Category: South East

Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa yesterday hailed the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, for his commitment to peace with his neighbours and development of the kingdom.

He gave the commendation when he received the monarch, who visited him at the Government House, Asaba.

Dr. Okowa congratulated him on his ascension to the throne of his forebears, and expressed delight about the visit to him by the revered king.

“I am glad that you visited today and as a government, I want to once again congratulate Your Majesty on the ascension to the throne.

“I must thank Your Majesty for the coronation thanksgiving service in recognition of the supremacy of God over mortals.

“As we welcome you and your chiefs, I look forward to a perfect working relationship with your palace and the kingdom.

“We are hopeful that there is a new dawn in Itsekiri nation and we are hopeful that your majesty is going to pursue the agenda of peace among the ethnic groups.”

“I pray that God gives you the power and wisdom to continue to work for the peace and unity of our country,’’ the governor said and commended the Olu for his promise to work with his neighbours to ensure that Delta is peaceful.

According to him, where there is peace, there is development.

Okowa said only God made kings, and urged the people to accept and respect the monarch for the institution he represented.

“God makes kings. We must all accept the king that has been installed by God. We must respect the king and the institution he represents.

“Let all the chiefs and people of Itsekiri kingdom work with His Majesty to ensure peace prevails in Itsekiri nation, Delta and Nigeria.

“As our nation continues to grapple with security challenges, Nigerians need to be on their knees to pray for the peace and development of this country.

“When our religious and traditional rulers pray for the country and its people, God hears and answers their prayers because they are representatives of the people.

“It is my prayer that under your reign, the Itsekiri nation will enjoy peace and development so that your people will have cause to glorify the name of our God,” he said.

Atuwatse III had told the governor that his visit was his first official visit outside his kingdom since his coronation.

He said his delegation was in Asaba on a thank-you-visit to the governor for his support during his coronation.

The monarch pledged his commitment to peace in the state.

 

 

 

Workers in Cross River State yesterday rejected moves by Labour leaders to call off or suspend the four-week old strike.

The leaders had called a general congress of the unions and affiliates of Labour to brief them on what has so far been achieved by the joint negotiating council at the meetings with the state government.

The chairman of the Joint Negotiating Council with the chairmen of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), as well as the affiliate unions under them sat for the general congress of the Organised Labour and they told workers in attendance, from the state and local government service that they embarked on the strike with 14 points demand presented to the government and after a number of meetings, which included the ones during which they walked out of the government representatives, they had received green light, indicating government’s wiliness to implement eight points, leaving out six from the 14.

The state Chairman of Joint Negotiating Council, Monday Ogbodum and the Chairman of the NLC, Benedict Ukpekpi, explained the efforts they had put in to get the government to accede to their 14- point demand.

They said they would only return to the negotiation table if the governor was present.

But they returned when they received guaranty that those from the government side had the mandate of the governor to meet them. Therefore, they suggested the possibility of suspending the strike to allow the government implement what it had agreed with.

But the workers, who nearly walked out of the meeting with their leaders, rejected the attempt to suspend the strike, saying the government, over the time, had not shown commitment to keeping agreement or standing by the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) they entered with Labour.

An Edo State High Court in Benin yesterday discharged and acquitted the lawmaker-elect for Ovia Northeast Constituency 1 in the House of Assembly, Dumez Ugiagbe, of forgery, impersonation and threat to life.

In the suit, Ugiagbe was accused of forging his West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate with number NGWASSCP 1230734 and that the photograph in the WAEC records during the examination was not his passport photograph, while he was also accused of threatening Blessing Osagie with a machete at Okhiokhio village in Ovia Northeast Local Government.

Edo Commissioner of Police was the complainant, while the lawmaker-elect was arraigned in absentia on October 25, 2019, but the state government took over the case.

The state counsel, Peter Ojo, said the decision to take over the matter was in pursuant to Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The presiding judge, Justice Efe Ikponmwonba, delivering judgment in the seven-count charge, agreed to the no-case submission by the accused, while declaring that the allegations against the lawmaker-elect could not be proved by the prosecution counsel.

The lead counsel to Ugiagbe, Paul Osarenkhoe, said: “We made a no-case submission. As a matter of fact, the prosecution called about three witnesses, we examined the entire case and we made a no-case submission. The judge agreed with us, upheld our no-case submission, discharged and acquitted Ugiagbe. It is a well-thought-out case and I thank Justice Ikponmwonba.

“It’s a victory for democracy, because I see the whole issue as politically motivated, just to distract and unsettle our client. But all that is history now.”

Ugiagbe is among the 14 Edo lawmakers of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that are yet to be inaugurated, after their 2019 election, in view of their face-off with Governor Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

 

 

 

An offshore rig under construction by Shelf Oil and Gas Drilling Company Nigeria Ltd has exploded in Atlantic Ocean, close to Sangana in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

It was gathered that the explosion, which occurred at the Otuo Oil Field on Tuesday, caused massive gas leak into the ocean and the entire Sangana community.

The incident from the facility called Adriatic One was said to have forced most residents to flee, while others were still waiting for boats at the jetty to relocate from the community.

The Adriatic One facility located deep into the Atlantic is just about 20 metres away from the residential area.

Some of the residents, who carried placards, protested and called on the Federal Government to prevail on the oil company to stop the leakage.

The area was said to be saturated with gas, as the residents, who complained of their inability to breathe well, expressed fear about fire outbreak.

The oil company was said to have evacuated workers, abandoning the leakage to continue and leaving the people to their fate.

The Legal Adviser, Oil and Gas Community, Sangana, Ayebatonye Christopher, called for clamping of the leaking facility.

He said:  “Our community is in danger. The entire environment of this Sagana kingdom has been devastated by this pollution. We need quick intervention of the government. We need immediate remediation of this environment.”

The Chairman, Bayelsa State House of Assembly Committee on Information, Mr. Tari Porri, said the issue was brought before the House under matters of urgent public importance yesterday by the member representing Brass Constituency 1.

He described the situation as serious and said the explosion occurred when the company workers were erecting the rig for gas exploration.

But he said the workers were evacuated from the platform immediately after the incident, leaving the local folks to their fate.

Porri said the lawmakers called on their senior colleagues at the National Assembly to take up the matter and asked the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to investigate the development.

The lawmaker said the gas spread had gone beyond Sangana to include other communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government.

“The state government has already taken up the matter. The Ijaw National Congress (INC) and the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide are on this issue,” Porri said.

An e-mail sent to the address of the company, info@shelfdrilling.com, has yet to elicit a response.

 

 

 

 

 

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has commiserated with the Director of News of TVC, Mrs. Stella Din, on the death of her father, Cpt. Joseph Din (rtd).

Din, who retired from the Nigeria Army Ordinance Corps, Yaba, Lagos as a commander, died last weekend at the age of 84.

A statement by Governor Uzodimma’s Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser, Oguwike Nwachuku, described Din as a detribalised Nigerian and a democrat, whose services were cherished.

The governor said Nigeria, Plateau State where the late Din hailed from, the Army and indeed the All Progressives Congress (APC) family where he played leadership role as chairman of APC Elder’s Advisory Council in Plateau State, will miss him.

He said his thought and that of the government and people of Imo State “are with the Din’s family at this critical time, particularly the widow” and urged them to lean on God for courage to bear the huge loss.

“That Capt. Din contributed to the unity of this country, the development of his state, Plateau, the advancement of the ideals of the Army and the upbringing of worthy and responsible children, is an indication that his legacy speaks volume,” the governor said.

 

 

Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Environment and Solid Minerals Sir Charles Udoh has emerged as the pioneer president of West Africa Peoples’ Institute, Calabar Old Students Association (WAPIOSA) Worldwide.

In a keenly contested election, Udoh was elected with other Executive Council (Exco) members to run the affairs of the association from 2021 to 2024.

The Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Ekong Koofreh, said it was the first time the association conducted a proper election where members were elected into executive positions.

Udoh thanked members for earning their trust and confidence to lead the association.

He pledged, together with his Exco members, to serve the interest of the association at all times.

Udoh said his immediate task is to embark on fence mending by bringing together splinter groups.

Other members of the Exco include:  Mr. Godwin Edem, financial secretary; Dr. Asuquo Ene, secretary general; Mrs. Doris Ekpenyong, assistant secretary; Mrs. Felicity Obi, treasurer; Pastor Ubong Thompson, financial secretary; Mrs. Ekpa Mensah, welfare officer; Mr. Bassey Edim Etop, publicity secretary and Mrs. Gloria Ewa, provost.

 

 

As Edo readies for the Alaghodaro Summit 2021, big ticket investors including the Dangote Group, Okomu PLC  and Presco PLC have declared interest to participate in the summit, leveraging the platform to tap into the investment opportunities created by the business-friendly disposition of the Governor Godwin Obaseki administration.

The summit, in its fifth edition, is scheduled to take place between November 12 and 14, with the theme: “Edo of Our Dreams: Building a Sustainable Future.”

The annual summit, to mark the governor’s anniversary in office, showcases investment opportunities in the state and the numerous achievements, reforms and initiatives by the administration to improve the living standard of the people.

The Chairman, Marketing and Branding Sub-Committee, Alaghodaro 2021, Crusoe Osagie, who spoke to reporters in Benin City, said: “Already, top private sector players in the state and across the globe, like Dangote Group, Presco PLC and Okomu PLC, among others, have declared interests in the summit, with plans to leverage the business-friendly environment and the opportunity for exchange of ideas with the private sector created by the state government to tap into Edo’s rich investment opportunities.”

He said the state has got an avalanche of requests from the organised private sector players, who are poised to clinch vantage positions at the summit to reap from the gains of the conducive-business environment provided by the government.

According to him, “this year’s summit promises to be even more exciting, as it will showcase a number of the transformative policies and programmes by the state government targeted at further easing up the space for private investment and building a productive, efficient and result-driven civil and public service.

“While Okomu and Presco are poised to expand their plantation, Dangote is planning to accelerate its investment in the solid mineral sector, especially with its cement manufacturing plant, which is already operational in the state.

“Governor Obaseki has continued to prioritise inflow of investment into the state with bold and investor-friendly policies, which has resulted in the setting up of a number of industrial plants, including modular refineries, gas processing plants, energy parks, an inland dry port, among others.”

 

 

An operator of an illegal refinery has fled Chokoko community in Etche Local Government of Rivers State, following fire outbreak from his site that destroyed houses.

Residents, who counted their losses, said the fire emanated from the illegal site on Tuesday night and consumed their buildings and other valuables.

An eyewitness and Secretary of the Etche Anti-bunkering Task Force Committee, Noble Nwugha, said it took firefighters time to put out the inferno.

He said: “The owner of the site where the fire occurred is from Ogoni and he does illegal oil refining.

“The incident happened at night, around 9pm, so when we got there, it was something else. We had to call the fire service from Mile One to come and put it out.

“This morning, the chairman of the Task Force Committee directed us to go back to that place to see if we can apprehend the man and as well take inventory of what happened. When we got there, we heard that the man has run away with his family. “

“The chairman of Etche Local Government is aware of the incident. The council has directed that we should seal off the building pending his arrest.

“We have written to community leaders and we tell them to alert us whenever they notice anybody indulging in oil bunkering. We will come there and seal off the place.”

Nwugha advised members of the community to report anyone indulging in such activities to the task force.

“The community members are not helping the matter. We have told them to report oil bunkering activities to us. The effect is not good for our people, especially the soot in the air. They should give us information about the activities of these people so we can apprehend them and hand them over to the police.”

The need to put Cross River State and Nigeria on the world tourism map is the driving force behind the ongoing construction of the Obudu International Passenger and Cargo Airport, Governor Ben Ayade has said.

The airport is situated close to Obudu Mountain Resort.

Ayade hoped that the airport project would be completed in a record time.

He said: “It is important for Nigerians to know why we are building the Obudu International Passenger and Cargo Airport in Obudu.

“We want to make the issues of tourism in Nigeria start and end in Cross River State with Obudu Ranch Resort, Honeymoon Resort and the airport as a flagship.

“This is why we are building the airport with 5.6 metres runway; the longest in Nigeria, to enable tourism and business thrive around the ranch.”

On the progress of work at the airport, the governor said: “We started in March 2021 and the stage we are now is impressive with major requirements on ground. We are almost done in terms of other utilities such as the observation tower, which is at the last stage.

“The fire-fighting and utility buildings are at the last stage and the main terminal building is almost completed.

“The cutting of the hard terrain of the airport is by no means a small job and the Federal Government should come and look at what we are doing with serious attention.”

Describing the airport as the “link between the South and Northern Nigeria just as the Superhighway and Bakassi deep seaport”, he invited the Federal Ministry of Aviation to the site to assess the progress of work.

Ayade hailed the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, for promising to support the cargo wing of the airport with facilities when operational.

The Senior Special Adviser on Technical Matters to the Governor, Eric Akpo, said given the level of work at the airport, the April 2022 completion target was achievable.

 

 

 

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba has shut down operations at the state’s apex health institution.

The action followed expiration of warning strike issued by JAC to Abia Government via a letter dated October 20, and acknowledged by the government.

Mr. Samuel Kalu, the chairman of JAC, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Aba that organised labour in ABSUTH resolved to embark on the strike as the government did not meet their demands.

The letter made available to NAN was signed by representatives of the unions.

The unions are: Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Senior Staff Association of Universities’ Teaching Hospitals Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI).

The letter states inter alia: “We the Joint Unions of ABSUTH under the Joint Action Committee (JAC) wish to inform the government that we have exhausted our patience and can no longer watch our members and their families die in penury due to non-payment of 22 months’ salary arrears.

“This has been made known to the government through previous notices, especially the notice of April 15, 2021 and the subsequent suspension on April 16, 2021.

“Equally, we wish to inform the government that for the past seven years, no pensioner in ABSUTH had been paid a dime and this cannot be allowed to continue.

“Consequently, the JAC gives the government seven days ultimatum to address these grievances or face an indefinite strike from midnight of October 28, 2021, to press home our demands.”

Kalu told NAN that the unions could no longer endure the treatment the state government was meting out to them.

“We waited until now to announce this because we had been hoping that after everything, Abia Government will change its minds and obey an earlier agreement we entered to be paying us consistently and gradually.

“But the state government still remained adamant and reneged on its promise.

“We waited to this time because of the weekend and the sit-at-home in the Southeast and now, it is official that ABSUTH workers have resumed an indefinite strike because government had not responded as expected.

“We have told them that if they are considerate to pay us five months arrears at once, we will consider the patients that need the services of the hospital and return, but if not, the strike continues,” he said.