Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has restated that his Administration operates a transparent accounting system in its deployment of scarce resources in providing essential services to the people.
Governor Fubara spoke when he played host to the leadership and members of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts on a courtesy visit to Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday.
The Governor recalled that when he was appointed the Accountant General in 2020, the public accounting reporting position of the State changed for the best because he understood the numbers and how to clearly present the details.
He said that culture of prudence and transparency has been maintained as he assumed governorship of the State despite the challenges that had confronted his Administration.
Governor Fubara stated that in managing the finances, he has also increased the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the State, which are judiciously
The Rivers State Executive Council has given approval to the State Government to spend the sum of N6.7billion for the reconstruction of the 5-kilometre long Okania-Ogbogoro Road in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
The approval was given at the Council’s 7th meeting, presided over by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, with the Deputy Governor, Prof Ngozi Odu and other members of the cabinet in attendance.
The meeting, which was the second this year, held at the Executive Chambers of Government House in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
Briefing newsmen after the meeting, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works, Engr. Atemea Briggs, explained that the road stretches from Okania through Ogbogoro to Ozuoba.
He noted that road contract was initially awarded to Nugi Nigeria Limited on the April 12, 2017, but was abandoned after preliminary works.
Engr Briggs said that with the abandonment, the road collapsed, making it completely impassible thereby constituting a major traffic challenge to motorists, especially now that works have intensified on the Port Harcourt Ring Road that traverses part of Ozuoba.
“The proposed Okania-Ogbogoro Road in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area is about 5kilometres in length. It is connecting Okania to the major Ogbogoro-Ozuoba Road. Presently, the state of the road is completely impassible; and it is filled with water.
The information commissioner also explained that the State Government has begun the distilling and clearing of the Nta-Wogba Creek to check flooding in the Port Harcourt City centre in the State.
He further said that the State Government will soon begin rehabilitation work on the failed sections of the Igwuruta-Chokocho Road to assuage the discomfort experienced by the people in the area.
Also, Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that the State’s Contributory Health Insurance Scheme will offer households a measure of financial protection against healthcare costs and help resolve inequality in the provision of available services.
The Governor, therefore, charged managers of the scheme to be unbiased while administering the scheme so that the most vulnerable in the society are not deprived from accessing critically needed healthcare services.
Governor Fubara gave the charge when he formally launched the public sector Contributory Health Insurance Protection Programme (CHIPP), which is the State’s health insurance programme, shortly after inaugurating the Comprehensive Primary Health Centre in Ndoni Town in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.
The Governor, who became the first to be enrolled on the scheme and followed by his Deputy, Prof Ngozi Odu, said the scheme must foster an inclusive and equitable healthcare access for the people of the State.
Moreso, Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that his Administration was working in tandem with President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government’s policies designed to make life better for Nigerians through the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Governor Fubara stated that, in doing so, the Woji-Aleto-Alesa-Refinery Road, now 70 percent completed, was being constructed to provide a bypass to easily access the Port Harcourt Refinery and take off traffic from the East-West Road.
He made the remark when members of the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee to Investigate the Turnaround Maintenance of Nigeria’s Refineries, led by its Chairman, Senator Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah paid him a courtesy visit at Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday night.
The Governor said the purpose of governance was to make life easy for the people, and expressed delight that the Senate Committee’s investigation would result in making life easy and meaningful for Nigerians.
“We, as a State, before the commencement of the rehabilitation job, had a contribution that we wanted to make to support the work at the refinery because of the deplorable state of the East-West Road.
“There is a road: Woji-Aleto-Alesa Refinery Road. We are almost completing the bridge. It’s about 70 percent completed. We are doing almost the last part of it. With that road, it will help to decongest and reduce the trouble commuters face along the East-West Road while providing easy access, straight to the refinery.
“So, you can see that our Government is working in line, supporting the Administration of President Bola Tinubu to give our people hope and assurance that things will soon get better.
Furthermore, Rivers State Deputy Governor, Professor Ngozi Nma Odu says women play very important roles in the socio economic development of the church and the society at large.
Prof. Odu echoed this while speaking during the 2024 Opening Ceremony of Filling the Jar Assembly organized by Methodist Church Nigeria Women at Banham Methodist Cathedral, Aggrey Road, in Port Harcourt on Thursday 18th April, 2024.
The Deputy Governor expressed gratitude to the women on behalf of Governor Fubara who believes in the efficacy of prayers, for their prayers to promote peace in the State, stressed that whenever the Almighty God is involved in a matter what seems impossible would be made possible.
“I thank you for your prayers for the Governor and myself and pray that God rewards your labour of love, because if there is peace in Rivers State there would be development and when development comes it is like the rain it falls on everybody, so we thank you for upholding us and the entire State in your prayers, please let it not stop.” The Deputy Governor quipped.
She said women play important role in the society, while insisting that nobody can ignore the input of women or relegate them to the background, because even in politics and elections women vote more, and are powerful.
According to the Deputy Governor, the theme, Arise and Build which was drawn from Nehemiah 2:18, is apt and calls on women to arise and pour out their hearts in prayer to God, adding that with prayers they can build their homes and the nation.
