Category: South East

The traditional ruler of Awka, the Anambra State capital, Obi Gibson Nwosu, has urged the government to build a blacksmithing village in the town for the Southeast.

The octogenarian monarch said that Queen Elizabeth Buckingham Palace Gate in England was built by an Awka blacksmith, Chief John Uzoka.

He spoke at the weekend at the bi-annual Egwu Uzu festival in Awka where the Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, was honoured with a chieftaincy title.

Nwosu said metalmithing had taken the people of Awka to many parts of the world, especially England.

He said the call was necessary to ensure that blacksmithing, which Awka people were known for, would not fade away.

“The establishment of the Blacksmithing village in Awka for Southeast will ensure the sustenance of Igbo culture,” the monarch said.

He hailed Governor Willie Obiano for the development in Awka, especially  Awka City Stadium, Anambra International Convention Centre in Awka, among others.

Nwosu said these had changed the face of the community.

He enjoined the Federal Government to map out policies that would improve people’s living standard.

The Chairman of the 2021 Egwu-Uzu Festival and Director, Emeka Anyaoku Institute of International Studies and Diplomacy, Prof Austin Nnonyelu, described Awka as a blessed community.

He called on investors to maximise the opportunities created by the Awka serene environment, for investment.

The Traditional Prime Minister of Awka Community, Chief Benjamin Okoye, thanked all that attended the event, including a frontline philanthropist, Prince Arthur Eze.

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has banned nightclubs and prostitution on the popular Abacha road in Port Harcourt.

He said: “No responsible government should continue to tolerate open display and solicitation of sexual services, drug abuse and public intoxication that take place on streets and in public areas around some of these nightclubs, lounges and bars by youths; some under 14 years.”

The governor, while pronouncing the ban as part of his new year message, also threatened to replace first-class monarchs, who were fond of not attending state functions.

He said: “The consistent absence of some first-class traditional rulers, especially the Amayanabo of Okrika, the Amayanabo of Ogu, the Amayanabo of Kalabari and the Gbenemene Nyo-Khana at state functions is unacceptable and will no longer be tolerated.

“Should they, therefore, continue to absent from state functions or regular meetings and activities of the Traditional Rulers Council, we will have no option, but to direct their replacement.”

Wike hailed security agencies for keeping the state safe last year.

He said the government would from the second week of January begin demolition of shanties and makeshift structures at crime hotspots in Port Harcourt, particularly Illabuchi area of Diobu, to sustain peace.

The governor said those attempting to resume illegal trading at the closed Oginigba slaughterhouse had one week to vacate the place or risk being arrested and prosecuted.

He said the government would take over vacant plots or uncompleted buildings in the Old and New Government Reservation Areas (GRAs) and other parts of Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor councils occupied by criminals.

Wike said the government would recover and restore landfilled or reclaimed wetlands and demolish structures erected on natural water channels from the Eastern bypass to Abana and Eleme streets in the Old GRA.

He said the proposed action was part of measures to check perennial flooding in parts of Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor councils, adding that only those with government permits and papers would be compensated.

The governor announced ban on cart pushers’ activities, noting that they had become notorious for scavenging of manhole covers.

He ordered law enforcement agencies to arrest and prosecute anyone violating the ban.

Wike banned disposal of refuse on the streets or open spaces in the Old and New GRAs of Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor councils; pasting of posters, fliers, pictures, artworks, placards or inscriptions on or under  flyovers, bridges, concrete walls and safety barricades on the roads.

He said the government would establish environmental marshals to enforce compliance with the sanitation laws.

The governor directed the chairmen of Port Harcourt, Ikwerre, Obio/Akpor and Oyigbo councils to within three weeks, from January 1, impound and remove trailers and articulated vehicles parked on the streets beyond 48 hours.

He sympathised with the victims of the recent fire incidents, especially those who lost their loved ones and property.

Wike said the government would strengthen the state Fire Service and urged the public take responsibility, to prevent fire outbreaks.

Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has said despite the challenges of the past year, his administration remains focused on ensuring a prosperous and better state for the people.

Diri, who stated this in a New Year Day broadcast on all Yenagoa-based radio and televisions, also said there were many reasons to be grateful to God despite the difficult times in the country.

He said that a transition such as the closing of one year and the birth of another represented an important milestone to be thankful for God’s love and kindness.

The governor asserted that in spite of the funding challenges of 2021, his administration recorded significant achievements in healthcare, education, agriculture, youth and women empowerment, security, infrastructure development and reconciliation of aggrieved communities among others.

He praised Bayelsa sportsmen and women, whom he said justified his government’s investment in sports by winning laurels for the state, particularly, Bayelsa United and Bayelsa Queens that won the men and women versions of the AITEO Cup as well as the nine-year-old Deborah Quickpen that won the Under-10 Africa Chess championship.

In the area of security, Diri recalled that in the outgone year, the state’s special security outfit, Operation Doo Akpo, was rejigged, re-inaugurated and kitted with upgraded assets.

While stating that a number of projects would be inaugurated during the second anniversary of the administration in February, Diri assured the people that he would continue to take necessary actions to address the challenges of youths’ unemployment, poverty, inequality and poor health. Diri said: “In retrospect, in 2021, whereas we had to deal with several challenges, particularly in the area of funding, we can nevertheless applaud ourselves for the strides we made in the course of the year by the grace of God.

“The vision for a prosperous Bayelsa is evolving and ongoing. I am the first to acknowledge that despite the undeniable progress, there are areas to improve and gains to consolidate upon. This is the time for genuine friends of the state to align with the prosperity vision so that together we can transform challenges to opportunity and prosperity.”

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has signed into law, the 2022 Abia State Government Appropriation Bill of N147, 282, 196, 200.

The budget has a capital expenditure profile of N79, 779, 887, 500 with recurrent expenditure valued at N 67, 502, 318, 700.

It will be recalled that Governor Ikpeazu had on 14th December 2021 presented to the State Assembly, an Appropriation Bill in the sum of N147, 787, 781, 300.

The governor expressed his gratitude to the Speaker and members of the State House of Assembly for their display of patriotism in the expeditious review and passage of the Appropriation Bill.

He assures the Assembly and indeed the people of Abia State that he will be relentless in the implementation of this budget for the peace, order and welfare of the people of Abia State.

The governor tasked agencies of the State Government with specific obligations in this budget to take their assignments very seriously.

In particular, he challenged revenue earning agencies in the state to redouble their efforts and carry out their jobs with greater transparency and a deeper sense of patriotism.

With this, Abia State has sustained the January to December budget cycle and this budget becomes effective, tomorrow, January 1st, 2022.

Meanwhile Ikpeazu in his new year message to Abians and resident of the state assured that he will seek an improved socioeconomic outlook for the state.

“On the economic front, we look forward to increased economic activities in our state, especially with the expected ground breaking ceremony of the Enyimba Economic City Project around the second quarter of 2022.

“In addition to this, we have invested heavily in mobilising contractors to different project sites across the state, especially in Aba. The new year will witness heightened construction activities designed to increase our infrastructural stock and ease the movement of our people, their goods and services.”