The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southeast report

  • Abia NSCDC parades six suspects for various crimes

    Abia NSCDC parades six suspects for various crimes

    By Sunny Nwankwo, Umuahia

    The Abia State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has paraded six persons for allegedly engaging in various forms of criminal activities in the state.

    The State Commandant of the Corps, Mr. Vincent Ogu speaking to our correspondent over the arrest, praised officers of the Corps for their bravery and gallantry which led to the successful arrest of the suspects.

    Narrating further, Commandant Ogu said the suspects were arrested at different times and locations in the state for their alleged involvement in cases ranging from kidnapping, willful vandalism of critical national assets and infrastructures of government and illegal dealings on petroleum products.

    According to the State Commandant, a suspect arrested for his alleged involvement in kidnapping was sequel to a petition written against him upon which the command’s intelligence team mounted surveillance on his activities and thereafter arrested him.

    Upon interrogation, the commander disclosed that the suspect who gave his name as Tochi Moses (m) (38 years) was arrested on December 20 at about 11:42am at Mbutu Nta community in Osisioma Ngwa LGA of the state.

    The suspect is alleged to have received ransom severally from families of kidnapped victims.

    Read Also: #EndSARS: Police recover more stolen rifles, arrest suspects who torched stations

    The NSCDC commandant further stated that a search conducted in the house of the suspect, revealed that beyond kidnapping, he is also involved in many other criminal activities including petroleum pipeline vandalism as evidence found in his house revealed.However, in the case of suspects arrested for their alleged involvement in illegal dealing in petroleum products, the state commandant said five suspects were arrested by his men at different dates and locations.

    He gave the names of the suspects as John Nnnamani (M) (29 years), Christopher Ike (m) (48 years), and Charles Uguanyi (M) (35 years).

    He said that they were arrested along Ubakala Junction of the Enugu/Port Harcourt Expressway on 8th December at about 20:15hrs while conveying over 1250 litres of suspected adulterated DPK (Kerosene) and AGO in different compartments  of the same truck with registration number GGU204X8.

    Other suspects also arrested by NSCDC personnel for being in possession of illegally refined petroleum product include Elvis Charles (M) (40 years) and Ijeoma Onyema (F) (39 years)

    They were said to have been arrested on December, 23 at about 1700hrs at Umuikaa  Junction along Enugu/Port Harcourt express way while conveying  about 1200 litres of suspected adulterated AGO in two passenger cars (Toyota Camry)  with registration number URU 415 AA and AE 142APR.

    Mr Ogu assured that the fight against all forms of vandalism of petroleum pipelines, other critical national assets and infrastructures of government and other criminal activities in the state is total.

    He advised criminals in the state to turn a new leaf or be prepared to face the full wrath of the law.

    He used the opportunity to thank the patriotic people of the state for volunteering useful and timely information which helped in the successful arrest of the suspects adding that such is the way to go in the collective quest for a well secured society.

  • Sani turning Isi-Uzo Enugu to food basket

    Sani turning Isi-Uzo Enugu to food basket

    By Obinwa Nnaji

    The present economic downturn nay strangulation, that had hit the world, undoubtedly made most people vulnerable to either living a life of hopelessness or resorting to begging as a means of survival.

    What therefore would help the youths and the larger society out of trouble or stop them from doing drugs and taking pleasure in illicit alcohol as the only means of succour? Whereas most wealthy and opulent derive fun in simply dishing out paltry sum of money to the ‘army’ of natives and the needy, who daily mill around their palatial edifices, a big departure from this ugly norm, has necessitated this essay.

    Alhaji Sani Friday Nnaji, a Gusau Zamfara based Agriculturist and an ICT expert, thinks differently. Each time, he had travelled home in Mbu Town Isi-Uzo Local Government area of Enugu State, the avalanche of those in want, besieging his house, leaves a sour taste in the mouth. Painful as it is, he came to a conclusive stance, that enough was enough.

    He describes the point of no return in these touching narrative. “ One had watched embarrassingly thousands of people coming each day for one assistance or the other. Others simply wait on the wings for a share of money no matter how little and they smile home rejoicing.

    “ Surprisingly, those who claim to be farmers only go to their farmlands for only two hours, return to soak themselves in illicit drinks ‘Ogogoro’.. These are the pitiable lives our so called rural farmers live. So we decided to change this awful pattern by going into full large scale mechanised farming which would not only employ those whose stock in trade is to come begging but also the not too serious farmers. They now work fully on the farms get paid and are happier. In the past, this house would have been overrun “, he said pointing to the large compound now empty.

    So what to do? Alhaji Sani who runs the first and largest indigenous Rice Mill Ansar Rice and Ansar Technology in Zamfara State, now acquired over 250 hectares of land, where he had grown Cotton, Coconut Palms, Beans and Onions. As a matter of fact, he is enthusiastic that in no distant time, the Farm at Ugwu Anama Mbu Amon, his birthplace, would serve Enugu State and the entire East 70% per cent of Onions the culinary spices for their homes. He is upbeat about it and had gotten scientists from one of the universities in the East to do a soil analysis and the results were amazingly favourable.

    He has also acquired large hectares of land in Amanyi area of the Isi-Uzo Local Government including neighbouring town of Neke , where he is replicating those crops. “ The merits of Coconut, with all the attendant derivatives oil, medicinal qualities including exports potentials, cannot be over emphasised.”, Alhaji Sani pumps his thumbs in assurance.

    A five-kilometre radius drive round his gigantic farm settlement, struck this writer with awe. The Cotton buds already spotting white woolly and immaculate in color. The Coconut palms interspace the vast farmland with workers found at site hilariously working. He is installing what he dubbed irrigation dripping. An American terminology and practice he had garnered from his business trip to United States of America. With this technical know how, the farm is watered all year round.

    He has Mother Luck as his farm is situated near the flowing Ebonyi  River. He plans to build two magnificent Dams to aid irrigation. The beans already being harvested as women farmers found were very busy with beans already cleaned up spread widely on mats for sunshine.

    Alhaji Sani constructed most of the roads to the inner parts of the villages to make for accessibility. His large heart, knows no bounds. He empowered his town that had been in darkness, with a large Transformer. “ What we did, was to source power from nearby town of Ogbodu Aba, a distance of  about five kilometres away and electrified a 10-kilometre radius of the town and even beyond in our rural electrification support.”, he explained heartily.

    There is a market under construction and perhaps the ice on the cake so to say, is that he is single handedly building an ultra modern cum model Technical College at Mbu that would occupy 36 class rooms, first of its kind. His desire is to complete the school and hand it over to Enugu State Government to run, since the peasant farmers and villagers , would find it difficult to pay fees were he to run it as private venture.

    Born 41 years ago at Ugwu Anama Mbu Amon of Isi-Uzo Local Government Enugu State, Alhaji Sani Friday Nnaji, holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration, from Dan Fodio University Sokoto, having earlier majored in Computer Science. Having successfully established Ansar Rice, he also founded Ansar Technology, employing ICT to aid agriculture and businesses up northern part of the country.

    Today, his company is the ICT Service Provider in all of North West, North East and North Central States of Nigeria. Since 2013, his company has been assisting various companies and businesses to achieve their goals with impactful industrial specifications. In 2014, Alhaji Sani established BAFFA Bread, a flourishing delicacy with assorted confectionery, that has become a household name.

    A workaholic and trail blazer, he equally had floated an A3 Jinarry Factory for Cotton production up northern part of the country with all sophistry.

    At the last count, he is a veritable Consultant to the Zamfara State Government on CBN Anchor Borrowers Program including several CBN interventions.

    His philanthropic gestures continue to be extended to all and sundry especially his teeming Isi-Uzo people. Calm, quiet, unassuming and suave, always spotting his jeans, tee shirt and cap, Alhaji Sani Friday Nnaji is an emergent Youth out to lift his people out of poverty by making them self reliant. In the near future, he plans to make the workers at the farm own it by sharing formula of percentage from proceeds between him and the workers.

    Small wonder, a 100 – strong body of Nsukka Journalists Foundation NJF will on December 26,2020, confer on  Alhaji Sani Friday Nnaji, Patron of NJF, amongst five other prominent and influential dignitaries from the old Nsukka cultural area.

  • ‘Retaining service chiefs fuelling corruption’

    ‘Retaining service chiefs fuelling corruption’

    By Nwanosike Onu, Awka and Emma Elekwa, Onitsha

    The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Paulinus Ezeokafor, has joined calls for the removal of service chiefs.

    He said refusal to replace the service chiefs was fuelling corruption which the government claims to be fighting.

    The cleric, in his Christmas message, queried the rationale for the government’s refusal to replace the chiefs despite repeated calls.

    Ezeokafor alleged that certain individuals were feeding fat on the country’s security situation, and insisted that firing the service chiefs would reduce corruption.

    He said: “I know that the fundamental responsibility of government is security and, where such is lacking, it is expected that those in authority should resign.

    “When Muhammadu Buhari became president, he promised to tackle insecurity. The same promise he repeated in his second term. Yet we keep witnessing insecurity daily. First was the kidnapping of Chibok girls, followed by the Dapchi girls. Then the Kankara boys. To travel by road now is near impossible. Unfortunately, travelling by air is expensive. Yet our budget on security is alarming.

    Read Also: Service Chiefs: Coalition attacks Garba Shehu

    “We’re just making mockery of ourselves before the international community. Besides, when we negotiate with these criminals, we’re reinforcing them because they will use the ransom proceeds to buy more ammunition.

    “Pampering the service chiefs is unhealthy, having exhausted their ideas. If these things are not checked, it will keep recycling. If the service chiefs are sincere, they will resign. But since they’re feeding on it, it will be difficult for them.”

    Anglican Archbishop of the Niger Alexander Ibezim has described this Christmas as a miracle following the myriad challenges that characterised the year.

    He said: “God came down in form of man to reconcile us back to him over 2,000 years ago, people still celebrate Christmas amidst challenges, proving that nobody can fight God.

    “God, Emmanuel, is there with us to fight for us, encourage us, still in charge in our broken world. We need to nurture the poor, helpless and unemployed, same way baby Jesus was nurtured at birth. Use your resources to bring hope to others.”

  • Diri gives scholarship at carol night

    Diri gives scholarship at carol night

    Our Reporter

     

    BAYELSA State Governor Douye Diri has given scholarship to seven-year-old Eluan Turnah and 16-year-old Stella Ezekiel.

    A statement on Thursday by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, said Diri gave the scholarships in recognition of the girls’ performance at the ‘Carol of Nine Lessons’ held at the King of Glory Chapel, Government House, Yenagoa.

    Stella, a pupil of St. Jude’s Model Girls College, Amarata, gave a chronological order of biblical events before the birth of Jesus Christ (BC) and after his death (AD). She also named past governors and acting governors since the state was created in 1996.

    Read Also: Why Bayelsa, NIMASA partnership is important, by Diri

    Eluan, daughter of Alabah Turnah, the governor’s Executive Assistant on Public Affairs and Orientation, gave a solo performance of a song.

    The scholarship would cover their secondary and university education, and possibly doctorate degree if they did well.

    Diri said: “I hereby announce a scholarship covering secondary and university education for the girls. Clearly, we have budding talents in our state.”

    The governor reiterated his resolve to prioritise youth development as they remained the future leaders.

     

  • Poly moving to permanent site in 2021, says Rector

    Poly moving to permanent site in 2021, says Rector

    Our Reporter

     

    THE Federal Polytechnic, Ukana, Akwa Ibom State, will move to its permanent site in 2021, it was learnt yesterday.

    Rector Dr Uduak Ukekpe stated this when he conducted reporters on a tour of projects in the school to mark his second year as Rector.

    Ukekpe said 80 per cent of ongoing projects in the institution’s permanent site was sponsored by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).

    According to him, academic activities might resume at the permanent campus in June 2021. Ukekpe said eight new academic programmes – Computer Engineering, Survey, Accounting, Business Administration, Civil Engineering, and Electrical/Electronics Engineering – would be added to the existing two programmes – Statistics and Computer Science.

    The new programmes would likely kick-off at the permanent campus, he added.

    According to Ukekpe, the polytechnic currently has 85 students due to the carrying capacity of the institution because the school could not admit more than the carrying capacity prescribed by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

    Read Also: Offa Poly expels convicted student

    He said: “By next year we will be good to go for the engineering programmes. Some of the equipment have been installed.

    “When I came in, there was no access road, no buildings that were near completion, no contractor was on site. We are targeting eight more courses. We have manpower on ground but it is not adequate. We will be employing if the embargo is lifted next year.

    ”Eighty per cent of the projects you have seen here is from TETFUND intervention. I thank TETFUND and we are doing our best to attract more interventions.”

  • Bayelsa’s road project for January

    Bayelsa’s road project for January

     Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

     

    CONSTRUCTION of the 22-kilometre Igbogene-AIT Outer Ring Road in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, will begin in January, it was learnt on Thursday.

    Commissioner for Information and Orientation Ayibaina Duba, his Works and Infrastructure counterpart Moses Teibowei, and Commissioner for Health Dr. Pabara Igwele, addressed reporters after the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting.

    Teibowei said the project, which was initiated in 2013 by the previous administration, would start in the second week of January. It will cost N22 billion. The project is expected to last 24 months.

    Read Also: Fire guts Bayelsa furniture market

    Teibowei said phase one of the Edepie-Etegwe roundabout expansion project is almost completed while phase two, which involves the building of a retaining wall and sand filling near the Etegwe bridge, would begin soon.

    According to him, the project would prevent encroachment and illegal trading on government’s right-of-way, beautify and make the place motorable.

    Igwele added that civil servants, political appointees, and government functionaries should go for testing in light of the second wave of COVID-19.

    He added that the council also directed that active cases be searched out, especially in Yenagoa, the state capital. Bars, night clubs, event and recreational centres, restaurants and hotels are also directed to comply with safety protocols.

    The commissioner urged the people to restrict attendance at events (weddings, conferences, congresses, office parties, concerts, seminars end of year parties, religious gatherings) to 50 persons.

  • Emmanuel donates 30 patrol vans to police

    Emmanuel donates 30 patrol vans to police

    Bassey Anthony, Uyo

     

    AKWA Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel has donated 30 patrol vehicles to the police.

    The vehicles are the first batch of 100 promised to security agencies.

    Emmanuel, who commiserated with the command on for its officers and men who died during the #EndSARS protest, urged them not to relent in curbing crime.

    He said: “Reports of gradual reduction in crime is heart warming, and I believe it is because of hard work by the command.

    “My donation of these patrol trucks is to support the police and other security agencies to enhance their performance, and ensure a smooth yuletide.”

    Read Also: ‘Probe abandoned projects in Akwa Ibom’

    Commissioner of Police Andrew Amiengheme thanked Emmanuel for the gesture. He said the vehicles would boost morale of the officers.

    Amiengheme assured Emmanuel of maximum protection of residents through ceaseless patrols during the yuletide and beyond.

    “Let me assure you that the command, under my watch, will ensure criminals are brought to book. We are determined to confront crime, end killings, cultism, robbery, rape among others,” he added.

  • Anambra 2021: PDP bans officials from supporting aspirants

    Anambra 2021: PDP bans officials from supporting aspirants

    Our Reporter

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State has banned members of the State Executive Council (SEC) from campaigning for any governorship aspirant ahead of the 2021 election.

    Chairman Ndubuisi Nwobu gave the directive on Wednesday when a governorship aspirant, Wilson Udeh, visited the secretariat.

    Nwobu said the directive affects party officials from state to ward levels. He urged them to maintain neutrality, saying defaulters would be sanctioned.

    According to the chairman, experiences have shown that supporting individual aspirants has been the party’s bane in winning elections. He reiterated that any official who attaches himself to a particular aspirant will be sanctioned.

    Read Also: Ekiti factional PDP backs Makinde

    He said: “It’s our resolve that party officials should remain neutral until after the primaries when all of us shall support one candidate. By so doing, we shall not be factionalised before the main election.

    “Experience has taught us that if we attach ourselves to individual aspirants, and then our choice aspirant fails in the primaries, we will abandon the general cause. That should stop.”

    Udeh promised to support the party’s candidate even if he loses in the primaries.

    “I have not come to promise to build 21 universities but if elected governor in 2021, ugly faces in this state will be made beautiful and happy”.

  • Agitation for Igbo president grows

    Agitation for Igbo president grows

    By Frank Ikpefan, Abuja 

    A Pan-Ohanaeze Ndigbo socio-political organisation, Conference of Igbo Professionals Worldwide (COIPOW), has begun intensive campaigns, meeting and lobbying to ensure the Southeast produces the president in 2023.

    The group slammed the formation of a security outfit by leader of proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu, saying the move would thwart the plan as most leaders would see it in a bad light and withdraw their support.

    A statement on Wednesday by COIPOW’s National President Prof. Patrick Kalu, and National Secretary Uche Mbaka, described the security network as illegal, and appealed to the people not to take it seriously.

    The statement reads: “We thank key Igbo leaders that attended our emergency meeting in Awka, Anambra State, where we deliberated and agreed on pushing for Igbo president in 2023.

    “This is the sure way to go, and not the way Kanu wants. The gunpoint approach by Kanu is certainly not the way out, and he must be told so.

    “Igbo people deserve the presidency this time. They have all it takes to produce the next president, and that is what we should be pushing for now with one strong voice in unity and sincerity of purpose.

    Read Also: Ohaneze denies ACF’s allegation of killings, harassment of northerners

    “We cannot be demanding for president on one hand and supporting IPOB on the other hand. Nobody will take us serious if we do not take urgent steps to set the record straight by denouncing IPOB, its sponsors and founder.

    “It is on this premise that we condemn Nnamdi for forming the ‘Eastern Security Network (ESN)’ in some parts of the region. Forming this militia group when we should be seen as peaceful and law abiding is not the best. Let it be known that IPOB and ESN do not have our blessings and will never do.

    “We call on governors of the Southeast states and Ohanaeze Ndigbo to condemn and stop this criminality which may have grave consequences on the Igbo nation if nothing is done.”

     

  • Rivers PDP chieftains join APC

    Rivers PDP chieftains join APC

     Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

     

    SIX chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyibo Local Government Area of Rivers State have joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    This is despite the deepening crisis in the party, characterised by suspensions and counter suspensions.

    The defectors – Adolphus Nweke, Onyema Ihenna, Ibekwe Okere, among others – said the PDP is no better party. They hoped the party structure would become stronger after this crisis period. “We would rather be active members of the APC and partake in the dividend of the work, than answer big name and die in hardship”, they said.

    The defectors were received on Wednesday by the party leader in Oyibo, Gift Okere, and caretaker committee Chairman Chamberlain Okorie.

    Okorie noted that the PDP in Oyibo Ward 2 has crashed following the defection of key executives to the APC. He urged the new members to work for APC’s victory in the next elections.

    Read Also: Can Yemi Osibanjo help APC?

    He admonished them on the need for unity, cooperation and hard work to ensure victory for the party, even as he assured them of huge benefit under the leadership of Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi.

    Okorie alleged the absence of government projects in the council despite the defectors’ hard work and commitment in the PDP.

    He said: “PDP administration has done Oyibo people more harm than good. There is no Wike project in the council. When Rotimi Amaechi was governor, Oyibo council recorded key projects and human development programmes that posterity will be proud of.

    “Your decision to join APC is a good one and you will soon confirm it. Amaechi has nothing to give you, but I assure you he will continue to fight for the entrenchment of true democracy.”