The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • ‘New breaker for marathon reading has over 5m viewership worldwide’

    ‘New breaker for marathon reading has over 5m viewership worldwide’

    An Akwa Ibom State teacher, John Obot, who set a new Guinness World Record (GWR) for reading aloud for 145 hours, has over five million online viewership worldwide.

    Obot, son of a journalist, going by the feat, has erased the former record of 124 hours, held by an Indian, Ryshai Isakov.

    Chief Programme Director for the Reading Marathon, Dr. Udeme Nana, at a news briefing yesterday in Uyo, said Obot also had over 23,000 people, who visited him to watch him read at the Watbridge Hotel and Suites, Uyo.

    Nana, the founder of Uyo Book Club, said the feat recorded by Obot was an inspiration to youths in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria and the world at large.

    He said Uyo Book Club was proud of Obot’s accomplishment, adding that it would rekindle the reading culture, which had declined in the country.

    Enugu partners ATASP-1 for extensive dry season rice farming

    Enugu State Government has declared its readiness to partner Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme Phase-One (ATASP-1) to actualise dry season rice farming at Ada Rice Irrigation Project Scheme.

    Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation, Mr. Patrick Ubru, made the declaration yesterday while addressing Ada Rice farmers at Uwelu-Akpa Hall in Adani community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government.

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    He addressed the farmers during his inspection tour of ongoing economic projects under ATASP-1 in the area.

    The commissioner, who was impressed by what he saw during the tour, described ATASP-1 as an important partner in the vision of Governor Peter Mbah for agricultural rebirth and transformation in Enugu State.

    According to him, this vision is summed up in Governor Mbah’s agricultural mantra, which is “Food for Ndi Enugu and making Enugu State a Food Basket for Nigeria, a Hub for Export of Cash Crops and Eliminating Poverty by 2031”.

    He stressed that Mbah’s administration was committed to the take-off of dry season rice farming next season in a grand style.

    “On behalf of my people, we say thank you to ATASP-1 for their intervention projects and programmes in innovative agriculture in Enugu State.

    “What we are telling you is that we are ready for dry season (rice) farming at Uzo-Uwani Local Government.

    “We are ready to attract investors like Alhaji Sani who came all the way from the North to invest here. We want more investors to come into agriculture in Enugu State,” he said.

  • NSCDC, NDLEA vow to curb drug abuse in Rivers

    NSCDC, NDLEA vow to curb drug abuse in Rivers

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have pledged to end rising drug abuse in Rivers State.

    The two agencies made commitment for partnership yesterday in Port Harcourt when the NDLEA Commander of Narcotics, Ahmed Mamuda, led a team of senior management to visit the state Commandant of NSCDC, Basil Igwebueze.

    Basil condemned the ravaging increase in drugs and substance abuse among youths, saying most heinous crimes were committed after inducement of drugs and substance abuse.

    He said the only way to rid the nation of crime was to unanimously condemn such denigrating act beginning from the cradle to adulthood.

    The NSCDC boss said some children were abused through the environment they found themselves and the negative exposure they had impacted their lives negatively.

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    He said the fight against the use of prohibited drugs must be a collective responsibility to actualise a crime-free society.

    He said: “It is highly disturbing that drug abuse has now eaten deep into the fabrics of our society, it has destroyed our youths especially and for us to protect the tomorrow which our youths are going to be leaders, we need to be in unity towards fighting the cause.

    “The campaign against drugs and substance abuse should not be done only in schools and neighborhood, the fighters of this crime, who include all security personnel, are also not excluded; officers and men on duty must see the need to firmly abhor the intake of drugs and inducers while on duty as well.

    “I also want to state unequivocally that the issue of espirit-de-corps does not apply when a crime is being committed, you will be made to face the wrath of the law even as an officer if you are caught dealing in or consuming narcotics.”

    The Rivers NDLEA Commander of Narcotics, Ahmed Mamuda, said the agency had intensified campaigns against drug abuse across the state.

    He said in curtailing sales and intake of illicit drugs and prohibited substances, the NDLEA had been organising reorientation and awareness programme across communities, churches, mosques and schools.

    He said there was need for NDLEA, NSCDC and other security agencies to partner and strengthen ties in order to fight to a standstill the spate of drug abuse across board.

    He said: “My visit today is premised on the need to collaborate with your agency so that we can join hands together to rid Rivers State of the hand of criminal-minded persons and one of the ways to do this is to combat the circulation and intakes of illicit drugs in our environment.

    “On behalf of the entire NDLEA Command, I want to promise that as you have given your full support, we will organise a training session for the officers to be fully equipped with necessary skills on how to identify prohibited drugs, effects of intake, arrests and rehabilitation methods for victims.”

  • Oro youths to senator: we don’t want bloodshed over remapping

    Oro youths to senator: we don’t want bloodshed over remapping

    Youths of Oro ethnic group in Akwa Ibom have said the state cannot afford another bloodshed over the contentious issue of remapping.

    They were reacting to the recent comment allegedly made by the senator representing Akwa Ibom Northeast, Aniekan Bassey that over 90 per cent of the state was in support of remapping.

    But the youth under the aegis of Oro Youth Movement (OYOM) disagreed with the lawmaker, saying his position and comments on the matter were capable of causing further bloodshed in the state.

    The group said youths across the five local governments, namely Oron, Udung Uko, Mbo, Okobo and Urueoffong Oruko were opposed to the remapping of the state, as it was a ploy to seize their ancestral land.

    OYOM National President Edet Eyo in a statement asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call Senator Bassey to order, as the Oro would resist any move to seize any territory in Oro land under the guise of remapping.

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    It said: “We encourage the public to disregard such falsehood spread by the agent of anti-Christ, whose mission was to set the motion of war against the people of Akwa Ibom State.

    “Only people like Aniekan Bassey, who may appear to derive pleasure from innocent blood being shed, could accept such a sinister sketch in the name of new map.

    “Although, the court had warned Bassey and his cohorts about this broad-day unlawful exercise meted out to the people of the coastal region and bridging of the Nigerian Constitution, 1999 as amended, the law-abiding and peaceful people of Oron Community, Ibeno and Eastern Obolo have again sought legal redress on the horrible mission meted out to them by Bassey and his cronies.

    “The Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, had in his wisdom advised the people to seek peace and remain calm, pending further determination by the court, which we would have thought should be heeded by every humane and peace-loving citizen of Akwa Ibom State.

    “We use this medium to call on Governor Eno, the Senate and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call Senator Bassey to order to stop manipulating and stirring up strife among neighbours in Akwa Ibom State in the name of remapping, which is a cheat.

    “The peaceful co-existence the people have enjoyed among themselves over the years is already threatened, and if any further flare-up occurs, Bassey should be held responsible.”

  • No respite for Delta community as floods overrun homes, farmlands

    No respite for Delta community as floods overrun homes, farmlands

    • Victims: we look up to God

    Floods occasioned by torrential rains and surging seawater have left no respite in sight for the people of oil producing Polobubo community in Warri North Local Government of Delta State.

    Most residents are already displaced, with hunger staring them in their faces, as their homes and sources of livelihoods get overrun by the disaster.

    They were forced awake from sleep in the wee hours of last Saturday, to the unexpected sight of flood in the entire community.

    In a phone conversation with The Nation yesterday, President-General of the community, Dr. Bright Abulu, said the situation is getting worse.

    He said although the Delta State Government visited on Sunday, with a promise to provide relief materials, it was yet to do so.

    The Nation learnt that the Commissioner for Special Duties had before the incident, visited the community last week. While the member representing Ijaw Ethnic Nationality in the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Spencer Okpoye and Chairman of the local government, Smart Asekutu, visited to assess the situation on Sunday.

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    Abulu said: “As we speak, the water level is still increasing. DESOPADEC promised to send relief materials, also the local government. But till now, there is no response from them”.

    He said they have also called on the Federal Government and oil multinationals operating in the area to intervene, before they lose lives.

    “We have been calling on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to come to our rescue. As we speak, there is no help, we are just looking on to God for help. That is the situation,” he added.

    The effects of the flood may have contributed to the death of the second to the eldest man, Pa Jeyimi Gbalubi, who passed away on Monday night, Abulu said.

    He reechoed the call for government, as well as oil firms operating in the area, “to come to their aid in this time of distress with relief materials and medical care”.

  • Enugu govt begins shutting of illegal mining sites

    Enugu govt begins shutting of illegal mining sites

    Enugu State Government has said it has begun sealing off of illegal mining sites and those without environmental impact certifications and mitigation plans.

    Prof. Sam Ugwu, the chairman, Enugu State Committee on Mining Activities, said this when the committee visited a site, owned by Milhouse Ltd. in Awhum, Udi Local Government.

    Governor Peter Mbah had in June, banned illegal mining in the state and also set up the Enugu State Committee on Mining Activities on September 15 to checkmate the menace.

    Addressing reporters after a firsthand inspection of mining activities at the site, Ugwu who is the Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, said there were more various infringements ranging from environmental degradation to blasting without approval and due regulations.

    According to him, the miners are suspected to be involved in non-remittance of staff tax and pension contributions to the state government in spite of deducting them from the workers.

    He said the government would not fold its arms and watch the environment destroyed and lives endangered.

     “Our mission is basically to seal, on behalf of the state government, mining activities that do not have any recourse to the state government.

    “We are also here to look at what is going on and you have all seen a lot of environmental degradation going on.

    “We equally want to see the veracity of the licence, which they claim they have and to find out how they have been remitting their environmental fees to Enugu State Government.

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    “Importantly, we want to find out the mitigating plans they have in place. We are very much interested in what happens to these host communities and their environs many years after these miners have closed shop,” Ugwu said.

    He added: “If you take a look at the Niger Delta, the people are still suffering greatly from environmental degradation caused by oil exploration activities of many decades ago.

    “Enugu powered the industries of Europe and beyond at some point through this same coal. Today, our environment is still bearing the scars and brunt of those mining activities. So, we will not fold our arms and watch that happen all over again.”

    He faulted the claim by the operators of the site that they started mining in 2022, saying “from all indications, this site has been in operation for more than five years”.

    He stressed that the government was very much aware of other mining sites in different parts of the state operating illegally and without licence or falling foul of environmental protection laws and regulations, assuring that government would go after them.

    The commissioner also served a notice on African Pits and Quarries Ltd to stop operations immediately and report to the Government House on September 21.

    “Sequel to the directive of the Governor of Enugu State banning illegal mining activities in the state, you are hereby warned to desist and stop all mining activities in this environment.

    “Your failure to comply strictly as directed may lead to your arrest and prosecution in the state Environmental Protection Court,” Ugwu said.

    He also ordered them as a matter of urgency, to furnish the office with comprehensive list including approval licence from the Nigeria Mining Cadastral Office and evidence of notification letter to Enugu State Ministry of Environment before commencement of operations, among others.

    The General Manager in charge of Operations at the site, Akintola Oluwafemi, while assuring that the company would comply with government directives, said the firm obtained all necessary licences from the Federal Government.

     Oluwafemi added that they were mindful of environment in their operations.

  • Neuropsychiatric hospital workers disown protesters

    Neuropsychiatric hospital workers disown protesters

    • Condemn attempted abduction of medical director

    Workers at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu yesterday disowned the people who protested alleged mismanagement of the institution by the Medical Director, Prof. Monday Igwe.

    A protest was said to have been held on August 30 in front of the hospital main gate, with placards-bearing persons chanting angry songs against the medical director.

    The protesters, who claimed to be workers of the hospital, were led by people who claimed to be Civil Society Organisation (CSO) leaders.

    They alleged that there was no peace in the hospital and that the workers were unhappy, alongside other allegations levelled against the medical director.

    But addressing reporters after their joint meeting at the hospital in Enugu, members of the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU), National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) and Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu branch, distanced themselves from the protest, describing it as a stage-managed action.

    MDCAN Chairman Dr. Jane Nnabuchi said: “Our attention has been drawn to the stage-managed protest that happened in front of the hospital gates in the evening of August 30.

    “We hereby debunk the stage-managed protest by a group of hired thugs that called themselves staff.

    “We state that the information was not only false, but was also made to mislead the public and cause confusion.” 

    She said there was no crisis at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu and that the hospital was peaceful, as workers were happy with the administration of Prof. Igwe.

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    Nnabuchi added that the stage-managed protest was carried out by thugs hired to discredit and destabilise the medical director “and our hospital activity.”

    “We want to challenge anybody on that protest video circulating around to provide any proof of identity as workers of Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu or student of School of Post Basic Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing of our hospital 

    “Ordinarily, we would have ignored the publication and the perpetrators of this dastardly and worthless act, but we are issuing a rejoinder to stop them from misleading the public and most importantly, to put the information in the proper perspective,” she said.

    The workers also condemned what they called sponsored attempt at abducting the medical director under the guise of arrest by unknown men who claimed to be policemen.

    Nnabuchi said: “On September 14, we also witnessed a sponsored attempt at harassing and abducting our medical director under the guise of “arrest” by three unidentified police officers, who came with an unmarked Sienna vehicle from Awka, Anambra State.

    “The situation created a scene and disrupted the activities of the hospital community and would have escalated to an uglier scenario if not for the intervention of Enugu State Police Command.” 

    The workers, therefore, called on the Federal Ministry of Health to intervene.

  • Energy expert calls for gradual transition to renewables

    Energy expert calls for gradual transition to renewables

    The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Kenyon International, Dr. Victor Ekpenyong, has advocated a gradual switch to renewable energy sources, as the country’s carbon emission is negligible.

    Ekpenyong, a well control expert, noted that conversations around climate change and renewable energy was skewed against the African continent, which made minimal contribution to global warming.

    A statement issued yesterday by the Communications Manager, Kenyon, Mr. Kingsley Muonyili, said Ekpenyong spoke during a roundtable discussion at the 12th Emmanuel Egbogah Legacy Lecture Series held at the Emerald Institute of Energy Studies, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    Ekpenyong called for a national interest approach to address the critical intersection of climate change and the geopolitics of energy transition.

    He said: “With a strong emphasis on Nigeria’s unique position in the global landscape, there is need for a nuanced approach to sustainable development.

    “We need to emphasise the importance of evaluating regional realities when addressing climate change issues, highlighting the importance of considering carbon emission quotas and economic circumstances.”

     He urged stakeholders in the oil industry to unite so that Nigeria could produce more oil and gas to generate revenue to aid the smooth transition to renewable energy sources.

    According to Ekpenyong, Nigeria’s relatively minimal contribution to global carbon emissions should be capitalised on to harness the abundant oil and gas reserves to fund energy transition.

    He said a recent report on global carbon emission released on September 3, 2023 indicated that Africa accounted for just four per cent of global carbon emissions.

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    Ekpenyong added: “In stark contrast, major global players such as the United States, China, Russia and Japan collectively contribute more than 50 per cent of these emissions.

    “Nigeria is not among the top three contributors of carbon emissions on the African continent, trailing behind South Africa, Egypt and Algeria.”

    Ekpenyong urged a strategic approach to managing Nigeria’s finite energy resources, emphasising the need for resource management, increased production and resource utilisation.

    He also highlighted the necessity of proactive measures to combat pipeline vandalism and oil theft in the oilfields, which had long hindered the nation’s development.

    He said: “Kenyon International, as a company committed to sustainable energy solutions, is well-prepared to assist Nigeria in optimising its oil production through well remediation and intervention activities.

    “Accounting for every drop of oil produced is not only vital for Nigeria’s economic prosperity, but also essential for the nation’s sustainable development.

    “Kenyon International believes in the call for a comprehensive approach to climate change and energy transition, one that considers regional realities, promotes responsible resource management and propels Nigeria towards a greener, more sustainable future.”

  • Otu’s wife make case for girls’ involvement in coding, others

    Otu’s wife make case for girls’ involvement in coding, others

    To inspire curiosity and interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), wife of Cross River State Governor, Mrs. Eyoanwan Otu, has advocated more involvement of secondary school girls in coding, gaming and robotics.

    Mrs. Otu was a special guest of honour at a graduation ceremony for 120 secondary school girls trained in coding, gaming and robotics by an organisation, Guru Innovation Hub, in collaboration with the governor’s wife, held in Calabar.

    The training is to be replicated across the three senatorial districts in the state, with a target of about 10,000 beneficiaries.

    The organisers said the initiative was borne out of the zeal of the governor’s wife to increase the percentage of women working at STEM-related industries.

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    The project is designed to spark interest, curiosity and enthusiasm in these fields among secondary school girls in SS1-3, who are between 13 and 18 years in the three senatorial districts, while promoting inclusivity and diversity. 

    The governor’s wife, represented by the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr. Justin Beshel, said STEM had become the driving force of progress, stressing that “these fields hold the key to innovation, development and prosperity.”

    Commissioner for Youths Development, Odum Ukam, advised the participants to brace up for the challenges ahead of them.

    The founder of Guru Innovation Hub, Oyo Effiom, said: “If the girls are not exposed to these programmes, they won’t even know they can have a career in these fields.”

  • Ohakim expresses worry over  Imo Charter of Equity

    Ohakim expresses worry over  Imo Charter of Equity

    Imo State former Governor Ikedi Ohakim has said the impression that Imo Charter of Equity is a new document is wrong because it has been running since 1998, until it was truncated by ex-Governor Rochas Okorocha in 2011.

    The new charter was articulated by Imo Elders Council and endorsed by Governor Hope Uzodimma this year to ensure key elective offices, especially those of the governor, are rotated among the three senatorial zones with less rancour. 

    Reacting to the document while addressing reporters at his Owerri home yesterday, Dr. Ohakim said the impression ought not to have been given that Imo Charter of Equity was being discussed for the first time. 

    He said: “Apart from the fact that it is misleading, it denies the generality of the people the opportunity to put it in its proper historical perspective, which is the only way we can understand why it has remained elusive.”

    Ohakim, who traced the historical background of the charter, however, blamed the collapse on the lies sold to the Imo people by Okorocha that he would serve only one term as well as promoting false allegation against him of flogging a reverend father, hence the Catholic without proper investigation bought the lies, which eventually truncated the charter of equity in the state.

    According to the former governor, “I agree with the elders who drafted the current charter with the proviso that its implementation will begin after the incumbent governor, Senator Uzodimma, has completed his second term in 2028.

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    “Given our experience in 2003 and 2015 – forget the aberration of 2011 – we have to take into consideration the factor of a sitting governor. It is heartwarming that Governor Uzodimma is favourably disposed to the idea of returning to the charter because it will take a sitting governor to make it work; as we witnessed under Governor Achike Udenwa and as it is the case in all the states around us where power-sharing is working.

    “But if Uzodimma gets his second term through another round of scrambling for power among the three zones, it will again be ‘to your tents oh Isreal’. In other words, contrary to the thinking in some quarters that Governor Uzodimma might have engineered the new interest in the charter, the truth is that it will be impossible to implement it without taking his interest -as an incumbent – into account.”

    On insecurity, Ohakim admitted that the situation is worrisome in the state and across the Southeast, but he exonerated Governor Uzodimma from the insinuations that he deliberately hoisted it in the state.

    He described such a notion as nonsensical even when the governor and himself had been victims of insecurity, noting that Governor Uzodimma was on top of the situation.

    Ohakim said verifiable statistics with the Nigeria Police does not show that Imo State has the highest number of crime in the Southeast.

    “As a private citizen, I move around the Southeast and I can say without any fear of contradiction that on the matter of insecurity, our dear state, Imo, is not worse off. That does not mean that we should give any room for complacency, but we should not blackmail ourselves and act in a manner that will undermine the collective integrity of our dear state and its people.

    “I have been personally involved in several meetings on the matter of insecurity in the Southeast and I know that the governors are doing quite a lot. Whether we like it or not, the matter rests squarely on the shoulders of the Federal Government; which is why I will once again restate my position that in this highly tempestuous time, we need a governor who enjoys a good reputation with the federal authorities as Governor Uzodimma does,” he said.

    Ohakim called on youths to try as much as possible to protect the elders, instead of being used as tools to destroy their future and render the society ungovernable.

  • Rice farmers worried over predicted flooding, pest attacks

    Rice farmers worried over predicted flooding, pest attacks

    Rice farmers in Bayelsa State have expressed concern about the predicted flooding in the state and constant pest attacks on their farms.

    The Federal Government recently warned that 13 states including Bayelsa could be affected by flooding as a result of heavy rainfall.

    The farmers, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa, urged the government to put necessary measures in place to save their farms from being washed away.

    According to them, the rising water level in the surrounding rivers is a threat to their premature rice farms as they do not have nearby functional processing facilities.

    The Managing Director of Ovieya Rice Farm, Mr. Ovieya Sini, told NAN that he had invested much in his 15 plots of rice farm in Famgbe Community, Yenagoa.

    Sini said his major fear was the rising water level, which made it difficult for him to access the farm except with canoe.

    He also said constant attacks by pests and unavailability of functional processing facility in Yenagoa made things difficult for him and other rice farmers.

    Sini called on the government to assist the farmers with pesticides and processing facility in order to produce rice that could feed Bayelsa and other neighbouring states in the Niger Delta.

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    “I am operating a rice farm that is more than 15 plots in Famgbe Community, but currently confronting the challenges of flooding of farmlands.

    “Pests attacks and unavailability of nearby processing facility are serious issues;  this is why I am calling on the government to save the farm and help me produce rice for use in the state.

    “Another challenge here is how to convey the farm produce to upland for procession; you know our terrain is riverine.

    “But if government can assist us with boats and other palliative measures,  we can produce rice that feed Bayelsa and other states, our land is good for rice cultivation.”

    The managing director appealed for financial assistance from the government in order to help the farmers to expand their farms.

    He said such financial assistance could enable him to expand his plots from 15 to 30 or 50 plots and contribute in tackling food shortage in the society.

    “I have invested many resources already in the farm; but if government can assist with pesticides, tackle flooding in our society, we will have a bumper harvest.

    “My vision is to produce rice that feed Bayelsa and other neighbouring states, as well as acquiring a processing machine that will help process our harvested rice in Bayelsa.” he said.

    Another rice farmer, Mr. Bestman Ogbogi, lamented that the farms were already under flood and pest attacks.

    He said the water level had risen and was flowing into their farms and pleaded with relevant authorities to intervene and save their farms.

    Ogbogi called on the state government and the Federal Government to come to the aid of farmers so that their produce would not be destroyed by flood and pests.