Rivers chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the allocation of over N125b out of the N8.612 trillion appropriation bill presented by President Muhammadu Buhari on 7 November as ‘unprecedented’.
The funds will be used for capital projects in 2018 in the Niger Delta region.
Rivers APC described it as a demonstration by President Buhari to right the wrongs the region suffered in the hands of opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) particularly during the regime of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.
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Describing Jonathan’s regime as a “misfortune for the region as he ensured that no project was situated in the region throughout his infamous six years of ‘lootocracy’.
The party in a press statement issued on Monday by Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, SSA Media & Public Affairs consultant to APC Rivers State Chairman, Dr Ibiamu Davies Ikanya hailed President Buhari on the formal take off of the Maritime University in Delta.
Continuing, the party said, “apart from the N53.89 billion earmarked for Niger Delta Ministry and N71.2 billion for Niger Delta Development Commission for capital projects, the region is also to benefit from the budgetary allocation for the Niger Delta amnesty programme retained at N65 billion with the budgetary allocation of N17.32 billion earmarked for the completion of the East-West Road.”
“Rivers APC notes with joy the inclusion of N5bn in the 2018 budget for the formal take off of the Maritime University located at Okerenkoko in Delta State which once again affirms the unflinching commitment of the APC led Federal Government.
“The party commends the President for his directive for the immediate release of N1b to the university to support essential infrastructure works and staff recruitment separate from the N5B take off grant.
“With commencement of full academic activities of this university that will go a long way to assist in the development and emancipation of our region, the party urges our youths to reciprocate this kind gesture by maintaining the peace and avoid playing into the hands of enemies of the region in their evil machinations as they benefit so much from acts of uneasiness in the region.
“The APC explained that the region will also benefit from the huge allocations of N555.88 billion, for the ministry of power, works and housing and that of the ministry of Transportation with N263.1 billion plus other ministries as the 2018 budget estimates also contains the extension of Rail line to Warri in Delta State and the completion of the Uyo-Calabar Express Road.
The party expressed its profound joy for the inclusion and full implementation the Ogoni clean-up exercise and the execution of the Multi-Billion Naira Bomu-Bonny road project which when completed would open up the economic potentials of the Niger Delta Region beyond the shores of Nigeria.
“These projects will surely open not only the Niger Delta region but attract the elusive investments to the region.
“Based on this revolutionary trend by President Buhari who has proved that he is a true son of the region; the party after due thought and deliberation on the 2018 budget estimates rechristened the budget the budget of hope, peace, emancipation and unity of Niger Delta region.
The APC noted that the Niger Delta region lays the golden egg in which the economy of the country is sustained and therefore pleads for proper monitoring of spending in the area for any meaningful development to be achieved in order to sustain the peace and security in the Niger Delta for economic and social activities to thrive and to alleviate the suffering, poverty and environmental degradation associated with the region.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Is Anthony Odiong still a priest after life in prison sentence over rape?")