Rivers
RSG Moves To Protect Vulnerable Children
The Rivers State Government has planned a regulatory framework to ensure the protection of vulnerable children and those outside the family setting.
The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Mrs. Lorreta Dimkpa, disclosed this in Port Harcourt while declaring open the maiden validation meeting on the Alternative Child Care Guidelines in Port Harcourt, the State capital.
The Permanent Secretary, whose address was delivered by Mrs. Queen Maxwell, said the meeting is in line with the government’s broader vision to advance the welfare of the orphans and other vulnerables, while promoting community-based care, re-unification and reintegration.
According to the Permanent secretary, her Ministry is also in partnership with relevant stakeholders to revise and update the country’s alternative Care framework with the general objective of establishing a regulatory instrument that enhances the quality of services provided by government and non-governmental organizations involved in child care.
She described the meeting as significant as it marks a critical milestone “in our collective effort to strengthen child protection systems and promote the rights and welfare of every child in Rivers State.
“When we speak of Alternative Child Care, we refer to the process through which the government ensures that children who are deprived of parental care, or are at risk of being so, are provided with adequate protection and appropriate forms of care.
“These guidelines are designed to ensure that such children enjoy safe, nurturing, and family-like environments that promote their full and harmonious development.
“This initiative derives its foundation from key national and international instruments: the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended), which guarantees the protection of children’s rights; the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC); the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC); and Nigeria’s Child Rights Act of 2003.
“Collectively, these frameworks mandate government at all levels to ensure that no child suffers neglect, exploitation, or deprivation of care.”
Dimkpa, however, expressed regret that in recent years, Rivers State has witnessed rising concerns regarding children in vulnerable circumstances, those affected by poverty, displacement, family disintegration, or abuse, adding that “these realities call for renewed action and coordinated strategies to safeguard our children’s future.”
She said it will also “prevent unnecessary separation of children from their families, and ensure that when alternative care becomes necessary, the type and quality of care provided truly serve the best interests of the child.
“Through this validation meeting, the Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, in partnership with relevant stakeholders, seeks to revise and update the country’s alternative care framework with the general objective of establishing a regulatory instrument that enhances the quality of services provided by governmental and non-governmental organizations involved in childcare.
“This exercise also aligns with the State Government’s broader commitment under the leadership of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Rivers State, to advance the welfare of orphans and Other Vulnerable Children (OVC), while promoting community-based care, reunification and reintegration, foster care, and adoption as more sustainable and family-oriented alternatives.
“This meeting represents a pilot phase of our collective resolve to reimagine child care systems in Rivers State, ensuring that institutional care remains a short-term and last-resort option”, she said.
Speaking with newsmen, the State Coordinator For Child Protection Network, Rivers State, Iringi Irimagha, said the guidelines was to ensure that children who are vulnerable or about to be vulnerable as a result of parents death or other incident are well taken care of.
She said the guidelines was developed by The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, stressing that it is now the responsibility of states to demosticate the guidelines in their respective states.
Irimagha added that “what we are doing here is the validation for Rivers state.”
Speaking with newsmen, Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Tombari Dumka Koote, said the validation of Alternative Child Care was all about institutionalising the care for children outside the family setting.
He said stakeholders at the validation meeting have also agreed to demosticate the document in the state.
By: John Bibor, Alikor Miracle, Igwe Young, & Birane Progress
The Eze Oha Evo III of Evo Kingdom, His Majesty, King Leslie N. Eke, has pledged his support for the governorship aspiration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in Rivers State, Kingsley Ogundu Chinda.
He gave the assurance when members of the Divine Mandate Progressive Movement (DMPM), a support group for the APC governorship candidate, led by its leader, His Most Royal Eminence, Cardinal Jephthah Ikezim, paid him a courtesy visit at his palace in Woji Community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Friday.
The Monarch, who also is the Eze Gbakagbaka and Chairman, Supreme Council of Ikwerre Government Recognized Traditional Rulers, said his decision to support the project was influenced by the group’s conviction that Chinda’s emergence as the next governor of Rivers State was divinely inspired.
According to him, no individual has the power to frustrate the will of God, stressing that he identified with the movement because of what he described as its divine mandate.
“As a traditional ruler overseeing 33 communities, I have my vote, and my vote is my conscience and I will vote my son”, the monarch stated.
The Eze Woji XII urged members of the group to remain steadfast and focused in pursuing their objective, warning them against distractions that could derail the vision.
He observed that any mandate, no matter how noble, could be undermined if those championing it failed to remain committed and united in purpose.
Describing Chinda as an articulate, brilliant and intelligent lawyer, King Eke, who is also the Grand patron of the group, expressed confidence that he possesses the capacity to provide purposeful leadership if elected governor of Rivers State in 2027.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Cardinal Jephthah Ikezim, said the group visited the monarch to seek his royal blessings and support for the governorship ambition of Chinda.
He noted that while prayers remained essential, they must be complemented with active political engagement and grassroots mobilisation to actualise the aspiration.
Cardinal Ikezim appealed to Rivers people to embrace what he described as a divinely inspired project and give it the necessary support ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
He disclosed that the Divine Mandate Progressive Movement would embark on mobilisation across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State to canvass support and votes for the APC governorship candidate.
By: King Onunwor
The Kalabari Renaissance Foundation, organisers of the Kalabari New Year Festival, has formally endorsed the Minama Community in the Asari-Toru Local Government of Rivers State as the host of the 2027 edition of the festival.
A statement signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the Foundation, Mr. Harry Awolayeofori Mcmorrison and Ibiba Don-Pedro, respectively, states that Minama was chosen to host immediately after Elem-Kalabari because of the special historical ties between Minama and the founding fathers of Kalabari.
According to the statement, the festival, planned for November 16, 2026, promises to be bigger because of the accessibility of the venue by road and the opportunity to revisit the history of Kalabari in its undiluted form.
The statement also notes that even more attractive are the unique spiritual and cultural contents in Minama that a lot of people would want to see and benefit from.
The Foundation used the opportunity to publicly thank the Amayanabo of Minama, HRH King, Dr. Iboroma Pokubo, Loku Xll, and the Minama Council of Chiefs, for accepting to host the new year festival this November.
To facilitate another successful outing, the Foundation called for financial support, advertising and vendors.
It also announced the appointment of a new Finance and Fundraising Committee and Contact and Mobilisation Committee.
As usual, the festival would include cultural displays, boat regatta, environmental rejuvenation and keynote speeches. Also expected are troupes from neighbouring kingdoms, the Nigerian Tourism Board, diaspora presentations, among others.
The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Hon. Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi, has said the Rivers State Multi-Door Courthouse (RSMDC) was primarily established to decongest the High Courts and bring justice administration closer to the people.
Speaking last recently while declaring open the 2026 RSMDC Second Statewide Settlement Week at the High Court Complex in Port Harcourt, Justice Amadi, who also chairs the RSMDC Governing Council, stressed that the fees must remain low, because low costs will encourage litigants to choose the Multi-Door Courthouse over the High Court.
“Whatever the RSMDC is doing is what the Rivers State Judiciary is doing”, he noted, adding that affordability is central to the court’s alternative dispute resolution mission.
The Chief Judge also announced a change for future exercises, saying that judges will be present at the next Settlement Week.
He advised that subsequent editions should not be scheduled during court vacation when judicial officers are away.
“As you all know, we have started our vacation and judges are on vacation. Settlement Week is not for a particular litigant, judge, lawyer, NBA branch, or magistrate”, he said, “the process, must involve all stakeholders.
“To achieve this, the next Settlement Week will be held during the legal year. That week will be declared a ‘free week’ so that lawyers will not be required to appear in any other court.”
Justice Amadi further disclosed that a new committee has been set up to review the current RSMDC fees, which he described as “very, very low”, and explained that the review aims to keep the fees accessible and further encourage litigants to use the Multi-Door Courthouse instead of the High Court and Magistrate Courts.
According to him, “The Multi-Door Courthouse was not established to make revenue for the Rivers State Government, but to help decongest the High Court and bring justice nearer to the people.”
The Chief Judge congratulated the RSMDC and the Alternative Dispute Resolution judges for successfully hosting the first RSMDC Settlement Week in September 2025.
He also commended them for the improved preparations ahead of the second edition, and thanked all volunteer mediators, conciliators, arbitrators, and neutral evaluators offering their services at no cost, and also acknowledged the support of the High Court, Customary Court, Appeal Court, and Magistrate Courts.
Amadi urged parties and their lawyers to cooperate and act responsibly before the neutrals, qhile also charging the volunteer neutrals to remain impartial and give every party and lawyer a fair hearing.
“Take the Settlement Week and your work seriously because people are watching”, he advised.
In his welcome address, the Director of RSMDC, Victor E. Nweke, explained that Section 32 of the RSMDC Law 2019 defines a Settlement Week as a period set aside by the Chief Judge for designated courts to clear case backlogs.
Cases are mandatorily referred to the RSMDC for possible resolution through mediation, arbitration, neutral evaluation, or other ADR procedures.
According to him, Section 3(h) lists Settlement Week as a periodic ADR activity. Section 18(1)(e) provides for mandatory referral, where a party applies for a matter to be referred to the RSMDC.
Although ADR is ordinarily consensual, the law empowers courts to manage their dockets with RSMDC’s assistance. The Chief Judge may also refer matters upon filing, and after resolution, assign them to an ADR judge or any other judge under Section 4(1) and (6).
Nweke said both civil and criminal matters suitable for ADR can be referred during Settlement Week.
He said, Civil matters typically include commercial and family disputes, and ADR can handle ancillary issues in divorce such as child custody, property settlement, and maintenance, while the final divorce order must come from a competent court.
For criminal matters, the RSMDC does not conduct trials but helps parties explore reconciliation where permitted, with reports sent back to court.
This year, 48 mediators and 14 arbitrators will participate, with 12 mediation panels and 3 arbitral tribunals — one more tribunal than last year.
He appealed to lawyers and litigants to cooperate with the RSMDC to strengthen the Dispute Systems Design of Rivers State through mediation, arbitration, early neutral evaluation, and hybrid processes.
In a goodwill message, Justice Adolphus Enebeli (Rtd.) also commended the Chief Judge and the RSMDC Director for their commitment to expanding access to justice.
Also speaking, the Director of the Bayelsa Multi-Door Courthouse, and the representative of the Association of Directors of the Multi-Door Courthouses in Nigeria, Nyingi Eke-Spiff, in her goodwill message, noted that the Rivers State Multi-Door Courthouse is developing rapidly, and expressed happinees over her associate with the developmental strides.
By: Kiadum Edookor