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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

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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