Author: nationalpoint

A non-governmental organization, Connected Development (CODE), some community-based organizations and media stakeholders in Rivers State have called on the contractor handling the Ahoada East/Eleme section of the East-West Road project to account for the N506bn fund approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the reconstruction of the road. This followed months of non-execution of expected reconstruction or rehabilitation activities for the flood-damaged road, with a resultant heavy financial and physical toll on commuters and commercial transport operators conveying goods and passengers between Rivers and Bayelsa states. The 2022 flooding in the Niger Delta had washed away major portions of…

Two students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Samson Kennedy, a 200 level student of Biochemistry and Wilfred Emmanuel, a 500-level student of Optometry, have been arrested by the Edo State Police Command for allegedly taking their colleague, 23-years-old Francis Aniude (a final year student of the Department of Chemistry), to Ekosodin River, where he reportedly drowned. The duo, who were neighbours with Aniude, were said to have invited him to the Ekosodin River for sightseeing on June 29, 2023, where he was allegedly drowned by the duo, who ran back to the school campus to raise alarm after the…

No fewer than 11 passengers were feared dead Wednesday while eight others sustained injuries, when a Dangote Cement Company truck rammed into an Edo State bound 18-seater mini bus along the Benin-Lagos Expressway at Ovia River Bridge, near Benin City.  The accident which happened at about 11am, occurred when the truck, which was on top speed, ran into a failed section of the road by the bridge.  Sources told this publication that the truck which, was heading towards Benin from Lagos at top speed, rammed into the 18 ill-fated mini bus which slowed down at the failed portion of the…

Given the huge economic benefit in transportation, the Rivers State chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Chief Monday Eleazar, has appealed to the Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara to revisit and flag-off the proposed Rivers -FOND Motor Manufacturing Company Limited Scheme. Chief Eleazar made this appeal last Thursday in an exclusive chat with National Point in Port Harcourt. “I will like to appeal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara through the state commissioner for Transport, Dr. Jacobson Nbina, to revisit the proposed Rivers-FOND Motor Manufacturing Company Limited Scheme.” Chief Eleazar explained that the concept which was initiated in…

A Port Harcourt-based businesswoman who was abducted a week ago, has regained her freedom. But the incident has thrown the business district around Mile One area into apprehension. However, the kidnapped woman regained her freedom after spending eight days in the custody of her abductors. The incident, which occurred at Umuoji Street, Mile 1, Diobu, in Port Harcourt, sent residents and passers-by scampering for safety as the abductors shot sporadically into the air close to her shop as they came calling. The shooting, National Point was told, caused pandemonium in the midst of which their target in an attempt to…

Last week our roving reporter stumbled on a gridlock which occurred immediately after the Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Company main gate along the East-West Road. The gridlock was worsened by the fall of two container-laden trucks adjacent each other on the road. This led to vehicles diverting to alternative routes especially, the road through Oyigbo. The traffic jam had also led to sharp increases in transportation cost and loss of man-hours along the Port Harcourt – Eleme route as as vehicles boarded in Port Harcourt had to go through Oyigbo, a longer route before connecting Eleme through Agbonchia. One of the…

The Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, may have constituted the state executive council but he appears to be having difficulty in getting someone to be appointed the Commissioner for Information. National Point gathered that the governor is being cautious about filling the position of the information commissioner because of the huge responsibility the commissioner who would bear as the mouthpiece of the government. That might be the reason why the important seat of Information Commissioner is still vacant. That has not stopped hopefuls from jostling and lobbying for the position. Information gathered revealed that old horses are lined up including…

Women have been advised to pay proper attention to their health needs to be able to live strong and long enough to care for their families. A public health advocate, Chief Regina Fabian made the passionate appeal to women at a health talk series of a women’s health retreat. The retired matron said, ”Keeping healthy does not only mean bathing, cutting your nails; you have to check your diet. Know what is good for your health”. She advised women not to fail to rest, stressing that it is very important for good health. “Rest, many women do not rest yet…

As the rains become heavier and more frequent with weather experts calling for urgent actions to save flood prone areas from impending disaster in the country, concerned Niger Deltans have called for urgent proactive adaptation measures by governments and community leaders in the region against flooding. The call was made at a one-day sensitization programme on climate change titled, ‘Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation and Impact on Gender, a learning and experience sharing’ which held Wednesday, July 19, 2023 at Aldgate Hotel, Port Harcourt. The participants drawn from flood impacted areas of Rivers State, recognized through research evidence and personal…

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has urged media practitioners to remain focused on fair and objective reporting for credibility as watchdogs of the society. Oborevwori gave the charge on Tuesday, when he received on courtesy call, the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), led by the state chairman, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu at Government House, Asaba. The governor thanked journalists in the state for their support before, during and after the general elections, assuring that he would strive to fulfill his campaign promises to Deltans. He said: “Let me thank the Delta State Council of the NUJ…