not a good idea, at least, we can solve that problem once and for all.”
Governor Fubara charged the committee to play its part effectively by making the requisite laws and secure the legislative backing that can eventually correct the mistakes that have been noticed.
He explained, “It shouldn’t be something we just put in our Constitution. It should be given all the strength of implementation or execution of those laws. So, you should help us, do it right, and we will take it from there on the part of execution which is the duty of the Executive.”
Speaking further, Governor Fubara said: “Let me thank you, more especially for coming to see us. Let me on behalf of the Government and the good people of Rivers State, assure you that you have not made any mistake.
“You have done the right thing, and you have taken the right step. I believe that by the end of your visit, you are going to come up with recommendations that are going to help us solve some of these problems.
“But in all, we all have to put hands together to support this administration of our President. Nigeria is a very big and complex society; different ideologies, multi-cultural beliefs, social differences, but we are all here as one because of the flag of Nigeria.
“So, what we need to do is to ensure that we work as one, on one common interest to make sure that we sustain this entity called Nigeria. If Nigeria succeeds, we all succeed. And Nigeria will only succeed when we support the President.
“If Nigeria fails, everybody fails. The sub-nationals, like Rivers State, and any other state will also fail. You can’t succeed just as a state. Your success must be extended to the centre,” he added.
In his speech, the leader of the delegation and Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Reformatory Institutions, Hon. Chinedu Ogah, explained that they are in Rivers State to oversight all the Correctional Institutions domiciled in the State.
Hon. Ogah noted the gross neglect that the Correctional Service has suffered in the country, particularly in the aspect of security.
He listed four Correctional Service centres in Rivers State to include Port Harcourt, Ahoada, Degema and the Farm Settlement; with each housing about 4,000 inmates, adding that 91 percent of such inmates are awaiting trial.
Hon. Ogah said: “And most of these people are not yet convicted, and some of them are not being justified: what the case is all about. And the major issue, the negligence aspect of the security, is that they don’t care how to reintegrate, reform, bring them back into the society so they cannot indulge in crime.
“If we really look into it, we find out that, that is the only way we can ensure the security of lives and property in this country, by making sure that those we feel have already committed crimes are reformed and reintegrated into the society by giving them skills and opportunity so that they can have something to feed, and not go back to crime.
“And Your Excellency, from our records, we found out that since your assumption of office, there has been reduction of crime rate in Rivers State because of what you have done by empowering the youths in all the local governments economically, in all the wards by giving them a sense of belonging too. We have to commend you for that.”
Hon Ogah said further: “Rivers State is one of the places where the construction of 3,000-capacity centres is ongoing in Bori, and this construction has gotten up to 60 percent.
“But Your Excellency, you know the truth: Federal Government cannot do it alone, and as a Governor that knows the problems of the people, that is our essence of coming to you to partner with the Committee on Reformatory Institutions to know what we can do together to relocate that correctional service centre.”
He, therefore, solicited the support of the State Government to make the initiative of the Federal Government succeed for the peace and development of Rivers State and Nigeria.
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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
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Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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