Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), the state health insurance agency, is to begin the enrolment of the health workforce, following the mandate of the Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, to have alll health workers in the state enrolled.

Based on the governor’s mandate, the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Chidinma Oreh has directed the immediate enrolment of health workers starting from Wednesday, 12th November 2025, by RIVCHPP.

Consequently, the Executive Secretary of RIVCHPP, Dr. Vetty Agala, in a statement on Monday, in her office, instructed that enrolment teams will be first deployed to the Ministry of Health, Rivers State Primary Health Management Board (RSPHCMB), Rivers State Hospital Management Board (RSHMB), and Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH).

In the statement, Dr. Agala urged heads of the MDAs to kindly grant RIVCHPP’s team members a space to carry out the enrolment, inform their staff of the enrolment exercise and provide any other support necessary for the seamless enrolment of the health workforce.

The Executive Secretary of RIVCHPP added that all health workers, including non clinical staff, will be covered, saying that nominal rolls will be required from each MDA, while staff should present their ID cards or letters of employment.

Dr. Agala, however, pointed out that only those workers who have valid national identification numbers ( NIN) are eligible for enrolment in line with National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) guidelines.

The Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA) has hailed the decision of the Federal Government to impose a 15% tax on imported petrol and diesel.

The chamber gave the commendation in a statement on Tuesday in Enugu by its President, Sir Odeiga Jideonwo.

According to him, the chamber considers this a step in the right direction—one that will not only help grow the economy but also encourage local production and create more employment opportunities for our teeming youths.

He said that ECCIMA had consistently maintained that the naira cannot appreciate if more than 80 per cent of the country’s needs remained import-dependent.

“The excessive importation of finished goods continues to weaken the value of the naira, particularly when such goods can be produced locally.

“We believe that imposing higher tariffs on imported products that can be manufactured within Nigeria will help protect and revitalize local industries,” he said.

The president recalled that the importation of refined petroleum products into Nigeria dated back to the 1990s, marking the beginning of a gradual economic decline.

This, he noted, had continued to depreciate the country’s naira, stressing the inability of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to revive the three refineries owned by the Federal Government.

“This is coupled with the indiscriminate issuance of fuel importation licenses which has significantly worsened our economic challenges that have proven difficult to overcome.

“Countries such as the United States of America and China have maintained strict policies discouraging the importation of goods that can be produced locally.

“These nations support indigenous industries to meet 100 per cent of domestic needs and also to export,” Jideonwo said.

He explained that satisfying local demand through local production strengthens a country’s balance of trade, disclosing that any government that seeks real change must adopt policies that support domestic industries.

“This is as seen in the economic strategies of leaders like the U.S. President Donald Trump.

“We commend the Chairman of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, for his visionary and determined efforts to restore Nigeria’s reputation in refined petroleum production through his investment in the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

“The refinery is already meeting domestic needs while earning foreign exchange for Nigeria. More investments of this nature are crucial to saving and strengthening our economy.”

According to him, the planned expansion of the refinery’s capacity from 650,000 barrels per day to 1.4 million barrels per day will ensure adequate supply for national consumption.

Jideonwo calls for the issuance of more licenses to indigenous companies to establish refineries in Nigeria since oil remained the nation’s major source of foreign earnings.

He highlighted that players in the sector who demonstrate the capacity to transform Nigeria from a net exporter of crude oil to a net exporter of refined petroleum products should be actively supported by the government and other stakeholders.

“The Federal Government should also eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks that hinder local investors in obtaining refinery licenses. Such reforms will encourage more investors to join the industry, enhance competition, and ensure sufficient supply of petroleum products for both domestic and export markets

“Nigeria can indeed become a global leader and the largest exporter of refined petroleum products if this policy is properly implemented. ECCIMA fully supports every private sector initiative aimed at reviving local refining of our God-given crude oil.

“Accordingly, we endorse any government policy that protects and promotes such private sector efforts.

“We therefore urge all stakeholders to support this policy, while calling on the government to allow more indigenous investors into the refining sector for the sustainable growth of the national economy,” Jideonwo appealed.

The 2025 Rivers State Flood Prevention and Management Committee has commenced the distribution of relief materials to flood-impacted Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state, beginning with the Orashi region.

Flagging off the distribution of the items at the Central Medical Stores in Port Harcourt on Thursday, 6th November 2025, Rivers State Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Committee, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu said the committee procured both food and non-food items for each Local Government Area. She noted that Ahoada East, Ahoada West, and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Areas each received two trucks filled with relief materials.

Prof. Odu explained that the event was part of deliberate efforts to mitigate the burden of flooding.

“Today, Ahoada East, Ahoada West, and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Areas are receiving aid. Each LGA receives two trucks filled with both food and non-food items. Non-food items for each LGA include 200 mattresses, 200 pillows, slippers, and cooking utensils. Food items for each LGA include 200 bags of rice, 300 cartons of Indomie noodles, 500 bags of garri and beans, 600 cans of palm oil, and salt,” Prof. Odu stated.

The Deputy Governor mentioned ongoing desilting efforts at the Rumuokwurusi River, noting that the clearing has made the water flow faster. She added that previous promises made by the Committee have been kept, including the provision of ₦3 million to families who lost loved ones as a result of flooding.

She further stated that the current distribution of food and non-food items fulfils another promise to the Local Government Councils, which are expected to complement the State’s efforts by contributing additional relief materials to ensure that more people benefit.

She noted that a monitoring team would be dispatched next week to oversee distribution and ensure accountability.

According to Prof. Odu, the state, has also prepared IDP camps equipped with comfortable rooms, mosquito nets, and boreholes. She noted that although no one has yet opted to be evacuated to these camps, the press would be taken on a tour to document the preparations made for potential eventualities.

The Deputy Governor expressed appreciation to the Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government Area, Hon. Solomon Abuba, for his presence and commitment, stressing that his dedication demonstrates an understanding of his people’s burden and a strong desire to ensure that aid reaches them effectively.

Receiving the relief materials on behalf of his people, Hon. Solomon Abuba, Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government Area, expressed gratitude to the State Government for coming to their aid at this critical time. He assured that he would personally oversee the distribution process to ensure that the items get to those affected by the flood.