DELTA MONTHLY SANITATION EXERCISE HOLDS TODAY>>

The  monthly Environmental Sanitation Exercise will take place throughout Delta State today, Saturday, June 30, 2011 between the hours of 7:am and 10:am.

A Statement from the Ministry of Information, signed by the Acting Director of Information, Mr. Paul Osahor, said there would be restriction of movement of persons and vehicles, except those engaged on essential duties and inter-state journeys, during the period of the exercise, adding that the Commissioner for Environment signed by the Acting Director of Information, Mr. Paul Osahor noted that there will be restriction on the movement of persons and vehicles except those engaged on essential duties and Inter-State journeys.

The Statement added that the State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Frank Omare, will lead Staff of the Ministry and other relevant Government Agencies to monitor the conduct of the exercise, stressing that Officials of the State Waste Management Board and local government councils are to evacuate the resultant Waste to approved dumpsites.

The Statement further enjoined residents of the state to use the period of the sanitation exercise to clean up their surroundings and avoid loitering, saying that Officials of the State Sanitation Mobile Court will be on hand to sanction Offenders.

DTSG TO TERMINATE CONTRACTS OF DEFAULTING CONTRACTORS>>

The State Government has decided to terminate some contract jobs being poorly executed by the contractors in the state in order to ensure their completion according to specifications without further delay.

The Commissioner for Information, Chike Ogeah Esq made this available as a fall out of the meeting of the State Special Infrastructure Implementation Committee, held on Thursday, June 28, 2012.

He said that the contractor handling the dualisation of Ughelli-Asaba Road Project, Sector A: KMOO to 39 with a spur to Oleh, had demobilised from site with skeletal work going at a very slow pace, adding that Project Sector C: Km 92 to 138+267 with a spur to Ogwashi-Uku of same road had been abandoned completely by the contractor, just as he disclosed that the contractor constructing the Sapele Market had also abandoned the project site after doing only about 30% work.

The Commissioner gave the name of the defaulting contracting firms to include Workson International Limited, Ulo Consultants Limited and PRIMI Construction Limited.

DELTA YOUTHS ENJOINED TO SHUN ACTS INIMICAL TO DEVELOPMENT>>

Youths in the state have been enjoined to embrace peace at all times and shun acts that are inimical to the socio-economic growth and development of the society.

The Secretary to Delta State Government, Comrade Ovuozourie Macaulay, gave the advice in Okirighwre in Sapele Local Government Area when he received on behalf of the State Government, arms and ammunitions from the warring factions of the youths in the community.

Comrade Macaulay commended the security agents for their role in ensuring that peace returned to the community and the people in particular for their readiness to embrace peace after three years fighting.

He advised them to shun illegal possession of arms and ammunitions, adding that such possession of arms could have negative effects that could jeopardise their future as the leaders of tomorrow, even as he maintained that only the security agents are authorised to carry guns for the protection of lives and properties.

The SSG appealed to those who had not surrendered their guns to do so, saying that now that the community was speaking in one voice, they should completely forget about the crisis.

Comrade Macaulay maintained that poor family background should not be a reason to indulge in crime, even as he said that government was happy for their willingness to sanitise their community by re-directing their steps towards embracing peace.

The state scribe said that the incessant cases of kidnapping would not do the state any good, adding that investors could be discouraged from investing in the state if the menace was not checkmated, just as he called on the youths to join hands with Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan in building a crime-free state.

Earlier, the Youths Secretary in the community, Comrade Venture Kagbude, who spoke on behalf of the elders and the people of Okirighwe community, said that the need to come together was borne out of their conviction that the two warring factions were in the same community.

Comrade Kagbude said that they had deemed it necessary to submit their guns and ammunitions to the government as a sign of love of one another.

He recalled that the crisis started three years ago when a faction of the youths in the community killed in broad day light, the youths Chairman of the community Mr. Collins Ufuoma Akpoisi, even as he pledged continuous peaceful co-existence among the people.

While receiving the arms and ammunitions from the SSG, the special adviser to the Governor on Security matters, General Obi Abel Omalu, represented by the Commanding Officer, 19 Batallion, Lt. Colonel Peter Okoye said that Government would continue to ensure that lives and properties were protected.

Lt. Colonel Okoye appealed to the community not to harbour any criminal, adding that they should continue to give genuine information to the security agent for their own good.

ENVIRONMENT COMMISSIONER HARPS ON SANITATION>>

Deltans have been called upon to cultivate the culture of cleaning their surroundings to ensure a healthy environment.

The State Commissioner for Environment, Chief Frank Omare, made the appeal at the 2012 National Environment Sanitation Day, held in Asaba.

Chief Omare said that June 28 of every year was set aside by the Federal Government as sanitation day, aimed at ensuring a clean and healthy society, adding that the main objective of the annual Environmental sanitation Day (NESD) was to institutionalised sound environmental sanitation consciousness as a lifestyle.

He said that due to rapid population growth and enhanced economic activities, solid waste were generated faster than they were collected, transported and disposed of.

The Environment Commissioner emphasised that the State Government had re-invigorated the monthly sanitation day with the introduction of a mobile court, sensitisation and enforcement teams, adding that Government had also introduced Market Sanitation which is to be held every Thursday, between the hours of 7am and 10am.

Chief Omare informed Deltans to plant trees and grasses in their surroundings so as to checkmate the menace of climate change.

He disclosed that Lagos State had been facing flooding challenges, saying that Delta would take pro-active measures to avert the incidence, particularly in Asaba, Warri and Effurun.

The Environment Commissioner advised Deltans to register with PSPS for collection of their waste, refrain from throwing refuse into drains and shun street trading.

The Commissioner later visited the Ogbe-ogonogo market, Asaba where he charged the market women to shun indiscriminate dumping of refuse around the market, saying that they use the provided waste bins for easy evacuation to the main dumpsite.

Chief Omare was accompanied on the sensitisation visit by the Chairman, Delta State Waste Management Board, Chief Olori Magege, Director of Sanitation in the Ministry of Environment.

DTSG GETS COMMENDATION FOR YOUTHS, WOMEN EMPOWERMENT>>

Delta State Government has been adjudged the best state in the empowerment of youths and women in the country.

The wife of the state governor, Deaconess Roli Nere Uduaghan stated this during the ceremony of the hand-on training and petite grant to indigent women across the state to commemorate the celebration of the 1st anniversary of the 5th Assembly of the state House of Assembly (DTHA), organized by wives of DTHA legislator at the St. Patrick College, Asaba.

Deaconess Uduaghan who congratulated wives of the legislators for successfully embarking on the project to empower the women, said that the programme shared similar ideology and goals with her Master Care Foundation, adding that the gesture would bring about the actualization of the 3-points agenda of the state government, even as she charged the beneficiaries to use the funds given them wisely.

Earlier in an address, the wife of the speaker of DTHA who is also the coordinator of Project Smile, Mrs. Hanatu Ochei, expressed her gratitude to Deltans, especially the Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan for his visionary leadership towards taking the state to a greater height, just as she appreciated the Governor’s wife, Deaconess Roli Uduaghan, describing her as her role model and mentor in touching lives positively and in women empowerment in the state.

Mrs. Ochei said that Project Smile was a new perspective on women empowerment, saying that its main objective was to touch lives and enhance the creation of wealth among women, in line with the 3-point agenda of the state government. “Project smile promises to offer hope and encouragement to Delta State women on how to create sustainable wealth from their daily enterprise, as we seek to help encourage good saving culture and financial discipline for increased return on investment and improved standard of living,” she said.

Mrs. Ochei stated further that the monetary value of the grant may not be enough to immediately elevate the fortune of the beneficiaries, adding that if the Biblical injunction to be one’s brother’s keeper was honestly practiced in the society, the world would be a better place for all, just as she urged women to give their husband necessary helping hand at all times towards having better homes in the state.

The highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of passbooks to 300 indigent women who are beneficiaries with the sum of N 10, 000 each by members of the state House of Assembly.

DTSG PARTNERS AGENCIES THROUGH ABUJA OFFICE TO OFFER DELTANS QUALITY SERVICES>>

In a bid to actualize the 3- Point Agenda of the Delta State Government, the Commissioner, Directorate for Multi-Lateral Relations, Abuja, Comrade Gloria Okolugbo has said that her office had been partnering with various agencies to provide a conducive environment for Deltans while in Abuja to explore the possibility of utilizing every available opportunity open to them all over the world.

Comrade Okolugbo, disclosed this while briefing the Press in Asaba on the activities of the directorate for the past one year.

She said that the Directorate is highly committed to showcasing Delta as a state of people with rich cultural heritage who could hold their head high and bring substance to the bargaining table for the exchanges that could develop the state.

The commissioner further stated that the directorate liaises with the diplomatic community to facilitate bilateral relations beyond national level and handles all liaison matters on behalf of the state in the entire Northern region of the country.

She said that prior to the establishment of the directorate, the Abuja office stood as a liaison office, with a sitting commissioner who functioned in an ambassadorial capacity, adding that the liaison office served at the Federal Capital as a link between the State and the Federal government.

Comrade Okolugbo called on Deltans to note that in the quest for trade and educational interactions which had been taking them to the north, they should identify themselves with the liaison department to guard and assist them, especially in this time of security challenges in the country.

She said that the services of the Directorate was highly supported by the State Government, adding that running the liaison unit was dedicated to offering Deltans services away from home.

UKUBENYINJE REITERATES GOVT’S COMMITMENT TO AGRIC. DEVELOPMENT>>

Delta State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Barr Misan Ukubeyinje has said that the state government was determined to take Agriculture to an enviable position by partnering with necessary organizations.

Barr. Ukubeyinje stated this at Effurun while commissioning and presenting 12 fish possessing kilns to the Uvwie Fish Farmers Multi-purpose Cooperative Society.

He said that the State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, was determined to develop the Agriculture sector towards the actualization of “Delta Beyond Oil”, adding that over one billion Naira was recently given to farmers as loans, just as he said that strategic efforts were being made by the state government to key into the Agriculture transformation Agenda (ATA) of the Federal Government.

The Agric commissioner commended the fish farmers for their foresight and decision to embark on fish farming, adding that they had turned the area to a household name in the fish production and placed the Uvwie Local Government Area in the Agricultural map of the World.

He said that the kilns were  given to the fish farmers by IFAD in response to their earlier request for assistance when IFAD team, led by the Country Programme Officer, Dr. Ben Odoemema, visited the Cluster farm last year, adding that the gesture was aimed at ensuring food security in the state, just as he stated that 20 fish farmers from the area were sponsored by IFAD for training at Songhai Centre of Excellence, Bunu Tai in Port Harcourt, even as he maintained that the training was not only on fish production but covered other aspects of farming so as to give the farmers the opportunity to diversify their income base.

Barr. Ukubeyinje maintained that fish farming is a profitable venture if properly done, adding that fish smoking would create jobs in the fishing industry just as he urged the fish farmers to take their job seriously and put the new kilns into proper use.

Earlier in an address, the President of Uvwie Fish Farmers Multi-purpose Cooperative Society, who is also the Chairman of the United Fish Farmers Association, Ekpan, Deacon Henry Ogbodu, thanked the state government and IFAD for giving them financial assistance, training and provision of fish processing equipment, saying that such good gesture would reduce the level of poverty in the area.

He called on government to render necessary assistance to the fish farmers to enable them to sustain and improve their productivity towards the actualization of “Delta Beyond Oil”.

High point of the occasion was the commissioning of the kilns by Barr. Ukubeyinje.

Meanwhile, Barrister Ukubeyinje has enjoined farmers in Isoko South Local Government Area of the state to form themselves into cooperative clusters so as to get Government’s assistance.

Barrister Ukubeyinje stated this when members of the Umeh Improvement Union paid him a courtesy call in his office in Asaba.

He said that Umeh is an agrarian community, known for its high productivity in farm produce, saying that Government had opened up the area with the construction of the road to Umeh.

The Commissioner directed the Director of Agriculture services, Mr. Francis Egho, who hails from Isoko, to liaise with members of the Union to fashion out the best way to assist farmers in the area.

Earlier in an address, tagged Delta beyond Oil, the Umeh Experience”, the president General of Umeh progressive Union, Chief Philip Utoro, thanked Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan for constructing the 7km road to Umeh, saying that not only had the road opened up the community for more development but that it had facilitated the movement of people and farm produce to and from other neighbouring communities.

He called on government to render assistance to farmers in the area to boost their productivity, saying that if the farmers were properly motivated they would grow enough food to feed the state, just as he demonstrated the abundance of plantain in the area by presenting some bunches of the product to the commissioner.

RMD ATTRIBUTES BOOMING SHOWBIZ, FILM BIZ IN DELTA TO PREVAILING PEACE, SECURITY>>

Peace and security has made Asaba the home for entertainment, shooting of film production and showbiz.

This was said by the Commissioner for Culture 7 tourism, Barr Richard mofe Damijo (RMD) while receiving the state PMAN Executives led by Mr. Emmanuel Ndah, in his office at Asaba.

The commissioner said that the Peace and Security Agenda of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan had made the state a home for the entertainment industry to thrive, adding that Asaba, the state capital, had become a shooting ground for film production and music recording.

He said that ‘’Delta Beyond Oil’’ was also about how music, culture, tourism and entertainment which bring lots of people and attract investors to develop the state economy could be properly harnessed.

He said further that the state Governor had put many things in place which would bring massive growth and development to the state in the next two years. His words, ‘’In the next two years, Delta state will have grown in the area of culture, tourism and entertainment beyond our imagination, so be at alert so that you will not be caught on aware.’’

In the area of entertainment, Barr. Richard said that under the present administration, the Government had not been involved in bringing in foreign musicians for entertainment rather that the Government was giving more opportunity to indigenous artists to showcase their talent, saying that if there was need for Government to invite foreign artists, the Government would definitely consult the PMAN Executives in the state.

Highlight of the courtesy visit was a presentation of award of excellence to the Commissioner, for his overwhelming transformation of Art, Culture and Tourism in the state.

Earlier, the state Chairman of PMAN, Comrade Emma Grey, said that the appointment of the commissioner had transformed the entertainment industry in the state, most especially in the area of music and film production. He pledged that the state executives would support and cooperate with the commissioner towards taking the state to greater heights.