The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • Fanfare at Owerri Mall launch

    Fanfare at Owerri Mall launch

    The Owerri Mall has taken off but it was not just another launch. A huge number of residents of the Imo State capital and environs turned up for the event eager to take advantage of the discounted sales, quality and variety of the products promised by the management of the mall.

    To the bargain, the mall also houses a Shoprite outlet and 44 other consumer goods shops. Shoppers can get quite a lot in one outing and in one place.

    The mall is a huge relief for shoppers in Owerri, who had grappled with the challenges of buying low-quality goods at exorbitant prices, as well as the business community who will benefit from the business opportunities that will be created in the value chain.

    The Centre Manager, Bayo Anifowose said 2000 jobs have been created, thanks to the mall. This, he reckons, will engender enormous financial inflow into the state economy.

    He noted further that the gains of the mall will add value to the living standard of the people of the immediate communities and the entire state, adding that the management places priority on Corporate Social Responsibility, as a way of building robust relationship with the host communities.

    Anifowoshe revealed that the company has started the construction of massive drainages to check the menace of flooding in the area, which is prone to flooding.

    He said that the company has also built a network of roads around the facility to tackle possible traffic congestion that may arise and affect ease of shopping at the mall.

    Anifowoshe said, “We have built a world class property, equipped with all safety gadgets to physically and electronically keep the facility secure round the clock. Most importantly, the Owerri Mall was conceived, designed and constructed to give result and satisfaction to all stakeholders, government and investors alike.”

    Jason Buhr, Managing Director of Resilient Africa, a South African property developer which have built all Shoprite structures in Nigeria, said that while they need owners of Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) companies to occupy all the outlets at the mall, and besides the direct employment that hundreds of suppliers and other service providers from cleaning to maintenance would have great opportunities at the mall.

    For the 45 outfits occupying the mall outlets, Buhr said, “Our primary objective is to progress business owners in the state from informal market and convinces them that there is profit to be made in formal markets as will be easily evident at the Owerri Mall in the days ahead.”

    •Governor Okorocha inaugurating the mall
    •Governor Okorocha inaugurating the mall

    Delivering his speech at the opening of the Mall, Governor Rochas Okorocha stated that his government has opened its arms to welcome investors to the state and enjoined all Imo citizens, irrespective of political divide to come and invest in the state.

    He said, “We must, irrespective of political affiliations unite and save the lives of our teeming populace who are looking up to us for leadership.”

    He continued, “Many of you will wonder what an APC governor will be doing in a business championed by a PDP?  Let me say to you, in politicking we defend our political parties but in governance, we must learn to unite and provide our people with the much needed dividends of democracy, that is the singular reason why I have supported this project.

    He assured prospective foreign investors that the government will continue to support genuine investors and protect their interests.

    Earlier, the chairman Owerri Mall Development Company, Nze Herbert Chikwe thanked the Governor for assisting them in the speedy approval of the design plan and Certificate of Occupancy.

    He noted that Imo has been keyed into the national economic map of states witnessing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), pointing that Owerri Mall hasenlarged the economic space of Imo state.

    Hon. Ezenwa Onyewuchi, member representing Owerri Federal Constituency at the National Assembly thanked the chairman of the group for dreaming big and investing in Imo state.  He expressed his appreciation to the governor for supporting the vision and pledged that the Owerri people he represents will jealously guard and protect the investment.

    Owerri Mall housing Shoprite and 44 other trading outfits was built by a consortium of developers.

     

  • Kidnapping thrives despite clampdown

    Kidnapping thrives despite clampdown

    The arrest of a prison official in Owerri, the Imo State capital, has fuelled suspicion that kidnap kingpins run their syndicates from behind bars, OKODILI NDIDI writes

    Why does kidnapping boom in the region despite a security clampdown? Many abduction kingpins are in jail or awaiting trial, but the nefarious business continues to flourish nonetheless. Not too long ago, the Imo State police command, under the new Commissioner of Police, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu, arrested a sizeable number of suspected kidnappers who are awaiting trial at the Owerri Prisons.

    Considered a major breakthrough was the arrest by the Department for State Security (DSS) of one of the most wanted trans-border kidnap suspects, Henry Chibueze, known as Vampire. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Andrew Enwerem said that in the last one month, the police have over 49 kidnap suspects in custody apart from those already charged to court.

    Vampire’s arrest was celebrated within government and security circles because it was assumed that kidnapping in the Southeast will drastically drop, if not end.

    Not so. More people are still kidnapped on a daily basis in the zone with millions of naira extorted as ransom from families of victims, who are sometimes killed even after paying the ransom.

    The reason for this, according to The Nation findings, is that imprisoned kidnap kingpins still plan and execute operations from their cells with the aid of wardens acting as go-between.

    These criminal-minded prison officials are said provide the kidnappers with phones and sometimes take their messages directly to their members and assist them in collecting and depositing their shares of ransom money in banks.

    Recently, a warden in Owerri Prisons, Agim Nnadozie, was arrested by members of the IG Special Squad for facilitating kidnap operations for Vampire and his gang.

    A reliable security source, who pleaded anonymity, told The Nation that some of the kingpins were allowed prohibited privileges by corrupt wardens who are heavily compensated.

    According to the source, some of them are allowed to visit their homes and socialise with their gang members at night, which give them the opportunity to regroup and plan the next operations.

    The source said, “The big boys, as the kingpins are called in the prison, are still running their syndicates with the help of corrupt prison officials. The recent arrest has just confirmed that but more needs to be done because it is a very large network and by the time further investigations are carried out it will shock everybody”.

    Another police source who also did not want to be mentioned said that, “it is frustrating that after what we go through to arrest the notorious kidnappers, prison officials still collaborate with them to continue with their nefarious activities behind walls.

    “The courts, including lawyers and judges are not helping matters. They employ all tactics to free known and confessed kidnappers and there is little or nothing that the police can do about it because ours is to arrest and charge to court and what happens thereafter is little of our business”.

    However the Controller of Prisons in Imo State, Mr. Isaiah Amaliri, who confirmed the arrest of one of his men in connection with aiding kidnappers, said that, “other security operatives are involved in the crime too it is not only Prison officials”.

    Meanwhile decrying the situation the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, said, “It is worrisome that these criminal elements can now make calls in prisons and contact their gang members and even coordinate operations.

  • 30 suspects arrested in Enugu

    30 suspects arrested in Enugu

    Enugu State Police Command has paraded over 30 suspected criminals arrested in various parts of the state, said to have been terrorising innocent citizens.

    The state Commissioner of Police, Ekechukwu Nwodibo, who addressed reporters before the parade at the state police headquarters in Enugu, said the suspects were arrested for alleged kidnapping, murder, possession of fake currency and impersonation, among others.

    Thirty-five fake N1000 notes recovered from a syndicate were displayed during the parade.

    The Enugu police boss said three suspects identified as Emenike Onoyima, Jude Mmah and Mba Chinedu from Umuezejor Obollo-Afor in Udenu council of the state were arrested on February 3 at No 1 Timber Road, Isiakpu Nsukka for allegedly kidnapping one Mrs Makata Elochukwu and her driver, Bernard Ameh.

    The suspects, the commissioner alleged, held their victim hostage until February 7, adding that operatives of the command stormed the suspects’ hideout at Umuezejor Obollo-Afor and rescued Mrs Elochukwu.

    Nwodibo said the driver was found dead.

    He further said that one locally-made cut-to-size gun with three live cartridges and a Nokia phone suspected to be property of their victim were recovered from the suspects.

    According to him, another three of the suspects were arrested at Emene area of Enugu, for allegedly murdering the son of a police officer and manager of a hotel, adding that one of the suspects who attempted to jump down from the van that was conveying them to the police office died after hitting his body on an object.

    Ekechukwu gave the names of the fake currency suspects as Sunday Oka, Abea Johnson and Henry Nwankwo from Ezeagu in Isielu Local Government of Ebonyi State.

    He added that Sunday Oka allegedly presented himself to the Divisional Police Officer DPO of New Heaven Police Station as a naval officer with a view to facilitating the release of his accomplice, Abea and Henry Nwankwo.

    “He was wearing a Navy cap and T-shirt as at the time of the incident. On further questioning by the DPO, it was discovered that the said Sunday Oka does not belong to either the Nigerian Navy or any of the Nigerian Armed Forces or the police and paramilitary.”

    The Commissioner warned hoodlums operating in the state to desist or face the music.

    The fake currency suspect, Johnson Abea from Ezeagu, Ishielu, Ebonyi, told reporters said he indulged in the crime only to subsidise his income. He also denied knowledge of the person that supplied him the fake currency.

    “I don’t know the person that supplied me with the fake currency. He comes to my shed and gives me the money,” he said.

    Abea said he sold wine at the Relief Market, Onitsha and engages in trafficking in fake currency part-time.

    The suspect was said to have served a prison term for the same offence. Other suspects Henry Nwankwo and Sunday Oka claimed that they were not part of the trafficking business but were roped in because they were his relations. Another suspect paraded by the police, Ajayi Eson from Oka Koko in Ondo State who said he was a motor mechanic in Makurdi, Benue State was caught with a gun during a stop and search in Obollo Afor area but claimed it was a passenger in his vehicle that owned the rifle.

  • Aba police get security vehicles

    The Aba police command has received 20 Sport Utility Vehicles fully fitted with modern security gadgets. The SUVs were donated by Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

    The Inspector-General of Police Solomon Arase received the security vehicles from Ikpeazu before handing them over to the state Commissioner of Police, Joshak Habila.

    Mr. Habila warned criminals in the commercial town and other parts of the state to relocate, saying that the force in collaboration with other security agencies would make Aba and other parts of the state unsafe for them.

    He stressed that with the 20 vehicles and more that will follow, security agencies would make the state a destination for investors.

    Detailing how the vehicles would be used, the state police chief stated that the vehicles were not going to be used for patrols, but to be stationed at places he described as black spots and tactical operation points, including exit routes through which criminals escape after robbing or kidnapping their suspects.

    “We have crime-mapped the state which gives us the opportunity to locate areas used as escape routes by criminals and hoodlums. The vehicles are going to be pinned down in such black spots, vulnerable and tactical operation points. The essences is to enable us cut short response time during distress calls and to lock down the city from criminals who would come to commit offence and take to flight.

    “Aba is no longer safe and it is going to be very hot and discomforting for criminals who may want to come into the city and the state to commit any crime and would want to have his way.”

    Assuring that the vehicles would be judiciously used and properly monitored, Abia State Police Commissioner used the opportunity to reassure residents of Aba, Abians and investors to the state of their safety and safety of their businesses.

    He called for the collaboration of members of the public in the fight against crime and criminality, urging them to report cases and activities of criminals and hoodlums within their neighbourhoods to the police and other security agencies as part of their contribution in making the society safe for all to live.

    Before the vehicles were handed over to various police divisions including MOPOL 55 Squadron Command, they were driven round the city of Aba in a convoy patrol led by the state Commissioner of Police and assisted by the Aba Area Commander and MOPOL 55 Squadron Commander, Peter Wagbara and Subay Oladipo.

     

  • Obiano hails IGR, low cost of governance

    Obiano hails IGR, low cost of governance

    Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano has said that low cost of governance and improved Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) have helped in running the state. The state is one of the few where workers are paid promptly despite the economic crunch. Also, three flyovers being built in Awka, the state capital, will be completed in May.

    The governor said this while inspecting some projects, including the flyovers and the longest bridge in the Southeast under construction at Otuocha in Anambra East council.

    He maintained that the flyovers would be built according to design, complete with flowerbeds, suspenders and other enhancements.

    The site manger of the construction firm (ADC), Mr. Joseph Yusuf, commended the Governor for showing great commitment to the projects.

    While assuring that the bridges would be completed on scheduled, adding that the Kwata flyover would be the biggest of the three.

    Yusuf also, assured that the company would do everything within its powers to ensure that it did not over shoot the deadline.

    At Aguleri-Otu where the longest bridge is being constructed, Obiano said that the 47km Odene-Eziagulu-Aguleri-Otu-Orient Petroleum Road project that hosts the bridge would take two years to complete.

    This according to him was because of the treacherous nature of the terrain, adding that on completion, the road would transform the fortunes of the community and its neighbours.

  • Ikpeazu’s wife builds houses for widows

    Ikpeazu’s wife builds houses for widows

    The wife of Abia State Governor, Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu, in collaboration with the Vicar Hope Foundation, has inaugurated two bungalows for two indigent widows in Bende and Ohafia concils of the state.

    Speaking during the Commissioning, Mrs. Ikpeazu stated that the houses were built in fulfilment of her covenant with God to provide succour to this class of people who have no one to help them.

    She also said the gesture was equally to thank God for her husband’s victory at the Supreme Court.

    Mrs Ikpeazu urged well-meaning Abians to assist the government in ameliorating the plight of the widows and other vulnerable persons.

    She said that with the dwindling economic fortunes of the state, it was becoming very difficult for government alone to take care of the indigent and vulnerable people in the state.

    The beneficiaries included Mrs. Egbichi Okorie from Ezeukwu Community in Bende Local Government Area and Mrs. Aria Ugba from Nkporo in Ohafia Local Government Area.

    The beneficiaries, Mrs. Egbichi Okorie and and Mrs. Aria Ugba thanked Mrs. Ikpeazu and prayed for God’s protection and divine health for the gesture.

    Some of the dignitaries witnessed the inauguration were the Deputy Governor of the state, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, the Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr. Hagler Okorie, and the Commissioner for Women Affairs Lady Chinedu Brown.

  • Army cares for ailing residents

    Army cares for ailing residents

    The 144th Army Battalion in Abia State provides medical services for Aba residents, SUNNY NWANKWO reports

    The exercise may be a social responsibility enhancing military-civilian relationship, but it came in handy for the beneficiaries. Many had unhealthy blood pressures which were diagnosed and treatment started. Many more were down with malaria and other ailments. The medical corps of the army took care of that and much more.

    The event which took place at a secondary school in Aba, the state’s commercial heart, attracted the old and young from various parts of the city, namely Osisioma, Aba North and South, Ukwa and their environs. They were not only tested but were also given drugs or told what medications to buy to soothe or cure their ailments.

    Many were touched by the army gesture. Apart from counseling, the patients were tested for high blood pressure, sugar level, malaria and typhoid, among others. Some patients with complicated ailments were referred to the appropriate hospitals.

    Some of the patients who benefitted from the free medical care could not hide their happiness as they expressed their happiness for the exercise and thanked the soldiers, 144 Battalion and Ngwa High School Forward Operation Base (FOB) for their gestures of attending to their health challenges and needs.

    A patient who gave her name as Ifeoma lauded the medical team for their professionalism, urging the military authorities to make the exercise an annual event in order to accommodate those that missed this one. Ifeoma also called on pharmaceutical companies, government, private clinics and hospitals to partner with the soldiers in supplying more drugs and pharmaceutical equipment so that patients with tough cases can be immediately taken care of by the medical team.

    In an interview, Major Kabiru of Ngwa High School FOB who represented the Commander 144 Battalion, Lt.Col. Kasim Umar Sidi said that the essence of the exercise was part of their social responsibilities to their immediate and host community.

    Kabiru said that the drugs and other things used for the exercise were provided by the 144th Battalion, adding that he was happy that the exercise was successful. He also thanked the people for coming out en mass to participate in the exercise.

    He equally urged the public to support the military and other security agencies in the state in crime fighting, stressing that the desire of the security agency is to make the state safe for business and investors.

     

  • Corps member honoured for donating borehole, library

    Corps member honoured for donating borehole, library

    A National Youth Corps member Okeke Stanley Chima has been conferred with the chieftaincy title of Ozo Ogbenye 1 of Igbudu-Ekka community for sinking a borehole in Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

    Chima also stocked a library at the Community Secondary School, Nkomoro in the council.

    Chima said the projects were part of his Community Development Service (CDS), a core part of the NYSC.

    He said the initiative was informed by a need to solve a problem as he saw it upon his posting to the community. Chima said the need became an obligation considering that  he was accepted and cared for by the people.

    He added that the only way he thought he could impact on their lives was through such projects.

    He urged the benefit-ting communities to continue to extend the same hospitality showed him to other Corps members that would be posted to the area.

    Daisy Girl Foundation, a Lagos-based non-governmental organi-sation whose cardinal objective is to support the development of future national and world leaders, sponsored the two projects.

    Mrs Marilyn Maduka, the founder of the foundation said they identified with the Corps member  because his CDS initiatives were in tandem with the core objective of the foundation.

    She said the foundation was interested in developing education and values especially in the girl-child in Nigeria and beyond.

    She urged the communities to make use of the projects as the foundation would visit in near future to inspect and  do more projects for them if they could maintain the existing ones.

    In their remarks on behalf of Igbudu Ekka, the community Head, Mr Ogbaigbo Emmanuel Ugbala and the youth President, Ogwale Matthew who lauded Corps member and the  Foundation said the new borehole has ended the scarcity of water hitherto facing the community.

    They said the project was going to unite the people more and prayed God to reimburse them in double fold.

    The Principal of community Secondary School (CSS) Nkomoro, Mr Ugama C. C, who commended the Corps member and the foundation said the library was the first of its kind since the establishment of the school in over two decades.

    He said the Library would inculcate reading culture in the students and pledged to ensure judicious use of the library.

    The member representing Ohaozara East state constituency, Hon. Augusta Udeh who commissioned the projects said he was impressed to be associated with such laudable achievement and thanked the Corps member and the Foundation for the humanitarian services.

    Hon. Udeh appealed to the community not to discriminate among themselves on the use of the borehole just as she admonished the students and teachers of CSS Nkomoro to make proper use of the Library.

    The state Coordinator of NYSC in Ebonyi state who was represented by Mr Kingsley Ndukwe commended the Corps member for the initiative and urged other corps members to emulate him.

    Highlight of the event was the distribution of items such as clothes, beverages, shoes, cream, etc to widows and other villagers by Daisy Girl Foundation.

     

  • Community elects leaders

    The lagos branch of Alor Development Union (ADU) in Idemili South Local Government Area Anambra State has elected its officers. The election held at Alor Christian Centre in Orile-Iganmu area of Lagos.

    The electoral committee was led by Ichie Sunday Omakagu consisted. Chief Emmanuel Ojukwu was voted chairman to serve for  three years.

    Other officers elected were Chief Chijioke Uzokwe (Vice Chairman); Mr. Damiona  Nwaogbo (Secretary General); Mr. Marcus Mbaekwe (Assistant Secretary); Mr. Chibuike Nwoye (Treasurer); Chief Mallison Ukatu (Financial Secretary); Mr Tochukwu Uzochukwu (Assistant Secretary); Mr. Emmanuel Udodinma  Social/Publicity Secretary); Mr. Azubuike Onyechi (Chief Provost) and Mr.  Chijioke Akubue (Provost).

    The other members of electoral Committee were Chief Nnaemeka Ngige (SAN) as Secretary, Ichie Godwin Nwaoye and Ichie Samuel Udoh members.

    The officers were also inaugurated.

    Chief Uzoma Igbonwa, a former President of Alor People’s Convention, and Chief John Obiekwe, among others, attended the event.

    Rendering his stewardship earlier, as the chairman of the union in the last three years, Chief Ojukwu appreciated the cooperation of elders and leaders of the community for their confidence on the team as they were able to play their role creditably.

  • Umahi’s brother becomes king

    Umahi’s brother becomes king

    Chief Larz Umahi Nweze, eldest brother of Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi, has been crowned king of Uburu, a community in Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state.

    Many dignitaries, including those from outside the state, attended his coronation which took place at the village square. The celebrities who turned up for the event included traditional rulers from other autonomous communities in the state, state and federal lawmakers, commissioners, council chiefs, business executives, among others. Chief Umahi is now called Eze Adu III.

    The community, which is made up of four villages namely, Umunaga, Umuanikita, Mgbom and Urobo, was in a festive mood during the coronation.

    The community was without a king for close to 10 years, The Nation learnt.

    In his acceptance speech, the new Eze thanked stakeholders of the community, “who first mooted the idea of my becoming, prodded and nominated me to be the Eze Adu III of Uburu Autonomous community”.

    He also spoke about his plans for his kingdom and beyond.

    He said, “We will support and collaborate with all levels of government to move Uburu Autonomous community and the entire Uburu clan forward. Governor David Umahi who is our son, has been a source of pride. He is doing so well and we will give him all manner of support to do even better.”

    President-General, Town Union Uburu Autonomous Community, Hon. Innocent Uzor expressed joy over the coronation of the new king.

    “As a matter of fact, the people of Uburu Autonomous community have been longing for a day like this ever since the death and burial of Eze Adu II, HRH late Eze David Ekwe Nweze.

    “Our joy is indeed full that God has finally answered our prayers in a profound way. God has given us a generally accepted Eze-elect whose impeccability, probity of character, integrity, education and background are unassailable”.

    The state chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Hon. Justice Ogbonna described the coronation of Eze Adu III as a welcome development, adding that the king was most appropriate for the position considering his enormous contributions to the development of the community.

    He enjoined members of the community in the state and Diaspora to support the new king so that he will succeed in his vision and programmes of moving the community forward.

    Governor Umahi presented the Eze with his Staff of Office at a ceremony in Abakaliki, the state capital. Four other traditional rulers were given their staff of office at the event.

    The Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr. Samuel Okoronkwo said that the traditional rulers met all the requirements as required by the constitution before they were installed by their various communities.

    They included Chief Livinus Okorie Ugbo (Oso-Edda community), Chief John Okpuru (Amaoffia), Chief Edward Chukwu (Oziza) and Chief Ibe Obani (Umuihe).

    Governor Umahi at the event called on the Ezes to rule with the fear of God.

    He urged the people to uplift the virtues for which the state is known.

    In their acceptance,   HRM Okpuru,  promised that they will use their staff of office to maintain peace and propagate the policies and programmes of the state  government in their communities.

    Eze Umahi Nweze promised to engender peace in Uburu community and to use his connections and contacts in the corridors of power to attract a lot of developmental projects and policies to his people.