Category: South East

The 63 Brigade, Nigerian Army has provided free medical services for more than 700 villagers in Ogume Community in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta yesterday.

The medical outreach was part of a one-week programme by the brigade to mark the 2022 Nigerian Army Day.

The event witnessed a large turnout of youths, the elderly and community leaders.

Services rendered were medical consultations, blood pressure and body temperature gauging and diagnosis, HIV testing and counselling, and the distribution of free drugs and treated mosquito nets.

The Brigade Commander, Maj.-Gen. David Saraso said the free medical outreach was part of the army’s contribution to the development of society.

“This free medical outreach we are having on Tuesday is part of week-long activities to commemorate the Nigerian Army Day.

“This year’s celebration marks the 159th anniversary of the Nigerian Army and we are using the event to reflect on the mandate of the Army to protect and promote national unity.

“The objective is to showcase the Nigerian Army as an instrument of national unity, peace and development,’’ Gen. Saraso said.

He noted that it was also an opportunity to pay tribute to the nation’s fallen heroes, as well as appreciate those who retired or are still in active service.

The commander said the Nigerian Army was determined to consolidate existing relationships with communities to galvanise efforts at achieving its objectives.

The Chairman of Ndokwa West Local Government Area Chief Obi Nzete appreciated the brigade for the free medical services.

Represented by the council’s Secretary, Mr Augustine Okom, the chairman observed that the exercise would go down in history as a day the Nigerian Army impacted the lives of the people of Ogume.

He assured that the people of Ndokwa would continue to remain peaceful and law-abiding.

The paramount ruler of the Ogume community, Chief Okwa-Ossai Enebeli, commended the Army for the initiative, which he described as worthy of emulation and highly commendable.

Enebeli, who was represented by Chief Valentine Akpati, the Osele-Uku of Ogume, said the people of the community would remain grateful to the Nigerian Army for the gesture.

“Today is a remarkable day in the Ogume Kingdom. You can attest to this by the crowd of children, youths, women and chiefs here today.

“We are a peace-loving community and I want to tell the Nigerian Army that we are grateful and we will never forget this day,’’ he said.

A beneficiary, 87-year-old farmer, Pa Patrick Agadi, told reporters that he suffered from rheumatism and glaucoma.

“I am a farmer and I suffer from an eye problem, I have glaucoma that affects my sight, I also suffer severe waist pain.

“I buy drugs once in a while because drugs are expensive here in our community; but thank God, today the army people have checked me and gave me drugs. I am grateful,’’ Agadi said.

Another beneficiary, Madam Josephine Oweka, a 72-year-old widow, appreciated the Army for the intervention.

“I have arthritis; every night I can’t walk. I have been on drugs, but I don’t buy the drugs regularly as I’m supposed to do because of a lack of money.

“The Army personnel have checked me; they also checked my blood pressure and gave me many drugs. I am very grateful because I can’t afford these drugs on my own,” Oweka said.

Accord Party has announced Shina Peller as its candidate for the Oyo North Senatorial District. Peller represents the Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

The declaration was made yesterday in Saki after Prince Michael Ojo publicly announced his wilful withdrawal from the race, and handed over the ticket to Peller.

The event was attended by State Chairman Prince Felix Ojo, state executive members, party chairmen in the 13 local governments of the district, as well as representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Ojo said: “In the overall interest of our people in Oke-Ogun and Oyo North Senatorial District, I hereby willingly withdraw from the race and wholeheartedly transfer the mandate I have to contest for Oyo North Senatorial seat on the platform of Accord Party to my dear brother, Honourable Shina Peller.”

Consequent upon this, the party’s returning officer for the district, Abdullahi Ayemojuba, declared Peller as the party’s candidate for the Oyo North Senatorial District in the 2023 general elections.

Ojo thanked party members for their support and cooperation, and expressed confidence that Accord Party will produce the next governor, the three senators, and National Assembly members.

 

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has dedicated an award it received from the African Union Commission (AUC) to President Muhammadu Buhari.

In its first Africa SME Annual Forum held  in Cairo, Egypt, at the weekend, the African Union awarded the NDDC as the best “intervention agency for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Livelihood Support.”

The AU’s acting Director for Industry, Minerals, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, Charles Newton Chiumya, said NDDC was recognised for the maiden award for supporting and promoting SMEs and livelihood in the Niger Delta and Africa, particularly among women and youths.

The Interim Administrator, NDDC, Dr Effiong Akwa, who received the award, attributed the latest feat by the NDDC to Buhari’s commitment to rebrand and restructure the commission for optimum performance.

Dr Akwa, who was represented at the event by his Special Adviser, Youths and former Commissioner in Bayelsa State, Udengs Eradiri, said the global recognition was an eloquent testimony that the NDDC despite its challenges had over the years impacted positively on the livelihood and economic empowerment of Niger Delta, Nigeria and Africa.

He said while people expressed mixed feelings in Nigeria about the performance of the commission, global institutions and organisations could only appreciate the efforts of the NDDC to promote industrialisation through its support for SMEs.

Dr Akwa said: “This award is dedicated to President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to rebranding and restructuring the NDDC for optimum performance. I feel elated because truly, the NDDC over the years has been contributing immensely without blowing its trumpet to people’s well-being.

“Whereas some people back home throw stones at the NDDC, the commission’s positive impact is receiving global recognition. It means that the NDDC has actually done well in developing the Niger Delta and also creating an impact on the lives of its people.

“The NDDC has done a lot despite criticisms. Let’s cast our minds back to where we were before the creation of the NDDC and where we are today. Communities that didn’t have roads before are now accessible by roads.

“People now have access to health care, schools and most people’s lives have changed because of the NDDC. People who didn’t have water, light, and jetties have them because of the interventions of the NDDC.”

Dr Akwa said the award would motivate the NDDC to do more for the Niger Delta by reviewing the qualities of its projects, programmes and infrastructures in line with the recommendations of the forensic audit report.

He said: “The award will motivate the NDDC to do more and in doing more, we must target set goals. In the next five years, where do we intend to be in SME development? Where do we intend to be in terms of roads? What kind of hospitals should we be building?

“The recognition is an awakening to the NDDC to know that people are observing us. The forensic audit report will help in this restructuring. The report has looked at the factors bedevilling the NDDC and has come up with recommendations. Those recommendations if implemented and a new board is constituted in line with the recommendations, we are very hopeful that the NDDC will be on the speed lane of progress.”

Also, the residents of Udoda Community in Ahoada West Local Government Area, Rivers State, have protested continual attacks by thugs, military invasion and air raids in the area.

Raising the alarm at the weekend, the Paramount Ruler of the community, Okaya Gospel, and the Youth President, Peter Francis, said over 30 indigenes, including a chief, had been killed since the raids and attacks started in 2019.

King Gospel said the community was deserted because people’s houses and valuables were burnt and stolen in the various invasions and attacks.

The king blamed surveillance contractors securing pipelines that crisscrossed the community’s forest for their travails saying that each time the people requested for basic amenities, their voices were quelled with attacks and raids.

Giving the timelines of the attacks, he said: “Many people have died in these attacks and air raids. They used air raids to burn houses and kill innocent people. Recently they invaded this community. It has been happening since 2019. They came in 2019 with air raids. They burnt houses and killed people and rendered them homeless.

“On May 27 2019, there was a raid in which people were killed. In November 2020 another air raid occurred in which a boy and other five people were killed.

“On June 15 2022, another attack occurred again and a chief was killed. On June 27, they entered the community, and shoot and killed people. They broke doors and stole money worth N30milion and people were rendered homeless. Over 30 people have been killed in these attacks.”

King Gospel insisted that the community had not committed any offence to deserve such maltreatment and called on the Federal Government to come to their rescue.

“We need peace and we urge the government to come and renovate the burnt areas. We don’t have roads, lights, hospitals and basic amenities. People are dying of ill health in their hideouts. People can no longer sleep. They should call the military and the contractors to order”, he said.

The Youth President, Peter Francis, observed that though there were illegal bunkering activities in the bushes, such illegal acts were not happening in the community to warrant air raids and the killing of innocent people.

He asked the military and the contractors to direct their operations in the forest and stop venting their anger on innocent indigenes and destroying houses and properties.

He recalled that in the last attack, unknown soldiers aided by some hooligans ransacked people’s houses and stole over N30milion belonging to different people in the community.

One of Cross River State’s cultural and tourist heritage, the Baker Monoliths that are also known as Unique Rock Arts has continued to attract major interest and it will now gain UNESCO recognition as one of the world’s heritage in West Africa.

This was made known at the flag-off of an event in Calabar at the weekend tagged, “A Unique Travelling Exhibition: The Ancient Rock Arts of Nigeria.”

At the event held at the premises of the National Museum Calabar, the project manager, Mr Terry Little who is also a senior lecturer at Ahmadu Bello University, Department of Archeology and Heritage Studies, expressed delight that the exhibition has finally found the limelight after being halted in March 2020 because of COVID-19.

He noted that rocks not just in Nigeria but all over Africa were one of the earliest means of communication by the ancestors.

“It is the earliest form of communication of our ancestors. In most cases, the rock carries spiritual messages. You know they didn’t have Facebook or Instagram; they had rocks upon which they leave their messages.

Mr Little appealed to the Federal Government to boost the budgets of the ministry of culture and invest more in infrastructural development like good roads, quality hotels and good airports because all of these will improve tourism and culture in Nigeria.

Also speaking, Dr Ferdinand Smith of Favtvm foundation revealed that his expectation at the end of this project is to draw UNESCO attention to the amazing cultural heritage of Cross River State monolith for it to gain recognition as a world heritage site.

“I have engaged in many projects around the world with Factor foundation but I have to say that Bakor monolith in Cross River State is the most interesting project I’ve ever worked with and that’s because the heritage is very much alive and it’s very much connected to the community around there. Hopefully, my dream for the end of the project is that this amazing cultural heritage will be recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site.

The Director-General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Prof. Abba Isa Tijani, who was represented by Dr Victoria Osuagwu, Director, Monuments Heritage and Sites lauded the Cross River state government for keeping this rich cultural heritage and she appealed to the state government to kindly remove the crossbar at the entrance road of the museum to enable people from other parts of the world to freely participate in the ongoing exhibition.

“Cross River State is a beautiful place and museum is one the places where her rich cultural heritage is a house but if people cannot have access to the exhibition or cultural relics in the museum then the essence of the exhibition is lost. I know the governor, Prof Ben Ayade loves Art and Culture and I believe this international exhibition is the right opportunity for the crossbar to be removed, so that visitors not only in Nigeria but the world over can visit the museum and this will in turn improve the tourism level of the state.

Nigeria is home to some of the most unique and vulnerable rock art in Central and West Africa, including the Bakor monoliths of Cross River State and the painting sites in the Jigawa and Bauchi States.

In 2018, the Trust for African Rock Art (TARA), with the support of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, launched a project with funding from the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation aimed at ensuring the conservation of this heritage through documentation, community engagement, and outreach.

On this note, the Ancient Rock Art of Nigeria is organising a 3-month travelling exhibition in Calabar with the aim to celebrate this ancient heritage and the achievements of the project and the dedicated members of the project team from across Nigeria.

Stakeholders in the fight against drug abuse in Bayelsa State have declared they are winning the war against the rising cases of illicit drug use and abuse in the state.

They commended the state government for its decision to build a drug victims’ rehabilitation centre in Yenagoa, the state capital.

The stakeholders, made up of the officials of the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), medical doctors, psychologists, civil advocacy and rights activists, pharmacists and women advocacy groups, agreed that the war against drug abuse under the administration of Governor Douye Diri had rekindled the hope of youths in the state.

Speaking on the development, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Pabara Igwele, has described the revolution against drugs as one of the right steps taken by the Diri administration.

The commissioner said the government’s vision was anchored on its mandate to give youths a new lease of life and set the pace for societal growth and minimise crime and criminality.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Committee on Drug Abuse Prevention and Rehabilitation Committee (CDAPRC), Dr Faith Zips-Godwin, noted that the committee had closed ranks with other stakeholders to change the Bayelsa drug abuse story.

“Our approach is to use four cardinal strategies, the community, faith-based, school and media strategies to combat the scourge of drug misuse and abuse across the state,” she stated.

She noted that drug abuse resulted in numerous life-threatening health conditions such as liver damage, kidney failures, high blood pressure and other health conditions.

She called on stakeholders to ensure that all hands are on deck to win the war against drug abuse and trafficking in Bayelsa.

The Chairman of the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers’ Council, King Bubaraye Dakolo, the Ibenanaowei of the Ekpetiama Kingdom, said? The illicit drug trafficking business in the world attracted an estimated $300 billion annually.

The monarch advised the state government to work closely with the security agencies to secure the marine and land borders? check movement of hard drugs into the state.

It was, however, gathered that the state government was rated high in the area of the battle against drug abuse with its several international programmes.

It was also learnt that organisations and top personnel across the world including the UNODC had raised their voices against drug abuse culminating in the training of 124 teachers on drug abuse prevention tagged, ‘Unplugged Drug Abuse Prevention Programme for secondary schools in Bayelsa State.’

UNODC’s Country Representative, Dr Oliver Stolpe, described Bayelsa as a testament to walking the talk against drug abuse, noting that if nothing was done, the disease would negatively affect the development of the society closely tied to crimes that the international community had been monitoring to avoid a time bomb.

Stolpe said: “It is visibly clear and audibly loud enough from the lips of all stakeholders that the reality to achieve a crime and drug-free society, efforts need to be intensified with relevant actors and agencies to prevent drug supply and abuse.

“This, the Bayelsa State Government has taken the bull by the horn as a shining example for other states across the country.

“As Bayelsa State joins the rest of the world to celebrate the 2022 International Day against Drugs Abuse, themed “Addressing Drug Challenges in Health and Humanitarian Crises” several activities including road shows, symposiums and lectures were organized to raise awareness of the people to join the train to stand against drug misuse and abuse in the oil-rich Bayelsa.”

The Commissioner of Police Abia State Command, CP Janet E. Agbede, has presented cheques worth N21, 477,050. 80k to next of kin of 10 police officers who died while in active service.

The cheque presentation which took place on June 23, 2022, at the command’s headquarters was on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba.

This largesse is part of the IGP’s ongoing Group Life Assurance Welfare Scheme to the families of deceased Police officers for the 2020/2021 Policy Year, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna the Command’s PRO said in a statement.

The Commissioner of Police, who was represented by ACP Jane Mbanefo while presenting the cheques to the next of kin, appreciated the Inspector General of Police for the gesture and described it as timely and will go a long way in alleviating suffering being faced by families of deceased Police officers.

The CP further assured the IGP that, Officers and men of the Command will continue to put in their best to ensure more robust commitment and hard work in the discharge of their duties for sustained security and safety of the State and Nigeria at large.

The Commissioner of Police, therefore, charged the beneficiaries to utilise the money judiciously, noting that the gesture will serve as a morale booster to the serving members of the Force in order to enhance their productivity.

“One of the benefiting families, Justice E. John, who spoke on behalf of other beneficiaries thanked the Inspector General of Police for the gesture and promised to utilize the money judiciously.

“The cheque presentation ceremony was witnessed by the Command PRO, the Command Insurance Officer and other Staff Officers at the Command Headquarters, Umuahia.”

No fewer than 10,000 Ilaje people displaced almost four months ago due to clash with their host community in Mkpanak, Ibeno council area of Akwa Ibom State are still homeless and without any means of livelihood.

The Nation reports that the embattled Ilaje people comprising aged men, women and children are hanging around shops, churches, schools and petrol filling stations in Eket.

They also lost houses, cars, outboard engines and other valuables worth millions of naira during the clash that occurred on April 19 this year.

The state government had issued a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at brokering peace between the Ilaje and their Mkpanak host.

It also promised to assist Ilaje  community to enable them to live their normal lives and continue with their fishing business.

But speaking at the weekend, the spokesperson of the Ilaje community, Mr Golden Ogungbemi, lamented that the government was yet to fulfil its promise to come to their rescue.

“We have not seen what much on the ground by the government. All the government did was provide relief materials. At a point, the government proposed a memorandum of understanding between the Ilaje people and the Ibeno people who are our hosts but so far nothing has been done.

“Our condition is just the same as when the incident happened. And it is really unfortunate that we are witnessing this in our own country. The constitution of this country provides that as a Nigerian you can live anywhere you choose to lawfully and it includes the right to own property.

“But it is so unfortunate that for the past 35 years or more that we have been living in Ibeno, terminal specifically, what we notice is that on that fateful day irate youths took over the Yoruba community.

“All the wealth and property that we acquired over the years were taken away within a twinkle of an eye and since then we have been suffering from the pangs of hunger. You can see hunger on the faces of our people yet the government hasn’t done anything to alleviate our sufferings.

“What we are saying is that the amiable governor of Akwa Ibom State should intervene. We want the governor to put us back in our businesses. What is so important to an Ilaje person is the source of his livelihood which is the outboard engines.

“At the time of the incident Ibeno youths targeted our outboard engines, over 500; burnt some and took some away, especially the ones that were newly bought.

“We are told that the Ibeno youths sold our outboard engines for N200, 000 and N300, 000 to make quick money. This is something we bought from our hard-earned money at the rate of N2.450 million per unit.”

The deputy governor, Mr Moses Ekpo has assured us that the government is working on rehabilitating the displaced Ilaje people.

More groups have continued to build solidarity fronts for the actualisation of the presidential  ambition of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The latest among them is the Nigeria Diaspora for Asiwaju (NDA); an international political support group, which held an event in Calabar, Cross River State  capital at the weekend.

The Director-General of the Nigeria Diaspora for Asiwaju (NDA) Worldwide, Dr Akin Badeji expressed great pleasure for being among a legion of progressives.

He said the progressives are united in their support for the presidential aspiration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a cause, he opined, they are concertedly pursuing the overall interest of the country.

Dr Badeji described the APC presidential candidate as a man of vision and immense network within and outside the country, who has nurtured great leaders and contributed hugely to the growth and development of Nigeria.

The NDA Worldwide D-G also thanked Sir Dr Alfred Mboto for accepting the onerous task of being the South-South patron of the NDA, describing his induction as an honour well-deserved.

He expressed utmost pleasure in the positive attestation about the recipient, noting that just like Bola Tinubu; Dr Mboto’s record speaks for itself.

He urged the patron to bring his wealth of experience to bear in providing guidance and support to the NDA in the South-South region while assuring him of the Association’s leadership assistance to the region for the common interest of Tinubu’s presidency. The DG also enjoined the newly inaugurated executives in the region and state to live up to their billings as ambassadors of Tinubu’s presidential actualisation.

The chairman of the occasion, Ambassador David Effiong Okon averred that with the incoming president’s (Bola Tinubu) track records, where he transformed Lagos into a commercial and economic epicentre in Nigeria.

with eloquent testimonies of his human capacity development, Tinubu is the consummate bureaucrat and bastion of democracy and good governance that Nigerians should clamour for as president.

He thanked the massive crowd for turning out en masse for the event in spite of the short notice while likening Tinubu’s presidential ambition to ”light over darkness.”

NDA’s  National Deputy Director, Alhaji Abiola Wasiu thanked the leadership of NDA for deeming it necessary to come to Calabar and indeed the South-South to interface with members of the NDA with the common goal of expanding the frontiers of solidarity for the Asiwaju Bola Tinubu presidential aspiration.

“This is a further confirmation of NDA’s dogged effort in canvassing for support for the presidential election victory for our principal, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. The NDA has emerged as a foremost political support group both in Nigeria and the diaspora. It started in the United Kingdom and spread to North America, Nigeria, South Africa and most recently United Arab Emirates,” Alhaji Wasiu iterated.

On the induction of Sir Dr Alfred Abeng Mboto, KSM as patron, Alhaji Wasiu described the recipient as a complete technocrat, who has earned his place in the echelons of the state civil/public service, a trusted ally of the present administration of the State and a source of pride for his people. He expressed optimism that Sir Mboto’s tutelage in the South-South region will be a monumental advantage in the quest for victory for the APC in the 2023 presidential elections.

The newly inducted patron, Sir (Dr.) Alfred Mboto conveyed his gratitude to the NDA for finding him worthy to contribute his quota as South-South patron towards the emergence of Bola Tinubu as president of Nigeria.

He promised to repay the trust reposed in him by the support group in thought and action, where the message of the need for Tinubu in 2023 will be carried to the nooks and crannies of the entire region, nay Nigeria.

Others inducted were Comrade Iso Bassey Edim, as NDA South-South Coordinator; Comrade Eyam Abeng (a die-heart faithful of Tinubu and the APC), as NDA State Director, Cross River State Chapter; and Mrs Glory Eka, Cross River State Coordinator.

The event which climaxed with a clarion call to action on political participation and voter registration, also featured an overflow of goodwill messages, notably, from the Chairman of Obubra Local Government Area, Dr Tom Bassey; Prof. Enang Erena, Dr. (Mrs.) Grace Edi, among others.

The University of Benin (UNIBEN) Edo State is partnering with a Geneva, Switzerland-based organisation, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) in the areas of scientific and technological research.

The university’s spokesperson, Dr Benedicta Ehanire, stated this yesterday in Benin City.

She said CERN was reputed to have the world’s leading laboratory for particle and high-energy physics research.

Ehanire said: “Already, two students of the university: Miss Decent Oghifo and Mr David Dosu, who won the globally-competitive screening, are expected to travel to Geneva, to participate in the CERN students’ summer programme.

“This will be the first time that students from Sub-Saharan Africa will be participating in the programme.

“Director of Research and Development, Prof. M.A. Bamikole, who presented the students to the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Lilian Salami, and other members of management, also announced that the European organisation is favourably disposed to collaborating with UNIBEN as an associate institute in project management and implementation.”

UNIBEN’s spokesperson also disclosed that the “obviously elated” Salami hailed all the persons who made the feat possible, especially Mrs Fookes, a distinguished alumna, for her support while describing the collaboration with CERN as a major boost to the research and academic profiles of the federal university.

 

DELTA Police Command has arrested a three member child trafficking syndicate engaged in the trafficking of girls to Mali, Police Commissioner Dr Mohammed Ali said.

In a signed statement by its image maker, DSP Bright Edafe, yesterday, said the command, acted on a tip off via a petition written on behalf of 13 year old a victim (name withheld).

He said the police in collaboration with local vigilance group, stormed an Asaba suburb, arresting three commercial sex workers in Omerigboma, Oko village, Oshimili South LGA.

The police boss said the trio facilitated the trafficking of a 13 year old girl from Izza North LGA in Ebonyi State for prostitution at Onicha-Igbo, Aniocha North LGA in Delta State.

He said the suspects on 22/6/22 also arranged the trafficking of a 16 year girl simply identified as Chidinma to Mali.

According to the statement, the three suspects include: Ada-Obi Oguguo ‘f’ age 38yrs, Chidima Osita age 36yrs, and Nkiruka Ikechukwu ‘f’ age 30yrs.

The statement adds that police operatives on routine patrol along Asaba/ Onitsha Bridgehead area rescued a 45-year-old man being attacked by a mob for using fake Naira notes.

The police identified the suspect as Michael Uzor. He allegedly made financial transactions at Oko New International Market, using fake Naira notes with intent to defraud a POS operator.

He was arrested and N80,000 fake notes were recovered from him, the statement said.