The Nation Newspaper

Category: South East

  • U.S consulate trains Nigerians in skill entrepreneurship, sports

    U.S consulate trains Nigerians in skill entrepreneurship, sports

    THE United States Consulate in Nigeria has sponsored the training of 30 young Nigerians in fashion designing entrepreneurship skills.

    The Consulate is also empowering 100 children in basketball.

    The trainings are meant to grow the economy through empowering and growing the economic base of citizens, and to curb gender-based violence. The projects are being implemented for the Consulate by Field of Skills Academy (FSD) and ‘Organised Basketball Network (OBN).

    The United States Consulate Deputy Public Affairs Officer, Jennifer Foltz, at the opening of the four-day event in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, explained that the fashion entrepreneurship training was ongoing in Lagos, Enugu and Rivers state. She said the aim is to empower young Nigerians on skills and strengthen relationship between the United States and Nigeria.

    She added: “US Consulate, in partnership with field of Skills and dream, Vocational Technical and Entrepreneurship Academy, is holding the training for 30 emerging fashion design entrepreneurs between 22 and 35 years in Lagos, Enugu and Rivers stare.

    “We are doing the training for Nigerians because we understand that young Nigerians need to be trained in skills and also to strengthen the relationship between us and Nigeria.

    “Marketing and branding provides opportunities to network with established industry players, alumni of U.S. government exchange programs, and mentors.”

    Foltz added that sports will impact positively on young Nigerians and eliminate gender base violence in the country.

    At the opening of the ‘Uplift Africa Youth through Basketball Camp’, a programme for boys and girls in underserved communities in Rivers State, Foltz said the camp will provide 100 participants, aged 6 to 18, the opportunity to learn about the sport, gender-based violence, inclusion of marginalised communities and build their communication, leadership, and teamwork skills.

    Governor Nyesom Wike lauded the US Consulate for the gesture, noting that the country needs skills and sports as one of the activities to lift up Nigeria and Africa at large.

    Wike, who was represented by Deputy Governor Ipalibo Banigo-Harry, said his administration is committed to the training of youths in skills.

  • Dagogo sues PDP, INEC over exclusion

    Dagogo sues PDP, INEC over exclusion

    Embattled member of the House of Representatives Farah Dagogo has sued the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court following his exclusion from the list of governorship aspirants in Rivers State.

    The lawmaker and governorship aspirant, who is being detained at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre, is standing trial for conspiracy to felony and cultism at the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt.

    Though he pleaded not guilty, he is yet to be granted bail.

    Dagogo, in a motion on notice, filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, is seeking an order of interlocutory injunction restraining PDP from using any list of aspirants without his name to conduct the May 26 primary election pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

    He is also seeking an order restraining INEC from accepting any candidate, who might emerge from the primary election conducted without his participation.

    Six lawyers, B.A. Adegbie, M. Dayi, A.M. Idoghor, H. Amrurhobo, Dickson Sofiyegha and Erica Akpofure, filed the action on behalf of Dagogo.

     

  • Abia warns against planned protest

    Abia warns against planned protest

    The Abia State government has warned against any planned protest by those it accused of masquerading themselves as members of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT).

    A statement by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chris Ezem, warned that the government will not watch people who pose as teachers disrupt the peace in the state.

    Ezem claimed that contrary to speculations, the government, in November 2021, paid eight months salary arrears to teachers, adding that another round will be paid based on the agreement the NUT leadership had with the government.

    The statement reads: “To put the records straight, government, in November 2021, paid eight months arrears to teachers and, following recent meetings with the NUT, government promised to intervene again with further bulk payment on outstanding wage bill within 14 days from the date of the said meeting, which is yet to expire. And government is committed to meeting its obligation in that regards.

    “In view of the above and following the dissociation of the NUT from any intended protest, the government warns that it will deal decisively with anybody or group that engages in any form of protest aimed at disturbing the peace in the state.

    “All security agents have been put on alert to arrest, detain and prosecute all involved.”

  • Air traffic controllers return to Anambra airport

    Air traffic controllers return to Anambra airport

    Duty Air Traffic Controller Officers (DATCO) attached to the Anambra Airport by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) returned to the tower of the aerodrome yesterday after they were evicted from their hotel accommodation by state officials.

    The air traffic controllers were lodged in a hotel to enable then discharge air traffic control services at the new state – built cargo/passenger airport in Umueri.

    The airport was opened at the twilight of the Willie Obiano-led administration. But trouble broke out at the weekend when government officials evicted the NAMA personnel from their hotel.

    Sources said the eviction directive could have emanated from gaps in communication between.

    A source familiar with the development said the accommodation arrangement for the air traffic controllers may not have been captured in the handover notes and other official documentation when Soludo assumed office.

    In an operations broadcast, an air traffic personnel raised the alarm. He said in industry wide electronic message: ‘Any station/DATCO sending flight to Anambra Airport today should first confirm whether the tower is operational. The reason is that all NAMA staff working at the airport were suddenly vacated from accommodation yesterday without prior information. Even those on duty are being asked to pay for their accommodation for last night.

    “As at the time of this report, we are all in hotel packing our belonging to leave.”

    NAMA has said it has engaged the government to find an amicable resolution. A source said the air traffic controllers have been directed by to return to the hotel while the matter is resolved.

  • Nnamdi Kanu: Bishop urges Buhari to embrace political solution

    Nnamdi Kanu: Bishop urges Buhari to embrace political solution

    A Methodist Bishop and President Vision Africa, Bishop Sunday N. Onuoha has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to adopt political approach in resolving the lingering issues surrounding the continued detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu who is still in the custody of the Department of State Security (DSS) in Abuja.

    The cleric who decried that hoodlums have hijacked the Biafra agitation, said such hoodlums were behind the insecurity in the region.

    He also called on Igbo sons and daughters to come home in order to find a lasting solution to the insecurity in the land, fearing that if the insecurity continues, it may lead to voter apathy in the region during the 2023 general elections.

    Bishop Onuoha, in a press conference after declaring for the governorship of Abia State under the umbrella of African Democratic Congress (ADC) was optimistic that using political approach to deal with Nnamdi Kanu’s issue would help to end the insecurity in the southeast and also douse the agitation by the IPOB as earlier stated by an Igbo elder statesman, Mbazuruike Amaechi when they met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Villa.

    Bishop Onuoha who stated that he was the governor Abians have been praying for over the years said that the time to liberate the state has come.

  • Youths to PDP: jettisoning zoning affront on Southeast

    Youths to PDP: jettisoning zoning affront on Southeast

    Youths of Anambra State on Saturday appealed to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to rescind its decision to throw open the contest for the presidential ticket ahead its primary election.

    The youths described the act as an affront on the South, especially the Southeast zone, insisting that one of it presidential aspirants, Peter Obi remained the acceptable and only hope of the party.

    The youths, comprising several groups rooting for former governor, who held a solidarity march for Obi, wearing white T shirts atop a pair of jeans, converged on Ekwueme square in Awka, from where they danced through streets of Awka to the party secretariat.

    Presenting a position paper to the leaders of the party in the state, State Coordinator for Peter Obi Support Network (POSN), and coordinating chairman of all Peter Obi Support groups, Ikechukwu Anonye, said the position paper was addressed the national chairman of PDP, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, saying, “we hope that it gets to him.”

    He said: “Today’s solidarity walk is to let the PDP know that we are aware of the schemings going on in the party and that we know that we know that the PDP has a constitution that supports rotation of the presidency between the North and the South.

    “Now that it is the turn of the South, and precisely the Southeast, and we are hearing that a committee has met and thrown it open for everybody. We consider it a level of injustice on the Southeast.

    “We want to register our support for him and this unjust move will not be accepted. We want them to revert to the Southeast or the South in general and we know that they can rescind their decision.

    “Every other zone has had a shot at the presidency except the Southeast. If they do not do the right thing, I think PDP should forget it.

    “Peter Obi is acceptable and is the only hope of the PDP. If he is this accepted and they decide to disefranchise him, then it spells doom for the party and they should just go home in 2023.”

  • 500 get Nigerian Air Force free medicare in Enugu community

    500 get Nigerian Air Force free medicare in Enugu community

    No fewer than 500 members of Ohom Orba Ancient Kingdom in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State last weekend received free medical services from the Headquarters Ground Training Command, Nigerian Air Force (HQ GTC), Enugu, Enugu state.

    The free medical outreach, which held at an open ground in front of the palace of His Royal Highness, Igwe Everestus Onah, Uchenna 1 of Ohom Orba Ancient Kingdom, was organised by the Nigerian Air Force in commemoration of its 58th anniversary, otherwise known as the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Day 2022 celebration.

    The medical programme saw the beneficiaries, particularly women, children and the aged getting check-ups and medication which included free drugs, free eye, HIV and dental services as well as receiving hundreds of treated mosquito nets and deworming of children.

    Speaking with newsmen at the event, the Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Ground Training Command NAF, Enugu, AVM Ibikunle Daramola said that NAF was using the outreach to appreciate its host communities for supporting its services in the state.

    Daramola, who was represented by Chief of Staff to the Command, AVM Michael Onyebashi, noted that the corporate social responsibility gesture was also being used to solicit further support and cooperation from the people of Enugu State going forward.

    He said that the NAF had contributed not only to the peace and security of Enugu State but had “built primary and secondary schools that vast majority of families have benefited from by their children attending our schools.

    “The medical outreach is to commemorate our 58th anniversary and thank our host communities for supporting us to succeed in the state.

    “Nigerian Air Force appreciates Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his support and partnership. And we are assuring the governor that Nigerian Air Force will continue to ensure that there is peace and security that will guarantee safety of all in the state.”

  • Delta 2023: I’m best of all aspirants to succeed Okowa, says Esievo

    Delta 2023: I’m best of all aspirants to succeed Okowa, says Esievo

    A governorship aspirant on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 gubernatorial election in Delta State, Olorogun Abel Oghenevo Esievo, has itemised a step-by-step approach on how he planned to develop the state if elected to succeed Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

    Esievo, a former chairman, Conference of Auditors General for Local Governments of Nigeria (CAGLGN), said he planned to establish three industries in the three senatorial districts to gainfully employ youths in the state.

    He said the industries upon creation will be enlisted into the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and would be privately operated by professionals.

    The PDP governorship aspirant spoke while addressing a group of selected journalists at his campaign office in Asaba, Delta State.

    Esievo, who hails from Ekpan-Ovu in Agbon Kingdom, boasted that he is the best person to succeed incumbent Governor Okowa in 2023 with best workable programmes on how to develop the state.

    The aspirant, who was the State Auditor General (Local Government) between 2015-2021, disclosed that he was in the race to build on the achievements of Governor Okowa and his predecessors having first-hand knowledge of how government works.

  • Anambra PDP crisis stops State Assembly Congress

    Anambra PDP crisis stops State Assembly Congress

    The crisis of who controls the People’s Democratic Party PDP in Anambra State has stopped the State House of Assembly Congress in the state.

    But the immediate past chairman of the party, Sir Ndubuisi Nwobu, says it’s because the party is yet to conduct its delegates’ congress in the state.

    The Nation gathered Saturday that the intrigues being played out and masterminded by some chieftains of the party, may lead to the party not fielding candidates during the 2023 elections.

    May 21 2022 primaries for it aspirants contesting for the Anambra State House of Assembly, under the party platform ahead of the 2023 general election.

    According to Nwobu, who spoke with reporters Saturday, the aspirants would not take part in the process because the state chapter was yet to conduct its delegates congress, due to the leadership crisis rocking the party in the state.

    The National Working Committee (NWC) had fixed the primaries for Saturday, May, 21, 2022, across the 36 states of the Federation and FCT, after series of postponement.

    Nwobu noted that PDP in the state would not participate in the process because the state chapter had not conducted its delegates congress, in line with the provisions of the party’s constitution and the INEC guidelines.

  • Gunmen invade Anambra community, abduct politician, shoot only son

    Gunmen invade Anambra community, abduct politician, shoot only son

    Special Adviser to former chairman of Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Hon. Uzozie Chukwujekwu has been allegedly abducted by gunmen.

    The community has been under siege for some time now, with the local government secretariat burnt down earlier this week.

    The hoodlums reportedly stormed the Umudiji Umuohama village in their numbers in the early hours of Saturday.

    Chukwujekwu was said to have been abducted from his house while his only son was shot on the stomach.

    A source said the incident happened around midnight, noting that the rampaging gunmen shot their way into the compound.

    The source claimed the gunmen were infuriated following the victim’s reluctance in opening the gate for them.

    “They forced their way into the family compound. The only son who was fatally shot in the belly has been rushed to the hospital where he is receiving treatment,” the source added.

    The Nation learnt that members of the victim’s church, St Andrew’s Church Umuohama, Ukpor, organised special prayers for his release and quick recovery of his only son.

    When contacted, Police spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga confirmed the incident, saying rescue operation for the release of the victim has commenced.

    He said, “The Anambra State Police Command today 21/5/2022 has embarked on rescue operation for one Uzozie Chukwujekwu from Umudiji, Nnewi South LGA.

    “Preliminary information reveals that the abductors in the early hours of today 21/5/2022, invaded the house of the victim and took him away.

    “Further information shall be communicated as the situation is being monitored, please.”