The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • We’ll soon develop our second campus, says rector

    The Rector of Abia State Polytechnic, Sir Allwell Abalogu Onukaogu has said construction work will soon begin at the second campus of the institution at the outskirts of Aba.

    Fielding questions with reporters in Aba, Onukaogu revealed that arrangements for the foundation-laying ceremony of the Osisioma campus to be performed by the Governor and Visitor of the school; Theodore Ahamefule Orji would soon be concluded.

    He said: “We already have the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), but because we don’t want anything that will disrupt work as soon as construction work began on the site, we have engaged the natives; our host community to a roundtable discussion to resolve and settle issues with them amicably. I can assure that in no distant time, the governor will be coming to perform the foundation-laying ceremony on the site.

    “The campus, when completed, will solve students’ accommodation problems; provide space for the establishment of more departments such as mass communication, among other courses. It will also be equipped with modern sports facilities for students’ recreation.

    “For the campus, my predecessors in office did not think there was any need for us to go to their when this place has not been exhausted and when I assumed office as the rector, I decided to exhaust the available space and whatever that is available here. I had to knock down all bungalows and then, put high-rise buildings. By the grace of God, we have exhausted all the available spaces we have here.

    “So, what we are doing is to develop the second campus. This place was never really supposed to be a temporary site because the idea of the polytechnic in Aba was to promote the industrial potential that Aba have. So, there was no need taking the campus out of Aba town.

    “We intend to build hostels for our students there. Zenith Bank has indicated interest to partner with us through public private partnership (PPP) arrangement. We are studying their proposal and conditions. If we are comfortable with it, we will accept them.

    “Also, we intend to transfer all Humanities and Management Colleges to the new campus. There is a plan to establish a School of Mass Communication. There will be a modern library and a mini-administrative block because here remains the main campus.

    “There will be sporting facilities so that students can recreate. This is because the intellect will be useless without a healthy body; that is why we are not only going to build, but also to encourage students to make good use of those sporting facilities to develop themselves.

    “As time goes on, we may begin to think of agricultural programmes because the lane is big enough to accommodate Agriculture Department and students.”

    Debunking a media report on the institution, the rector thanked Governor Orji for his assistance to the institution, stating that with the modern equipment which the school boasts, it competes favourably with Federal Government institutions.

    “The proprietors of this school before the present governor took over were not even bold enough to establish core polytechnic courses. The equipment we have in surveying, let alone in the Environmental Sciences cost millions of Naira. There are very few institutions in the country that have the kind of equipment that we have here.

    “In our Hospitality and Tourism Departments, we have 28 chalets that can stand any level of competition with five star hotels.

    “Our Food Science and Technology graduates can work in the most modern food establishments unlike their contemporaries that will need to be retrained before working in a modern food processing factory. We have facilities that can bake 1, 000 loaves of bread in 30 minutes.

    “Some institutions have demanded that we fabricate dredging machines for them which other polytechnics that are over 40 years cannot even do. It is not just a question of manpower, but that of equipment.

    “We have about 12 functional boreholes and a urinary for students, unlike in the past when they defecated everywhere.

    “So, when they say there was a polytechnic that was teaching Accountancy, Public Administration, what do you need to teach those programmes? You need classroom and manpower, but if you are teaching Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Electrical Electronics, you do not only need staff, you need equipment and we have the latest versions of these equipment.” he said.

    Onukaogu described his relationship with government, staff and students as cordial, adding that they have always come out stronger and united after industrial disputes which was why the school was in session even when polytechnics in the country were on strike.

    He expressed hope that expansion project would help to create job opportunities for the host communities and people of Abia.

  • Prisons officers lament promotion irregularities

    Some aggrieved officers and men of Nigerian Prisons Service who alleged irregularities in the just-released 2013 promotion exercise have cried out to the Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro for intervention. They also urged him to prevail on the Controller-General of Prisons, the Civil Defence, Fire Service, Immigration and Prisons Board (CDFIPB) and the Nigerian Prisons Service to correct the irregularities that characterised the 2013 promotion exercise.

    The officers and men, who pleaded anonymity for fear of dismissal, alleged that names of many of them who were qualified for promotion were omitted, even when they were eminently qualified for promotion.

    They also alleged that those who were not qualified for the promotion interview and who were last promoted in 2011, were promoted. It was also alleged that some who did not write the promotion examination were promoted.

    They said: “Contrary to the service rule, some officers who were last promoted in 2009 and 2010 were dropped and those who were promoted in 2011 were again promoted. The law is that senior officers are qualified for promotion once they are up to three years on a rank. This is dependent on vacancies that exist.

    “The recent promotion was in 2013. Those officers who had their last promotion in 2011 were not eligible for promotion when some of those of 2009 and 2010 had not been promoted.

    “Any officer who had his/her last promotion in 2011 was not qualified to write the promotion examination. The reverse was the situation in Nigerian Prisons Service where the 2011 candidates were promoted to the detriment of those who are/were genuinely qualified for promotion. One expects the prison authority to have accurate records that will checkmate this kind of fraud.”

    Further buttressing their point, the source, who are among those allegedly cheated, said those on the ranks of Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent of Prisons who were promoted in 2011 were promoted to Chief Superintendent of  Prisons when they shouldn’t have been.

    “Prison job is a paramilitary establishment where rank matters. It is always a serious injury when one’s junior suddenly becomes one’s senior without genuine or proper process.

    “Somebody who joined the service in 1986 and obtained a degree certificate may be, in 1998, will be junior to a person who joined the service in 1991 and obtained a degree certificate in 2004,” they said.

    When contacted on phone for comment on the matter, former Controller of Prisons in charge of promotions, Amaechi Uzoigwe said such matters are directed to the Civil Defence, Fire Service, Immigration and Prisons Board (CDFIPB) which is competent to address any issue on promotion. He declined further comment on the issue.

    A member of the board, Alhaji Isah Umaru told our correspondent on phone that “anyone who is aggrieved over promotion matters should channel his or her grievances in a letter to the board through the appropriate authority for consideration.”

    However, a letter of complaint on the “2013 Promotion Omission” written by one of the aggrieved officers to the Director/Secretary, Civil Defence, Fire Service, Immigration and Prisons Board through The Controller-General of Prisons, Nigerian Prisons Service, Prisons headquarters, Abuja, through the Assistant Controller-General of Prisons Nigerian Prisons Service Zone ‘E’ headquarters, Owerri Imo State through The Controller of Prisons, Nigerian Prisons Service State headquarters, Owerri was made available to our correspondent.

    The letter dated August 11, 2014 reads: “I wish to bring to your notice the omission of my name in the 2013 promotion list. I joined the service in 1991 with the rank of Prison’s Assistant (PA). I participated in the promotion interview or examination which took place in Owerri.

    “My last promotion date was 2010. This means that I was qualified for the 2013 promotion. But surprisingly, I was denied the promotion. What baffled me was the inclusion of officers of 2011 promotion in the list of 2013 promotion. These officers who had their last promotion in 2011were not even qualified for the interview, let alone the promotion.

    “Sir, I plead that you use your good offices to correct this anomaly…”

     

  • N300m largesse for Anambra widows

    N300m largesse for Anambra widows

    Wife of Anambra State governor, Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano has distributed items worth over N300 million to widows in the state.

    The items included 200 hair driers, 200 sewing machines, 500 bags of salt, 150 cartons of soap, 500 bags of rice, 10 bundles of wrappers, 200 bags containing bundles of treated mosquito nets and 750 milling machines, among others.

    She said that the empowerment was meant for widows in the 189 communities of the state.

    Mrs Obiano also reiterated her commitment to promoting the welfare of families through her pet project Caring Family Empowerment Initiative (CAFÉ).

    The women gathered at the Governor’s Lodge in Amawbia for the distribution.

    The governor’s wife said the items were part of the donations from First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan during her recent visit to the state..

    Mrs Obiano the First Lady for caring for the needy, noting that such initiatives complement CAFÉ’s role in providing succour for the indigent and down-trodden in the society.

    Said she, “CAFÉ is committed to supporting the welfare programmes of Chief Willie Obiano’s administration, which promotes strong and healthy families through assisting and supporting vulnerable groups in the state in order to feel the impact of government and also contribute to its socio-economic development.”

    Mrs. Obiano told the widows that the items were not exhaustive but were being distributed in phases. She assured that the people who have not received the empowerment materials will do so eventually.

     

  • Broadcaster’s mum for burial

    Broadcaster’s mum for burial

    All is set for the burial of a community leader, Mrs. Oyidia Orji, mother of renowned broadcaster Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, now Director, Communications, Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) at the Presidency, Abuja. She will be buried on November 1 in Ugwuavor, Arochukwu in Abia State. Mrs Orji died at the age of 87.

    Until her death, Ma Oyidia was the Eze Nwanyi (women leader) of Ugwuavor and Mother-General of Christ Ascension Church, Arochukwu.

    An agent of community mobi-lisation and social worker, Madam Orji, led the  women in  her community  Ugwuavor, Arochukwu  to embrace self- development initiatives and economic empowerment programmes through entrepreneurship. As a social worker, she was also involved in   conflict prevention, management and resolution infamilies in the community.  In recognition of her services, she was honoured as “Nne-oha Arochukwu” in 2005 by Nzuko Arochukwu women’s wing.

    Ma Oyidia Orji held the position of Mother-General of the Christ Ascension Church Arochukwu and contributed immensely to Christian evangelism. She is survived by six children, grand and great grand children.

    A statement by the family explained that Madam Oyidia Orji’s funeral begins with a Christian wake in her family compound, Eziukwu, Ugwuavor, Arochukwu on October 31.

  • Senator provides infrastructure for constituents

    As the 2015 general elections draw closer, a major factor which would ensure the return of most politicians in elective positions is how much of development they had brought to their respective communities.

    The people of Ebonyi South Senatorial District have every cause to be grateful to God and Senator Sonni Ogbuoji for his quality representation of his people at the National Assembly.

    Investigation revealed that the Senator’s provision of democratic dividends for his people had exceeded their expectations.

    He embarked on construction and rehabilitation of federal roads in the zone and provided other infrastructural facilities such as the 35-room guest house, established plastic industry at Ebunwana and built the Assemblies of God Church Jerusalem Assembly, among others.

    Among the roads which the Senator facilitated their construction is the Ebunwana Erei federal road linking Ebonyi and Cross River states, Ohafia-Nguzu Oso Edda federal road linking Ebonyi and Abia states and other roads within the zone which include Okpoghoro Road Ebunwana, Igbara Ebunwana Road and Ndi Agwu Road Igbara.

    The Ohafia-Nguzu-Oso Edda federal road is significant because until recently, it was a 20km stretch of dilapidated asphalt road at the Abia State axis and a jagged earth road at the Edda axis, which had never witnessed any form of construction activity.

    From the First Republic when Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Dr. Michael Okpara (all late) visited Edda and promised that government would consider its construction, the road had remained an object of political campaigns, one of the examples of failed promises and a proof of government’s insensitivity to people at the grassroots.

    Successive administrations had awarded contract for the construction of the road for several times after which it would be abandoned.

    This was the situation till 2012 when Senator Ogbuoji brought the gully-ridden road to the attention of the Federal Government. Convinced that the road is vital for effective inter and intra-state commercial activities, Senator Ogbuoji was committed to the construction of the road so much so that budgetary provision was made for it.

    The contract, which was in category B, lot 11 of the Federal Government official Gazette was awarded to Uniglobe Construction Company Limited at the sum of 2,293,965,030, with 18 months completion period.

    The member representing Afikpo South West State Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Eni Uduma Chima said the Senator had effectively utilised his presence at the Senate to bring benefits of democracy to the people of the zone, adding that the roads he (Senator) constructed had made it possible for the people to interrelate with their neighbouring communities in both Abia and Cross River states.

    Communities such as Nguzu Edda, Ekoli Edda, Ebunwana Edda, Itim Edda, Ogbu Edda, Owutu Edda, Amangwu Edda and Oso Edda, among others had expressed their gratitude to Senator Ogbuoji for his commitment to infrastructural development and empowerment schemes.

    “We are happy with our Senator; we wish other Senators could emulate his leadership style. Going to the Senate is not for you to enrich yourself and forget about the people that gave you their mandate. He did not discriminate among all the local government areas that make up the zone. We are happy with him and satisfied with his representation at the National Assembly,” they said.

  • Neglected Enugu community appeals to Chime

    Umualor community in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State has petitioned Governor Sullivan Chime over what it described as its prolonged neglect. The community wants him to intervene and reverse the situation.

    In a statement signed by the coordinator, Umualor United For Change (UUC), Comrade Ogbuzuru Ejike, the community said it suffered a litany of economic and political neglect that arose from age-long non-compliance with the power sharing formula in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area by other communities that make up the local government.

    Ejike said even though it was a well-known fact that Umualor remained the oldest town in the local government area, none of its indigenes has been given an opportunity to occupy any elective political position.

    The development, he noted, has tended to shut out his people from the vast dividends of democracy and good governance which successive regimes and even the current Chime administration have provided.

    “The setbacks of this neglect began with and are further heightened by the fact that out of the eleven political wards allocated to the local government, Umualor barely has one where five communities exist in the local government. Ehamufu has four wards, Ikem has two, Mbu has two and Neke has two as well. The imbalance has existed given the fact that all the other communities at the forefront of political power all these while though it wise that we were merely a hamlet that needed no political attention and thus had no use of the ward during the delineation process.

    “It is not pellucid and crystal clear that we have been cheated all these while from the above your excellency, even when all the communities in the local government have agreed and officially accented to a zoning system that would ordinarily make Umualor Development Area the next community to produce a candidate for elective political position?. We want to crave your indulgence and wealth of political wisdom as our great political leader therefore to assist us in securing the ticket for the state house of assembly come 2014 as a way of enhancing our political chance and future in the state.

    “Your Excellency, it is unfathomable that where eleven wards exist, a community with just one ward can scarcely produce a political office holder even on the grounds of strict adherence to rotational formula let alone when it has been jettisoned for political advantages.

    “Your Excellency, we have reasoned with this ancient Igbo philosophy which asserts that when taken for granted, gold in one’s hand is sometimes considered like cheap copper and have seen that if the current happenings continue, the Umualor community might never test the opportunity of steering the political wheel of the local government nor any other political position deemed rightful for Isi-Uzo Local Government and this we say God forbid,” he stated.

    The coordinator of UCC further added that the chronology of events has shown that Umualor has been relegated to the background in spheres of access to political power, adding that as a result, they wished to know if they were mere commodity or a community sharing equal rights with their neighbors.

    He expressed dismay that Umualor in this modern age has no passable roads, no access to electricity, no telecommunication network, stating that the community suffers patiently deplorable state of poor medical facilities.

    “We know that you have been reputable to have a listening ear to the marginalised. Awgu, Nsukka, Oji River among others would all bear witness to this. We believe that if you delve into this matter as one of your last developmental strides as the governor we would not and never remain the same again, it is well with you sir,” Ejike pleaded.

     

  • Lawmaker remembers Anambra communities

    Lawmaker remembers Anambra communities

    There is joy in four communities in Nnewi Local Government Area of Anambra State. Why? A good road network now runs through the communities. The roads were built by the Anambra State government at the instance of the lawmaker representing the areas, Hon. Rita Maduagwu.

    The communities are Ukpor, Akwa-Ihedi, Ezinifite and Ebenator, all in Nnewi South II State Constituency.

    Apart from the roads, the lawmaker has also brought succour to the less-privileged, including widows, giving hope to the hopeless.

    It was a huge relief for the communities after years of pain on the road.

    “This is what we call quality representation and bringing dividends of democracy to the people who made you what you are and not becoming a monster to the people because you are in power,” former Commissioner for Lands, Chief John Okoli Akirika told our correspondent.

    Virtually all the dilapidated roads in the sleepy communities which had been abandoned for many years are now in good condition.

    Businesses have started booming in the areas, while the communities have been flooded by non-natives, even as foreigners are now buying lands in those communities for development purposes.

    In addition, over 20 schools have been renovated by the government in conjunction with the lawmaker.  During one of Maduagwu’s empowerment programmes held at the Central School Ukpor, Nnewi South Local Government Area, over 80 people, including youths and widows were empowered.

    Many dignitaries, including lawmakers, attended the event. Some of the lawmakers at the event were Ikem Uzoezie, Kingsley Iruba and Obinna Emenaka. They represent Aguata 1, Nnewi South 1 and Anambra East State Constituencies respectively. They described the lawmaker as a selfless leader who takes the affairs of her constituency very seriously.

    The items distributed to the beneficiaries were hair driers, power generating sets, sewing machines, grinding machines and trailer loads of rice and beans, among others.

    Some members of her constituency told our correspondent that Maduagwu had renovated many dilapidated schools, sunk over 10 boreholes and renovated hospitals in the areas.

    Furthermore, she assured the people that more roads would be constructed in other communities by the Governor Willie Obiano.

    In a chat with our correspondent, Hon. Maduagwu who is a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) revealed that the urge to render selfless service to humanity motivated her joining politics; having seen how the people in the area had suffered for years.

    She said: “I am happy that I have made an indelible impact in all these communities within my short stay in politics. It is not for me to blow my trumpet. I leave such to my people.”

    However, she urged the beneficiaries to put the empowerment items to good use for their benefit and those of their immediate families.

    Some of the beneficiaries praised Hon. Maduagwu for remembering the needy in the society.

    A 29-year-old Miss Chinyere Nwosu, who received a hair drier, described the lawmaker as Godsend to bring about development in all the communities.

    Mrs. Justina Onyema, a widow, who received one of the sewing machines, praised Hon. Maduagwu, adding that it had never been so good for the people of Nnewi South.

    Apart from the items of empowerment which some beneficiaries received, the sum of N10, 000 was given to some of the constituents to boost their businesses. They included Ifeanyi Ebo and Chioma Okoye, among others.

    Mr. Hyacinth Maduagwu, husband of the lawmaker told our correspondent that he was not disappointed by allowing his wife to go into politics.

    He said men should encourage their wives to join politics as such women with capability and focus do achieve sustainable developments in their callings.

    Mr. Maduagwu added that his wife was complementing his developmental efforts during his tenure as the President-General of his community.

    One of the chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Albert Okpalaugo described Hon. Maduagwu has been a pillar of hope to the hopeless since she joined politics.

    He said if others elected by their communities are giving the people quality representation as Hon. Maduagwu does, most communities in the country would experience rapid development. He urged other lawmakers to emulate the lawmaker.

    The chairman of Nnewi South Local Government Area, Mr. Ossy Iyiegbu, praised the efforts of the lawmaker in making the council and communities in the area to enjoy benefits of democracy.

    The Principal of Zikson Secondary School, Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area, Mrs. Victoria Igwe, told our correspondent that the lawmaker had transformed schools in the state since her tenure as Chairman, House Committee on Education and Sporting, adding that sporting activities had come alive once again.

  • Lawmaker’s free medicare for constituents

    Lawmaker’s free medicare for constituents

    The member representing Bende North State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Ndukwe Ojukwu has assured his constituents that their health will remain his priority.

    Hon. Ojukwu spoke at Apuanu Item during a four-day free medical treatment organised by Owani Professional Foundation (OPF), in collaboration with Ojukwu Foundation and the Methodist Church. He said health is the foundation of a every

    Ojukwu regretted the high mortality rate of infants and expectant mothers experienced in the rural areas in the past which he attributed to ignorance on the part of parents, even as he urged a change towards reducing the mortality rate.

    He praised the efforts of the team of doctors numbering 20 for their dedication to duty during the four-day free medical treatment and their excellent service which has helped in improving the health of members of his constituents.

    The lawmaker said healthy people make a wealthy nation, adding that there would be no meaningful development in a society when the health of the people is in serious jeopardy.

    Ojukwu further said the free medical treatment exercise was a yearly programme which aims at complementing the efforts of Governor Theodore Orji, whom he said has done much in the health sector.

    The lawmaker recalled that Ndukwe Ojukwu Foundation has, since 2011, settled hospital bills of all mothers who were delivered of their babies in any government hospital and maternity homes in the area.

    He noted that the emphasis on government hospitals and maternity homes aimed at discouraging expectant mothers from patronising quarks which may result in serious complications and possible deaths which his foundation aims to reduce.

    Hon. Ojukwu praised the efforts of the OPF and their boss Prof. Mba Okoronkwo who is the Dean of School of Health Sciences, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) for his resilience in piloting the affairs of the body and bringing doctors to Item.

    He said their efforts have helped in reducing the high rate of infant and maternal mortality in his constituency, adding that members of his constituency will never forget them in a hurry.

    Speaking with our correspondent on their experiences, Mrs. Ijeoma Anyaele, Mr. Ikechukwu Kalu and Madam Ejije Igwe who benefitted from the free medical exercise expressed their happiness over the lawmaker’s gesture, even as they prayed God to reward the organisers for their wonderful concern for the needy.

  • MASSOB honours Ojukwu

    The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has honoured the late Biafra leader Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, declaring November 6 as Ojukwu Day.

    MASSOB also directed that flags in public and corporate offices be flown at half-mast in all Biafran territories on that day.

    The movement’s acting director of Informat, Sunny Okereafor speaking to journalists in Aba,  said that the actions were meant to commemorate the third anniversary of the demise of the Igbo leader.

    Okereafor said that MASSOB has lined up series of events for the third anniversary celebration of late Ojukwu, the Eze Igbo Gburugburu, which he stated would be held at the Ojukwu Library at New Owerri, Imo State.

    He said MASSOB was doing these things to show the world that Ndigbo would never forget Ojukwu who he said used his father’s wealth to fight for the interest and in defence of the Igbo man.

    “We are doing these things to immortalise Ojukwu’s name because we see him as the Moses of Biafra who led his people out of the wilderness before he handed over power to Chief Ralph Uwazuruike who is the Joshua of our time.

    “In line with the high esteem which we hold Chief Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu even in death, November 26 every year will be known as Ojukwu’s Day in remembrance of his contributions to the welfare of Ndigbo.”

    The MASSOB spokesman informed that the day would be declared public holidays immediately the state of Biafra was achieved and urged Ndigbo to keep faith with the Movement and attend the Owerri event enmasse.

    He hinted that highlights of this year’s Ojukwu Day celebration would include Igbo traditional dances, talk shops and cultural displays as well as key note address to be delivered by MASSOB leader, Chief Uwazuruike.

     

  • Community bemoans neglect of dam project

    Mgbowo, a semi-urban community, is known for its agricultural activities. Besides its natural endowments, the town boasts intellectuals. Any wonder the community is ahead of others which make up Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State.

    The community has sufficient agro-based economic potential that are yet to be tapped. Successive administrations seemed to lack interest in exploring them. The people cried, shouted and even petitioned all the tiers of government, accusing them of neglect and inability to explore the economic potential of the community.

    In 2003, fortune smiled on them. God answered their prayers as the Federal Government, under former President Olusegun Obasanjo became aware of the community’s agro-economic potential and decided to build a dam there. The dam was eventually inaugurated in 2006.

    Contract for the construction of the dam christened Mgbowo Earth Dam and Water Scheme was awarded by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources with the Anambra/Imo River Basin and Rural Development Authority as the executing agency.

    The contract was awarded to ANBEEZ Services Limited, an indigenous contractor.

    Before work began at the site, there was a memorandum of understanding signed by the community and the technical partners on technical co-operation in small hydropower development.

    Under the agreement, the host community was to be responsible for the construction of civil works while the United Nations Development Organisation (UNIDO) would provide the electro-mechanical component turbine for the scheme.

    Also the community was requested to establish a community development centre where small agro-processing activities such as rice milling and hauling, garri processing and grinding mills for maize and beans shall be carried out by the community.

    The host community was also required to provide within the development centre a space for information technology training and development within six months. Leaders of the community swung into action immediately after. In less than the stipulated time, they were able put the requirements in place.

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the structures are all in place and intact.

    But after construction work on the site commenced, the project was abandoned midway. The people of Mgbowo community are regretting ever accepting that project.

    According to the traditional Prime Minister of the community, Prof. Joseph Okoro Akpa, before the coming of the project, “the lake used to be the only source of water for the community. The project has become a curse as the water has been polluted as a result of earth excavation at a nearby hill by construction companies.”

    Akpa further said the aquatic activities in the lake have been completely grounded as there was no longer source of life in the lake.

    “Our people no longer go there for fishing or to fetch water. It has become a death trap. Four boys were drowned in the lake recently. As a result of blockages and abandonment, the lake overflows its banks whenever there is a downpour.”

    Our correspondent observed that the lake is currently stagnant and malodorous, even as it breeds dangerous reptiles. The colour of the water is no longer crystal clear but brownish.

    Prof. Akpa said: “We fear it may expose members of the community to an epidemic in a no distant future.”

    While blaming the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and, to an extent, the contractors for the abandonment, the traditional Prime Minister appealed to the Federal Government, especially Minister of Water Resources, the Anambra/Imo River Basin Authority and the contractors to resume work at the site in order to save the people from indescribable hardship.

    He said: “The community provided all that was required of them. We donated the land, taxed our people, received donations from our people living abroad and put in place all the structures required of us. Eight years after, the project remains unattended to and our people are being subjected to extreme difficulties.”

    Akpa opined that the project, if completed, would provide massive employment not only for the people of the community but also the entire Enugu State. It would as well increase and encourage small-scale industries such as rice milling, garri processing and ICT training.

    Again, apart from the tap water it would provide for the community and neighbouring ones, the dam, Akpa said, would ensure irrigation for all-year-round farming.

    “In the name of God and for the sake of humanity, we are fervently appealing to all those concerned to look into the project which is gradually turning into a curse and complete it for the benefit of humanity,” Prof. Akpa pleaded.