The people of Ogwuaniocha community in Ogbaru Local Government of Anambra State yesterday stormed the Government House, Awka, to protest alleged abduction of their monarch, Igwe Oliver Nnaji.

The protesters, who carried placards, marched from the Enugu-Onitsha expressway to the Governor’s Office and the Judiciary Headquarters in Awka.

Some of the placards read: “Governor Willie Obiano rescue Igwe Oliver Nnaji from captivity”, “Ogwuaniocha Community Cries Out for Help”, “Chief Judge reassign our community case to a neutral judge”, among others.

Spokesperson and the President-General of the community, Mr. Chidi Eze, alleged that the monarch was abducted from his palace on November 15 by a notorious gang.

He alleged that the palace of the abducted royal father and four of his vehicles were burnt during the incident, adding that the monarch had been in captivity for over 29 days..

The Chief Security Adviser to the Governor, Mr. Oscar Christopher, promised to deliver their petition to Governor Obiano.

He assured the protesters that their grievances were already being investigated by the government, in collaboration with security agencies.

Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has presented the state 2022 budget estimate of N147, 787, 781, 300 (One Hundred and Forty Seven Billion, Seven Hundred and Eighty Seven Million, Seven Hundred and Eighty One Thousand, Three Hundred Naira, to the House of Assembly for consideration.

Speaking while presenting the 2022 draft budget estimate to the lawmakers yesterday, the governor said the budget is 10.8 per cent higher than that of last year.

The 2022 budget named “Budget of Economic Recovery Through Industrialisation”, is made up a recurrent expenditure of N66, 830, 193, 200 (Sixty Six Billion, Eight Hundred and Thirty Million, One Hundred and Ninety Three Thousand, Two Hundred Naira Only, representing 45 per cent of the budget.

Read Also; Oyo Assembly passes N294.7bn budget for 2022

The Capital Expenditure component is N80, 957, 588, 100 (Eighty Billion, Nine Hundred and Fifty Seven Million, Five Hundred and Eighty Eight Thousand, One Hundred Naira,  representing 55 per cent of the total budget.

The 2022 budget Appropriation Bill of N186.6 billion yesterday scaled through first and second reading at the Enugu State House of Assembly.

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi presented the budget proposal to the Assembly on December 7.

The Speaker, Chief Edward Ubosi, said that the 2022 budget proposal was unique because it was demand-driven, as against supply-driven, which was obtainable before now.

Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday passed the N483 billion budget estimate of the government for 2022 into Law.

The approval followed the recommendations of members of House Committee on Appropriation led by the member representing Asari-toru Constituency 2, Dr. Enemi George.

Governor Nyesom Wike on December 4 presented a budget estimate of N483, 173, 307,96, to the lawmakers.

The budget named:  ‘Budget of consolidation’, proposed N144, 764, 818,977 for recurrent expenditure, while N314,903,108,116 was earmarked for capital expenditure.

The debate on the bill was held on the floor of the Assembly last Tuesday. The legislators, who contributed to the debate, spoke in favour of the bill.

It was later committed to the Committee on Appropriation for closer look and defence by the Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

The House adjourned till yesterday for committee reports and recommendations.

Giving the committee report, George said: “The 2022 proposed budget estimate is predicated on the oil benchmark of $50 per barrel, as instituted by the Federal Government, with oil production volume of 1.7 million barrels  per day, with oil exchange rate at the time of giving the report standing at N410, per barrel.”

Speaker Ikwuinyi Owaji Ibani, who presided over the sitting, said that with the report of 87 per cent achievement of the 2021 budget as announced by Governor Wike, the coming year might possibly witness 100 per cent implementation, as he announced the passage of the budget.

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has sacked the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Princewill Chike, for not seeking government’s approval to host the preliminary session of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), in Port Harcourt.

The governor described the unilateral decision of the commissioner to host the MDNC without the consent of the Rivers State Government as most embarrassing.

He announced the sack of Chike when the Chairman of the MDNC, Prof. Abba Wasiri Hassan, yesterday visited him at the Government House in Port Harcourt.

The governor, according to a statement by his Special Assistant, Media, Kelvin Ebiri, explained that the government never requested to host the preliminary session of the council in Port Harcourt.

Read Also: Ikpeazu sacks ASEPA GM 48hours after House of Assembly summons

He stressed that the commissioner erred when he unilaterally scheduled to host the MDCN event at the same time the state government was inaugurating projects.

Ebiri said: “Frankly speaking, I have never seen an embarrassment like this in my life. Everybody knows that it is not my nature to bring people and you cannot attend to them or host them. So, whoever has done this will suffer for it.”

Wike said the request by the MDCN that governors should establish one tertiary hospital in each of their senatorial districts would not be realisable due to paucity of funds.

“You have talked about siting tertiary hospital in each of the senatorial district, you know it is not possible. That is why in Nigeria we have a problem. When you go for your budget, you put all kinds of projects. You know it cannot work. Where will you get the money to site these in each of the senatorial district,” he said.

The Civil Society Organisation (CSO) in Akwa Ibom State has alleged that over 65 per cent of contracts awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in the state in the last five years are fake and non-existent.

Addressing a news conference in Uyo yesterday to mark the International Anti- Corruption Day 2021 with the theme: “Your right , your role: Say no to corruption”, the CSO Chairman in Akwa Ibom, Mr. Harry Udoh, said the NDDC had lost more than N6trillion to corruption since it was established.

He listed non-existent of such projects in Akwa Ibom to include fake water project at Okosi community in Okobo Local Government, non-existent perimeter fencing at Model School, Ikot Oboroenyin village in Ikot Abasi Council Area and another road project at Urue Offong in Oruko Local Government.

Udoh said that the fake projects were discovered when the CSO decided to track down the commission’s projects in the 2019 budget.

Read Also: NDDC Board: channel your grievances to Buhari, Akpabio tells women, youths

He said it was a shocking revelation at Okosi community where the NDDC claimed that it had completed water project for the people, but the people were found grappling with perennial water problem.

“We are just coming from an independent tracking of 2019 approved budgeted projects and programmes of the commission in Akwa Ibom State. It may interest you to note that of the 31 projects captured in the 2019 approved budget and tracked by us, about 65 per cent of them are non-existent.

“They could not be located. Community members were not aware of such projects in their communities; and were actually shocked to learn that there was an approved project by the NDDC for their communities.

“Of the projects actually implemented, over 85 per cent of them were shoddy jobs. We saw asphalt coating that was less than an inch and there were several failed portions already.”

“In instances, the project description as captured in the 2019 budget was different from what we saw on the ground. For instance, at Ikot Oborenyen in Ikot Abasi, the projection description in the budget read perimeter fencing of a model primary school, but what we found was a drain constructed around an open space with no building whatsoever on it and with no sign that construction work is about to begin, “ Udoh said.

He alleged that the funds had been siphoned through uncompleted projects dotting the landscape of the state.

“Again, huge amount of critical fund has been spent with not much to show for it. How long would we continue to allow the colossal wastage? Let’s stop the corruption in NDDC now,” Udoh said.

National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) has explained reasons behind the review and adoption of its constitution, 40 years after its formation.

The President of the Senate of NANS, Chuks Okafor, said the constitution review became necessary in view of growing insecurity and threats exposing the fragility of the Nigerian state and to give financial autonomy to members.

Okafor, in a statement in Awka yesterday, said that the constitution was unanimously adopted during its 66th Senate meeting by members, to meet up with the realities of the present time during the national convention.

He said: “We must acknowledge that the situation in Nigeria demands a quick review of the constitution, to help protect Nigerian students.”

“NANS reviewed and adopted its constitution; delineating it according to geo-political zones. It is a giant stride to move the association forward.”

Read Also; NANS takes COVID-19 vaccine campaign to UniAbuja

Affirming that the Port Harcourt 2021 declaration under his leadership has come to stay, the NANS Senate President gave Justice, Peace and Academic Excellence as the motto and objectives of the association.

He listed items in the adopted constitution to include the financial independence of students at home and abroad and promoting and encouraging socio-cultural and intellectual interests of members.

“Others include to act as the representative of members at any given circumstances, to maintain good relationship with the Nigerian universities and to be the recognised liaison between members and the university authorities.

“To promote and protect the educational interests and welfare of students, to protect/secure the fundamental rights and privileges of members, mostly students and to promote/protect the good name of NANS (Senate), at all times,” Okafor added.

Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu will today present the 2022 Appropriation Bill to the House of Assembly.

A statement yesterday by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr. Onyebuchi Ememanka, said that the presentation was in line with the 1999 Constitution as amended.

He said the venue of the presentation will be the House of Assembly, while time is 1pm.

The CPS said the Deputy Governor, Udo Oko Chukwu, Secretary to the Government, members of the Executive Council, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Deputy Chief of Staff in the Office of the Deputy Governor, Executive Secretary of the State Planning Commission and other relevant government officials are requested to be part of the event.

Read Also; New Electoral Bill: Suspense as Buhari keeps Nigerians waiting

“They are to be seated before the arrival of the governor,” the statement said.

Governor Ikpeazu has said his administration has approved the release of over N3.2 billion to offset salary arrears of parastatals’ workers.

Information & Strategy Commissioner Dr. Eze Chikamnayo broke the news yesterday at the Government House in Umuahia while briefing reporters.

He listed the parastatals and the amount released for them as: Abia Health Management Board (HMB) – N828 million; Secondary School Teachers – N983 million; Abia State College of Education Technical (ASCETA) – 12 months arrears; Abia Polytechnic Aba – 4 months subvention; Abia Pensioners – N520 million; ABSUTH – 2 months subvention and Abia State College of Health and Management Technology – 5 months subvention and N200 million grant to facilitate relocation to the permanent site.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma has rededicated his life to the service of humanity.

He did this on Sunday on the occasion of thanksgiving to God on his 63rd birthday celebration held at the Government House Chapel in Owerri.

An excited Uzodimma thanked God Almighty, his wife, his family, the people of Imo State, friends, political associates, Ndi-Igbo and all Nigerians for their support and belief in him these past 63 years.

He said: “On the solemn occasion of thanksgiving to God on my birthday celebration, I wish to rededicate myself to service of Imo people and indeed Ndi-Igbo and pray God to strengthen me always to give my best to the service of humanity.”

The governor specifically thanked God, whom he acknowledged had done a lot for him at 63.

Read Also: Like Jews, Igbo can tackle marginalisation with science, tech, says Uzodimma

He recalled that accolades, encomiums and felicitations started pouring on him with the presentation of his book: “Reflections on the Igbo question’’, and thanked once again all those that supported the event.

Uzodimma has sued for peace at Christmas.

He urged the citizens to support him to secure the state in the interest of everyone.

The governor spoke on Sunday at the Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu Square, Owerri during the Imo Thanksgiving Day Carol of Nine Lessons 2021, organised by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Imo State chapter.

He promised to restore peace to the state. The theme was: ‘Peace be Still’.

Uzodimma thanked the CAN leadership in the state for organising the event to usher in the Yuletide.

In his homily, the Prelate of Methodist Church of Nigeria, the Most Revd. S.C.K. Uche, thanked God for everything that had happened, especially by preserving the lives of his people from insurgency, banditry and insecurity, stressing that “Jesus whom we are celebrating is the Prince of Peace.’’

The high point of the occasion was the pontifical prayers for the governor, his family and Imo State by the CAN President, His Eminence Rev. Samson Ayokunle and other Bishops present, as well as the presentation of a Holy Bible to the governor.

The event was attended by top government officials, business moguls, monarchs and other dignitaries, including former Governors Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State and Ali Modi Sheriff of Borno State.

Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano has directed law enforcement agencies to close down fuel stations where gas skits are sited.

He also ordered sealing off and taking possession of the two fuel stations, Chris Tee and Silver Fuel Station, gutted by fire on Sunday night.

Obiano, who gave the directive yesterday during his visit to the scene of the explosion, warned dealers to desist from building gas skits on their premises.

He, however, expressed joy at the quick response of the state fire service and security agencies.

“I learnt that the fire was ignited when the dealers were in the process of offloading and discharging cooking gas. It’s quite unfortunate,” the governor said.

Another prominent chief and one of the oldest in the Warri Kingdom, Isaac Jemide, is dead.

Jemide, the Oshodi of Warri Kingdom, reportedly died around 10am on Sunday.

He was one of the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought (ILOT), a lawyer and former commissioner representing Delta State on the board of the defunct Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC).

Read Also; Plateau lawmaker dies after surgery

A statement by the Secretary of the Warri Council of Chiefs, Chief Eugene Ikomi, expressed sadness about his death.

“It’s another sad day for the council. We received with deep shock, the sudden passing of our amiable chief, Isaac Jemide (Ikeri),” the statement said.

It condoled with the bereaved family.

Chief Charles Ikomi, the Ero of Warri kingdom, died on September 16.