News
Govt Compulsory Savings Hit N34bn
Rivers State Government, says it has saved about N34 billion for the state’s monthly N1 billion compulsory saving scheme started about three years ago.
The Commissioner for Finance, Dr Chamberlain Peterside disclosed this on Monday during an interaction with newsmen in Port Harcourt.
Dr Peterside explained that the state government spends about N8 billion monthly on salaries, pensions and overheads, stressing that with the dwindling allocation from the Federal Government, there was need to scale up efforts at Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
He hinted that Rivers State had the potentials to generate about 50 per cent internally like Lagos State that generates about 70 per cent internally to augment its federal allocation.
The Finance Commissioner said the state internal revenue sources generate about 10 per cent and attributed the lapses to leakages in the system, noting that strategic plans had been put in place to halt the trend.
According to him, the Ministry of Finance had undergone transformation in line with the vision of the governor to be transparent and accountable, emphasising that the accounting system had been modernised to meet global best practices.
Dr Peterside hinted that the ministry had taken over the pay rolling of workers’ salary since June 2012, and commenced the issuance of pay slips to workers, adding that the computerised system of record keeping would help in detecting errors in the process.
On government borrowing, the commissioner debunked insinuations that Rivers State Government was broke, pointing out that the borrowing was to finance specific projects to completion level and not to pay workers salaries.
He said the state government operates a centralised fund system for all arms of government which helps in proper categorisation of liabilities, noting that fund releases start with budgetary provision and due process before payments are made.
“In course of harmonisation in the system, we discover that some people in say level 8 or 9 take the salary of grade level 13 or above, but all that has been corrected and we shall no more have such kind of fraud, we are trying but give us more time,” the finance boss said.
Also speaking, the Executive Chairman, Board of International Revenue, Mrs Onone Osila Obelle-Oshoko said the board was trying to rebuild the confidence of residents of the state to pay their taxes.
She noted that the old tax system in Rivers State allows 5 per cent of workers basic, that is not found in any law but the current tax regime is based on the Gross Income as contained in the amended Tax Law.
The chairman harped on the need to enlighten the public by giving the right information, emphasising that the state was endowed with potentials to increase internally generated revenue.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government has signed an agreement with a United States firm, International Trauma and Critical Care Centre Limited (ITCC) to recruit staff and manage two world class hospitals, Professor Kelson Harrison’s Hospital and Maxilo-Facia Hospital in Port Harcourt.
The Commissioner of Health, Dr Sampson Parker, who signed the agreement on behalf of the government with the group at the Ministry of Health in Port Harcourt, said the agreement was to hand over the operation and management of the two hospitals for effective management and maintaining international standards.
“Our vision to allow an experienced international firm to run the hospitals was not to have gain, but to have quality and standard healthcare that would discourage people from going overseas in search of standard treatment.
We carefully selected ITCC group, an international medical group from among the bidders internationally, as the best experience in hospital operation and management to run the hospitals to international standards, where people all over the world would be coming for medical care, this is exactly the vision of this government under Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi”, Dr Parker explained.
The commissioner urged the firm led by the Country Representative, Dr Sydney Ibeanusi to ensure that the vision of the state governor, Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to have quality health care was achieved.
He said, though the hospital would be completely run by the firm, which also has the power to recruit, sack, maintain and manage the hospital, the state ministry of health through the Hospital Management Board, would be playing the supervisory role on the hospitals like any other hospitals in the state.
According to the Health Commissioner, the two hospitals built and equipped a year ago would be commissioned before January, 2013.
He said the Prof Kelson Hospital is situated at the former Niger Hospital, at Emenike Street, Mile II, Diobu, Port Harcourt while Dental Maxilo-Facia Hospital is at Aba-Road, Opposite Garrison in Port Harcourt.
Dr Parker further disclosed that the hospital would also accommodate free medical, as money would be paid by the state government to the management of the hospitals for any free medical treatment referred to them.
Signing the agreement with the state government, the representative of International Trauma and Critical Care Centre Limited (ITCC) and National Project Co-ordinator, Dr Sydney Ibeanusi commended the state government for its commitment to give the people of the state and the country an international quality healthcare facility.
According to him, ITCC firm was an articulate concept to partner with professionals around the world to see how it could give out an international quality healthcare to the developing countries around the globe as it was the practice in developed countries like Israel, Russia, Europe, America, among others.
Dr Ibeanusi who noted that Rivers State Government was the first to embrace the group in Nigeria, promised to ensure an available, accessible and sustainable international quality healthcare that would meet the vision of the state governor.
He said with the signing of the agreement, the two hospitals would be put into effective operation before January 2013.
News
Rivers DPOs Receive Awards For Outstanding Performance In Crime Prevention …As Students, Media Group Honour CSP Worgu, CSP Yusuf
Two Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in Rivers State have been honoured by separate groups for their contributions to security, crime prevention and improved community-police relations in their respective areas of responsibility.
The beneficiaries are the DPO of Afam Police Division, CSP Endurance Worgu and his counterpart at Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf.
CSP Worgu was honoured by a group of students under the aegis of Rivers State Graduate Students Associations for what they described as his commitment and outstanding performance in the discharge of his duties.
The students, led by Chidi John Enyie, Esq. said CSP Worgu was selected based on his track record and status as one of the longest-serving young DPOs of Rivers State origin.
According to the group, CSP Worgu has made significant contributions to the protection of lives and property in the area since assuming office following the #EndSARS period.
The students said they were particularly impressed by the improvement in community-police relations under his leadership, noting that professionalism had remained a key feature of his service.
Enyie represented by Comrade Briggs Soku, said the students community was pleased to identify with a Rivers indigene who had distinguished himself in the police force.
He said the students considered it necessary to encourage and celebrate CSP Worgu because of his achievements as a young Rivers man excelling in a profession that many people from the state were often reluctant to join.
Receiving the award at his office in Afam, CSP Worgu expressed gratitude to God and the students for finding him worthy of the honour.
The DPO said the recognition had boosted his morale and encouraged him to sustain his efforts towards maintaining peace and security in the area.
He said he least expected the honour, particularly because it came from the students, adding that the recognition would further motivate him to serve the people better.
CSP Worgu assured residents of Afam that the police would sustain the existing peace in the area.
He appealed to members of the public to support the police by providing credible and timely information, stressing that useful information from residents would make the job of security personnel easier.
Meanwhile, the Ikwerre/Etche Media Association has also honoured the DPO of Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf, for his efforts in tackling criminal activities in the area.
The media group presented the award following the swift tracking and arrest of five suspected kidnappers who had allegedly terrorised residents of the Kom-Kom axis and other parts of Oyigbo.
The group commended CSP Bello for what it described as his determined efforts to restore confidence and security in the affected communities, particularly Kom-Kom and Obeama.
According to the group, the arrest of the suspects demonstrated the DPO’s commitment to tackling criminality and safeguarding residents.
The media association said residents had received the development with relief, noting that the police action had sent a strong message to criminal elements operating in the area.
Responding, CSP Yusuf appreciated the group for the recognition and reaffirmed that there would be no room for criminality in Oyigbo.
He also commended the media for its role in disseminating credible information to the public, saying the media had remained supportive of the police in the fight against crime.
CSP Yusuf warned criminal elements operating in Oyigbo to leave the area or be prepared to face the full weight of the law.
He assured residents that the police would continue to pursue criminals and work to dismantle their hideouts, regardless of where they might be operating.
News
College Of Bishops Endorses Tinubu, APC Candidates For 2027 Polls
The 5000 Achievers Christian Forum and Colleges of Bishops, Archbishops and Apostles, a Christian interdenominational organisation, has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State for the 2027 general elections.
International President of the forum, Archbishop Lucky Aroh, disclosed this during the ordination and consecration of three new Bishops, as well as an award ceremony held in Port Harcourt.
Aroh said the performance of the APC-led Federal Government had endeared the party to the organisation, prompting the forum to declare its support for President Tinubu and other APC candidates in Rivers State.
He said the forum would support all APC candidates in the state during the 2027 elections and urged Nigerians to vote for the party.
Aroh, who is also the General Overseer of Caring Peoples Church, Port Harcourt, charged the newly consecrated Bishops to see their new positions as a great responsibility and dedicate themselves to the advancement of the kingdom of God.
He cautioned them against conduct capable of bringing their offices into disrepute, stressing that their activities would be closely watched by members of the public.
“As Bishops, the eyes of the public are on your activities. You must therefore conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of your calling,” he said.
Also speaking, the International Coordinator of the forum, Bishop Saint Robinson, urged the newly consecrated Bishops to work diligently towards winning souls for the kingdom of God.
Robinson, who was the guest speaker at the event, stressed that the activities of Bishops must at all times be guided by godly principles.
He also called on members of the church to support and cooperate with the newly consecrated Bishops in the discharge of their responsibilities.
The Secretary of the College, Apostle Elizabeth Ayadi Abaye, said the organisation was established to advance the kingdom of God and promote spiritual development.
According to her, the forum has organised several crusades, conferences, prayer meetings, ordinations, consecrations, enthronements, empowerment programmes and other spiritual development activities across the country as part of efforts to win souls for Christ.
Abaye said the organisation has members across the world and disclosed that more programmes had been scheduled to promote the spiritual development and wellbeing of humanity.
The three Bishops consecrated at the ceremony were Prince Alban Chike, Testimony Omenihu Shedrach and Prince Ifemena.
Among those honoured at the event were the Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), Abali Community, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Manuchimso Prince Lemmy Wopara, and Clifford Oko Jaja, Coordinator of the 5,000 House-to-House for President Tinubu.
By: John Bibor
News
Police Arrest Fake Soldier, Others For Armed Robbery, Kidnapping
The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 49-year-old suspected fake soldier, Andrew Atausi, and several other suspects in connection with various criminal activities, including kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, one-chance robbery and the alleged murder of police officers.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, disclosed this in Port Harcourt, recently during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters, where he said the arrests formed part of the operational achievements recorded by the Command between June and August 2026.
Adepoju said Atausi was arrested on August 10 by police operatives along Ada George, Port Harcourt, while dressed in military uniform and driving a Toyota Hilux painted in Army colours.
The Commissioner said investigation revealed that Atausi was not a member of the Armed Forces, adding that he was suspected to be a serial car snatcher, with three suspected stolen vehicles recovered from him.
He said the recovered vehicles included three Toyota Hilux vehicles without registration numbers and a Toyota Corona Premio with registration number BNY 380 ES, noting that the chassis and engine numbers of the vehicles had allegedly been tampered with.
Adepoju added that an axe and military accoutrements were also recovered from Atausi, as investigation continued into the circumstances surrounding the vehicles and other items recovered from him.
On the June 29 attack on police officers at Aluu Division, the Commissioner said three members of the gang allegedly responsible for the incident had been arrested by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU-AKU.
The suspects, identified as Maduabuchi Emeka, 34, alleged gang leader; Doctor Chinedu Owhor, 42, and Kamachi Joe, 28, alleged armourer, reportedly led operatives to their hideout at Omagwa where two AK-47 rifles stolen during the attack were recovered.
Adepoju recalled that two police officers were killed during the Aluu attack, while others were wounded and one officer had his leg amputated, stressing that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fourth suspect.
On kidnapping, the Commissioner said five members of a suspected kidnapping syndicate were arrested in Oyigbo Local Government Area, adding that they allegedly confessed to operations in Kom-Kom, Railway, Obeama and Afam communities.
He said two other suspects from the same network, Anele Ogbogu, 35, alleged to be the gang’s armourer, and Kenneth Eke, 38, were arrested on July 27, with one AK-47 rifle and one SMG rifle recovered.
The Commissioner further disclosed the arrest of suspects in connection with alleged firearm offences, armed robbery, cultism and one-chance robbery, with firearms, ammunition and other exhibits recovered during the operations.
Adepoju assured residents that the Command would sustain intelligence-led, proactive and community-oriented policing in collaboration with other security agencies, while urging members of the public to continue providing credible information that would assist the police in combating crime across Rivers State.
By; King Onunwor
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