Category: Southeast report

A group, Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), Enugu State Hub, has urged Nigerians to contribute to ensuring cleaner cities.

It said only cleaner cities will guarantee healthier citizens.

YALI said government alone cannot do it, adding that Nigerians needs to inculcate sustainable behavioural change towards waste management and learned to take responsibility on their waste by reducing, reusing and recycling their waste.

Speaking during the Clean-Up Nigeria Campaign Summit themed “Sustainably Promoting a Cleaner and Healthier Environment”, the YALI Coordinator in Enugu State, Mr. Daniel Anazia said that the summit was put together with support from the US consulate, the Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni Association of Nigeria, headed by Ms Peju Jayeioba and other members of YALI.

He noted that the summit was a culmination of the Enugu YALI months-long Clean-up Nigeria campaign, adding that his team has embarked on multiple dumpsite Clean-up exercises, engaged with various government ministries and players in the waste management chain including neighbourhood associations.

Enugu State Commissioner for Environment Mr. Chijioke Edeoga, who was represented by Mrs. Mercy Okezie, said that the programme would help to create awareness for people in the state on ensuring a cleaner environment, adding that it would also help them to know that that they were the backbone of the nation.

The Deputy Public Affairs Officer of the US Consulate General, Jennifer Foltz, urged the US exchange alumni and members of the YALI network to continue to do great work that would inspire and make change to their communities.

The keynote lecturer, Mr. Greg Anyaegbudike, who spoke on the theme of the event, said Enugu people should belong to a neighborhood association charged with repairing, maintaining and securing the environment through sanitation.

 

 

 

 

 

By Damian Duruiheoma, Enugu

Some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State have faulted last week’s inauguration of ward executives by the state Caretaker Chairman of the party, Dr. Ben Nwoye.

They said Nwoye acted beyond his powers with the inauguration of the ward executives of the party when the results of the congress were yet to be submitted to the party national leadership by the congress committee.

But the chairman insisted that the persons he inaugurated in the 260 wards were duly elected by party members and that he acted within his statutory powers.

Nwoye had last Tuesday at the party’s state secretariat, inaugurated the 260 ward executives said to have been elected penultimate Saturday during the congress of the party at the ward level in the state.

He told them that “the leadership of the party gave us the go-ahead to conduct the congress and there is nothing in our constitution that prohibits me from inaugurating you.”

Nwoye also accused some leaders of the party of attempting to truncate the process.

But the party chieftains like the former governorship aspirants – Tagbo Ogara, Ben Eche and Ginika Tor as well other party leaders like Ejike Njeze, who addressed reporters in Enugu, said the chairman’s action was ‘ultra vires’ because, according to them, he did not have the approval of the national secretariat of the party.

Speaking on behalf of the former aspirants and other stakeholders, Chief Ben Eche described the action as unlawful, illegal and deserving of heavy sanctions from the party leadership.

Eche noted that the congress was peaceful and violence free, with the congress committee collating the results with a view to submitting same to the national leadership of the party for ratification.

He said: “What Nwoye has done is not party process. The party process is well defined. The election result is announced at the wards. You know the elected people.

“The party guidelines say that seven days after the congress, you bring in your matter for those that have grievances.

“The election took place on July 31, but Nwoye inaugurated on August 3 in clear breach of the party guidelines. The result has not been released and the national body has not even endorsed the results. So, where does Nwoye get his grievances from, how much more inauguration? He has not even exhausted any internal mechanism of the party and he rushed to inaugurate.

“The illegality is such that the party is supposed to have 27-member executives, but what Nwoye inaugurated was five-member executives from each ward.

“As far as we are concerned, the party caretaker chairman has acted ultra vires. He acted beyond his powers. It is not in his powers to do what he has done. It is illegal and it’s condemnable.

“We are therefore warning him to desist from the actions that are capable of plunging the party into another round of crisis. The party leadership should equally discipline him for such action.”

 

SIX communities in Akwa Ibom and Cross River states are to benefit from micro projects funded by the European Union (EU), in conjunction with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The beneficiary communities in Akwa Ibom include Otoro Obong, Ikpe Anang in Etim Ekpo and Ikot Akpan Afaha, Ukanafun local governments, while Cross River State has Ipong in Obudu, Bojie/Borom in Boki and Akpab Okon Ene Ita in Bakassi local governments as beneficiaries.

The projects to be implemented in the communities include provision of borehole, renovation of town hall, construction of abattoir, restoration and rehabilitation of electricity supply.

The intervention comes under Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) action aim to contribute to building and maintaining peace, security and stability in West Africa, to ensure conditions for development.

Besides, the action is a selected key component of the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework (ECPF) to augment its efforts at preventing further the proliferation of illicit trafficking and flow of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Nigeria.

Executive Director of Leadership Initiative for Transformation and Empowerment (LITE) –Africa, Dr. Joel Bisina, said the implementing Non-Governmental Organisation, who visited the communities for assessment, underscored the objective of the action.

He said the state governments, EU and ECOWAS, mopped up some arms from the states and destroyed them in December 2019.

Bisina added that about 300 youths from the two states in the Southsouth have been trained in vocational and agricultural skills and that the beneficiaries will soon be empowered with starter packs.

He said the micro projects were rewards and incentives for the communities.

“In Nigeria we are working in seven states, including Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Kebbi, Katsina, Sokoto, Kaduna and Jigawa. It is my hope and prayer that we will enjoy the cooperation of everyone in the community. While the work is going on, we will be coming from time to time to do the inspection,” Bisina said.

The former Chairman, Etim Ekpo, Udeme  Eduo  had briefed the leaders, youths and women at Otoro Obong and Ikpe Annang  about the mission of the LITE-Africa’s team in their domain, recounting that the area was deserted because of youth restiveness and insurgency.

He said all hands should be on deck to ensure the success of the projects.

The representative of the Chairman of Etim Ekpo, Mkpouto Umanah, the supervisor for Works and Housing, hailed the donor agencies for the intervention and solicited the cooperation of all and sundry to ensure the completion of the projects in the communities, stressing government’s commitment towards the sustenance of peace.

The Chairman of Mboho Annag Welfare Association (MAWA), Chief Jumbo Paul Akpan, said the communities would support the intervention and that the abattoir project for Mboho Annang market was selected after need assessment.

The Village Head of Ikpe Annang, Chief Sunday Udoewoh, said peace had finally returned to the area.

The former member of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Akanimo Edet, urged the people to deepen the peace process, because, according to him, ‘’more good things are coming to rehabilitate the area and we don’t want problem and disturbance of the progress of work.’’

The Chairman of Ukanafun Local Government, Pastor Godwin Inyeng, expressed delight at the initiative and assured people of the council’s assistance.

He said: ‘’All we want in this place is peace and peace has come to stay. We will continue to ensure that our people go about their businesses in a peaceful atmosphere.’’

The team also visited sites at Ipong in Obudu,  Bojie/Borom in Boki  and Akpab Okon Ene Ita in Bakassi local governments  of Cross River State for assessment.

 

 

 

 

Former workers of the Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON), Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, at the weekend lamented that over 35 of them have died from hardship and ill-health.

They said most of them were experiencing difficulties and frustration due to the non-payment of their severance benefits after they were laid off by the company over 10 years ago.

Five hundred and sixty-two ex-staff of ALSCON in June complained that a pension agency omitted their names from the nominal roll used in the payment of severance benefits to disengaged workers of the defunct company.

Spokesman for the affected ex-workers, Mr. Hope Ufot Wilfred, said over 35 of them had died without receiving their benefits.

He blamed the pension agency and a government enterprise for their predicament.

Wilfred listed some of the deceased as Mr. Ufot Essiet, Prince Idem Etuk, Mr. Sylvester Ikpong, Mr. Christopher Essen, Mr. Anthony Ataekong, Mr. Edet Okon Udo, Mr. Justine Marcos Udoudo, Mr. Sifon Brownson, Mr. Seno Umoh, Mr. Collins Assam, among others.

He said: ‘’I am representing a group of ALSCON workers who have been denied payment of their severance benefits. As a result of this, over 30 to 40 members of staff of the former ALSCON have died, the reason being that they could not afford medical bills.

‘’These were people who worked with ALSCON in tedious and hazardous environments such as the pot room. The hazardous nature of their jobs has affected their health.

‘’To worsen the situation, at the end of their service, instead of the management to give them their entitlements, they were deprived of the money.

‘’Recently, the Federal Government decided to settle the workers and resolve the grievances, but some people in the government enterprise and pension agency decided to deprive 562 workers of their money.”

‘’So over a period of time, these people fell ill and they had no money to take care of their medical bills. As I speak, over 35 of us have died. One of the victims, Mr. Ufot Eshiet, died two weeks ago.

‘’As I am talking, many of us are ill and bedridden. I don’t understand why the pension agency and government enterprise have refused to pay us our severance benefits.”

Wilfred urged President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene and investigate how the money released by the Federal Government for the payment of severance entitlements of workers of liquidated companies, particularly ALSCON, was utilised by the pension agency.

 

By Gbade Ogunwale, Abuja

A serving senator representing Anambra Central, Uche Ekwunife, has been appointed Director General of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign committee for the November 6 Anambra State governorship election.

The appointment was made in Abuja yesterday following the resolution of the crisis that erupted among the 16 aspirants that contested the primary election where Mr Valentine Ozigbo emerged as the party’s candidate.

The decision to appoint Ekwunife director general of the campaign committee was reached following a successful reconciliation efforts by the PDP Governors Forum and the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

Senator Ekwunife, who also contested in the primaries and came third behind Ozigbo and Obiorah Okwonkwo, was an aggrieved party and there were unconfirmed reports that she was on her way out of the PDP before the appointment was made.

Speaking with reporters in Abuja shortly after the reconciliation meeting, the Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, said that the party had reconciled all the aspirants.

Fintiri said: “We carried out the directives of our governors and reconciled all the aggrieved aspirants and it was unanimously agreed that Senator Uche Ekwunife be appointed the campaign director general.

“With her appointment, the campaigns for PDP for the recapturing of Anambra will soon kick off. All aspirants have been reconciled. Anambra State belongs to the PDP and this will be confirmed at the November 6 governorship election”, he said

Accepting the appointment, Senator Ekwunife pledged and restated her commitments to ensure victory for PDP in the election.

She promised  to use all her political connections to ensure victory for the party.

Ozigbo said that with the reconciliation, the PDP was set to take over the state.

He said Anambra State has always been a PDP state with two senators and almost all the members of the House of Assembly.

He pledged to meet other aspirants that lost the governorship contest in the June primary election.

The national chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus, who presided over the event, said that the party was set to take over the state.

 

 

By Nwanosike Onu, Awka

NO fewer than 500 Almajirai have been provided with Health care facilities, education and unemployment in the North by a Non-Governmental Organization known as ‘Beyond Community Care foundation.

As a result, the Foundation has entered into partnership with the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, UNIZIK Awka, Anambra State to replicate same in the area.

Already, the Foundation in partnership with the Institution’s Mass Communication Department, was organising what it called ‘Town and Gown series ‘ with the theme, exploring emerging opportunities in Media and Communication on August 19 in the School.

According to Prof Chinwe Uzochukwu, Head of Department, Mass Communication of the Institution, they had gathered some of the eminent Media men and women in the country for the event which would hold at ASUU -NAU building .

By Emma Elekwa, Onitsha

INDIGENES of Akwa Ibom resident in Anambra state have advocated for free, fair and transparent November 6 governorship election to guarantee enthronement of credible and transformational leadership in the state.

President of Akwa Ibom Community in the State, Akparawa Edet gave the assurance in Awka during the 2021 Akwa Ibom Women Conference, themed, “Repositioning Women for Adaptability in an Ever Evolving World.”

He said the community’s contributions to the development of the state, particularly in public service and business world were evident, stressing that the forthcoming poll would be another opportunity to make its presence felt in the state.

According to him, the conference was targeted at rebranding the association and reshaping minds of members, especially the women towards positive thinking.

By Sunny Nwankwo, Umuahia

ABIA State governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has signed into law, the Abia State Diaspora Bill recently passed by the State House of Assembly.

Speaking shortly after signing the bill at the Government House in Umuahia, the state capital, the governor commended the State House of Assembly for responding to the yearnings of the Abia community in the diaspora through the crafting of a bill that would provide legal backing to the participation of Abians in the diaspora in the governance of the State.

The governor promised to create a platform for Abians from all walks of life to participate in the governance process, noting that Abia is endowed with men and women with great capabilities scattered across the world.

He recalled that those in the diaspora have made direct returns and remittances which account for major foreign inflow into the country, adding that in Abia, they have made impressive contributions in the area of farming, healthcare, education and industry.

Ikpeazu who highlighted some of the interventions anchored by Diaspora Abians including the Geriatric Care, Training and Retraining of Teachers, Medical Outreaches amongst others, commended them for supporting the building of a Specialist Pediatric Hospital in the State.

The governor further announced that the Special Adviser on Diaspora Matters would henceforth serve as the Acting Executive Secretary of the Diaspora Commission and implored those in the diaspora to continue to look homeward.

Earlier, the sponsor of the bill and member representing Arochukwu State Constituency Hon. Mike Ukoha commended the governor for signing the bill into law and described it as a revolution and a platform that will bring about socioeconomic economic development to the State.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Diaspora Matters, Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Erondu-Ogbonna said Abia is the first state to have the Diaspora Commission.

The Permanent Secretary/Clerk of Abia State House of Assembly, Dr John Pedro Irokansi presented the bill to the governor for signing.

By Bassey Anthony, Uyo

THE Akwa Ibom State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it has arrested five persons with a truck load of 200 cellophane bags filled with suspected adulterated Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and another truck containing 33, 000 litres of petroleum products.

The State Commandant of NSCDC, Mr Abidemi Majekodunmi, disclosed this while briefing journalists at the command exhibits yard in Uyo, the state capital, yesterday.

Majekodunmi said that two suspects, the truck driver and conductor were apprehended along Itam Road, Itu Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom with an articulated truck containing consignments of what was suspected to be illegal petroleum products.

According to him, the other three suspects were nabbed by the Nigerian army with a 33, 000 litres truck loaded with petroleum products sourced from illegal cracking location in Abia and handed over to the NSCDC.

“This kind of activity can lead to bleeding of the Nigerian economy and certainly a nation striving towards development cannot afford to allow these kinds of things to be happening.

“We have detained them, and they have made worthwhile statements. We are also pushing further to ensure that all other people involved in the activities will be brought to face the law, so that justice can prevail.

“We will ensure that we get to the root of this case, as they will be prosecuted in the competent Court of law. Trusting that this will serve as deterrent to all conspiring to engage in these activities. We promise the people of Nigeria that we will look into this case to the very end.

“We have 200 Cellophane sacks filled with AGO suspected to have been sourced from an illegal refinery location. Now the security patrol team who are always on routine patrol, accosted them on the road, and demanded to search.

“On searching, 200 cellophane bags were discovered filled with suspected stolen products. Illegal refined oil are products of oil theft and this must not be allowed to continue. Even the degradation that it does to the economy is unbearable and it is a problem for the country,” Majekodunmi said.

The commandant added that the action was a contravention of the Nigerian state Constitution and NSCDC was committed to ensuring that the nation was free from vandalism.

He warned that it would no longer be business as usual for vandals as the corps would definitely take necessary actions to dig out more conspirators.

“We want the public to support our progress with credible intelligent information, that we can actually execute our mandate and perform our constitutional duties and responsibilities.

“The Nigerian economy has a strong presence in the oil industry. We have to protect this industry because it is a strong national asset and that is one of the advantages that we have as a nation.”

Majekodunmi called on security personnel, especially those at the border posts to be more vigilant, and be at alert to contain with the antics of criminals to keep the state and nation safe.

By Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

BAYELSA State Government says it has observed with dismay that the urban renewal project of the administration is being sabotaged by some individuals who have started reconstructing illegal structures pulled down for contravening regulations.

A statement by the Commissioner for Information, Strategy and Orientation, Mr Ayibaina Duba, said the action constitutes an offence.

Consequently, he said from Monday, August 9, 2021, the Urban Renewal Task Force would embark on enforcement which might lead to seizure of wares, demolition of such properties, arrest and prosecution of offenders, among others.

He warned property owners and traders who are testing the will of the state government to desist in their own interest.

The statement said: “For avoidance of doubt, members of the public are to note that the administration is determined to pursue the Urban Renewal Project to logical conclusion. Bayelsans deserve a smart capital city, please.”

Recall that about five months ago, the state government began the demolition of illegal market structures, shops and stalls on the streets and along the roads.