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Redeem Your Financial Pledges, Oxfam Urges Nations

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Oxfam, an international organisation, has called on nations to honour their financial commitments made during the 27th Conference of Parties (COP27) convention on climate change.
The Oxfam Programme Manager for Accountable Governance in Nigeria, Mr Henry Ushe, made the call at a two-day workshop organised by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC), with the support of Oxfam in Port Harcourt.
The Tide’s source recalls that some developed countries had pledged $100 billion annually to support the low and middle income countries in their climate action efforts.
Oxfam said the actual amount already delivered was low with much of the finance provided as loans which aggravating debt burdens in vulnerable countries.
Ushe, however, stated that Nigeria had developed the gas master plan following its commitment to COP27 to transit energy to net zero by 2060 and to the Paris agreement of accelerating climate action.
He explained that Nigeria had also passed the Climate Justice Act and established its secretariat to work with CSOs and other stakeholders to ensure the total implementation of the policy framework.
“But what we haven’t seen since then is the financial commitment to be able to drive through with all of this policy; what we need is the financing of all these plans”, he said.
He said that was why they were calling on those who made financial pledges at COP27 to redeem them, ‘’while we hold our government to account, ensuring that the support is used judiciously.
“We are very optimistic about the safe transition because the country has put in place all the mechanism that is needed, including a very robust gas master plan”.
In his remarks, the Head, Community, Environmental Legal Desk of Natural Justice in Nigeria, Mr. Lawrence Dube, urged the regulatory agencies to structure and enforce global energy security.
Dube, who spoke on the “Aligning Gas Plans with Climate  Goals”, urged government to put the policy framework into use, bringing investors to the round table discussion for investment and partnership.
On hosoart, the Chairman, Civil Society National Regulation Council of Nigeria, Mr. Harry Udoh, decried the slow pace of the implementation of the plans since 2007 till date.
Udoh urged government to accelerate gas infrastructure development, invest in pipeline networks, processing plants and storage facilities to improve market access.
He recommended that there should be expansion of virtual gas pipelines like the CNG and LNG trucking system to reach under served areas.
He called for the strengthening of partnership within the West Africa Gas Pipeline (WAGP) to enhance regional energy security among others.
Earlier, the Programme Lead, Department of Tax Justice, Environment, and Conservation of Nature in CISLAC,  Mr. Ayo Omowu, urged the country to implement the  policy framework for the renewable energy and its sustainable development goals for 2060.
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Rivers Judges Resumes Duty After Easter Holidays

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Judges of the High Court, Rivers State state Port Harcourt have resumed their normal Court sitting on Wednesday 30th April 2025 after spending fifteen days this year’s Easter holidays.

It will be recalled that the State High Court Judges had proceeded on Easter vacation on Monday April 14 to 29th ,2025 on the approval of the state chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi.

A statement signed by the Chief Registrar, High Court Rivers State, Port Harcourt, David Ihua _maduenyi, esq said the judges are to resume court sitting on Wednesday 30th April, 2025 in line with the earlier directives from the state chief judge and urged the general public to take notice of the resumption date.

“This is to inform the general public that the judges of the High court of the Rivers state shall resume normal Court sitting after Easter vacation on Wednesday, 30th April, 2025.

“Recall that the chief judge of Rivers state, Hon justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi had earlier directed that judges of the high court of Rivers state, should proceed on Easter vacation from Monday, 18 April 2025 to Tuesday, 29th April, 2025.”

“The general public should take notice:the High court of Rivers state shall resume sitting on Wednesday, 30th April 2025.”

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RSU Promotes Staff Well Being through Free Medical Checks

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The Management of the Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, has approved annual free medical checks for all staff of the University. The move is to promote staff sound health and productivity at work place.

 

The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Isaac Zeb-Obipi, disclosed this during the third edition of the “Walk for Life” health, wellness and fitness exercise, held last Saturday.

 

According to the Vice-Chancellor, the new health policy will enable every staff member of the University to undergo free comprehensive medical check-up on their birthdays, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to promoting the health and wellbeing of staff members.

 

Professor Zeb-Obipi emphasized that regardless of whether a staff member’s birthday falls on a weekend, the initiative applies to all Rivers State University employees, expressing optimism that the Health Services Department has the required manpower and facilities to manage the novel health policy.

 

To achieve the policy, the VC said that the Establishment Division will liaise with the Health Services to compile the birthdays of all staff and send notification two or three days before the days their birthdays fall, reminding them to go for their free medical check-up.

 

Highlighting the importance of active leadership, the Vice-Chancellor stated that leadership requires direct engagement with the people, a principle he called “management by walking the floor,” rather than managing from behind closed doors. He emphasized that policies should be crafted from direct engagement with employees to understand their challenges.

 

He noted that this edition of the “Walk for Life” health fitness programme serves as a practical example of this management style, allowing him to interact with members of the university community and observe firsthand the need for regular health checks. He described the walk as a “worthy exercise,” pointing out that since most university work is sedentary, periodic physical activities such as the Walk for Life are crucial for the health and productivity of the staff.

 

The Vice-Chancellor also noted that this month’s “Walk for Life” coincides with the World Malaria Week, underlining the University’s commitment to supporting global health initiatives with the pledge that “Malaria must end with us.”.

 

Earlier, the Director of Health Services Department, Dr. Dagogo Cookey-Gam, charged the university community to visit the Medical Centre for testing before treatment of malaria. He said parents should watch out for children under 5 years because they can come under severe malaria attack, adding that pregnant women should also be mindful not to be exposed of having malaria due to their low immune system.

 

Dr. Cookey-Gam noted that malaria can be prevented by maintaining a clean environment and using mosquito nets.

 

On his part, the Director of the University Sports Unit, Prof. Joseph Vipene, thanked the Vice-Chancellor for sustaining the monthly “Walk for Life” initiative, assuring that the programme which has come to stay has placed the University in an enviable position for others to emulate.

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Police Investigate Officer’s Suicide In PH

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The Police Command in Rivers State has confirmed the commencement of an investigation into the death of a police officer who allegedly took his own life in Port Harcourt.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this to journalists on Tuesday in Port Harcourt.
“We received a report about an officer who allegedly killed himself.
“However, we are currently investigating the report to ascertain what transpired”, she stated.
Iringe-Koko reported that the Commissioner of Police in the Sstate, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) for a thorough investigation.
According to viral reports Monday, Insp. Maxwell Zabu, formerly a security detail to Victor Ihunwo, a former Chairman of Port Harcourt City Council, allegedly shot himself at Ihunwo’s residence in Eagle Island, Port Harcourt.
A source familiar with the incident said the matter was reported to the Azikiwe Police Division in the area.
“Following the report, detectives from the division visited the scene as part of preliminary investigation procedures”, the source added.

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