The Rivers State Flood Management and Prevention Committee has embarked on a massive desilting of canals across the state.

Rivers State Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Committee, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu stated this during the inspection of the ongoing desilting of the Rumuokwurusi River in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.

According to the Deputy Governor, “We are experiencing blockages in creeks, rivers, and canals, which are affecting the flow of water, especially during rainfall.”

She added that the Government is tackling the issue through a tripartite approach with the Ministry of Works clearing some sections, the Ministry of Environment handling others, while the Flood Committee is lending additional support, noting that flash floods have become a nuisance in the State.

Prof. Odu disclosed that a swamp buggy is being used to clear the waterways to enable smoother water flow, noting that although some parts of Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas have not yet been reached, residents should exercise patience, as the Ministries of Works and Environment would soon extend their operations to those areas.

Prof. Odu further explained that the Committee is focusing more on Local Government Areas that have been severely affected, stressing that relief materials would be distributed to communities in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Ahoada East, and Ahoada West Local Government Areas on Thursday, November 6, 2025.

“While we are doing that, we identify certain communities that are heavily impacted and provide them with special relief packages. For instance, in Ndoni, especially Ward 15, it is a very low-lying area, practically below sea level, and it gets flooded very easily. When such situations occur, there are two options: either to evacuate residents to higher ground and IDP camps or to deliver relief materials directly to them. They prefer the second option because they would rather remain with their loved ones. Therefore, we are packaging relief items with that in mind. The Local Government Councils will complement the State Government’s efforts by also providing assistance to other affected residents,” Prof. Odu stressed.

On his part, the Representative of NEMA, Dr. Chituru Ogundu explained that following the flood predictions by NIMET, NEMA downscaled the forecast to the State level, prompting proactive mitigation measures by the State Government. He noted that both NEMA and the Rivers State Government have been jointly providing relief materials to affected communities.

Also speaking, the Public Relations Officer of the Rumuokwurusi Traditional Rulers Council, Chief Clifford Wali, commended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Flood Committee for undertaking the desilting exercise. He lauded the Deputy Governor for personally visiting the community to monitor the exercise despite the heavy downpour.

The Rivers State Government has launched a Sexual Assault
Referral Centre (SARC) to provide support and care to survivors of sexual violence.

The centre, which is the brainchild of the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, is a one-stop centre aimed at providing a safe space for victims to access medical, psychological, and legal assistance.

Speaking at the official launch in the State’s Safe Home at Borokiri, Port- Harcourt, Governor Siminilayi Fubara represented by the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr Inyingi Brown said, the centre will be the first point of support to victims of sexual violence and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring justice and providing relief for victims of sexual assault in the State.

The Head of Service, who was in turn represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Barr. Tomoniala Dieokuma-Ishmael, stated that the centre will tackle the rising issue of sexual violence in the state, noting that its commissioning marks a crucial milestone in providing vital support to victims who previously suffered in silence, lacked access to proper care, and often faced further victimization and injustice.

In her address at the event, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Lauretta Davies-Dimkpa, said the SARC is fully equipped and ready to handle all forms of assault, with the support of key partners including the Medical Women’s Association, MWAN, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), and the Police.

In her words, “It is the beginning of hope, healing, and justice for countless individuals whose voices deserve to be heard, believed, and supported,”

“This centre stands as a symbol of our collective commitment to ending sexual violence and creating a society where survivors are given compassion and care, she stated ”

Lauretta Davies-Dimkpa encouraged individuals who have experienced sexual abuse to visit the centre for prompt assistance and intervention.

In her goodwill message, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, represented by Prof. Justina Jumbo, the immediate past Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, commended the Ministry’s efforts and called for intensified public awareness campaigns through the media, advocacy, and social mobilization to spread the message of the Sexual Assault Referral Centre’s existence and services.

In an interview with the Director, Office of the Public Defender, Ministry of Justice, who is also the Coordinator of the Multi stakeholders Action Committee on Gender based Violence in Rivers State, Barrister Evelyn Membere- Asimiea commended the state government for establishing the centre, describing it as “a dream come true” and a major step towards achieving justice for victims of sexual assault in the State.

She pledged to provide free legal services, defend victims, and prosecute perpetrators in ensuring the centre’s success and provide a beacon of hope for those who’ve suffered in silence for too long.

The commissioning had in attendance representatives from the Rivers State Family Court, FIDA, MWAN, Association of Women Journalists, (NAWOJ), security agencies, including the Police, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Others are National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, (NAPTIP), Child Protection Network (CPN), Association of Orphanages and Home Operators in Nigeria, (ASOHON) and Association of Orphans and Vulnerable Children, (AONN), among others.

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has urged the Federal Government to prioritise teachers’ welfare and increase budget allocation to the education sector.

Its National Treasurer, Mr Segun Raheem, made the plea in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, on Wednesday.

He emphasised that teachers’ salaries and benefits should be paid timely and also reflective of their vital role in nation-building.

“No nation can develop beyond the quality of its teachers; hence, the need for government at all levels to make education funding a top priority,” he said.

Raheem said that investments in the sector directly enhance the quality of teaching and learning outcomes in Nigerian schools.

“A teacher who is well-motivated and adequately rewarded will perform better in the classroom.

“The government must see education as a vital tool for national growth, and that begins with prioritising the welfare of teachers who are the backbone of the system, ” he said.

On security, the treasurer appealed to authorities to beef up security surveillance around school premises to protect both students and staff.

He also advised teachers to maintain a high sense of discipline and professionalism, urging them to serve as role models for their students.

“We must continue to uphold integrity, diligence, and moral standards in our duties.

“When students see teachers living by example, it inspires them to become better citizens,” he said.

Raheem encouraged students to take their studies seriously and remain focused on building a brighter future for themselves and the country.

He said that education remained the most powerful weapon for transforming lives and societies.

He further called on parents to collaborate with teachers in instilling discipline, moral values, and cultural norms in their children.

“Parents must complement the efforts of teachers by providing proper home training and moral guidance.

“Education is a shared responsibility between the school and the home,” he said.

ActionAid says investment of N15 billion in key strategic areas of agriculture can generate over N100 billion additional funds to each state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

Mr Azubike Nwokoye, Food Systems Specialist, ActionAid Nigeria (AAN), said this in his presentation at the ongoing Technical Session of the 47 Regular meeting of the National Council on Agriculture and Food Security (NCAFS) on Tuesday in Kaduna.

The presentation is tagged “Political Economy Analysis on Agriculture Budget Investments Resultant Effects on States Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and Employment Generation for 2025”

The theme for 2025 NCAFS is “Food Sovereignty and Food Security, an Era of Renewed Hope”

Nwokoye said that increased funding to agriculture in strategic areas of post-harvest losses reduction, labour-saving technology, irrigation, women and youth in agriculture, extension services, among others, increases states’ IGR and reduces unemployment.

He emphasised that while increased and committed funding to agriculture will lead to increase in IGR, it would need to interact with other factors to bring about the desired reduction in unemployment.

“Budgetary allocations and total capital expenditure should go to strategic areas of investments which include extension services, access to credit, women and youth in agriculture, appropriate labour-saving technology among others.

“This support should be in the area of processing facilities, storage facilities, trainings, market access among others.

“Budget allocation should be channel to the areas of Climate Resilient Sustainable Agriculture (CRSA), irrigation, research and development, monitoring and evaluation as well as coordination,”he said.

Nwokoye said that AAN conducted political economy analysis of the resultant effect of investment in agriculture regarding states IGR across the 36 States and FCT.

According to him, the analysis help states, politicians and policy makers and governors to see that investment in agriculture is not expenditure but an investment in generating more revenue, unemployment and poverty reduction.

Nwokoye explained that in view of the baseline analysis on IGR for 2025 in each state, it showed that for some states like Gombe, their projected IGR for instance is 25.6 billion.

He, however, said that with this investment, they will generate an additional N112.98billion

“Osun has a projected IGR of N109.8 7 billion and it shows that they will be able to generate additional N114.08 billion if they invest 15 billion in key areas as well as other states.“he said.

Nwokoye challenged state governors to look at the agriculture sector as an investment and not just expenditure.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has departed Abuja for Brazil to represent President Bola Tinubu at the 30th session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference.

Mr Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice-President, made this known in a statement on in Abuja on Tuesday..

The conference tagged COP30 is scheduled to hold from November 6 to 7 in the city of Belém, capital of the state of Pará, in the Brazilian Amazon.

It will be convened by Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, in collaboration with other partners.

Nkwocha said VP Shettima is billed to join other world leaders, development partners and business executives at the event.

He explained that on the first day of engagements in Belem, Shettima will attend the general plenary of leaders where he is expected to present Nigeria’s climate action address.

Nkwocha added that Shettima would take part in the inauguration of the Tropical Forest Forever Fund, and participate in a roundtable chaired by President Lula on Climate and Nature.

According to him, similarly, Vice-President Shettima will attend an Amazonian Cocktail for Heads of Delegation, hosted by the President of Brazil.

On the second day of the summit, Nkwocha said VP Shettima will participate in two roundtables chaired by President Lula on energy transition.
“And the review of the Paris Agreement, with a focus on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Financing.”

On the sidelines of the event, the spokesperson said Shettima will hold bilateral meetings on establishing and managing Nigeria’s participation in the carbon markets.

This, according to him, is with a view to enable Nigeria to unlock between 2.5 billion dollars and three billion dollars annually in carbon finance over the next decade to help meet climate goals.
Nkwocha disclosed that at the conclusion of his COP 30 engagements, Shettima will proceed to the city of Brasilia for a reciprocal visit to his Brazilian counterpart, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin.

According to him, the theme of the conference is “Climate Action and Implementation,” with a strong focus on adaptation, forests, biodiversity, and climate justice.

He recalled that Alckmin had in June this year paid a historic three-day visit to Nigeria.
He said in the city of Brasilia, the Vice President, accompanied by top Nigerian government officials, will engage with his Brazilian counterpart to further deepen Nigeria’s South-South diplomatic ties.

According to him, the Vice-President is expected back in Nigeria at the end of his engagements in Brazil.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the federal government to take the lead in championing Africa’s collective demand for climate justice at global negotiations.

Mr Benson Upah, Acting General Secretary of the NLC, made the call in a letter addressed to the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) on Tuesday in Abuja.

Upah said Nigeria occupies a strategic position to advance the cause of workers and developing nations in the quest for a just transition.

This he said is because Nigeria is a Party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement.

The 30th UN Climate Conference (COP30), scheduled for November 10 to November 21 in Belém, Brazil, will focus on efforts to limit global temperature rise and the presentation of new national action plans.

The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, will lead the Nigerian delegation to the conference.

Upah said the demands of workers across the world align with the aspirations of Nigeria and other developing economies seeking fairness in the global climate agenda.

He urged the government to negotiate for increased climate finance, debt cancellation, energy sovereignty and trade support measures to cushion the impact of climate change on livelihoods.

Upah reaffirmed the labour movement’s solidarity with global efforts to achieve climate justice, urging Nigeria to demonstrate leadership in defending the interests of the Global South.

He added that achieving a just transition requires deliberate policies that protect workers in carbon-dependent industries, while promoting green and sustainable jobs that secure the future of younger generations.

Upah called on international partners and donor agencies to honour their commitments to climate finance.

He noted that without adequate funding and technology transfer, developing nations would remain extremely affected by the climate crisis.