The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • Oil communities’ development on hold

    Oil communities’ development on hold

    • DESOPADEC board, management team in supremacy battle

    There is infighting at Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC).

    The battle is between the board and its executive management team led by Mr Festus Ochonogor, over allegations of nepotism, highhandedness and poor governance issues, The Nation has learnt.

    The 14-member board, inaugurated by former governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, at the twilight of his tenure, has Mr John Nani as chairman and Mr Festus Ochonogor as managing director of the state interventionist agency.

    Messrs Efele Nicholas,Talib Tebite, Favour Izoukomor and Oghenekome Okpobor are executive directors.

    It was gathered that some board members alleged that due process was bypassed by Ochonogor in the  appointment of heads of departments, which was done without ratification by the board.

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    A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the next board meeting scheduled to hold soon might be stormy, if the appointments were not rescinded.

    The source said the appointment of heads of departments was done without a board resolution, adding that due process was bypassed.

    It was learnt that at the last board meeting, some aggrieved members spoke against alleged marginalisation of commissioners on the board.

    The Nation gathered that during the 2023 governorship election, heads of departments were mandated to canvass for votes for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but were replaced four months into their tenure.

    It was learnt that the Head of Department (HoD), Legal Department, was removed from office on the grounds that two workers, who were on Grade level 16, were senior to him in the department.

    Investigation by our reporter showed that the current board was appointed by a new HoD (Administration) on Grade level 14 despite the presence of two other officers on Grade level 16 in the department.

    The Nation gathered that the executive management team threatened to post any worker to area offices if any form of protest arose over the recent postings.

    It was learnt the executive management team said the postings were “routine” despite that most of the HODs had spent barely one year in office and that some HODs had spent over 10 years in some departments, but were not untouched in gale of reshuffling.

    Reacting, Ochonogor admitted that there were lapses in the administrative process of the agency, blaming the situation on the past tenure of the outgone management team.

  • Firm shuts operations in Akwa Ibom

    Firm shuts operations in Akwa Ibom

    Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing (JSM) Company in Awa, Onna Local Government of Akwa Ibom State has shut down operations.

    Reputed to be the largest syringe manufacturing venture in Africa, the company was inaugurated in 2017 by former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

    In a memo addressed to workers and sighted by The Nation in Uyo, the company attributed its action to “unforeseen circumstances affecting our business operations.”

    The company had stopped production months ago, but it finally announced the end of operations on December 31, 2023.

    It said it had to implement temporary measures to ensure the long term sustainability of the company.

    In the memo, the company said “all positions, including yours, have been placed on temporary redundancy effective January 1, 2024.”

    The statement titled:  ‘Temporary Redundancy  – Service Not Needed Till Further Notice’, addressed to all workers, said: “We trust this message finds you in good health. It is with a heavy heart that we write to you today to communicate a challenging decision that Jubilee Syringe  Manufacturing Company Limited has had to make due to unforeseen circumstances affecting our business operations.

    Read Also:Kidnapped judge, driver regain freedom in Akwa Ibom

    “After careful consideration and a thorough evaluation of our current business situation, we regret to inform you that we must implement temporary measures to ensure the long term sustainability of the company.

    “Unfortunately, this includes placing all positions, including yours, on temporary redundancy effective January 1, 2024.

    “We want to emphasise that this decision is not a reflection of your individual performance or dedication to the company. The challenging business environment we find ourselves in has compelled us to take these difficult steps.

    “Please return all company belongings in your custody.

    “Thank you for your understanding and cooperation during these challenging times.”

  • Enugu monarch empowers 63 youths

    Enugu monarch empowers 63 youths

    His Royal Highness, Igwe Samuel Asadu, the traditional ruler of Edem-Ani Ogwugwu Community in Nsukka Local Government of Enugu State, has empowered 63 youths with N1million each to start their chosen businesses.

    Speaking while presenting the cheque to the beneficiaries yesterday, Asadu said the gesture was to build youths as future leaders.

    “As the traditional ruler of this community, I am sowing this seed of empowerment on youths because they are future leaders.

    “I am very optimistic that in the next 10 years this community will have 63 millionaires and even billionaires that will bring giant developments in the community.

    “This is the first phase of this empowerment as more youths in the community will benefit in no distant time by God’s special grace,” he said.

    He urged the beneficiaries to ensure that the money was invested for what it was meant for so that others in the community would also benefit from their successes.

    The traditional ruler said the empowerment was part of his transformation agenda that would empower, prepare and equip youths for future.

    “I am empowering our youths to become future millionaires and billionaires to enable them to bring rapid developments in the community.

    “To maintain peace, crime and drug-free society, the interest of youths must be put into consideration by empowering them meaningfully and positively.

    “I am happy the community has intelligent and well-behaved youths who are determined to be useful for themselves and the society,” Asadu said.

    He commended Chief Chidozie Ogbu led Selection and Disbursement Committee for doing a thorough job of selecting the beneficiaries from every part of the community.

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    Speaking, Ogbu said that the committee selected the beneficiaries based on their viable business proposals presented to the committee.

    Ogbu said that the committee would monitor beneficiaries to ensure that the money was well utilized and not diverted to frivolities.

    “We will monitor them closely to ensure that the aim of this empowerment is achieved.”

    In his remarks, Mr Emeka Ugwoke, the President General, Edem-Ani Town Union, represented by his Deputy, Mrs. Grace Onyishi, lauded the traditional ruler for always having the interest of the community at heart.

    “The executives of the town union is excited on these good things courtesy of Igwe Ogadagidi is happening under their watch.

    “They ask beneficiaries to ensure that they use the money for what it is meant for so that other members of the community in no distant time will benefit from them”.

    Earlier, Mr Kenechukwu Omeje, Youths President, Edem-Ani Ogwugwu Community, commended the traditional ruler for having special interest in empowering youths.

    Omeje pledge that the youths would not disappoint the traditional ruler.

    “Igwe Asadu has done so much for our community and the youths are happy to have him as our traditional ruler.

    “I urge the beneficiaries to be focused in their chosen businesses so as to become millionaires and billionaires in nearest future,” he said.

    In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), some of the beneficiaries expressed their gratitude and pledged not to disappoint the traditional ruler and community.

    They also prayed God to replenish the pocket of Asadu as well as protect him and his family members against all evils.

  • NDDC to intensify light up Niger Delta campaign to check crime

    NDDC to intensify light up Niger Delta campaign to check crime

    The Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC) has promised to intensify its efforts to light up communities across the nine states of the Niger Delta, with solar-powered streetlights, as part of measures to fight criminality and maintain peace in the region.

     The NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, in a statement signed by the commission’s Director, Corporate Affairs, Pius Ughakpoteni, stressed the importance of the campaign, especially to security in Nigeria’s oil-rich region.

      He expressed delight at the positive impact of the “Light Up the Niger Delta” campaign, which he observed had reduced criminality in the various communities and enhanced commercial activities in the areas.

     He said: “We thought it was necessary to create the right environment for our people to live in peace by reducing criminal activities in our communities, because most of these communities have become hideouts for criminals who operate under the cover of darkness.

    “We decided to adopt the clean energy approach which not only provides light but also helps in the fight to mitigate the effects of climate change on our environment. I can assure you that the incidence of crime has reduced in most of these communities.”

     Ogbuku pledged that many communities across the Niger Delta region would benefit from the solar-powered street light projects, which, he said, the NDDC was pursuing with vigour.

    Addressing the issue of stakeholders’ engagement, the Managing Director observed that such engagements were instrumental to maintaining peace in various communities. He re-stated that no development would take place in a crisis-prone environment.

    He said: “One of the cardinal policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is stakeholders’ engagement and that is one area the NDDC is doing very well and we are getting good results from it.”

    Ogbuku urged Niger Delta youths to continue to support the policies and programmes of the Federal Government “because Mr. President means well for the people of the Niger Delta region.”

    Read Also: NDDC distributes palliatives to Bayelsa communities

    “With peace in the Niger Delta, you can be sure that there will be development and prosperity in the region. Mr. President sent us to the NDDC to make a difference and not to be bogged down by the ills of the past.”

    Speaking on the 2024 budget, Ogbuku noted that the sources of income for the Commission were the Federal Government and the International Oil Companies, IOC’s.

    He prayed that the oil companies would be consistent with their contributions, while the government will improve on its allocations to the Commission.

    He said: “In our budget, we are trying to create a threshold for old debts, so that while we are paying debts, it will not affect the execution of new projects.

    “As part of our managerial skill, we must be able to strike a balance between payment of old debts and financing new projects. We cannot sit down here and be paying debts without also doing new things for the people of the Niger Delta.

    “We will ensure that we don’t exceed our threshold on payment of old debts. That way, funding for new projects will not suffer.  Most of the international organisations we are discussing with know that we are indebted and they want to see our plan for liquidating the debts.”

  • Abe returns to APC

    Abe returns to APC

    • Vows to work with Okocha
    • ’He’s welcomed back’

    The governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Rivers State in the last general election, Sen. Magnus Abe, has said he is ready to work with the state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tony Okocha, for the growth and development of the party. 

    Abe spoke yesterday in a chat with reporters in Port Harcourt on his decision to return to the APC. 

    The lawmaker, who represented Rivers South East District in the National Assembly, had held a stakeholders meeting with his supporters where he informed them of his decision to dump SDP for APC. 

    He pledged his commitment to support the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration for the good of the state and to ensure the success of the Federal Government. 

    “My coming to the APC is to work with other members of the party to ensure growth, inclusion, prosperity and progress for Rivers State and her people. 

    “If we all have the same mind, then we’re on the path to achieving that. This is a new year and everybody who wants the APC to move forward in Rivers State needs to realise that the APC cannot be the personal estate of anyone.”

    Read Also: UPDATED: Magnus Abe dumps SDP for APC

    He admitted that with his return to the party, and with the state party caretaker committee (CTC), Tony Okocha and Rotimi Amaechi as existing (legacy) members and with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, expected to join any time soon, the party is definitely going to have some kind of difficulty, since none of the men is a walkover. 

    He, however, noted that  with proper understanding and commitment to the cause of the party and the agenda of President Tinubu, the political heavyweights could work together to take over the state in no time. 

    Reacting to the news of Abe’s return, the state party chairman said he is welcomed back to the party so long he is ready to work with the leadership in place.

    “I heard somehow on a radio programme that Magnus intends to return to the APC. We welcome him with our full chest so long he is ready to work with us,” Okocha said.

  • Police arrest 11 suspected animal rustlers, thieves in Jigawa

    Police arrest 11 suspected animal rustlers, thieves in Jigawa

    The Police Command in Jigawa says it has arrested 11 persons, including a Nigerien, for alleged theft of animals, car, motorcycle and other items in three LGAs of the state.

     The Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Lawan Shiisu, confirmed the arrest to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Wednessday.

     Shiisu said the suspects were arrested in separate operations between Dec. 22 and Dec. 29, 2023 in Babura, Kiyawa and Suletankarkar LGAs.

     He explained that one of the suspects, identified as Abdulhadi saidu, 25, and resident of Gujungu town, was arrested with two cows suspected to be stolen along Kiyawa-Balago road, in Kiyawa.

     The PPRO added that when questioned, the suspect could not give satisfactory account of the cows.

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     According to him, another suspect, identified as Ibrahim Rabiu, 22, and resident of Bakin Kasuwa also in Kiyawa, was arrested in possession of 15 pieces of roofing zincs.

     Shiisu said when interrogated, the suspect confessed to have stolen the zincs from one of the houses in the area.

     He stated that two of the suspects, Sagiru Ibrahim, 27, of Makale Insharuwa village and zayyanu Umar, 27, of Dugujabe village, in Babura town, were arrested in Babura LGA for alleged theft of motorcycle.

    The PPRO said the suspect confessed to have criminally conspired and stolen the motorcycle.

     According to him, six of the suspects were arrested in Kazaure LGA for alleged theft of two sheep, goats and a generator in Kazaure LGA.

     Shiisu said the suspects, including Ibrahim Haruna, 25, of Tinkim village in Niger Republic, had confessed to the crime.

     He added that the cases were still under investigation after which the suspects would be charged to court. (NAN)

  • Lokpobiri: hope not lost on Atala Oilfield

    Lokpobiri: hope not lost on Atala Oilfield

    • Revoked licence may return to Bayelsa govt
    • Diri assures on collaboration to stem oil theft

    Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has said there is still hope that the revoked licence for OML 46 (also known as Atala Oilfield), belonging to Bayelsa State, will be returned to the state.

    The Federal Government through the defunct Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) had in controversial circumstances revoked the licence in April 2020 when another indigene of the state, Chief Timipre Sylva, was the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.

    But, Senator Lokpobiri, during a visit to Governor Douye Diri yesterday at the Government House, Yenagoa, expressed regrets that the Atala Oilfield, a common patrimony of the state, was taken away.

    The minister said he would do everything within his power to bring back the asset.

    He explained that his visit was to seek collaboration with the state government to address issues concerning Bayelsa and for the state to reap the dividends of democracy.

    The minister sought the government’s partnership to curb pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft.

    He said the menace had resulted in the reduction of revenue from the Federation Account to oil-producing states, adding that Bayelsa had zero derivation for about four months in 2023.

    Lokpobiri also expressed concern about the level of pollution caused by illegal bunkering activities, noting that if the trend was not checked, it could be an existential threat.

    He said: “Bayelsa State is more polluted than Ogoni in Rivers State and we are the only people that can put a stop to it. We need to do something to protect our water and land resources.

    “It is also important to note that illegal refineries affect the income of our state. The governor can attest to the fact that derivation money has been dwindling. There was zero derivation for months. We are changing our security architecture to one that can be more effective. So, we need to work together to change the narrative.”

    Responding, Governor Diri congratulated Lokpobiri on his appointment and appreciated President Bola Tinubu for appointing a worthy son of Bayelsa as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.

    Diri assured the Federal Government of his administration’s preparedness to partner with it to check oil theft and illegal bunkering, which had adversely affected the ecosystem.

    He stressed the need to involve governors of the Niger Delta states working together to stamp out the menace.

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    He said: “We want to see the positive impact of your office. We are on a new journey to change the trajectory of your office. This is why l am pained that it was in your time that the office was balkanised. Bayelsa has more gas than oil. So we would have been happier if you were presiding over gas as well.

    “We need more exchange of ideas. Today, you have given us hope. You have assured me that Atala Oilfield will come back to Bayelsa. 

    “I believe that you will right a lot of wrongs done to our people. No Bayelsa man has an oil mining licence and the only one we had was taken away.”

    While urging Lokpobiri to partner the state government to explore ways of attracting development to the state, Diri bemoaned a situation where the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Company in Bonny, Rivers State, receives 60 per cent of its gas from Bayelsa but the company pays tax to Rivers.

    He noted that Bayelsa was deprived of legitimate income and taxes while being erroneously rated as financially insolvent.

    The governor restated his position that the real viability of states could only be determined when the country practises fiscal federalism and resource control.

  • Abia to halt brain drain in health sector

    Abia to halt brain drain in health sector

    Abia State Governor Alex Otti has said his administration would introduce special welfare package for health workers, to discourage them from seeking greener pasture.

    He spoke while declaring open a programme by the Ministry of Health tagged: ‘First State Council on Health’, held at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, with the theme: ‘Providing an Accessible, Affordable and Quality Health Care System for the New Abia.’ 

    Dr. Otti said the Japa syndrome had taken its toll on the heath sector in the state, adding that his government was leaving no stone unturned to address the challenge.

    “Government has resolved to motivate our health care workers through prompt payment of their salary and improvement of welfare packages that we will introduce from 2024,” he said. 

    He said improving the health care system was one of the cardinal objectives of his administration, recalling that he had promised to make people’s health a priority during the campaigns. 

    He said it gladdened his heart that the accreditation of Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), which was lost a couple of years ago, had been restored, with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria increasing its quota into the Abia State University College of Medicine and training of house officers.

    The governor said his administration was about recruiting workers to strengthen the health sector. “We are in the process of recruiting new skilled birth attendants in order to improve health care service delivery in the state. 

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    “Our ongoing digitalisation of Abia State civil service has uncovered some workers that have left their duty post for greener pasture, yet still receive remuneration from the government.” 

    Otti said the government had begun revamping and strengthening primary health care system and ensuring that there were health care workers to man such facilities across the state. 

    He added that the government had resuscitated health insurance scheme.

    The governor said his administration had continued to retrofit and retool health care facilities in every part of the state, noting that the  government had renovated and inaugurated general hospitals in Amachara, Umuahia, and Abia State Specialist and Diagnostic Centre, Aba Road, also in Umuahia, while work was ongoing in other 14 general hospitals across the state. 

    The Minister of Health, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Abia State Ministry of Health, Dr. Ifenyinwa Uma-Kalu, said the event was apt, arising from the experience of COVID-19, which exposed the inadequacies of health care and the need to improve on it. 

    Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ngozi Okoronkwo, described the event as a demonstration of the commitment of the Otti administration to prioritise developmental initiatives capable of unlocking the potential of Abia’s strategic human capital to fast-track the attainment of socio-economic development of the current administration.

  • Oborevwori moves to boost food production

    Oborevwori moves to boost food production

    Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori yesterday said his administration would continue to improve on the agricultural value chain to ensure food security and job creation. 

    He made this known while speaking to reporters after inspecting the Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme (AADS) at Mbiri Farm Settlement with 30 greenhouses for the cultivation of tomatoes and other vegetables, and the Agro-Industrial Park, Aboh-Ogwashi for rice milling and others, in Ika North-East and Aniocha South local governments. 

    According to him, “If you go through my MORE agenda, I said there is going to be sustainable agriculture sector reforms. I also said the agricultural value chain will be sustained. 

    “And seeing what the immediate past administration has done here, it gladdens my heart. Commissioner for Agriculture has briefed me that we have this kind of farm settlement in the three senatorial districts. 

    “We are going to support them because we have N2 billion Special Agricultural Intervention Fund and we will disburse that money within this month.” 

    On the state of the access road to the farm settlement, Governor Oborevwori said: “We will work with the Ministry of Works to see how we will manage this road to enable us take these produce out. 

    “I asked a question on how many tonnes of tomatoes we can get in each of the green houses and I was told that it’s about three tonnes. So, you see that out of the 30 green houses we have here, 11 are already cultivated and that will give us about 33 tonnes. 

    “You see, our people go to the North to get tomatoes and this place has been existing for some decades now. So, this farm settlement is a very good choice to do this green house planting for the production of tomatoes and other vegetables. 

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    “People erroneously think we are an oil- producing state and so we can depend on only oil. No, we cannot depend on oil alone. 

    “With the removal of oil subsidy, we should also encourage our people to go into farming because it will help us. Food security is very important. Our people consume a lot: so, we must make food available and that’s why I have come here”. 

    At the Agro-Industrial Park, Aboh-Ogwashi, where rice would be milled, Governor Oborevwori said besides road construction, his administration would also concentrate on other key infrastructures aimed at boosting food security and job creation for the people. 

    He added that his administration would work with the project consultant to ensure its prompt completion for the benefit of the state and country. 

    Commissioner for Agricultural Development, Mr. Perez Omoun, had said under the Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme (AADS), the state government had established three greenhouse farms at Mbiri, Kpakiama and Deghele. 

    Welcoming the governor earlier, the Obi of Mbiri Kingdom, HRM Obi Ifeanyichukwu Alekwe II, hailed Governor Oborevwori for coming to visit the community and appealed for the building of the farm settlement road and for the establishment of a College of Agriculture in the community.

  • Imo CAN receives Tinubu’s palliatives

    Imo CAN receives Tinubu’s palliatives

    Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has launched distribution of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Christmas gifts of rice to the five Southeast states, as part of the President’s palliative measures to alleviate the suffering of the people.

    He advised church leaders, who came to take delivery of the gifts at the secretariat of Imo State branch of Christian Association Nigeria (CAN), Owerri to remember the Tinubu administration in their prayers.

    Uzodimma thanked God for his mercies that made it possible for the people to overcome the challenges of 2023, noting that 2024 would be better for all. 

    The governor, who thanked the men of God for finding time to be part of the event, reminded them that on May 29, 2023, President Tinubu introduced some reforms meant to recover the economy, reduce hardship in the country, strengthen the Naira, grow the economy, create jobs for the unemployed and make Nigeria great again.

    He said although some of those policies came with initial pains such as high cost of items in the market and generally, high cost of living in Nigeria, “the policies are meant to address these pains.”

    Uzodimma recalled that towards the end of last year, the federal and state governments distributed palliatives in Imo State, doing their best to send the materials to the nooks and crannies of the state and conscious of the fact that Southeast is predominantly inhabited by Christians.

    “Eighty per cent of people living in the Southeast are Christians,” he said, adding that the Yuletide is widely celebrated in the area.

    The governor, who expressed the President’s commitment to ensuring the well-being of the people, stressed the significance of providing relief and other support to citizens, particularly during the festive season.

    Read Also: TUC presents 10 demands before President Tinubu

    He said the bags of rice they came to launch the distribution with, neither came from the state nor federal government, but were donations from President Tinubu to Christians as gifts to the Southeast.

    Uzodimma said he involved Imo State CAN to ensure seamless distribution, since all Christians in the zone were under the umbrella of CAN.

    He said Imo State Government would support CAN with logistics to convey the bags of rice to Southeast states of Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi and Imo.

    He urged Christian communities in the Southeast to pray for Tinubu’s administration to do better, having laid foundation for a prosperous country with the ambitious 2024 budget already signed into law by the President.

    “Never in the history of Nigeria has anybody released such huge sum of money as an annual budget,” Uzodimma added.

    Imo State CAN Chairman Rev. Dr. Eches Divine Eches hailed Uzodimma’s efforts in ensuring that the welfare of the people is taken care of.

    He described him as “a caring governor and a lover of God and mankind, who promoted the interests of the Igbo on the national stage.”

    He also lauded President Tinubu for his gifts to Christian communities in the region.