The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • MOSOP president kicks against Abuja court judgment on OML-11 in Ogoni

    THE president of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Chief Legborsi Pyagbara, has kicked against the judgment on twenty-year renewal of operatorship of Oil Mining Lease (OML)-11 in Ogoniland by the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC).

    Pyagbara, on Saturday in Port Harcourt, stated that MOSOP had over the years consistently and non-violently drawn the attention of all institutions, successive governments, fellow Nigerian citizens and the international community to the persistent injustice and plight of the Ogoni people as host to SPDC.

    The Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja on Friday ordered the Minister of Petroleum Resources (President Muhammadu Buhari) to grant the renewal of OML-11 to SPDC for 20 years.

    FHC Abuja’s Justice Taiwo Taiwo, in his judgment delivered on Shell’s suit, ruled that the renewal would be for 20 years and not 30 years, as requested by the Anglo/Dutch oil giant.

    Read Also: MOSOP’s Secretary-General regains freedom

    SPDC was sent packing in 1993 from Ogoniland’s four local government areas of Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme, while a renowned environmentalist, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and eight other Ogoni martyrs were hanged on November 10, 1995 at the Port Harcourt Prisons, during the regime of the late Gen. Sani Abacha.

    MOSOP president said: “The abuses and injustice have continued unabated for over 60 years, from 1957, when oil was discovered in Ogoniland. Our peaceful and defenceless people have been killed in thousands, communities sacked, means of subsistence destroyed through reckless oil mining activities, polluting our environment, including farmlands, aquatic life and forest resources, without redress by the government or change of attitude by the oil companies, particularly SPDC.

    “The judgment (of FHC Abuja) came at a time that we have said consistently that the attempt to deal with the oil mining,  extraction or in any other way, that the three parties must be brought in or carried along in discussing issues relating to oil licence. The community, as a critical stakeholder, must be carried along with the federal government and the oil company, in discussion relating to anything about licensing of any oil company to operate in Ogoniland, particularly in discussing issues of externalities associated with oil extraction and even the question of benefits’ sharing.”

     

  • Wike pledges improved security for Ogoni communities

    RIVERS State Governor Nyesom Wike has assured residents of Ogoni communities that more security assistance would be extended to them to stem the rising insecurity in the communities.

    Ogoni communities of Khana and Gokana Local Government Areas of the state have been enmeshed in incessant violent attacks by hoodlums suspected to be cultists in the last one month.

    The hoodlums appearing to be taking on the communities in twos, penultimate week, were Taaba and Okwali of Khana LGA, where nine persons were reportedly killed and several other injured, as tens of houses were either touched or razed, including the house of a second class traditional ruler in the area.

    Earlier, two communities including Khana and Gokana were attacked with some casualties recorded. Sources said the attacks were cult-related, the latest reportedly took place last Thursday and Friday. Two communities of Kono-Boue and Kereken-Boue Towns in Khana LGA, with about five persons feared dead, and several houses destroyed and burnt by fire.

    Wike visited the communities yesterday in the company of service commanders for on-the-spot assessment of the level of damage and to condole with the families whose loved ones were killed in the attacks.

    Read Also: Wike felicitates with Muslims

    He assured the people of the communities that more security officials would be deployed to help curb the attacks and restore peace and sanity to the area.

    Wike said that security agencies have been mobilised  to go after the criminal cultists operating in Ogoni communities, and assured that they would be punished for the crime they committed when apprehended, and appealed for the cooperation of members of the communities in fishing out the culprits.

    He said that the State Security Council has adopted new strategies to build the security framework in communities troubled by cultists.

    He charged parents to monitor their children. He said communities must take measures to discourage youths from becoming cultists.

    Chairman of Khana Local Government Area, Mr Lahteh Loolo, explained that cultists displaced some communities in the area. He commended the Rivers State governor for his sustained response which reduced the level of casualties suffered by the communities.  He said that with the new strategies introduced by the Rivers State governor, the security challenge facing the area would be resolved.

    The traditional ruler of Kono Boue, Chief Ezekiel Manson, expressed happiness with the intervention of the Rivers State governor. He said when the cultists attacked the community, the divisional police officer and his personnel responded positively.

  • Ex- governor’s aide’s daughter, community leader, wife kidnapped in Enugu

    A former Enugu State governor’s aide’s daughter, a community leader and his wife, were on Thursday abducted by gunmen in two different locations in Enugu State.

    Kosiso, the daughter of former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani’s aide, Frank Anioma, was said to be on her way to the New Haven market when she got missing.

    “Her phone was ringing when we called her number but there was no reply.

    Thereafter, it went into busy,” Anioma posted.

    The second incident occurred Thursday night at Amokwe, Udi Local Council along Old EnuguAwka Road where an Nnewi based businessman, Chief Ernest Otugo and his wife were kidnapped by gunmen.

    They were travelling to Enugu from Nnewi, to attend a social function billed for the next day in a chocolate colour Toyota Venza when the incident occurred.

    The couple also had their children and a family friend simply identified as Chief Reuben with them when the gunmen struck.

    Otugo, his wife and his friend, Reuben, said to be an indigene of Awka, Anambra State, were taken captive leaving behind the children.

    The wife was later released by the kidnappers for her to go and arrange for the ransom.

    The amount was not mentioned.

    Enugu State Police Command through its spokesman, Superintendent Ebere Amaraizu said the anti-kidnap operatives were on top of the situation.

    An advocacy group for the promotion of peace and good governance in Enugu State, Enugu Youths Coalition for Good Governance, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari, to direct the immediate redeployment of the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Suleiman Balarabe, for lack of capacity and commitment to secure the state.

    The group, which frowned at the spate of crimes in the state since Balarabe assumed office as Enugu State Commissioner of Police, few weeks to the 2019 general election, said that the demand was borne out of their objective assessment of the performance of the police chief and the need to protect lives and property.

    In a statement signed by the Coordinator and Secretary, Hon. Ikechukwu Ibeh and Engr. Jude Onyema, respectively, the advocacy group maintained that Enugu State had been peaceful and one of the safest states in Nigeria, expressing deep concern that “if something urgent is not done to rejig the security architecture of the state; our state’s enviable status will be jeopardized.”

    Read Also: Anger over murder of woman in Enugu

    They stated that the present cases of kidnapping, murder and other criminal activities being witnessed in the state were strange and a sign of failure on the part of the security agencies in the state, especially the police.

    The group added that “this recent ugly experience was never encountered in Enugu State in the past three years when the immediate past Commissioner of Police, Mr. Danmallam Mohammed was in the saddle.”

    Another kidnap incident was recorded in neighbouring Imo State where gunmen abducted the wife of the Anglican Bishop of Ikeduru Diocese, Anuri Maduwuike.

    The incident occurred barely 24 hours after gunmen killed five people in a pre-dawn attack on another community in the state.

    It was gathered that the victim was abducted on her way home from Owerri. According to an eyewitness, the prelate’s wife was ambushed at a bad spot by Ekemele and whisked to an unknown destination.

    According to the source, “wife of the Anglican bishop of Ikeduru Diocese Mrs. Anuri Maduwuike was kidnapped by gunmen. We need prayers for God’s intervention for the safety and freedom of the God’s handmaid.”

    The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Orlando Ikeokwu, a Superintendent of Police, confirmed the development.

    The Police spokesperson told our correspondent that her abductors were yet to establish contacts with the victim’s family

  • I leave IPOB leader’s threat to God and the law, says Nwodo

    NATIONAL President of apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, John Nnia Nwodo, says he has left the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, to God and the law.

    Nwodo’s remark was contained in an open letter to Ndigbo concerning an online video in which Kanu made series of allegations against him.

    “I have noted the threats to my life from the IPOB leader.  I leave that to God and the law,” Nwodo wrote.

    Read Also: No regrets attacking Ekweremadu – IPOB

    Calling on South East leaders to condemn the IPOB leader’s action, Nwodo said: “Ndigbo, I have championed your cause with every amount of energy in me.  I have worked with little encouragement or assistance. Thank God my team and I have elevated Ohanaeze Ndigbo to an enviable status.  It is dangerous for our solidarity and ultimate success if we allow these vituperative outbursts to truncate our solidarity.

    “In spite of all I say, I salute Nnamdi for his courage and his persistence in upholding our case but I urge you all to rise up and condemn what is condemnable.  Speak up and shame those who would want us to split into pieces and destroy our resolve to fight as a united people.

    As a father, I will always forgive an erring child but not without drawing his attention to a misdemeanor which should never be repeated.

  • Anambra 2021: APC, PDP, APGA in verbal war

    CHAIRMEN of three leading political parties in Anambra State, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are locked in hot exchange of words over who succeeds the incumbent governor, Willie Obiano.

    The state chairman of the APC, Chief Basil Ejidike, had declared that his party would stop at nothing in winning the governorship in Anambra come 2021.

    His PDP counterpart, Chief Ndubuisi Nwobu, in a chat with The Nation at the weekend, boastfully dismissed the APC , saying that the party had no place in the political equation of the state.

    APGA chairman, Sir Norbert Obi, in a separate chat  with The Nation, described both parties as jokers and confused.

    Ejidike, the state’s APC chairman said:  ” The Willie Obiano administration is just counting days and months and that will be the end of APGA in Anambra.

    “We are not relying on what the Vice President; Prof Yemi Osinbajo said when he attended out round table summit at Prof Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Center in Awka.  Our party has got it’s mojo back ”

    “With our arrangements and inroads already in the state, APC will stop at nothing in making sure the state joins in the Next Level’ and we are ready and good to go. All the loopholes that had blocked the party from winning elections in the state are gradually being opened. Both PDP and APGA cannot stop the moving train.”

    PDP chairman, Chief Nwobu said, “APGA should be following us and not us following them, the present administration in the state has collapsed completely and the people are suffering. The 2019 election has shown the pattern of interest Ndi Anambra in the PDP notwithstanding that we are not in power now at the center or in the state.

    “I don’t want to talk about APC because they are not in the political space in Anambra. Their boast of taking over the state is a wishful thinking. Our people will never go back to kindergarten, they don’t have such capacity.”

    The APGA chairman, Sir Norbert Obi said with what Governor Willie Obiano had already put in place in Anambra State, that it would be difficult for any other political parties to dislodge his party in the state. According to him: “We don’t believe in noise making, but in action.

    APGA government has raised the bar of governance here and it will be a herculean task for any other party to take over the state.

    “We are not relenting because we know all eyes are on APGA and the other parties are not happy and that is why the Obiano administration is not taking anything to chance in making sure that the people are happy.”

  • Abia donates vehicles to police

    As part of the efforts of the state government to assist various security agencies in the state, Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has donated over 20 vehicles fitted with modern communication gadgets to the police.

    It was gathered that the vehicles, which were supplied by Nigeria’s indigenous industrialist Innoson Motors, is in support of Abia State and President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign for the patronage of local content.

    At a brief ceremony, which held at the Government House, Umuahia, the vehicles were received by the state Commissioner of Police (CP) Ene Okon from Governor Ikpeazu on behalf of heads of other security agencies for dispatch to their various areas of operation.

    According to Ene, the gesture from the state government was to assist the police and other security agencies to effectively combat crime in the state.

    He called on the security agencies to deploy the vehicles for use across the state to ensure the security of lives and property of Abians.

    The governor, who maintained that his administration takes the security of lives and properties of Abians and visitors alike seriously, disclosed that the state government is committed to ensuring that business hours of major cities in the state were extended.

    “We take the security of lives and property of Abians very serious as it is a sacred assignment. I urge you to quickly deploy these vehicles to the streets to improve patrol as well as ensure that we maintain our position as the safest state in Nigeria.

    “Our administration is desirous of extending business hours in the state, especially Aba and Umuahia. There is therefore the need for you to map out strategies to secure the people during the day and at night. As further support, we will provide additional vehicles as well as ensure that functional street lights are deployed in the major cities of the state.”

    The State Commissioner of Police; Okon, while thanking the governor, promised that they will make good use of the vehicles and stated the commitment of the police and other security agencies in the state to rid the state of criminal elements.

    The Nation recalled that Governor Ikpeazu had donated over 40 patrol vehicles to security agencies in the state during his first term, a move that many said helped in boosting security in the state.

  • Job tools for Enugu lawmakers’ constituents

    A weeklong empowerment activity in Enugu North senatorial district ended with the distribution of 212 grinding machines, 51 tricycles, over 200 motorcycles and five transformers.

    The items were given out to individuals from the six local councils of the senatorial zone viz Nsukka, Udenu, Igboeze North, Igboeze South, Igbo Etiti and Uzo Uwani.

    The distribution took place at Nkpologwu, Uzo Uwani at the country home of the senator representing the district, Senator Chuka Utazi.

    The selection of the beneficiaries was done through the churches, which according to Utazi, know the actual people who needed the poverty alleviation intervention.

    Many clergymen were present at the occasion which was also witnessed by stakeholders of Nsukka cultural zone.

    Senator Utazi said at the occasion that the beneficiaries were given the items for them to become productive and be useful citizens of Nigeria.

    “This is just a segment of what we are doing in the Federal Government zonal intervention. These are just items for poverty alleviation we are giving to them.

    “Beyond that there are infrastructure intervention in the area of roads maintenance. There are also building of police stations and residents with a view to checking the menace of kidnappers, schools and books to pupils.

    “The Federal Government gets to the people through us and through us the Federal Government makes sure that the grassroots gets what they want. We want the people to earn income and generate revenue for themselves,” Utazi stated.

    According to the senator the presentations were not enough as “this is a drop in the ocean considering the fact that Enugu North senatorial district is the biggest in Enugu having over 51 percent of the population of the state.”

    He said the exercise would be continuous until majority of the indigent citizens are captured in the programme.

  • Ebonyi tackles illiteracy

    Worried by the high rate of out-of-school children in Ebonyi State, Governor David Umahi flagged off the Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) with a target to end illiteracy in the state by 2022.

    The programme is in partnership with the World Bank.

    Speaking at the launch which took place at the Akanu Ibiam International Conference Centre Abakaliki, Chairman of Universal Basic Education Board, Ebonyi State, Hyacinth Ikpor, in his welcome address, noted that the state has provided free uniform, food, text books and other relevant educational materials for out of school children.

    He urged all parents to utilise this opportunity by bringing back their children to school because such children are sources of insecurity to the state.

    “Education for all is a responsibility for all,” he added.

    Professor Gidado Tahir, the National Coordinator of BESDA commended Governor Umahi for his giant steps to end Nigeria’s worst education nightmare.

    He further urged the governor to ensure that a proper measure is put in place to bring the targeted number of children, ensuring that they remain in school and providing an enabling learning environment with effective teachers.

    Executive Secretary of Universal Basic Education Commission(UBEC), Dr. Hamid Bobboyi also appreciated the governor for making education the business of the state with much seriousness.

    He also commended the governor for the timely payment of teachers’ salaries which is part of the programme.

    According to him, the issue of out of school children have been a major problem in Nigeria, stating that in 2015, the number of children out of school were 500,000 and in 2017, it was 10.8 million children but has now come down to 10.1 million.

    He described the situation as worrisome and urged all stakeholders to ensure that no child is left behind in this programme for a better and stronger future for the country.

    He further stated that one of the measures required to address this issue is the ability of states to show proof of their previous achievements before getting more money to further the program which Ebonyi State had achieved already.

    He divulged that each boy is entitled to $80 while a girl is entitled to $100. This he said is to encourage the education of female children because girls are mostly left behind in most of the participating states.

    Dr. Tunde Adefoke, the representative of the World Bank stated that the project is Ebonyi project but only assissted by the World Bank and as such, all Ebonyians should show commitment to this program.

    He mentioned that Ebonyi is the only state in the Southeast benefiting from the programme due to the large number of children out of school.

    He further stated that it is not enough to have well equipped school buildings but the major thing is ensuring that the children are in school.

    Commissioner for Education in the state, Dr Stephen Odo, in his remarks, noted that all efforts by the state government to bequeath qualitative education to all Ebonyi children have not received the desired response.

    He blamed this on parents, guardians and care-givers who for one reason or the other still keep their children/wards at home or give them out for one reason or the other still keep their children/wards at home or give them out as maids or house-helps, or even allow them to hawk in the cities.

    He said, “This scenario has led to an unacceptable level of out of school children in the state especially when compared to other states in the Southeast.

    “For instance, while Southeast recorded 11.3% out of school in 2016/2017, Ebonyi State recorded 21.4 out of school children. This figure is 90% higher than the zonal average.

    He said the problem of out-of-school is both a national and a global concern. In Nigeria, about 10.5 million children of school age are out of school, about the highest in the world while UNICEF report of 2018 shows that one child out of every five out-of-school children globally is from Nigeria.

    He also noted that one of the main reasons for the problem is lack of political will by government to tackle the issue.

    “Other reason why the problem persists is financial constraints, ignorance on the part of parents/guardians, socio-cultural complexities, access to schools, physically challenged children, child labour and migration and orphanage.

    “Fortunately for us in Ebonyi State, we have the political will in excess supply, so all other barriers to children being in school will be completely taken care of. For the saying goes that where there is a will, there is a way”, Odo said.

    He promised that the state will be committed and dedicated to the program and urged all Ebonyians to cooperate with the ministry of education.

    Governor of Ebonyi State Engineer David Umahi identified illiteracy as one of the major causes of insecurity and violence in the country.

    He said all children should go to school because that is the only way to safeguard the future and to have a peaceful coexistence.

    According to him, the state had maintained 10th position in both NECO and WAEC for the past five years wbut is not satisfied because they are aiming for the first position.

    He assured them that the state government is working hard to rewrite the education of the state by creating three centres which will commence September this year for intelligent primary school graduates.

    He stated that the parents’ duty is dropping them off at the school gate because their feeding, clothing, medical, etc will be taken care of by government.

    The aim according to him is to have students making a minimum of 9As in WAEC and NECO.

    He also said the state government had also established the vocational training center at the international market to help children who are the breadwinners of their families.

    “We are creating three centers, we want to start with primary one and we want after the common entrance, all the people that pass the exam will re-sit a special exam and those who will make 95% and above will be taken to those three centers and all the parents need to do is to drop them in front of the school.

    “Their feeding, school fees, medicals and clothings are totally taken care of by government. We are starting this September. Some of these children are out of school because they are the breadwinners of their families so we are building a vocational center at the International m5arket for some of the children that are trading, to enable them to school and trade at the same time,” Umahi said.

    He further promised that by 2022 when the programme is to end there will be no out of school children in Ebonyi State.

  • Mixed feelings for parents of quadruplets

    It was mixed feelings for the family of Evangelist Ibe, following his wife’s delivery of a set of quadruplets at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Anambra State.

    While many visit prayer houses and traditional medicine practitioners in search of fruits of the womb, Ibe’s family was blessed with four kids at a go, a blessing he described as ‘overdose.’

    The cleric, a native of Mbaitoli, Imo State, attached to St. Barth’s Anglican Church, Umuezeagu Uruagu, Nnewi, said the news of the quadruplets threw him off balance as he was not expecting four at a time.

    He expressed concerns over how to settle the hospital bills, feed the babies and take care of some other challenges in view of the economic hardship in the country.

    Ibe said, “Immediately after the delivery, somebody came where I was waiting and said to me, congratulations father of four.

    “I shouted, Jesus! I was not expecting four at a go. Actually, we were told from the scan conducted in one of the hospitals in Nnewi that the babies were three but, to my greatest surprise, they turned out to be four and that threw me off balance.”

    He appealed to the state government and public-spirited individuals to come to his aid to enable him cope with the situation.

    Fortunately, intervention came through one of the persons he extended the distress call to:   Chief Louis Carter Onwugbenu, an Nnewi-born industrialist.

    Onwugbenu, who requested for the bills on arrival at the NAUTH, could not hold back his generosity as he ended up offsetting bills of over 12 indigent mothers at the maternity ward who were unable to foot their bills.

    He also offered scholarship to the quadruplets to study up to tertiary level in any higher institution of their choice, anywhere, under the Louis Carter Foundation, where other indigent students were beneficiaries over the years.

    According to him, the gesture, which amounted to over N1.5m, was part of the activities marking his 66th birthday celebrations.

    He said, “I didn’t carry out this act of kindness because I’m the richest within my environment but I see it as a responsibility and as a way of appreciating God for his numerous blessings.”

    Onwugbenu called on government and other philanthropists to always respond to the cry of the indigent, stressing that, “no one knows who will be what tomorrow.”

    Chief Medical Director, NAUTH, Prof. Anthony Igwegbe, expressed appreciation to the philanthropist for his magnanimity, saying he had always been known for such at the hospital.

    “You have always reflected your chieftaincy title of “Okpata Ozue Ora Nnewi” (He who utilises his wealth to help others) in your actions,” he added.

    Igwegbe prayed for God’s blessing upon his life.

    Responding, the Ibes and other beneficiaries of the largesse were full of praise to God and the benefactor, being the instrument used to rescue them from financial embarrassment.

  • Gains of ‘Operation Puff Adder’ in Abia

    A police offensive against violent crime is helping to dislodge kidnappers and armed robbers in Abia State, reports SUNNY NWANKWO

    Aba, the commercial capital of Abia State, has always held an attraction for all shades of criminals. The regular pickpocket, burglar, armed robber, kidnapper, and child trafficker, among others, target the city’s buzzing population and business proceeds. This is what keeps the police and other security agents on their toes, necessitating constant clampdowns.

    On April 5, in Abuja, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar launched a bold offensive tagged ‘Operation Puff Adder’ meant to smoke out criminals from their dens and keep them out of business.

    On April 24, Abia State Commissioner of Police, CP Ene Okon accompanied by senior police officer in the command launched the Puff Adder operation in the state.

    Investigation by our reporter has it that the centrality of the state to other states in the Southeast and Southsouth coupled with the high volume of economic activities in the state, particularly Aba, make the commercial city vulnerable to the activities of hoodlums and other criminally-minded elements.

    “Operation Puff Adder” has helped to dislodge criminal elements from their hideouts.

    Through intelligence gathering, some of the hoodlums were arrested in the act, while others were caught attempting to launch their evil mission.

    According to sources in the state police command, some of the suspects arrested by police operatives are either still being investigated or already standing trial in various courts across the state.

    After the launch of Puff Adder in the state and its successes especially in the urban areas, the State Commissioner of Police in the company of other members of his team returned to Aba to dialogue with stakeholders in security business including traditional rulers of various communities in the state, Civil Liberty Organisations, NGOs, and market union eladers, among others, especially in Aba Area.

    Okon was seeking ways the police can work with security agencies and stakeholders in security business in the state to ensure that perpetrators of heinous crimes who have relocated to the hinterlands were not only fished out, but to appear before court of competent jurisdiction to face the consequences of their actions.

    In his remarks, the Abia State Police Boss who noted that the hoodlums have relocated to the rural areas where they feel comfortable and more relaxed to continue with their illicit businesses after they were confronted by the police and other security agencies within the metropolis, said that indications have it that kidnappers who operate in the state come and retreat to the villages to keep their victims while negotiating with their families as armed robbers hide their loots and stolen properties in the village.

    Okon who said that the importance of community policing cannot be overemphasized, disclosed that kidnappers and armed robbers’ intention of relocating to the hinterlands, was to keep kidnap victims and stolen properties away from the prying eyes of security agents.

    According to him, the meeting with the stakeholders is to rub minds with them on how best they think that security agencies could tackle crime in the state in partnership with leaders of various markets, business owners, religious organizations and security experts.

    Assuring that the state police command would work cooperatively with the traditional institution in the state, members of various vigilante groups to ensure that the state and the entire local governments were safe for people to live and do business, assured that they will do their best in ensuring that the interest of credible sources were protected.

    Speaking at the occasion, a traditional ruler, Eze Asonye among other speakers commended the police and its sister agencies and demanded that they do more in information sharing and intelligence gathering.

    Chibuike Akwara, Basil Uka and others who spoke as well, called for the protection of informants who may be at risk after volunteering to provide security agencies information about the activities of hoodlums in their areas.

    The state governor Okezie Ikpeazu represented by his former adviser on security matters, Capt. Awa Udensi (Retd) reinstated the commitment of the present administration to make the state safer and conducive for people to carry on with their business and economic activities in Aba and any other parts of the state without any fear of molestation by any group of persons.