The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southeast report

  • Widow gets bungalow after losing mud house to rain

    Succour came the way of a homeless widow in Ubogidi Ozalla community in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State when she was presented with a new bungalow in place of her mud house. The gesture was extended to her by a philanthropist and Igwe-elect of the community, Chief Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu. The bungalow was built within 18 days.

    The Igwe elect embarked on the project when it came to his knowledge that part of the widow’s mud house collapsed and almost killed her after a heavy rainfall the previous night.

    At the presentation of the new house to the widow, the Igwe elect said he returned from the United Kingdom and was informed of how the widow’s mud house collapsed in the night and almost killed her.

    “I placed a call immediately across to my family in the United Kingdom and informed them of the ugly incident in my community. My parents, wife and children told me to erect a bungalow for the widow Mrs Chinyere Odobe without hesitation as nobody can tell what would be her fate if she continues to stay in the mud house.

    The next day I mobilised workers and moved to site. The workers were at work day and night and completed the project within 18 days.

    This brief and solemn ceremony of commissioning and handover of the building to the widow was to give God the glory for making it possible for the widow to live in a modern house in her life time.

    “I have houses in Nigeria and United Kingdom while someone nearly died for lack of good house in my community. God provided for me and I have to use it to serve humanity in any little way my resources can carry.

    “God used me to build a house for the widow but she has no pots, bed to lay her head with her children and can hardly afford a meal in a day as she survives with her children on menial jobs and serving masons at building sites. I am appealing to good-spirited individuals, philantropists, donor agencies, churches, non-governmental organisations, local and state governments to come to the aid of the widow in providing some of her basic needs so that she can eke out means of livelihood to be alive.

    “I am happy to God that I have the means to build the house for the widow. I call on other people to assist the widow in any little way to make a living. No matter anywhere one may have travelled to in the world, East or West home is the best.”

    He urged youths of the community to shun all forms of criminal activities and avoid consumption of illicit drinks, hard drugs among others and believe in hard work, adding that he was born and bred in Ozalla/Ugbogidi and knows what poverty is in the community before travelling abroad for greener pastures.

    One Mr. Charles Ideyi who witnessed the presentation and after listening to the life story of the widow with five children offered to provide bed and mattress for the widow while the former majority leader of Nsukka legislative council Hon. Ozo Okomai also offered to provide beddings to enable the widow move in to the new building.

    The widow Mrs Chinyere Odobe with tears of joy said: “I never believed to be alive and live in a cemented house of this nature called my own. I lost my husband several years ago and ever since then I and my children have been living from hand to mouth.

    The worst was that part of the mud house which is the only thing my late husband left collapsed and almost killed me at night under heavy rainfall; I managed to escape and ran to Igwe-elect Samuel Asadu (Okenwa Ogadagidi) in tears and he offred to wipe out my tears.

    “I and my son Obi Odobe serve masons at building sites to eat and return home to rest in the squalor which is our only inheritance.

    People do give us food items at times; we use firewood to cook whenever we see what to cook. Life has been miserable on us since the death of my husband. I have five children; some have been taken away to the city. Obi has been the only source of our feeding. God will always protect and guide Ogadagidi for the love he has shown to me and my children, sheltered a widow and provided food and drinks for the opening of a new building for me. I am crying because I never knew that I can live in a magnificent building till I die.”

    Commissioning the building while dedicating it to God, the administrator Nsukka West development centre Mr. Chinedu Aniche asked God to end poverty in the family because the bible says don’t treat a widow bad because if she cries unto me (God) I will hear.

    Dignitaries that witnessed the commissioning, dedication and handover of the building include five catholic priests, three Anglican clerics, deputy chairman Nsukka Local Government Area Hon. Cosmo Agbo who promised to laise with the executive chairman of the council Chief Patrick Omeje to assist the widow and traditional ruler of Ozzi Edem Igwe Asogwa with members of his cabinet while women and children of the community sang and danced to the glory of God.

  • Senator Orji, Ikpeazu visit oil explosion sites, as monarch blames NNPC

    The senator representing Abia central senatorial district, Senator Theodore Orji has visited the two communities devastated by oil pipeline explosions in Abia State.

    So have the state governor Okezie Ikpeazu and his wife Nkechi.

    The two communities are Umuimo and Umuaduru in Osisioma council area of the state.

    Death toll of the explosions has risen to 150. Houses and economic crops were also destroyed in the resulting inferno.

    The senator, who was briefed by the traditional ruler of the area, HRH Eze Ikechukwu Chiavoilaefu, said the explosion had a devastating effect on the affected communities.

    Eze Chiavoilaefu said that over 150 people lost their lives, as 70 bodies were evacuated from Umuodara while 80 were taken to the mortuary by several ambulances from Umuimo, another site of the incident.

    The traditional ruler blamed the incident on the inability of the staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to respond to distress calls made to them when the people noticed leakages from their pipelines.

    He said that when the people noticed the leakages they made every effort to get the management of the NNPC to come and repair the damaged pipelines.

    “But to our chagrin they never showed up till the incident happened,” he said.

    Speaking with newsmen after inspecting the sites and visiting the survivors of the pipeline explosion, Senator Orji regretted the inability of the management of NNPC to do the needful on the pipeline which led to the ugly incident.

    Orji said, “If the management of NNPC had heeded the calls of the people from the area to come and repair the leaking pipeline, those who lost their lives and those who have been rendered homeless will not be in the situation they have found themselves now”.

    The senator warned that what happened should be a lesson to people who are living along or near oil pipelines, saying that they should be vigilant at all times and warn those in authority to come and repair their pipelines when there are leakages.

    Orji noted that there is hunger in the land which may have called for people to go for the easy money by trying to scoop petroleum products.

    “There is hunger in the land and even if you post a battalion of soldiers there they will not stop the people from coming to scoop petroleum products from the leaking pipeline.”

    He also blamed the security agents who were alleged by the people from the community to be collecting as much as N1000 from people to allow them to go and scoop the petroleum products from the leaking pipelines.

    The former governor of the state promised to raise the issue at the floor of the senate so that the federal government will come to the aid of the victims and their families, “as many of them have lost their homes, economic crops and means of livelihood”.

    The senator later donated cash to some of the victims currently receiving treatment in various hospitals in Aba and Osisioma, while he also called for immediate supply of medics to the area to avoid outbreak of diseases.

    Earlier, the council chairman of Osisioma council area, Iheyinna Mgbeahuru also blamed the NNPC for the disaster, saying that when the leakages were noticed, “We called the management of NNPC severally for a meeting which they never responded to till today”.

    Mgbeahuru said that the oil pipeline leakages has affected their crops, farmlands and sources of water as all their boreholes have been affected to the extent that they have to buy water from outside their community to drink and do other domestic things.

    He thanked the former governor for showing concern over the plight of members of his senatorial district, “You not only came personally, but made efforts to visit all the sites and those affected which shows that our people mean a lot to you”.

    Governor Ikpeazu also came calling to see things for himself as he visited Umuaduru and Umuimo villages in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area after the pipeline explosion.

    The governor directed the Commissioner for Petroleum Resources, Chizurum Kanu to immediately inaugurate a commission of inquiry to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the pipeline explosion that affected two communities and led to loss of lives.

    He also directed the Commissioner for Heath, Dr John Ahukannah and Chairman of Osisioma LGA, Mgbeahuru, to visit the surviving victims of the explosion at the various hospitals and ensure that government provided them with adequate medicare as well as pay their medical bills.

    Ikpeazu who cried during the visit described the incident as disheartening and unfortunate and commiserated with the families of those who lost their lives as a result of the pipeline explosion and prayed God to give them the fortitude to bear the loss.

    The next person to call on the pipeline explosion sites was the wife of the governor, Mrs Ikpeazu who also visited victims of the inferno at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH) in Aba.

    The wife of the governor shed tears while sympathising with the surviving victims at the teaching hospital

    Mrs. Ikpeazu paid for the treatment of the victims at the hospital and took time to pray for them and she also used the opportunity to pay for the treatment of a 10-year-old boy whose body was burnt by a high tension cable.

     

  • Border crises: soldiers move in on motorbikes

    Neither words nor police presence have stemmed the blood-flow nor stopped the destruction in feuding border communities across the country. But now, there is a new idea: drafting soldiers on motorcycles into difficult-reach border towns where conflicts are intractable.

    Neighbouring communities on both sides of the Ebonyi and Cross River border have frequently been at loggerheads, resulting in deaths and extensive destruction of property.

    The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen Tukur Buratai has commissioned  the first set of combat motorcycles to help troops deployed for internal security duties at warring border communities in both states to effectively access all the nooks and cranny of the troubled areas with the aim of containing the clashes.

    There has been a resurgence of boundary conflicts between Ukelle village in Cross River State and Izzi communities in Ebonyi which resulted in the disruption of economic and social activities as well as loss of life and property.

    The nature of the terrain especially during the rainy season has made it difficult for security agencies to effectively patrol the areas.

    To alleviate this problem and enhance operational effectiveness of troops in the areas, the COAS authorised the injection of combat motorbikes to enhance troops’ mobility and access to the difficult areas.

    In a brief ceremony at Ipollo-Ntagom Security Outpost, the bikes were handed over to the soldiers by the General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Major General Emmanuel Boman Kabuk who represented the COAS.

    The Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State Eric Kelechi Igwe represented Governor Dave Umahi, while the commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Honourable John Ulafor represented Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade.

    In their separate remarks at the event, both governors through their representatives, commended the COAS for the laudable initiative and commitment to ensuring lasting peace and security between the border areas of Cross River and Ebonyi states.

    “Never in the history of our states have we seen such zeal and uncommon commitment to ensuring peace and security in our states like what the COAS has done, this gesture is complimentary to the efforts of Cross River and Ebonyi states and we thank General Buratai for that,” Dr Kelechi Igwe stated.

    Others who graced the occasion include the Secretary to the State Government of Ebonyi State, Chairman, Izzi Local Government Area, traditional rulers and elders of the affected communities.

    Igbeagu community  in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State and their neighbouring Ukele, in Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State have been at war over boundary matters with over 20 persons killed and properties worth millions of naira destroyed.

    Governors Umahi and Ayade recently met in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, to find lasting solution to the lingering crisis after various peace meetings held to usher in peace to the troubled communities failed.

    Schools, hospitals, churches and markets have remained closed in the communities following the crisis while troops were deployed to the areas to prevent further breakdown of law and order.

    The motorcycles painted in Army colours with military plate numbers were procured by Buratai.

    Speaking while inaugurating the motorcycles at Ipolo,  the Chief of Army  saff, explained that the motorcycles would enable the military personnel get to the hintherlands to foil attacks and maintain peace

    He said the Nigerian Army has consistently intervened in the crisis,  but appealed to the warring communities to embrace peace since development can only take place in atmosphere of peace and tranquility.

    The Army Chief sounded a note of warning to the people of the area to be peaceful warning that the Military will not hesitate to deal decisively with anyone found to be disturbing the peace.

    Represented by the General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Kabuk, Gen Buratai alleged that troops posted to the two communities have been severally attacked in their peace keeping operations and warned against their further attacks.

    He said: “On several occasions, troops have been attacked by members of these two communities for coming to keep the peace amongst them. You are the people that the soldiers have come here to protect; there is no reason why the soldiers should become your enemies. The soldiers do not belong to Cross River or Ebonyi State, they belong to the Nigerian Army.

    “All they are here to do is to make sure that you live in peace. I want to urge you to see these soldiers and indeed other security agents within the communities as your brothers, as your friends. You should assist them so that they can achieve their missions among you and their mission is nothing other than keeping the peace.

    “I want to quickly say that our soldiers will decisively and professionally protect themselves when attacked or ambushed by anyone because we didn’t send any soldier to come here to sacrifice his own life, it is for peace to reign. So, I want to state very clearly that you help the soldiers to keep the peace.

    “I made it clear to my officers and soldiers the need for them to remain professional and responsive in the discharge of their constitutional role. It is the driving force for all of us in the Nigerian army in achieving our set objectives wherever we find ourselves,” he said.

    He disclosed that the military is currently on internal security operations in about 28 states in the country.

    “The Nigeria army is currently employed for internal security operations in about 28 states of the country. In the North-East of Nigeria, troops of the Nigerian Army are battling the Boko Haram terrorist in that region. In the North-West and in the Middle-Belt, we have the Herdsmen and the cattle rustling menace that is also happening in those zones of the country. In the South-East, we have our troops deployed for internal security duties to keep peace.

    “In Ebonyi and Cross River States, one of the challenges being faced by our troops is that of the communal clashes and the particular one that has brought us here is the conflict between the Izzi and the Ukele communities and this conflict dates back to April, 2005 and when this conflict came up, men of the Nigerian Army were deployed since that year to ensure that the communities live in peace.”

     

  • We still exist, says Abia NIPOST

    The Abia State chapter of NIPOST has joined the postal world to celebrate this year’s World Post Day.

    The NIPOST in the state also used the day to move round the city capital in a motorcade to alert people that post offices still exist and are working in the state while asking people to use them to send parcels, money transfer and stamp duty and other services which they are known for.

    The Director General (DG) of Universal Postal Union (UPU), Bishar Hussein in his address said that more than 600,000 postal outlets are being used by private and businesses to send letters, parcels and remittances as well as conduct financial transactions and other services even to the remotest places.

    Hussein who was represent by the District Manager (DM) Umuahia NIPOST, Patrick Mgbolu said that communities all over the world including Nigeria rely on post’s unparalleled physical delivery network for its traditional services and to achieve their broad development goals.

    He noted that Posts promote social inclusion by striving to ensure that all citizens have access to its communication services, “These include people living in remote places, on isolated islands, including disaster-prone areas”.

    Hussein’s UPU with headquarters in Switzerland explained that Posts also promote financial inclusion by providing financial services to millions of unbanked individuals, as well as affordable sam secure remittance services for migrants.

    The DG said that they have been coping very well with the digital age as they have repositioned themselves to be major players in global e-commerce, among other e-apps, adding that major players in the business world choose them based on trust.

    He said, “Our one global network approach makes the post an obvious delivery partner for businesses selling online as customers choose to do business with the Post based on its track record of being trustworthy, reliable and affordable”.

    In his own speech the DM Umuahia said that because of the digital nature of the world that they have been transforming to adapt to the new system to ensure that letters, parcels and other services are delivered on time.

    Mgbolu said that their stamp process which is a new technology they have developed to match with the computer age has gone a long way to help private and businesses to collect their data through electronic system such as e-commerce among others.

    He said that they have also developed a new app which they call NIPOST Public Address Verification System, explaining that it means working with system data and will have information addressing system which cuts across all agencies, “It is like a data base for Nigeria”.

    The Abia NIPOST DM said, “With this new app we are custodians of Nigeria data base which will be opened and used through an app and can also be used by Immigration services and other accredited agencies”.

    Mgbolu said staffing challenges and logistics problems have been solved, leading to increased revenue generation. He assured residents of Umuahia district and environs to expect more robust services and better customer relationship.

  • Enugu police chief’s wife gives to motherless babies

    The wife of Enugu State commissioner of police Mrs Bilkisu Danmallam has donated several items to motherless babies in the state.

    She made the donation at the Nigerian Red Cross Society Motherless Babies home in Enugu where various items such as bags of rice, cartons of vitamin drinks, tissue papers, noodles, milk, and diapers, among others, were presented to assist in the upkeep of the babies.

    Receiving the items from Mrs Danmallam, the representative of the Matron of the Home Ms Joyce thanked the wife of the commissioner, describing the gesture as unprecedented.

    She said, “I have not seen such a wonderful and humble awesome generous person like this before.”

    It was an event that featured several police officers, including the police commissioner Danmallam Mohammed, police officers’ wives.

    The donation was part of activities marking the 48th birthday celebrations of the state police chief’s wife.

  • Hospital bills: patients seek Ikpeazu’s help

    Patients at the Aba General Hospital have asked Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to help them settle their hospital bills.

    The appeal was also extended to the governor’s wife Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu as well as any person who can help with the bills.

    One of the patients and mother of a five-month-old baby Emmanuel Joseph, Mrs. Chizoba Joseph who hails from Orlu in Imo State, but married at Isiagu in Ebonyi State, narrated her ordeal.

    She said, “God will bless the hospital management for their kindness so far. I came here on 11th of September. My son suddenly developed swollen body.

    “I brought him here for treatment and the doctors here did marvelously well even when we didn’t have anything to offer. He is well now, but I cannot afford the bill given to me, that is why I am staying here morning and night begging God to remember me and my child.

    “Our bill is N44,000 and we cannot afford it. My husband is alive. He is a welder and since then, he has been struggling and trying his best to raise the money. We heard workers are on strike, but I am begging for mercy. We have not eaten anything since morning,” she said.

    Mrs. Amaka Ukaegbu, 29, had a different story to tell.

    She said, “I came here on the 1st of August but was operated upon for child delivery on the 2nd of August. My child died and this is my first pregnancy. My husband is a Corps member and he is on his compulsory one year National Youth Service in Enugu State.

    “Before my husband left Youth Service, he dropped N20,000 with which to take care of myself after delivery. When the issue of child delivery started, I went to some midwives and they gave me hot injection which practically caused me swollen legs. I was brought here under emergency, but after treatment, there was no more money to settle the bills.

    “We only made small payment of 40,000. The country is too hard and my husband said they have not even paid them there where he is serving. I learnt they are usually paid N19,000, but I have not seen any money since. I survived the pains by the grace of God after the death of my child.

    “I don’t blame my husband because he loves me and if he had money he would have paid for it. I am begging government and anybody who has enough to please remember people like me. I am not an animal, I am human like every other person, but sickness and unfortunate situation has turned me to a living corpse. I beg people not to cast me away. I am a creature of God, but circumstances have made me a debased person.”

    Another stranded patient, Gift Monday, 16, an SS3 boy from Akwa Ibom State, said, “I stay here in Aba with my aunty. I was brought here with the case of ruptured appendix. I was told we were charged N250,000. My aunty said she has paid half of it. I just beg people of goodwill to come to my aid.

    Mrs. Mercy John, 29, said she is fed up with life.

    She said, “I am from Akpaa in Obingwa here in Abia State, but I was married in Ebonyi State. I was brought here to be delivered of a baby through operation. They did their best, but my baby actually died. I have been here since 2nd August. I was told my bill is N233,350 and we have paid close to half. My husband does handwork, but specialises more in fixing Alumaco glass.”

    When contacted, Dr. Uko Samuel, Head, Clinical Services, General Hospital Aba, said the hospital is well known for rendering services to Aba people first before asking for payment, which has been a problem as many patients who have been treated in the past go home without paying anything.

    Uko said, “John mercy was a  referral case of obstructed labour. After a successful surgery, we discharged her since the 10th of August, but she is still in the wards with balance of N110,600 to pay.

    “Baby Emmanuel Joseph is a child of five months old. He was treated of Kwashiorkor and was discharged a week ago, but he is still here with his mother.

    “There was also a case of one Miss Orji Jessica is a student. We just discharged her just few days ago, but yet to clear her bills of 35,000 naira.”

    Uko lamented that, “On several occasions, we do allow patients to go without making payments on the ones we can, but these ones their bills are too much and we are just hoping to see if they can at least pay their bills here before they go. This is a government owned hospital and the state government is doing their best to see that this place is well equipped and maintained to standard.

    “We still need some help because there is a lot to do here. This hospital is situated in the heart of the city and a lot of people are coming here immediately they hear it is government-owned hospital whether they have money or not. When they come, we cannot chase them away. Our job is to save lives and we cannot watch patients die while asking for money. We do our best to save life first.”

     

     

  • In Imo, regrets for ignoring flood warnings

    Despite repeated dire warnings of flooding, seven communities in Imo State have been submerged. Now, they regret not evacuating, reports OKODILI NDIDI

    Just as Noah’s  warning of an impending flood went unheeded by the inhabitants of the earth, the National Emergency Management Agency’s  dire forecast in seven flood-prone communities in Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta Local Government of Imo State was also ignored.

    Residents of Ossemoto, Oguta, Eziorsu, Orsuobodo, Opuowa, Mmahu and Etekwuru dismissed the timely warning. They had derided NEMA for the prediction, preferring to stay back in their ancestral communities and face whatever fate would bring their way.

    Some of them even took to appeasing the gods of the sea to prevent the sea from surging. Others argued that they have not committed any abomination to warrant the wrath of the sea.

    But today, the predictions of NEMA have painfully come to pass, the communities have been flooded after the sea overflowed its bankS.

    Homes and farmlands have been submerged. The people were not prepared despite several warnings.

    The agency had severally warned the communities to quit over unusual rise in the sea level, which it had observed.

    It predicted that farmlands in the seven communities will be submerged by the overflowing rivers in the area, noting that the Orachi River and Oguta Lake have both risen to alarming levels.

    Mr. Evans Ugoh, Head of Imo/Abia Operations Office of NEMA who led officials of the agency to assess sea level in the flood-prone communities observed then that both Oguta Lake and Orashi River have risen above normal levels and portends great threat to the communities but

    the warning was not heeded.

    He had submitted that following the persistent rise in the sea level, a possible flooding may occur.

    “You must continue to monitor the movement of the sea constantly and report to us where necessary for immediate action,” he said. “NEMA has already strategised with other disaster stakeholders on the development for immediate response in case of any emergency.

    “Prone communities must be alert and always monitor the movement of sea in their area and report same to the agency promptly for immediate action”.

    He added that the Oguta Lake,  a tributary of Orashi River has strong connection with the River Niger and has in recent times posed serious danger to  residents along the river bank.

    He said NEMA was taking serious measures to avoid a reoccurrence of the 2012 flooding, saying, “Residents in the area must be ready to quit to avoid major casualties, should there be any flooding”.

    In a similar vein, the Director General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Mr. Mustapha Maihaja had warned that movement of sea must be constantly monitored by flood prone communities.

    He said cases of unusual rise in the sea level should be immediately reported to disaster outfits for immediate action.

    Maihaja said the advice to monitor sea level became necessary, following the recent flood alert raised by Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET).

    The NEMA boss assured his readiness to strengthen the agency and disaster management to meet international standard.

    He said he has introduced new approach to disaster management, adding that disaster management should be seen as every body’s business.

    He urged government agencies to improve on the sensitization of Nigerians on the recent flood alert by NIMET.

    Meanwhile, the victims are counting their loses, for Mr. Iwueze Chibuzor, who narrated how his family of four narrowly escaped being drowned by the flood, the damage is irreversible.

    He regretted not heeding the timely warning by NEMA, adding that, “if I had known I should have relocated my family before the flood but we all thought that it was not going to happen but that fateful night, we had already gone to bed when I heard a usual sound as water gushed

    into our house through every available space and within a twinkle of an eye, the entire house was flooded.

    “I had to wake my wife and we carried our children and waded through the flooded streets, we could not take our property, so we came out with nothing and now we are starting life from the beginning. My crops were destroyed after my farm was submerged”.

    Madam Ceicilia Ikoku, a petty trader, lost all her merchandise in the flood, “if I had known, I should have left the village after we were warned that the flood was coming but part of the reason I did not leave was because I don’t have any other place to go and I was also

    wondering what will become of my farm and business if I leave my community”.

     

  • Floods: a case for the vulnerable

    As flood continues to wreak havoc in various parts of Anambra State, it has thrust to the fore the plight of the most vulnerable segment of the society: expectant mothers, nursing mothers, children and the aged.

    The pitiable conditions of these vulnerable persons are worsened by the frequent diversion of the relief materials provided for them by the government, organisations and other public-spirited individuals.

    Those in charge of the displaced persons have severally been accused of diverting the materials meant for the flood victims to their personal use.

    This ugly development might be the reason the wife of the state governor, Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano made a special case for them during a visit to some of the holding centres in the state to ascertain the general living condition of the people.

    Some of the holding centres she visited were those in Ogbaru Local Government Area Headquarters and St. Joseph Memorial Secondary School, Aguleri, Anambra East Local Government Area where the affected persons are currently taking shelter.

    Mrs Obiano, who was led round the facilities by the Transition Chairmen of the respective Local Government Areas and officials of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), underscored the place of adequate medical and food supports to pregnant women, nursing mothers and children.

    She implored the managers of the centres to give special attention to the food and medical needs of the affected persons.

    According to her, it was morally obligatory to lend a hand of solidarity to people hit by the inadvertent tragedies of nature, urging the affected persons to find fortitude in the temporariness of the siege.

    She said, “I thank you all for your efforts to safe-guard these brothers and sisters, but I am making a case for pregnant women, breast feeding mothers and children.

    “We must make sure they are fed as at the right time until the water recedes and they are able to go back home.”

    While presenting relief materials for the IDPs to the officials, the governor’s wife urged caretakers of the centres to ensure the relief materials were evenly and judiciously distributed to only the people that needed them.

    Speaking on the health conditions of the IDP centres, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Akabuike, revealed that there was no major health setback as the Ministry of Health was supplementing efforts of other agencies by ensuring adequate health provisions in the holding centres.

    Among the relief materials presented to the affected persons at the centres were mattresses, mosquito nets, packs of toilet tissues, baby diapers, cartons of tin tomatoes, detergents, soaps and beverages.

    Others items included bags of rice, bags of beans, bags of garri and bags of cooking salt, gallons of red and groundnut oil, towels, fruits, snacks, and water.

    Mrs Obiano was accompanied in the visit by the Speaker of State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Rita Maduagwu, Member Representing Orumba South at the State House of Assembly, Princess Nikky Ugochukwu, Commissioners for Basic Education, Prof Kate Omenugha and that of Agriculture, Mechanisation, Processing and Export, Mr. Afam Mbanefo, amongst others.

     

  • Innoson to deliver 29 vehicles to Army

    Nigeria’s indigenous car manufacturing company, Innoson Motors would by the end of the month deliver 29 of its vehicles to the Nigerian Army.

    This was disclosed by the founder and chairman of the company, Chief Innoson Chukwuma when a team of army personnel from the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army led by its General Officer Commander, Major General Emmanuel Kabuk paid a visit to the Nnewi plant of the company.

    Chukwuma also said that the company would be training 10 technicians of the Nigerian Army in the factory so as to prepare them to handle and effectively maintain the vehicles.

    The Innoson chief thanked the Chief of Army Staff for the patronage so far, adding that he looks forward to more effective collaboration between his company and the Nigerian Army.

    Earlier in his speech, the GOC 82 Division, Enugu who came in the company of Commander 302 Artillery Regiment Onitsha, Commanders of 82 Military Intelligence Brigade and 82 Division Provost Group as well as the Deputy Director Public Relations 82 Division said that they were at the facility demanded to know the progress done so far in the manufacturing of the 29 modern hilux vehicles ordered for by the Nigerian Army for the recently promoted AWO.

    According to Kabuk, bringing the 29 vehicles into the Army fleet was in line with the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai’s vision of enhancing professionalism and responsiveness among personnel.

    The GOC was received and conducted round by Chukwuma and some top management staff of the  motor company.

     

  • 2019: “We’ll work for APC victory in Abia”

    One of the All progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirants in the party’s  just concluded primary election in Abia State, Sir Friday Nwosu has promised to join hands with Dr. Uche Ogah, and other APC leaders to ensure the party wins the governorship and other positions in the 2019 general elections.

    In a press statement, Nwosu, who lost to Ogah in the primary, said he had congratulated the winner and urged his supporters to work for the success of all the party’s candidates in the elections.

    “As a democrat and good sportsman, I believe in the supremacy of the will of the people over personal desire or will.  I’m no longer in the race for governor, but as a party man, we are all in the race to ensure victory for APC. I respect the will of the majority as expressed in the outcome of the direct primaries. I have also congratulated the winner of the APC governorship primaries, Dr. Uche Ogah. I urge my teeming supporters to maintain their loyalty to the APC and support all the party’s candidates in the 2019 general election.

    “I urge Dr. Uche Ogah to be magnanimous in victory, unite the APC and lead the APC to win the presidential, governorship and legislative positions in Abia State. Abia must be liberated. All hands must be on deck to achieve it in 2019.”

    He pledged to hand over his governorship campaign team to Ogah to ensure that APC wins Abia, stressing that Abia must be rescued from what he described as purposeless governance in the state.

    Nwosu urged other leaders of the party to eschew bitterness and unite to defeat the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), whom he accused of inflicting suffering on the people of the state.

    “I urge APC leaders to join hands and ensure that the party wins all the positions and sack the PDP to give a new lease of life to Abia people. We must sacrifice our individual desires in the interest of the state.”