By George Mgbeleke

Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara (KSC) has charged all citizens and residents of the state to prioritize eye- health and get screened for glaucoma to prevent avoidable loss of sight.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary,Mr Onwuka Nzeshi,the Governor gave the directive on Thursday, at Government House, Port Harcourt.

In a goodwill message to mark the World Glaucoma Day, Governor Fubara described glaucoma as a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, stressing that early detection is key to preventing vision loss.

“I encourage everyone, especially those over 40 years of age or with a family history of vision impairment, to visit any of our numerous healthcare facilities and get their eyes checked.

“My administration is committed to improving healthcare in Rivers State. We’ll continue supporting initiatives that promote eye health and reduce preventable blindness.

“Let’s unite for a glaucoma-free Rivers State. Protect your sight, it’s priceless.
Happy World Glaucoma Day,” he said.

The World Glaucoma Day which is celebrated March 12, every year, is dedicated to raising awareness about glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Glaucoma is often referred to as the “silent thief of sight” because it can progress without noticeable symptoms until significant vision loss occurs. It affects over 75 million people globally, with nearly 50% of them unaware they have it.

By David Owei,Bayelsa

The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) Bayelsa Chapter has lauded the initiatives of Governor Douye Diri’s administration on the injection of 60 megawatts of power supply through the 99% nearly completed gas-fired turbine project.

The Chairman of the Association, Engr. Amalate Ann Jonathan Obuebite gave the commendation when she led no fewer than 30 women engineers, comprising professionals, graduates and students on an industrial visit to the 60MW Gas-Fired Power Plant at Elebele in Ogbia local government area of the state.

She added that upon completion, the 60MW gas-fired turbine, which receives gas feed from the Oando gas manifold in Elebele would help eradicate the frequent power outages in the state, boost business activities, and accelerate industrial and economic growth.

According to her, ‘When the project is completed, it will almost take the state out of the national grid as well as provide a stable power supply across the state”

Obuebite had during an interactive session with Governor Douye Diri at the project site in Elebele noted that the current 20 Megawatt power supply is inadequate for the state to meet both domestic and industrial demands.

She added that upon completion, the 60MW gas-fired turbine, which receives gas feed from the Oando gas manifold in Elebele would help eradicate the frequent power outages in the state, boost business activities, and accelerate industrial and economic growth.

The members of the APWEN were conducted round the project site by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Bayelsa Electricity Company Limited (BECL)
Engr. Olice Kemenanabo.

The members, during the project which lasted for 2 hours gained valuable insights into the power plant’s operations, from inducers to gas pipes, boilers, pressure control with transmitters, heat exchange bellows, emergency shut-off valve etc.

The hands-on experience was invaluable, with the students learning how lean gas and methane are processed to power the turbine.

The visit also bridged the gap between theory and practice, enhancing their understanding of engineering principles while the students on their part took turns to ask questions as the MD took time to answer all questions satisfactorily.

By George Mgbeleke

Minister of State for Regional Development, H.E. Uba Maigari Ahmadu, has stated that the Ministry’s priority is addressing the unique challenges facing Nigeria’s diverse regions.

The Minister disclosed this while receiving the Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Bambang Suharto, during a courtesy visit on Friday at the Ministry’s headquarters.

He emphasised that while specialised commissions exist for these regions, the Ministry’s responsibility is to formulate policies and supervise these bodies to ensure they deliver on the mandates assigned by the President.

“The President has directed that resources be prioritised based on immediate regional needs. In the North East, for example, we collaborate closely with security agencies to tackle emerging challenges,” the Minister said.

“Our priority remains infrastructure, renewable energy, capacity building, education, health, and agriculture,” he added.

Uba highlighted a signature pilot initiative involving solar off-grid solutions for local government areas across Nigeria, with emphasis on the North East, North West, and North Central regions, which have been severely affected by insurgency.

He explained that insurgents often target power infrastructure to isolate communities before carrying out attacks.

By providing stable and renewable electricity, “the government aims to empower citizens to engage in small-scale manufacturing and other household economic activities, thereby strengthening community resilience.”

In his remarks, the Indonesian Ambassador, H.E. Bambang Suharto, noted the striking similarities between the two nations, particularly their population sizes, each estimated at around 230 million, as well as shared geographical challenges.

According to him,”Indonesia, an archipelago comprising over 17,000 islands, faces development realities similar to those of Nigeria, which require extensive infrastructure expansion.”

The Ambassador expressed Indonesia’s eagerness to invest in Nigeria’s agricultural and infrastructure sectors.

He highlighted ongoing initiatives in livestock and husbandry for dairy and beef production, as well as a recent successful infrastructure project in Sokoto, where Indonesian-backed efforts recorded a 70 per cent success rate.

The Ambassador also introduced the Danantara Indonesia Project, a government-owned sovereign wealth fund.

He revealed that the Nigeria-Indonesia partnership under the initiative intends to invest a minimum of $100 million.

He added that the fund, supported by partners including France, Qatar, the United States, and Saudi Arabia, will prioritise development across eight strategic sectors to drive economic growth.

These areas include Renewable Energy, Minerals, Digital Infrastructure, Infrastructure and Utilities, Real Estate, Financial Services, Food and Agriculture, and Healthcare.

Speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mary A. Ogbe, expressed deep appreciation for the proposed interventions.

She stressed that infrastructure and energy remain the backbone of development and highlighted the need for collaboration in addressing critical health and social challenges, particularly Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF) and malnutrition-related conditions affecting underserved communities.

The visit centred on strengthening bilateral relations, with particular emphasis on infrastructure development, renewable energy expansion, and human capital advancement, especially in regions impacted by insurgency.