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Amaechi Begins Town Hall Meetings, Gives Account of Administration
BY IGNATIUS CHUKWU
Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State has begun a series of town-hall meetings in communities to explain how each local council area is benefiting from the N509 billion he said his administration received in two years. This seems to have galvanised and deepened democratic governance in the Niger Delta area as rural dwellers now shoot pointblank questions at the governor.
Already, contractors are under the heat to justify some of their decisions that had hit the wrong side of the communities. Contractors are either getting sacked or recalled to site to perform better. Certain policy anomalies and neglects are being remedied even as the governor has had to apologise to the people on some failed policies. The key areas where the administration has recorded huge successes such as education, health and roads have been on the fore, and the rural dwellers have had a mouthful, though demand for more is still high.
On Friday, February 26, 2010, the governor and some of his aides stormed Bori, Khana local council headquarters and the traditional seat of the embattled Ogoni ethnic group, to give account of his stewardship and pin-point specific projects done in the area. By 8.45am, the arena was filled up with the police turning back others. From 12.45p.m when the governor stepped onto the arena till evening, it was a busy and hilarious moment as the governor reeled out names of all Khana sons and daughters that were studying in schools abroad and in Nigeria on scholarship, out of the over 1,000 Rivers indigenes under the Rivers State foreign scholarship scheme.
A list of 10 roads amounting to about N8 billion constructed or under construction in the area was read to the people.
Also a list of nine (out of 150 for the entire state) modern healthcare facilities of about N115 million each built in the area was read by the governor without challenge. The biggest was the list of 26 model primary schools of N112 million each built or on-going in communities in Khana out of the 250 being built at a total cost of N27 billion in the entire state. Many attracted applause, but few attracted boos. This led the governor to inquire deeper and the contractors were ordered to return to site.
The Amaechi-led administration spends N100 billion each year on roads in all parts of the state, N100 billion each year to build a new city (the Greater Port Harcourt City).
Source: Business Day, 1st March 2010.
Rivers Builds 350 Model Schools, to Re-award Road Contract
By Ibanga Isine, with agency report,
The Rivers State government has said it is building 350 new model primary schools in various parts of the state.
A statement from Government House in Port Harcourt on Monday quoted Governor Rotimi Amaechi as saying that some of the new schools had been completed and equipped with the state- of-the-art facilities.
The News Agency of Nigeria quoted the statement as saying that government's focus on education followed growing concern over the disparity in the education sector, "as children from rich homes attend good private schools, while those from poor homes attend the old mal-functional public schools."
"The financial status of any parent should not be a barrier to the children in terms of access to good education.
"Besides, it is our belief that by focusing on education, we are investing in the future of the state. Everybody is equal and should have equal access to education.
"If my own children are playing around with computers, children from poor homes should also have access to computers as well.
"If the proposed social levy scheme receives the needed acceptance from the people of the state, the state government will provide free education and health care for the people."
Meanwhile, the governor said on Monday that it would soon re-award the contract for the construction of Trans-Kalabari Highway to open up riverine communities in the state.
Amaechi said this at Buguma during a reception to mark the 80th birthday of the Amanyanbo of Kalabari, Prof. Theophilus Princewill.
When completed, Amaechi said the road would facilitate the growth of the economy of Kalabari communities.
He hinted that the road contract, which would link several communities within and outside Kalabari, Kingdom was earlier awarded to contractors from the area.
He said that 80 per cent of the job was awarded to Kalabari businessmen but they abandoned the work after being paid.
He expressed disappointment over the attitude of some prominent Kalabari people that stalled the project.
Amaechi also blamed Kalabari leaders for not doing much to develop their communities, but assured that his administration would improve the lot of the people.
He said, "It is wrong for some people to claim that other ethnic groups in the state do not love the Kalabari people.
"I think there was a mistake somewhere and I call on all of you to unite to correct the wrong impression."
Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Tonye Graham-Douglas challenged Princewill to focus on the age-long unity of the Kalabari kingdom and congratulated him on the 80th birthday celebration.
While welcoming guests, the Amanyanabo said his 80th birthday, though remarkable, was not without tortuous moments.
He, however, expressed gratitude to the governor and all those who attended the function which also featured the unveiling of a status of King Jacob Tom Princewill, Amachree VII.
Source: Punch 23rd Feb 2010.
Amaechi Tasks Monarchs on Leadership
Our Reporter
Governor Amaechi made the call at the weekend when the new Chairman of the State Council of Traditional Rulers and Amanyanabo of Kalabari, Prof. Theophilus Princewill, paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Port Harcourt.
The governor said the new Chairman was appointed based on his pedigree and respect among members of the council, believing that he has the capacity to lead the traditional rulers properly.
He said his appointment came at a most challenging period when the youths are struggling with poverty and unemployment with pockets of crime still going on in the state, even though there was an improvement on security, and urged the royal fathers to collaborate with the state government to achieve set objectives.
The governor congratulated the Kalabari monarch on his 80th birthday, and assured him of the state government's readiness to assist him achieve set targets in the council.
Earlier, the Chairman of the state council of Traditional Rulers and Amanyanabo of Prof. Princewill, said he was in Government House for the first time since his appointment as Chairman of Council to discuss some issues concerning the traditional rulers in the state.
Princewill commended the governor for his appointment which, he described as a gift to the Kalabari Kingdom because it was the first time a Kalabari monarch was being given the opportunity to head the Council of Traditional Rulers in the state.
The royal father also said the appointment represented a birthday gift as it was conferred on him as he turns 80, as well as a New Year gift, adding that the appointment has humbled him.
He thanked the governor for the honour, assuring that he would do his best to steer the affairs of the traditional rulers to a new level.
Source: Daily Champion, 21st Feb 2010.
Rivers Trains 120 Youths at PTI, Effurun
By Emma Amaize
Monday, February 1, 2010
WARRI—Rivers State government has trained no fewer than 120 youths in various skill acquisition programmes at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State.
The youths were trained in basic instrumentation, mechanical craft, mechanical fitting, plumbing and pipe fitting, block laying and concreting.
The training programmes, according to the government, are to increase the state's chances of filling manpower requirements in the oil and gas industry in the Niger Delta.
Speaking at the passing out ceremony in Effurun, Governor Rotimi Amaechi described the occasion as a critical step towards the actualisation of government's policy of ensuring that adequate strategies were in place to domesticate oil and gas related technologies and to deploy same as a springboard for massive economic development.
He said the dearth of qualified manpower from the Niger Delta to occupy sensitive positions in the oil and gas industry was a fact and urged his colleagues to embark on deliberate policies of human capital development.
"I am encouraged that those in this first batch of 120 youths have distinguished themselves in the various programmes.
"This is encouraging. I hope that you will make proper use of the skills you have so far acquired and make yourselves assets to Rivers State, " the governor charged the trainees.
Acting Principal of the PTI, Dr. Roland Akpojivi, stated that the institute, which was set up in the 70's, had striven at all times to fulfill the dreams of its founding fathers.
Dr. Akpojivi stressed the need to train technicians to address youths' skill shortage in the region, adding "we say this because it is a task which must not be trivialized or handled with levity."
He charged the graduands not to rest on their oars, so that their training would not be in vain. "Do not lose focus of your dreams lest your vision will be blurred and you end up moving aimlessly in life," he said.
Source: Vanguard, 2nd Feb 2010.
Halt Waterfronts Demolition, Group Begs Rivers Govt
By Jimitota Onoyume
PORT HARCOURT—A non-governmental organisation, Social Action Nigeria, has appealed to Rivers State government to reconsider its plan to demolish waterfronts in order to avoid displacement of thousands of residents in the areas.
The group, in a statement issued weekend in Port Harcourt by its Programme Officer, Mr. Celestine Akpobari, advised the government to halt its plan to demolish the shanties until adequate alternative accommodation arrangements were made for those to be affected by the demolition.
"Social Action Nigeria, working in concert with civil society groups and communities, condemns the recent threat by the governor of Rivers State to continue the demolition exercise in Port Harcourt and calls on Rivers State government to stop further displacement of the poor waterfront residents until proper data are taken and alternative accommodations provided for them.
"The group is calling for a suspension of further demolitions and forced evictions until participatory and transparent measures are taken to provide alternative housing for over two hundred thousand residents of 41 waterfront communities in Port Harcourt, which have been home to millions of junior civil servants, fishermen, artisans and other workers in the expensive oil city," the group said.
The group raised an alarm about the activities of some dealers in petroleum products at Abonnema Wharf, noting that it was a serious threat to lives and property in the area which also serves as residential quarters to many.
Source: Vanguard, 2nd Feb 2010.
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