The Nation Newspaper

Category: South East

  • Sit-at-home victim’s family begs Nwifuru for assistance

    Sit-at-home victim’s family begs Nwifuru for assistance

    The family of Mr. Henry Oko, one of the victims of December 14, 2022 attack at Nwakpu market in Ikwo Local Government of Ebonyi State, by enforcers of the sit-at-home order, yesterday cried out for help.

    They implored Governor Francis Nwifuru and other well-meaning Nigerians to assist them, as the condition of the victim has worsened.

    The victim, it was gathered, underwent multiple surgeries at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu, following bullet injuries and axe cuts and spent over four months in hospital before he was discharged.

    A family source said he was rushed back to the National Orthopaedic Hospital on October 1, 2023, following complications, “as his condition is now very critical.”

    Due to the severity of his case, the management of the National Orthopaedic Hospital referred him to the University Teaching Hospital, Enugu, “where a team of medical experts are currently battling to save his life.”

    The father of four was at Nwakpu market, Ikwo, when some masked gunmen, who claimed they were enforcing the five-day sit-at-home order declared by a foreign-based Biafran agitator, invaded the market, shot sporadically and torched vehicles.

    They set his vehicle on fire, gave him axe cuts in the head and shoulder before shooting him in both thighs, very close to his manhood.

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    He was left in a pool of blood, but was rescued by a combined team of the Army and the Police that later stormed the scene.

    Oko had a near-death experience, as his thigh bone was shattered by bullets, 17 of which were later extracted from his body.

    Speaking on behalf of the family, his immediate younger brother and Abia State correspondent of Vanguard newspapers, Mr. Steve Oko, described the situation as “miserable”.

    He said fortunes had been spent in the battle to save his brother’s life since last December, lamenting that the family had run out of resources to take care of the victim’s medical bills and other exigencies.

    The family appealed to public- spirited individuals to come to their aid.

    It said any financial assistance could be routed via the First Bank account of the victim’s wife: Angela C. Oko; 3081462002. “The family can also be reached through: 08038725600, 08102438417.”

    Oko appealed to Southeast governors and Ohanaeze Ndigbo, to, as a matter of urgency, set up a committee to identify victims of sit-at-home in the Southeast for rehabilitation.

  • Delta Exco okays N714.4b budget proposal for 2024

    Delta Exco okays N714.4b budget proposal for 2024

    Delta State Executive Council (Exco) meeting, presided over by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, yesterday approved a proposed budget of N714.4billion for the 2024 fiscal year.

    Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr. Sonny Ekedayen, who disclosed this at news briefing at the Government House, Asaba, said the proposed budget comprised N397 billion, representing 56 per cent for Capital Expenditure, while N316 billion, representing 44 per cent, is for recurrent expenditure.

    He said the 2024 proposed budget was premised on an exchange rate of N750 per dollar.

    According to him, “we just finished the state Exco meeting presided over by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori. The major discussion was on the 2024 proposed budget.

    “The budget size is N714.4 billion, broken down into capital and recurrent components of N397 billion capital, representing 56 per cent, while the recurrent component is N316 billion, representing 44 per cent.

    “The budget was premised on the vision of the current administration and encompassing largely on the activities and programmes that will drive the M.O.R.E agenda.

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    “It is still a proposition because the House of Assembly will still have to look at it and approve at a later date. However, broadly speaking, it’s a budget that the people will be happy and proud of because a lot of impactful and developmental projects will be embarked upon.”

    “The people should expect new townships and massive road infrastructures, with emphasis on quality; people should also expect some new expansions in the health care institutions we have in the state.”

    He said the state government would continue to fund small businesses across the state in 2024, adding: “We should expect the government to support the small and medium scale enterprises in the state with some kind of funds to support their businesses, which will be given at single digit interest rate.

    “Looking at other things, agriculture will get a boost, such as rice and food crops production. We are hoping that one of the ways to fight the ravaging inflation is to make food available. So, the Agric Ministry will be on its feet. As I said, it’s a people’s budget.”

  • Ikwerre Congress warns against call to cancel Tompolo’s contract

    Ikwerre Congress warns against call to cancel Tompolo’s contract

    The Ikwerre Peoples Congress (IPC) Worldwide has cautioned against what it described as a perceived self-serving advocacy to cancel the pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tantita Security, owned by a famous ex-militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo a.k.a. Tompolo.

    The Chairman, IPC, Livingstone Wechie, said yesterday in Port Harcourt that instead of some aggrieved stakeholders calling for the cancellation, they should rather demand their integration into the contract.

    He said: “We have observed this unwarranted trend and advised that what is of most importance is the needed integration of stakeholders across the region, instead of the destructive campaign anchored on a pull-down syndrome. We should be asking for more opportunities than pushing for cancellation.”

    Wechie recalled that the idea of pipeline surveillance contract was first muted by Annkio Briggs under the late President Umaru Yar ‘Adua’s administration during the pre-negotiation stages for the amnesty programme, but was opposed by certain Niger Delta stakeholders, who felt it was not deserving for armed agitators to handle it.

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    He said: “To be fair, during the armed struggle for Niger Delta emancipation and resource ownership, lives were lost and our Ijaw compatriots played a leading role while acknowledging the intellectual contributions of some respected Ikwerre players being a leading stakeholder ethnic block in oil and gas infrastructure as well as other ethnic groups, which made their contributions.

    “It is noteworthy that Tantita Security is not the only company awarded the pipeline surveillance contract in the region. The call for its cancellation smacks of personal vendetta.

    “There are others or another pipeline surveillance contract allegedly linked to the Olu of Warri and all must be properly engaged and come to the table with a view to harmonise and resolve the outstanding issues to avoid giving a dog a bad name without justification by calling out only Tompolo’s contract.

    “Finally, Niger Delta must avoid the plot to use this pipeline surveillance contract awarded to Tompolo through his company to cause disaffection among stakeholders. It is public knowledge that some known stakeholders are already accommodated by Tompolo within the contract and this virtue must be commended while we demand the decentralisation of the contract to accommodate others.

    “Therefore what is mostly needed now is not infighting, but the galvanisation of relationships across the region to engineer a sense of ownership by the people. It is highly recommended that the issues should be resolved on a roundtable in the interest of peace and development.”

  • NDDC deploys 370 collation officers, supervisors for Project HOPE

    NDDC deploys 370 collation officers, supervisors for Project HOPE

    Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has deployed 370 collation officers and supervisors from the 185 local governments in the nine Niger Delta states for the registration of youths to benefit from its Holistic Opportunity Projects of Engagement (HOPE) project.

    Speaking during the deployment at the Rivers State Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Centre in Port Harcourt, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, urged the collation officers and supervisors to register the youth, adopting the transparent process already established by the commission.

    Ogbuku in a statement signed by the NDDC Director, Corporate Affairs, Pius Ughakpoteni, said the development and empowerment scheme was designed to create a comprehensive resource database of the youth population of the Niger Delta.

    He said it would provide a platform for the NDDC to empower youths of the region on sustainable basis.

    Ogbuku said the Project HOPE initiative, coming after many years of unplanned and mismanaged projects execution in the region, would focus on the needs of the youth, their qualifications, skills, passion, interests and employment status.

    He said: “Project HOPE has come to stay. When it was launched on July 12, 2023, some sceptics thought it was not going to be feasible. The initial rush by youths to register on the platform crashed the system, but it was quickly restored.”

    He described the collation officers and supervisors as the real hope of the Niger Delta, saying the trainees came from all the local governments in the region through a transparent online selection process.

    He said: “I assure you that the HOPE initiative is real and will be sustained. The database that we are building will not only help us to select the right persons, but it will also help us to monitor their progress. We are using technology to ensure that you do not need to know anybody to be enlisted into the programme.”

    Rivers State Commissioner for Youth Development, Dr. Chisom Gbali, said  the HOPE project represented a true capacity building.

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    He said: “We must commend the NDDC for the initiative. The process of selection was very transparent, and this gives credibility to the programme.”

    He advised the collation officers and supervisors to train others, saying Rivers Government was very passionate about the programme.

    Gbali congratulated the NDDC and the Rivers State Government on achieving what he called a significant milestone.

    He said: “The NDDC has indeed, changed the narrative. The selection process is excellent and transparent. We want Niger Delta youths to excel and we want to train people and equip them with useful skill sets. This is a big milestone. For once, we are getting it right.”

    The consultant for NDDC Project HOPE, Ambassador Blessing Fubara, thanked the NDDC for initiating the novel project in youth empowerment and pledged to cooperate with the commission to ensure the success and sustainability of the programme.

    Responding on behalf of the Collation Officers and Supervisors, the Ogbia Local Government trainee, Mr. Azibator Azimo, thanked the NDDC for giving them the opportunity to contribute in building a comprehensive database for youth development.

  • Enugu begins fight to prevent cervical cancer

    Enugu begins fight to prevent cervical cancer

    Enugu State Government has rolled out efforts to prevent cervical cancer among women with the launch

    of Human Pappilloma Virus (HPV) routine vaccination against the disease.

    Speaking at an event held in Enugu, Governor Peter Mbah said the vaccine was free and available to young girls between nine and 14 years at health care centres across the state.

    Mbah, represented by Deputy Governor Ifeanyi Ossai, promised to deal with individuals or groups found dissuading residents from accepting and receiving the vaccination.

    He said the state must take advantage of the vaccine in fighting cervical cancer.

    “I urge our women in the churches and other places of worship, in homes and schools, to embrace the vaccine. I implore you to dismiss the false claims against the vaccine because it has been certified by the world health authorities as safe,” the governor said.

    He noted that health care professionals were facing the challenge of the spread of false information in their efforts to deliver the vaccine to those that needed it.

    Mbah called for collaboration of health care authorities and professionals with women organisations in places of worship, to re-educate the people that the vaccine was safe.

    “We need to explain to them the investment the state government has continued to make in preventing diseases that are preventable,” he said.

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    He expressed dismay against those who, though not trained health professionals, used the social and mainstream media to spread false information to the public, warning that the government would go after them in line with the laws.

    The Executive Secretary of the Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Ifeyinwa Ani-Osheku, who lamented the rising scourge of cervical cancer among women, said investing in prevention was not only the right thing, but the smart thing to do.

    Ani-Osheku said Enugu was joining 15 other states for the first phase of the roll-out of the vaccination programme, adding that it would run simultaneously in all the 17 local governments and would be administered at primary health care centres, schools, centres of worship and communities.

    Health Commissioner Prof. Emmanuel Obi hailed the action of the vaccination programme, saying prevention would save young girls from suffering cervical cancer in future.

    Goodwill messages were delivered by the representatives of National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and a non-governmental organisation, FHI360, who declared the vaccine safe for the prevention of cervical cancer.

  • APC gets first woman political leader in Akwa Ibom

    APC gets first woman political leader in Akwa Ibom

    Obongawan Okure has emerged as the first All Progressives Congress (APC) female political leader of Asang Court Area in Nsit Ibom Local Government of Akwa Ibom State.

    Nsit Ibom is the local government of the party’s governorship candidate in the last election, Obong Akanimo Udofia.

    The APC Chapter Chairman of Asang Court Area, Mr. Emmanuel Jimmy, said  Okure was elected due to her leadership qualities and commitment to the growth of the party.

    He said her appointment as a political leader was a call for service to better the welfare of party members in Asang Court Area as well as the fortunes of the party.

    “Her passion for service, her exceptional leadership qualities and her unrelenting commitment to the welfare of the people have earned her this esteemed position.

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    “Throughout her political career, she has worked towards the betterment of our community, striving to uplift the lives of the people and ensure their voices are heard.

    “Under her guidance, we can expect a renewed focus on grassroots empowerment, improved health care facilities, quality education, infrastructural development, job creation and enhanced security measures,” Jimmy said.

    Okure promised to chart a new course for the APC in the area and the state in general.

    Party chieftains at the event included Godwin Akpan (Uyo Senatorial District Chairman), Patience Anako (Uyo Senatorial District woman leader) and Mr. Cosmos Inyang (APC stakeholder).

    Others were Emmanuel Jimmy Akpan (APC Chapter Chairman, Nsit Ibom),  Udo Okoh (Deputy APC Chapter Chairman), Godswil Inyang and (APC Chapter Secretary, Nsit Ibom) among others.

  • APC’s Cole appeals Fubara’s tribunal victory

    APC’s Cole appeals Fubara’s tribunal victory

    Rivers State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tonye Cole, has appealed the victory of Governor Siminalayi Fubara at the tribunal, saying the higher court will overturn the judgement.

    The state APC spokesperson, Darlington Nwauju, who confirmed the development in Port Harcourt yesterday, said the records of the appeal had been compiled and transmitted to the appropriate quarters with a suit number allocated to it. 

    He said:  “I can authoritatively confirm to the media today 24 October, 2023 that our governorship candidate, Pastor Tonye Cole, has entered an appeal against the ruling of the Governorship and National Assembly Tribunal for Rivers State.

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    “The records of this particular matter has been compiled and transmitted and the suit number allocated. The suit number is CA/ABJ/EP/Gov/RV/121/2023.”

    “We do pray and hope that the Court of Appeal and indeed the judiciary will be able to serve justice to the people of Rivers State and to the memories of all those who were killed for their political belief for following and supporting the APC in Rivers State.

    “We pray we will get justice from the court and as a law-abiding political party, we will always abide by the decisions of the court.”

    Nwauju, however, faulted some of the grounds the tribunal relied on to dismiss the petition, saying they neither made sense nor complied with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

  • ‘Govt will investigate alleged carting away of PHC equipment’

    ‘Govt will investigate alleged carting away of PHC equipment’

    Cross River Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Ayuk, says the government will investigate alleged carting away of equipment from a Primary Health Care (PHC) facility at Bebuabie community.

    He made this known in an interview yesterday in Calabar while reacting to a viral video showing an official of Obudu Local Government PHC trying to cart away equipment.

    Ayuk said government would slam sanctions on anyone found culpable.

    The suspected personnel, who is the coordinator of the PHC, had arrived Bebuabie Health Centre in a bus tagged Cross River State Government, Primary Health Care Development Agency 014C.

    However, she met stiff resistance from youths of the community on the grounds of lack of information to the community leaders and PHC officials.

    “We will investigate the matter, and if anyone is found guilty, he or she will be sanctioned in line with the extant rules of the civil service.

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    “I have directed my permanent secretary to liaise with her counterpart in the State Primary Health Care Development Agency to unravel the truth or otherwise of the allegation and report to government for further action.

    “In a matter of days, I will visit Obudu and Obanliku to ascertain the ugly incidents that have made the rounds recently,” he said.

    Ayuk said the Governor Bassey Otu administration would not condone acts inimical to the development and well-being of the people.

    He hailed the people of Bebuabie community for resisting the heinous act.

    He called on other communities in the state to imitate Bebuabie and take ownership of government infrastructures in their localities, as government alone could not guarantee security of its investments in their localities.

    Ayuk warned anyone with similar sinister motives to back off, as government will wield the arm of the law on whoever tries to thwart its drive towards strengthening the health sector in the state.

  • Mbah woos Indonesian investors to Enugu

    Mbah woos Indonesian investors to Enugu

    Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah has urged Indonesian businesses and investors to take advantage of the  investment opportunities, improved business environment and ample returns on investment (ROI) in the state.

    The governments of Nigeria and Indonesia have pledged closer collaboration to boost trade and investment between both countries for their mutual prosperity.

    Mbah made the call in a keynote address he delivered at the 2023 Nigerian-Indonesian Investment and Trade Forum, which opened in Jakarta, capital of Indonesia, on Monday.

    Speaking at the event organised by the Nigerian-Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI), in collaboration with Indonesian Trade Promotion Centre in Lagos, the governor, commending the growth of trade volume between Nigeria and Indonesia to $4.7 billion, said both countries could do much more, especially considering the opportunities offered by Enugu State.

    He listed the investment opportunities in the state to include agriculture, mineral resources, logistics, aviation, tourism, real estate, mineral resources, ICT, among others.

    “In the area of agriculture, Enugu is blessed with 100 per cent arable, fertile land with a high factor of productivity and good access to surface and subterranean water that makes all year-round agriculture possible.

    “The state is climatically disposed to the production of key produce such as cassava, oil palm, cashew, spices of various types.

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    “These areas offer not only the opportunity for primary agricultural production, but also the opportunity to invest in industrial facilities to add value to these produce for local consumption as well as export.

     “The state is also blessed with significant deposits of minerals. In the area of petroleum, Enugu State has proven deposits of oil, but more importantly has extensive deposits of natural gas.

    “Other minerals within the state include coal, gold, kaolin, gypsum, clay and limestone, among others. This makes Enugu ideal not only for mining, but also for the siting of key industries,” Mbah said.

    He said Enugu was open for business, adding that his administration’s target to grow the state’s economy from the current $4.4billion to a new level of $30billion was anchored on extensive private sector investment and utilisation of strong local and international partnerships.

    “It is in view of this that we are here today reaching out to the government and business community in Indonesia to let you know in the clearest way possible that Enugu is open for business,” he stated.

    The governor listed some of the key ongoing steps taken by his administration to improve investment and business climate of Enugu State to include expansion of security networks for improved security, a functional One Stop Centre for speedy processing of investment interests and needs, massive urban and rural infrastructural development, establishing about 300,000 hectares land bank for corporate farmers and special agro-processing zones, establishing of Free Zones, the recently signed Enugu State Electricity Law to create a free market electric power, and the effort to build a Tier 4 Hyper Scale Data Centre.

    Others include far-reaching reforms towards stronger contract enforcement, ease of procurement of land titles, which will now take 72 hours.

  • ‘We can’t be intimidated to withdraw our case’

    ‘We can’t be intimidated to withdraw our case’

    Monarchs opposed to the amended Traditional Rulers Council (TRC) law in Akwa Ibom State have said they could not be intimidated to withdraw their case from court.

    They said their recent meeting with Governor Umo Eno would not make them to change their position on the law.

    The amended TRC law confers perpetual headship of the President-General of the Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers on the Ibibio, the majority ethnic group in the state, to the exclusion of other ethnic groups.

    The traditional rulers from Oro, Annang and Obolo ethnic groups are insisting that the office must be rotatory.

    Speaking with The Nation yesterday, the paramount ruler of Etim Ekpo and Vice- President, Afe Akuku Annang, HRM Akuku (Prof) Amanam Akpan Udo and the paramount ruler of Urueoffong Oruko, HRM Effiong Unanaowo, said only the court could settle the matter.

    “Our opposition to the law still stands. The governor wants an out-of-court settlement, but we won’t be intimidated to withdraw the case from court because we stand by the position that the amended TRC law is discriminatory.”

    “Since our last meeting with the governor, he has not called us to discuss the matter. But even if he does, we won’t shift ground. It is a constitutional matter, which only the court can settle,” he said.

    The paramount ruler of Urueoffong Oruko, HRM Effiong Unanaowo, said the Oro could not be treated as slaves in Akwa Ibom State, hence would continue to kick against the law.

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    He added: “We are not slaves in Akwa Ibom State. We are coastal people and were the first to have had encounter with the Europeans when they arrived the shores of the state.

    “The Oro are educated, enterprising and republican in nature. We can’t play a second or third fiddle to other tribes in this state.”

    A sociopolitical group, Mkpat Enin Unity Network, has backed Governor Eno in his efforts to resolve the traditional crisis bedevilling the state.

    It appealed to the traditional rulers, who instituted suits against the governor for signing the Amended Traditional Rulers bill into Law, to withdraw the cases and give dialogue a chance.

    This was contained in a communique issued at the end of an emergency meeting of Mkpat Enin Unity Network in Uyo yesterday.

    The communique praised the governor and House of Assembly for assenting to the bill, noting that the amendment would strengthen traditional institution.