The Commissioner for Social welfare and Rehabilitation Hon. Joe Poroma has condemned the invasion and destruction of houses and properties of Kporghor community in Tai Local Government Area by the Wakama community of Ogu/Bolo Local Government in Rivers State.
Hon. Poroma made the condemnation recently in Borobara community where some of the displaced people of kporghor are taking refuge.
The Commissioner who sympathised with the IDPs, expressed shocked at the level of destruction describing the action as shameful, heart breaking and heartless.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Sports, Dr Emmanuel Alex-Hart has reaffirmed Government’s commitment to sports development at all levels in the State.
Dr. Alex-Hart said, the ministry will not relent on its role in sports and educational development of youths of the State since education is the bed rock for national development.
He stated this while receiving a first stroke outboard engine for use to ease the transportation needs of students and management of the Sports Institute Isaka, from Steag Encotec West Africa Ltd in his office recently.

Rivers State Head of Service, Barr Samuel LongJohn has charged newly appointed Permanent Secretaries to be humble, fair and firm in the discharge of their duties.
Barr LongJohn gave the charge recently while declaring open a five day Induction Course organized by his Office for newly appointed Permanent Secretaries in the State Civil Service.
He said the training was organized to acquaint them with the demand of their new office and to enable them carry out their functions optimally.
The Head of Service, who congratulated them on their appointments, assured them that the Coordinator of the programme and other Resource persons who are seasoned Civil Servants would impart the basic knowledge required of them.

The Rivers State Government has confirmed an outbreak of Avian influenza commonly known as Bird flu in a poultry farm in Port Harcourt.
Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Emmanuel Chindah who briefed newsmen in his office in Port Harcourt recently also said that the affected farm has been quarantined.
Mr. Chindah said that apart from quaranting the affected farm, birds in the farm have been depopulated while the premises of the farm has been decontaminated.

According to him, ‘‘All birds close to the farm which show signs of avian influenza infection will be stamped out according to the standard operating procedure for the control of the disease’’.
He further stated that officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Nigerian veterinary Medical Association of Rivers State have been requested to maintain surveillance on the livestock they attend to especially birds.
The Commissioner who urged poultry farmers and sellers of live birds at the market to be calm advising them to report any unusual mortality to veterinary officials as the Rivers State Government is determined to protect their businesses.
‘‘The member of the public need to be aware of the public health implication of avian influenza, they should keep away from sick birds. They should note that the consumption of well cooked poultry or eggs will not cause them any harm,’’ he advised.
He assured that the State Government would use the experience gathered during the 2006 outbreak to ensure that this present one is also contained.