Rivers House of Assembly approves N6.5b loan for Governor Wike

The Rivers State House of Assembly has unanimously approved another N6.5 billion loan for the Nyesom Wike-led state government.

The Nation reports that the lawmakers said the fund would be used to improve agriculture by providing farmers with loans for improved food production for security, as well as to service and renovate educational facilities.

The newspaper note that this is coming one month after the lawmakers granted Governor Wike’s earlier request to borrow N18 billion for flyover, road construction and dualisation of some roads in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

Legit.ng gathers that Governor Wike said the loan would be repaid through the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

Meanwhile, Governor Wike has also charged the lawmakers representing Rivers state at the National Assembly to defend the interest of the state without any fear.

In a statement issued by the state commissioner for information and communications, Paulinus Nsirim, Wike also advised them to resist distraction, remain united and consult the party regularly.

He gave the charge at a brief ceremony for the presentation of 15 Land Cruiser Prado VX and TXL cars to members of the National Assembly at Government House, Port Harcourt.

In other news, Governor Wike has mocked his political opponents, especially the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying they were disappointed over the last-minute decision by Organised Labour to suspend a planned protest in the state.

He said his detractors and opposition parties expected workers to shut down the state and plunge it into crisis.

Labour unions in Rivers had planned to organise a mass protest in the state before the governor intervened and met with their national leaders.

After the meeting, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) president, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, addressed the press and announced the postponement of the protest.