The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

BoI lifts businesses in Akwa Ibom with N1.92b loan

Bank of Industry (BoI) Ltd says it has given loans amounting to N1.92billion in support of businesses in Akwa Ibom State.

Its Managing Director in Nigeria, Dr. Olasupo Olusi, said the loans were given to businesses under the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

Olusi, who made this known while speaking during the opening of BoI’s office in Akwa Ibom State, said the bank was ready to turn around the economic fortunes of the state.

He said the opening of the bank’s 32nd office in the state was aimed at deepening its penetration across the country, to foster economic growth, financial inclusion and entrepreneurship development nationwide, by supporting investment in critical growth sectors.

Olusi reiterated the bank’s continued commitment to supporting private investments in key sectors such as agriculture, oil and gas, power, aviation, tourism and health care, thus catalysing industrialisation and economic sustainability.

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“Looking ahead, we look forward to the successful implementation of a dedicated matching fund partnership with the state government, “to support indigenous enterprises and unlock the entrepreneurial capacity of youths in this great state.”

Inaugurating the BoI branch office, Governor Umo Eno described the occasion as a foremost businesslike event undertaken by him since the inception of his administration.

He said it lends credence to his resolve to fulfil his campaign promise of supporting Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs), as a sure economic booster.

February 8, 2024
Fire averted at Awka gas plant, Nnewi timber market

Men of Anambra State Fire Service on Tuesday had a six-hour battle in an attempt to put out fire at timber market in Nnewi.

The firefighters, same day, also averted explosion at a gas plant after controlling another fire from burning the bush behind the plant.

The Nation gathered that the Nnewi inferno, which started around 11am from a gully heap of sawdust at the market, raised thick smoke that covered the market.

Eyewitness said the fire nearly spread to the entire market, but for quick response of the fire men.

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Similarly, the inferno behind the gas plant, which occurred around 9pm, was reportedly controlled by firefighters, who arrived the scene quickly.

Confirming both incidents, State Fire Chief, Martin Agbili, an engineer; said nobody died, “although there was panic in the areas.”

While he linked the Awka fire to bush burning by yet-to-be identified persons, Agbili said the cause of Nnewi inferno was yet to be ascertained.

Thanking those who alerted his men in time, he told residents that the time of distress call would always determine the time of response.

February 8, 2024
Delta Police Command gets commissioner

A new Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Abaniwonda Olufemi, has assumed duty as the 22nd CP of Delta State Police Command.

He succeeds AIG Wale Abass, who has been transferred to the Police Force Headquarters, Abuja.

A statement by spokesman Bright Edafe, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the new police boss was born on February 22, 1966.

The statement said Abaniwonda, who hails from Epe Local Government of Lagos State, holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History (1987) and a Master of Arts in Economics History (1990), both from the University of Lagos.

He was enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force as a member of Cadet ASP Course 17 on March 18, 1992. He attended Police Academy, Kaduna, and upon completion of training, he was posted to Kogi State Police Command as a young Assistant Superintendent of Police in November 1995.

He has served in capacities in the Police Force.

As a trained officer of international standard, he was deployed in Peace Keeping Mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2000, and was in 2008 seconded as the Training Adviser at the United Nations’ Integrated Office in Sierra Leone.(UNIOSIL)

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In 2015, he was posted to the Gwagwalada Area Command as the Area Commander, and in 2017, he was transferred to Oyo State Command as the Area Commander, Oyo Area Command.

Upon his promotion to the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police, he was tasked with administrative duty at the Department of Operations, Force Headquarters, Abuja.

He served at Kogi State Command as the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department.

He was the Deputy Force Secretary at the Force Headquarters, Abuja. He was promoted to the rank of Commissioner of Police in January 2024 and posted to Delta State as the 22nd Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command.

Abaniwonda promised to build on the existing security mechanisms in place towards enthroning the reign of peace and safety in Delta State.

February 8, 2024
Ex-Bayelsa youths’ leader exonerates police SWAT from illegal bunkering

A former Leader of Nembe Youth Federation (NYF), Mr. Theophilus Iruo, has said the allegations of illegal oil bunkering and violence levelled against the Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) of the Nigeria Police deployed in Nembe-Bassambiri, Bayelsa State, are false, unfounded, mischievous and wicked.

He described the allegations as another wide one that defied reasoning and logical thinking by some criminals in Nembe Local Government uncomfortable with the SWAT’s presence, whose ulterior motives were to unleash mayhem on the people, destroy properties and cause breakdown of law and order.

Iruo in a statement yesterday said the SWAT team deployed on August 12, 2023 in the area by the Inspector- General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had been the saving grace that rescued the people from the descent to anarchy.

He said the presence of the police deployed from Abuja, who ensured they could not be compromised, had made certain elements uncomfortable, hence they started spinning falsehoods to discredit their noble roles of protecting the lives and property of the indigenes and residents alike.

Iruo said: “The allegations of illegal oil bunkering against the SWAT is part of the grand plot to force the IGP to withdraw the police and pave the way for the invasion of the community by retrogressive forces.

“We hereby call on the police and other security agents to beam their searchlight on the activities of some members of the youths’ leadership, who were ‘sacked’ as it pertains to their visits to militant camps and threats of attack on the SWAT team.

“We equally urge IGP Egbetokun to investigate allegations against those former leaders and their sponsors, to ensure they face the full wrath of the law for the atrocities they have committed in Nembe-Bassambiri.”

He debunked reports by a former youth president of the community, Mr. Moses Ayerite, over allegations of vandalism and destruction of houses in the community.

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He maintained that there were no factions in the NYF, claiming that the leadership of Ayerite was duly sacked and replaced in line with the guidelines of the community because of its alleged incompetence, high-handedness and reign of terror during which several houses were destroyed in the community and many people sent on exile.

According to him, there was no iota of truth in the allegations that loyalists of Dr. Kojo Sam, a foremost entrepreneur from the area, were involved in any untoward activities in the community.

Iruo, who described Kojo as a peace-loving man that desired the development of Nembe-Bassambiri through his development and empowerment programmes, warned Ayerite to desist from his campaign of calumny.

February 7, 2024
Constitution Review: We’ve confidence in Kalu-led committee – Agbese

The House of Representatives has expressed confidence in Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu to deliver as the Chairman, House Committee on Constitution Review.

Recently, the House constituted a Committee to look into various proposals and agitations for the alterations and amendment of the 1999 constitution, headed by Kalu, with experienced Lawmakers as Members.

The Committee, which is about the sixth that would be constituted since 1999 to review the existing law book, is expected to be inaugurated February 26, 2024.

Speaking to newsmen in Kano Sunday evening, the House Deputy spokesperson, Hon. Philip Agbese, said the lawmakers have great confidence in the Deputy Speaker, Kalu, saying, his Committee would get it right this time.

According to him: “Overtime, the National Assembly had made attempts to review the 1999 constitution, with the aim of amending some clauses and give it the 21st century life it deserves. Some of the times, the Parliament succeeded; and some other times, the Committee failed.

“Even in the dispensations that the committee succeeded, some amendments suffered rejections at the various Houses of Assembly in states, while some of the few clauses that managed to scale through are fast calling for a repeal or total overhauling.

“But with the Deputy Speaker, His Excellency, RT. Hon. Benjamin Kalu on the driver seat of the Constitution Review Committee of the 10th House of Representatives, Nigerians should go to bed and rest, with the assurance of waking up the next day to the realization of their yearnings and aspirations.

“The Hon. Benjamin Kalu-led Committee would collate opinions and liaise with various stakeholders, Civil Society Organizations, government agencies, multilateral and supranational agencies, as well as traditional rulers, women groups and private business minds who jointly drive the nation’s economy, to ensure a wholesome amendment to the Nigeria’s law book”.

Agbese also charged various groups and agencies, seeking one amendment or the other and alterations in some parts of the 1999 constitution, to work closely with their representatives, as the Committee would hit the ground running, as soon as it is officially inaugurated this month.

“Already, there are about 40 bills at various stages in the National Assembly, seeking for the amendment of the 1999 constitution. Some seek to address issues of gender inequality, traditional institution, local government autonomy, fiscal federation and others.

“With the determination of Kalu-led Committee and the assurance that the Committee would round up by December, 2025; I urge stakeholders and proponents of those Bills to work closely with their representatives and the Committee, to enable it deliver on mandate and time,” he stressed.

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He described Kalu as a Pan-Nigerian Parliamentarian who treats everyone that comes to him with utmost dignity, saying, he is a man reputable for Integrity and all-inclusiveness and would definitely attend to the agitations of those seeking amendments to the nation’s law book.

The Deputy Speaker and Chairman, House Committee on Constitution Review, Kalu, had met with other Members of the Committee at the House of Representatives on Wednesday, where he promised to complete the Committee assignment by December, 2025.

Kalu also urged “the Committee to prepare to work very hard and timeously to deliver on citizens’ expectations of concrete amendments in the shortest possible time”.

February 5, 2024
Ex-APC national auditor joins Anambra governorship race

Former National Auditor of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sir Paul Chukwuma, has joined the governorship race in Anambra State, ahead of the 2025 election.

Chukwuma, the Pro-Chancellor of Olivia University, Burundi, said the state was tired of playing regional politics, adding that time had come for Anambra to join the centre.

Addressing reporters at the weekend in Umueri, Anambra East Local Government, he said time to fix the state by the APC had come.

He said he had identified the challenges facing the state, which the past administrations of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) did not do.

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Chukwuma said he had marshalled plans to resolve the challenges facing Anambra APC, stressing the need for unity in the party.

He said the erosion problems bedevelling the state could not be handled without the Federal Government intervention, emphasising the need for the APC to control Anambra from 2025.

He said he would support any person that emerged victorious during the primaries if he failed to win the ticket, but noted that the primary election must be free and fair.

He said the party needed an intellectual candidate, who could appeal to the elite, the grassroots, entrepreneurs and the academia, a quality, he stated, he possessed.

One of the chieftains of the party in the state, C. J. Chinwuba, described Chukwuma as one of the pillars of APC in country, saying with someone like him, the party was good to go in 2025.

February 5, 2024
PDP candidate slams Imo govt over Ohaji explosion

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 11, 2023 election in Imo State, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government of negligence, leading to the unfortunate, but avoidable explosion in Obitti community, Ohaji Egbema Local Government.

The explosion was a result of illegal bunkering.

The Nation reports that vandals had gone to a rubber estate in Othe bitti community and attempted to tamper with the oil by digging through an oil pipeline. In an attempt to steal the oil, the pipeline caught fire and killed several persons.

Anyanwu, the national secretary of PDP, blamed the Governor Hope Uzodimma administration for not protecting oil pipelines.

He said unemployment level, insecurity, the state’s financial status and Uzodimma’s lackadaisical attitude towards the well-being of the citizens offered oil thieves undue privilege to wreak havoc in Obitti community where many people were feared killed.

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Commiserating with the bereaved families and the people of Ohaji Egbema in general, Anyanwu, in a statement yesterday by his Media Adviser, Ikenna Onuoha, advised the state government to provide security, particularly along pipelines, to prevent recurrence.

“This administration in our state is ill-prepared and non-proactive. It is on record that since it came on board, there has been wide outcry, disenchantment, poverty, starvation and insecurity in virtually every part of the state. While Imo people barely struggle to escape from these challenges, it will be improper for the same government to allow oil thieves to continue to create pandemonium in the oil rich communities in Ohaji Egbema Oguta and its environs where lives and properties are consumed.”

Anyanwu, an erstwhile Senate Committee Chairman on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, decried the rate of negative stories involving Imo State since the inception of the Uzodimma-led APC administration.

The PDP national secretary urged security agencies to “nip this ugly trend in the bud.”

He also advised youths to be law-abiding, enjoining monarchs to take charge of communities by setting up viable vigilance outfits that would monitor movements of strange persons within their domains.

February 5, 2024
Abia panel issues bench warrant for ex-AG

The Chairman, Judicial Panel of Inquiry on the Recovery of Government Property and Funds, Justice Florence Duruoha-Igwe (Rtd), has issued a bench warrant on the former Accountant-General (AG) of the state, Mr. Kelechi Imeoria.

Chief of Staff to former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Mr. Anthony Agbazuere and his counterpart in the Office of the Deputy Governor, Mr. Don Ubani, had appeared before the panel after it issued them bench warrants for failing to appear before it.

Imeoria was issued bench warrant over his failure to appear and produce a black Toyota Fortuna Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), said to have been in his possession after serving the Ikpeazu administration.

Justice Duruoha-Igwe (Rtd), before adjourning the matter till February 9, directed that Imeoria be arrested and produced alongside the vehicle for panel’s inspection.

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She said there was no reason or exemption letter from Imeoria or his counsel, Mrs. Esther Wosu that they would not be able to appear before the panel.

Imeoria last appeared at the panel on January 26.

The panel also entertained a petition by some teachers at International Secondary School, Abia State University (ABSU), over improper placement of their salaries at the point of transfer to the university, suspension without pay and alleged plans by the ABSU management to offer the college for sale or lease to a private investors, contrary to its original status as a public institute.

The petitioners prayed the panel to intervene.

February 5, 2024
Otti to offset medical bills of 30

Abia State Government has offered to foot the expenses of 30 residents in need of surgery.

It has concluded six-month free medical treatment for residents across the state.

Abia State Governor Alex Otti spoke, following an appeal by a visiting Bulgarian non-governmental organisation, Revive, which was on a medical outreach to the state.

Revive medical team, led by a Nigerian of Abia origin, Mr. Smart Oriaku, visited the governor at the end of their 13-day medical outreach, to thank him for the support they received from the government and people of the state, while conducting their activities, which included consultations, diagnosis, laboratory tests and scans, prescriptions, surgery, among others.

Dr. Otti told the visitors, among who were nurses, doctors, surgeons and other medical professionals that his administration was committed to ensuring the overhaul of the health care facilities, including building new ones, to improve the well-being of the citizens.

He says his administration takes health care delivery seriously, hence the focus on renovating and retrofitting health outfits as well as prompt measures taken to ensure the restoration of accreditation for Abia State University Medical School and Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba.

Both lost accreditation over two years ago.

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The governor, who said his administration is rehabilitating 15 general hospitals across the state, added that it is still pushing ahead with its plan to establish a ‘medical village’, which he noted would attract medical tourists to Abia and reverse the trend of people travelling to countries like India for their medical needs.

He hailed the efforts of the visiting medical team, particularly Mr. Oriaku, for bringing the Revive team to Abia.

Oriaku said the medical mission was sponsored by his family, the late Rev. David Ukeje Oriaku family of Okaiuga Nkwoegwu, Umuahia North Local Government, in the spirit of giving back to the society.

He said the team had within the 13 days they held their outreach, performed over 700 consultations, conducted over 60 successful surgeries, ranging from Goiter to Hernia among others, and had kept check on patients to ensure there were no complications.

Also, the medical bills of women, who gave birth at Okaiuga Nkwoegwu Health Centre, venue of the consultation, were paid, in addition to N10,000 gift to the mothers.

February 5, 2024
‘Sponsors of allegations against NNPCL boss playing ethnic card’

Following repeated allegations of pipelines surveillance contract favouritism by the Executive Vice- President (Upstream) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL), Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, a group, Niger Delta Grassroots Coalition (NDGC), has described sponsors of the diatribe as playing ethnic card.

In a statement made available to The Nation yesterday, NDGC lambasted those behind Niger Delta Forum for Truth and Justice (NDFTJ), as well as Arewa Intelligentsia Caucus (AIC), sponsored by some persons from the Urhobo nation.

The statement signed by its Coordinator, Prince Edema Collins and Publicity Secretary, Eyikimi Indiamin, said the accusation by the “faceless” groups was an “usurpation and distraction to the current management under Mele Kolo Kyari.

“The unending blackmail against the Executive Vice-President (Upstream), NNPC Ltd, Mrs. Eyesan, is playing a dangerous ethnic card.”

Reacting to the publications in a national daily dated January 29 and 30 by the two groups, NDGC said: “The AIC, which styled itself as a northern socio-political group, tried unsuccessfully to carry out its campaign of calumny and blackmail against the Executive Vice-President (Upstream) of the NNPCL over what it termed ethnic bias and high handedness.

“For the NDFTJ, it was a second publication (barely a week from their first publication) after perceiving the abysmal failure of their first sponsored publication, while for the AIC, it is their first attempt at doing an unsuccessful hatchet job.”

“We have perused the contents of both publications and can conclude that the AIC is merely trying to do a hatchet job for the NDJTF, which has been formed primarily by some elements in the Niger Delta, especially some persons from the Urhobo nation to blackmail the most successful career woman in the history of the NNPC Ltd since its inception over five decades ago.

“As a statement of fact, it is understood that probably because of their naivety and blindness, due to conflict of interest between separating meritocracy from ethnic sentiments, they went overboard by saying Mrs. Eyesan ‘no longer takes directive from her immediate boss’ the GCEO.

“For the record, Mrs. Eyesan has had a perfect relationship with her immediate boss, Malam Mele Kyari, and the entire NNPC Ltd management and this is evident in the fact that she has represented the GCEO at different forums within and outside the shores of Nigeria, especially within the last three weeks, including jointly inspecting the seized crude oil vessel at Oporoza in Warri Southwest.

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“Mrs. Eyesan, whose career of over 30 years in both the private and public sectors has seen her rising to her current position as EVP Upstream of the NNPCL, has been an astute, effervescent, clear-sighted, creative, decisive, discerning, innovative, inquisitive, intuitive, observant, quick-witted, resourceful, shrewd, tenacious and sincere professional in her over 30 years career with sterling achievements, which include; midwifing the first ever non-associated gas commercialisation in Nigeria and delivering the renewal of Nigeria’s Deep Water Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) in record time, paving the way for over $10 billion in eco-friendly investments.”

Asserting that the allegations by the groups stemmed from Eyesan’s shrewd and tenacious way of handling affairs, the NDGC said “those pillaging our common wealth may be threatened.”

Stressing that Mrs. Eyesan “will not be cowed to kowtow to the whims and caprices” of the naysayers, the NDGC urged the Arewa group to channel its energy towards ensuring security in the North, just as it called on the Arewa Consultative Forum and the Northern Elders Forum “to call the leadership of the AIC (if they exist) to order as their unguarded utterances do not bode well for the nation.”

February 5, 2024