News
Fubara Unveils Steps To Boost Agriculture In Etche …As Omehia Flags Off Egwi-Afara-Mba Road Project Says Road’ll Enhance Connectivity, Economic Activities
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has acknowledged the food basket status of Etche land, and expressed the determination of his administration to boost agricultural activities in the area as agriculture tool to fight hunger and guarantee food sufficiency.
The Governor also said that the reconstruction of the Egwi-Afara-Mba Road is preparatory to the planned effort to increase commercial Agriculture in Etche land.
Governor Fubara gave the assurance at the official flag-off of the 12.3 Kilometres Egwi-Afara-Mba Road project in Etche Local Government Area, last Wednesday.
Governor Fubara stated that the gesture of the road construction, in part, is to express his gratitude to Etche people for their support and firm belief in him and his administration, adding: “Thank you for believing in us, and thank you for still standing with us. Our thank you will not be limited to the construction of roads alone. Our thank you will still extend to the development of your people: manpower development.
“This is because, if we finish (complete) the road project, and we don’t have the right manpower, the rightful employment opportunities and proper engagement of our youths, the road will still be useless. So, we are not going to limit it to just the road, but we will bring agricultural development to Etche, knowing fully well that Etche is the food basket of the State.
“So, what have come to do this afternoon is to do the preparation. This road is part of what we are going to use to transport those Agricultural produce that we are going to generate here.”
Governor Fubara urged the people to give the contractor all the necessary support to ensure that the project is achieved within six months, explaining that, should there be need to extend the completion timeline of six months, it should be because the road has been stretched beyond its current length to link Etche to Imo State as already requested by Ochie of Etche Ethnic Nationality, His Eminence, Eze E. M. B. Opurum.
He said, “So, I hereby direct the Hon Commissioner for Works to extend this project as requested by the Etche people. I am also aware that, once a good thing is about coming, there will be sabotage. You don’t need to fall into that trap. At the end of the day, this project belongs to the Etche people. It doesn’t belong to Fubara.
“I am not doing it with my money. It will be wrong to say I am doing it. The Rivers State Government, under my administration, is executing this project. So, it is not about me, it is about the people that we are serving. It is about the legacy we are leaving behind, and it is about the people that we are going to make happy when we leave the office.”
Governor Fubara explained that the policy of his administration is not to glorify in mere flag-off ceremonies but to ensure that the projects are executed, completed, inaugurated, and actually put to use, noting the importance of the road and significant benefits it affords all Etche sons and daughters, including those opposed to his administration.
Governor Fubara said: “This road will cut across and even in front of the houses of those who want to kill us. But this will be to tell them that the things that others couldn’t do for them, we are not looking at their faces but doing it. What we are doing is for the people of Etche”.
Flagging-off the project, former Governor of Rivers State, Sir Celestine Omehia, expressed delight for being the person to make history by laying the foundation stone for such infrastructure development in rural communities.
He asserted: “Etche is the cassava belt of Nigeria. The highest quantity of cassava produced in Etche and Ikwerre put together can feed Nigeria as long as it can. Your Excellency, one other thing that we can understand is that even the palm trees planted in the area by SIAT Nigeria Limited (formerly Risonpalm Company) are also important to the economic growth and development of Nigeria.”
It is for these reasons, he noted, that the Egwi-Afara-Mba Road project, is of immense economic importance, not only to the Etche people but to Nigeria in general.
He pointed to the fact that Rivers State is the most respected state because of the economic lifeline that it provides Nigeria, lamenting that it is disheartening to imagine that Rivers sons, in the guise of politics, will demarket the State and destroy its economic strength.
He added, “Many Rivers children who are outside the State are trying to bring Rivers State down. If you demarket your own State, no person will respect your State. There are many people outside Rivers State that are trying to demarket the State. Two, three years ago, Your Excellency, some leaders of the State were saying that Ministers from Rivers State must bring projects to the State. Today, we are asking questions.
“When Rotimi Amaechi was the Minister, people were asking questions to say: what are the projects you have brought? Today, we are asking the same question: how many projects have you brought into Etche? How many projects have we received in Ikwerre Local Government? How many projects have we received in Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality? We are waiting.”
Providing the project description, the State Commissioner for Works, Barrister Elloka Tasie-Amadi, said the Egwi-Afara-Mba Road project is scheduled for completion in nine months, clarifying that his ministry is doing its best by pressuring the contractor to take advantage of the clement weather and deliver the project in six months.
He said, “This road starts from Egwi; passes through Afara; and terminates at Mba in Etche Local Government Area. The road is 12.3 kilometres. We have 9,000 meters of drainage in the populated areas, and the road is 10.3 meters wide, 7.3 of the width is a carriageway, and 3 meters is the shoulder, 1.5 meters on the either side of the road”.
In his welcome address, Executive Chairman of Etche Local Government Area, Mr Uzodinma Nwafor, thanked Governor Fubara for being in Etche land thrice in two weeks to inaugurate, flag-off projects, and also attend Etche first festival of food, culture and art, and assured the total support of the people to the present administration.
On his part, Area Manager of Setraco Nigeria Ltd, the firm handling the project, Engr Michael Issa, said the road project is a vital infrastructure that is 12km long with 100meters connecting roads, accompanied by 8.8km of drainage systems, emphasising their delight and honour in being trusted to play a role in actualising it, just as he pledged to deliver quality road that will last a long time.
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
