The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • NANFACOS hails Abia governor on agric development

    NANFACOS hails Abia governor on agric development

    Our Reporter

     

    THE National Executives of the National Apex of Nigerian Farmers Cooperative Societies (NANFACOS) has hailed Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu and farmers in the state for their contributions to the development of agriculture.

    National President of NANFACOS, Chief Nwogwugwu Uzoma commended Dr. Ikpeazu for supporting him to emerge president and for developing agriculture to an enviable height.

    The president, who spoke to newsmen just after the first national meeting of the cooperative body in Abuja, said Abia state would soon be the agricultural hub of the South-East and South-South.

    Chief Uzoma, who is the first indigene of Abia to head NANFACOS as national president, said farmers are ready to collaborate with the state government to boost agricultural activities.

    The national president promised that farmers in each state will concentrate on agri-businesses which they have comparative advantage to collaborate with their state governments in boasting food production and security.

    According to him, the time has come when farmers should be keeping records of their expenditures which will decide on sales of their produce and products.

    He also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for giving high priority to agriculture by creating better policies and programmes for agricultural growth in the country.

    Read Also: Ikpeazu presents N132b budget for 2021

    Chief Uzoma said that no administration had paid attention to agriculture as the Federal Government under President Buhari has been doing.

    He said: “We commend Abia state governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu for being steadfast in the promotion of agricultural activities in the state. Abia state will soon become the agricultural hub of the South-East and South-South geo-political zones by creating agricultural programmes and projects ever seen in the state.

    “The governor is the first in Abia to lead over 200 farmers to foreign countries to learn modern techniques of farming, empower the Abia State Apex of Farmers Cooperative Societies (AFCOSOL) in attending agricultural seminars within and outside Nigeria and most importantly, financing and throwing his weight to see that Abia State produced the first president of NANFACOS.”

    While commending the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, George Akume, the NANFACOS president urged the minister to consider its members on the planned distribution of 2, 000 buses nationwide.

     

  • ‘Demarcating councils without local guides risky’

    ‘Demarcating councils without local guides risky’

    Emma Elekwa, Onitsha

     

    THE National Population Commission (NPC) in Anambra State has warned officers involved in the Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) against embarking on the exercise without local guides.

    Federal Commissioner Chidi Ezeoke spoke while kicking off the Phase II of the EAD, comprising Orumba North, Orumba South and Awka North Local Government Areas.

    According to him, the local guides are critical to the exercise to ensure data and information provided is accurate and reliable.

    He said: “We insisted that our host communities must provide us with sensible local guides who must be familiar with the terrain; not those who smoke hemp and can abandon the officers in the field.

    “We also appeal to them to take the security of both our personnel and materials seriously; provide accommodation for them and sensitise their people that our officers are not Boko Haram insurgents.

    “We have cautioned our demarcators against going to the field without a local guide, not just for security, but so they don’t document wrong information, either over or under estimation of persons in each household.”

    Ezeoke added that some freshly retired but not tired workers of the Commission had been engaged as Community Interface Assistance (CIA) to boost mobilisation and enlightenment efforts to ensure the community assumed full ownership of the project.

    State Director of NPC Joachin Ulasi said 18 teams of about 121 functionaries would be involved in the exercise which was the last in the series of training for the demarcators and supervisors.

    “We’re starting on December 19 till January 20, 2021. We’ve already covered seven councils, with 14 left. After this phase, we’ll take a week break to continue another phase. Hopefully, in seven months, we’ll be done with the paperless demarcation,” he said.

     

  • Police burnt house, abducted two friends in Abia, victim tells panel

    Police burnt house, abducted two friends in Abia, victim tells panel

    By Sunny Nwankwo, Umuahia

    An auto mechanic identified as Emeka Obasi Kama has narrated to the Abia Panel on Police Brutality of how his friends, Uchechi Agwu Kalu and Ndubuisi got missing after their encounter with some police officers from the Anti-Kidnapping Squad in Aba.

    Speaking at the sitting of the panel led by retired Justice Sunday Imo, Emeka alleged that police officers identified as Edet and Yellow serving at Azuka police station, Ogbor Hill, Aba, at the time of the incident, were responsible for the disappearance of his friends on August 11, 2020.

    According to Emeka, he went to Uchechi’s house on the said date and saw two people namely Ifunanya and Ndubuisi and joined them inside the house.

    He said after a while, some policemen came inside the house and started beating them without any reason.

    Read Also: ‘We found SARS’ victim’s corpse in a container, says Yabatech Deputy Registrar

    “As we were being beaten, Uchechi shouted Edet, I didn’t do anything to you but healed you of a deadly skin disease; “atuere.”

    “As Uchechi was shouting, they took me, Ifunanya and Ndubuisi outside, but Uchechi, Edet and two other officers were left in the room.”

    Narrating further, Emeka said, “I don’t know what Ndubuisi did, he was shot as we were lying down outside.”

    Emeka told the panel that the policemen carried Ndubusi into their mini-bus and sped off.

    He said the policemen returned later and took Uchechi away.

    “As they were taking Uchechi away, one of the policemen poured fuel on the house and set it ablaze.”

    Emeka narrated that since then, the two men had not been seen.

  • LG election: APC berates ABSIEC for disqualifying its candidates

    LG election: APC berates ABSIEC for disqualifying its candidates

    By Sunny Nwankwo, Umuahia

    All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State has berated the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) for disqualifying some of her candidates from contesting the forthcoming Local Government elections in the state.

    This is even as the immediate past secretary of the party in the state, Perfect Okorie said ABSIEC’s action amounted to contempt of court.

    An Abia High court sitting in Aba had penultimate week restrained ABSIEC from disqualifying any candidate of APC from contesting the election.

    However, while the matter was still pending in court, ABSIEC went ahead to disqualify some chairmanship and councillorship candidates of APC.

    Read Also: INEC: Court will decide winner of Imo North bye-election

    The APC in a statement issued by its caucus public relations officer in Abia North Senatorial Zone, Chibuike Jonas, described the action as unconstitutional, stating it was dead on arrival.

    In the statement which reads in part, the APC said: “ABSIEC has once again shown not just Abians but Nigerians in general that they are not ready to conduct a free, fair and sincere election through the disqualification of some candidates of the APC.

    “As party, we need to state categorically and to remind Prof. Mkpa and his team that ABSIEC has no right to disqualify any candidate.

    “This is stated clearly in the provisions of sections 31(1) and 83 of the Electoral Act, which provided that INEC cannot disqualify or reject a candidate nominated by a political party for an election.

  • NDDC: Militants kick against alleged plan to appoint Akpabio’s brother as administrator

    NDDC: Militants kick against alleged plan to appoint Akpabio’s brother as administrator

    By Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

    A coalition of Niger Delta militants, under the aegis of the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA), has sent a protest letter to President Muhammadu Buhari over the alleged plan by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, to appoint his brother as the Sole Administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    The RNDA said though Akpabio had the power to oversee the NDDC, his recent actions and lobby to approve the reappointment of the current Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Mr Akwa Okon, as the sole administrator to oversee the commission was provocative and could trigger a new round of violence in the creeks of the region.

    Read Also: Buhari appoints Akwa as NDDC’s Interim Administrator

    The RNDA, in a statement yesterday by its Coordinator,  ‘General’ Johnmark Ezonebi, said  if the approval was given for the appointment of Akpabio’s brother as the sole administrator, the coalition would be forced to review its earlier position on cease-fire and commence renewed hostilities against oil facilities in the region.

    The RNDA said: “The appointment of a sole administrator alone without the appointment of an EDP and EDFA in the commission just to enable Akpabio to allegedly siphon, divert and embezzle billions of naira into private pockets from the recovered money by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is unacceptable and immoral.

    “If Akpabio is allowed to have his way and announce the name of Mr Efiong Okon the present EDFA as the sole administrator to oversee the NDDC alone excluding the appointment of EDP and EDFA, then the RNDA will be left with no option but to declare a total war in the creeks to cripple the economy. We will also announce operation zero crude oil to flow in the creeks of the Niger Delta.”

  • Delta police nabs three suspects, PDP chief over communal clash

    Delta police nabs three suspects, PDP chief over communal clash

    By Elo Edremoda, Warri and Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba

    Three persons, including a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ward chairman have been reportedly arrested for illegal possession of arms and ammunition by military operatives deployed to restore calm in warring Emede and Igbide kingdoms, Isoko South council area of Delta State.

    The Nation gathered that the PDP chieftain, identified as Christopher Irivi-Ubulubu, doubles as the chairman of Igbide ward and overall chairman of all the PDP wards in the local government.

    He was said to have been under military interrogation until he was handed over to the Delta State Police Command through the Oleh Police Division on Friday.

    The three suspects were reportedly arrested at their hideouts in a government school in Igbide community.

    Read Also: Two traditional rulers suspended in Delta over communal violence

    While details surrounding the arrest were still sketchy as of the time of filing this report, sources suggest that it may not be unconnected to the communal conflict between Igbide and Emede kingdoms which has claimed five lives and left properties worth millions of naira, destroyed in Emede kingdom.

    Sources said that the attack on Emede by youths of Igbide kingdom saw persons in military camouflage and the use of sophisticated firearms.

    Both communities have had an age-long land tussle, which sources claim triggered the renewed violence.

    Following the killings and arson, the LGA Security Council on Friday, suspended the monarchs of the two kingdoms, imposed an indefinite dusk-to-dawn curfew and as well, declared the President General of Igbide, Mr Patrick Oboghor, “wanted” for failing to appear before it.

    The President General of Igbide is currently at large.

    The Police spokesperson, DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, confirmed the arrest of the trio in connection with the crisis, disclosing that arms and ammunition which they were “using to fight” were recovered from them.

  • Anambra health sector filled with Obi’s signatures – Cleric

    Anambra health sector filled with Obi’s signatures – Cleric

    Our Reporter

    The chairman, Onitsha Archdiocesan Hospital Board, Rev Fr Patrick Omuta, has narrated how the former governor of Anambra State and Vice Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, in 2019 elections, Mr. Peter Obi, has, over the years, uplifted the Anambra health sector with many signature projects.

    Fr Omuta, who spoke of Obi’s many investments in Anambra health sector, during the pastoral visit of Archbishop Valerie Okeke to Holy Rosary Hospital, Waterside, Onitsha, praised Obi for understanding the overwhelming importance of health in national development.

    He said Obi was committed to the development of the health sector in Anambra State as the then governor of the state.

    “When you go to Holy Rosary Specialist Hospital, Water-Side Onitsha, you will see the gigantic structures erected by Peter Obi. You cross over to the School of Mid-wifery, in the same hospital, his signature projects are all over the place. You move to Charles Borromew Hospital and their School of Nursing Sciences, his many projects will be staring you in the face. He even built a Doctor’s Quaters for them. The Joe Nwiloh Heart Centre at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Adazi-Nnukwu, which carries out open heart surgeries, was built by Peter Obi. Visit other hospitals like Iyi-Enu Specialist Hospital, Nkpor; Diocesan Hospital, Amichi; St Anthony’s Hospital, Ugwuagba; and see his laudable foot prints,” Fr Omuta eulogised.

  • Olu of Warri demands resumption of $20b gas project, dreging of Escravos Bar

    Olu of Warri demands resumption of $20b gas project, dreging of Escravos Bar

    By Elo Edremoda, Warri

    The Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Ikenwoli, has reiterated calls for the resumption of works at the multi-billion dollar Gas Revolution Industrial Park (GRIP), Ogidigben in Warri South West council area of Delta State.

    He has also appealed to the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, to “complete the process of dredging” the Escravos Bar for Warri and Koko ports in the state.

    The traditional ruler made the calls while presenting an address during his 5th coronation anniversary held at the palace in Warri, at the weekend.

    Recall that the GRIP project and dredging of the Escravos Bar were parts of demands issued by the Movement for the Development of Itsekiri Oil/Gas Communities (MDIOGPC), alongside other groups in Delta State, to the Federal Government five months ago.

    Commending President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment towards peace and development of the Niger Delta region, he stated the need for key ongoing or abandoned projects across Warri Kingdom to receive government attention.

    Read Also: NNPC, SEPLAT embark on $700m gas project in Imo

    The monarch explained that the GRIP project is “very dear” to the people of Warri kingdom and emphasised that on completion it will be of enormous benefit to the nation at large.

    “When the groundbreaking ceremony was done in January 2015, our hopes were very high for the nation at large. Since then, however, not much has been done,” Ogiame added.

    HM Ikenwoli also renewed appeal to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to fund the Koko-Ogheye Road project, which he inspected in September, pointing out that on completion it will open the Benin River corridor, which links down to Lagos, to development.

    Speaking on the COVID-19 pandemic, the traditional ruler urged Nigerians, especially the people of the kingdom to continue to take all precautionary measures as advised by the Federal Ministry of Health.

    Prince Yemi Emiko, who spoke on behalf of the Olu-in-Council noted that the people of Warri Kingdom are “happy” to celebrate yet another “significant” year with their king.

    Some dignitaries present are Dennis Guwor, Representative of Warri South constituency at the Delta State House of Assembly, the Delta State Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, led by Alhaji Abdulrasheed Ajisafe, members of the Warri Progressive Society and the Itsekiri Congress, United Kingdom.

    Others are the Warri traditional council of chiefs led by the Ologbotsere of Warri Kingdom, Chief Ayiri Emami, the Warri Ladies Vanguard among several other sons and daughters of the kingdom.

  • Foundation restores hope to Nigerian youths

    Foundation restores hope to Nigerian youths

    Our Reporter

    Founder of the “Not Too Young to Lead’ initiative, Elvis Akpobi is doing his best to refocus scores of Nigerian youths to be more purposeful in life.

    The Delta state-born youth advocate described his initiative as a movement with a vision to galvanise young Nigerians to take up leadership roles in the country as well as to use their limitless power to make the change they want in their lives and society.

    “I grew up in the slum with almost a zero support system. I had a strong inclination to restiveness with limited opportunities to break free from the cycle of poverty and become relevant beyond money. Yet I remained hopeful and hungry for something better.”

    Since the initiative commenced operation, it has embarked on over 25 community impact projects which includes, skill acquisition, scholarship scheme for vulnerable and less privileged orphaned youths, anti-cultism and drug abuse campaign tour, special campaign against human trafficking, leadership training and much more.

    Read Also: Osun lawmaker gifts 26 youths job tools

    Recently, he gave out about 100 free uniforms and school bags to Underprivileged pupils in Ute Okpu primary school Ika North east of Delta State.

    The initiative is mirroring excellence, and reminding youths of how powerful they actually are and helping to change the way they see their role in nation building. He added.

    The motivational speaker reiterated that the role of youths in any nation cannot be overemphasized because they are full of energy and ideas. He said he believes that when youths are empowered, they can demand better governance and solve their own problem.

    Akpobi says his organization will continue to collaborate with local and international institutions on strategic dialogue and implementation of relevant youth initiatives.

    His consistency and impact has today paid off with his current appointment as Special Assistant to the Delta State Governor on Youth Development. He has also been recognized for several awards for his youth advocacy among other noble awards.

  • Protest rocks Rivers as INTELS sacks 700 workers without benefits

    Protest rocks Rivers as INTELS sacks 700 workers without benefits

    By Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

    Protest rocked Onne in Rivers State on Friday following the decision of Intels Nig. Limited to sack over 700 members of its staff without benefits.

    The aggrieved sacked workers, who began the protest on Tuesday said they would only stop their demonstrations if the firm paid their benefits.

    The protesters and members of the Associated Maritime Services (AMS) barricaded the entrance to the firm’s plant yard displaying  placards.

    Some of the placards contained messages such as ‘Kindly do the Needful pay us our Redundancy Money,’ ‘Every Labourer Deserves His Wages, Pay us our Money,’ ‘Please INTELS do the Needful, pay us Don’t Send us home Empty Handed We Were Your Workers’.

    The President of AMS Union Staff Association, Intels, Sunday Atakpo, urged the management of the firm to pay the sacked workers their redundancy money.

    Read Also: Arik Air sacks 300 workers

    Atakpo said: “AMS is the major part of Intels group. We are here because over 700 of our men were placed on redundancy without following the condition of service.

    “They had tried this three months ago and we blocked the road and protested and we were called for negotiation. While the discussions were on,  they went round and terminated the people on the 8 of December when discussions have not concluded and benefits of the people have not been paid.

    “Since 1998, Intels and AMS have been having single negotiations, they are the same people. When we started this negotiation, we sat for about seven times and they said INTELS and AMS have been separated, we agreed. They went into discussions with INTELS 68 workers who were dropped and their benefits were paid to them.

    “When it came to AMS, they brought in about 633 redundant staffs and their benefits were not paid to them. And we are asking where in this world will you work and will not be paid. These are staff who have worked for you for over 25 years and you want to lay them off without benefits.

    “What they are doing is against any known labour law. Let them pay our people and we will leave them alone. You have not paid them off and you are chasing them out of the company, it is shameful and unexpected.”

    Also, Tunde Bolaji, the Chairman of Junior Staff INTELS AMS district of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, appealed to the state Governor, Cheif Nyesom Wike, the Federal Government and Labour Organisations to compel INTELS to clear their outstanding benefits before laying them off.

    Efforts to reach Intels management were unsuccessful but it was gathered that the protesters were not Intels employees but members of staff of contractual firms engaged by Intels.