TheNewsGuru

Tag: Rivers State

  • Protests have devolved into criminal activities in Rivers – Police warn

    Protests have devolved into criminal activities in Rivers – Police warn

    The Police in Rivers on Wednesday warned that criminal elements have hijacked the #EndBadGovenance protest in the state and targeting motorists and businesses.

    SP Grace Iringe-Koko, the command’s spokesperson, said in a statement in Port Harcourt.

    She expressed concern over the situation and stated that measures are being implemented to maintain order.

    “The ongoing protests in Rivers have devolved into criminal activities, with hoodlums harassing residents going about their lawful business.

    “They have been disrupting traffic, forcing motorists to attach leaves to their vehicles, erecting canopies on main roads, destroying billboards, and threatening traders,” she said.

    “The protesters have also set tires ablaze on the roads”, she said.

    The spokesperson said that the organisers were losing control of the crowd.

    She emphasised that such behaviour was not indicative of a peaceful protest and called for calm.

    “Protesters are advised to confine their activities to designated areas of Abali Park and Pleasure Park.

    “Any further disruption will be met with firm resistance, and offenders will face arrest and prosecution.

    “We also urge parents to caution their children and wards, as the police will not tolerate any breach of peace and unlawful activities,” she warned.

    In a related development, Iringe-Koko dismissed reports that  demonstrators attacked the private residence of former governor Nyesom Wike in Port Harcourt.

    “I am not aware of such an incident; I am sure nothing like that happened,” she told newsmen.

    She assured that the police will investigate the matter and share its findings with the public.

  • Mini local oil refinery uncovered in private residence

    Mini local oil refinery uncovered in private residence

    Officers and men of the Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder have discovered a private residence that had been converted into an illegal refining site in the Okwuzi community of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, Rivers State.

     

    Commodore Desmond Igbo, the commander of NNS Pathfinder, led a military team on a tour of the site and informed journalists on Friday that they had confiscated over 200,000 liters of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel. 

     

    Two suspects were arrested during the operation. 

     

    Commodore Igbo stated that the discovery was made through coordinated intelligence efforts, in line with the Chief of Naval Staff’s mandate to combat crude oil theft and related crimes in the Niger Delta region. 

     

    He described the volume of illegally refined products at the site as massive, noting that some were bagged in sacks, some stored in drums, and over 62 tanks were filled. 

     

    Igbo confirmed that over 200,000 liters of illegal products, refined from crude oil siphoned or stolen from pipelines, were found. 

     

    He indicated that the suspects would be handed over to prosecuting agencies and that the compound would be sealed. 

     

    He also advised youths in the region not to allow themselves to be used as tools to sabotage the nation’s economy.

  • Rivers residents cautioned over impending flash flood

    Rivers residents cautioned over impending flash flood

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has cautioned residents of Rivers on impending flash flood in 13 local government areas of the state.

    The South-South Zonal Coordinator, Babatunde Adebiyi, raised the alarm in Port Harcourt on Thursday at a public awareness campaign on proper waste management and flood preparedness.

    Adebiyi listed the high-risk areas as: Abua/Odual, Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Akuku Toru, Degema, Emuoha, Ikwerre, Obio Apkor, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Opobo/Nkoro, Oyigbo, and Tai Local Government Areas.

    He said that it was expedient for residents of the state to prepare for eventual flooding between now and November.

    “We are here to sensitise people of Ozuoba and surrounding communities in the Akpor area about the impending flood, we encourage you to take proactive measures to lessen the impact.

    “We are doing this to enable you to be on alert and take steps towards reducing the impact of the flooding in your communities,” he said.

    Adebiyi stated that proper waste disposal was crucial to flood mitigation and control, saying,’ “removing solid wastes from water channels will facilitate easier flow during rainy season.

    “It is also important to identify higher grounds that the people can move to when the flood comes,” he advised.

    The zonal coordinator noted that two Internally Displaced Persons camps had been established to accommodate flood victims in the area.

    He said aside NEMA’s sensitisation efforts were additional strategies in the  agencies flood containment programme.

    In his speech, AC Bassey Okama, the Head, Disaster Management, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), advised residents to act swiftly in order to minimise the danger and risks associated with flooding.

    “Unplug electrical appliances to prevent electrocution. It is important to switch off the electricity connections to your homes when the flood begins,” she said.

    Sheriff Obasi, the Head of Operations, Federal Fire Service Office, Rivers, said that the service was prepared to contain any fire outbreak during the period.

    He advised the immediate removal of combustible materials from homes to prevent fire disasters.

    Mr Chijioke Ihunwo, the Caretaker Committee Chairman, Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, commended NEMA for its awareness campaign across the area.

    He expressed the council’s commitment to support NEMA in its efforts to implement measures towards reducing the impact of the impending flood.

  • Newborn baby dumped in manhole, found dead in Rivers

    Newborn baby dumped in manhole, found dead in Rivers

    A day-old male child dumped in a manhole on Ekwe/Ikweree road, Mile 3 Diobu, Port Harcourt, Rivers State was on Tuesday found lifeless by the members of the Diobu vigilante group.

    According to Godstime Ihunwo, Chief Security Officer of Nkpolu Orowurokwo attached to Diobu vigilante, the group found the lifeless child around 5 am and immediately reported the incident to the Nkpolu Police Division and contacted a human rights activist.

    He explained: “At the early hours of today,23rd July,2024 at about 5am, I and my team were on patrol .On getting to Ikwerre road/Ekwe street Mile 3 Diobu,PortHarcourt,We discovered that  a new born baby was dumped into a Man hole.

    “We discovered that the baby was dead.It was a male.I quickly rushed down to Nkpolu Police Division to  make an  entry. I also contacted,Prince Wiro who is a human rights activist”.

    Also, Prince Wiro, the National Coordinator of Centre for Basic Rights Protection And Accountability Campaign, has condemned the actions of the unidentified mother, describing them as “the height of wickedness.”

  • Hilda Dokubo suspended as Labour Party chairperson

    Hilda Dokubo suspended as Labour Party chairperson

    The Labour Party Chairman in Rivers State, Mrs Hilda Dokubo, was on Thursday suspended as a member of the party in her ward, Asari Toru Local Government Area of the State.

    The suspension is contained in a letter written to the Labour Party Chairman of the Asari Toru LGA and signed by the Ward Chairman, Mr Ajalamonia Ibama, the Secretary, Mr Lole Amacheer and the Treasurer, Mr Emmanuel Ibamathe.

    Others who signed the letter were the Women leader, Mrs Osaki Dieypiriye, and the Publicity Secretary, Osaki Dokubo.

    Dokubo was suspended on July 15, after an emergency meeting of the party’s ward executive committee and ratified by the Asari Toru LGA Executives of the party on  July 18.

    The party ward officials suspended the state Party Chairman alleging financial misconduct, abuse of office and breach of party regulations amidst other allegations.

    The ward executives said that the decision was made following a thorough investigation into these allegations,saying they reportedly uncovered substantial evidence.

  • ICYMI: PDP disowns case in Rivers Appeal Court

    ICYMI: PDP disowns case in Rivers Appeal Court

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has distanced itself from an appeal filed at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division.

    The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, made the clarification in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

    Ologunagba said that party’s attention was drawn to s SUIT No: PHC/2177/CS/2024 wherein the PDP was reportedly listed as appellant.

    He said that the purported appeal was never authorised or instituted by the party.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, has ascertained that the party did not file the said appeal neither did it authorize any external solicitor to file same on its behalf.

    “As such, the PDP cannot be listed as appellant in the appeal.

    “The PDP states categorically that it did not file the said appeal at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division challenging the Order of the Rivers State High Court.

    “The party restraining the Chief Judge of Rivers State and the Clerk of the Rivers State House of Assembly from receiving or acting on any resolutions from certain individuals pending the determination of a case before it,” he said.

    Ologunagba said that only the PDP national legal adviser had the exclusive responsibility of conducting the litigation, prosecution and defense of cases on behalf of the party.

    He added that only the national legal adviser also had the exclusive power to do that on behalf of the party’s organs, chapters and officials as expressly provided for in Section 42 of the PDP’s Constitution (as amended in 2017).

    “Our Party had in a Public Notice published on Jan. 17, 2023 notified the public that nobody, authority, office or organ other than the national legal adviser has the competence to file or engage external solicitors to file or handle cases on behalf of the party.

    “The engagement must also be in writing under the hand of the national legal adviser specifying amongst other things, the nature of the case and other terms and conditions of the engagement.

    “The PDP therefore dissociates itself from the purported appeal filed at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division in connection with Suit No: PHC/2177/CS/2024,” Ologunagba said.

  • Rivers: Again, Amaewhule-led Assembly sits, passes bill to return school to govt

    Rivers: Again, Amaewhule-led Assembly sits, passes bill to return school to govt

    Martins Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly on Tuesday,  sat for the second time  in two days after the Court of Appeal judgement.

    They passed a Bill to amend the Rivers State Education (Return of Schools) Law No. 1 of 2005 to return the Kalabari Girls High School, Buguma from the church to the state government.

    A statement signed by Amaewhule’s Special Assistant on Media, Martins Wachukwu, said the lawmakers debated on the report of the House Committee on Education.

    According to the statement, members were said to have expressed their support for the Bill insisting that the school should be returned to the government for better management.

    The lawmakers said with the passage, the school was now well-positioned to cater for the educational needs of the girl – child in Asari Toru Local Government Area and beyond

    While commenting on the report, Amaewhule commended the sponsor of the Bill, Tekenari Granville, describing the objective of the bill as laudable.

    He observed that the Kalabari Girls High School, Buguma was erroneously ceded to the church and returning it the government would help the government manage it well.

    Continuing,  Amaewhule said that the essence of the Bill was to empower the state government to take over the administration of the school to make it serve the purpose for which it was built.

    In line with their rules, the House resolved into Committee of the Whole and gave further consideration to the clauses of the bill before reverting to Plenary to pass it.

  • How to end Rivers political crisis – Okupe

    How to end Rivers political crisis – Okupe

    A former Presidential Spokesperson, Dr Doyin Okupe, has described the leadership  crisis in Rivers as a “total misfortune”, saying the problem requires a political solution.

    Okupe, a former Director-General of the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign Council  said this in an interview on Sunday in Lagos State.

    Rivers has been engulfed in a political crisis over a power tussle between Gov. Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Mr Nyesom Wike, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The rift has polarised the State House of Assembly with lawmakers loyal to both political gladiators electing different Speakers to lead the House.

    Lawmakers loyal to Wike recently dumped the ruling PDP to join APC, while a couple of commissioners loyal to the minister have quit Fubara’s cabinet.

    A State High Court in Port Harcourt had in May  barred the lawmakers from parading themselves  as members of state’s House of Assembly after their defection to APC.

    The order followed a suit filed by Mr Victor Jumbo,a factional Speaker and two other lawmakers ,loyal to Gov.Fubara.

    The court held that all of the laws made by Mr Martin Awaewhule ,the other factional Speaker, and  the 24 other lawmakers loyal to Wike would amount to a nullity until the matter was determined.

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, however, on Thursday vacated the order that sacked 25 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who defected to APC.

    The appellate court, in a unanimous decision by a three-man panel of Justices, held that the Rivers State High Court, which issued the order, lacked the requisite jurisdiction to do

    Reacting, Okupe said the crisis in the state was caused by disregard for rules and laws.

    According to him ,while the judiciary can help to put things right ,the best way to end the festering crisis is to proffer a  political solution.

    “That is a total misfortune, and the real issue, if we look at it properly, is that we do not obey our laws. if only we obey our laws, this situation cannot surface at all.

    “The courts have to help, the judiciary must be consistent, fair and judge according to law not any other sentiment

    “Let us all obey our laws and our rules and let the court adjudicate according to theb law and anybody who flouts the law should pay for it.

    “The way things are going in Rivers  right now  is dangerous, but a political solution is what I will suggest, as a very experienced politician,”he said.

    Emphasising the need for a political solution ,Okupe said politics is about interest and that the crisis would end if the interests of the disagreeing parties are discussed and reconciled.

    He said: “In all my years of politics, I have never seen anything in this world that a political solution cannot resolve in all political disagreements.

    “Politics is about interest- What is the interest of A and what is the interest of B and how can we marry them? That’s is all,” he said.

  • I have no cause to worry – Fubara reacts to Appeal Court ruling

    I have no cause to worry – Fubara reacts to Appeal Court ruling

    Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers has assured the people of the state of unwavering commitment to providing critical infrastructure required for the speedy development of the State.

    Fubara gave the assurance while speaking to newsmen after the inspection of the reconstruction work at the Zonal Hospital in Bori town, Khana Local Government Area.

    The governor said that there was no cause to worry over the recent pronouncements of the appeal court.

    According to him, there is no cause to worry because God has prepared him a table of blessings in the presence of his enemies.

    “I know that a lot of you will be wondering what is going on and all that. Government has its own challenges. If you go to the book of Psalm 23 verse 5, in the Bible, it said that God prepares a table before you; it can be before anybody.

    “But there is an underlined word that should be noted there: it said ‘in the presence of your enemies’. So, it means that nothing comes easy.

    “I want to assure everyone of you and the good people of Rivers State, that we are not deterred. We have made our promises, we will continue to give you good governance, no matter how difficult it is.

    “But, like I said before, the worse is over. We are moving on to ensure that we continue to provide what is needed for the development of our state,” he said.

    Fubara stated that healthcare, education, agriculture among other sectors would be his top priority and would be given uncompromised attention and optimal services.

    He explained that his administration did not meet any functional zonal hospital, stressing that funds had been released to reconstruct and expand four zonal hospitals to ensure quality healthcare service delivery.

    The governor expressed satisfaction with the progress of work done so far by the contractor and urged the construction firm to deliver quality job and on time.

    Fubara said that the hospitals, when completed, would meet the healthcare needs of the people within the catchment areas, and address key issues in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and policy objectives of his administration.

    Pro-Fubara lawmakers proceed to Supreme Court

    Meanwhile, the faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Victor Oko-Jumbo, says it will challenge the verdict of the Appeal Court which declared Martins Amaewhule as the authentic speaker of the house.

    Oko-Jumbo, the Speaker of the assembly’s faction loyal to Gov. Siminalayi Fubara, disclosed this during a sitting of the house in Port Harcourt in Friday.

    It would be recalled that the Appeal Court on Thursday, set aside a decision of the Rivers State High Court which declared that Martins Amaewhule and 24 other lawmakers were no longer members of the assembly.

    The appeal court held that the Rivers State High Court had no jurisdiction to entertain issues relating to the decampment of lawmakers.

    Oko-Jumbo said that the assembly strongly believed that the appeal court was in error by declaring that a state high court could not hear such matter.

    ”I remain the authentic speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, there cannot be two houses of assembly in any state, not in Rivers,” he said.

    He further said that the seats of Martins Amaewhule and 24 others lawmakers were validly declared vacant by the then speaker, Edison Ehie.

    “On Dec.13, 2023, their seats were declared vacant following their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress on Dec. 11, 2023.

    “That declaration by the then speaker, Edison Ehie has not been set aside by any court in Nigeria,” he Oko-Jumbo said.

    The factional speaker further said that the assembly secured an order restraining Martins Amaewhule and the 24 other lawmakers from parading as speaker and members of the assembly.

    Oko-Jumbo said that the decision of the appeal court only dwelt on jurisdiction, and did not look at other critical issues such as their decampment to another party.

    “The Court of Appeal did not make any declaration that Martin Amaewhule and 24 others did not defect from the PDP to APC. It did not also make any declaration that they are still members of the house.

    “In spite all their pretences, Martins Amaewhule and the 24 others are no longer members of the Rivers State House of Assembly as we speak,” he said.

    Meanwhile, during the sitting, the Oko-Jumbo-led assembly considered two bills, which were also moved through first reading.

    The bills are, the Rivers State Emergency Management Agency Bill, 2024, and the Rivers State Transport Company Reform Bill, 2024.

  • NAFDAC shuts 4 substandard bakeries in Rivers

    NAFDAC shuts 4 substandard bakeries in Rivers

    The National Agency for Food Drug, Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Thursday shut four unregistered bakeries in Port Harcourt metropolis.

    The NAFDAC Director, South-South Zone,  Chukwuma Oligbu, said that the bakeries were operating without registration licences and with very poor Good Hygienic Practice (GHP).

    Oligbu said that the agency shut the facilities to stamp out the prevalence of quack and substandard bakeries in Rivers.

    “Pans with dough were being kept on the floor.

    “The make shift buildings were with open and uncovered windows, bakery workers were not well kitted with PPEs, lister generator sets were sited inside the production rooms and there were no factory flow.

    “The bakeries shut down include He Reigns Bakery – Okabie Street, off Bakery Road, Rumuigbo; Dvine Freedom Dread, No 3, Omasi Str., Rumuomasi Street; De Heroes Bakery, Wonda Street, Psychiatric Road and The Lord’s Abundant Bakery 5, Elder Ezebunwo Street off Obi Wali Road, Rumuigbo, Port Harcout,” he said.

    Oligbu said that the four bakeries visited were subsequently shut and the owners directed to report at the NAFDAC zonal office for questioning while investigations continue.

    He explained that samples of the produced bread were taken for laboratory analysis.

    Oligbu warned that defaulters of NAFDAC regulations risked prosecution and possible jail term when convicted.

    He implored producers of NAFDAC regulated products to seek guidance by visiting the agency’s office for advice and supervisions in setting up their facilities or businesses.

    Oligbu stated that the agency would ensure that defaulters of NAFDAC regulated products and illicit producers who did not abide by the agency’s standards in Rivers and the entire South-South Zone would be uncomfortable and brought to book.