PORT HARCOURT (Sundiata Post) – Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has explained that the ongoing demolition of criminal hideouts in the state was aimed at improving the security of lives and property and not to displace the residents of affected shanties.
The governor further stated that no government woulf fold its arms while criminals terrorise residents from known hideouts .
Speaking on Thursday when he received the management of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital at the Government House, Port Harcourt, Governor Wike said his administration would always take the necessary legal steps to sustain and improve the relative peace being enjoyed in the state.
He said: “Our security measures are not targeted at any group. But we are interested in the security of lives and property, which remains paramount. No right thinking government will fold its hands and allow criminals to torment residents and drive away investors”.
The governor added that the state government was ensuring that the human rights of the people were not violated, but noted that the security of the vast majority of Rivers people must be paramount.
He assured the management of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital that his administration would support it to deliver quality healthcare services to the people of the state.
He directed the Ministry of Works and Housing to liaise with the Hospital to work towards the rehabilitation of its access road and the quarters for the house men in the health facility.
The governor also directed the State Health Commissioner to study the 2010 report prepared by the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital and the State Ministry of Health on steps to be taken to improve health collaboration in the state.
He pointed out that health remained critical to the state government, hence it introduced the intervention scheme that will empower private hospitals to improve health care services to the people.
Earlier, the Chief Medical Director of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Professor Aaron Ojule, said that the hospital as the foremost tertiary health institution in the state has been working hard to deploy her skills-set in tackling the health challenges in the state.
He said: “This visit is to consolidate with your administration those areas of mutual cooperation with regards to healthcare delivery, while exploring those that offer new opportunities and prospects for improved healthcare delivery for the good people of Rivers State “.
