News
ROAD: Wike Vows To Impact Every Local Government Areas In Rivers


Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike says his administration is committed to making sure that every Local Government Area in the state gets development projects.
Governor Wike gave the assurance at the inauguration of the 10.3km long Sime-Nonwa-Kira road in Tai Local Government Area, which was performed by the Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed on Monday.
Governor Wike said, few months ago, when he flagged off the road, people thought it will be abandoned, but today, it has been completed and is being commissioned.
According to the governor, all projects awarded by his administration will be completed before the end of his tenure, and no one project will be abandoned.
“Some people say we have been commissioning projects in Port Harcourt and ObioAkpor Local Government Areas. That, there are no projects in other local governments.
“This is Tai and it is in Ogoni land and we have projects here that we are commissioning now.
“When we flagged off this road, so many were thinking that it will be one of the abandoned projects. I have said, no contract awarded by our administration will be abandoned. All projects must be completed before we leave office.”
The governor berated a former Commissioner for Community and Chieftaincy Affairs for peddling falsehood that there are no Rivers State development projects in Ogoni land.
Governor Wike said such people who took kola meant for traditional rulers cannot see and speak the truth but waste energy defending what they cannot defend.
“One of the former Commissioner who took Traditional Rulers’ kola incidentally, he is from this Local Government Area, he was telling people that there is no single project in the whole of Ogoni land.
“But he is from this Local Government, you can see how people can tell lies simply because we did not bring him back (as Commissioner). But we don’t want our kola to miss again. Those who cannot keep kola or give to those who own the kola, we cannot bring them back.
“Look at this project; 10.3km, and look at the communities. How will anybody say that we have never done anything for the people of Tai. How would anybody say we have no presence in Ogoni land?
“This road was handled by a Local Contractor, Lubrik Construction Company Ltd , it’s Rivers’ company. I don’t play with road construction because I don’t want any road that will not last. This road, as you’ve seen it will last.”
Inaugurating the road, Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed applauded Governor Wike for delivering such quality road project that connects several communities to ease movement of rural dwellers.
Senator Mohammed noted he feels proud to be a Nigerian anytime he sees how Governor Wike in spite of imposing challenges, has continued to deliver democratic dividends to Rivers people.
“When I see the quality of this road and the community where it is sited; in Ogoni Land, traversing all these communities and the kind of good sermon given by the Local Government Chairman, and even the Commissioner of Works, I felt elated that I am a Nigerian.
“This is so, because here is a Nigerian, a governor who has been able to deepen leadership, bringing people of capacity on board. Even using a local contractor to bring local content. This is the kind of Nigeria we need tomorrow. People who can lead and bring people on board with quality and capacity.”
The Bauchi State Governor particularly described Governor Wike as the face of leadership among other governors and within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because he inspires all of them.
“I am always happy to be associated with Governor Wike. It is not because he is the most pragmatic governor in Nigeria. It is not because he has always worn the toga of leadership. It is also not because he has always tried to satisfy his people and defiled all odds.
“But it is because of his capacity as the face of our party, the PDP. He is the face of leadership of the governors. he has always defiled all difficult terrain, cancerous projects and programmes to be able to produce, and deliver to his people.
“That has endeared him to me as a person since we meet in the cabinet. He is somebody who says the truth no matter the situation and no matter whose ox is gored. We need people like that in Nigeria.”
Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Hon. Elloka Tasie-Amadi said the road traverses several communities that included the the Barayira, Barale, Gboroba, Nonwa, Kira, Sime, and Eteo
“It used to be somewhat of glorified track road with multiple failed sections with attendant consequences. The people, their livelihoods and their vehicles , pockets, and time were affected.
“But today, through the instrumentality of the governor we now have good and motorable 10.3km long road, which is 7 .3meters wide with a drainage network of 5.7km.”
The Chairman of Tai Local Government area, Dr. Jacobson Nbina expressed the gratitude of the Ogoni people to Governor Wike who had kept his promise to the people.
News
Gov Mbah Inaugurates Committee to End Gender-Based Violence in Enugu


The Enugu State government has inaugurated a steering committee to eliminate Gender-Based Violence, GBV, in the state, declaring zero tolerance for the social malaise.
The inauguration took place at the Government House Enugu.
The panel, which is chaired by the Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, draws its membership from the Nigeria Police Force, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro Industrialisation, Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ministry of Human Development and Poverty Reduction, Ministry of Trade, Investment and Industry, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education as well as the Civil Society.
Inaugurating the panel known as the Steering Committee for Strengthening Institutional and Community Responses to End Gender-Based Violence/Domestication of Enugu State Gender Policy using the Oputa Panel approach, Governor Peter Mbah restated his administration’s commitment to not bringing perpetrators of GBV to book, but also putting in place proactive measures – activities, infrastructure, and systems in place to prevent them.
Mbah, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said, “We take gender-based violence seriously. We have zero tolerance for it, and in Enugu State, we are ready to go the extra mile to deal with it.
“If you notice, the government has selected people that are very committed to this goal. This is not an activity where we just want to check-off the list. We will track this. We will monitor this, and we will have quarterly engagements on the successes that this particular committee has achieved in terms of reference that we are going to send.
“We will tighten those terms of reference indicators, so that we monitor what we are doing both in terms of cost input and the value added. It’s very important to us. Many people will be involved – civil society, the police and various ministries.”
He however, said that the effort was to protect everyone, men and women alike, as GBV was not restricted to any gender.
“The whole idea is to hold people responsible that are involved in matters relating to gender violence and deter people that by culture or by association get involved in that, protect women, protect our children, and in the case of violence against men, protect our men because most times we misconstrue gender violence to mean women, but it can also be men too.
“We encourage our men to speak out and to make sure they understand that the policy that Enugu State is soon going to domesticate is for everyone, and not only for the female gender,” he stated.
In her remark, Mrs. Enih, explained that the Oputa Panel approach was inspired by the need to cover all local peculiarities in domesticating the policy on GBV, restarting government’s confidence in the members of the panel.
“The approach we are going to use is the Oputa Panel approach, and in the Oputa Panel approach, we are going to tour the 17 Local Government Areas to get firsthand information about what our people are going through because policy is meant for the people, and a policy should suit the people.
“Again, every community has its peculiar problems, so that’s why the government decided that if we have to domesticate the gender policy, we have to hear from the people who own the policy and know the changes that they desire to see. That is the reason we are using this approach.
“The committee members are to also serve as judges. As we gather this information from our people, we will come back to tailor it in a way to suit the people of Enugu State, and then our policy is ready.
“We want the people to know that there is a gender policy for them. I can assure you that when the people are aware that there is such a policy, they will seek for the enforcement of that policy. So, this is not going to be one of those policies that will just lie on the shelf,” she said.


Digital solutions provider, Globacom, has congratulated Christians in Nigeria on this year’s Easter celebration, and urged them to emulate the noble qualities of Jesus Christ.
The company, in a goodwill message to the Christian faithful in the country, lauded their perseverance through the Lenten period which preceded Easter. It enjoined them to always promote the ideals of selflessness, love and peace among all as a way of demonstrating the virtues of the exemplary life of Jesus Christ.
“Peace, love and sacrifice are the central message of Easter. Christ offered himself in atonement for the sins of the world and he lived a life which made Him an eternal symbol of peace and goodwill for mankind”, Globacom added.
The company enjoined all Nigerians to share in the lessons of promoting selflessness, a necessary ingredient in the growth and development of every society. It also enjoined all Nigerians to join hands to make Nigeria a better place for all.
Easter is celebrated yearly at the end of the Lenten season of fasting and prayer considered as a ritual of purification for the Christian faithful. It also precedes the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ on Good Friday and His eventual resurrection on Easter Sunday.
The company assured its customers of seamless voice, data and Short Messaging Service (SMS) during and after the Easter celebrations, while urging them to avail themselves of the various data and voice offerings on the network.


The Guild of Private Broadcast Managers has extended its heartfelt congratulations to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) as it celebrates its 70th Anniversary.
In a congratulatory message signed by the Guild’s National President, Ambassador Patrick Uzoyi-Peters, JP MNGRM, the guild described the milestone as a testament to the NUJ’s unwavering commitment to upholding press freedom, journalistic integrity, and the advancement of democracy in Nigeria.
“For seven decades, the NUJ has played a pivotal role in shaping the media landscape, advocating for the rights and welfare of journalists, and ensuring that the voice of the people remains strong and unyielding. Your resilience, professionalism, and dedication to ethical journalism have been instrumental in fostering transparency, accountability, and national development”.
Celebrating this historic achievement, the Guild’s President, Uzoyi-Peters recognized the sacrifices and contributions of journalists across the nation who work tirelessly to inform, educate, and empower society.
The Guild reiterated it commitment towards collaborating with the NUJ in promoting responsible journalism and strengthening the media industry for the greater good.
While wishing the NUJ continued success, growth, and greater impact in the years ahead, President Uzoyi-Peters prayed that the anniversary serve as a renewed call to uphold the principles of truth, fairness, and press freedom in our collective pursuit of a more informed and just society.
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