Rivers

HYPREP Commissions Water Project In Ogoni Community

Published

2 years ago

July 28, 2023

The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has commissioned a potable water project in Barako Community in Gokaana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr. Ibrahim Yusufu, who performed the commissioning ceremony in the community on Wednesday said the water project was the second completed lot in Ogoniland by HYPREP out of the six projects in the first phase of the emergency water intervention for Ogoni communities which was flagged off on March 2, 2022.
He said the commissioned water project has an installed storage capacity of 250 cubic metres of water to guarantee a sustainable supply of good quality water to all households in the serviced community.
According to him, following the presidential inauguration of HYPREP on June 2, 2016, the Federal Ministry of Environment has consistently made deliberate efforts to recover lost grounds and ensure timely delivery of emergency intervention projects in line with the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report on the environmental restoration of Ogoniland.
He noted that it is, therefore, the Ministry’s fervent commitment to expedite efforts in delivering the rest of the four water lots of the emergency water intervention projects before the end of the year.
The remaining water projects, he sad include Alesa and Agbonchia booster station awarded to Cobel International Limited; Nsisioke, Ogale and Ebubu booster station awarded to Duliz Dredging and Construction Limited; Tarabor, Bera and Biara booster station awarded to El Sunnic Integrated Resource Limited; and Bori, Kpean and Bieri booster station awarded to Geokcoy Nigeria Limited.
Yusufu indicated that all contractors handling the various projects have been mandated to expedite execution and delivery of the remaining water plants in line with the projects stipulated specifications and global best practices.
He, however, hinted that the Ministry would be handing over 14 lots under the phase 2 to contractors for the construction of additional 14 potable water schemes, covering 52 communities across the four local government areas of Ogoniland, stressing that the Ministry and HYPREP Project Coordination Office have exhaustively engaged the beneficiary communities in decision making process with a view to ensuring inclusive ownership, long-term functionality and sustainability of the water supply facilities.
The Permanent Secretary further stated that while efforts are being intensified to cover more milestones in the HYPREP implementation framework, it has become exigent to find lasting solutions to challengies of theft and vandalisation of project items and incessant sponsored agitations, which have over the years encumbered the procurement process and effective delivering of emergency and livelihood support projects.
In his opening remarks, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey said are of cardinal mandates HYPREP, in line with the recommendation of the UNEP Report on Ogoniland is the provision of potable water that meets the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards, stressing that the project was guided by this fact to embark on the provision of potable water in its phase 2 water scheme with the award of six water contracts in March, 2021, adding that the Barako water scheme is one of the projects in the phase 1 of the water scheme in Ogoniland.
He said the completion and commissioning of the water project is a further affirmation of the commitment of the Federal Government through HYPREP to the full implementation of the UNEP Report, stressing that the water scheme has an over head tank with a strong capacity of 500,000 litre and a reticulation stretch of more than 10 kilometres.
Zabbey further indicated that since last year, the Alesa water station had been running and supply clean water to the community and neighbouring communities of Alode, Aleto, Agbonchia and Ogale, stressing that work on other water stations in Korokoro, Nonwa, Bori, Zaakpon and Kpean has reached advanced stage of completion.
The Project Coordinator said to ensure the sustainability of these projects, HYPREP would continue to collaborate with communities in the design and execution of projects and would hand over the water projects to the respective communities for effective management while it will manage the facilities in the next two years, within which period it would train community workers and set up the Water Consumers Association ( WCA) for their continuous management and sustainability.
He assured that the project would continue to provide a robust, accountable and transparent stakeholders engagement interface to identify and address potential issues that would not impede the successful implementation of the projects, stressing that issues of re-pollution occasioned by oil theft and illegal refineries must be collectively tackled to guarantee the successful clean-up of Ogoniland.
The Permanent Secretary, Mr. Ibrahim Yusufu also handed over to contractors project sites for the Ogoni power project; specialist/cottage hospitals; Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration; and mangrove planting.
He was lavishly treated to the traditional Ogoni hospitality by the people of Barako community.

By: Donatus Ebi

Rivers

NSE Members Tasked On National Dev

Published

3 days ago

July 11, 2025

The Tide

Members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, have been urged to work hard towards contributing to national development. This call was made at the recent induction of new members by the Port Harcourt branch of the Society. The induction ceremony was used to formally welcome new members and celebrate its elevated new fellows.

Speaking during the ceremony held a in Port Harcourt, the Branch Chairman, Engr. Idaeresoari Ateke Harriet, FNSE, called on members of the NSE to actively participate in the Society’s professional and technical activities in order to contribute meaningfully to national development. He congratulated the new inductees, describing their admission as a testament to their hard work and resilience.

Engr. Ateke also commended the new Fellows for their immense contributions to the engineering profession, reminding them that their elevation is a call to greater responsibility as mentors and role models.

The event featured a lecture by Engr. Prof. Steve Odi-Owei, FNSE, on “Opportunities and Challenges in Nigeria’s Blue Economy.” The Chairman noted that Nigeria’s maritime and aquatic resources remain largely untapped, adding that engineers have a crucial role to play in harnessing these resources for economic growth and environmental sustainability.

He thanked the first female President of NSE, Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntala, FNSE, other dignitaries, sponsors, and families of inductees for gracing the occasion.

Also, engineers, especially those in Rivers State have been advised to adhere strictly to the core ethics of the profession and to always uphold the professional ethics of the body.

This advice was given by an engineering expert, Basoene Benibo, in an interview with at the sidelines of the induction ceremony and Fellowship celebration of the Port Harcourt Branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.

Benibo stressed the need for young engineers in the state to learn and improve on their skills by tapping from the wealth of experience of older professionals in the field to enable them excel.

Benibo, who is a one-time Chairman of the Port Harcourt Chapter of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, also noted and hailed the efforts of the society in eliminating quackery in the engineering profession.

Some of the new fellows include Prof Jackson Akpa, Pereowei Jose’s and Telema Osima, while the inductees, Engr Mrs Lizzy Onwuso, Engr David Jonathan jnr and Worlu Emmanuel expressed joy in being found worthy to become full NSE members, believing that it would enable them have access to more knowledge, practice rightly and impact the society positively.

Rivers

VALVA Restates Commitment Education Advancement, Literacy In Nigeria

Published

3 days ago

July 11, 2025

The Tide

The President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Library Association (NLA), Dr. Dominic Amenaghawon Omokaro, has expressed deep commitment to the advancement of education and literacy in Nigeria through the library system.

Speaking through his state Chairman Dr. Chidara Okachukwu Nyemezu, at the formal Launching/inauguration of the Vanguard for Library Visibility And Advocacy (VALVA) at Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in Port Harcourt recently, Omokaro discribed the inauguration of the new body as a significant and passionate movement aimed at shining the spotlight on one of the underappreciated yet critical institution in Nigeria’s educational system and national development.

“We are gathered here not just to launch a group, but to launch a vision and ignite a movement to reinforce a mission to make libraries visible and valuable again for our people”, he said.

Dr. Omokaro stated that the birth of VALVA is based of the recognition that libraries, particularly school libraries, are the bedrock of promoting a reading and research culture that includes innovation and lifelong learning in the society, though the system is grossly underfunded and poorly equipped in many cases.

He recalled the theme of its first week under his watch, “Library System for National Development in 2022”, which he hinted was driven by the state chapters.

He explained that the inauguration of VALVA shows an important mission to promote the visibility and development with impact on schools and other libraries through strategic advocacy that will advance quality education and foster lifelong learning culture in Nigeria.

“The vision is clear to promote the visibility where every school and indeed every community will have access to a functional library managed by a professional Liberian”, he said.

Speaking with journalists at the sideline of the event, the founder of the VALVA, Dr. Juliet C. Akex-Nmec, stressed that no society can grow without a functional and effective library.

She urged government at all levels to ensure the establishment of effective and functional libraries across the country.

Dr. Alex-Nmec, who is also an Associate Professor of Library and Information Science, Rivers State University, called for the appointment of a Special Adviser on Library matters by the state government in order to assist the government on Library matters.

High point of the event was the formal inaugural of the new body and oath of offices to the new executive.

Akujobi Amadi

Rivers

Four Internet Fraudstars Get Different Jail Terms In PH

Published

3 days ago

July 11, 2025

The Tide

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt and presided by Justices P. I. Ajoku, P. I. Ayua and S. I. Mark has convicted and sentenced four middle aged men to various jail terms over their involvement in fraud.

They are Daniel Ebubechi Chinweobo, Timi Olamide Samuel, Chibueze Thaddeus Ugochukwu, and Emmanuel Linus, who may be dwellers on the Port Harcourt Correctional facility until their bail conditions are met.

Their prosecution is at the instance of the Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on separate charges.

The charges, the Court noted, bordered on impersonation, Advance Fee Fraud, and Obtaining Money under false pretence.

The charge against Chinweobo reads: “That you, Daniel Ebubechi Chinweobo (a.k.a. Philip James) sometime in 2024, in Port Harcourt, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently obtained the sum of One Thousand Great Britain Pounds (£1,000 only), from Marinela Gabriela, a Caucasian American, when you represented yourself to be Philip James, a military man from California, serving in Syria, who pretended to be in a marital relationship with Marinela Gabriela, which pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (b) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.”

That of Ugochukwu reads: “That you, Chibueze Thaddeus Ugochukwu, on or about the 14th day of May, 2025, at Alakhahia axis of Port Harcourt, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently obtained from one Grey the sum of Eight Hundred United States of America dollars ($800 only), under the false pretence that you are Amanda Pappers, a citizen of the United States of America which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and Punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

They all pleaded guilty to their charges, following which prosecution counsels, A. Chukwuegwu and G. C Ngborokwu, tendered incriminating documents in evidence against them and urged the courts to convict and sentence them accordingly.

The Defence counsels, G. N. Chukwu, Yemi Ogunleye, A. O. Secondus and Chigozie Umunnakwem, on their part, prayed the courts to temper justice with mercy on the ground that the defendants were first time offenders.

Justice Ajoku, however, convicted and sentenced Chinweobo and Linus to 30 months in Port Harcourt Correctional Centre, each or to pay N200,000 respectively.

Their sentences are to run concurrently and began from the date of their arrest.

Justice Ajua convicted and sentenced Ugochukwu to one year jail term or to pay 50,000 fine, while Justice Mark convicted and sentenced Samuel to two years in prison or to pay N900,000 fine.

In addition to their jail terms, they deposed to affidavit of good behaviour and forfeited a Techno mobile phone, a Samsung Galaxy phone, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone X, iPhone 16 Pro, an iPad and Lexus ES 350, recovered from them at the scene of their arrest to the Federal Government.

The convicts’ journey to the correctional centre began with their arrest by the Commission, sometime in April, 2025, following credible intelligence that exposed their fraudulent internet activities in Port Harcourt.

King Onunwor