The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • Sylva raises panel for Oloibiri museum

    Sylva raises panel for Oloibiri museum

     John Ofikhenua, Abuja

     

    MINISTER of State for Petroleum Resources Timipre Sylva has inaugurated a committee to map out strategies and modalities for establishment of Oloibiri Museum and Research Centre (OMRC) in Oloibiri, Bayelsa State.

    At a virtual event on Wednesday, Sylva said building the musuem would be a unique opportunity to correct a historical oversight.

    A statement by the ministry’s Deputy Director (Information) Enefaa Bob-Manuel said the museum would preserve the heritage and historical developments in Nigeria’s oil sector, adding that the plan had been on for over three decades.

    Read Also: Sylva: APC will reclaim Edo

    The scope of the project, according to the minister, would capture construction of a museum where oil and gas historic developments, data, equipment, and tools would be housed for posterity.

    Also, the scope would include construction of a functional research centre where prototypes could be tested and validated in fulfilment of the requirement for approval of new technologies.

    When completed, the OMRC will aid the retention of historical artefacts of Nigeria’s oil and gas journey, dissemination of knowledge across generations, creation of an attractive destination for tourists, restoration of the image of Oloibiri community among others.

  • Host communities denounce threats to OML 79

    Host communities denounce threats to OML 79

     Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt and Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

     

    HOST communities of Operating Mining Licence (OML) 79 in Ekeremor and Southern Ijaw local governments of Bayelsa State have denounced threats to operators of the licence.

    They called on the Federal Government, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and other stakeholders to ignore a protest and 21-day ultimatum to operators by a section of the communities.

    Community leaders and elders, under the Concerned Citizens of Kou, Iduwini, Bassan West, and Mein Clan of SPDC EA Communities, told Shell to continue with its operations in the area.

    They hailed Shell for keeping to its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in line with the General Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) guiding OML 79 operations.

    Read Also: Diri and Bayelsa’s changing narrative

    A statement by its spokesman, Chief Paul Oweipade, accused some influential members of the communities of trading off jobs and contracts meant for indigenes.

    It reads: “We urge SPDC and its joint ventures to disregard any purported 21-day ultimatum as the firm has fulfilled its CSR to the communities regarding OML 79.

    “Sadly, it is regretting that while SPDC had done its part in the implementation of the CSR under community content, some community members, in connivance with the cluster board chairmen, have traded off jobs and contracts meant for the communities to non-indigenous contractors.

    “SPDC and its JV have, in their CT Agreement, implemented the 10 vessels supply contracts, Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), supply; waste management, potable water supply, employing indigenes under FOD, though they have been placed on sit-at-home salary due to the attitude of the cluster board leaders…”

  • Ikpeazu vows to reduce rural-urban migration

    Ikpeazu vows to reduce rural-urban migration

    By Sunny Nwankwo, Umuahia 

    Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has reiterated his determination to reduce rural-urban drift by developing the rural areas.

    Ikpeazu spoke when Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) Prince Paul Ikonne visited him at the Government House in Umuahia.

    The governor said his administration mainstreamed agriculture as an alternative source of income.

    Ikpeazu, who described agriculture as key to the survival of society, regretted that COVID-19 hindered his vision of establishing cottage industries in some parts of the state.

    He said the government had ordered for machinery to establish some cottage agro-industries from Tiny Tech Corporation of India, but the pandemic hampered their trip to Nigeria.

    Ikpeazu urged Ikonne to approach his position from a multi-sectorial angle and address soil and gully erosion in the state.

    READ ALSO: Ikpeazu sacks commissioner, three council chairmen

    Ikonne said President Muhammadu Buhari revived NALDA because of his passion to ensure food security.

    According to him, programmes, such as Back to Farm, National Young Farmers Scheme, were designed to take young youths back to the farm.

    He added that two processing centres would be cited in the state, and hailed communities for donating lands for agricultural value chains.

  • 774,000 jobs: Imo gets 18,900 forms

    774,000 jobs: Imo gets 18,900 forms

    • ‘Uzodimma hijacking slots’

    • Governor: no time for petty politics

    By Agency Reporter

    The selection committee for the Federal Government’s Special Public Works (SPW) programme has despatched 18,900 forms in Imo State.

    Committee Chairman Sylvester Obinna handed over the forms to representatives of various sectors yesterday in Owerri.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the distribution was witnessed by religious leaders, traditional rulers and management of the National Directorate for Employment (NDE), among others.

    Obinna lauded the President Muhammadu Buhari- led government for the initiative, and urged the heads of sectors to eschew nepotism and ensure the actualisation of the government’s target of job creation for Nigerians.

    The sectors include Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), academic institutions, interest groups, youth groups and market women.

    Obinna urged members to ensure that 200 of the 1,000 slots for each council were reserved for graduates.

    He said: “The forms have been customised and embossed with some security features. Every council area has its own special forms meant for residents, irrespective of which part of the country they come from.

    “The government will not tolerate gender, ethnic or religious bias; you must exercise caution in the execution of this assignment as you are under watch. Also, there should be 20 per cent graduate recruitment in all council.”

    Obinna said the forms were free, warning that any committee member who sold the forms would be prosecuted.

    READ ALSO: Buhari’s honesty, vision stabilising force in Nigeria – Uzodinma

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused Governor Hope Uzodimma of hijacking the 27,000 job slots.

    The party alleged the governor had decided to share the slot among his loyalists.

    A statement by Publicity Secretary Ogubundu Nwadike reads: “The jobs were allocated to Imo people and not to those in the corridors of power, their families and stooges.

    “Imo PDP rejects plans by this regime to corner the 27,000 job slots for itself and few supporters.”

    But Uzodimma’s media aide, Modestus Nwamkpa, said the governor had no time for petty politics. He urged PDP to play opposition politics that could positively impact the state.

    Nwamkpa said the allegations were false.

    “The governor has no time to play petty politics … He is focused on lifting the people from poverty. So, at the appropriate time, the state would be informed of the modalities for participating in the exercise.”

  • Wike signs revised 2020 budget

    Wike signs revised 2020 budget

    Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

     

    RIVERS State Governor Nyesom Wike has signed the revised 2020 appropriation bill of N300 billion into law.

    The new budget represents 48 per cent reduction from the N530 billion originally budgeted for spending.

    Wike, who said effects of the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the review, however promised it will not affect the delivery of quality development projects and services.

    He said: “It is unfortunate that everybody is living a different life now because of the pandemic. This calls for us to face the reality. COVID-19 has affected economic activities and revenues of government, and so it became necessary to review our budget.

    “By the revised budget, so many things have to change. We have cut down the capital and recurrent expenditure to face the reality. We are the only state that has not cut down the salaries of political appointees and elected officers; virtually all the states have done a 20 to 30 per cent sut. Having cut down the recurrent expenditures, the overhead will no longer be the same.”

    Governor Wike has gifted 41 judges in the state High Court brand new Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV).

    Read Also: Wike distributes protective kits to 257 schools

     

    At a brief ceremony at the High Court premises yesterday, Wike said the gesture was to improve service delivery in the judiciary.

    He also said the judges’ quarters would soon be completed, and he promised to release the certificate of occupancy to them as well.

    Wike said: “It is my pleasure to announce the completion of the newest and most modern judges living quarters in the country. Today, we are taking another unprecedented step to replace our judges’ old vehicles in fulfilling our promise to improve working conditions and enhance effective justice delivery.”

    Chief Judge Justice Iyayi Laminkara thanked Wike for the gifts, saying the judiciary is now the envy of their counterparts in the country. He also thanked the governor for the prompt release of funds for operations of the High Court.

     

  • ‘Coscharis seeks to invest in Cross River’

    ‘Coscharis seeks to invest in Cross River’

    Our Reporter

     

    CROSS River State Governor Ben Ayade has said private investors are needed to achieve the vision of industrialising the state.

    The governor stated this at the weekend when he conducted President of the Coscharis Group, Dr Cosmos Maduka, round projects in Northern Cross River.

    Ayade described Maduka as ‘a core investor with credible track record’.

    “Coscharis is here in Obudu to ensure that the specialist hospital becomes a reality. He is the representative of Siemens and that hospital will be equipped by Siemens.

    “We also want to encourage him to invest in at least 50km to 100km of the superhighway. We want to encourage him to invest in the British-Canadian University we are building.

    “As a core investor, as a man with credible record, a man who has a history of consistent success from start to finish, we believe that a handholding with him will bring great success to our state. That is basically the philosophy that underlines our decision to have him go through all of our projects,” Ayade said.

    Elated by what he saw, especially a section of the 274km Superhighway linking Cross River with the north, Maduka said he was willing to invest in the state.

    Read Also: Ayade’s failed gamble

    He had always dismissed the project as a facade before his visit, Maduka said. He hinted that Coscharis, a multi-sectoral conglomerate, would explore the possibility of maximising investment opportunities in the state.

    He said: “What we are seeing here is incredible to say the least; it is better seen than imagined. Anytime you hear news about the superhighway from Ikom all the way to Benue State, everybody says forget it, he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.

    “Today I am standing on the road myself and I am short of words to say the least. We came in here yesterday, we have looked at the British International School; we went to Obudu; we have seen the hospital being built, we are just coming from the airport and I was wondering where he is getting the resources to do all these. What we are seeing is capacity of thinking, of brainstorming.

    “Cocharis is looking for business opportunities. We are doing something on agriculture in Anambra State so if the opportunity presents itself, we will take a stake here. We are willing to invest.”

  • Missing two-year-old boy found near Anambra market

    Missing two-year-old boy found near Anambra market

    By Emma Elekwa, Onitsha

    A two-year old boy reportedly missing has been found in Oba in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    The child, of about 2 feet tall, fair in complexion with small tribal marks was found by the vigilante group in the area wondering around Oba International market.

    The Nation gathered that the boy was unable to state his name, where he hailed from nor find his way back home.

    Police spokesperson, Haruna Mohammed who confirmed the incident, said the boy is presently in the protective care of the Oba Divisional Anti human trafficking unit pending identification of his parents or guardian.

    He said, “On the 1/8/2020 at about 8:am, the Chairman, Vigilante group Oba in Idemili South LGA of Anambra State brought a male child of about two years old to Oba Police Station.

    “The child is about 2 feet tall, fair in complexion with small tribal marks.

    Read Also: Anambra begins 10 percent tax refund disbursement

    “The boy was found wandering around Oba International market and could neither mention his name, find his way back home nor state where he came from.

    “He is presently in the protective care of the Oba Divisional Anti human trafficking unit pending identification of his parents or guardian.

    “In view of the foregoing, you are kindly requested to disseminate this message through your medium to enable the biological parents or close relatives identify him.

    “Anyone with useful information about the found child should report at Oba Divisional Police Station or contact PPRO Anambra State Police Command through GSM no 08060970639.”

  • Aba shoe factory rated best in Nigeria

    Aba shoe factory rated best in Nigeria

    By Sunny Nwankwo, Umuahia

    The Technical Partner of the Aba Automated Shoe Factory, Mr. Osaro Ekonweren has rated the Aba Automated Shoe Factory as the most modernised shoe producing machines in the country.

    Ekonweren in an interview after the inauguration of the Mr. Mark Atasie-led board of the company by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu at the Government House, Umuahia, the State capital, yesterday, said that they were impressed by the creative ingenuity of workers at the shoe factory.

    “We were amazed and impressed by what we saw on ground. Our group has been into shoe production in Nigeria for over a decade now and I must confess that the machines we saw there when we went on inspection cannot be found anywhere in the country.”

    Read Also: I’m leaving big shoes for Lyon, says Dickson

    Ekonweren said that at present, the factory has an installed capacity for the production of 5000 pairs of shoes every day which translates to about two million pairs of shoes annually; with facilities for expansion and assured that they plan to actually expand this capacity within the next one year.

    He saluted the foresight of Governor Ikpeazu and confirmed that the factory will change the face of shoe production in Nigeria.

    Also speaking, the Executive Director, Operations of the Factory, Mr. Chinenye Nwaogu said that with the new management structure in place, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has sent a clear message that the factory will be run solely on a basis of professionalism inspired by commercial expediency.

    He said that the 30 shoe makers who were sent to China by the governor for training on the use of machines in shoe production will form the initial technical staff of the factory while there will be huge emphasis on training for more operators.

  • Resumption: Enugu moves to ensure workers’ compliance with COVID-19 protocol

    Resumption: Enugu moves to ensure workers’ compliance with COVID-19 protocol

    Our Reporter

     

    AHEAD of Monday resumption of duty, after four months of lockdown, the Enugu State Government has reminded all civil servants in the state of the need to adhere strictly to the laid down preventive measures for containment of the spread of Coronavirus.

    The reminder was made by the state’s acting Head of Service, Mr. Ken Chukwuegbo, when he joined the Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Ministerial Affairs, Hon. Mrs. Mabel Agbo and the Chairman, State Civil Service Commission, Chief Martin Ugada, to supervise the decontamination and fumigation of the State Secretariat complex and other offices, ahead of resumption of work on August 3.

    Chukwuegbo, who applauded the sustained commitment of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi towards the wellbeing and safety of the workers, disclosed that “the desk officers from the office of the Head of Service have been mandated to ensure strict compliance in addition to what the Permanent Secretaries of the MDAs will be doing from Monday, the 3rd of August.”

    Describing the decontamination exercise as a welcome development, the acting Head of Service also reminded the workers “that on Monday the 3rd of August they should walk into their offices with their face masks and maintain physical and social distancing as well as adhere to other precautionary measures as listed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).”

    Read Also: Enugu Airport to reopen August 30

    Speaking further he said: “They (workers) should not loiter around; they should remain in their offices and work; they should not move from one office to another, so that together we can have a safe environment and stay safe.”

    Chukwuegbo, on behalf of the workers of Enugu State, appreciated Ugwuanyi, who he described as “the workers’ friendly governor” for paying their salaries regularly even when they are at home” as well as pensions and gratuities of retired workers of the state.

    Earlier in her speech, the Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Ministerial Affairs, Hon. Mrs. Agbo, explained that the decontamination/fumigation exercise was approved by the governor to create a safe environment for the civil servants as they resume work on August 3.

    She added that the exercise will eliminate reptiles and rodents that must have invaded the offices during the lockdown as well as prevent the spread of COVID-19, saying, “Enugu State is blessed to have a governor in the person of Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who cares for the indigenes and residents of the state by protective means.”

    On his part, the State Chief Fire Officer, Engr. Okwudiri Ohaa, pointed out that the state government is not only decontaminating the state secretariat but “is equally fumigating it by adding all those insecticides that can kill reptiles and mosquitoes.”

  • Onitsha residents raise alarm as waste evacuators suspend service

    Onitsha residents raise alarm as waste evacuators suspend service

     Emma Elekwa, Onitsha

     

    RESIDENTS of Onitsha and its environs in Anambra State have raised the alarm over impending epidemic outbreak following increasing presence refuse dumps in the area.

    The development reportedly occasioned by suspension of services of waste evacuators known as Pay Direct Contractors in the state over unpaid wages had constituted health hazards to the people of the area.

    Among the affected areas include Federal and Akpaka housing estates, Omagba phase 1 & 2, Oweleaja, Awada, Ozalla, Oduke and Odume/isiowulu in Obosi communities.

    Others are Iyiukwu, Nkwelle Ezunaka, Ugwuagba, Abata Nsugbe, Okpoko, Amafor west, Iyiowa odakpe, Mkpikpa, Enekwasumpu and Akuzor Nkpor communities.

    Speaking with newsmen on Saturday in Onitsha, a resident of Iyiukwu, Earnest Mbagwu who said they had lived with the refuse for over two weeks, described the odour from the stench as excruciating, calling for immediate intervention of relevant authorities.

    Read Also: Millions gone in Anambra fire

    He said, “Before, the refuse dump used to be along the expressway until it was brought here. We agitated against the relocation but they insisted it was where the government wants it to be.

    “They had promised to be evacuating the refuse three times a week. But for the past two weeks, the thing has been there. The type of odour oozing out from the dump site is capable of causing epidemic if care is not taken.

    “Many of the buildings here are housing nursing mothers, pregnant women, children and aged parents, some of who are sick. My wife just came back from the hospital. No one can say for sure whether it’s the effect of the stench.

    “We’re calling on the relevant agencies to come and evacuate the refuse so we can breathe some fresh air.”

    Another resident, Prince Odinaka Chikwelu, Chief Security Officer of the area said they planned contributing money to evacuate the refuse, but warned they would not allow further dumping of the refuse in the area.

    A landlord in Ozalla Obosi area, Mike Aloka said they had been disposing the waste and collecting the money from residents before they were asked to stop.

    “We’ve been evacuating waste for over six months. We asked them to pay us for the ones so far evacuated, they refused, and at the same time don’t want us to collect money.

    “We’re waiting for them to pay us for the ones we’ve done so we can continue. It’s only one week and the entire environment is littered with refuse. You can imagine what will happen if it lingers,” he lamented.