By David Torough, Abuja

The Principal Special Assistant (PSA) to the Governor of Benue State on Legal Matters, Barr. Seember Wayo, has extolled Governor Hyacinth Alia’s developmental strides in transforming the state two years after assuming office.

Wayo made this known during a Christmas visit to her constituents in Mbayongo, Vandeikya LGA of Benue State for the Yuletide celebration and in appreciation of the Governor for the year.

According to her, the Governor Alia administration has achieved a lot of developmental strides in all sectors of the state’s economy which were too obvious to ignore but appreciate.

She highlighted the governor’s achievements including massive roads Infrastructure, construction/rehabilitation of schools, both primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, Revival of the health sector, youth and women empowerment programs, improvement in the agricultural sector, industry, trade and Investment among others.

She appealed to her community to turn out for the ongoing voter registration process which according to her was the sure way to return the governor to ensure they also benefitted hundred per cent in his administration, while also assuring them of the Governor’s promise towards the construction of roads within Mbayongo council ward in a short while.

In their various remarks, the APC Chairman, Hon. David Tyogbea, the Gubernatorial Liaison Officer, Hon. Joseph Yawe and the councillor representing Mbayongo ward, Hon. Tebe Richard in a tripartite tone appreciates Gov. Alia for finding their daughter and other Yongo-tiev sons worthy of appointments, while also calling on all well meaning Kunav indigenes and by extension Benue people to support the Governor to continue the good work his is doing for the State, highlighting roads construction, improvement in healthcare, Education, Agriculture and many others.

Others who spoke in appreciation to Gov. Alia and Barr. Wayo at the event were acting Tyoor, Zaki Joseph Shirsha, Chair lady of Yongo-tiev Development Association (women wing), Mrs. Mayange, Yongo-tiev youth President, Comr. Uganden Iorkohol, chairlady of the widows association, Mrs. Roseline Ate.

From her tote, the PSA handed to her constituents items such as Rice, Wrappers, cartons of Magi, Salt and cash donations.

Wayo was accompanied by the Principal Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communication, Hon. Bridget Tikyaa , SA on Digital Media/Communication, Hon. Igbetar Jerry Signor , former Mbayongo Councilorship aspirant, Hon. Laha David amongst others.

By David Torough, Abuja

Civil society groups in Nigeria have criticised a call by Senate President Godswill Akpabio for the return of police security personnel to members of the National Assembly and other senior public officials.

The criticism followed Mr Akpabio’s appeal to President Bola Tinubu to review his recent directive withdrawing police operatives attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs).

The president said the move was intended to redeploy officers to tackle wider security challenges across the country.

Speaking during President Tinubu’s presentation of the 2026 budget at a joint sitting of the National Assembly in Abuja, Mr Akpabio warned that the decision had exposed federal lawmakers to security risks.

He said some legislators feared they might be unable to return safely to their constituencies following the withdrawal of their police escorts.

“Some of the National Assembly members said I should let you know that they may not be able to go home today,” Mr Akpabio told the president, while appealing for a review of the policy.

However, a coalition of civil society groups operating under the Support For Civil Society Organisations Initiative rejected the request, describing it as a misplaced priority and inconsistent with global democratic practice.

“In other democracies, legislators do not deploy large numbers of armed police officers while the wider population remains vulnerable to attacks,” the group said in a statement.

The group’s leader, Chief ‘Aare’ Oluwasegun Oyedijo, said public office holders should not be insulated from the realities faced by ordinary citizens.

According to the coalition, leaders who deliver on their mandates should not fear the people they represent or require special security arrangements. It argued that good governance and accountability, rather than armed protection, are what earn public trust.

The group said the withdrawal of police escorts could help reduce the growing gap between elected officials and their constituents, encouraging closer engagement and more effective representation. It also criticised what it described as the excessive use of state security resources to protect politicians, saying this had contributed to a culture of privilege and abuse of power.

The coalition added that the Nigeria Police Force should prioritise the protection of communities and public safety, rather than serving as personal guards for political office holders.

“We are not calling for a breakdown of law and order,” the statement said. “Leaders who serve well do not need to hide behind armed security. This step will strengthen democracy and compel the delivery of real dividends of governance.”

President Tinubu ordered the withdrawal of police officers attached to VIPs on 23 November, directing that those requiring armed protection should instead apply to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. The government says the policy is part of broader efforts to improve national security amid rising crime and limited policing resources.

During the same session, Mr Akpabio praised President Tinubu’s economic reforms, saying they were beginning to yield results despite the hardship experienced by many Nigerians. He assured the president of the National Assembly’s support for the reform agenda and the proposed 2026 budget.

…We’ll deliver all projects before deadline, says MD

By MIKE ODIAKOSE, ABUJA

The Director, Administration of leading engineering construction company, Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, Dr. Abdulaziz Isa Kaita, has identified peace in operational communities as a sine qua non for easy completion of construction projects.

He spoke amidst cheers from residents of the community at Thursday’s commissioning of the historic Ogbakiri Roundabout – Water Front road project on the heel of a similar declaration by the company’s Managing Director, Dr.

Peer Lubasch at the earlier inauguration of the equally iconic Ahoada-Omoku road.

According to Kaita at Wednesday’s event, the road project was completed three months before the deadline stated in the contract papers.

This project was awarded to us on the 6th of September 2024 with a completion period of 18 months, which was achieved three months earlier, and with good quality, he said, adding, it will be worthy of note that our speedy completion of this project was also attributeable to the maximum cooperation we enjoyed from this peaceful community irrespective of inconveniences suffered during this construction period.

He recalled that the Governor Siminalayi Fubara administration was very supportive while the project lasted saying that, even when it was difficult for us to continue with our works owing to global inflation, the Government intervened which was a huge support that enabled us complete the project, and we thank you for this.

The Director of Administration continued: “Your Excellency, we sincerely thank you for this opportunity given to us to showcase our expertise, while we assure you of our timely completion of all on-going projects in the State.”

In his own speech, the Governor recalled the circumstances that led to the award of the contract, saying that it all happend last year, adding, “I can’t forget the circumstance we were facing at that time. We were commissioning the East-West Road, Emohua to Tema Junction, and that corridor. The Ogbakiri is part of an annex to it, to Tema, Abalama, to Abonemma, and the other stretch of it that leads to Buguma.

“And we said, it won‘t be very nice that we commission this other stretch, and we leave these other ones.

“And at that time, and situation that we were in, we made a promise, not just to the people of the Kalabari, but also to my dear people of Emohua and Ogbakiri in particular, that we will visit those two aspects of the road. And I am happy today that we are here to commission the one that connects to the Ogbakiri people. I use the word very significant because when we made the first payment for this project, it was when we had the first court judgement barring us from accessing our accounts or from the federal government transmitting our funds,” he further said.

Commenting on a request by the community for a bridge to connect them to mainland Port Harcourt, Fubara said, “I also have taken note of the most beautiful part of your request, connecting a bridge from the other side to this side to ease transportation inconvenience, to better the commercial life of the people and to also bring security faster to our people.

“I will go back, will study the situation, look at the cost implication, and I assure you, we will get back to you as soon as possible.”

He also called on the people of the area to always live in peace among themselves and with their neighbours, saying, “please, we need peace, not just in Ogbakiri, not just in Emohua. We need peace in our dear states so that development can be extended to all parts of Rivers State.

“People should learn to protect what is around them. You have a university here. We need to protect everything that is around us. That is the only way I can come happily. That is the way, when you call me, I can dance and come here joyfully.”

At the commissioning of the Ahoada – Omoku road extension and dualisation, the Managing Director of Julius Berger Nigeria PLC said, this project was awarded to Julius Berger in 2023 with a completion period of 18 months, which was achieved in best qualities.

Specifically, Lubasch said, “we have enjoyed the very good support from this administration since they came into the office, even when faced with challenges of our augmentation on our Ring Road Project, which was a result of global inflation. It was approved and we were brought back to site.”

He added that Julius Berger Nigeria Plc had at various times delivered ahead of deadlines, a lot of projects for the people and Government of Rivers State, even as he assured Fubara that, we will complete all our ongoing projects especially the Ring Road which is a legacy project.

The Emohua–Ogbakiri–Egbelu road project represents one of the most significant infrastructure undertakings in Rivers State in recent years. The road, spanning approximately 9.7 kilometers, was conceived to improve connectivity between Emohua and the riverine communities of Ogbakiri and Egbelu, linking them to the East–West Road corridor and enhancing socio-economic activities in the region.

The contract for the construction of the road was officially awarded in November 2024 by the Rivers State Government under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The project was entrusted to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, a company renowned for its expertise in delivering high-quality road infrastructure across Nigeria.