News
RSG Seals Seven Water Factories In PH …Hails Supreme Court Over Injunction On Oil Wells
The Rivers State Government has commenced a clampdown on illegal and substandard water factories across the state.
The operation, which is led by the Commissioner for Water Resources, Dr Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja, commenced with the sealing off of seven substandard water factories around Diobu area of Port Harcourt.
The team carried out inspections on a number of water factories in Port Harcourt where the defaulting factories were sealed.
The commissioner, who spoke to journalists after the inspection, assured Rivers people of government’s commitment to ensuring that quality water is delivered to the public.
Gogo-Jaja said, “the intention of government is to protect the people of Rivers State, protect those who live and do business here, the health of our people is very important.
“The interest of government is to ensure that weather private or public, we deliver quality water to our people and in so doing it is our responsibility as a ministry to ensure that those who are into this industry, shouldn’t be there to make profit, they should be there to render services which should be commensurate with the charges they are imposing on people and residents of Rivers State.
“What we saw in the field I must say are quite disappointing. You will discover that our people are served with low standard either in the name of table water, sachet water or bottled water. We observed that some of them do this business in the worst of environment. Some of them don’t bother about hygiene.”
The commissioner also disclosed that some water factories were given two weeks to improve on their facilities.
In another development, the Rivers State Government has commended the Supreme Court for issuing an injunction to stop the Federal Government from ceding 12 oil wells from the state to Imo State.
The Commissioner for Finance and Planning, Barrister Isaac Kamalu, said Rivers State Government filed the suit at the Supreme Court against the Federal Government of Nigeria and its agencies from carrying out the ceding of the oil well at Akri and Mbede after a high court in a judgment on Wednesday awarded the oil wells in the border territories to Imo State.
Kamalu said the state had to rush to the Supreme Court after the judgment of the High Court, which purportedly acted on a supposed boundary demarcation done by some Federal Government agencies to cede the disputed territories to Imo State.
“The court has directed that the Attorney General of the Federation and agencies of the Federal Government should abstain from doing anything in respect of the matter that is before the court pending the determination of motion on notice,” Kamalu said.
The Supreme Court ordered that nothing be done with respect to the ceding of the oil wells until the suit filed by Rivers State Government was determined.
By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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