The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • NSCDC promotes spokesperson, 200 others

    NSCDC promotes spokesperson, 200 others

    Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Anambra State Command, has promoted its spokesperson, DSC Okadigbo Edwin, to the next rank of Superintendent of Corps (SC).

    Okadigbo was decorated with his new rank alongside 200 other newly- promoted officers of the command, who benefitted from the 2023 promotion recently released by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB). 

    Performing the decorating ceremony at the state Command Headquarters, Awka, on behalf of the Commandant General of NSCDC, Dr. Abubakar Ahmed Audi, State Commandant, Mr Edwin Osuala, described their promotion as well deserved and reward for dedication and commitment to duties.

    Osuala congratulated the newly promoted officers, urging them to consider their new status as a challenge to do more, with a call to remain loyal, dedicated and committed to the service of protecting people’s lives and property.  

    He said: “I want to congratulate you on your deserving elevation to the next rank. This is a testimony to your dedication, hard work, sacrifice and commitment to duty. 

    “It is said that to whom much  is given, much is expected, therefore this promotion is a challenge to continue with your good work and even perform better. Please do not betray the trust and confidence reposed in you.” 

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    The command second in charge, DCC Steve Ikeorah, praying for more career success for the promoted officers, admonished them to be good ambassadors of the Corps, be honest, straightforward and loyal to constituted authority to deserve more promotions while in service. 

    Responding on behalf of the promoted officers, DCC Ukaobi Prominence appreciated God in their lives to witness the memorable day. 

    He thanked Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) and the management of Civil Defence Corps for finding them worthy of the new ranks. 

     He appreciated family members and well-wishers who honoured them with their presence, stating the avowed commitment of the ‘promotees’ to justify the responsibilities conferred on them by their new ranks optimally.

  • Governor’s wife pays medical bills

    Governor’s wife pays medical bills

    Wife of Ebonyi Governor, Mrs. Mary-Maudline Nwifuru, yesterday paid the hospital bills, totalling N471,570, for four indigent persons at Vincent Hospital, Ndubia, Izzi Local Government.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the intervention was also extended to a number of women, comprising the aged, widows, men and other indigent young persons and daily labourers who received bags of rice and cash gifts each.

    The distribution of the items was made when Mrs Nwifuru visited their spots in Abakaliki.

    The governor’s wife said the gesture was to support indigent persons who couldn’t afford to buy food items due to the high cost of commodities.

    The governor’s wife, who had a wonderful time with the groups in their spots and the patients, said it would also enable them to celebrate Christmas with ease.

    The hospital Administrator, Rev Fr Paul Elom, appreciated the wife of the governor for the exercise, saying the women had been detained in the hospital for the past three months because they could not pay their hospital bills.

    “But you came today and released them to go and celebrate Christmas with their families.

    “In January, we engaged the services of some obstetrics and gynecology consultants, and they have helped us achieve our goal of zero mortality rate of mother and child,

    Read Also: Yuletide: Don’t think of vacation this season, we’ve burden of Nigerians on our shoulders, Shettima tells NEC

    “Thank you for doing the work of Christ that God sent to liberate those in captivity,” Elom said to Mrs. Nwifuru.

    Mr Nwaoye Oshiri, a recipient and bricklayer, thanked the governor’s wife for providing for indigent persons in the society.

    Mrs Agnes Uguru, also a recipient, who said her source of livelihood was mixing building concretes and engaging in other menial jobs, expressed satisfaction over the gesture.

    Uguru described the gesture as renewed hope for the people, which has helped in reducing poverty in the state.

    Another recipient, Mrs Felicia Egede, lauded Mrs Nwifuru for the gesture, saying it should be sustained to reduce hardship among indigent persons.

  • Insecurity: Obi of Onitsha endorses PISE-P

    Insecurity: Obi of Onitsha endorses PISE-P

    The Obi of Onitsha, Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, has endorsed the non kinetic approach of resolving the violence in the south east region of the country.

    The approach is being canvassed by the Peace in South East Project (PISE-P) initiated by the members of the National Assemby from the region led by the Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.

    The initiative has also received massive support and endorsement from the Presidency, the National Assemby leadership, the business and corporate worlds as well as the entertainment industry among others.

    Speaking on Wednesday night when Kalu led a delegation of the PISE-P members to pay him a courtesy call in Abuja, Achebe commended the initiative, saying it was time restore peace in the south east.

    He said: “Your spirit is in the right direction. We are looking for the same thing. We just have to join forces and make things happen. We want peace and reconciliation in Igboland. Our strength is in what we can do for ourselves”, he said.

    Kalu said that PISE-P was conceived to address the sociological challenges in the south east, stressing kinetic means had not solved the issues of the region.

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    According to him: “That’s why we came up with this concept to use the non kinetic approach, using these pillars that will include integration through infrastructures, skills acquisition, education, etc, to appeal to our people to calm down not to depending on the government alone. Time will not allow me to go through all of them but this is something that has been welcomed massively.”

    PISE-P is expected to be formally unveiled in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State on December 29, 2023.

  • Akwa Ibom beats Ebonyi, FCT, others to emerge cleanest state 

    Akwa Ibom beats Ebonyi, FCT, others to emerge cleanest state 

    Akwa Ibom State has beaten Ebonyi State, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja and the rest states to emerge Nigeria’s cleanest state for the sixth time with a cumulative score of 72 per cent. 

    The result was announced yesterday in Uyo, the state capital, following a survey conducted under the five years project review circus, tagged: ‘STONE Pro- Max 2023’.

    Akwa Ibom since the inauguration of the STONE project in 2018 has maintained first position, having won five times in a row.

    National Coordinator/Secretary, National Technical Study Group (NTSG) on Clean Up Nigeria, Prince Ene Baba Owoh, Jr., congratulated the government and people of Akwa Ibom State on emerging five times overall Cleanest State in Nigeria.

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    “For emerging the overall best performing state in the six years performance indicators and five times cleanest state in Nigeria under the six years project circus review period (2018-2023) tagged: ‘STONE Pro-Max 2023’, Akwa Ibom State will be conferred with the STONE 2023 Pro-Max 2018-2023 Cleanest State in Nigeria Green Crystal Award.

    “It is therefore our privilege to proudly invite the Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSPEWMA), Obong Prince Ikim, to come forward and receive the Cleanest State in Nigeria Pro-max Green Crystal Awards certification in all the five performance indicators and the STONE Pro-max (2018-2023) five times Cleanest State in Nigeria, Green Crystal Award,” he said. 

    Owoh also announced Ebonyi and FCT to have closely followed Akwa Ibom in second and third positions with 50 and 47 per cent scores. 

    He encouraged stakeholders to engage in peer review mechanism by creating time to visit both best performing states/cities and the backward states/cities to gain more insight into what the top states are doing in order to improve on their performance ratings.

    the state government to continue to work to ensure a safe and secure environment through institutional framework that would support a safe environment. 

    The commissioner pledged government’s commitment to proper waste management, end to gas flaring and other practices that threaten the serenity of the environment. 

    Reacting to the awards, the Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSPEWMA), Prince Akpan Ikim, paid glowing tributes to former Governor Victor Attah for creating the agency by signing into law the Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency CAP 47 law 2000. 

    He acknowledged former Governor Godswill Akpabio, who built the receptacle maintenance and workshop at Itam, for proper waste disposal and management.

    “Then Udom Emmanuel came, and had that political will to constitute the board and gave us all the necessary support and we started winning the cleanest state award in 2018.

    “Then Governor Umo Eno, he has given us the necessary support. It is on record that he is the first governor that has joined us for environmental sanitation. 

    “He has given us a marching order to ensure the state remains the cleanest in Nigeria, ranging from the vegetation. There is what we call environmental sustainability. We are looking at recycling waste to wealth etc.

     ”So, we are working with the House of Assembly Committee on Environment for a law that has to be in tune with international best practices. The law has to be such that will encourage investors to come in. This is why we are also liaising with AKICORP so that anyone who has investment that has to do with waste will register with them,” he said. 

    He praised Clean Up Nigeria Initiative for recognising excellence and pledge to keep Akwa Ibom as a model clean state in Nigeria.

  • UNIPORT Class of 86 donates 10KVA solar panel to alma mater

    UNIPORT Class of 86 donates 10KVA solar panel to alma mater

    • Varsities urged on maintenance culture

    Vice-President, Class of U86, University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT),  Dr. Patterson Ogon, has urged managers of universities to pay attention to the need to protect and maintain facilities on the campuses, to make them sustainable and conducive for learning.

    He spoke when the Alumni Association during its inaugural reunion, inaugurated 10KVA 48 Volt Solar Panel system for the university library.

    Speaking with reporters after the event, Ogon decried infrastructural rot in the universities due to lack of proper maintenance culture, and called for deliberate and realistic policies by the universities to ensure prompt maintenance, to guarantee longevity and derivation of their full benefits .

    He said: “The Nigerian university environment is in a sorry state. There is need for provision and maintenance. It makes no economic sense to provide and not maintain.”

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    He noted that maintenance of facilities provided was crucial for sustainability and value addition.

    Ogon called for the intervention of other alumni associations of universities, including those of UNIPORT, in addressing some of the critical needs in the schools, saying institutions and governments alone could not completely take care of the challenges, to ensure enhanced quality learning and research work.

    The UNIPORT workers had explained the group’s decision to remodel the school library power supply system after 33 years of graduating from the school.

     “We came here as part of our 33 years after exiting the university. We felt it is important after graduating from this university to once again reconnect with ourselves. Some of us have not seen ourselves for decades after we left here.”

    The association later held a symposium for the students on life after school, educating them on how to prepare themselves ahead by building their capacity while yet in school.

    The Vice Chancellor (VC), Prof Owunari Georgewill, reiterated the call by Ogon on the need for alumni associations to join hands in building the institutions that trained them by giving back to the schools.

    He hailed the Class of U86 for the donation to the institution.

    Delivering lecture, one of the resource persons, a former bank manager, Francis Ekonye, said for students to succeed on graduation, they should embrace only the things that could influence positive development in their lives and society.

  • Abia govt to enforce ban on street trading

    Abia govt to enforce ban on street trading

    Abia State Government has said it would enforce ban on street trading, especially in Aba, the commercial nerve centre, from next year. 

    Information and Culture Commissioner Prince Okey Kanu made this known while briefing reporters on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti. 

    He said street trading had become a menace and was adversely impacting on the newly constructed roads.

    Kanu said: “Despite spirited efforts by the government to tackle the menace, it is continuing unabated. The government will not fold its arms and watch the anomaly continue.

    “With the efforts the government has made, this menace (street trading) keeps rearing its ugly head, particularly in Aba. 

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    “Most of the new roads this government has built, people use them to display their goods. This will not augur well for these new roads.” 

    He reassured people of the government’s determination to ensure one carriage way of the Ossah-Okpara Square road “is completed and used during this Yuletide.” 

    The commissioner said Governor Otti was committed to making good his promise of defraying arrears of pensions owed pensioners by previous administrations.”

    Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities Engr Ikechukwu said the Light Up Abia Initiative was aimed at lighting every street with solar light.

    “We started with Umuahia first, now we have moved to Aba.” 

    Governor Otti has said his administration is committed to rooting out crime, to ensure Abia remains safe.

    He spoke yesterday while declaring open a one day ‘Sensitisation Campaign Against Cultism and Drug Addiction in Nigeria’, organised by Abia State Orientation Agency (ABSOA) and held at Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia. 

    According to the governor, “no amount of alcohol, drug addiction or whatever it is that one has consumed will justify any action taken that is against the law. 

    “For us, we are single minded about rooting out crime and criminality and ensure that our state is safe for our citizens and visitors.”

    Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, represented by DCP Sani Shuaibu, described the campaign against cultism and drug addiction as timely and commendable, as the youth have fallen victim to cultism and drug addiction.

    He said the police were ready to synergise with other sister agencies and the state government to fight cultism and drug addiction.

    The Director General, Abia State Orientation Agency, Pastor Dike Nwankwo, said the programme was aimed at sensitising and reorienting the citizens, especially youths, on the danger of cultism and drug addiction. 

  • Organised labour warns Fubara’s detractors 

    Organised labour warns Fubara’s detractors 

    Organised labour in Rivers State has warned detractors of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, following N100,000 Christmas bonus approved for civil servants by the governor.

    The workers said with such rare magnanimity from the governor, they would continue to support his administration.

    The governor in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joe Johnson, called for implementation of the approval to enable the civil servants enjoy a wonderful Yuletide.

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    The statement said: “Governor Fubara has approved N100,000 as Christmas bonus for the civil servants.

    “He gave the approval on Tuesday for immediate implementation, to enable the civil servants enjoy a wonderful Yuletide.”

    Commending the governor for the gesture, the state chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), in a joint statement signed by their chairpersons, Alex Agwangwor and Sir. Ikechukwu Onyefuru, called on civil servants to support the Fubara administration.

  • Bayelsa deputy governor urges doctors to uphold professional oath

    Bayelsa deputy governor urges doctors to uphold professional oath

    • Young lawyers enjoined to promote human rights advocacy

    Bayelsa State Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo has reminded medical workers, particularly doctors, the need to obey their professional oath at all times in the performance of their duties.

    He urged young lawyers to take interest in promoting and protecting human rights of the people, as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution.

    Ewhrudjakpo spoke yesterday when the Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa chapter and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Community Development Service Legal Aid Group paid him visits at the Government House, Yenagoa.

    He decried a situation where most doctors disobeyed with impunity the Hippocratic Oath they swore to before being inducted into the medical profession.

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    Ewhrudjakpo said the Hippocratic Oath makes it mandatory for medical professionals to place premium on saving life first before considering the financial implication of doing so.

    Addressing the NYSC Legal Aid Group, Ewhrudjakpo drew parallels between contemporary legal practice in Nigeria and what was obtainable during the times of legal luminaries like Gani Fawehinmi, Rotimi Williams and Nikki Tobi.

    He noted that legal practice had suffered terrible setback, and therefore, challenged upcoming young lawyers to avoid the apparent blunders in the Nigerian Justice delivery system in recent times.

    Assuring his visitors of government’s support, Ewhrudjakpo urged the NYSC group to initiate a radio programme to educate the public on fundamental human rights, stressing that many citizens were being oppressed due to ignorance of their basic rights.

    He said: “I want you to focus on what you can do. I believe that quite a number of persons are not aware of their rights, and that is a major issue.

    “And that will dovetail to the issue of domestic violence and human rights abuses that take place. I want you to find out whether we have any programme on air that educates us about our rights, otherwise we initiate one. “

    In their remarks, the President, Association of Resident Doctors, FMC Yenagoa Chapter, Dr. Sintei Shadrachson, and his NYSC CDS Legal Aid Group counterpart, Mr Fiwasayo Akintayo, hailed the Governor Douye Diri-led administration for supporting health and NYSC programmes.

    They, however, solicited government’s continued support to enable their organisations function more effectively.

  • Wike approves N13.1b for schools

    Wike approves N13.1b for schools

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has approved the sum of N13.1 billion to finance renovation, new construction of toilets and provision of furniture across secondary and primary schools in the Six Area Councils for 2024.

    The Mandate Secretary, Federal Capital Territory Administration Education Secretariat, Dr Danlami Hayyo said this yesterday during the end of year media briefing in Abuja.

    He said the amount earmarked will be shared to the councils according to their area of school project needs.

    The education secretary explained that the minister had pledged his commitment to ensure that all the projects are executed in 2024.

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    Hayyo said: “The minister of FCT, who has been described as Mr. Project, approve new constructions, renovations or rehabilitation, provision of furniture and  construction of toilets in secondary and primary schools to the tune of over N13 billion.

    “Wike pledges that all the projects will be executed in 2024, we are not going to give detail of how many schools will be renovated or constructed in each Area council of the FCT because the school needs of the Area Councils are not equal.

    “There are some Area Councils that the demands are higher; there are so many dilapidated and congested classrooms.

    We know how the current minister of FCT changed the phase of education in Rivers state, it is the same system that he is going to do in the Federal Capital Territory, that is why he has approved the money for the school projects”.

    Hayyo also said that from January till December, 2023, the Education Secretariat had trained secondary education board staff in London for British Education Training Technology show.

    He listed other trainings to include: “International training on innovative/entrepreneurship, training of school librarians in e-library, training of teachers in Computer Based Test, online training of 80 English teachers by British council, training of 96 members of School Based Management Committee and many more others”.

  • Security on Delta waterways attributed to Navy’s efforts

    Security on Delta waterways attributed to Navy’s efforts

    An advocacy group, Niger Delta for Stability (NDFS), has attributed increased security stability on Delta waterways and its environs to the efforts of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta. 

    The group, in a statement by its Coordinator, Tunde Akpodote, in Warri yesterday said the “dynamic leadership” of the Commander, NNS Delta, Commodore Chindo Yahaya, has reduced criminal activities in the command’s area of responsibility.

    According to the body, NNS Delta has employed cutting-edge technology and sustained presence in the maritime environment, thereby ensuring the security of national assets and sustainable peace in the state.

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    “Since commodore assumed office, we observe that there has been relative peace on our waterways. Besides, with its collaborative efforts with other sister agencies, there has also been peace recorded in the upland areas of the state.

    “There has been significant reduction in sea robbery, crude oil theft and other illicit activities within its area of responsibility under the command of the commodore.

    “The doggedness of officers and men of the Nigerian Navy Ship Delta, Warri, in synergy with sister services and agencies, has contributed to the peace and tranquility currently experienced in most riverine and coastal communities,” it said.

    Hailing NNS Delta for playing its statutory duty, NDFS urged its personnel not to rest on their oars by ensuring they built on the relative peace enjoyed in the area.