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Illegal Bunkering: Nwanosike Names Perpetrators, Homes For Prosecution, Demolition

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The Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, Engr Samuel Nwanosike, has said that for the battle against oil bunkering activities to be won, it must be fought from the source.
Nwanosike made this known, last Monday, when members of the Rivers State House of Assembly Committee on Environment paid him a visit in his office, Isiokpo, in order to have a first-hand information on his method of combating the menace.
According to him, “Like I tell people, for us to win this battle, we must hit the snake at the head because if you cut off the tail, the snake will get very wild. And so, we have a plan to say look, all the illegal refineries must go down before you talk about stopping the truckers, because if there is no production, there will be no trucking.
“What we are doing, having done our homework, is that all those areas where we have illegal oil refineries, we clean them out”.
Nwanosike noted that the next stage of the fight was the demolition of the homes of the oil bunkerers.
He said, “And we have taken note of all the perpetrators and their homes. We have marked their homes. This is another phase we are coming into because the laws back us that every proceed gotten from this illegal oil activity, properties identified from these proceeds, will be seized by the council and demolished after clearance from the state government”.
The Ikwerre Council boss added that judicial records of all the proceeds from illegal oil refining have been taken, including those declared wanted by the state government who ran away from their homes for proper action.
“Because we believe that if they don’t have any source of livelihood, after some times when they come back, they may be tempted to come back to such activities again. So, we don’t want to have that experience anymore”, he vowed.
Nwanosike noted that he swung into action as soon as he received a directive from the state government over illegal oil refining by providing a legislative backing to every steps to be taken and constituting a taskforce made up of 17 members, including security agents and civilians, saddled with the responsibility of enforcing the state governor’s directive across the communities of the LGA.
He explained that members of the taskforce do their jobs professionally, adding that most of those caught in the act have been prosecuted while others were awaiting trial.
Nwanosike commended the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, the leadership of Rivers State House of Assembly, and security operatives for the efforts put in the fight against illegal oil bunkering activities.
He, however, called on the general public and personnel of the Nigerian Navy to join in the battle to end illegal oil bunkering activities for the good of everyone.
The Chairman of Rivers State House of Assembly Committee on Environment, Hon Dumle Maol, stated that the committee members were in Ikwerre LGA to get first-hand information from the council chairman over his fight against soot and oil bunkering.
He said, “Chairman, like the Clerk said, the House directed that we should visit the 23 local governments in Rivers State on the issue of this soot, a menace that is a big challenge to the state.
“And we are here today to hear from you, first-hand, what you have done as a local government in compliance with the directive of our government.
“We also want to use this opportunity to tell Ikwerre people that in Rivers State House of Assembly, we are solidly behind the decisions of the government led by our governor”.
Maol also used the opportunity to formally invite the chairman of Ikwerre LGA and entire people of the LGA to the public hearing on amendment of the Rivers State Environmental Protection Law, sponsored by the state governor, today, so as to make inputs before passage and assent.
He implored Nwanosike to charge members of his taskforce not to burn recovered products or pour them into the river in order not to further pollute the environment.
On his part, the member representing Ikwerre Constituency at the Rivers State House of Assembly and also a member of the committee, Hon Anslem Oguguo, said that his council chairman was doing excellently well in the fight against soot and oil bunkering activities, saying that he was working in synergy with Nwanosike in taking the LGA to a desired level.
After members of the Rivers State House of Assembly Committee on Environment were taken to the Ogbodo illegal oil refining site to see things for themselves, Maol applauded Nwanosike for the practical steps taken so far in tackling oil bunkering activities.
He assured that the Rivers State House of Assembly was behind his actions and would summon the company that owns the pipelines being tampered with to explain why nothing has been done to stop the oil bunkerers.
Other members of the Rivers State House of Assembly Committee on Environment who were in Ikwerre LGA, include Hon Christian Ahiakwo, Hon Prince Ngbor, Hon Sam Ogeh, Hon Anthony Soberekom, Hon Lulu Opuende, Hon Nathaniel Owagii, and Clerk of Rivers State House of Assembly, and Barrister Amonia Amaso.

By: Nelson Chukwudi

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Rivers

Youth President Launches N10m Grant For Obio/Akpor Women

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The leader of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area Simplified Movement, Ambassador Chijioke Ihunwo, has unveiled a N10 million grant aimed at empowering women in Ward 1 of Obio/Akpor LGA.
Making the announcement during the recently concluded Obio/Akpor Ward 1 town hall meeting, Ihunwo revealed that the grant will be distributed in amounts of N100,000 to 20 women per community, including non-indigenes.
He stated that the gesture is a token of appreciation for the women’s unwavering support for Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Ihunwo emphasised the Governor’s commitment to ensuring that Ward 1, Obio/Akpor LGA, and Rivers State as a whole benefit from good governance.
Special Adviser on Power to the Governor, Hon. Solomon Abel Eke, highlighted the transparency and fairness that define the current leadership of the Obio/Akpor Simplified Movement, assuring that it operates without nepotism or impunity.
During the event, former leader of the Obio/Akpor Legislative Assembly, Hon. Achor Nna, criticised former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Martin Amaewhule, who is also from Ward 1, for actions deemed uncharacteristic of true sons of Obio/Akpor LGA.
Also in attendance at the town hall meeting were Hon. Darlington Orji, Special Adviser on Political Affairs to the Governor of Rivers State, along with other prominent figures as well as other sons and daughters of Obio/Akpor.
They congratulated the new Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo, and collectively reaffirmed their support for the Fubara-led administration, underscoring a shared commitment to the progress and development of Rivers State.

Theresa Frederick & Charity Amiso

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RSG Approves N225bn For Trans-Kalabari Road Project

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The Rivers State Executive Council, on Wednesday, approved N225 billion for the construction of the Trans-Kalabari Road project.
The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr Joseph Johnson, disclosed this while briefing newsmen after the State Executive Council meeting.
The meeting was presided over by Governor Siminalayi Fubara at the state Government House in Port Harcourt.
He said the project would be funded with savings from the state’s Internally Generated Revenue.
“We shall not borrow to fund the project. We are bent on generating money to fund our projects”, he said.
Johnson stated that the contractor had been mobilised with 30 per cent of the contract, worth to commence implementation.
The commissioner further said the project would be completed within a period of 32 months.
“This is the main Trans-Kalabari Road, the one that happened in the past was building of bridges.
“We are now doing a Trans-Kalabari Road that will run from NSS Pathfinder, immediately after Mgbuodohia community and extend to about 2km to the Aker Base Road in Rumuolumeni”, he said.
He also said the road would pass through the swamps behind the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, moving southwards towards the first bridge crossing.
“It will continue through a series of bridges, connecting many communities up to Tombia Town.
“The road will traverse very difficult terrains of swamp across rivers and creeks upon which series of bridges, decking and piling works will be done”, he said.
The Commissioner further said the state recently recorded some giant strides in the sporting sector.
Also briefing, the Acting Director-General, Rivers State Bureau of Public Procurement, Dr Ine Briggs, explained that the bureau diligently managed the proceedings leading to the award of the Trans-Kalabari road contract.
Briggs said the submissions of the state Ministry of Works were reviewed and all the supporting documents examined by the Ministry.
“Having fulfilled all the necessary procurement procedures and guidelines as prescribed by the Rivers State Public Procurement Law 2008 as amended, the Bureau is satisfied that all the elements leading to this award is sufficient to issue a certificate of no objection.
“Therefore, in consideration of all the relevant documents submitted by the Ministry of Works pursuant to the construction of Trans-Kalabari Road and bridges, the Bureau has issued the certificate of no objection, and that the contract be awarded to Lubrick Construction Company Limited”, Briggs said.

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Ongoing Elele-Omoku Road Awarded At N80bn – RSG

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The Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr Joseph Johnson, has said the ongoing dualisation of the Elele/Umudioga/ Egbeda/Ikiri/Omoku Road was awarded at N80 billion.
Johnson disclosed this in Port Harcourt yesterday while speaking to newsmen on the achievements of the Governor Siminalaye Fubara-led administration after one year in office.
He said the road, which cuts across three Local Government Areas, would facilitate easy movement of people and goods, saying “it will boost cross-community commerce.
“The farming communities along this area will find it easy to move their produce to markets in neighbouring towns.
“This project is a deliberate effort to make movement easy for our people, it’s no politics but service delivery”.
The Commissioner said the State Government had already paid 50 per cent of the contract value amounting to N40 billion.
“We are not paying lip service to governance, we mean business. We want Rivers people to see something new.
“We have devised ways of generating money to fund our projects, we are not indulging in any borrowing festival”, he said.
Analysts say the state capital will be decongested if the government successfully implements the line up of road projects in the state.

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