The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • Aba brand takes off

    Aba brand takes off

    After years of trying to sell Aba-made products to the world, the brand is finally catching on with the launch of a shoemaking plant. SUNNY NWANKWO reports

    Aba technologists and artisans have come a long way. They can knock anything into shape and can get any moribund piece of machinery working again. Aba, Abia State’s city of commerce and enterprise, has always attracted customers from every part of the country and even beyond, who come to pick up textiles, footwear and other leather products.

    One challenge has always dogged Aba and its products: a perception of poor quality. Despite the producers’ industry and mastery, their products are often termed substandard, even fake, in some cases.

    The entrepreneurs are aware of this, and sometimes do not label their products for fear of pushing into the market goods that will dead on arrival. But when dealers take the same products abroad and relabel them, they are sold off.

    So, how do you solve that problem and launch the Aba brand into people’s hearts? President Muhammadu Buhari provided the stimulus, stressing early in his administration that Nigerians must begin to patronise made in Nigeria goods in order to stanch the outflow of the country’s scarce resources through import of virtually every item. Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has committed time and resources into reversing this trend by projecting the Aba project. Everywhere he went, he took Aba with him, wooing investors to set up shop and inject much-needed cash and machinery into the business in the commercial city. Among those who have heeded the call is John Nwankwo, a California, United States-based entrepreneur, who has already set up two firms in Aba. Dr Nwankwo’s company, Comfort Stevens, produces clothing, shoes and leather products, among other household items.

    Comfort Stevens has big ideas. It wants to hire over 1,000 students who will use every modern marketing tool, including electronic ones, to sell the products, he said in Aba, where he displayed products that rolled off his company’s production lines. Those products also came well-packaged, a crucial aspect of production which Aba entrepreneurs have always lacked.

    He said, “We have gone into partnership with about five universities and in the first six months, the goal is to have 1,260 youths who will be empowered on this platform. We have secured buses which will be fully branded to be used to convey these youths within the designated cities in Nigeria for direct sale to consumers all over our country. It will grow from there. I tell you, Nigeria is a virgin land for business. I don’t see why people should be unemployed here in Nigeria.

    “Our products are in Aba now, but in 30 days’ time, it will be online. Our production method now is still automated and manual, but machines are coming into Nigeria and by January, our goal is that we’ll start turning 5000 unit pairs of shoes and by then, we are fully automated.

    Nwankwo while lamenting the attitude of users of foot wears and leather products towards locally manufactured products, urged Nigerians to patronise made in Nigerian goods to make local industries remain afloat as to bolster the nation’s economy.

    He noted with regret that about 30 years ago, Aba, China, Malaysia and Singapore were on the same pedestal in terms of manufacturing of goods, but that today, while the Asian countries had gone very far in industrialization, Aba was yet to find her footing.

    “Our record shows that, Aba produces about one million unit pairs of shoes every day. Now, buyers from other parts of Africa and the world don’t need to be here in person to buy. They can order for made in Aba products in the comfort of their homes and business premises and it will be delivered to them through Comfort Stevens LLC.

    “About 30 years ago, Aba, China, Malaysia and Singapore were at the same train station, the Asia countries left Aba behind with the train, but Comfort Stevens has come to reconnect manufacturers in Aba with the outside world with a faster train.”

    He said statistics showed that China was presently exporting 300m pairs of footwear to Nigeria which amounted to about 80 percent of footwear used in the country annually. He added that China supplies 60 percent of foot wears used in the world and said that if well packaged, made in Aba shoes would compete favourably with the ones from China.

    Nwankwo said that his organisation would give equal opportunity it was giving manufacturers in the city to farmers in the rural areas so that they could export their produce to the outside world to earn foreign exchange.

    Speakers at the event including a renowned Aba-based industrialist, Elder Emma Adaelu commended Nwankwo for coming back to the country to establish a platform on which made in Aba products could be marketed round the globe.

    He said with this, the business thinking of an average manufacturer in Aba would change positively and urged traders in the city to always be honest in their business dealings.

    The event which held El Dorado Hotels, Aba, attracted the presence of traditional rulers and stakeholders in shoes and leather works.

    It was an awe-inspiring moment as Comfort Stevens unveiled various male and female wears and shoes, among others.

     

  • Enugu women teachers trained in ICT

    The World Federation of Engineering Organisation (WEFO) and Women in Engineering (WIE), a committee of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), have trained primary school women teachers in basic computer operations in Enugu State.

    The training exercise, which lasted one week, was aimed at creating an understanding among women in economic and social activities through the knowledge of information technologies.

    WIE said it embarked on the training after a survey that revealed most teachers in public primary schools were not computer literate.

    According to the group, the pilot training was first held in Abuja in October where it trained about 44 female primary school teachers from various public primary school within the FCT municipal.

    The Enugu State commissioner for Science and Technology, Patrick Ikpenwa commended the organisers for keying into the UNs Millennium Development Goals (Goal 3) as well as training women “without real access to technology”.

    “There is a limit to how and what women can contribute. More women, especially in the rural and informal sector need to use ICT to get things done in their lives.

    The commissioner who was represented by the permanent secretary in the ministry, Prince Charles Maduekwe said: “The mobile phone is a start, but ICT goes beyond receiving and making calls on the mobile phone.

    “Women must be active ICT participants, users, professional creators, producers and entrepreneurs. To make a difference, women must engage in productive ICT and ICT driven activities.”

    The commissioner urged the participants to be serious in applying what they learnt in teaching in their various schools.

    Also, the National President of NSE, Mr. Otis Anyaeji enjoined the participants to put into practice what they have learnt in the one-week training.

    “What you have done for the past one week is just the beginning. My advice to you is not to drop the concept of what you have learnt because the moment you drop it, it will depart from you. I urge you to cultivate the habit of working with the computer every time, with that, you’ll make a lot of impact,” he said.

    The president was represented by the Chairman, Board of Fellows, College of Fellows of Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engr. Chris Okoye.

    The chairman of Women in Engineering committee of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Mrs. Esther Gonda, an engineer, congratulated the participants and encouraged them to ensure they transfer the training to their colleagues and pupils in their schools.

    “It is important that you take this training to the next level by putting into practice what you have learnt. Technology is to make your life easier. You will find that a new world has opened to you,” she said.

    Gonda was represented by the Enugu State coordinator for NSE/WIE, Mrs. Nneka Nwagugu, an engineer, appealed to government, donor agencies and other stakeholders in the country to collaborate with them to actualize their dream of making all primary school teachers in the country computer literate.

    In an interview with Mrs. Ugwoke Gloria, one of the teachers who was trained, said: “I have been teaching for 25 years, I have been seeing computer but I have never touched it since I was born.

    “My happiness today is that I have known and touched the mouse. I thought that cursor is butterfly, but I have known how to use it”, she said.

    “I don’t know what to call myself. I beat my children whenever I see them operating their phones but I never knew I was a disabled woman. I have decided to continue the computer training once I get back home,” she said.

    The highpoint of the event was the award of certificates and prizes to the winners. The first got a laptop computer, the second an iPad tablet while the third went home with an Android phone.

     

  • Free health programme for Osun communities

    Health is wealth is a popular maxim. With this age-long expression at the back of their minds, the management of Springtime Development Foundation Ede, Osun State, in collaboration with Grace for Impact, from Georgia, United States of America has embarked on free health care outreach programme for citizens of Ede North Local Government Area and Ede South –East Local Council Development Area, Sekona.

    The event which held on November 13 and 14, 2017, was aimed at availing the people state-of-the-art mobile medical facilities and drugs to take care of their various ailments.

    Springtime Development Foundation is a not-for-profit non-governmental organisation (NGO), which has, over the years, extended its philanthropic gestures in various ways to the needs of Nigerians from all walks of life. During this year’s health care outreach, the people were happy as the beneficiaries were excited to no end.

    The people of Ede began trooping to the palace of Timi of Ede land, Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal. As early as 7:00 a.m. on Monday, November 13, the palace of the monarch had been filled to capacity.

    Would-be-patients eagerly waited to be attended to. The same applied to the Palace of Olu of Sekona, Oba Abdul-Waheed Adebowale in Ede South-East LCDA. They came from neighbouring villages to participate in the robust health care outreach.

    As expected, they were not disappointed. The team of Springtime Development Foundation, led by the Vice-Chairman, Mr. Banji Adesiyi and the  Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pastor  Samuel Oyalabu and Grace for Impact outfit led by Pastor Dapo Oriola gave a good account of themselves. They smiled at the patients, a gesture that indicated that they were there to make the people happy. They approached the business of the day with absolute professional touch, the effect of which was salutary on the beneficiaries.

    The entire workforce of Springtime Development Foundation, whose efforts were complemented by some Ad-hoc staff from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), gave a very good account of themselves.

    They worked tirelessly to meet the needs of the patients. This year’s edition of the programme cut across general health care services; cervical cancer screening, optical ailment rectification and supply of free eye glasses and drugs, dental service and minor surgeries.

    That Monday, 125 and 250 patients were attended to at Sekona and Ede Centres respectively, while on the second day, 150 patients and 200 patients were respectively attended to at Sekona and Ede centers, bringing the total to 725 beneficiaries of the free health care service.

    The beneficiaries passionately regarded the event as Godsend, to avail them of excellent medical care with standard drugs. They were full of praises for the organisers, who deemed it fit to bring the programme to the people at the grassroots, particularly the low-income earners, who had lost hope of such standard treatment extended to them.

    They praised the kindness of the Chairman of Springtime Development Foundation, Dr. Deji Adeleke and prayed God to grant him long life.

    Speaking at the opening ceremony on November 13, the Vice-Chairman, Springtime Development Foundation, Mr. Banji Adesuyi, assured the people that the exercise will continue to expand in leaps and bounds so as to accommodate more beneficiaries.

    He promised that the gesture would be extended to other local government areas in Osun State in due time without consideration for tribe, creed, religion or sex.

    Springtime Development Foundation, Mr. Adesuyi recalled, has been championing the cause of the less-privileged over the years with total commitment and without attracting public attention to itself. He noted that when good health is lost, everything, including wealth, is lost. He therefore appealed to the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the drugs given to them.

    The leader of the team from USA, Pastor Dapo Oriola, said they felt proud to be associated with Springtime Development Foundation in its great effort to make life worth living for Nigerians who could not afford the high cost of quality health facilities, through provision of free Medicare to them.

    The Grace For Impact Organisation, Dr. Dapo Oriola said, is an assemblage of thorough-bred medical professionals from the USA, who, on their own free volition, chose to come down to Nigeria at their own expense to collaborate with the Springtime  Development Foundation and help out in the provision of good health care delivery to the people.

    The Chief Executive Officer of the Springtime Development Foundation, Pastor Samuel Olu Oyalabu emphasised that the foundation will always put the plight of the less-privileged people in the society at its front burners, so as to fulfill the vision and mission of the Founder and Chairman, Dr. Adedeji Adeleke, who he described as a silent philanthropist of no mean order.

    Recall that the Springtime Development Foundation, in June this year, gave out 700 mattresses and 700 pillows to each of Ilesa and Ile-Ife prisons to ameliorate the effect of the health hazards which results from the inmates sleeping on bare floor.

    Apart from the free health care programme, plans are on to donate skill acquisition materials such as barbing equipment, sewing machines and other entrepreneurial materials for the inmates of both Ilesa and Ile-Ife prisons, to make them self-reliant after serving out their various prisons terms.

    Both the Timi of Edeland, Oba Lawal and the Olu of Sekona Oba Waheed Adebowale, praised the organisations for deeming it fit to provide their citizens with free health care services, which they said will go a long way to make them enjoy good health. They prayed for the continued success and growth of the two organisations.

    • Olumide Lawal, lives in Ede, Osun State.

     

  • Owerri: City of statues

    Owerri: City of statues

    No one visits New York and misses the stately Statue of Liberty on the harbour. Owerri, the Imo State capital, is fast becoming a city of monuments, drawing admirers and some critics, OKODILI NDIDI writes

    For those who know Owerri, the Imo State capital, Concorde Boulevard, a serene double-lane road, where the Ojukwu Centre and the Heroes’ Square are located, has suddenly become a tourist attraction. The once sleepy road now buzzes with activities as fun seekers and local tourists troop in to catch a glimpse of the gigantic statues erected by the state government in honour of renowned African leaders and other distinguished individuals who have excelled in their chosen disciplines and contributed to the enhancement of humanity.

    Before now, residents and visitors paid little attention to the statues covered with flags of various countries. That changed when the state government unveiled one of them, which turned out to be that of South African President, Jacob Zuma, who was in the state for a two-day visit.

    The unveiling of the Zuma statue sparked off widespread reactions in the social media and other news platforms. The state governor, Rochas Okorocha was severely criticised for honouring the South African president who was also admitted into the Imo Hall of Fame and conferred with the state merit award.

    Some of the critics, especially members of the opposition party, knocked the state government for deploying state resources into erecting a statue for a man that is facing corruption charges in his country.

    They alleged that a whopping N520 million was spent in erecting the statues, “while pensioners and indigenes of the state are dying as a result of abject poverty”.

    The state government had in the last one month ceremonially unveiled the statues of three African Presidents which include that of the Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo, President Jacob Zuma of South Africa and Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia.

    Also condemning the erection of the statues the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP) asked Dr Muhammad Isah, Acting Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, Acting Chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to “jointly investigate the governor over apparent conflict of interests situation and abuse of office.

    The organisation said, “Such investigation would help to improve public confidence in public authorities, and minimise the risks of bad government by public officials.”

    In a petition signed by SERAP Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni the organisation expressed “serious concern that Governor Okorocha may have spent over N1 billion of public funds to build statues of South African President Jacob Zuma and Liberian President Mrs Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.”

    The state government does not have any apology for the critics. The Imo governor, while speaking during the visit of one of the presidents, said that the state government will continue to honour African leaders who have promoted development and unity in the continent while they are still alive.

    He said that by so doing, they will be stimulated to do more for the continent, while others will be motivated to add their quota.

    Also responding to the reactions that trailed the Zuma’s statue, the Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, said in a statement made available to journalists that, “while the good people of the state and all men and women of goodwill were celebrating the good things Mr. Zuma’s visit has brought to the state both in the short-run and in the long-run, the opposition in the state, out of glaring frustration, decided to make much ado in the social media over the statue of Zuma in Owerri. Those of the former Vice President Dr. Alex Ekwueme and others had earlier been unveiled”.

    He continued that, saying, “These enemies of our people did not see the good things associated with Mr. Zuma’s visit or what it portends for the State, for good, but only saw the statue that was erected as an encouragement to the man.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, when we talk about opposition in Imo, we are talking about only three people. And because they are only three, they recruited as many young people as possible and unleashed them on the social media. One could have twenty networks in different names just to deceive the general public.

    “Few days before the coming of President Zuma, we had told the world the reasons for his coming, and principally for the signing of MoU between Jacob Zuma Education Foundation and Rochas Foundation College of Africa.

    “When the time comes, we will catalogue Rochas’ achievements and challenge opponents or contenders to display theirs. You do not ask for people’s mandate in a vacuum. There must be a basis for that. That is the edge we have over them in quantum.

    The governor’s aide also lampooned SERAP over the call for the governor’s probe over the visit of the African Presidents.

    He said, “Right from the outset, we had given indications on the purpose of the coming of these great leaders and who invited them…If SERAP had meant to do a good Job, they would have resolved the issue of invitations and their contents, to ascertain whether they came on the invitation of the government or the Rochas Foundation College of Africa. The language of SERAP obviously would not have been the same if they had taken that step.

    “SERAP would have also helped the public by quoting any known law or ordinance barring the governor from receiving or hosting the visiting leaders not minding who invited them or which body invited them.

    Our concern too is that people deliberately tell unfounded lies. A week ago, all the newspapers had reports on states owing salaries and the chairman of the Imo State branch of NLC, Comrade Austin Chilakpa said the “State government is up to date in the payment of workers’ salary” (see The Nation, Sunday, November 5). In other words, the state does not owe workers including teachers. On the issue of pension, the government cleared all the arrears in December 2016 and has begun to pay monthly. These pieces of information have been there in public domain”.

    Also defending the action of the state government, is the Imo business community under the aegis of the Imo Economic Development Initiative.

    It described Zuma’s visit as a major boost to the economic blueprint of the state.

    A member of the business community and Chairman of the Germaine Group,  Chief Jerry Chukwueke, told The Nation in an exclusive interview that the benefits accruable from the visit far outweighs the cost and whatever troubles the state government went through to host President Zuma.

    According to him, there was robust engagement with the business community in the  South African delegation led by the President, and there were mutual agreements in the power and gas sector, agriculture and hospitality industry. This, he said, will go a long way to help actualise the vision of the group, which is to revive the economy of the state and create employment for the youths.

    Speaking further, he said, “As part of the outcome of our engagements, the South African President has approved the setting up of a Consulate in Owerri and this means that people travelling to South Africa from the Southeast can process their visas and other related business documents directly in Owerri with much ease.

    “Again the President has also approved the establishment of a Payment Centre in Imo State, where all business payments are made and credit card obtained, which can be used for business transactions in South Africa.  You can imagine the volume of Internally Generated that will accrue to the state and the number of jobs that will be created”.

    The business mogul,  also revealed that the South African President in the course of the engagement with the business community,  which included renowned businessmen like Pascal Dozie, Chairman Diamond bank,  Chief Leo Stan Eke, Chairman Zinox Computer and  Innocent Chukwumah, Chairman Innoson Motors, among  others, agreed on a partnership between the South African Airline and Imo International Cargo Airport.

    “We have as a matter of fact set up a ten-man committee made up of five people from each side and we will be having our first meeting next month in South Africa.  We are looking forward to further engaging the South African government to see how we can harness their huge expertise in agriculture, mining and the automotive industry.  So like I said, the benefit of the visit is far more than the cost “, he stressed.

    However, despite the outcry over the visits of the African leaders and the erection of their statues, non-partisan groups and opinion leaders have continued to praise the state government for attracting direct investments to the state through the invitation of world leaders to the state.

    They argued that the trend has opened up the state, especially its massive investment opportunities to the world with its attendant benefits.

    The National President of the Main Igbo Movement, Nze Simeon Okokwe, chided those maligning the governor for hosting and erecting the statues of the African leaders.

    He said, “What the governor has done is a show of goodwill to the African leaders to show them how much we appreciate them in  Imo state and that can propel them to doing whatever that is within their capacity to build economic and social relationship with the State.

    “Those quoting outrageous sums of money as being used for the erection of the statue of President Zuma and others are either naïve or out rightly mischievous. Because how can a shrewd businessman like Governor Okorocha waste such sum of money erecting statues. The claim is unfounded and malicious”.

     

  • ‘Igbo next to produce president’

    Former governor of Abia State and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, has said the Igbo can be sure of producing a president in 2023 if they support the re-election bid of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Kalu who urged the Igbo to wake up and learn from their past political experience, stated that the future of the Igbo in Nigerian politics is brighter now  with the APC than it was in the past.

    Kalu who spoke in Umuahia, the state capital,  maintained that producing an Igbo president is a task every true Igbo indigene must identify with and the APC is the best platform to achieve the dream.

    He said, “The future of Ndigbo is brighter today in APC. Once Buhari finishes his second tenure, I’m assuring you that either I or any other Igbo man stands a better chance of becoming the president of Nigeria. The right thing to do is to work for the presidency.

    “We don’t need any other thing but the office of the president. If you see what I have done in our villages as governor you will know what will happen if somebody like me becomes the president, you know that the entire Nigeria will be developed.

    “The future is very bright and Ndi Igbo will enjoy being in APC. That is why we are working very hard to win the Anambra State election and will win the state.

    “It is possible to have Orji Kalu in Aso rock, if am alive and in good health. I’m very capable to be president because I understand macro and micro economics of Nigeria, I don’t even see any Nigerian more capable than I’m to run for the office and work for the people’’.

    He disclosed that the APC led government is already reconstructing the Uzuakoli/ Bende Ohafia road in the State through his intervention.

    “When I was governor I was busy maintaining that road, it is a State Government road. But when I left office it was over looked and the road became deplorable.

    “So I appealed to the federal government for an intervention on that road and they are doing rehabilitation work now.

    “The rehabilitation is not being done by any member of the nation al assembly; it was by my request.  I told the federal authorities that I can’t go to my village anymore and I’m a member of the ruling party, because I had once spent over five hours on the road because of its deplorable state.

    “I showed Mr. President the pictures and he ordered for immediate rehabilitation of the road.

    “We are doing the road to help the people, so that our people can be happy and stop working on their vehicles all the time. That’s what good governance is all about,” Kalu said.

    The ex- governor added he tarred almost all the lanes in Umuahia, some roads in Aba to make life easier for people, saying  “it is just that people have refused to acknowledge what is right and good and unless Abians come up to speak the truth we might not see a better day, because they cannot hide the truth.

    “When I was here as governor I gave free education, I gave free medical services, I built roads, and paid workers. Paying salaries was a sacrifice I made to help our people.

    “It looked like it was an easy thing, but people have realised that it was not an easy job; it takes a man with a high level of discipline to be able to do it.

    “It take a good manager and administrator to achieve that and it is really open today and people can see the difference.”

  • Mother, two kids escape as truck rams into house

    Mother, two kids escape as truck rams into house

    A woman and her two children alongside other tenants have escaped being crushed by a truck which rammed into their residence in Aba, the commercial capital of Abia State.

    Mrs. Lucy Nnaji was said to be bathing her children when the incident took place in the Ogbor Hill area of the city.

    The Nation gathered that property worth millions of naira was damaged in the incident, leaving the affected residents in agony.

    The truck, with the registration number Lagos AAA 114 XU, was loaded with crates of empty 7Up bottles and heading to Aba from Akwa Ibom State.

    It was learnt that the driver while descending a hill leading to the brewing company lost control of the vehicle as a result of brake failure and rammed it into the building after attempts to control the vehicle failed.

    Mrs Nnaji’s husband, Sunday Nnaji, attributed the escape to God’s mercy, saying it was divine intervention that saved his wife and two children from calamity.

    He added that he wouldn’t have been able to explain it to his relatives and in-laws.

    According to Nnaji, his wife was bathing their two children in front of their shop when the truck rammed into the building.

    He said following the impact of the accident, some debris fell on them but no one died.

    Another shop owner narrating what happened said he was with his wife, Lucy in the shop when he left to see someone nearby.

    Mr. Uko said he was still on his way going when the incident occurred and he rushed back and saw the trailer’s bonnet resting right inside their shop.

    Uko said his wife was saved because she saw the truck coming uncontrollably towards their shop and she ran away before it ended into the building.

    A resident of the building, Mrs. Chinyere Agu lamented that household properties in her apartment were destroyed beyond repair as a result of the accident.

    An eyewitness, Okechukwu Nwagbaoso said before the truck rammed into the building, it uprooted an electric transformer and hit two vehicles including a Mercedes Benz C-180 model.

    He said the wife of one of the occupants of the car gave birth to twin boys earlier in the day and that they were going to see them in the hospital when the accident occurred.

    Nwagbaoso said that they were grateful to God that despite the intensity of the accident, no life was lost and called on government to assist those whose properties were destroyed.

    The driver of the truck, Ibanga Edet disclosed that he was coming from Akwa Ibom and on reaching the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church, Ogbor Hill less than half a kilometer to the 7UP Bottling Company the brakes of the truck failed.

    Edet said he had to control the truck down the Ogbor slope before he lost control and the trailer hit two vehicles, uprooted an electric transformer before ramming into the building.

    He thanked God for sparing his life and averting the death of occupants of the building.

     

  • No more bombs, please

    No more bombs, please

    Of recent, the boys in the creek have been vociferous. They have been loud. They have been loquacious. They have got the elders talking. They have got government talking and explaining. They have got the economists panicking. They have got the citizens wondering what next and they have got Niger Deltans worried about where the next dynamite would detonate.

    It got me asking myself if the past was about to be repeated. At that time, dynamites were thrown. Grenades caused chaos. Gun shots rented the air. The victims were not humankinds but oil facilities; strategic ones for that matter. And the effects on oil production and export were huge and scary. The economy bled and needed oxygen to be on the path of recovery.

    President Muhammadu Buhari and his team put up their thinking cap. The grievances of those blowing up the pipelines must be addressed. His deputy, Yemi Osinbajo, got the matching order and from one creek to the other, Osinbajo preached the gospel of peace.

    He visited oil-producing communities, listened to the people and spelt out the Federal Government’s commitment as captured in the “New Vision for the Niger Delta”. The vision, he told them, has answers to the 16-point Demand Agenda submitted to President Buhari by the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) in November, last year.

    He promised that soon the Nigerian Maritime University in Delta State would commence operation. They also heard that additional N35 billion was approved for the Presidential Amnesty Programme. Osinbajo also told them of the approval for the establishment of Modular Refineries across the nine states in the Niger Delta. Another of the information which the Vice-President passed around was that work had resumed on abandoned projects in the Niger Delta, including the East-West Road.

    The government’s engagements with the Niger Delta and the Organisation of Oil Exporting Countries (OPEC) helped to raise oil revenues to the extent that external reserves grew by about $7 billion within six months. In that period, $87m was added to the Excess Crude Account and $250m to the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF).

    The engagement with OPEC involved rallying the organisation and non-OPEC members to discuss stabilisation of the global oil market in Doha and in Algiers. This led to an exemption from the OPEC production freeze and led to a rise in oil prices to $55/bbl for the first time in 16 months.

    In July, PANDEF felt government was not doing enough on its 16-point demand. The forum spoke after its third General Assembly in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, with the theme, “Appraisal of 16-Point Agenda: State of the Nation and the Way Forward for a Sustainable Peace and Development in the Niger Delta Region”. At that forum, the group also called for the implementation of the 2014 National Conference Report.

    PANDEF leader Chief Edwin Clark told the Federal Government that the patience of the youth of the region was running out.

    The Federal Government, he said, must raise a team to commence dialogue with PANDEF to ensure the sustainability of peace in the region. He added that the six states of the South-south were not part of Biafra as claimed by some of its agitators.

    The elder statesman decried the nonchalant attitude of the Federal Government in prevailing on the oil giants to relocate their headquarters to their operational base.

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson added his voice. Dickson told the PANDEF that the South-south governors, who he leads, were committed to working with them to promote and protect the interests of the region.

    Dickson said: “There are parts of this country that are very happy to promote crisis and spread propaganda about insecurity in our region as a deliberate strategy of weakening this region economically.

    “So, I want to use this opportunity to charge all our people-political, opinion and community leaders-to continue to work for a stable and prosperous Niger Delta because, in the end, whether we are able to bring prosperity and development to our people depends on the presence of security and stability.

    “I want to also use this opportunity to make the point again that militarisation of any community within any state in our region is not a solution. And in this Niger Delta, the battles to be fought are not the ones that tanks and soldiers should be deployed; the battles all of us should unite to confront and defeat in the Niger Delta, are the issues of environmental terrorism as I have always called it and the issues of gross neglect, under-development and lack of economic inclusion.”

    After that government had another engagement with PANDEF. That seems not to have helped. Now the Avengers are back. They said we should prepare for resumption of bombings of oil installations in the Niger Delta. Their grouse is about perceived lack of seriousness on the part of the Federal Government to end the woes of the people of the oil-rich region. They are also said to be unhappy that a meeting of the Pa Edwin Clark-led PANDEF was stopped by security agents.

    They also feel the PANDEF 16-point demand, which include relocation of international oil companies’ (IOCs’) administrative and operational headquarters to the Niger Delta, clean-up of Ogoni land and other communities affected by spill, prompt take off of the Maritime University and restructuring/funding of NDDC, have not been addressed.

    The co-ordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh, wants the NDA to take the chill pill. He said the planned resumption of hostilities would be devastating to the nation’s economy. Pa Clark and Niger Delta Minister Usani Uguru Usani also toed a similar lane.

    The seeming impatience of the region and its people can only make sense when juxtaposed with its reality.

    Poverty walks on all fours in the midst of plenty. Degradation, rejection and desperation are not in short supply.

    There are houses made of wood, covered with palm frond, which the owners must change from time to time as they wither away. There are imageries of luxury here and there, but in short supply. It is something many hear about and see when the rich choose to throw their weight about.

    So many children could not go to school. But, do they really have any reason to be poor? I don’t think so. They were born into wealth. Not that their fathers were rich. What I mean by being born to wealth centres around the fact that the oil of Nigeria’s prosperity is drilled in their domain.

    A constant reminder of what this wealth can do is evident in the Residential Area or RA, as we are wont to call it, of the multi-national the government gave the licence to drill oil on its behalf. The homes of multitudes when compared with the RA cannot be described better than saying “heaven and hell, side by side”. The majority lives in hell; the minority in heaven.

    In some parts of the Niger Delta, they have, at no time seen night. The multinational operating in these areas have their flow stations so close to homes and send out gas flares throughout the day.

    So, the only way to differentiate between night and day is to check their wrist watches.

    In many towns, oil pipelines are not underground. They are in the open. And often they burst or are burst and our soils and existence are damaged in the process.

    The people have shouted, protested and threatened violence over their fate, yet change has refused to come. It is as if the multinational also has another licence: to send them all to their early graves so that their leaders can have all the wealth for themselves, including the little they manage to spend on basic amenities.

    This environmental genocide, as some have called it, is having serious effects on the people. Strange diseases are killing the people. Pregnant women are developing strange allergies. Yet, health centres are ill-equipped to take care of their health needs. They have several people with aggravated asthma; there are increases in respiratory symptoms, such as coughing and difficult or painful breathing, chronic bronchitis and decreased lung function. Premature death is not uncommon.

    My final take: I join my voice with the trouble-shooters to say peace is all we need. With peace, a lot of things are possible, especially development of the spirit, body and mind.

    In the name of everything you hold dear, I beg you not to throw bombs at oil installations. Peace is all we need. Peace. And peace alone, guys! And to the government, hasten things up.

  • Abia key to Nigeria’s growth, says IBB

    Abia key to Nigeria’s growth, says IBB

    Former military president, Ibrahim Babangida has described Abia State as key to the economic development of Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

    He also praised Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for his efforts in repositioning the state for growth.

    The state was created in 1991 by the Babangida administration.

    A press release by Ikpeazu’s Chief Press Secretary Mr. Enyinnaya Appolos said Babangida was speaking when Governor Ikpeazu visited him at his Hiltop home in Minna, the Niger State capital.

    Babangida said, “Abia is very important to Nigeria and Africa. I hear about your efforts to reposition the state. God will bless you for the good work you are doing for us in Abia. Please do not stop the good work you are doing already, and always remember that the opportunity to serve has expiry date. I am indeed happy when I read of your good works in Abia.”

    In his response, Ikpeazu thanked the elder statesman for giving his best to Nigeria and promised that his effort and that of other leaders of Nigeria will be sustained.

    Governor Ikpeazu said, “I must thank you, Sir, for your efforts in keeping this nation as one. You gave your best and we will not allow your efforts for a better Nigeria to be in vain.

    “I must also thank you, Sir, for your support to us in Abia, you encouraged us a lot and I promise that we will keep doing our best in Abia. It has not been easy, but we are addressing the issue of infrastructure in the state, particularly in Aba.”

    Governor Ikpeazu was accompanied on the visit by some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia including, Chief Allen Nwachukwu, Ochiagha Reagan Ufomba and Ambassador Empire Kanu.

  • 27 commissioners take office in Abia

    Twenty seven commissioners have been sworn in to serve in the administration of Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

    Three out of the commissioners are women while seven new ministries were created by the government.

    Some of the new ministries are the Ministry of Strategy and Social Development; Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources; Ministry of Inter-state Affairs, and Ministry of Small, Medium Entrepreneur Development.

    Addressing the new commissioners, Governor Ikpeazu urged them to see their appointment as a call to duty.

    He said Abia is in need of credible men and women, urging them to serve with humility and fear of God as well as correcting whatever shortcomings witnessed in the past state executive council.

    Okezie said, “We also believe that if there were things we did not do properly during the last council, you are called upon to fill that gap and do it better this time around.

    “Abia State today is not just in need of men and women. We are in need of men women  that can be trusted. People on whose shoulders the development of Abia state is going to rest for the rest of the tenure of this administration. Therefore, I want to make it clear that the position you occupy today you occupy on behalf of your people and the people of Abia State. It is not a position with which you have been called to oppress anyone,” he said.

    The governor expressed confidence that the commissioners are capable of leading Abia to the next level of development and urged them to make use of the opportunity to serve the people of the state and be bridge builders in their areas as he shall no longer tolerate commissioners that no longer reach the grassroots.

    “Something is peculiar with this particular council and that is that there is no tenure attached to the lifespan of this council. For all those that will work in tandem with this administration they will last but those who will not keep pace and faith with what we have innunciated for ourselves  to create better life for Abia people they may easily fall by the wayside”.

    Responding on behalf of the others, the Commissioner for Works, Eziuche Ubani promised to meet the expectation of the governor and people of the state, pledging to be loyal to the government.

    The full list of the Commissioners and their portfolios as obtained by our correspondent is as follows

     

    1. Thaddeus Izuogu Imo – Inter-State Affairs
    2. Barr. Gab Igboko – SME Development
    3. Obike Mascot – Boundary Affairs
    4. Barr. James Okpara – Housing
    5. Chief Henry Ikoh – Industries
    6. Lady Elizabeth Uhuegbu  – Special Duties, Est & Training
    7. Chief Fabian Nwankwo – Science & Technology
    8. Precious Achumba  -Special Duties, Vulnerable Groups
    9. Lady Kate Onyemaechi – Women Affairs
    10. Hon. Young Onyike – Corporatives & Rural Development
    11. Martin Okoji – Sports
  • FRSC sensitises on safe driving

    FRSC sensitises on safe driving

    Abia state Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has thanked the management and staff of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for what he described as the thankless job they have been doing for the country.

    Ikpeazu said many people in the society do not appreciate the good work the corps is doing in the area of saving lives.

    He also urged the people to always show respect to them whenever they see them on the highway.

    The governor who was represented by Kingsley Megwara, the chairman of Abia State Passenger Integrated Manifest Scheme (ASPIMSS), said that the scheme has been working in tandem with the FRSC to ensure that the highways and  lives are safe.

    He said that the scheme has eight ambulances scattered across the state,.

    “We have placed them at strategic places and when there is an accident my people arrive there either before or after Road Safety to ensure that those involved are taken care of”.

    Ikpeazu said that he has spoken with the police so that they can find a way to let ASPIMSS respond to distress calls.

    “However,” he said, “we are in a dilemma as in most cases when our ambulances arrive at any accident scene our nurses are always attacked for the reason that they arrived late which should not be so.”

    The governor used the forum to plead with officers of FRSC who are on the highways to stop the habit of flagging down vehicles that are on high speed, stressing that in such cases most of the vehicles may lose control and thereby cause accident.

    He said that government is making plans to enact laws that will stop the sale of alcoholic beverages in motor parks across the state.

    “Such beverages which most drivers take before embarking on trips also lead to crashes on the roads”.

    In his speech, the sector commander of FRSC in Abia, Linus Ojukwu said that this years’ theme is ‘Right to Life on the Highway not Negotiable’, which is the reason behind their determination to reduce road crashes that has remained a dreadful plague all over the world.

    Ojukwu said that the cause of the road crashes ranges from poor maintenance of vehicles, absence of appropriate road signs, poor driving skills to lack of concentration by drivers and alcoholic intakes.

    He said that despite the many causes of road crashes that the Corps has been devising several means over the years to make the roads safe for all, adding that the end of year patrol operations is a ritual of the corps that seek to meet the challenges of ensuring safety on highways.

    The Abia sector commander said, “It is a general knowledge that the Yuletide period is characterised by high vehicular movement all over the country with its attendant incidences of road traffic crashes, so we are determined to reduce it”.

    “The axiom that says ‘crashes do not just occur’ goes to confirm that the causes of road crashes are mainly caused by road users which the Corps has been trying very hard to stem the tide”.

    “We are determined to ensure the full actualization of the Corps 2017 strategic goals of enhancing public education and enlightenment, improving enforcement, refusing road traffic crashes by 15% and fatality by 24%, advance road safety administration and strengthening professionalism and transparency”.

    Ojukwu said that this years’ theme seeks to bring to the consciousness the seeming eluding sense of decorum on the roads for all road users, “We are going to enlighten all road users that we all have a role to play to put an end to the car ages we usually witness during this time of the year”.

    He noted that most mistakes lead to the cause of crashes which have been claiming lives, saying that no one has the right to take the life of another, “Which is the reason behind our insisting on sped limiter on fleet vehicles which will go a long way in reducing road accidents”.