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NDDC Completes 742 Projects In Rivers

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The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has completed 742 projects spread across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State.

The commission’s’ Director, Corporate Affairs, Mr Ibitoye Abosede, stated this in a statement in Abuja, last Tuesday.

Abosede said the projects included regional roads, hospitals, bridges, electricity supply, shoreline protection, reclamation and school hostels.

He quoted the representative of Rivers State on the board of the commission, Harry Dabibi, as saying that the NDDC had so far awarded 1,688 projects.

Dabibi said that the commission was currently working on 536 projects, out of which, 140 were big ticket projects.

He added that 742 projects had been completed, 134 had been inaugurated, while 34 others were awaiting inauguration.

He urged all NDDC contractors to fulfil their obligations to the commission by delivering the projects on schedule and according to specifications.

“Contractors that are not on site or fail to keep to specifications will have themselves to blame because the NDDC will not hesitate to take appropriate measures to bring them to book,” he warned.

He said that the big time projects were progressing satisfactorily, and expressed satisfaction on the level of work at the 4.72-km Kaa-Ataba Road and bridge project in Khana Local Government Area.

Dabibi, however, stated that NDDC expected the contractor to put in more efforts to quicken the pace of work.

He noted that some of the problems that had previously slowed down the pace of work on NDDC projects had been addressed.

According to him, the contractors are now paid as soon as they present their Interim Payment Certificates (IPC).

He charged contractors working for the NDDC to buckle up as “the commission would not entertain excuses for non-performance.

“Our contractors must prioritise prompt and early completion of projects. Where there are challenges, we should know immediately,” Dabibi stressed.

The Rivers State NDDC representative said he was happy with the quality of work on some important projects like the Abalama internal roads in Asari-Toru Local Government Area.

Dabibi described the completed projects as not only commendable but a testimony to the commitment of some local contractors to the objective of delivering quality projects to the people.

He decried the level of work on the 3.65-km Okrika-Borokiri Road with three bridges connecting Kolabi, Abotoru and Okpoka creeks to Port Harcourt.

Dabibi said that work on the project had slowed down, and pointed out that NDDC was making efforts to quicken the pace of work at the site.

He said that the Niger Delta Regional Specialist Hospital in Port Harcourt comprising Orthopaedic and Cardiovascular units was being replicated in Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Delta states.

He said that when completed, the orthopaedic hospital would deal with the correction of injuries to the skeletal system, associated muscles, joints and ligaments while the cardiovascular unit would treat heart problems.

Dabibi also commended the contractors handling the Nigerian Police barracks at the Special Protection Unit, Base 6 at Omagwa in the outskirts of Port Harcourt.

He noted that the complex included an administrative building and six blocks of residential quarters.

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Why Wike Is Playing God In Rivers -Asari Dokubo

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A former Niger Delta militant, Asari Dokubo, has claimed that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is “playing god” in the current political crisis that has pitched him against the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
Dokubo also chided President Bola Tinubu for, according to him, handing over “Rivers and Bayelsa” to the ex-governor.
“He is now playing god. It is dead on arrival, all those things that he is doing,” Dokubo said in a video that surfaced on X.com on Monday.
He added, “I advise my friend, President Bola Tinubu; what you are doing to all Ijaw, Ikwerre people in Rivers State (sic). You took Rivers state and gave it one man”
In April, Fubara revealed that the administration has raised the monthly Internally Generated Revenue of the state from N12 billion which he met upon assumption of office to N27 billion.
Dokubo described the development as commendable while alleging that the governor only had access to N6 billion when he assumed office.
“The governor had come out to say that the IGR for Rivers State is now N27bn up from N12bn. The governor is even being economical with the truth. When the governor came in, they were giving him a paltry sum of N6bn,” he said.
Meanwhile, in another twist to the ongoing crisis, Fubara on Monday said that he would set up a panel of inquiry to look into the affairs of governance in the state.
He disclosed this during the swearing-in and administration of the oath of office on Dagogo Iboroma, SAN, as the Attorney General of the state and Commissioner for Justice.
The governor criticized recent comments by the former Attorney-General of the State and Justice Commissioner, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, SAN, who resigned from his cabinet over a fortnight ago and urged the new Attorney-General to defend the state.
He stated, “It is not the one that while you were here… the only thing you do is to sabotage the government.
“Instead of you to close your mouth, you publicly claim that you’re a learned person to tell people that you’re the Chief Law Officer. Chief Law Officer, you were here and went to stand before a Magistrate Court.
“At that time you didn’t remember that you’re a Chief Law Officer going against the ethics of your job.”

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Investors, Tourists To Get Visa Within 48 Hours, FG Assures

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The Federal Executive Council chaired by President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a tripartite committee to streamline visa processes and acquisition for investors interested in investing in Nigeria.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, revealed this, yesterday, after the FEC meeting held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“Our visa processes are becoming cumbersome. The ease of doing business is also tied to our visa processes.
“Going forward, those investors, tourists would find it easy to acquire a visa within the next 48 hours,” Idris said.
The meeting which began on Monday was adjourned till Tuesday to allow for other “far-reaching” decisions, the information minister had told journalists.

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Panel To Probe Governance In Rivers Underway -Fubara …Swears In Iboroma As New Attorney-General

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Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared his readiness to set up a panel of inquiry to look into the affairs of governance in the state.
Fubara disclosed this during the swearing-in and administration of the oath of office on Dagogo Iboroma, SAN, as the new Attorney General of the state and Commissioner for Justice.
The governor criticised recent comments by the former Attorney-General of the State and Justice Commissioner, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, SAN, who resigned from his cabinet over a fortnight ago and urged the new Attorney-General to defend the state.
Fubara stated, “It is not the one that while you were here… the only thing you do is to sabotage the government.
“Instead of you to close your mouth, you publicly claim that you’re a learned person to tell people that you’re the Chief Law Officer. Chief Law Officer, you were here and went to stand before a Magistrate Court.
“At that time you didn’t remember that you’re a Chief Law Officer going against the ethics of your job.”
Addressing the new AG, the governor said, “You have a big task. As it is today in the local parlance, they say the jungle has matured. We will be setting a panel of inquiry to investigate the affair of governance.”
The governor further said there was a deliberate attempt to sabotage his administration, saying, “If we disagree, no matter how bad it is, it should be resolved.
“But it has become very clear that this disagreement there is no headway to it, and for many reasons, there is very visible evidence that there is sabotage, a deliberate attempt to sabotage this administration.
“Maybe where they are they are telling them nothing will happen, it is happening here live, we have our own legislators that are performing their duties according to the Constitution. So that record is threatened.”

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