The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southeast report

  • Abia Assembly set to pass disability bill into law

    Abia Assembly set to pass disability bill into law

    By Sunny Nwankwo, Umuahia

    The Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Chinedum Orji has promised that the State’s 7th Assembly would soon pass the Persons with Disability Bill into law.

    Orji stated this when the wife of the Governor of the state, Deaconess Nkechi Ikpeazu and wife of the Deputy Governor, Lady Vivian Ude Okochukwu-led advocacy team visited members of the State House of Assembly.

    Wife of Abia State Governor had, in an address presented during the advocacy visit begged the Speaker and his colleagues to consider passing into law the Widows and Disabled Persons Bills which had been with them.

    Deaconess Ikpeazu also solicited lawmakers to review 2006 Child Rights Law which she noted has some grey areas that needed to be amended.

    Mrs Ikpeazu appealed to the lawmakers to consider the review of the 2006 Abia State Child Rights law.

    Deaconess Ikpeazu made the appeal when she appeared before members of the State Assembly on Tuesday with her Advocacy Team.

    She thanked the House for being proactive in its legislative affairs and commended them for passing into law so many bills which directly affect children and women.

    She said the bills are people-oriented and will have a greater positive impact on children and women of Abia State.

    She then requested that the House reviews the Child Rights Law which was passed in 2006.

    She also requested that the House give attention to the Widows and Disabled Persons Bills.

     

     

  • ‘105 Bayelsa communities may be extinct’

    ‘105 Bayelsa communities may be extinct’

    By Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

    A don, Prof. Ambily Etekpe, has warned that no fewer than 105 coastal communities in Bayelsa State may go into extinction in the next 30 years if nothing is done to halt the rampaging effects of ocean surges.

    Etekpe, a lecturer in the Department of Political Science, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Amassoma, Bayelsa State, gave the warning yesterday during the unveiling and public presentation of a book entitled, Oceanification: Environmental, Ecological and Socio-Economic Impacts in Niger Delta.

    The book, written by the Second Vice-President of Ijaw National Congress (INC), Chief Nengi James, was unveiled at the Secretariat of the Federated Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Yenagoa, the state capital.

    Prof. Etekpe, who was also the Chairman on the occasion, said there was an urgent need for concerted efforts and campaigns towards creating awareness on ocean encroachment just like desertification.

    He stressed that ocean encroachment needed national and international interests to tackle.

    Etekpe, who blamed oil exploration activities of the multinational oil companies for the problem lamented that the IOCs had moved their operations offshore into the sea with its attendant negative impacts on the environment.

    Etekpe said: “Desertification is equivalent to oceanification but while nobody talks about oceanification, desertification is generating not only national but international interests

    “Oceanification has become a very important issue to address. The effects of ocean encroachment in Bayelsa State in particular and other states, in general, have taken over most of where we used to have towns and communities. So, the towns and communities continue to shift and one finds out that the extreme of that shifting is another river.

    “If something is not done, in the next 30 years, a lot of our towns and communities will be taken over by the ocean.

    “In Bayelsa State, we have over 500 communities and out of that, 105 communities, representing over 20 per cent live by the ocean. If they are disorganised or dislocated, where else can they go?”

    The traditional ruler of Moko-ama Sangana Community in Akassa, Brass Local Government Area, His Royal Highness, King Moses Theophilus, who formally unveiled the book, commended Chief Nengi James for the bold and apt submission of issues recorded in the book.

    He said ocean encroachment remained a major problem to coastal communities in the Niger Delta and hoped that the menace receive the attention of government and the relevant agencies.

    The author, Chief Nengi James, who is also the Chairman of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) in Bayelsa State, said he was inspired to write on the effects of ocean encroachment following years of observation, studies and research on coastal communities across the region.

    According to James, the effects of ocean encroachment have become a challenge to governments at all levels, relevant agencies and environmental activists to address in order to protect the land and the environment.

    James stated: “The term ‘oceanification’ is used to illustrate the effects of the encroachment of the ocean on both non-human and man’s existence. The menace has continued to wash away farmlands, communities and related infrastructure, thereby rendering people homeless particularly those in communities around the fringes of the ocean and seas.”

  • Akwa Ibom deputy governor warns against factions in PDP

    Akwa Ibom deputy governor warns against factions in PDP

    By Bassey Anthony, Uyo

    Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor Moses Ekpo has advised elders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at all levels to desist from actions that may create factions in the party ahead of the 2023 general elections.

    Ekpo, who stated this yesterday when PDP Ward Elders Chairmen’s Forum from Abak Local Government Area visited him in his office in Uyo, the state capital noted that one of the critical imperatives of leadership is unity of purpose.

    He urged them to always work as a team to galvanise the needed gains to bring back the glory of the party as 2023 approaches.

    He commended Abak PDP Elders for their support for Governor Udom Emmanuel’s administration, and for resolving to continue to support his effort to midwife a new progressive Akwa Ibom for the benefit of its citizens and a secure and stable future for the state.

    The Deputy Governor commended the party elders for working assiduously to bring back members of the party who had earlier defected from the PDP and used the opportunity to emphasise on the importance of the role of elders in the running of any successful polity and organisation.

     

  • Uzodimma thanks Imo people as peace returns to state

    Uzodimma thanks Imo people as peace returns to state

    By Chris Njoku, Owerri

    Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has expressed gratitude to Imo people, particularly their leaders, across sectors, for their understanding of the efforts of his administration towards the restoration of peace in the state.

    He also thanked them for their ceaseless prayers that resulted in the peace that is being enjoyed once more in Imo State after weeks of security breaches.

    The Governor spoke at the Government House Chapel yesterday amid a gathering of Imo leaders from the business, political, religious and traditional institution class, who joined him at the day’s Church Service.

    Governor Uzodimma, who described the Imo leaders as partners in progress not only told them that peace had returned to the state but also thanked them and all Imo people for believing in his leadership.

    He praised the leaders and, by extension, Imo people in general for the recently concluded visitation by all the 27 local government areas in the State, noting that government had taken note of their demands, both political and non-political, and “will deal with them accordingly.

    “I must thank our leaders, captains of industries and all who came in from outside the state, despite their busy schedule, and sacrificed to be part of the local governments’ visitation. I have taken note of the sacrifice and love for our dear state, and promise that we will not disappoint your reasonable expectations.”

    However, Governor Uzodimma enjoined the leaders and Imolites to continue to pray for the peace of the state in the belief that “only God can solve our problems in Imo State.”

  • Anambra 2021: Activist makes case for Ozigbo

    Anambra 2021: Activist makes case for Ozigbo

    By Nwanosike Onu, Awka

    The convener of Civil Society Committee for Anambra Election Security (CISCAES), Comrade Kennedy Iyere has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC and the Judiciary to examine critically the crisis of parallel primaries by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State.

    In a chat with reporters in Awka, the state capital yesterday, the Activist said the PDP candidate, Mr Valentine Ozigbo will overcome the problems associated with the primary.

    He said Ozigbo had the administrative acumen as well as the capabilities to replicate his transformational leadership skills in Anambra to grow the economy the way he did at Transcorp Plc.

    “The eyes of the Nigeria Civil Society and International Community, are on both the Judiciary and INEC, who are expected to stand for the truth by upholding the victory of Valentine Ozigbo in the PDP primary.

    “If the judiciary attempts to play a fast game on Val Ozigbo, it will be a colossal setback for democracy in Nigeria.

    Read Also: Anambra 2021: Anxiety over APGA’s deepening crisis

    “Such an unpatriotic move will attract a widespread revolt by the civil society, as part of the efforts to save Nigeria’s democracy.  Ozigbo has got what it takes to make Anambra state the envy of other regions of the world,” Iyere said.

    He described him as someone who had the capacity to build bridges of peace across the Southeast and also one who could take South-East to the North, the South-West and the South-south.

    He blamed the PDP leadership  for allowing those fighting the party  to remain in the party, stating that the Party Leaders in PDP, ought to have removed them, long before the primary election, just the same way Adams Oshiomhole was removed by the APC leaders in Edo State.

    He maintained that only Ozigbo could guarantee victory for the Peoples Democratic Party in the forthcoming Anambra governorship election.

    “The judiciary should not act funny with Anambra election and if allowed, it will destroy the chances of the PDP and APGA. It then means, APC will produce the next governor and that will spell doom for not only Anambra but the entire Southeast states,” he said.

  • Group pushes for food security in Southeast

    Group pushes for food security in Southeast

    By Damian Duruiheoma, Enugu

    A Southeast group, the Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF) has launched its Akuruo-Ulo Agro-Allied Co-operative Movement aimed at reinventing agriculture and reducing food importation into the region.

    This is just as the member representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District; Senator Sam Egwu has volunteered to train 10 youths from the five states in the region for free in his farm school as a way of supporting the ADF initiative.

    President of Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF), Prof. Uzodimma Nwala bemoaned the continued dependence of Ndigbo on other regions in Nigeria for food and other agricultural produce.

    Nwala, who noted that it was time for the Igbo to reinvent agriculture in the Southeast and end food importation in the region, explained that Akuruo-Ulo movement is a new policy of intensive/extensive farming aimed at the attainment of economic prosperity, food security, youth employment, land security and the overall economic well-being of Ndigbo in the new millennium.

    The event, he added, was geared towards creating public awareness on the Agro-Allied ventures being established by ADF in the five states of the Southeast for sustainable development in Igboland.

    He said: “We invested a lot in agriculture in the past. We had farm settlements in Uzo-Uwani in Enugu and other places but along the line, things changed. I remember when I was travelling to the North and we had to travel in a vehicle transporting cassava from the East to the North. Today, the reverse has become the case. It is shameful that we can’t feed ourselves anymore; to the extent that they now threaten us with onions.

    “ADF has now thought about the situation and decided that it is important for us to inculcate how to produce what we eat as part of our programme and as part of our campaign. We have started it for some time now.

    “Despite the current situation, we are consoled to know that God has led some of our people into massive agriculture which is very necessary now.”

    Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who was represented by the Commissioner for Information, Chidi Aroh said his government had since prioritised agriculture.

    He assured that the state was willing to play an important part in the process of revolutionising agriculture in the Southeast.

    The former Governor of Ebonyi State, Dr Sam Egwu who was the Chairman on the occasion recounted his agricultural intervention in the state during his administration.

    The Senator, who declared himself as one of the richest farmers in Nigeria, pledged to support the Akuruo-Ulo Cooperative Movement in its drive to make the Southeast self-sufficient in agriculture and promised to train 10 youths from southeast in his farm as part of his contribution to the foundation.

    The programme featured a documentary on the Akuruo-Ulo philosophy which emphasized the need for Igbo businessmen to invest at home as well as the presentation of shares for investment by ADF members and other patriotic/interested members of the public.

  • Outcry over failure to implement panel’s report on Akwa Ibom church collapse

    Outcry over failure to implement panel’s report on Akwa Ibom church collapse

    By Bassey Anthony, Uyo

    The Akwa Ibom State government has been criticised over its delay in implementing the recommendations contained in the White Paper presented to it by the Commission of Enquiry on the 2016 Reigners’ Bible Church collapse in Uyo.

    Recall that the church building caved in in December 2016 during the Archbishopric installation of its founder, Apostle Akan Weeks.

    About 100 people were suspected to have been killed and many others injured in the incident but the state government reported 40 deaths.

    Governor Udom Emmanuel, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the event, escaped death by the whiskers following which a Commission of Enquiry was set up to investigate the incident and make recommendations.

    However, four years after, nothing has been heard of the implementation of the White Paper resulting in outcries by victims and relatives of people who died in the tragic incident.

    The National Coordinator, Akwa Ibom Human Rights Community and lawyer who represented the victims, Mr Clifford Thomas said the outcome of the Commission of Enquiry was a sad reminder of the failure of the government to guarantee the welfare of its people.

    Thomas stated that four years after the incident which claimed about 100 lives and left many injured, the government has failed to give succour to many of those affected.

    He explained that the N3.5 million that was raised to support the victims was through voluntary donations from the public, adding that some of the victims who had serious injuries were later sent out of the government hospital, Ibom Multi-Specialist, where they were treated by the hospital management.

    He said those affected had to resort to traditional methods to treat themselves, saying they were too poor and afraid to challenge the government for exonerating Apostle Akan Weeks, whom he claimed was responsible for the tragedy.

    “As a lawyer representing the estate of the deceased and those who were injured, we did our best to reach out to them, we defended them.

    “We tried to amplify the fact that the government ought to care by virtue of Chapter two of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the primary purpose of government is the welfare and security of people.

    “It is only Planet FM that came to their rescue. Planet FM set up a committee and made me the Chairman of that committee, and we were able to identify those who died. To those who died, we gave N100, 000, and I think we had N3.5 million in all.

    “The money came from donations; Planet FM appealed to people through their medium. The Chief Executive Officer of Planet FM, Mr Tony Afia put money down and people began to contribute. That is the first goodwill measure I have seen in this state that is devoid of politics. It was based on human interest,” he stated.

    On whether the victims were willing to seek redress in court on the matter, Thomas said: “They are not; they are poor people. What we did was free. For the whole of that period, even the personal monies we gave were free. How long can somebody offer free services?

    “It is a human rights matter. Whoever comes up right now and says I want to go to court, we are ready to take up the matter for them, no matter the intimidation.

    “In Akwa Ibom, we don’t have the pedigree of pursuing matters in court. We don’t have the pedigree of doing litigations. We can only make noise at the Magistrate’s or High Court level but we hardly go to the Court of Appeal.

    “A lot of them believe that if we go to court against the government, the government will go after them and kill them. They have fears but we are always ready.

    “We want the government to review the report of the commission. Let the government reach out to the people.

    “Akwa Ibom Human Rights Community is calling for the review of the report of the Commission of Enquiry into the Reigners’ Bible Church collapse to accommodate those who died, those who were left behind and those who were injured,” he maintained.

    Chairman, Civil Liberties Organisation in Akwa Ibom State, Mr Franklyn Isong said the government was biased in the White Paper released by the Commission of Enquiry.

    Isong, who said the CLO monitored the sitting of the Commission in Uyo, however, gave credit to members of the panel for doing a ‘thorough work.’

    “Let me inform you that the White Paper was issued but the government hid the report and excused Akan Weeks. The government rather indicted the Engineers who carried out the construction of the building.

    “As far as the CLO is concerned, Apostle Akan Weeks is the owner of the structure and the place was marked for demolition by the Uyo Capital City Development Authority (UCCDA).

    “Apostle Weeks covered up the demolition marking and continued the erection of the building. That place was a swampy area and was not fit for such a project. But when the White Paper Report was released, the government absolved Apostle Weeks.

    “The Panel reports came out very clearly that Apostle Akan Weeks is the owner of the building. He engaged the Engineers who gave him professional advice, alleging some structural defects on the building.

    “But he said they should go ahead, build on that building, and even put up pillars in the middle of the building as support, which the engineers advised that should be removed. This, the engineers said during the Panel sitting. When the reports came out, the government excused and absolved Apostle Akan Weeks of any indictment but invented something and indicted only the engineers.

    “Justice Umoekoyo Essang-led Panel of Enquiry did a thorough job. He came out with a clean report but the reports did not mention the number of people who died, which is what we were asking for because there was an issue with the figure of people that died. Some said 400, others 300 people,” he explained.

    The Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Mr Ini Ememobong said the government is yet to get any request for a review.

    “The White Paper is the government’s position on the report. So, if they are seeking a review, are they seeking a review of the report or the White Paper? These are technical and administrative issues.

    “The White Paper is the position on the report, while the report is the foundation, and the White Paper is the building on top of the foundation. As far as I am aware, we have not been notified of any request for a review,” he said.

    The Commissioner said: “We must look at the administrative procedure involved. For a White Paper to come out, it followed a procedure. For those seeking, we must check what the administrative procedure is,” he explained.

     

  • Anambra poll: ‘We won’t tolerate insults on Abiodun’

    Anambra poll: ‘We won’t tolerate insults on Abiodun’

    By Emma Elekwa, Onitsha

    A support group of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State, Senator Andy Uba, “I stand with Andy Uba,” has warned against any form of insults on the personality of Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun.

    A group of APC chieftains under the aegis of the All Progressives Media Team had called on the party leadership to sanction Senator Andy Uba and Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun over their roles in the recently- conducted governorship primary of the party, describing the exercise as a charade.

    The group, through its spokesperson, Jude Oruola insisted there was no primary election in the state, adding that the party was still waiting for the electoral committee to carry out its assignment for the party.

    It regretted that Abiodun’s action was a disregard to the leader of the party, Senator Chris Ngige, and other committed members of our party in the state.

    But the Director-General of “I stand with Andy Uba” Onyekachi Okafor yesterday, dismissed the group as ‘fake,’ saying it was not recognised by the party at the state and national levels.

    She insisted that any further insult on the Ogun State Governor would no longer be tolerated.

    Read Also: Group targets 7,000 youths for Anambra governorship poll

    She said: “First and foremost, there is nothing like all Progressives Media Group in the state, and that of the national leadership of the party who don’t know who they are and the agenda they are working for.

    “Also, there is no time all aspirants made a notice that all their media aides should align together to form the so-called progressive media group. If it was so, why were the media aides to Senator Andy Uba not inclusive to the so-called group?

    “We write to enlighten the general public that the so-called alignment was done out of envy for Senator Andy Uba. Why was the so-called group formed after the primaries? If it was genuine, why wasn’t it formed months before the primaries?

    “We will not tolerate any form of insult on the personality of Governor Abiodun. Enough is enough.”

  • Enugu gets N25b grant to end water scarcity

    Enugu gets N25b grant to end water scarcity

    By Damian Duruiheoma, Enugu

    The Enugu State government has said it has received $50 million (N25 billion) from the French Development Agency (AFD) in order to battle water scarcity in the state.

    The Chairman of the Board of Directors and Management of Enugu State Water Corporation, Innocent Diyoke disclosed this in a chat with reporters in Enugu yesterday on the challenges and successes made so far in the water sector.

    Diyoke said the funding, which is already in place, is being used for the purpose it was meant.

    “This funding is already in place and is being used to fund the Enugu Water Supply System, including the production centres.

    “The Consultant has already commenced work. He has already worked for one month. He has five months to conclude the workings and design and produce fine drawing and tender documents for rehabilitation and a complete revamping of Ajalli and Oji River Pumping Stations as well as the transmission lines from Oji to Ajalli to Enugu. This will involve laying 12 kilometres of 700 mm diameter pipelines.

    Read Also: Outcry over Niger Gov wife’s alleged involvement in selling water to residents

    “We’re also extending pipelines in Enugu to areas that are not served as well as complete rehabilitation of distribution system and changing some of the old asbestos cement pipes that are prone to breaking and bursting. This is now currently, on board and in the next one year, Enugu will be flooded with water from that project.

    “The contractor is already working hard and in the next six months we will be letting the bidding process and selecting the contractor”, Diyoke said.

    According to him, since the inception of the current board three months ago, there had been some marginal improvement in water supply in the state following the measures are taken by the board.

    He said: “These measures have resulted in an improvement in water supply from about 11, 000 cubic meters per day when we came on board three months ago to over 40,000 cubic meters currently per day.”

    Diyoke put the water demand of Enugu State to about 150,000 cubic meters per day, assuring that with the current speed of ongoing rehabilitation and revamping, the cooperation would hit 100,000 cubic meters per day in six months if Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi continues to give the board same level of support it is currently enjoying.

    “We have driven down the streets in Enugu metropolis to confirm that some of the areas that were not receiving water three months ago are now receiving water.

    “We’re equally doing the same rehabilitation measures in Nsukka and as we speak, four boreholes are currently working at Nsukka and fully supplying water to various households. In the next few weeks, six boreholes will be working because we have paid money for the remaining boreholes to be repaired and put to use.

    “This whole success story is fully attributable to the swift intervention of Governor Ugwuanyi.

    “The government is equally not resting on its oars. In the last two months, a contract for the crash programme boreholes was awarded. We have about 12 existing boreholes that have been out of use for quite some time now. But the government has awarded a contract for it for N600 million for the rehabilitation and revamping of the crash programme boreholes.”

  • Delta resident doctors issue strike warning

    Delta resident doctors issue strike warning

    By Elo Edremoda, Warri

    The Association of Resident Doctors of the Delta State University Teaching Hospital (ARD DELSUTH), Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government Area has issued a one-month strike notice to the Delta State government to fast-track payment of the 2021 Medical Residency Training Fund to its members, among other demands.

    The resident doctors stated this in a communiqué issued at the end of an emergency meeting held July 2, at the Main Auditorium Complex, DELSUTH.

    The statement was signed by the ARD’s President, General Secretary and Public Relations Officer, Dr Odukuye Rukevwe, Dr Adja Harrison, Dr Oghotuma Oghenemaro, respectively.

    It noted that the doctors had, in June, issued an ultimatum which elapsed July 2, to both the state government and management of DELSUTH, demanding several things, including payment of backlog of bench fees, completion of the main clinical building, as well as improvement of their call food.

    Read Also: Cultists kill Delta polytechnic graduate

    Commending Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for the release of N68 million to the management of DELSUTH, the statement said if the demands are not met within the extended ultimatum, it will embark on a seven-day warning strike without further notice.

    According to the communiqué, the doctors resolved that “for the interest of the smooth running of the institution, the processes of payment of the 2021 Medical Residency Training Fund as approved by Governor Okowa on September 8, 2020, be fast-tracked and affected to all resident doctors in DELSUTH within this period of extended ultimatum in order to continue the training of specialist doctors in Delta State in line with the mandate of the governor to improve health care delivery to the people of Delta.

    “That the DELSUTH management as a matter of urgency pay off a reasonable percentage of the backlog of bench fees owed our members and maintain the same by commencing the payment of the monthly one million naira subsequently. Howbeit from the training funds that have just be secured.

    “Members demanded that the renovated building be adequately equipped in preparation for training and accreditation/re-accreditation of Departments.

    “The DELSUTH Management should put in efforts at resolving all pending and recurrent salary irregularities.

    “The DELSUTH Management should make conscious efforts to improve on the poor state of the call food.

    “Finally, Congress resolved that out of goodwill and a show of magnanimity to the DELSUTH Management and State Government, the strike ultimatum be extended by four (4) weeks, which will elapse on August 2, 2021, after which a seven-day warning strike will commence immediately without further notice.”

    The statement, however, assured of the resident doctors’ commitment to the smooth running of the hospital.