•Approves Salary Payment For Workers, Suspended Political Appointees
By Maureen Dick
RIVERS State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd), has charged paramilitary organisations to continue to work with other security agencies, collaboratively, to keep the state safer and peaceful.
The administrator stated that there could not be any meaningful development without a thriving peaceful environment, which means that efforts must be intensified to ensure that criminal elements are not emboldened to cause insecurity.
Vice Admiral Ibas (retd) gave the charge when he met with heads of paramilitary organisations at Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday.
He explained the necessity of meeting with them as critical stakeholders in the fight against crime and criminality and acknowledged their contributions to ensuring a peaceful Rivers State.
Vice Admiral Ibas (retd) urged them to participate effectively in joint operations that are geared towards degrading the capabilities of criminal elements within the state and contribute their quota in combating activities of criminals in Rivers.
He said: “If you have people who can conduct their legitimate business and they are not able to conduct their business as enshrined in our laws, then, they lose out, and criminals take over control of the state.
“I will, therefore, be needing you in all aspects of maintaining this law and order. It, therefore, means that in conducting your various roles, you must have at heart the interest of Nigeria and the people of Rivers State in particular.”
Vice Admiral Ibas (retd) emphasised: “I will, hereby, direct that you increase your patrols. If criminals have access to our resources, of course, that means you are emboldening them.
“The responsibility has been given to individuals and organisations, as such, we must all work towards making sure that this state is very, very safe.”
Ibas pointed to the importance of encouraging dialogue that can support the efforts of intelligence gathering in addressing issues of kidnapping, illegal bunkering and communal conflicts.
The administrator frowned at a situation where vehicles have no registered plate numbers or concealed ones are allowed to ply the roads within the State, which pose security threats.
He also observed that tankers overturned on roads, perhaps due to their poor state of condition, and sometimes, due to the actions and inactions of other road users, cause obstructions.
Ibas insisted that such acts, considered as serious traffic offenses, must be curbed in order to minimize the number of casualties and deaths that are witnessed on the roads.
He said: “Our efforts must be to ensure that we reduce insecurity. There is need for collaboration between you and intelligence sharing agencies of the Federal Government.
“Of course, you have your intelligence in the paramilitary, therefore, you must work together with the military, the DSS and even the local intelligence in the various communities that you find yourself.
“You have vehicles that ply our roads that are not registered. You have vehicles that have their plate numbers covered. I do not think that there is any law that permit such individuals to drive on roads.
“I want to ask the Federal Road Safety Corps working in collaboration with Civil the Defense and the Police to ensure that you bring these acts to the minimum.”
Vice Admiral Ibas (retd) urged them to ensure that, as they relate with residents in local government headquarters and villages, they must promote peace and security through community policing.
The sole administrator also charged them to provide requisite operational assistance to their colleagues in the Police and other security agencies in providing public awareness.
Ibas stated: “I think while the Ministry of Information at the state level will coordinate this activity, I will want you all to work together to let those at the grassroots level know the impact of not having a secure environment.
“I think you are all cut out for your jobs, and you know exactly what is expected of you. I want to appreciate your contributions to the development and security of Rivers State over the years and count on all your support to ensure that we even secure Rivers State at this point in time more than ever.”
He assured that Rvers State Government will continue to do whatever can be done to support their operations to ensure that maximal success is achieved in keeping the state safe and secure.
In his speech, the Controller of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS), Rivers State Command, Mr. Felix Madumere, expressed appreciation for the valuable information the sole administrator has shared with them, which would help in their daily operations.
Mr. Madumere, while wishing the sole administrator success in his mandate, assured that they would provide needed support to ensure that the administrator leaves an enduring legacy of success.
In another development, the sole administrator has approved the payment of salaries for all civil servants in the Rivers State Civil Service and all public servants of the state government, including pensioners and all suspended political appointees, for the month of March, 2025.
Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibibia Worika, announced this Friday, saying that the sole administrator gave the approval in keeping with the undertaking made to Rivers people.
The SSG said the administrator has further directed the state Accountant-General to ensure that payment for salaries in March, 2025, is remitted, without any delay.