Rivers

Five Persons Feared Abducted Along Bonny River

Published

3 years ago

August 11, 2021

Five persons are feared abducted in the early hours of yesterday along the Bonny River close to the Federal Ocean Terminal, Onne.
The Officer-in-Charge of the Marine Police, Bonny, Solomon Adeniyi, a Superintendent of Police, who confirmed this, disclosed that “five people were kidnapped after Onne in a 10 passenger speedboat around 0730Hours this morning”.
He further informed that the victims were “two females and three males,” clarifying that “based on jurisdiction, the incident has been reported to the Marine Police in Port Harcourt by the boat driver, while we assist them to rescue the victims”.
An official of the Bonny Youth Federation (BYF), who prefers anonymity further revealed that the attacked speedboat was “a one outboard engine powered speedboat that carries 10 passengers which was on its way from Bonny to Port Harcourt this morning”.
He narrated that five of the passengers were abducted and the other passengers allowed to continue the journey to Port Harcourt, adding that the abductees were yet to be identified and their destination yet unknown.
Recall that since the Isaka 12 incident in January, the Bonny-Port Harcourt sea route has been quiet from attacks of sea pirates until this morning’s incident.
In a related development, the Chairman of Bonny Local Government Area, David Rogers Irimagha has vowed to fish out perpetrators of the incident that occurred at the NLNG Waterwell 6 in the early hours last Saturday, that led to the death of a private security guard, one Joseph John.
John is a native of Nasarawa State, but resided in Bonny Local Government Area.
Irimagha said his administration was committed to enforce human rights, rule of law and security of lives and property of the populace, adding that his administration would not abandon her constitutional responsibility no matter what happens.
While assuring that security agencies in Bonny Local Government Area are currently on top of the situation and working with relevant stakeholders to fish out the perpetrators, the Bonny Local Government boss assured that those involved would face the full wrath of the law.
“Let me assure the people of Bonny Local Government Area and all stakeholders of your safety and security and urge you all to remain calm and go about your lawful businesses as the security agencies are on alert to ensure the safety and security of all,” he added.
The Tide reports that the incident had occurred on Saturday, August 7, 2021 with the assault on a private security guard, Joseph John by yet-to-be-identified thugs, which resulted in his death while receiving treatment at a medical facility, St. Charles Surgery, Akiama, Bonny.

By: Kevin Nengia

Rivers

FG inaugurates PH-Aba Rail Project … As Train Service Begins

Published

8 hours ago

May 8, 2024

The Tide

The Federal Government has inaugurated the 6.2 kilometre (KM) Port Harcourt-Aba railway project, marking the start of train operations between Abia and Rivers States.

The Minister of Transportation, Sen. Saidu Alkali, who said this at a ceremony in Port Harcourt, noted that the project was a crucial part of the 1,443km Port Harcourt to Maiduguri narrow gauge rail project.

He said the Port Harcourt to Aba section of the project was the initial part of the Eastern narrow-gauge railway, aiming to connect five geo-political zones of the country.

“The Federal Government is pleased to inaugurate the train service from Port Harcourt to Aba, a key priority area of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

“We are grateful to God for the completion of the Port Harcourt to Aba section, which will bring succour to the people.

“The Eastern narrow gauge covers five geo-political zones of the country, including South-South, South-East, North-Central, North- West and North-East”, he said.

Alkali said following the completion of the first segment and the start of commercial operations, work on the remaining part of the rail line would begin immediately.

“Shortly, we will take a train ride from Port Harcourt to Aba, which means that from today, passenger train service has commenced.

“We will continue the project from Aba to Enugu and from Port Harcourt to both Onne and Port Harcourt seaports for freight services.

“The ministry is currently in discussion with an investor to convert our locomotive from diesel to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to reduce transportation cost further”, he said.

The Minister assured Nigerians that arrangements were being made with security agencies to ensure adequate security along the rail routes.

He also announced free train rides from Port Harcourt to Aba between May 1 to May 4.

“The train will depart from Port Harcourt to Aba at 8 a.m. daily, while it will leave Aba to Port Harcourt at 3 p.m. daily.

“Full commercial operations will resume on May 7, 2024″, he said.

Muhammad Zakari, the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, said the project when completed would boost trade, enhance mobility and connectivity between the Southern and Northern part of the country.

He said the segment of the project was contracted to Messrs China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC) on October 16, 2020, with a 36-month completion timeline.

“But due to technical and contractual issues, the project commenced in March 2022, involving the construction of modern stations and procurement of new rolling stock.

“The railway line will also connect the seaports of Onne, Bonny, and Port Harcourt to facilitate evacuation of goods and sundry freight through the Eastern corridor”, he said.

Zakari emphasised that upon completing the Port Harcourt to Aba railway, the Federal Government would push CCECC to expedite the completion of the 181km Aba-Enugu section of the project.

He said he was optimistic that inauguration of the Port Harcourt to Aba rail service would stimulate economic activities between the South-South and South-East zones of the country.

Rivers

Run Higher Education As Private Enterprise – Don

Published

8 hours ago

May 8, 2024

The Tide

A lecturer at The University of Port Harcourt, Professor Chineze Monica Uche, has advocated that higher education be run as a private enterprise in Nigeria.

Uche, who said this at the 187th inaugural lecture of the University, said higher education should be run as an enterprise and be managed with enterprising leadership skills.

The lecture was titled, “Twenty First Century University Administration in Managing Higher Education As An Enterprise”.

According to the university Don, tertiary institutions need to transform their research products to enterprise and not just for library shelves, offices and homes.

She emphasized that the mantra, “publish or perish”, should be changed to “publish, patent and prosper”.

Professor Uche said “institutions have to be entrepreneurial and investment friendly, internationalized, globalized, ICT compliant, quality assurance driven, engaging in collaboration, partnerships and be anchored on effective and efficient leadership that is enterprising and profitable”.

She emphasized that a 21st century higher education should be quality based and technologically driven, noting that in managing higher education as an enterprise, the adminstrator should be an administrator per excellent and efficient manager.

“He’s a bureaucrat, a friend, colleague, politician and visionary transformation leader. If we manage our work well, be it teaching, research, learning, administration, we will prosper and make profit to ourselves, institutions and society at large. If not, we will be at loss and our stay here will be a waste”, she opined.

Professor Chineze Uche, whose husband, Sir igweka Uche, is a renowned entrepreneur, recommended among others, self development among higher education administrators, saying that “money is key to open doors, strategic innovation and alternative funding method should be involved in curriculum development”.

Peculiar Imegi

Rivers

Christ Embassy Lays Foundation For Tuition Free School In Rivers

Published

8 hours ago

May 8, 2024

The Tide

Christ Embassy Church has laid foundation for the construction of a tuition free school for the vulnerable in Rivers State.

The foundation for the school, which will accommodate over five hundred indigent pupils were laid at Atali in the Obio Akpor Local Government Area.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government has pledged to strengthen its partnership with the church in the promotion of education in the state.

The State commissioner for Education, Professor Chinedu Mmom, said this at the ground breaking ceremony of the inner city mission school building organised by Christ Embassy at Atali, Obiakpor Local Government Area.

Mmom, who was represented by a Director in the Ministry, Dr. Austin Ezekiel Hart, said the government will continue to partner with the church in raising children.

While thanking the Inner City Mission of Christ Embassy for the initiative, he said the government and the church will work together to uplift education in the state.

The Commissioner, However, said whatever school built by the church will be regulated by the Government.

Also speaking, the Zonal Pastor of Christ Embassy, Zone 1, Pastor Ameachi Udeaku, thanked the founder of the Church, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, for the vision of bringing education to the doorstep of every Nigerian child.

He said the school, which will be tuition free, will provide quality education to indigent children, not only in Atali Community, but in all other adjoining communities.

According to him, the construction of the school building, which will start immediately, will be completed in the next few months.

In a welcome address, the Director, Inner City Mission for Children Education, Christ Embassy, Pastor Omo Alabi, said the school, which is the 16th globally and the 13th in Nigeria, will cater for the education of indigent children.

Omo Alabi said the school is located in all the geopolitical zones in Nigeria.

According to her, the Atali project was the third so far in Africa within a month, adding that Malawi and Liberia were beneficiaries of the gesture.

She recommended Pastor Chris for the initiative, which, she said, will improve the education of indigent children not only in Africa, but across the world.

In his speech, the Paramount Ruler of Atali Community, HRH T. Eze . A. O. Ejekwu, commended the church for considering his community for the project.

King Ejeku said the school will not only provide education for vulnerable children in Atali and other Communities, but will boost the economy of the area.