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RSG Promises Even Development …Plans State wide Prayer, Praise Crusade
The Rivers State Government has reiterated its determination to bequeath purposeful governance that would ensure even development in all parts of the state.
The state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, stated this while addressing mammoth supporters of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in Buguma, Asari-Toru Local Government Area, during a Thanksgiving Service and victory celebration organized by Kengema Unity Forum (KUF) to mark the Supreme Court victory of the party.
Wike, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo, assured that with the court distractions over, his administration is poised to concentrate on delivering the dividends of democracy to the people.
He promised that the state government under his administration would provide unparallel leadership that would impact on the lives of Rivers citizens and solicited for support, cooperation as well as understanding of the people.
Wike explained that the abandoned Trans-Kalabari Road by the previous government would be completed by his administration, noting that the road project has been provided for in the 2016 state budget.
The state chief executive used the occasion to appeal to the Kalabari people to be peaceful during the March 19, 2016, re-run elections into the State and National Assemblies, adding that no innocent blood should be shed as a result of the elections.
He noted that majority of the people of Asari-Toru Local Government Council are PDP members, and enjoined them to vote all the party candidates in the re-run elections to guarantee smooth governance.
Wike thanked the Caretaker Committee (CTC) Chairman of Asari Toru LGA, Soboma Jackrich, for ensuring peaceful co-existence in Buguma and its environs, and the Kengema Unity Forum for their continued support to his administration.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Ominin Jack, expressed happiness with the performance of the governor in just a few months in office, and urged the opposition parties to join hands with PDP in the development of the state.
In their separate remarks, Special Adviser to the Governor on Urban Beautification and Parks, Hon. Daisy West, and the PDP candidate for the forthcoming re-run election for the House of Representatives, Hon. Tekena Granville, thanked the Supreme Court for affirming the mandate given Wike by the people of the state at the April 11, 2015 elections.
The CTC Chairman of Asari-Toru Local Government Area, Soboma Jackrich, thanked the people for supporting Wike and the PDP in the state to victory.
Highpoint of the victory celebration was the defection of an All Progressive Congress (APC) stalwart, Chief Prince LongJohn to the PDP.
Mean while the Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo, says the state government has concluded plans to kick-start a state-wide Prayer and Praise Crusade that will reposition the state for greater prospects.
Banigo disclosed this during the 49th Birthday and Thanksgiving Service of the General Overseer of Kingdom Life Gospel Church, Bishop Victor Uzosike in Port Harcourt.
She noted that the crusade, which will cut across the entire state, would be coordinated by anointed ministers of God in partnership with the state government.
“Rivers State Prayer and Praise Crusade is what we are going to use in lifting Rivers people. We dedicated the state to God in September last year and our great state is now Born Again,” she declared.
The deputy governor said the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike’s administration was desirous to leave behind worthy legacy in the New Rivers State Project, and solicited for the support of all and sundry.
Banigo, while extolling the virtues of Bishop Uzosike, described him as reliable, trustworthy and God-fearing religious leader that has impacted lives of thousands of people with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Earlier in her sermon, titled ‘Kingdom Dominion’, the wife of the Bishop, Pastor Esther Uzosike, identified faith and thanksgiving as key principles of working in dominion, while urging Christians to imbibe thanksgiving in their daily lifestyle.
The event featured cutting of the birthday cake as well as prayer for the state government.
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.