By Rodney Ebikebina Ambaiowei
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Let me thank the people of Southern Ijaw again for this privilege, I want to also thank the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, His Excellency Sen. Douye Diri for the support I have enjoyed. This mentorship support is back then from my secondary school days and it has given motivation to my work at the National Assembly and furnished me the same with a comfortable ride that has enabled me performed my duties creditably well at the 10th National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In the course of this twenty-four (24) months as a lawmaker representing Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency, I have engaged in so many activities that has brought about effective representation to my Constituency. Thus, Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency has been duly represented and the constituency’s aspiration has been effectivHely captured as listed below.
SPONSORED MOTIONS/MOTIONS AWAITING SCHEDULING
(1) Need to tackle the menace of incessant boat/watercraft mishaps on our coastlines/waterways (20th July, 2023).
(2) Urgent need to contain oil spillage from offshore facilities around Southern Ijaw coastal communities to forestall environmental damages (31st January, 2024).
(3) Urgent need to complete the Amassoma community shoreline protection project (20th February, 2024).
(4) Urgent need to contain oil spillage at Olugboboro Community in Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency from Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) facility to forestall further environmental damages, 23rd July, 2024. (Taken as Matter of Urgent Public Importance).
(5) Urgent Need to contain Oil Spillage at Ogboinbiri Community (Ogboinbiri Flow Station) to avert catastrophic environmental consequences.
(6) Urgent need to construct the Toru-Ibe-Ukubie Road in Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency in Bayelsa State.
(7) Urgent need to investigate the Nigerian Football Federation’s failure to pay match bonuses and allowances to Nigerian Players.
(8) Urgent need to effectively regulate and monitor the opening and operation of Opay Accounts to curb its use by criminals.
(9) The need to address the rising cases of Mental Health conditions and suicide related deaths in Nigeria.
(10) Urgent need to curtail the activities of the popular One-Chance drivers in the Federal Capital Territory.
(1) Urgent need to Sanitize, Mentor and Re-organize Digital Money lending platforms to curb threats to consumers and relatives.
(12) Need to review the re-introduced AMAC park and pay policy in some parts of the Federal Capital Territory.
(13) Need to honor and celebrate Clemens Westerhof as an icon of Nigerian Football Development.
(14) Need to intervene in the Excessive Rents charged by landlords for accommodations in Abuja.
(15) Urgent need to address the recurrent injustice and breach of the Federal Character principle regarding Bayelsa State in the appointment/Composition of the Governing board of the National Assembly Service Commission.
SPONSORED BILLS (27TH FEBRUARY, 2024)
(1) The establishment of Federal college of education, Oporoma – 1st reading.
(2) The establishment of Federal college of Nursing and Midwifery, Amassoma – concurrent stage.
(3) The establishment Federal college of Health Sciences, Eniwari. 1st reading.
(4) Co-Sponsored a bill for an Act to establish the Federal Capital Territory Education Resource Center charged with the responsibility to among others, plan and implement curriculum; measures and evaluate students and other applicants for placement into schools under the Administration of the Federal Capital Territory; and for related matters.
PETITIONS LAID ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE
I have moved and laid over eight (8) petitions from individual constituents and groups from communities in the floor of the House.
EMPOWERMENT
I accepted the political trust of the people of Southern Ijaw to represent them with the firm resolve to serve them and empower the vibrant children, youths and elders of the Constituency. Therefore, empowerment of the teaming population has been top on the agenda to ensure that Southern Ijaw feel the impact of good governance and to identify the arduous economic conditions of the people and find succour to it with passion. Thus, I have so far assisted in the following ways:
*Distribution of seven hundred (700) bags of rice and cash palliative for constituents during 2023 Christmas and New Year celebrations.
FACILITATED AND DISTRIBUTED THE FOLLOWING RELIEF MATERIALS
(1) 600 bags of 25kg Rice
(2) 600 bags of 25kg Garri
(3) 600 cartons of spaghetti (500g x 20pcs)
(4) 60 cartons of vegetable oil (5L x 4/ctn)
(5) 120 cartons of tomato paste (50 sachets/ctn)
(6) 40 cartons of seasoning cube
(7) 40 cartons of 3 in 1 beverage (200 pcs/ctn)
(8) 40 bags of lodized salt (20kg)
(9) 30 pieces of mosquito nets (treated)
(10) 250 pieces of blankets (GB 36a)
(11) 30 cartons of toilet soaps (64g X 46)
(12) 30 cartons of detergent (85/100g)
(13) 300 pieces of plastic buckets (21L)
Aside from the above stated intervention support for Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency, I have facilitated the following also to address the basic concerns of my constituents namely:
(1) Distribution of three thousand bags (3000) of rice, six hundred bags (600) of beans at Christmas a d New Year with cash palliative to constituents across Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency and beyond. 26th December, 2023 – 26th December, 2024.
(2) Procured over 400 jamb forms for students in Constituency (22nd January, 2023 – March, 2025).
(3) Written over 70 recommendation letters for constituents to secure employments. Such constituents were recruited in to NDDC, FIRS, and other Federal Government agencies and as well as foreign scholarships and redeployment of transfer of service.
(4) Facilitated the successful recruitment of ten (10) constituents into the Nigeria Army between June, 2024 – March, 2025.
(5 ) Passionately made available financial support during marriages, dedication of children in churches, burial ceremonies and transport fare for some constituents in most cases that got stranded in Abuja.
(6) Training and empowerment of over 100 youths and women in modern fishing and skills at Anyama Community, 10th September, 2024.
(7) Training/Provision of Grants and Empowerment for over 102 Women and Youths iN Small and Medium Enterprises (SMES) at Oporoma Community, 11th – 13fg September, 2024.
(8) Training/Provision of Grants and Empowerment for over 100 Women and Youths in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMES) at Otuan Community, 11th – 13th September, 2024.
(9) Facilitated and recommended selected Youths for the Training in Leadership and Empowerment at BURUKU Local Government Area, Benue State. 2nd – 4th October, 2024.
(10) Facilitated the NDE one (1) month training of four (4) constituents in different skills at Model Primary School Biogbolo, Bayelsa State. December, 2024.
MEDICAL OUTREACH PROGRAME IN THE CONSTITUENCY
In collaboration with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), facilitated the provision of medical eye Diagnosis, treatment with drugs and customized medicated glasses for constituents in the four (4) state constituencies in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State and stationed centers in the various communities, namely – Amassoma, Angiama, Ekowe, Ogboinbiri, Otuan and their adjacent communities. This outreach took place between 26th August, 2024 – 1st September, 2024.
CONSTITUENCY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS (RURAL AREAS SOLAR STREET LIGHTS SCHEME) 14TH – 27TH SEPTEMBER, 2024
In collaboration with different agencies such as the Rural Electrician Agency (REA), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Border Communities Development Commission (BCDC), National Institute of Construction Technology Management (NICTM) and Solar Street Lights have been provided and installed in the following communities: Fonibiri, Duke-Ama, Tugo-Ama, Fierebagha-Ama, Azama, Kassama, Gbaraun, Kokolo-Ama, Amassoma, Beach road Koluama 2, Oweikorogha, and Igeibiri community.
CONSTITUENCY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS (CONSTRUCTION WORKS)
(1) Hi-Tech rehabilitation/renovation of six (6) classroom block at Eniwari with modern toilet facility. October, 2024.
(2) Construction of a modern six (6) room land toilet with water system powered by solar panels at Igeibiri community, October, 2024
(3) Construction and distribution of 275 pupils/students’ desks with metal and HDF materials to selected Primary and Secondary Schools that are in need. Namely- Government Secondary School (GSS) Amassoma, Ogboin Grammar School (OGS) Amatolo, Community Secondary School (CSS) Otuan, Southern Ijaw Secondary School (SISSO) Oporoma, Community Secondary School (CSS) Eniwari, and St Stephen Primary School (SSPS) Amassoma.
(4) Facilitated the building of six (6) classroom block for Alomu Central Primary School, Amassoma, November, 2024, (ongoing).
OFFICES
(1) Operational Constituency liaison Office at Oporoma for constituents to get across to me. The office is located behind the Governor’s Lodge. Southern Ijaw Local Government Headquarters, Oporoma.
(2) Also the creation of an easy accessibility liaison office for constituents residing in Yenagoa, opposite Association of Chipping Dealers of Nigeria, Yenezue – Epie, by the Express.
OVERSIGHT FUNCTIONS/OTHER DUTIES
I have and taken part in over one hundred (100) Oversight functions both National and Internationally, regular in House Committee meetings and consistent in plenary sessions and have contributed greatly in debates.
COMMITTEE REPRESENTATION
I have been appointed into the following Committees listed below.
(1) Appropriation
(2) Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
(3) Power
(4) Army
(5) Environment
(6) Banking Regulation
(7) Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
(8) Drug & Narcotics
(9) Gas Resources
(10) Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEDAN)
(11) Tetfund and other service
(12) Chairman of the Nigeria/Switzerland Parliamentary Friendship Group
And recently, appointed as a Member of the Committee to Oversight the the Administrator of River State upon the proclamation of State of Emergency by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on March 18th, 2025.
For this brief period in the Nigerian House of Representatives, I have in my little way impacted positively even with the daunting challenges faced in the Constituency. I have no doubt in my mind that, I will continue to be an indispensable asset to the good people of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area and infinitely more so, to fight the course of Bayelsa in support of the Governor Douye Diri’s led A.s.s.u.r.e.d prosperity administration in the state as a member of the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria even as we await more Constituency projects and programs for Community development and Zonal Intervention Projects (ZIPs) for human Empowerment across the Federal Constituency in the next two years.
*Hon. Engr. Rodney Ebikebina Ambaiowei is the National Assembly member representing Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency
