Rivers
Customs Seize 24 Illegal Containers In Onne Port
The Nigeria Customs Services has seizured 24 containers laden with vegetable oil, comprising a total of 24, 860 gallons of 25 and 10 litres La-Jonic vegetable oil with other 29,800 gallons of 25 litres and 5,060 gallons of 10 litres with pay value of #833,172,538.42.
Speaking during a press briefing yesterday at the Onne Port, the Customs Area Controller Area 2 command Onne controller Baba Imam said also seized was 24 containers laden with 1,165 cartons of Analgin injection and fireworks with other items 286 cartons of Analgin injection I.M.V, 2/5g/5ml, 210 cartons of Banga, 273 cartons of W Tail, 216 cartons of coloured flowers, 180 cartons of pops.
He stated that the total duty paid value for the 26 containers is #94,652,168.39 adding that the seized cartons of Analgin injection will be handed over to NAFDAC yesterday in the spirit of interagency collaboration.
He said they will continue to build on the robust relationship with other sister agencies to rid the society off criminal elements that are working against the interest of the country.
Taking journalists around the seizured containers in the Port the Onne controller command also said that one 20ft container of machete was detained on documentation grounds pending provision of end user certificate.
He stated that they can not but underscore the necessity and imperativeness of synergy, collaboration and intelligence sharing as the above seizures were made purely with intelligence gathered and 100 percent physical examination.
He said investigation is still ongoing through they legal/ intelligent unit to arrest the culprits and bring them to book as soon as possible.
The Customs Area 2 command pointed out is success since assumed duty this year stating that the revenue generation of the command was given a target of 336 billion naira as they target for the year.
According to him as at yesterday the command has generated a total of revenue of Fifty -four billion,nine hundred and ninety two million, one hundred and twenty three thousand, six hundred and eighty seven naira, fifteen kobo (#54,992,123,687.15) which translate to 16.3 percent of the target.
“When compared to the same period last year the command had an increase in revenue of one billion,one hundred and thirty two million, nine hundred and twenty five thousand, five hundred and fifty six naira, eighty two kobo (#1,132,925,556.82).
“This figure realised is inspite of not having vessels berth in Onne Port for some time due to the election atmosphere.
“We look forward to continuous rise in the revenue generation in the coming months as we expect vessels to berth on our coastline within the next few weeks”, Imam said.
He commended the critical role play by the media especially in the area of sensitisation and enlightenment of all stakeholders and the society at large in order to achieve willful compliance to trade laws of all imports and export.
He encouraged the media to continue to educate the public while the command will continue to reinvigorate strategies that will enhance they performance.
By: Kiadum Edookor
The Rivers State Primary Healthcare Management Board (RSPHCMB) says it will commence Supplemental Immunization activities on Saturday, May 3, 2025, to vaccinate children from 0-5 years across the State.
The State Health Educator, Dr. Diana Babbo, who stated this during a sensitisation meeting with Media Advocate for Health, Rivers State, on the update of immunization exercise in Rivers State, said the National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) is a re-enforcement of the routine immunization at the health facilities.
According to her, it is aimed at boosting polio immunisation against the circulating variance of polio virus currently threatening the total eradication of polio in the country.
She further stated that there are four pillars of polio eradication, namely routine immunization (administered on babies in the health centre), supplemental immunization activity (supplements to boost the babies), surveillance (searching for children that have weakness in their legs or some oart of their bodies), and outbreak response.
The Health Educator noted that the Novel Oral Polio Vaccination Type 2 (NOPV 2) will be administered to children under the age of 0-5 years, which targets a specific polio still in existence in communities and capable of causing paralysis among the stated categories of children, despite the country being certified a polio-free nation.
Dr. Babbo further stated that this year’s NIPDs will address the high number of unresolved non-compliance cases in the State.
She debunked what she tagged a false rumour by mischief makers which claimed that the vaccines are responsible for the development of autism in children.
She said, “vaccines are not known to be responsible for the development of autism. We’re just hearing that. The truth is that one cannot know everything.
“That aspect that has been found, have we looked into other aspects, such as genetically modified foods, drinks, and milks that our children are taking?
“Have we also looked at genetic compatibility between couples before we now say vaccines are causing x, y, z things?
“Are we looking at the environment where these things are happening, what they are peculiar to?
“It must not be peculiar to all the families, there could be something also that’s happening around that we have not known. Research is evolving, let us not accuse our precious vaccines that have succeeded so far in my knowledge, to keep as many sicknesses at bay.
“The reason we do not have small pox in our world today, apart from the lab (a bio-lab) is because we vaccinated to the point where we were able to move small pox totally out of existence from human beings. We can succeed with that same pattern with all kinds of viruses”.
She stated that the connection between autism and vaccination could merely be coincidence.
Babbo, therefore, urged all parents, churches, and school owners to avail their children/wards the opportunity to be vaccinated against polio the stated exercise.
Sogbeba Dokubo
Engr Obi Fortune, a renowned philanthropist, has donated 80 desks to four secondary schools in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State. The donation is part of his commitment to advancing education in the area.
The schools that benefited from the gesture includes- Community Secondary School Umuoye.
Community Secondary School Akwa- Government Secondary School Ozuzu and Community Primary School Okehi 2 and all the schools got 20 units each of the desks.
Speaking during the brief handing-over ceremony held recently in okehi recently, Engr Obi stated that the donation fulfills his promise to use proceeds from his book sales to procure desks for schools in the LGA.
He disclosed that more desks will arrive soon and expressed his continued commitment to supporting education in the area.
Obi urged the schools to make good use of the desks and called on other individuals to contribute to the educational needs in the area.
This gesture demonstrates Engr Obi’s dedication to improving education in Etche LGA.
A professor of social and political philosophy at Rivers State University (RSU ) Nkpolu Oroworukwu port Harcourt, Prof Agha Eresia _Eke has emphasized that citizenship participation is crucial for achieving true democratic government. He stressed that citizens’ involvement in exercising their basic rights, such as freedom of speech, assembly, and religion, is essential for a democratic institution to thrive.
Eresia _Eke stated this while presenting his inaugural lecture at the 111 university’s inaugural lecture series with the topic “Nigeria Democratic practices:a contextual paradox”held at the university senate auditorium in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
According to him, core democratic values which include:,- Respect for individual rights and freedoms, Protection of human rights and fundamental freedom, Equality before the law, Freedom of speech, assembly, and association, Protection of privacy and personal autonomy.
“Through out history, the problem that has agitated social and political philosophers has been to work _out a model for the realization of the common good of man.
Man has always sought and developed methods and systems of organising himself according to his true nature as a rational being.”he stated.
Eresia-Eke notes that Nigeria is not practicing a true federalism and highlights the importance of a pragmatic approach to democracy, where ideas and solutions are tested and refined in real-world environments.
He emphasized that citizens must hold their leaders accountable and demand respect for human rights, stressing that by doing so, citizens can undertake their civic obligations and responsibilities, strengthening society as a whole.
Earlier in his address, the Vice chancellor of the university, Prof Zeb _Obipi commended the lecturer for his brilliant performance, adding that he has justified and proven that he is a professor in his area of specialization.
The VC averred that the university has been consistent in the inaugural lecture monthly and assured that his administration will continue to continue to keep the trend.