News
Wike’s Superlative Performance Behind Our Success -Ariolu
The Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Barrister George Ariolu, has said that Governor Nyesom Wike’s excellent performance in the last seven years in office was the motivation behind the council’s success story in the last one year on office.
Ariolu said this in an exclusive interview with some senior Editors of The Tide in his office at Rumuodomanya, last Wednesday, as part of the celebration of his one year in office.
He said the governor’s superlative performance was the driving force behind the various people-oriented projects his administration carried out in the last one year in office.
Ariolu said that despite doing his last term in office, Governor Wike was still embarking on people-oriented projects across the state.
According to him,Obio/Akpor is a beneficiary of the numerous bridges and roads embarked upon by the Governor Wike-led administration in the state.
“We are learning from him positively, and it was the basis for our motivation”, he said.
He said that within the last one year,the council had embarked on some people-oriented projects with a view to fulfilling its electioneering campaign promises to the people.
Ariolu reeled out some of these projects to include the provision of alternative power supply to provide steady electricity to the council to motivate the staff to put in their best, adding that to this end,a 500KVA Generator was purchased to ensure a 24hour power supply to the council.
“On assumption of office, the first thing we discovered was that there was no alternative power supply and that was affecting the zeal of the workers to do their work. So,we promised to provide alternative power supply, and within three weeks, we delivered on that promise”.
He said his administration also embarked on the renovation of the council secretariat to provide a conducive working environment for workers as well as ensure improvement in the aestheticsof the secretariat with a view to bringing it to international standard, and give it a facelift.
Ariolu said his administration also provided more office space for staff through the construction of 30-room office complexes, which are now at roofing stage, and would be ready in the next two months.
He said the expansion of the drainages in front of the council’s secretariatwas ongoing to check flooring within the premises, saying that work on the project was 70percent completed.
Ariolu listed other projects to include the fencing of the council’s fish farms at Rumuekini,provision of a waiting house at the Rumuolumeni jetty, which areat various stages of completion,while six transformers were also procured and donated to some communities upon request, adding that more communities would get the similar gesture once resources were available.
In the area of human capacity development, Ariolu said grants were approved and released to 50 doctoral and 50 Master’s degree students each, while 13 law students received N100,000.00 each.
Others include training of nine persons atCharkin Maritime Academy, and approval of N10,000 monthly stipend for them; training of 200 persons in various skills acquisition programme.
Ariolu said the various programmes were not only for indigenes as non-indigenes also benefitted from the council’s policy to build human capacity in the area.
He said the council intended to sustain the yearly grants to post graduate students from the area until the end of his tenure.
By: John Bibor
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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