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RSG Begins Rural Electrification …Lights Up 39 Stations

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The Rivers State Government has pledged to pay more attention to the electrification of rural communities across the state.
Commissioner for Power, Hon. Michael Anwari disclosed this in an interview with newsmen during a thanksgiving service/ reception organised in his honour by the Anwuri Royal Family of Rundele in Emohua Local Government Area.
Anwuri also said that the state government was working to ensure 24 hours power supply to the Port Harcourt metropolis.
On the issue of electricity tariff, the Commissioner said that government cannot do much about tariff, stressing that the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) was privately owned and that government can only appeal to the company as far as the issue of tariff was concerned.
He stressed the need for the people of Emohua and the entire Rivers State to give their full support to the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, promising that the government will provide quality service to the people in the coming years.
Also speaking with newsmen, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Chief Emeka Woke, commended the Anwuri family for the honour done to their son, describing the Commissioner as a brilliant fellow.
He also said that the restoration of light to the Rundele Community was in line with the New Vision programme of government.
In his welcome address, the Chairman, Ogbakor Ruonu Anwuri, Chief Christopher Anwuri, said that the familyand the entire Rundele Community were proud of the State Commissioner for Power.
Anwuri also advised youth of the community to shun quick money syndrome and other vices.
He expressed the hope that the commissioner will bring his wealth of experience, acquired over the years, to bear on his new assignment.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government has commenced operation light up the roads and streets project with 39 stations already operational.
The State Commissioner for Power, Michael Anwuri, who flagged-off the campaign, told newsmen, that the project was aimed at returning Port Harcourt to its Garden City status, improve night life, as well as night vision for motorists and security personnel.
So far, he stated that the route stretching from Ikwerre Road to Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa in Ikwerre Local Government Area; and Port Harcourt-Aba Express Road have been lit up while those of NTA-Mgbuoba-Ozuoba-Choba and Trans-Amadi roads are on-going.
Anwuri revealed that the street lights will be powered by generating plants stationed at specific locations with a transformer and power switch to regulate operations.
The Commissioner, however, lamented that the exercise was being frustrated by vandalism and theft of electrical installations.
“We are worried because while the project is on-going, vandals and thieves have continued to steal our equipment. Sometimes, they lay wait for our men and contractors to leave site, and they quickly remove what we have installed”, Anwuri lamented.
Anwuri called on the communities to help protect the equipment, recalling that last week at Oginigba in the Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Trans-Amadi, some of its armoured cables were stolen.
Stating that members of the public should either call the police or reach out to the ministry to report any incident, the Commissioner said the ministry was working with security agencies to help protect government property.
He also enlisted the support of the media to help enlighten the public, especially host communities on the need to protect government property and ensure the exercise was sustained.
In the same vein, the state Commissioner for Power has hinted that the government was working towards providing electricity to rural communities across the state in the near future.
He explained that the current economic crunch has contributed in delaying the plan, assuring that once the revenue profile of the state improves, many communities will be connected to the national grid.

 

John Bibor/Kevin Nengia

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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo

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The Sole Administrator of Emohua Local Government Area, Barr. Franklin Ajinwo, has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to supporting community development, peace, and progress, describing it as his life’s calling.
Ajinwo made this known on when Okporowo Vanguard—a foremost association dedicated to driving sustainable development in Okporowo community—paid him a courtesy visit at the Council Secretariat, Emohua.

Speaking during the visit, the Emolga  Council boss advised the group to shun internal wranglings and leadership tussles, cautioning that such impediments could undermine their collective goals. He emphasized that unity is strength, and true power comes only from God.

Highlighting his ongoing efforts in repositioning standards within Emohua Local Government, Barr. Ajinwo commended Okporowo Vanguard for initiating plans to conduct large-scale skills acquisition training for young people in Okporowo. He assured them of his steadfast support towards such developmental initiative.

The former Chairman of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Rivers State stressed the need for selfless service, saying it is essential for achieving peace, unity, and development in any community.

He applauded the group’s vision of empowering youths through skills acquisition, aligning it with global best practices aimed at reducing dependency on white-collar jobs.

Earlier, the President of Okporowo Vanguard, Hon. Israel Emeji, outlined Barr. Ajinwo’s numerous and impactful contributions to the development of Okporowo community.

According to him, every family in the community has benefited from Barr. Ajinwo’s dedicated employment initiatives.

Hon. Emeji disclosed that during his tenure as Head of Local Government Administration (HLGA) and as NULGE Chairman, Barr. Ajinwo facilitated the employment of over five hundred (500) individuals from Okporowo community—a record that informed the association’s decision to honour him with the Excellent Leadership Award.

In a vote of thanks, the Secretary of the group, Dr. Okechukwu Godwin Amadi, praised Barr. Ajinwo’s outstanding leadership and unwavering support, both before and after his appointment as Sole Administrator.

He thanked him for the warm reception and appreciated members of Okporowo Vanguard for their strong turnout and continuous support for the present administration.

In their separate remarks, Barr. Kelvin Ajinwo, Chief Polycarp Ndala, and other dignitaries present prayed for God’s continued guidance and protection over Barr. Ajinwo, describing him as a divine gift to the Okporowo community.

They expressed hope that he would be granted even more leadership opportunities to further uplift the living standards of the people.

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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP  …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

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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 

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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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