Author: Emmanuel Obe

The oil spill, which occurred at Bukuma on the New Calabar River in Rivers State about two weeks ago, has spread to the neighbourhoods of Ido, Tombia and other communities through the river in Degema and Asari Toru Local Government Areas of Rivers State. The fire that followed the spill to surrounding farmlands and settlements on Iwoama Bukuma has however been put out. But that was after it had destroyed several hundreds of hectares of farmlands, fishing settlements and vegetation. The effects of the fire and spill are heavy on the communities where they have caused respiratory issues. Farmers have…

…Gokpa calls for urgent intervention on the road The body of the expatriate that died in when his car plunged into Okulu River, Aleto, Eleme on the East Road on Monday night has been recovered.The body was recovered from the river about 4pm followed a combined operation by the Eleme Local Government, the Marine Unit of the Nigerian Police Force, the Nigerian Navy, Federal Road Safety Corps and the National Emergency Management Agency.The Rivers State Police Relations Officer, Mrs. Grace Iringe-Koko, identified the deceased as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Rivers State Cassava Project Limited, Gibson Reuben. The…

The Chairman of Eleme Local Government, Brain Gokpa, is leading a search and rescue operation for occupants of a Hilux van that fell into the Okulu River on the East-West Road at Aleto, Eleme on Monday night. Witnesses said the driver of the van was trying to evade an ambush by armed hoodlums suspected to be kidnappers when he skidded off the bridge and fell into the river. The van was among a convoy of company workers returning to Port Harcourt at about 10pm. Details were still sketchy about the identity of the victims on Tuesday morning when the Chairman…

Uche Okwukwu has been elected as the new President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, the apex socio-cultural organization of the Igbo ethnic in Nigeria.Okwukwu, who was elected at Enugu was once the secretary general of the organization. But his election came on the heels of a controversy because the mainstream of the Ikwerre, his ethnic group in Rivers State have declared that they were not Igbo and would have nothing to do with Ohaneze Ndigbo.Ohaneze had however zoned the Presidency of the organization to Rivers State on a rotational basis and it was the turn of its members in Rivers State to…

Property owners along the Eleme axis of the East-West Road have called on President Bola Tinubu to revoke the contract for the reconstruction of the road given to Reynolds Construction Company Limited, RCC. In a press release, the Chairman and Secretary of an association of the property owners in the area, Joseph Obele and Peter Haraca, said the contractors have been slow, incompetent and their poor work culture has led to avoidable accidents, traffic congestion and delays in evacuation of petroleum products from the refinery and the seaport at Onne. “Despite receiving N33 billion from the Federal Ministry of Works,…

Concerned about the growing incidence of domestic violence in the area, the Chairman of Eleme Local Government Area, Chief Brain Gokpa, has entered into a partnership with the Healthy Life Development Initiative, a non-governmental organization to curb the menace.According to a press release issued on Tuesday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman, Hon. Udeme Obot, the partnership will provide advocacy against sexual and gender-based violence, with a focus on protecting women and children. Chairman Eleme Local Government, Chief Brain Gokpa Obot said, “During a courtesy call at his office, Chief Gokpa emphasized the council’s commitment to tackling domestic…

The Deputy National President of the National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, Dr Emi Membere-Otaji, has called for urgent action to be taken to contain the oil spill emanating from the blowout of An oil pipeline on the Asari Toru River also known as New Calabar River in Asari Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State. Dr. Membere-Otaji, who said the spill was already choking sea life around the area, stated that irrespective of who or what caused the blowout, let all stakeholders join hands to save the environment. The Blow out site oil blowout…

A new Commissioner of Police has been appointed to head the Rivers State Police Command. He is Mr. Olugbenga Adewole. He took over from Mr. Mustapha Bala, who was recently promoted Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 6, Calabar.Adewole who assumed duties on Friday in Port Harcourt was until his appointment in charge of the Department of Operations, Rivers State Police Command. He is the 47th Rivers State Commissioner of Police, and the third to be appointed in the last 14 months.According to a press release issued on Friday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Grace…

Latest reports said the police have moved one Miss Nnena, who allegedly clubbed her boyfriend, one Mr. Rogers to death on Monday at Oyorokoto, Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State has been moved into the custody of the State Command Headquarters in Port Harcourt.Nnena had allegedly hit Rogers with a club moments after they had a heated argument over who bought her a phone.Andoni Connect, an online publication about Andoni relayed an eye witness’s account of what happened between Nnena and Rogers, both from Andoni.”Trouble started when Mr Rogers (25) saw a new mobile phone with the girlfriend, Miss…

The Chairman of Eleme Local Government, Chief Brain Gokpa, has vowed to identify and bring to justice those responsible for the fire that ravaged several shops in Onne market, Onne Eleme.During his assessment of the damaged shops, Chairman Gokpa commiserated with the affected traders and instructed Hon. Stanley Egbe, Councillor representing Onne, to work with the victims and provide support from the council to alleviate their situation. Some traders, who spoke with the chairman, said they suspect that the fire was a deliberate act, citing previous fire outbreaks in their shops that they were able to extinguish promptly. One trader…