Category: South East

Anambra State Commissioner for Health Dr. Ben Obidike said yesterday that the state was recruiting to solve shortage of doctors and other workers in public health facilities.

He attributed the shortage to “incessant and recurrent brain drain in government health facilities,” saying many had resigned, while there had been some deaths.

The affected hospitals with inadequate doctors and health workers are Onitsha General Hospital with 16 doctors, Umueri General Hospital with two doctors, Ekwulobia General Hospital with one doctor and state Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital in Nwafia with one doctor.

Other public health facilities in the state have no doctors.

Obidike told The Nation that the Civil Service Commission, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, advertised for the recruitment of competent candidates to fill positions such as nurses, medical consultants and medical laboratory technicians.

He said: ”The reason for the shortage of medical workers is because of the incessant and recurrent brain drain at government health facilities across Nigeria. Some resigned, some relocated and some died.

“To guarantee quality assurance and comprehensive health care delivery in Anambra State, the Governor Charles Soludo administration, when it came on board, saw the urgent need to reverse the melancholic state of general hospitals in the last eight years. People are applying and we are following up.”

In April, the President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) said Nigeria lost over 9,000 doctors to the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States of America between 2016 and 2018.

He said the loss left Nigeria with only 4.7 per cent of its specialists to service the health care needs of the population and didn’t paint the country in good light.

A recent report claimed that 19 of the 38 general hospitals in Anambra State have no doctor.

Obidike said a general hospital should have at least three doctors to function effectively, adding that government also intended to embark on partnership to boost the operations and services of the general hospitals.

He said a task force had been put in place to monitor activities of the hospitals.

The commissioner said health should not be politicised, noting that the current administration was working to strengthen health institutions for comprehensive health care delivery, especially in public health facilities.

THE Ogoni Democracy and Development Forum (ODDF) has said well-meaning Nigerians must reject the water resources bill in the National Assembly.

It said the bill would deny the people access to water, to practise their traditional knowledge, especially linked to the water-based livelihood support systems.

ODDF, through its Convener, Legborsi Pyagbara, said this yesterday in an online statement to mark the 2022 International Indigenous People’s Day.

Pyagbara, a former president of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), also called on the management of Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in Ogoniland, Rivers State, to embark on a comprehensive livelihood and economic rehabilitation of Ogoni women.

He noted that the international indigenous people’s day, with the theme: “The Roles of Indigenous Women in the Preservation and Transmission of Traditional Knowledge,” was being celebrated to raise awareness about indigenous people’s issues, educate people about their conditions and offer solutions to the problems they were facing in the political, economic, social, educational, health and cultural spheres.

The ex-MOSOP president, who is also the executive director, African Indigenous Foundation for Energy and Sustainable Development (AIFES), said  across the world, indigenous people were often among the poorest ethnic groups in the society.

He stressed that according to the United Nations (UN), indigenous people make up less than five per cent of the world’s population, but account for 15 per cent of the poorest.

The Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), has called for the inauguration of a board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

AUPCTRE, an affiliate of the Nigeria Labour Congress, said the call became imperative to save the commission from destruction.

The General Secretary of AUPCTRE, Sikiru Wahid, made this known yesterday in a statement in Abuja.

The union appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari, National Assembly, Senate President Ahmad Lawan, House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila and Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Umana Umana to take steps to ensure NDDC delivered on its mandate.

According to the union, when in January 2019, NDDC Managing Director/CEO Nsima Ekere and Chairman Sen. Victor Ndoma Egba resigned their appointments to contest elections in their states, their positions should have been filled in accordance with Section 5, Paragraph 3, of the act establishing the commission.

”The paragraph, which states inter alia that; ”Where a vacancy occurs in the membership of the board, it shall be filled by the appointment of a successor to hold office for the remainder of the term of his predecessor.

”So, however, the successor shall represent the same interest and shall be appointed by the President, Commander-in- Chief of the Armed Forces, subject to the confirmation of the Senate, in consultation with the House of Representatives,” the union said in the statement.

According to AUPCTRE, political gladiators from the region for whatever reason(s), ill advised Buhari to dissolve the board of the commission, and in its place, appointed an Interim Management Committee.

The union said the commission did not fully represent all NDDC states, a situation that had culminated in anger and lack of support by the aggrieved persons towards successive interim management committees.

”Thus, instead of focusing efforts on driving development of the commission, these committees either fight back or focus on pacifying the aggrieved stakeholders.

”And since January 2019 therefore, it has been one interim administration or the other. We as members of staff, as a union, are saying enough of all these. Let the right thing be done,” the statement said.

Indigenous contractors in the NDDC have urged International Oil Companies (IOCs) in the Niger Delta to release unpaid funds accruing to the commission since its inception in 2000.

This is contained in a joint news statement by two NDDC contractor groups, the “Niger Delta Indigenous Contractors Association” (NDICA) and “Contractors Association of NDDC”, after their review meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at the weekend.

The patron of the group, Senator John Brambaifa, called on NDDC contractors, consultants and others aggrieved with NDDC over delayed contract payments to sheathe their swords and give the new minister time to settle lingering issues amicably.

Members of the Hausa community in Enugu State have commended Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for the exemplary leadership attributes he has brought to bear in the governance of the state.

Members of the Hausa community appreciated Ugwuanyi for promoting peace and national unity, and for showing them love and care through the appointments of their members in government at the state and local government levels as well as identifying with them during their festivities, among others.

They declared their support for Ugwuanyi’s senatorial bid to represent Enugu North Senatorial District in the National Assembly in 2023, adding that they are solidly behind him, the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Barr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah and other candidates of the party.

Speaking when they paid a solidarity visit to the governor at the Government House, Enugu, the Sarkin Hausawan, Enugu, Sarki Abubakar Yusuf Sambo, described Ugwuanyi as “a detribalised leader” and appreciated him for providing the enabling environment for peace to reign in the state in spite of all the challenges in the country.

“We are here to say that we are with you and we are closely monitoring the political situation in Enugu State and to also say that we are thanking Allah for you and your party, PDP, to have brought Peter Mbah to take over from you. I want to tell you that the Northern community is solidly behind that project and we are going to deliver 100 percent,” he said.

Imo State Government has described claim by a group of people from Egbema, in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area, that N70 billion was released to the state government as accrued taxes from the oil producing status of the state, as totally false.

The government in a statement on Saturday by the Chief Press Secretary, Oguwike Nwachukwu said no such money was released to the state government accrued from tax.

He said that the government runs an open and transparent process and as such could not have received the amount in secret.

“This government runs an open and transparent process. There is no way such a huge amount of N70b could be released to the state government as accrued taxes, secretly.

“The truth is that the information is false. Those behind the press conference should desist from raising false alarm,” the statement said.

The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress in Ebonyi State, on Friday, took a different swipe as a group, the Ebonyi South Concerned Citizens, petitioned the national leadership of the party led by Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, over alleged plot to suspend the factional candidate of the party for Ebonyi South, Princess Ann Agom-Eze.

This was as the group claimed that the chairman, secretary and treasurer of Umudomi Ward (Agom-Eze’s ward) in the Onicha Local Government Area of the state, had been held hostage since Wednesday by the leadership of the party in the state, in a bid to sign the suspension letter.

Leader of the Ebonyi South Concerned Citizens, Engr. Ogochukwu Orji, stated this while briefing journalists, in Abakaliki, on Friday, alleging that the party wards executives were offered N1million by the governor to sign the purported document, but rejected same.

According to him, “I am aware that since three days now, some executives of the APC in Umudomi Ward in the Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State have been held hostage by the leadership of the party in the state, on the order of Governor David Umahi.”

A group of former agitators under the auspices of Niger Delta Amnesty Beneficiary Forum (NDABF) has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to probe some officials of the Ministry of Justice following the abrupt transfer of legal officers attached to the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).

The ex-agitators, who spoke in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, said the probe should be centred on the motive behind the transfer authorised by the Solicitor-General and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Beatrice Jeddy-Agba.

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The National Coordinator, NDABF, James Okori, said they suspected that the sudden transfer was meant to frustrate PAP from filling proper defence against 15 companies accused of involvement in the 2019 looting of the N60bn amnesty training centre located in Kaiama, Bayelsa.

Okori said they were suspecting that the officials were sabotaging the legal battle instead of supporting the legal representation of PAP against the N3.8bn suit filed by the accused companies with 21 per cent post judgement fee and special damages, which could run between N5bn and N8bn.

“The legal suit was for alleged unexecuted contracts during the tenure of the former Amnesty Coordinator, Prof. Charles Dokubo, which allegedly led to the five days’ looting of the N60bn Amnesty training complex in Boro-town, Kaiama, Bayelsa State in February 2019.

Outgoing Resident Electoral Commissioner ((REC) in Akwa Ibom, Mike Igini yesterday said he has succeeded in setting a good template for electoral reforms in the state.

Igini, who retired officially on Friday after a five-year as Akwa Ibom REC, said he was able to contend with powerful and corrupt politicians in the state who were bent on compromising the ballot.

He said despite death threats by politicians he stood his ground to reform the electoral process, which he recalled was badly battered before the 2019 polls.

He said his life was on the line for refusing to allow desperate politicians to rig elections in 2019, maintaining that “Politicians in the State are used to rigging elections and when Igini said no, that is why the Dinosaurs are angry.

“My retirement from service is constitutional and I will hand over to the Administrative Secretary of INEC in Akwa Ibom State as I leave the state,” he said and thanked the media “for giving meaning to the ballot through objective reportage.

“INEC in Akwa Ibom State under my watch is very clear on the conduct of election as directed by INEC at the national and we are poised to deal with historical challenges as it concerns electoral matters,” he noted, adding that far-reaching reforms have been carried out to reposition the Commission.”

He recalled that no fewer than 23 polling units were discovered in private homes of politicians and relocated to open places as part of the reforms.

To enhance easy access to polling units, Igini said his regime ensured the creation of several units to raise the number to 4,354, to be used in the 2023 elections.

35 cases, according to him, were instituted against INEC, Akwa Ibom State in 2019 “and we won all, 99% victory INEC in the State will continue to serve the people even at the risk of their lives because they are doing the right thing.”

Residents of Enugu metropolis are now living in fear and trepidation following the increasing spate of car theft in parts of the capital city.

Different reports have it that the robbery cases, which involve stealing of car accessories and vehicles parked in some streets, have increased in the city due to increased unemployment and hardships.

Our correspondent gathered that the car theft and vandalism incidents are more replete in New Layout, Emene, Uwani, Achara Layout, Abakpa, Ngwo, GRA and all the streets where residents park their vehicles on the streets because houses are not fenced.

Some of the most recent victims of car thefts in the city include two staff of Radio Nigeria, Enugu, Von Nwadukwe and Denis Osabeme; Eucharia Ugwu, who works for Nigeria Television Authority, Enugu and an executive member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

Our correspondent gathered that Von Nwadukwe’s Toyota Camry car was stolen on Monday night from where it was parked in front of Tiger Bar, GRA Enugu, while that of the APC executive member was stolen at a meeting venue.

Those of Osabeme and Ugwu’s cars were stolen at the residences in Emene and Ngwo town, respectively, eye-witnesses revealed.

Another victim, who usually removed her car battery before going to bed, was said to have discovered the car missing when she woke up.

The robbers were said to have come to the street with their own battery, with which they drove the vehicle away unnoticed.

At New Layout and Uwani areas of the state capital, vehicles parked on hitherto safe streets, were vandalised with their front and back lamps, side mirrors, and interior fittings carted away by robbers.

The situation, it was learned, had forced residents to seek alternative measures to protect their vehicles.

A resident of one off the streets in New Layout, Godfrey Ijeh, told our correspondent that everyone living in the street agreed to set up a security gate with men manning them at nights.

Our correspondent also gathered that a formal report has been made to the police by some of the victims, who urged the public to be on the lookout for their cars.

In a notice he gave to the police, Nwadukwe described his car as “an army green Toyota Camry with number plate ENU 718 GL. It has a Radio Nigeria sticker on the wind screen.”

Also, a victim, Charles Nwobodo whose car was vandalised at Adelabu Street, Uwani, said, “I brought my car, Lexus Rx 330 for the mechanic to fix its fault. He finished working on it and told me to come and carry it or he should bring it to my house. But I was not around. I told him I would return back in two day’s time.

Spokesman of the Enugu State police command, Daniel Ndukwe, was yet to respond to the incidents as of the time of filing this report.

Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo has said what the state received in July as its oil derivation from the Federal Government was 268,232,939.16 million naira.

He said any other amount being bandied on the social media by some misguided persons was fake.

Soludo made this known yesterday in Awka in a statement by the Commissioner for Finance, Ifeatu Onejeme.

The government called it “setting the records straight on the 13 per cent Oil Minerals Derivation Revenue received by Anambra State”.

Before now, some persons had been quoting outrageous figures, running into billions as what the government received from the Federal Government as the 13 per cent.

According to the government, “Anambra State officially started receiving mineral derivation revenue from the Federation Account  in July with the first net receipt of N268,232,939.16 (Two Hundred and Sixty-Eight Million, Two Hundred and Thirty-Two Thousand Nine Hundred and Thirty-Nine Naira and Sixteen Kobo only).

“Ndi Anambra and the public are therefore enjoined to disregard any other  information about the amount of mineral derivation revenue received by Anambra State circulating in the social media, online media or any other media whatsoever and consider such information as fake news.”