The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southeast report

  • Owerri-PH Road: A kidnappers’ corridor

    It is bad enough that the Owerri-Port-Harcourt Road, which once took about 45 minutes to drive from one end to another, now takes four tortuous hours. Worse, hapless commuters are often robbed, raped and kidnapped few kilometers from an army facility. OKODILI NDIDI reports

    It was once a smooth stretch. Heading Port Harcourt from Owerri, you arrived in the oil city in 45 minutes or one hour, at worst. Those were days of bliss. There was hardly a robbery incident, and certainly no kidnappers waiting to pull you into the thick bush and ask for ransom.

    Not anymore.

    Despite the feat celebrated in the fight against kidnapping in the Southeast by security agencies, the menace is far from over these days. In fact it has taken a disturbing dimension in the last few months.

    Daredevil kidnappers have devised new tactics of abducting their victims. Now they operate a notorious den located in one of the thick forests along the Owerri-Port Harcourt Road, turning it into one of the most dangerous routes in the entire Southeast.

    A journey to Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on the Owerri-Port Harcourt Road, which of course is supposed to be the shortest route, is now a nightmare. Commuters that ply that road often end up in the den of the kidnappers.

    The modus operandi of these men of the underworld is to divert vehicles and the occupants into the bush where they are robbed, raped and kidnapped for ransom.

    Investigations by The Nation revealed that the kidnappers who are often armed with sophisticated weapons often lay ambush at a particular failed portion of the road around Nkaraha in Ohaji-Egbema Council Area of Imo State, a border community from where they pounce of vehicles that slow down to navigate through the bad spot.

    The route is not only prone to criminal attacks but has also become a vicious death trap for travellers as a result of condition of the road, which has been abandoned by successive contractors.

    In the last three months, no fewer than 40 travellers were kidnapped along that stretch of road including five members of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) who were travelling to Rivers State from Ondo State for their orientation.

    Other victims were a serving local government chairman in Anambra State and his son (names withheld), a female Magistrate in Imo State (name withheld), church choristers who were travelling to Port Harcourt for a programme, a lecturer in the Imo State Polytechnic and his wife, among other victims.

    The high rate of kidnapping and armed robbery on the route may not be unconnected to the spillover of criminal activities perpetrated by militants who were operation in the creeks of Imo and Rivers state before they were dislodged. Majority of the unrepentant militants have found a safe haven in the forest around the Port Harcourt-Owerri Road.

    Another factor that may have contributed to the rise in criminal activities along the road is the deplorable condition of the 80km road.

    Before the road collapsed, it took between 45 minutes to one hour to drive from Owerri to Port Harcourt but now it takes an average of four hours to make the trip. At various points along the road, articulated vehicles that have broken down are abandoned, increasing the risk factors.

    Several lives have been lost in ghastly motor accidents on that route as a result of the poor condition of the road.

    The Commandant of the Imo State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Kayode Aremu said that the Command has locally improvised means to control traffic and reduce speed on the route to ensure that accidents are avoided.

    He said, “We have done road audit and identified possible crash points and we have posted our officials permanently on those identified points to ensure that road users do not infringe on the places. We have also reported the result of the road audit to the authorities to ensure that palliative repairs are carried out on the failed portions. We have also flagged off the ember months’ campaign where motorists were enlightened to take caution at this particular time.”

    The risk is even higher at night. It is a near suicide mission to embark on a journey through that road any time from 7pm. These criminals usually dressed in military camouflage often mount roadblocks to deceive travellers who mistake them for security men.

    Most confusing is the fact that the 34 Artillery Brigade of the Nigeria Army Obinze is just few kilometers from the ambush point, in addition to various police checkpoints that are scattered along the road.

    When contacted, the acting public relations officer of the 34 Artillery Brigade Obinze, Lieutenant I. M. Bawa said that the Army is on top of the situation.

    He said, “The Army is on top of the issue, action has been taken, soldiers have been deployed. If you travel through the road now, you will discover that we have up to six Army checkpoints on that road alone. The soldiers have been directed to thoroughly check every suspicious vehicle and to act fast when they discover anything”.

    Assuring that the situation will soon be arrested, Bawa said, “The hoodlums will be dislodged very soon but the major challenge is that the people don’t inform us on time when the kidnappings happen so that we can act quickly. There is no way we can know what is happening between the checkpoints unless we are told. We have commenced the enlightenment of the people on the need to come forward with credible information that will the Army arrest the hoodlums but very soon it will be over, even before the yuletide”.

  • Succour for wives of fallen heroes

    No fewer than 200 widows of fallen heroes of the Nigerian Legion from Anambra State would be empowered by the state chapter as part of activities marking its year’s end celebrations.

    The Anambra State Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Major Elder Nwankwo Joseph Ifeanyichukwu, who dropped the hint, said the empowerment was targeted at ameliorating the plight of the widows and to take care of their immediate families.

    Members of the Legion comprise ex-servicemen, some of whom still render security services to the country in various ways. Many of them help in the fight against Boko Haram, some even killed in the course.

    Ifeanyichukwu said widows of Legion members would be given grinding and sewing machines, farming tools and other inputs, consumables and cash, among other items.

    He requested the women in the state to register with them so they would be captured in the exercise.

    He solicited for concerted effort and financial assistant from both the government and public spirited individuals to carry out the lofty project, which he said, would be held annually.

    According to Ifeanyichukwu, the celebration which would take place at the Prof. Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Center, Awka, would be declared open by the state governor, Willie Obiano.

    Lamenting lack of an administrative office for the legion in the state, the chairman further appealed to the governor to approve a land anywhere in the state capital to enable them start building the state secretariat of the Legion.

    He said, “Non-utilisation of the previous parcel of land allocated to the legion opposite the government house by Group Captain Garba Rufai (Rtd) for the previous administrations of the legion made the state, the only state in the south east that exists without a secretariat.

    “We need financial support from both the government and public spirited individuals. We want government to improve on their welfare package for us.

    “We will also want the governor to provide an SUV car for the chairman or replace the Legion’s bus that is now in bad shape and as well, enlist us as one of the beneficiaries of the community project initiatives organised by his administration.

    “We have given much to the world and nothing should be looked on as too big to be given back to us in return,” he appealed.

  • New Abia police chief parades 57 suspects

    No fewer than 57 persons suspected to have perpetrated various crimes have been arrested and paraded by the Abia State police command. The new Commissioner of Police in the state, Chris Okey Ezike presented the suspects before reporters, saying that the command also rescued one kidnapped victim.

    Mr Ezike promised that the command will do everything possible to enhance safety and security of life and property in the state.

    Speaking in Umuahia, the state capital, during his maiden media chat, Ezike said that the Christmas period is around the corner when crime seems to be on the increase, but he reassured that the officers and men of the command are determined to fight crime with renewed vigour.

    Ezike who assumed office in the state just three weeks ago, said that he has held several meetings with all relevant security agencies in the state. He has also held talks with the state governor Okezie Ikpeazu on the way forward in combating crime in the state.

    The new Abia CP noted that the command under him will review personnel deployment profile, “In order to recover wastage from unauthorised deployment and areas of over deployment for better policing”.

    He said, “I have established the command monitoring unit and the unit will ensure that police activities are done in conformity with rules, regulations, the law and best practices, with the aim of resolving all cases of excessive use of force, abuse of human rights and corruption reported against police officers”.

    “I have also established Abia State Command Anti-kidnapping Squad with the jurisdiction to cover all parts of the state, in the coming days their impacts will be felt in mitigating the challenges of kidnappings in the state”.

    Ezike who used the forum to parade some suspects said that his men at Ndiegoro police division arrested the trio of Gabriel Ofordozie, Lucky Nwoye, Chukwudinma Mezeh and Abuchi Ezekwe all of Port Harcourt road Aba, while a six caliber rounds revolver pistol was recovered from them.

    He also paraded three suspected armed robbery suspects and gave their names as Ukeje Chigozie from Amokwe Isuikwuato, Desmond Nwakama of Umunwoke Okigwe and Chukwuebuka Desmond of Umugakwu Avutu Obowo.

    The CP said that his men received a call that some hoodlums had blocked the Umunze Ofeme axis of the port Harcourt-Enugu expressway, “my men raced to the place only to see the hoodlums running into the bush, a combined team of police men and vigilante group gave them a chase and arrested the three suspects”.

    Ezike said that his men also rescued one Dr Ngwaziem Chiemela of Uratta Aba who was held hostage behind Sweet Home in Umuode Aba by suspected kidnappers, “Policemen from Osisioma division stormed the hide-out and engaged the hoodlums in a shoutout”.

    He said, “Dr Chiemela was rescued unhurt while the hoodlums escaped but abandoned some of their weapons, the victim said that he was abducted at Greenland Hospital, Abayi, Aba and taken away in his Lexus 330 SUV with the registration number ABA 275 TG”.

    “We later arrested two suspects at different locations in Osisioma who gave their names as Friday Kalu and Okafor Okechi Ogbaa Ogbonna, while one AK47 rifle with 4 rounds of live ammunition, three locally made pistols, three different vehicle number plates and one Honda Accord with registration number BX 585 PHC were recovered from them”.

    Ezike who described the parading of the suspects as harvest of criminal suspects said that a team of the Inspector General of Police intelligence response team in collaboration of Aba police station arrested five suspected armed robbers at various locations in Aba.

    He said that the suspects through their confession made it clear that they have been unleashing mayhem to law abiding citizens in Aba area and their names are Ekeoma Kingsley aka Shilo from Alayi in Bende council area, Ama Agha from Afikpo, Uchenna Egbuta aka Awusa from Ohafia, Ikenna Ndukwe aka Obstacle from Obinikita and Ukachukwu Franklin aka Uzor from Nnewi.

    The CP equally paraded 18 suspected operators of illegal cooperative societies, financial institutions and fraud, the suspects are 16 female and 2 males and their arrest came as a reports from members of the public especially around Aba area.

    He said that the victims complained about unscrupulous activities of some groups and individuals who masquerade as empowerment companies, church cooperative groups, poverty alleviation units, wonder financial institutions.

    Ezike said that he set up an investigation panel to aggregate the complaints, investigate same and determine the scale of the suspected fraud and unmask those behind them.

    He said, “The panel noticed that there were 22 groups with 6,728 complaints with N91.182 million have been taken from the victims, but we have recovered the sum of N7.933 million from the suspects”.

    The CP promised to bring crime to its lowest point in the state and assured the people that will be coming home for Christmas of their safety and those of their belongings.

  • Alunmi to rebuild Aggrey Memorial College

    Old students of Aggrey Memorial College, Arochukwu, Abia State, have set aside December 28 and 29 as special days for the redemption of their alma mater.

    There are strong indications that the two days promise to be remarkable in the history of the foremost post-primary school founded 86 years ago.

    The days have been set aside by the alumni association of the college for activities geared towards raising funds to rebuild the college, and restore its lost glory.

    Already, elaborate arrangements are in top gear to accomplish the activities lined up for what the leadership of the association described as a grand re-union of its old boys and girls, from all over the world.

    Part of it is a novelty football match slated for December 28 between the male and female old students of the college, road show, lecture, awards presentation and gala nite, which will culminate in fund raising. All facets of the event, it was learnt, are being tidied up.

    President of the alumni association, Mazi Emma Okoro Egbukwu, said: “The homecoming of old students of Aggrey Memorial College promises to be colourful, the planning of which had been entrusted to diligent old students who understand the enormity of the task. So far, I am impressed with the planning, as well as the feelers we are getting. In fact, the event will be both colourful and successful.

    “The committees have been working hard in the last six months planning the event. We are all involved because we have challenged ourselves to raise funds to rebuild the college that built us up.”

    Indeed while it is expected that several of the old students of the college would  fly in from around the world for the occasion, Egbukwu said important personalities in Nigeria who value quality education are being invited to join hands to resuscitate the decrepit infrastructure of the college.

    Aggrey Memorial College, Arochukwu is the first post-primary educational institution in Nigeria established by an individual. It was founded by the late Dr Alvan Ikoku in 1932, and named after a renowned Ghanaian educator, Dr James Kwegair Aggrey. It ranked along with Dennis Memorial Grammar School (DMGS), Onitsha; Hope Waddell Training Institute, Calabar, and Kings College, Lagos.

    In its heydays, the college also admitted students from Ghana, Sierra Leone and Cameroon.

    But following the takeover of schools by the government, the college suffered neglect, resulting in systemic deterioration of its infrastructure.

    Today the college is a shadow of its former self, a large swathe of its space having been acquired by the Abia State College of Education, Arochukwu (ASCETA), leaving Aggrey Memorial College without good classrooms; boarding facilities for its students and, least of all offices for the teachers.

    Yet the institution has trained a host of prominent personalities including the late Mazi S. G. Ikoku, Dr K. O. Mbadiwe, and sports prodigy, John Onyeador, the first post-independence  captain of  the national football team, the then Green Eagles, among others who have distinguished themselves in different spheres of life.

    Egbukwu is nonetheless optimistic that the institution will bounce back, given the overall agenda of the alumni association, which is to first re-build the institution before liaising with the appropriate government agencies to re-tool the teaching staff.

  • Enugu community to Senate: we’ve not had electricity for one year

    Residents of Owerre Umabor community, Eha-Alumonah, in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State have sought the urgent intervention of the Senate over a one-year power outage in the area.

    They presented the matter during an engagement between the Senate Committee on power, steel development and metallurgy and the power consumers as part of their 2018 oversight visit.

    Comrade Emmanuel Ugwueze, who spoke on behalf of the community, said despite entreaties and presentations to the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) for over one year, there was no hope in sight.

    “The transformer servicing our community had issues. After about six months of power outage, they came and removed it for repairs. Four months have also elapsed since then, but nothing has been heard from them.

    “We are appealing to the Senate to prevail on the EEDC to do the needful because businesses have been crippled in our community for this past one year,” he lamented.

    Chairman of the committee, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who led other Senators to the event, had told the power consumers that they were in Enugu to have the pulse of the people on the activities of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC.

    He said whereas there were some opinion that the licenses of the discos should be reviewed, the Senate was of the opinion that there areas of challenges should be identified and recommendations made for a way out.

    He, was, however, quick to add that the Senate was not comfortable with estimated billing system.

    “We want to bring an end to estimated billing. We believe that Nigerians deserve a better deal. If you are doing estimated billing, there is also a scientific way worked out by the National Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC.

    “So, in all, we need to know how the discos are doing after buying the 60 percent and leaving all of us with 40 percent. Those of us who own the 40 percent need to know what they have done so far,” he stressed.

    Responding to further complaints by different communities, which bordered on over-billing, the Senate urged the EEDC to engage community leader into working out an acceptable modality before installing the bulk-metering system.

    Also speaking, the Deputy Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Donatus Uzogbado said the House had issues with the EEDC last year, but that there were presently impressed with the progress being made by the company in addressing the nagging issues.

    Meanwhile, Mr. Paul Okeke, Deputy Managing Director, of the EEDC, who led the EEDC team at the event, said the company was making steady progress, assuring it would address all the issues raised.

  • Item culture resonates in Lagos

    Only the physical location of the ceremony would tell a guest that he was not in one of the village squares in Item, Abia State, Nigeria and that he was not witnessing one of the important cultural festivals in the ancient kingdom. The songs were real and the dancing steps could not be faulted by anyone. Also, the cultural make-up of the men with traditional war caps or chieftaincy caps with fancy walking sticks to match, fully dressed women in ceremonial double wrapper paraphernalia and the gaily dressed children would literally transform anyone to the ancient kingdom, notwithstanding the almost a thousand kilometers difference in location.  This is even so, given that the paramount traditional ruler of Item Kingdom, HRM, Eze Silas Okeofia Igwe, the Okpi of Item, is present live with most of the traditional High Chiefs and top palace officials.

    So, as the traditional Item War Dance ‘warriors take the stage, causing both pandemonium and joy for the children, men and women, it became obvious that for Item indigenes in the crowd, the anniversary in faraway Lagos offers a romantic return home, at least in the subconscious.

    But this is not really home in Item; this is Lagos, where the community leaders and residents have gathered to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Item Union, Lagos.

    From the planning stage, the organisers envisioned a grand event and that was how it turned out to be, that Saturday, November 10, 2018.

    Before the anniversary day, the President-General of Item Union Lagos, Chief Onwuka Orji, told The Nation that the unifying effects of ethnic nationalities in national unity will be the focus of the formal discourse at the event.

    As a result, the role of the Keynote Speaker at the event, with the theme, “The unifying effects of Ethnic Organisations in National Unity: The Case of Item Union in Lagos was assigned to Chief Emeka Anyaoku, the former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.

    Also, important Igbo and Nigerian leaders were invited to grace the occasion. The promotional materials, for example listed Ochiagha Ochimba, Aka ji Ofo Ndi Igbo; Commodore Okoh Ebitu Ukiwe (retired), who served as the Chief of General Staff (Vice President of Nigeria) from 1985-1986 as the chairman of the event. Other distinguished personalities scheduled to grace the occasion included Senator Ike Nwachukwu, penciled to serve as the Father of the Day; Special Guest of Honour, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, the President-General of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo; the host, Prof. Joe Irukwu, a former President-General of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo and of course HRM, Eze Silas Okeofia Igwe, the Okpi of Item.

    Okpi meets Item indigenes in Lagos

    In order to meet with Item indigenes in Lagos before the anniversary, HRM Eze Silas Okofia Igwe JP (the Okpi of Item), arrived Lagos before the anniversary date. The Nation gathered that he met with some Item sons and daughters to who he offered some fatherly pieces of advice. One of the places he visited was Soulmate Industries Limited.

    Royal visit to Soulmate Industries Ltd

    The day before the Item Union Lagos’ 75th anniversary event, the overall traditional ruler of Item Kingdom, HRM Eze Silas Okofia Igwe JP (the Okpi of Item), took time off to pay a special visit to the corporate headquarters of Soulmate Industries Ltd, makers of Soulmate range of cosmetics products, founded by one of the prominent Item sons, Chief Ndukwe Osogho Ajala (OON).

    As would be expected, the royal personage did not undertake the visit alone. He went with some prominent Item chiefs, elders and other distinguished personalities. They include Prince Ichie Okenwa (the Omewu of Item and the traditional Prime Minister of Item); High Chief Eme Abiayi (the Ikeoha Item); Chief Mrs. Caro Abiayi (his wife); Chief (Mrs.) Patience Okoronkwo (a staff of National Open University); Prince Charles Igwe (Okpi’s traditional Prime Minister); Sir Onwuka Orji (the President of Item Union Lagos); Chief Maduka Abraham (the Vice President of Item Union Lagos); Prince Emmanuel Eze (the Treasurer of Item Union Lagos) and Chief Chidi Ogboku.

    Welcoming the royal personages, Chief Ndukwe Osogho Ajala gave a historical brief of the company. Osogho-Ajala, who studied Industrial Chemistry at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) and has today become the first graduate of the institution to sit on the University’s Governing Board, held the guests spellbound when he recalled how he started Soulmate in 1992 with just a frying pan in his kitchen.

    He then showed HRM the initial accounting books of entry he used when he started the company and how the company has recorded growth ever since then. The books he presented to the traditional ruler showed, amongst others, the first sales of 15pieces of goods at the onset and when the company recorded its first 1m (One million naira) turnover in October 1994.

    He expressed special appreciation to his bosom friend, Mr. U.K Eke, who he said “was so helpful when the company just started.”

    In his speech, the President of Item Union Lagos, Sir Onwuka Orji, thanked God for the traditional ruler’s safe arrival the previous day, explaining that His Majesty was in Lagos to visit his subjects residing there and to grace the Item Union Lagos’ 75th anniversary. He described the Okpi as “zealous and passionate over the wellbeing of the people of the entire community of Item Kingdom, no matter where they reside.”

    On the special visit to Soulmate, Onwuka said the entire Executive Council of Item Union, Lagos was well represented, adding that Item Union Lagos was particularly glad to visit Soulmate Industries Limited.

    Declaring that he was overwhelmed by the unique history of Soulmate Industries Limited, he described its emergence and growth chart as ‘hallmark to greatness.’ Celebrating the Founder and MD/CEO of the company, Sir Ndukwe Osogho Ajala, he said “Item nation is very proud” of him.

    In his speech, HRM the Okpi of Item expressed satisfaction in what he saw at Soulmate Industries Limited. He thanked God for the MD/CEO and the company, praising Chief Ndukwe Osogho Ajala in particular for being meticulous enough to keep all the details of how he started the company. Okpi also advised the MD/CEO to continue to keep his hands straight and to take good care of his employees, adding that the good Lord will continue to prosper him.

    Commending him for all the community development efforts he has been associated with at home, the Okpi advised the MD that while reaching out to the immediate communities in which he is doing his business, he should never stop to look towards the East, his home land, to create employment for the teeming unemployed indigenes, especially in Item kingdom.

    Before the end of the visit, Chief Osogho Ajala took the Okpi and all the other guests round the factory and the entire complex.

    Soulmate Industries Limited, which started in very humble ways, has today become a household name.  Its products are visible all over Nigeria and the Ecowas countries. It is on record that the company has developed, researched on and formulated over sixteen (16) successful products as at today.

  • ‘Interest in job skills growing in Anambra’

    The Chairman, Anambra State Local Government Service commission, Dr Peter Egenti has expressed satisfaction over the increasing interest of workers in the state towards entrepreneurial development.

    He said the introduction of skill acquisition programme across the local council areas in the state was to equip the workers with skills for life after service and to reposition the local government system for efficient service delivery.

    Speaking in Awka during the monthly productivity display by Anambra West, Ogbaru and Onitsha North area councils, Egenti noted that the campaign was not only unlocking the potential in the system, but stimulating workers’ interest towards higher productivity.

    “We’re happy the campaign has affected workers’ attitude to duty, equipped them with skills for life after service as well as brought an increase in the State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR),” he said.

    He disclosed the commission’s plans to institutionalise quality control units across the twenty-one local government areas of the state.

    According to him, the control units were targeted at maintaining standard and ensure market acceptability in the entrepreneurship scheme of the council areas.

    Regretting the prevalent cases of truancy and absenteeism among the workers, Egenti insisted that ghosting would not be tolerated by his administration, urging them to sit up to their responsibilities.

    “We’re not happy when we come and see the local government deserted. You can’t boast of being productive when you don’t come to work,” he posited.

    He urged local government administrators to put in place measures to effectively monitor movement, activities and performance of workers to ensure key objectives of the programme were achieved.

    “You as the key officers are our representatives and can only give us up to date reports of what is happening at your various council areas when you are at your duty posts,” he said.

    Presenting the council’s productivity charters, the Head of Administration, Anambra West Council, Jeff Moudeme, said the council has gone into various ventures including rice, yam, snail farming and production of local gin.

    His counterpart in Ogbaru area council, Christian Ugwumadu, said the scheme provided opportunity for cross fertilisation of ideas to effectively harness the huge agricultural potential in the area.

    On his part, the Head of Administration, Onitsha North, Emmanuel Okoro, disclosed the commissioning of a skill acquisition centre by the council at Imeobi Umuezearoli.

    “The Council is also partnering a private firm in training youths and staff of the council in tailoring,” he said.

    Highlights of the event was the exhibition of various items, including car wash detergent, hair shampoo, scrubbing powder, body cream, fish, yam, tablet soap, custard powder, beaded slippers, air refreshner, among other items.

  • Anxiety as police protest poor accommodation in Imo

    Policemen in Imo State sent out of their homes demonstrate against non-provision of alternative accommodation. There is concern that the development may undermine security during the festive season, OKODILI NDIDI reports

    The stench of excreta mixed with sweat and endless streams of smoke coming from charcoal burners and cigarettes hung thickly in the air. From a narrow pathway connecting some makeshift houses a handful of underfed children came running in every direction.

    Not too far from a dingy restaurant built with disused zinc, no fewer than 10 men of varying ages sat round a gigantic table carrying bottles of various shapes and contents while a thickset lady in her early 50s served them.

    They chatted at the top of their voices, each trying to outshout the other in their argument, quite oblivious of their surroundings. Once in a while, a shrill cry of a baby pierced through the cacophony of noises.

    At another end, shoe cobblers and food vendors jostled for space as they meandered from one narrow path to the other, dodging soak-away pits partially covered with equally rotten planks.

    At the entrance, one is greeted by the sight of washed clothes hanging precariously on every available space, including low-hanging electric cables.

    Welcome to a typical police barracks in Imo State. Apart from the poor condition of the barracks, the accommodation is not enough for the Police officers serving in the state, prompting some of them to look for alternative housing outside the barracks.

    Piqued by the development, operatives from the counter terrorism unit of the Imo State Police Command took to the streets to protest the anomaly.

    For two days, the hooded police officers barricaded the Owerri/Orlu road in Owerri, the Imo State capital resulting in heavy gridlock and panic in the area.

    Shooting sporadically into the air, the demonstrators who hid their identities also set bonfires on the highway.

    Narrating their ordeal to newsmen, one of the protesting officers said, “We have been pushed out of our quarters on Orlu Road by the management of Federal Medical Centre Owerri. To make things worse, our commander supported the act and no alternative place has been provided for us.

    “We moved into this place in 2015 after our quarters in Nekede were marked for renovation. But this base 7 of CTU of Nigeria Police Force started operation in this state in 2011. We have done more than enough to ensure safety and security in this state. This is not the best way to treat us considering the kind of work we are doing in this state”.

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    Speaking further, the officer said, “As we demonstrate, our families are stranded. Bulldozers are destroying the quarters. Our property, documents, credentials and other personal belonging are outside.

    “We demand better treatment. We are human beings working for the betterment of this country. We should be treated like human beings not like animals”

    When contacted, the State Command Public Relations Officer, Orlando Ikokwu, told our correspondent that alternative quarters have been provided for the protesting policemen.

    The command spokesperson said that the state commissioner of Police, Dasuki Galadanchi had instructed the CTU commander to ensure that his subordinates settled in the new quarters as quickly as possible.

    Ikokwu said that the protesting cops failed to understand that the quarters where they were ejected from were not supposed to be their permanent quarters.

    He said that the protest would not deter the command from fighting crimes and making the yuletide period a crime-free one.

    Police welfare is a constant issue of discourse, with concerns that the law enforcement agents cannot give their best in face of glaring welfare deficits. They are poorly kitted, and are also said to be outgunned by some felons they are expected to go after. Remuneration is equally a concern.

    In July policemen in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital and epicentre of the Boko Haram insurgency, took to the streets shooting into the air and chanting war songs in protest of what they called six months unpaid allowances. Some of the protesters wore hoods to mask their faces. Some did not bother to conceal their identities. The protest was filmed and widely circulated especially on social media.

    However, police authorities in Abuja denied that the protest took place, saying the policemen seen on the streets went to the command headquarters to find out why their allowances were being delayed.

  • Buhari hailed as Zik’s mausoleum ready, decades after

    The Muhammadu Buhari administration has recorded another giant landmark following the completion of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Mausoleum in Onitsha, Anambra State. The project, initiated by the federal government 22 years ago, was awarded by the late Sani Abacha regime shortly after the death of the Owelle of Onitsha and the first president of Nigeria.

    The project was targeted at honouring the first Premier of Eastern Nigeria and founder of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), in recognition of his immense contributions to national development and the country’s independence.

    Located at the heart of the commercial city and the country home of the late elder statesman, the mausoleum, regrettably, had suffered series of neglect and abandonment by previous administrations.

    It also underwent various reviews of the contract sum until it was taken over by the Buhari administration to see to its completion.

    Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, had during his visit to the state in May, expressed dissatisfaction over the slow pace of work on the project.

    The minister asked the contractor to ensure the completion of the project before the end of October, threatening to revoke the contract if the contractor failed to deliver on schedule.

    The chairman, Anambra State Traditional Rulers’ Council and Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe had during the minister’s visit, described as an embarrassment the delay in the completion of the project after decades. He called for the speedy completion of the mausoleum.

    The project has finally come to completion, 22 years after it was initiated. The mausoleum is ready for commissioning.

    Bouygues Construction Nigeria Limited (BNL), the firm handling the project, assured that work has been completed on the project and that it was ready for handover.

    Speaking to The Nation, the Project Manager of the firm, John Ameh, said the project was actually completed towards the end of September.

    “We met the minister’s deadline of October ending, but because the client has not taken over, we cannot just lock up the place and leave for security reasons.

    “We wrote on October 11, notifying them to come and take over the project. They are likely to visit this week,” he said.

    Ameh described the Mausoleum as a “land mark project” for the people of Southeast and the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He said, “it is a project that has spanned so many administrations before it was awarded to BNL in 2014 while work started in 2015.

    “This administration was courageous enough to take it to completion and should be commended.”

    Also speaking, the site engineer, Mr Paul Odigie, said the mausoleum is made up of the main building, administrative block and a residential house.

    “We took over this project in 2013 as the last contractor. We were not the first, nor the second. I believe the work started twenty years ago.

    “Actually, we’re through with the project. We’re just waiting for the commissioning which will take place any moment from now,” he said.

    The building is uniquely positioned to serve as a tourist site as the structure has a central tower.

    There is jubilation and excitement among residents and visitors alike to the commercial city of the state as the mausoleum is now wearing a new look with assorted paintings and art works waiting its formal commissioning.

    Residents, particularly indigenes of the town have continued to express appreciation to the federal government for completing the mausoleum.

    They commended President Muhammadu Buhari for honouring Dr. Azikiwe who championed Nigeria’s independence and ensured the unity of the country all his life before his demise in 1996.

    A prominent indigene of Onitsha, Chinyelugo Osita Anionwu captures the ecstatic outlook and general environment of the project.

    He said, “The man Zik was a legend. That’s why he wanted a monument that will outlive him. We are happy we have a place where the remains of the first Premier of Nigeria rest. It is a hallowed place and mark of nobility.”

    Another resident, Mr Sylvester Anyigbo expressed happiness with the completion of the monument after several delays.

    “The idea of the place is to serve as a place where the younger generation will learn about personalities who worked for this country.

    “I’m happy this job is finally completed but I’ll be happier if the government is making full use of it,” he said.

    A political analyst, Okey Paul, described the project as politically motivated, saying its speedy completion may not be unconnected with the forthcoming 2019 general elections.

    He however said it was important the structure became a reality after all.

    There is no gainsaying the fact that the state-of-the-art edifice, would remain one of the numerous legacies the Buhari-led administration the people of the southeast would not forget in a hurry even after the elapse of the government.

  • Commuters bemoan disrepair of Owerrenta Bridge

    Commuters on the Aba-Owerri Expressway have raised the alarm over the disrepair of the famous Owerrenta Bridge. The bridge connects Imo and Abia states.

    Some of the road users and drivers, who spoke to our reporter on the fate of the 50-year-old bridge, said the Federal Ministry of Works should carry out major repairs on the facility following recent vibrations noticed on it.

    The respondents lamented that the bridge had not been maintained for over 30 years, adding that if nothing urgent was done to address the vibrations it might collapse into the Imo River.

    The commuters also called on the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and the Owerrenta Naval School of Finance and Logistics to consider relocating their personnel out of the bridge which they use as a checkpoint.

    Mr. Frank Okpe said, “The Owerrenta Bridge was built immediately after the Nigeria-Biafra Civil war and since that time, I can’t remember the time we saw any person or engineers working on this bridge. This bridge is as important to us in the East and Aba in particular as other bridges in the country are to their respective states and areas. The number of vehicles crossing this bridge to bring in goods from other parts of the country to Aba is uncountable.

    “It calls for frequent repairs on the bridge because if the bridge collapses, all the trucks moving in goods from Onitsha and Lagos will no longer be able to bring in goods into Aba. And some of the people from Owerri and other parts of the country who go to Aba to buy one or two items may not be able to do so.

    “The economic importance of this bridge to the southeast cannot be overemphasised and it must be addressed urgently by the respective ministry and authority.”

    Another regular road of Owerri-Aba Expressway simply identified as Madu Ofor said “FRSC and Navy people should tell their people to relocate out of the bridge. Stopping and searching cars on the bridge in its present state is not the best. We are sounding this note of warning before something dangerous happens and government shouldn’t allow the blood of its citizens to be spilled on the bridge before something urgent would be done.

    “We are only asking them to come and carry thorough assessment on the bridge and repair the places that should be repaired. We are not asking them to come and build a fresh one. Carrying out routine maintenance on the bridge is not only cheap, but will also save the lives of innocent and hardworking citizens from being wasted when it can be secured.

    “This is festive period where so many goods and services have started coming into the city of Aba and many people visiting the state for one economic activity or the other. The Owerrenta Bridge is as important to us as other roads in the Southeast are to other Southeast states, but I think that priority should be accorded to the bridge because of its economic importance to the people of the zone.”