The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • No student died in weekend’s stampede at UNICAL, says varsity

    No student died in weekend’s stampede at UNICAL, says varsity

    Director of the Center for General Studies, University of Calabar, Prof. Takim Asu Ojua, has debunked reports that students died in a stampede that happened during a CBT examination.

    Prof. Ojua also confirmed that all 21 students taken to two different hospitals have been stabilised, with majority of them discharged and returned home.

    According to a statement by Prof. Ojua, the examination of November 11 started smoothly, with the third batch almost finishing, before some students, who either missed the exams, were not scheduled to write in the morning, or were not even part of the examination, became unruly, uncontrollable, impatient, defiant, and tried to break into the venue forcefully.

    He added: “As a result of an unprecedented surge by a mass of students, the gate leading to the venue of the CBT Center was pushed down, causing a stampede. Some members of staff and students salvaged the situation and rushed the casualties to the University Medical Center and the Teaching Hospital.

    “14 students were rushed to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, and seven were taken to the Medical Center for emergency treatment. And, before 5pm, more than 10 were discharged and taken home, remaining just a few who are to be further examined, though they are fully stabilised and recuperated.”

    Prof. Ojua further explained that the fully equipped CBT Center has the capacity to conduct larger examinations such as the last UTME (Jamb) which had a far higher number of students than those sitting for Gss Exams.

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    “The examination was scheduled in batches, with specific faculties scheduled to write on stipulated time and dates. Unfortunately, some students refused to abide by the timetable, and decided to gate-crash, resulting in the avoidable incident.

    “The essence of the introduction of the GSS CBT exams is to ensure fast service delivery, easy access to examination and results, and to reduce the stress on students during examination periods.

     Stories and narratives making rounds on social media about the number of casualties, deaths, lack of venues and accommodation for the exams, insufficient computers etc, are untrue and does not reflect the situation on ground, considering the fact that GSS CBT examination has been ongoing since 2020.

    “The Management and staff of the Center regrets this ugly incident, which was avoidable, had the students kept to the scheduled timetable, not destroy the canopies and maintained the queues as instructed,” he added.

    Prof. Ojua added that the exams has been postponed until further notice, and that students were free to travel back home.

  • ‘Discontentment, complexes fuelling rivalry among health professionals’

    ‘Discontentment, complexes fuelling rivalry among health professionals’

    Medical and health professionals have identified discontentment, complexes and unequal remuneration among healthcare professionals as major factors fuelling rivalry among health workers and dysfunctionality of healthcare system in the country.

    Speaking during a summit by the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), Anambra State, themed ‘Professional Synergy in Healthcare Provision; A Panacea for Quality and Stable Health’, the professionals canvassed for synergy and tolerance as solution to rivalry in the health sector.

    One of the discussants and National President of Nigeria Academy of Neurological Surgeons, Prof. Jude-Kennedy Emejulu, regretted that the identified negative tendencies have contributed to growing mortality rate in the country.

    He said: “The root of rivalry among professionals is pecuniary. Besides is the creation of trade unions where people seek for relevance. Social strife is another factor. You see antagonisms and industrial unrests; petitions and pull –him-down syndrome

    “More worrisome is the issue of complexes. It takes an inferior mind to feel inferiority complex, and to begin to advocate superiority complex. If you’re comfortable where you are, you don’t need to make too much noise.”

    Emejuru proffered job description, massive advocacy among trainees and students, seeking guidance from other climes and legislative discipline to curtail prevalent rascality among professional bodies as solutions to rivalry among health workers.

    “Once we blunder in this profession, lives are lost, quite unlike most other professions. The mortality rate is high, reason we need to be serious with the job God has anointed us to do. Above all is contentment which is a godly virtue. If you don’t have it, you can’t be satisfied, regardless of your position. No matter where you are, people will come looking for you, so long as you have skills, service or product you’re marketing,” he added.

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    Another discussant, Pharmacist Josephat Obasi, underscored the place of communication, teamwork and synergy in improving healthcare and reducing mortality rates associated with poor inter-professional collaboration.

    APBN National President Manason Rubainu represented by Engr. Sunday Ali, said addressing challenges in healthcare system, such as professional participation, practices and ethical conduct were key to sustainable development of health sector.

    Commissioner for Housing Paul Onyeaka advised professionals to avoid imposing negative status on themselves, urging them to improve on their image and believe in their distinguishing qualities.

    “As a government, we’re not only committed to ensuring unity and equal treatment to all, but looking for those with integrity, honestly, competence and capacity to ensure speed,” he added.

    State Chairman of APBN who doubles as State Director, National Population Commission (NPC), Dr. Joachim Ulasi, described the theme as apt and chosen to address professional quackery among health workers.

    “The APBN comprises 30 bodies with six sectors. For past years, we’ve been discussing topics around building collapse. This year we decided to delve into health to ensure proper synergy among health workers,” he said.

  • My role is complimentary, says Mrs. Otu

    My role is complimentary, says Mrs. Otu

    • Governor’s wife solicits media support for husband

    Wife of the Cross River State Governor, Rev. Mrs. Eyoawan Otu, has described her role as complimentary in helping her husband succeed in his mandate. According to her, she prefers staying off media interviews and highlights because she is not the governor.

    Mrs. Otu spoke in Calabar when she hosted leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), led by the Chairman, Comrade Nsa Gill. She noted that she initiated a solemn assembly to pray for the peace, restoration and total recovery of the state having lost a lot over the years, given to many reasons, including the sad ENDSARS insurgencies of 2000.

    Mrs. Otu insisted she enjoys remaining private but providence has put her in the position to be supportive to her husband who is the governor. She solicited good representation and reportage of government programmes because ‘the governor is committed to fulfilling the promises made to the people’.

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    Gill said the union came to build a working relationship with the Office of the wife of the governor because it has recorded success in the numerous programmess initiated for the wellbeing and welfare of the les-privileged.

    He noted the free medical outreach to some communities, outreach for expectant and nursing mothers, as well as back to school programmes were students in some communities were supported with new pairs of uniform, school bags and books.

    The NUJ also congratulated the governor’s wife on her recent investiture as a champion in nutrition advocacy and breastfeeding.

  • Monarch seeks action on Delta’s airport, infrastructure

    Monarch seeks action on Delta’s airport, infrastructure

    The Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, Delta State, Emmanuel Sideso, Abe I, has decried infrastructure deficits across the state, including Osubi Airstrip, ports, and roads, among others.

    He called on President Bola Tinubu to take swift action.

    Sideso spoke at a reception in honour of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Olorogun Festus Keyamo (SAN), at his palace.

    Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, represented by Commissioner for Works (Rural and Riverine Areas); former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan; chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), federal and state government functionaries, and captains of industries, including aviation stakeholders, were among those who graced the event.

    The traditional thanked President Tinubu for Keyamo’s ‘back-to-back appointment as Minister’, describing it as a ‘personal triumph’. He, however, noted that Urhobo nation, and Deltans at large, are expectant of the Tinubu-led government to fix the dire state of infrastructure in the state to improve the people’s economic fortunes.

    He said: “We seek revitalisation and upgrade of the Osubi Airport to a world class airport; revitalisation and revamping of the NPA ports at Warri, Sapele and Koko, to accommodate bigger vessels; release and reversion of the portion of our land which was acquired for the Army’s use as barracks which are now being sold to private developers.”

    The monarch also appealed for full implementation of the Act establishing the Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE) to enable adequate funding of the institution, as well as reconstruction of the failed Warri-Effurun-Sapele-Benin Road and the Orerokpe-Eku-Abraka-Agbor roads which have become ‘an embarrassment to the Niger Delta’.

    Sideso urged Keyamo to ensure completion of federal projects he attracted to the area during the past administration, saying ‘this time around, the entire Urhobo nation are eager to see what you will do to Osubi Airport’.

    Keyamo promised to carry the king’s requests to the President, and also affirmed that his return as Minister, first in the history of Delta State, was ‘by the grace of God Almighty’ and not because he is ‘exceptional’.

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    “Once God does that for you, you should realise that he’s not doing it for you. He’s actually doing it for the people you represent. And so this office is one that belongs to all, not myself. So I feel the weight of expectations on my shoulders. I see my people, the Urhobo people, the Niger Delta people.

    “Perhaps we have suffered for so long in so many areas, and it is time that we begin to push our sons and daughters to very prominent positions to speak up and speak out on our behalf,” he added.

    Keyamo acknowledged the need to do something about the Osubi Airport and others linking the Southsouth, saying ‘we have concern for almost all the airports in the country, especially the ones that have very poor infrastructure in terms of navigational equipment and all others. We are concerned about all of them and we shall give equal attention to all’.

    Governor Oborevwori described Keyamo as a man who had made his mark before joining the political terrain, stressing that ‘politics didn’t make him’.

    He urged the minister to not leave the state behind in whatever is due it, adding that “Delta is proud of your achievements, as well as the fact that you have been selected by our president to represent us at the Federal level. And we are not in doubt that you are going to give us a very worthy representation” he added.

  • ‘We’ll replicate Soludo’s Healthy Living Project in Anambra communities’

    ‘We’ll replicate Soludo’s Healthy Living Project in Anambra communities’

    • From Awesome Ekene

    The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has said it will replicate the Healthy Living pet project in the 179 communities of Anambra State.

    The Healthy Living is a pet project of the governor’s wife, Dr. Nonye Soludo.

    State Coordinator, Mrs. Blessing Iruma, stated this at a symposium, Healthy Living Advocacy, organised by the Anambra State Association of Town Union (ASATU) Youth Secretariat Hall, Government House, Awka.

    Mrs. Iruma, represented by Assistant Director of Information, Emeka Ugwu, said the project is not only noble, ‘but has a semblance of NYSC’s Health Initiative for rural dwellers and should be adopted by NYSC and replicated in all the 179 communities in the state’.

    According to her, the scheme has enough corps doctors, pharmacists, nurses, physiotherapists and other paramedics to carry out the assignment.

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    She said: “The areas of coverage include free sensitisation campaigns, medical checks, counselling, diagnosis, referral and prescription. Any community that invites the NYSC for the medical outreach is expected to source for drugs for use on that day.”

    Mrs. Iruma called on ASATU Youths to sensitise their communities on NYSC collaboration with Mrs. Soludo, and invite NYSC to their communities to assist rural dwellers have healthy living lifestyle.

  • Eno reiterates commitment to educational advancement

    Eno reiterates commitment to educational advancement

    Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno has said his government will continue to prioritise investment in educational development.

    Eno gave the assurance at the combined convocation ceremonies of the University of Uyo, which held at the weekend. He noted that education is one of the pillars of the ARISE Agenda, ‘and government is investing in education beginning from the foundational to tertiary’.

    The governor, himself an alumnus of the University of Uyo and a Ph.D candidate, said that as part of his administration’s commitment to actualise the educational advancement component of the ARISE Agenda, the government will continue to support UNIUYO to enhance its pursuit of academic excellence, expressing hope that products of the school will continue to contribute to the development of the State and society in general.

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    The governor congratulated the university on its successful combined convocation and felicitated with the 14,866 graduating students and those conferred with honorary degrees.

    He said: “I commend you on the successful hosting of this joint convocation. Let me particularly pay special tribute to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Nyaudoh Ndaeyo, on his strides since assumption of office. You’re not just a pacesetter, but a shinning and worthy ambassador of all of us. And as the saying goes, a good job done means more jobs to be done. We know and trust that you will excel.

    “Our administration will continue to work with the University of Uyo and indeed all other universities and tertiary institutions in the state. We will support them because education is one of the pillars of our ARISE Agenda, and we’ll continue to demonstrate good faith working with you and supporting you as much as possible.”

  • APC chieftain congratulates Onowakpo

    APC chieftain congratulates Onowakpo

    • Hails Ibori, Omo-Agege, others

    A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Dr. Sylvester Onoyona, has congratulated Senator Joel Onowakpo (Delta South) on his victory at the Appeal Court. He described it as ‘well deserved and a hand of God in the affairs of man’.

    In a letter he personally signed, Onoyona hailed the former governor and party leader, Chief James Ibori, and governorship candidate in the 2023 elections and former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, praising their dexterity and rigor to defend the mandate freely given to Senator Onowakpo and others.

    Onoyona also commended Senator Onowakpo for his resilience and fighting spirit to have defeated those ‘marauding PDP goons, both at the polls and in the courts, but was quick to give glory to God saying, but for God, it wouldn’t have been possible’.

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    He also praised the people of Delta South for standing behind Onowakpo whom he described as ‘astute, eminent gentleman who is hungry for the development of his people and material resources’. He hailed the party leadership, led by Chief Omeni Sobotie, who he described as the father of the APC in the oil-rich state.

    According to him, with Onowakpo in the saddle, ‘there will be a new lease of life for the people as every constituent will be carried along, noting, in that wise, every Onowakpo voter is a Senator’.

    “Rally round our distinguished Senator Onowakpo to enable him to deliver quality representation and to bring dividends of democracy to the doorstep of every Delta southerner. The time has come for the people to see the difference between deliberate misrepresentation and quality representation. While the PDP, according to the politician, epitomises misrepresentation, APC’s Onowakpo will sure wear the crown of superlative representation and the delivery of quality service to the people,” he added.

  • Group urges Ajaero, NLC to end power outage in Imo after Uzodimma’s apology

    Group urges Ajaero, NLC to end power outage in Imo after Uzodimma’s apology

    A pressure group in Imo State, Owerri Zone Awareness Coalition (OZAC), has called on President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, to intervene on the strike embarked on by electricity workers.

    Ajaero was reportedly attacked by thugs linked to Governor Hope Uzodimma’s aide, Nze Chinasa Nwaneri, on November 1, a development that prompted a solidarity strike by electricity workers, leaving the state in darkness in the past two weeks.

    Since the attack, power supply across Imo State has been deliberately halted by electricity workers aligning themselves with the plight of the labour leader.

    But, in a statement yesterday by its Publicity Secretary, Emmanuel Eke, OZAC implored Ajaero to reconsider the continuation of the strike.

    Expressing concern over the severe consequences, the group highlighted the economic downturn, collapsing small-scale businesses, and the precarious security situation arising from the prolonged power outage in the state.

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    While condemning the brutality inflicted upon Ajaero, the group acknowledged Governor Uzodimma’s apology on national television and the redeployment of the Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Barde, as positive steps that should compel Ajaero to have a rethink and suspend the strike of the electricity workers.

    OZAC emphasised the immense hardship faced by Imo residents due to the extended power outage, coupled with exorbitant fuel prices reaching N700 per litre and skyrocketing living costs. It, therefore, urged Ajaero to reconsider his stance, recognising the efforts made towards meeting the NLC’s demands and emphasising the necessity of restoring electricity to alleviate the people’s suffering.

    In its plea, OZAC urged Ajaero not to exacerbate the predicament of those he champions by prolonging the strike.

    The statement reads: “Two of the NLC’s demands have been addressed, with ongoing investigations by the Inspector-General of Police into his assault.

    “The prevailing challenges in Imo State necessitate a balance between pursuing workers’ rights and mitigating the severe impact on the daily lives of the state’s inhabitants. Our plea underscores the delicate balance between activism and the responsibility to alleviate the broader hardships imposed on the people of Imo State.”

  • Otu sets up 15-man policy review committee for Cross River State

    Otu sets up 15-man policy review committee for Cross River State

    The meeting of the State Executive Council of the Cross River State Government has given the nod to several initiatives meant to further development in the state and improve wellbeing of the residents.

    A release from the government house Press unit revealed that a number decisions were taken at the 17th meeting of the State Executive council presided over by the governor.

    Amongst the decisions taken includes the ratification of the composition of a 15man State Policy Review Committee which comprises eminent personalities to review extant policies in order to ensure policies and plans align with the current trends and best practices.

    At the meeting, the governor reiterated the government’s resolve to clear the backlog of unpaid gratuities owed retirees, and emphasised that government cannot allow the aged sleep hungry or be unable to afford their medications.

    “Consequently, funds are being sourced from the capital market to redeem the debts owed retirees by the government,” the statement revealed.

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    The Executive Council also approved the contract award for the refurbishing, remodelling and upgrade of the State Library complex, Calabar. 

    Among roads to be rehabilitated are; Murtala Muhammed Highway and Ndidem Iso Road. Emergency intervention and remediation works were also approved for the Marina Resort gully erosion.

    The Council granted approval for a N400,000,000 (Four Hundred Million Naira) counterpart funding for the Agro-processing Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) Project facilitated by the Ministry of International Donor Coordination.

    It noted that an Executive Bill for the Re-establishment of the State College of Agriculture and Forestry, Obubra, was also approved by Council for transmission to the State Legislature.

  • Renewed Hope for Benue: Betta Edu, Gov Alia perform ground-breaking for Renewed Hope shelters in Tatyo /Markudi North

    Renewed Hope for Benue: Betta Edu, Gov Alia perform ground-breaking for Renewed Hope shelters in Tatyo /Markudi North

    Nigeria’s Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu has performed the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of Renewed Hope shelter for the poor and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at Tatyo and Kyo communities in Makurdi North Local Government Area of Benue State.

    She performed the groundbreaking alongside the state governor, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia, with a promise to work with the state government to ensure that the IDPs returned to their ancestral homes.

    This was made known in a statement sent to The Nation on Friday, November 10, by the minister’s special adviser of media and publicity, Rasheed Olanrewaju Zubair.

    Speaking at the event, Edu said the project was in fulfilment of President Bola Tinubu’s promise to reduce humanitarian crises and poverty challenges in Nigeria.

    She said: “The president assured Benue People that if he was voted into power, he would provide security and resettle them back to their ancestral homes where some have been out for over 10 years following the Herdsmen-farmers conflict.

    The minister commended Governor Alia for ensuring that peace returned to Tatyo and Tyo communities, as well as other communities which have been engulfed by violence since 2012 resulting in the displacement of hundreds of thousands from their homes.

    Notably, since 2011, over 12,000 people have lost their lives in that alone, and thousands more were rendered homeless due to attacks by suspected armed herders in the Markudi North Local government area of the state.

    The Renewed Hope shelter, which has a learning centre, health centre, and market, according to Dr. Edu will be built by the community members in clusters under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in partnership with the Benue State Government.

    She expressed sadness over the IDPs’  experience these past years and pledged that “for these wonderful people that have come from the IDP camps, the journey back to your ancestral homes has begun, “this is the beginning of a journey to return home.”

    “As we drove down here, I felt pain. I felt lots of pain. I saw deserted communities, and I saw the “food basket of the Nation” reduced to want and anguish. President Tinubu says hope is finally back in Benue; we need everyone to go back to the farms so we can have food security!

    The minister stressed that Benue was key in the food security agenda of the President’s Eight Point Agenda.

    She said: “Part of  President Tinubu’s eight-point agenda is food security and Benue is the Food Basket of the Nation, this state is therefore, key to him in terms of achieving food security hence peace and tranquillity of Benue, as well as the welfare of the people, are uppermost in his mind.”

    Speaking further, Dr Edu stated: “You cannot reduce the hope of a nation, the food basket of a nation, the food security stronghold of Nigeria to want, pain and anguish. Mr. President has sent me here to give the message of renewed hope to the people of Benue. I can tell you for sure that hope is here. Hope is here. “

    Earlier, Governor Alia lamented the suffering the displaced indigenes of the state had been through, saying their plight was quite heart-rending.

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    According to the governor, they’ve been longing to get back home and do what they know how to do best, which is farming. We have been working with the youths, security, and faith-based organizations among others to ensure that the displaced persons get on their feet again and possibly return to their ancestral homes. “

    The Governor commended Dr Edu for her passion and empathy for vulnerable persons in the state and promised to work with the federal government to ensure that the IDPs return to their ancestral homes.

    The Benue state’s number one citizen applauded President Tinubu for fulfilling his campaign promise to the IDPs by providing Renewed Hope Shelters to them.

    It was a most reassuring experience as thousands of displaced persons danced for joy. It was the first time in 10 years that widows, women, men, and children were stepping their feet back in their ancestral land.