Awajis George News

As the rainy season intensify,residents of Abua /Odual has appealed to the Authority of the L.G.A to urgently find a lasting solution by constructing drainages at most flood prone commnities in Abua central to avert flooding. A concerned citizen, Mr Sunday Akpan, told our correspondent that the appeal is urgent because anytime there is torrential rainfall some houses at Amalem community where he is residing always experience flooding, including other neighbouring villages. Mr Akpan, reaffirmed that the only solution is the construction of drainage system in the twelve localities of central Abua. Our correspondent who visited the area, reports that to remedy the situation, gutters should be channel to the river Somebriero through, Omokwa community. Meanwhie, the meteorological department has named area as one of the local government areas in the state to be affected by flood in 2019.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG users are urged to purchase cylinders only from approved distributors to avoid hazards. The Rivers state coordinator of standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON Mr. Ololade Ayoola explained that explosion occurs when a cylinder is pressured with gas beyond its capacity. Mr. Ayoola maintained that a LPG cylinder has a life span of fifteen years adding that the ownership of LPG cylinders should be solely by approved cooking gas filling stations to check obsolete and sub-standard products. Also speaking, Federal Fire Service in PortHarcourt, Mr. Abbas Wabga enumerated safety measures in the usage of cylinders to include keeping it outside the kitchen and drawing the attention of technicians to fix any fault detected. Also The Chairman LPG Retailers Association of Port Harcourt, Mr. Innocent Okparugo appealed to the government agencies to carry out strict check to see that standard are maintained to forestall the importation of sub-standard LPG cylinders.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has abolished the payments of user-fees for persons living with HIV/AIDS who want to access treatment at State-owned Health facilities. Governor Wike said that the State Government will take over the payment of the user-fees to encourage more Rivers people to seek treatment for HIV/AIDS. Governor Wike made this known today during a Courtesy Visit by an American Delegation from the United States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention under the auspices of the Institute of Human Virology of Nigeria at the Government House Port Harcourt. Governor Wike said: "We will stop all fees collected as user-fees for persons under the HIV/AIDS Treatment Programme . This is our contribution to the partnership with the United States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. "We will take over the payment of the HIV/AIDS user-fees for the Public Health facilities in the state. "The Deputy Governor will be in charge of the progr

Normalcy has been restored at Igwuruta-Ali Community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State after angry mob blocked the Airport Road following an alleged killing of a truck driver, Mr. Eze Wali. A youth in the area, Mr. Kinika Chinedu, narrated how some men of the Onelga Security and Peace Advisory Committee, OSPAC, allegedly killed the driver. Councillor representing Igrwuruta ward twelve in Ikwerre Local Government Legislative Assembly, Mr. Churchill Wali has appealed to the family of the deceased to be calm as the security agencies had opened investigation to unravel what led to the unfortunate killing. The deceased is said to have only recently lost the wife who left a set of twins with her aged mother Our correspondent who visited the area reports that residents were seen going about their lawful business. However, the Rivers State Police Command is yet to respond to the incidents as of the time of filing this report.

As part of measures to end series of cults clashes in Rumuolumeni community Obio Akpor local government area,the people of the area have commenced peace move to reconcile different cults groups in the community. Paramount ruler of the community Eze Ndubueze Wobo-OKocha and other stakeholders in collaboration with security agency summoned a peace and reconciliation meeting . Our correspondent reports that when the people gathered at the community town hall, one of the cult groups could not make it to the venue for their personal reasons. The DPO in charge of Rumuolumeni Division and representative of commander of Anti-Cultism as well as members of Peace and reconciliation committee and Community Development Committee suggested that the meeting be reconvene for purpose of inclusion and new date be communicated to all parties which was agreed. Addressing the people, chairman of Peace and Reconciliation Committee, Chief Collins Wokpara encouraged the group present at the meeting n

Three bills have passed first reading on the floor of the Rivers State House of Assembly. The bills are the Rivers State female circumcision abolition amendment bill 2019 sponsored by the majority leader, Martin Amaewhule and Rivers State dehumanizing and harmful practice abolition amendment bill 2019 by Sam Ogeh, representing Emohua constituency. The third bill, Rivers State Violence Against Persons prohibition bill 2019 was jointly sponsored by Martin Amaewhule and Sam Ogeh. At the presentation of the bills, Mr. Martin Amaewhule said the Rivers State female circumcision abolition amendment bill 2019 is to amend the female circumcision abolition law number two of 2001. On his part, Sam Ogeh said the Rivers State dehumanizing and harmful practice abolition amendment bill 2019 will repeal the principal law of 2003. Speaker of the State Assembly, Mr. Ikuinyi Ibani assured that all necessary processes would be followed in the passage of the bill. Meanwhile ,the House has a

Investigation has commence to unravel the killing of a former Dean of Post Graduate School, Rivers State University, Professor Emmanuel Amadi. Police Public Relations Officer, Rivers State Police Command, Nnamdi Omoni who confirmed the killing to our correspondent said the University lecturer was murdered at his residence in Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt. Reasons for the murder of the university Don is yet unknown ,but the University community have been mourning since the news of his death as the late Professor is said to be a role model to many young academics in his field. We will bring you details later

International Federation of Women Lawyers FIDA has been urged to express more of empathy rather than sympathy in dealing with their clients. Mrs. Florence Amiesimaka stated this in a presentation on Sisterhood and Integrity, during the 2019 FIDA Rivers Week/Triennial General Meeting, with the theme: “Enhancing Sisterhood and Integrity to Protect Vulnerable Women and Children” According to her, emotional subjective and attachment to any case can mar a judgement , while admonishing FIDA to work within the sisterhood codes which is based on integrity, love, empathy and ensuring the protection of human rights. On his part, Director Social Welfare Rivers state Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Iminabo Robinson, advised FIDA not to allow their personal interest in the discharge of their duties.

The Onelga Security and Peace Advisory Committee, OSPAC has come under criticism over alleged arrest and detention of innocent individuals in Rumudele community in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State. The OSPAC is also accused of collecting huge amount of money as bail before releasing suspects from their cell. One of the victims of the arrest, Luis Alete-Dimkpa said he was among the ten persons arrested by members of OSPAC in a beer palor in his community which they claimed was along East West road. Alete-Dimkpa said he and other victims were first taken to uncompleted building at Rumuji before moving them to OSPAC barrack at Omoku where they were rough handled and later granted bail with the sum of fifty thousand naira each. He threatened to take legal action against the onelga Local vigilante outfit over what he described as illegal and unlawful arrest, deformation of character and assault. When our correspondent contacted the Rivers State Police Command, the Publ

The election tribunal sitting in PortHarcourt has adjourned ruling to the 20th of June on legal representation of African Action Congress , AAC; at the National level, on the case filed by the party against the Independent National Electoral Commission, Governor NYESOM WIKE and the Peoples Democratic Party. Also the tribunal granted application of extension of time filed by the Candidate of the Peoples Progressive Party in a suit against the Independent National Electoral Commission, Governor Nyesom Wike and the Peoples Democratic Party. The Candidate of the PPP, Clifford Udunakor want court to nullified the March 9th Governorship election for alleged illegal removing of his name from the ballot despite a court order. This is happening after the party through their counsel had withdrawn their interest from challenging the outcome of the 2019 general elections. The Tribunal granted the extension of time based on applications filed by counsel to the PPP to reply motions by

President National Union of Shop and Distributive Employees , Mr. Innocent Jaja has urged management of Port-Harcourt Mall to ensure that the welfare of their staff are paramount. Mr. Jaja gave this advise when the union paid a sympathy visit to the management of Port-Harcourt mall following a recent gas explosion at the mall. "As a Union we felt that is important we must come here and see things for ourselves ,sympathy with management,and workers and reassure them that the Union will always be there,because to us ,the Union, the workers and the management is a tripartite thing,we are partners in progress, so we have come here to tell them that we have had what happen, and we are sorry about it,but thanking God it did not go more than this." Mr. Jaja who said efforts should be made to give those injured, proper treatment, appealed to the management to ensure that their staff are insured. Also, State Vice chairman United Labour congress, Mr. Innocent Lord-Douglas sai

About twenty suspected criminals have been paraded by the Rivers State Police Command. Briefing Newsmen at the command headquarter Moscow road port Harcourt the commissioner of police Usman Belel said the suspects who were arrested at different points in the state had carried out lots of atrocities such as kidnapping, armed robbery,among other crimes. Cp Belel reiterated the commands' commitment in ridding the state of hoodlums . Speaking further ,the Rivers State commissioner of police said two Ak47 rifles ,fourteen locally made pistols, fake hundred Dollars notes were among items recovered from the hoodlums. The command also arrested one Rebecca Ebeta a military officers,who was said to be the leader of an armed robbery syndicate  operating within Port Harcourt metropolis . Some of the suspects who spoke with our correspondent denied allegations leveled against them. Mr.Belel appealed to residents of the state to always provide the command with useful information that will lead

Rivers: Youth leader charge security agencies to  rescue 3 kidnapped Lebanese The President of Andoni Youth Coalition Mr. Mkpon Ijonma has urged the police and other stakeholders to swing into action and ensure the rescue of three Lebanese construction workers kidnapped in Andoni on saturday. Ijonma, in a phone interview with our correspondent  said the foreigners working for Radford Construction Company handling ongoing construction on the Andoni Unity road,  were in the early hours of Saturday taken hostage by kidnappers. He said that the kidnap had since attracted an altimatum by Governor Nyesom Wike who threatened to revoke the contract if the victims were not urgently released. The youth leader also said that the governor had tasked all government recognised traditional rulers in Andoni local government area to ensure quick rescue of the kidnapped victims or risk loosing their traditional stools and certificates of recognition. “As much as I won’t support weak tradition

SEA PIRATES ATTACK BILLE PEOPLE  Two speedboats loaded with passengers coming from Bille  kingdom in Degema Local Government Area to Port-Harcourt  were attacked last night by sea pirates in Civil Defence camouflage. No lives was lost ,but some persons were injured and are currently receiving treatments in an hospital. One of the victims, Mr. David Elisha who narrated his ordeal said the hoodlums chase and shots severally at them,cart away their property and the boats. There  had been recent  reports of hoodlums attacked on the Bille  waterways . Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer Nnamdi Omoni who confirmed the incident ,said that the command is doing everything possible to arrest  hoodlums terrorising the waterways and ensure that the waterways are safe for seafarers.

Ikwerre local government endorses operation of OSPAC The Executive Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, Hon. Engr, Samuel Nwanosike JP, has today officially endorsed the operation of OSPAC in Ikwerre LGA, to help tackle the crims and criminalities in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers. Now OSPAC is in Ikwerre LGA to spread her security network in all the 12 communities in Ikwerre LGA. Is the commitment and further fulfillment of the council Boss of fighting crims and criminalities in Ikwerre as part of his campaign promises.