By George Mgbeleke

Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has expressed delight over the completion of the Agba-Ndele Bridge and announced plans to inaugurate the project, alongside the adjoining 14-kilometre Ndele-Omofo-Agba-Ndele road, in May 2026.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary,Onwuka Nzeshi, the governor gave the indication on Friday during an inspection tour of the projects located in Emohua Local Government Area of the state. The road also connects communities in Abua/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State.

He expressed satisfaction with the level of progress achieved on the project since his last visit to the site about a year ago.

Highlighting the strategic importance of the bridge, governor Fubara said: “This bridge is called the Agba-Ndele Bridge. It connects the Abua section to the Emohua section. I am really happy that today, you can see for yourself that the bridge is fully completed.

“But the beauty of this job will be appreciated more when the other 14 kilometers, the Ndele-Omofor-Agba-Ndele road is completed. That is when you will see the actual beauty of this road.”
The governor also commended the contracting firm, Setraco Nigeria Limited, for its professionalism and commitment to the project timeline.
“I want to commend the contractor, Setraco for a good job. It is a good job considering the time we came here and what we have seen today. They were really committed and they have shown that they truly have the professional expertise to deliver at the right time.” he said.

The Governor further disclosed that he had received assurances from the contractors handling the road project that the remaining work would be completed before the end of May.

“I have already spoken with the contractors and they assured us that before the end of May they will deliver it.
“For that reason, we are going to delay the inauguration of this bridge until that other section is completed,” the governor stated.

He stated that the project reflects the administration’s commitment to improving infrastructure across the state.
“So far, I feel happy that we are doing our best to improve on what we met on ground on assumption of office,” Fubara said.

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 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.