Gladys Nweke
The Rivers State Commissioner of police, Dandaura Mustapha has commissioned community development projects at the Police Divisional Headquarters, Okehi In Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State.
At the ommissioning of the projects constructed by the Etche America Foundation at Okehi Police Division, CP Mustapha in his speech, thanked Etche people for receiving him as a king in his first outing outside Port Harcourt and also for providing Okehi Police Division adequate vehicles to fight crime in the area.
He also urged the people to disseminate any information that will lead to the arrest of the criminals in their domains and promised to transfer officers from the places where they have stayed so long to ensure proper policing.
On his part, the executive chairman of Etche Local Government Area, Hon Obinna Anyanwu also promised to partner with police to ensure that crime will reduce to the bearest minimum and appealed to the commissioner of police to create area command that will serve Etche and Omuma LGAS and promised to renovate the administrative building of the police headquarters in Okehi.
Meanwhile, the president of Etche America Foundation (EAF) Dr Rok Nwankwala, in his address, noted that the mission of Etche America Foundation(EAF) is to promote unity and understanding among Etche families, their well wishers in United States of America and Etche Nation through shared common interest, saying that the foundation is committed to enhancing the economic, social and healthy well- being of Etche people through sustainable community based development programmes.
“Etche America Foundation(EAF) will continue to strive to meet the challenges facing Etche Nation which includes: security, economy, education and health related issues which we believe with our perseverance and support from the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Chief Barr Ezenwo Nyeson Wike, CON, GSSRS, Rivers State commissioner of police CO Mustapha Dandaura and others”
Dr Nwankwala said that in cognizance of the security challenges in Etche, the Etche America Foundation invited the former DPO of Okehi Divisional Headquarters, CSP Dayyabu Ahmed to 2018 annual convention in Houston Texas to provide us with first hand security situation in Etche Nation “and he presented the security situation in Etche and it opened our eyes to the magnitude of insecurity in Etche Nation. The former DPO made three requests which we have done and commissioned today.
“Etche America Foundation is currently working with Ogbakor Etche to bring the needed critical solution to the state of joblessness in Etche Nation and there is ongoing partnership plan on ground to build a Skills Acquisition Centre in Obiri Etche complex.
“This Skills Acquisition project when completed will provide opportunities to train interested persons in areas of auto mechanic, fashion and designing, catering services, leather works, welding and fabrication, electrical work, plumbing, tilling and agriculture.
“Since the three requests made by the former DPO has been fulfilled and Etche America Foundation is using this opportunity to appeal to the Federal Government of Nigeria through the commissioner of police, Rivers State Command, CP Mustapha Dandaura to create a Police Area Command with headquarters in Okehi to curb criminality in Etche and Omuma”.
EAF president also stressed that they have selected another 6 candidates to be sponsored for 4,5,and 6 years of study according to their areas of specialization.
He also said that Etche America Foundation women wing bought laptop computers and distributed to all the secondary schools in Etche Nation.
The president said Etche America Foundation will also liaise with Rivers State government to assist in agriculture especially in fishery and pound development, a design has been given where by after its completion and we are going to empower the people, he added.
In the same vein, Mr Charles Nwaonuala commended the EAF for their support and called on all well meaning Etche indigenes to join hands and support Etche.
Also speaking the chairman of board of directors, Etche America Foundation Mr Dominic Ogbonna Amugwu, stated that they have lots of motivation and the security situation has been going down for a while.
According to him: “We have to participate and be part of the solution.
Etche sons and daughters residing in United States of America made an effort to improve on the security situation by putting all these structures that may facilitate security infrastructure and improvement in Etche Nation”.
Chairman BOD also noted that the projects are still going on and as of now over seven million naira has been spent so far.
