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Group Decries Underdevelopment Of Rivers Community

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A Non-Governmental Organisation, “We, The People”, has decried the underdevelopment of Rumuekpe community in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State by government and multinational oil companies despite being an oil producing community.
It would be recalled that the community folks, including men, women and youths in their teeming numbers, blocked the entrance of the community, demanding the provision of social amenities from the international oil companies operating in their area.
They alleged that for about 60 years, the presence of four multinational oil firms, such as Shell, NDPR, TotalEnergies and Agip in their community, had not translated to social amenities and a good life for them.
But the protest was reportedly halted by heavily-armed soldiers who drove into the area in about six Hilux vans.
Speaking in an interview with newsmen shortly after a solidarity visit to the community, the Executive Director of the Niger Delta-based NGO, Ken Henshaw, said Rumuekpe represents a classic case of result of a cursed environment.
He said for over 60 years that oil exploration has gone on in the community, the people have nothing to show for it.
Henshaw said with abundant wealth, Rumuekpe has seen the most terrible sufferings.
“A community where crude oil extraction has taken place since 1958, look at how degraded the environment is.
“Rumuekpe is a classic study of the resource curse, with abundance of wealth, but has seen the most terrible sufferings”, he said.
Henshaw noted that oil extraction has also destroyed the community’s environment.
In his words, “it destroys their environment, pollute their crops, it pollute their lands, it poisone their health”.
He said time has come for both government and multinational corporations operating in the community to wakeup to their corporate social responsibility by embarking on projects to ameliorate the sufferings of the people.
Ken Henshaw also said he is happy that the people of Rumuekpe and other Communities in the Niger Delta region are beginning to realize that something must be done to end their sufferings, especially now that the era of fossil fuel is gradually winding down.
Also speaking, the Councillor for Ward 8 in Rumuekpe, Bright Green, alleged that his people are having hard times as poverty is increasing in the community.
He also alleged that soldiers who were drafted to quel the peaceful protest destroyed their canopies and arrested two persons.
According to him, about 25 canopies and 2,000 chairs were seized from the protesters.
“Nobody was shot, but they arrested two of the protesters. They arrested Mr. Godknows and Edward Uka. These are the people they forwarded their names and I do not know the reason for the arrest”, the Councillor stated.
He stated that the solution to the agitation was for the oil firms to engage with the communities.
“For two weeks now, the community people have been demanding their rights from the IOCs, especially Shell, NDPR, Total and Agip. I have been in the press, urging the multinationals to come down to see the community that is hosting them because they are suffering, they do not have any basic social amenities”, he said.
Some of the protesters who spoke with newsmen said the protest was to demand the inclusion of the community in the pipeline surveillance contract.
They also complained that the community lacks basic amenities such as roads, water, electricity and health Institution.
They said many pregnant women have died as a result of lack of a health Institution, adding that the protest will continue until their demands are addressed.
Spokesperson of the Nigeria Army 6 Division, Danjuma Jonah, could not be reached for comment as at press time.

By: John Bibor

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Rivers

NSE Members Tasked On National Dev

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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.
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VALVA Restates Commitment Education Advancement, Literacy In Nigeria

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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
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Four Internet Fraudstars Get Different Jail Terms In PH

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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
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