The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southeast report

  • ‘Abia new Govt House ready soon’

    Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has assured that construction work would soon start at the new Government House, Ogurube Layout, Umuahia.

    Governor Ikpeazu gave the assurance when he embarked on an inspection tour of the new Government House project.

    The work, which was started by the immediate past governor of the state Senator Theodore Ahamefule Orji, came to an abrupt stop when Orji left office with the hope that his successor would see to the completion of the project since the present Government House was said to have since 1999 been located in a private property.

    Our reporter gathered that the inability of the present administration in the state to ensure completion of the project in its first four years has attracted criticisms from Abians and opposition parties in the state, but with the present steps taken by the state government, his supporters and well-meaning Abians are optimistic that the state would save a lot of money when they operate from its permanent Government House.

    According to Ikpeazu, the contractor will soon be mobilised back to site.

    He further assured that the new Government House is so dear to his administration that he will not relent in ensuring its completion as soon as possible.

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    Governor Ikpeazu who invited the project contractor for a review meeting noted that apart from the new Government House project his administration has mobilised contractors handling various road projects across the state back to site for early completion and commissioning.

    The governor confirmed that despite challenges of funding, the new Government House would be accorded the priority it deserves to ensure its completion. He declared that abandoning the project was not an option for the state government.

    In a related development, Governor Ikpeazu has directed the State Ministry of Works, and Abia State Road Maintenance Agency (ABROMA) to ensure the immediate execution of palliative maintenance work at bad portions of Aba Road, Ikot Ekpene Road and  Isi Gate areas of Umuahia pending the full mobilisation of contractors to work on the roads.

    The governor said this is to ease the challenges faced by commuters along the roads within the state capital that should be maintained and assured that contractors have already been mobilized to complete Aba Road project and others within the state capital.

  • Insecurity: Army drills officers

    Against the backdrop of insecurity in the land, the Army toughens its personnel in a competition for warrant officers and senior non-commissioned officers. SUNNY NWANKWO, who covered the event at 14 Brigade Headquarters, Ohafia, Abia State, reports

    One of the major challenges facing Nigeria across the six geo-political zones is insecurity. From militancy to insurgency, herdsmen attacks to banditry and agitation for secession by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the Army has been battling to ensure peace in the land while performing their statutory role of warding off external aggression.

    This was why the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai directed heads of military formations across the country to ensure that their officers participated in the 2019 Inter-Brigade Warrant Officers and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers Competition.

    In compliance with the directive, the leadership of the 82 Division of the Army with its headquarters in Enugu, Enugu State, has held the military competition at Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Barracks, 14 Brigade Headquarters, Ohafia, Abia State.

    The participating personnel were drawn from various 82 Division’s Areas of Responsibility (AOR) participating in the exercise even though some of them just returned from the Northeast where they have been over the years, engaging the outlawed members of Boko Haram sect in severe gun battle.

    The event provided the leadership of the 82 Division the opportunity to select the exceptional personnel among the participants that will represent the command at a similar event later in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    The Inter-Brigade Warrant Officers and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers Competition for 82 Division held at Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s Barracks, 14 Brigade Headquarters, Ohafia, Abia State saw the personnel participating in Drill Competition, swimming competition which took place at Hotel Damgrete in Umuahia, shooting range competition which took place at the command headquarters of 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze in Imo State, Obstacle Crossing at the 14Brigade Headquarters, Ohafia, among other competitions.

    The General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Major-General Abubakar Maikobi represented by his Chief of Staff Brigadier General Clement A. Atere at the closing ceremony of the exercise, extolled the Brigade for engaging in the training which he said would help enhance and improve their physical fitness, leadership qualities, discipline, efficiency, effectiveness, cooperation and esprit-de-corps that will prepare the warrant officers and senior non commission officers for more challenging tasks and responsibilities especially now that the country is bedeviled with series of security challenges.

    According to Atere, Maikobi used the opportunity to congratulate the winning team and further commended the efforts of the officers and men of the Division for their professionalism.

    The GOC also appreciated the support of the Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen Tukur Y. Buratai for his contributions to the success of the competition.

    He also appreciated commanders of various formations that participated in the competition for the timely preparation of their teams and equally commended other security agencies for the synergies and cooperation in ensuring that Abia State remains safe and peaceful.

    The Special Guest of Honour, Abia State Governor Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu ably represented by his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Sir Ude Oko Chukwu extolled the Division for organising the competition especially by choosing 14 Brigade in Abia State as the host. He used the opportunity to congratulate the winning team and further commend the efforts of the officers and men of the Brigade for their professionalism in ensuring peace and safety of Abians especially at the just concluded 2019 General Elections in Abia State.

    He said, “I want to conclude by commending the Commander 14 Brigade and his team of officers and men for organising this worthwhile competition.

    “I want to also appreciate the General Officer Commanding 82 Division, other Services, the Nigeria Police and Para-Military Security Agencies for the synergy and cooperation in order to ensure Abia State remains safe and peaceful”. The Governor asserts.

    At the end of the keenly contested competition, 34 Artillery Brigade came 4th with 240 points, 13 Brigade Akim Barracks, Calabar scored 340 points to emerge 3rd, the host Brigade came 2nd with 400 points while the 82 Division Garrison was the overall best with 420 points.

    The highlight of the event includes an Award of Excellence to the Governor of Abia State by the General Officer Commanding 82 Division Enugu.

  • Ex-lawmaker kits Anambra poly

    Immediate past member representing Awka North and South Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representative, Hon. (Chief) Anayo Nnebe has made a donation of sports materials to Anambra State Polytechnic, Mgbakwu in Awka North local government area of the state.

    The kits included a pair of FIFA standard football goal post, a set of football jersey, 12 pairs of football booths, a leather football, a hand pump, a pair of goal keeper jersey, 2 pairs of track suits and 2 pairs of canvas shoes.

    Handing over the items to the management of the institution, Nnebe, who was the Deputy, House Committee on Sports, said the donation was part of his contribution to the infrastructural and human development of the staff and students of the school.

    The lawmaker assuranced of his continuous support to the institution in her quest to get the best out of her staff and students.

    “This is part of my contribution to the development of infrastructure and wellbeing of the staff and students of ANSPOLY and it is in line with the mission and vision of the state government in establishing the Polytechnic,” he said.

    Receiving the sports kits, Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. Mrs Nneka Mefoh, expressed joy for the gesture and thanked the lawmaker for the initiative.

    Mefor, represented by the Public Relations Officer, who is also the institution’s Director, Sports Unit, Mr Chukwuanu Okagbue, assured that the items would be put into good use for the purposes they were donated.

    She prayed for God’s blessings on the benefactor as he continued to give back to the society.

    She said, “This generosity will not go unnoticed by the Polytechnic community as the donor’s name will be forever in the institution’s book of records.

    “We call on other well-meaning and good-spirited individuals to join hands with the state governor and the visitor to the polytechnic, Willie Obiano and his government to lift the polytechnic to an enviable height.”

  • Anambra gets cancer detection machine for women

    The Eldorado Multi-Specialist Hospital premises were filled with men, women, young and old, who came to witness firsthand the magic of cancer detection in Anambra State.

    It also attracted the presence of the governor of the state Willie Obiano, because it is the first of its kind.

    There was the launch of the first digital mammography machine used for early detection of breast cancer in the state by the hospital.

    The hospital came with a call on Nigerians that cancer is readily preventable and curable when detected early.

    The manager and matron of the hospital, Mrs. Isuh Chinelo Francisca, said that after four years of operation, the management decided to acquire a mammography machine to address cases of breast cancer among women in the Southeast zone.

    Isuh said the intention of the management was not exploitative in nature, hence the provision of accessible and affordable health care services.

    With the facility, she said, there would be no reason for people to suffer breast cancer any more if they embarked on routine test of their breasts.

    For an oncologist, Dr Brenda Nwamuo, the World Health Organization (WHO), ranked Nigeria as the fourth highest nation devastated by the scourge of breast cancer and other cancer related deaths.

    Dr. Nwamuo said: ‘WHO records, also reveal that one million new cases are recorded yearly and 4.4 million women are currently living with the disease across the world.

    ‘The record also shows that an estimated 1.7 million women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the year 2020, mostly from the developing world, representing a 26 per cent increase from the current level,’ she said.

    Nwamuo, of the Radiology Department, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, noted that though cancer remained the commonest disease among women in the black race and Africa, it did not become a death sentence.

    ‘Breast cancer is a disease, but it does not pose as a death sentence if detected early enough with mammography manned by a competent radiographer and treated appropriately.”

    The late symptoms, according to her, include double vision, muscle weakness, headache, nausea, cough, and shortness of breath, jaundice, loss of appetite, weight loss, and bone pain.

    Governor Obiano said it was the reason his administration started the state Health insurance scheme.

    Obiano was represented by Dr Simeon Onyemaechi, the Executive Secretary, Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA).

    The governor commended the hospital for such innovation, while pledging to partner with it to ensure quality healthcare delivery as envisioned by his government.

    He said the government was desirous of turning the state into a medical tourism of some sort.

    Obiano called for pooling of resources and collaboration among health specialists to set up multi-specialist hospitals, rather than mushroom clinics.

    He argued that it was the only way to improve health care services.

    The practical demonstration of breast cancer detection was carried out by the President of Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria, Dr. Ifeoma Ajuba.

    She pointed out that once breast cancer was detected early enough, it could be prevented.

  • Businessman Okonkwo institutes research on Onitsha market

    Business mogul and founder of The Dome Entertainment Centre, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo has instituted an entrepreneurial research chair into the Onitsha main market as a central hub of Igbo enterprise development.

    The research will document the beginning, the growth and development of entrepreneurship at the Onitsha main market, which at a time, was the largest market in West Africa.

    Announcing this at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, after he was conferred with an award as Business Philanthropist of the Year by the UNIZIK Business School, at the ongoing 2nd Edition of its International Conference in Awka, Dr. Okonkwo said that the coming generation of Nigerians have a lot to learn from the entrepreneurial spirit of the Igbo man which, according to him, were developed from the Main Market at Onitsha.

    He stated that before the emergence of large markets in Lagos, the main market held sway as the hub of Igbo enterprise adding that “at that time, every Igbo billionaire took off from the main market in Onitsha”.

    Relating that to his humble beginnings in business, Dr. Okonkwo recalled that “I had my first lessons in trading at the Onitsha main market, rising from there to become who I am today”.

    He noted that most Igbo businessmen and women of the time, had their offices at Onitsha and only traveled to Lagos on holidays.

    He said that though the trend has changed, a proper study of the market and the growth of the apprenticeship system in Igbo land, will add value to new business innovations that will sustain growth and ensure enterprise survival.

    Noting that the upcoming generation of Igbo businesses must learn from mistakes of their forebears, Dr. Okonkwo regretted that the exploits of Sir Louis Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who at a time was the biggest name in business in Nigeria, ended with his passage.

    He said Sir Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s contemporaries in Europe, America and Asia, have their names as super brands wondering why same failed in Nigeria.

    Dr. Okonkwo challenged the UNIZIK Business School to use the research to help create innovations that would turn Nigerian businesses into super brands appreciated world over.

    “In my life thus far, I have received several awards. But this is the first from a business school. So, I deeply appreciate it. Not only is it the first from a business school, but it is also one from a business school in my home state. It means a lot to me because it is said that a prophet is often without honour among his own. But here I am being honoured by my own, in my home state capital, Awka, a town that is just a few kilometers from Onitsha where my father taught me my first lessons in the rudiments of trading at the Fancy Line.

    “I went through Onitsha Main Market as a youngster, helping my father of blessed memory manage his shop. Through him, I had my tutelage in business growing up to combine school and shop management as well as managing his apprentices. The lessons I learnt at the Main Market are immortal. They could not have been learnt at any university at the time. And that is why I always look at Onitsha with nostalgia. The city, and the market, laid the foundation for who I have become. I won’t ever forget.

    “I am therefore happy that the management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University accepted the challenge to start a business school that will transform lives and help bring innovation to our traditional trading practice. I was at the maiden convocation dinner organized in honour of graduands of the executive MBA programme of the business school last May. I was highly elated to see a crop of young Nigerians graduate from your programme. Seeing them tells me that there are no limits to what Unizik Business School can achieve in the lives of our people.

    “It is for this reason that I accepted to be part of you today. It is also for this reason that I have decided to commit myself to funding a research into what makes Onitsha Main Market such a giant hub in the creation of great businessmen and women with deep insights and guts even when they have no university education.

    We must know what makes main market, once the largest in West Africa, what it is today. We must remember that before Alaba International, ASPAMDA, Balogun, Ladipo (all in Lagos), there was Main Market. Then, the big businessmen and women go to Lagos for weekends only.

    Their businesses were domiciled at Onitsha. So, I believe a research into the main market that will document its beginnings and growth, for our children will be a great intellectual contribution to the vaunted entrepreneurial spirit of the Igboman.

    “This is more so as American journalist, Robert Neuwirth, had in a study, declared that the apprenticeship system in Igbo land, is the largest venture capitalist platform in the world. His study was based on the Alaba International Market in Lagos. However, I do not think we need a foreigner to tell us our story. This is a story that Unizik Business School must document and tell the world. Unizik Business School must strive to bring the world to Awka to learn something about the Igbo entrepreneurial spirit whch created the main market.

    “Many of the great businessmen and women that we have come to know in Igboland, passed through the main market. They started little and grew to become big. It tells me that there must be something that is spectacular about the Main Market and the people that pass through it.

    “In committing myself to funding such research, I am guided by the need to find out vital lessons that will guide our businesses into growing to become world super brands. Like I recalled at my lecture during your MBA graduation, the exploits of Sir Louis Odumegwu-Ojukwu and the likes, challenge us towards understanding why their businesses ended with their generation irrespective of how large they were.

    “I believe that such understanding will help students who pass through UNIZIK Business School to prepare better for the future because the challenges of tomorrow will be greater than what we experience today”, he stated.

    Declaring the conference open, Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Charles Esemone said Nigeria must look inwards to maximize its abundant raw materials by adding value through processing.

    “To my mind, attempts to re-engineer Africa’s economies/business development should be anchored on exploiting the value chains of our primary resources, agricultural and minerals, expanding the portfolio investment and productive base of the economy, particularly with a view to exports,” he said.

  • Enugu Disco inaugurates 100 change ambassadors

    The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) has inaugurated 100 Change Ambassadors within its workforce with a view to driving the company’s Transformational Culture Change Initiative.

    The Change Ambassadors, who have undergone week-long training on human relations and integrity, were selected from 18 district areas of the company in the five Southeast states.

    Inaugurating the Change Ambassadors in Enugu, Dr Steve Dike, a member of EEDC Board of Directors, said that after a survey in the company it was clear that there was a great need to change attitudes and culture of work.

    Dike, who congratulated the Change Ambassadors for being chosen to lead the transformational initiative, charge them to live above board and ensure that negative deeds that questions the integrity of the company are stopped.

    “The Change Ambassadors, who I will refer to as Your Excellences in this company, now carries the corporate image of the company personified with them and must lead by example and correct others.

    “You people have the full support of the Board as you carry out your monitoring and correction especially with focus on treating our esteemed customers as king with due courtesy they supposed to get from us.

    “You have the power to warn and correct any erring staff as well as sending those that dress like touts back home as many times they are not properly dressed.

    “There must be discipline, courtesy and integrity in our business especially as it relates to our esteemed customers,” he added.

    The Managing Director of EEDC, Mr Okey Nwosu, said that the journey to have a change of orientation in attitude started in January when the Board deployed consultants to look on how to improve service delivery to its customers.

    “With extensive interview with staff and customers, they came out with the fact that most of the problem the company face with its esteemed customers was that of negative attitude to work on the part of our staff.

    “So, we have a mandate from the Board to change our attitude and ensure we uphold integrity in all we do; which will make the customers empathy with any challenge we might be going through as a company.

    “From today, we must communicate to our customers that we are a rebranded and changed both in words and deeds,” he said.

    Mr Emeka Ezeh, Head, Communications of EEDC and one of the Change Ambassadors, assured the management and Board that the ambassadors would live up to expectation.

    “We are committed to ensure that Transformational Culture Change Initiative trickles down to our district and area offices scattered in the entire South-East,” Ezeh said.

    Among the Change Ambassadors are district and area managers, some field staff with exemplary conduct, human resources staff and some heads of units and departments.

    The highlights of the event included launch of EEDC Culture Handbook and the unveiling of the Core Value of EEDC, which are Integrity, Customers Focus, Professionalism and Innovation.

  • Ihedioha to prioritise science, technology in schools

    Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha has promised to give top priority to Science and Technology Education. He stated this at the NNPC National Science quiz competition, Southeast Zone.

    In a statement, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Vocational Education Public Relations Officer (PRO), Sunday Orisakwe, quoted the governor, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science, Technology and Vocational Education, Mrs. Magret Obi,  saying that he would ensure that the teaching and learning of science and technical subjects were emphasised in the state curriculum.

    To achieve this, he said his administration would revamp four technical colleges in the state to bring them up to international standard. The governor explained that his administration was doing this because he believed that science and technology is a catalyst to the socio-economic development of the state.

    Mrs. Obi expressed her gratitude to Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for encouraging the teaching and learning of science and technical subjects.

    NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Mr. Ndu Ughamadu congratulated the winners for their doggedness.

    Ughamadu, represented by Nnochiri Iheanyi, NNPC’s Deputy Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) said the NNPC’s CSR’s activities cover health, infrastructure, power generation, agriculture, sports and the arts. He explained that NNPC understands the value of education in the growth and development of any society.

    Furthermore, Science, he Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education (STEM Education), which is what the NNPC National Science Quiz Competition encourages, plays a key role in sustaining the economy by providing us with tools to understand the world around us and innovations to solve  problems.

    At the contest, where Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Anambra and Enugu states took part, Miss Ozuzu Adaeze of Logos International Secondary School, Awo-mama Imo State; Mbazu Justice Chinonso of CSMT Staff Secondary School, Ebonyi came first with the same points. Abia State came third. The winners will represent the Southeast in the final that will hold in Abuja.

  • ‘Don’t let contractors mess up road projects in your community’

    A member of the House of Representatives representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency in Anambra State, Hon. Prince Chukwuka Onyema has charged people of his constituency to take ownership of the various projects in Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state.

    He called for vigilance especially from residents of the communities where road projects were being carried out.

    Speaking while inspecting ongoing road projects at the Amiyi-Umuzu and school, Iyiowa Odekpe, the lawmaker advised them not to allow contractors do shoddy jobs.

    He cited cases where contractors absconded after collecting their money.

    He said, “It is one thing to award a contract and another to make sure the work is done properly.

    “We cannot be everywhere. I urge you all to follow the projects we do in your towns and inform us when anything is going wrong.”

    Onyema said he chose to inspect the roads himself in order to take notes of the work progress, saying he was impressed with the pace especially with the drainage well-constructed at Iyiowa.

    He said the inspection was necessary to ensure high standard quality of work delivery at the various construction sites.

    Describing the project as a precautionary measure against rainy season, the lawmaker assures that the pace of work on the project could be improved to avoid trapping people in their homes.

    Onyema who hinted that the project was an intervention from the Nigeria Building Research Institute (NIBRI), said it was in fulfillment of his election promises to the people of the area.

    “The project is in fulfillment of my election promises to people of Ogbaru. We promised to give them solar street light which we have done and also construct the road because people of the area are suffering due to bad roads and poor drainage system.

    “We believe when these social amenities are provided, it will help alleviate their sufferings,” he added.

    The lawmaker regretted that the Amiyi-Umuzu Road project was temporarily stopped after the contractor failed to adhere to the principles of the contract.

    He insisted that the contractor must present the project specification for review before work would continue again.

  • Relief as police conquer Imo horror forest

    A police swoop on the Awara forest has resulted in the arrest of several suspects, eliciting hope that Imo State’s most dreaded den of violent criminals has been demystified. OKODILI NDIDI reports

    At last the forest of horror has been demystified, ending decades of horrific and blood-chilling tales of death and destruction.

    The Awara forest in Ohaji-Egbema Council Area of Imo State was the den of criminal elements. Recently, it took a turn for the worse, becoming a haven for notorious inter-state kidnappers and militants who escaped security operatives in the Niger Delta.

    This paper once reported the flourishing kidnap business in the massive forest covering such communities as Awara, Ilile, Opiti, Umuapu and Mgbirishi all in Ohaji-Egbema council area stretching to the boundary of Rivers State.

    Kidnap victims say there were several camps operated by different gangs in the forest where victims are chained to trees until their relatives pay ransom. In some cases according to revelations by the victims, some of the unlucky ones were slaughtered for ritual.

    In the last few months, these hoodlums became even more daring in their operations as they adopted guerrilla tactics. They lay ambush along Owerri-Port Harcourt Road and diverted travelers into the forest, where they were held until ransom was paid. Some of the victims ended up being raped, molested or murdered.

    Not even the poor were spared as the dare-devil kidnappers abducted anyone available, whisked them into the forest and collected ransom as low as N50,000 depending on the negotiation power of the victim’s family.

    The impregnable forest attained the notoriety of ‘Sambisa forest’, instilling fear in the spine of the people at the mere mention of its name.

    But the myth surrounding the forest has finally been demystified and the horror neutralized. The Imo State police command, led by the Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Ladodo, braved it and invaded the forest.

    Expectedly, they met stiff resistance as the kidnappers engaged the policemen in a gun duel that lasted all through the night. At the end of the ten-hour operation, three of the gang leaders were cut down, while others were arrested.

    This was followed by a mop-up operation where seven kidnap victims were rescued from the various camps in the expansive forest.

    Celebrating the feat, the police spokesperson, Frank Mba, while parading the suspects at the Command’s headquarters in Owerri, said, “You will recall that on the 9th of April 2019, the Inspector-General of Police IGP Mohammed Adamu launched Operation “PUFF ADDER” and consequently directed all Assistant Inspectors-General of Police in charge of all zonal commands as well as all Commissioners of Police in all their states to replicate same in their area of responsibility. Today, I am glad to inform you all that the effort is yielding tremendous results.

    “We have been touring various state commands in the past few months to brief the press on the achievements of the Operation so far, as such, we are here today to showcase to you, the achievements of the officers and men of Imo State Police Command.

    “We are however aware that the Commissioner of Police, Imo State, CP Rabiu Ladodo has briefed and paraded suspects to you on a few occasions since the launch of Operation “PUFF ADDER” but we are here today to present to you some of the exceptional breakthroughs of the Command in crime fighting and detection. On this note, I present to you a total of nineteen (19) suspects involved in various violent crimes as follows;

    “Following a tip-off received on 4/07/2019 that a gang of kidnappers were holding some victims hostage in a forest in Ohaji, operatives of the Command swiftly swung into action and stormed the kidnap hideout. On sighting the operatives, the hoodlums engaged them in a heated gun duel during which three of the hoodlums fell to the superior fire power of the operatives and two others escaped with serious gunshot injuries.

    “However, the above named kidnap victims held captive in the kidnap hideout as at the time of the incident were all rescued unhurt including a pregnant woman. The rescued victims were subsequently taken to the Police Hospital for treatment, the doctor on duty certified that they were all okay and the pregnancy of the woman was still intact”.

    It continued that, “Sequel to the bursting of the kidnap gang at Ilile forest in Ohaji/Egbema L.G.A Imo State and the rescue of seven (7) kidnapped victims mentioned above, operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) following thorough intelligence gathering and digital data tracking analysis arrested the above named suspects at Port – Harcourt, Rivers State. Suspects have made useful statements to the police touching on the various roles they played in the crime.

    “On 15/06/2019, operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad arrested the above-named suspect at Umuokanne in Ohaji/Egbema L.G.A of Imo State in connection with the kidnap of the above named victims. Victims were kidnapped along Maginezum/West Brook Hotel on 14/06/2019 and have identified the suspect among the gang that kidnapped them. The hospitalized victim Uchenna Anagbue was seriously inflicted with injuries all over his body for attempting to escape from the kidnappers den. After he was recaptured, the kidnapper put him into a septic toilet soak-away and covered it but if not for the quick rescue of the SARS Operatives, he would have died. Effort is on to gear to arrest the remaining suspect at large.”

  • Breakthrough as UNN produces electric car

    University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) has recorded a rare feat by producing the first electric car in Nigeria.

    The car named Lion Ozumba 551 after the immediate past vice chancellor, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba was produced by the Faculty of Engineering of the university.

    Explaining the techniques of the car, the coordinator of UNN mechatronic group who led the team that produced the car Mr Ozoemena Ani, said the vehicle was produced with 80 per cent local content materials.

    Ani said the car could be charged in any electric socket and when fully charged would go a distance of 30 kilometres.

    “We used 80 per cent local material content in building this electric car.

    “It cost us N800,000 to produce the car. When the car is fully charged it will go up to thirty kilometers before it can be recharged,” he said at the unveiling ceremony of the car.

    The electric car was driven round UNN campus which attracted the admiration of many staff and students

    The Director-General of National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr Jelani Aliyu who was at the unveiling ceremony commended the University of Nigeria Nsukka for being the first to produce electric car in the country.

    He urged other universities in the country to emulate UNN desire in giving serious attention to issues concerning innovations and technology in order to move the country to the next level.

    “NADDC on February 6, 2019 invited UNN, University of Lagos, Usuman Danfodo University and Matrological Institute and urged them to prepare a paper design on how to produce electric car in the country.

    “The council is happy that UNN is the first to prepare a paper design and produced electrical car that has been unveiled and test-run today in the university.

    “We urge other universities and higher institutions in the country to emulate innovation and technology spirit of UNN,”  he said.

    The DG who was represented by Mr David Oyetunji who is Director Finance and Account in NDDC said, improving on automobile industry in the country would help create more employments as well as reduced huge amount of money used in importing cars into the country.

    “Improvement in automobile industry will create more employments as well as reduce huge amount of money used in importing cars into the country.

    NDDC commend UNN who recently produced the first gasification plant that used organic waste to generate electricity and today the same university is unveiling first electric build car in the country,” he said.

    In a remark, Prof Charles Igwe, the Vice-Chancellor of UNN, who was filled with joy, said his administration would continue to give innovation and technology the highest attention in order to move the university to the next level.

    Igwe expressed appreciation to the immediate past VC of UNN Prof Benjamin Ozumba whom he said laid the foundation of innovation, technology as well as through his hard work made UNN the number one university in the country.

    “I feel happy that, I inherited strong institution from Ozumba and I promised I will consolidate on his numerous achievements.

    “I commend the engineering faculty for making the university proud as well as naming the car after Ozumba who ignited the fire of innovation and technology in the university.

    “I also commend NDDC for its encouragement as well as giving UNN a chance to show its potential,” he said.

    Speaking, Ozumba said he was overwhelmed when he received invitation to came and witness unveiling of the electric car which was initiated by his administration,

    “When I came on board I said we need innovation and technology to be at par with China, US, Sweden and other developed countries of the world.

    “That was why I provided the resources and encouragement for innovations and technology because I believe that is one of the ways we can improve our country’s economy.

    “It is my desire to improve the economy of UNN, the economy of Nigeria as well as increase the country’s foreign exchange,” he said.