The Executive Secretary National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Mr. Femi Akingbade has promised that the health agency would be partnering with the Abia State Government in health service delivery in the state.
Akingbade who spoke in Aba during a flag-off of the Osisioma Ngwa Better Life Mutual Health Association at the Umuehilegbu Industrial Market in Aba noted that a partnership between the agency and the state government was going to consolidate health insurance projects in Abia state.
Akingbade promising that NHIS was going to partner and support the Osisioma Ngwa Better life Mutual Health Association to ensure it succeeds and flourishes added that NHIS would subsidize the programme through payment of premium contributions for all registered pregnant women and children under 5years to run for a period of three years.
NHIS Executive Secretary represented by Dr Eke Jonathan, the Acting General Manager, NHIS, Abuja office disclosed that the purpose of the scheme was to provide health insurance cover and financial risk protection to Nigerians also a step towards the attainment of the NHIS mandate of achieving 40 percent coverage and easy access to healthcare for all Nigerian citizenry by end of 2015.
.Mr. Olayiwola Lasisi, the Head, Underwriting and Client Services, United HealthCare International ltd, expressed optimism that the programme would be sustained in order to achieve the purpose of its establishment.
Lasisi who said that the people will be registered with as low as N600 per month in the scheme also stated that they have a mechanism to ensure the Health Association, adding that as part of measures to ensure that the health scheme succeeds the Board of Trustees signatories to the account would not have direct access to the funds.
Abia State Commissioner of Police, CP Joshiak Habila has solicited the cooperation and partnership of Abians in helping police and other security agencies in the state to fight crime and insecurity.
Abia Police Command Public Relations Officer, Ezekiel Onyeke speaking on behalf of the CP disclosed that the essence of the collaboration was to make Abia a crime-free state where economic and business activities thrive.
According to him, “security has gone beyond the traditional policing of yesteryear where your mind goes to the police. Security is the baby of every good citizen of this country; everybody has a role to play. Everybody is a stakeholder in the fight against crime because if we serve, we are our brothers’ keeper, we watch our brothers back, this people who are operating in our society, giving us sleepless night are human beings; they are our brothers and our relations. If we are fed up with their conduct and we give information that could lead to their being apprehended, it will save us a lot of nightmare.
“What the police is asking for is giving us timely and credible information from well-meaning Nigerians to curb the activities of criminal elements within our neighbourhood. They should not fear coming to give police information because gone are the days when police after getting information will divulge his source of information. So they should be free to call the police to give us credible information and we will act on it promptly. If it is verifiable one, we will definitely act on it but when we discovered that it is falsehood, we will forget about it.
“The problem that we have is that, people after giving police information and the police acted on it, you will see them may be out of excitement will be going about telling people that he or she was the person that gave police the information about such action or may be that he is a police informant. The satisfaction should be within self and not going about boasting of being agent of the police because that is where the problem comes from is what I have earlier said but to say that the police will go ahead to divulge information is not totally true because 95% of police today will never disclose their source of information .
Onyeke who noted that the command have achieved a lot of successes after some members of the general public started partnering with the security agency on behalf of Abia Police chief expressed hope that they would continue to enjoy the “robust relationship with members of the public” even as they promised to continue not to make the state a safe haven for criminal elements.
The PPRO also used the opportunity to disclose some of the achievements the State Command recorded in the past few months through the assistance of the general public which includes the arrest of Victor Onyenechihie and Timothy Onyenechihie brothers from Ohuru-Isimiri village in Obingwa Local Government Area of the state who were terrorizing the community where on May 18 arrested through a tip-off.
Some of the items recovered from them were a locally made revolver pistol using .9mm ammunition, iron seal of Federal Polytechnic Nekede Owerri, an official stamp of the institution’s Deputy Registrar and a military camouflage.
The Police spokesman also disclosed that detectives from Ubakala Police Station on May 20 “arrested One Ezekiel Samuel Nwoke at Amuzu Ubakala, Umuahia South Local Government Area by some vigilant community member and on alerting the police who swung into action, unregistered black Sayang motorcycle”, adding that Nwoke’s companion now at large, who feign illness and pretended to be vomiting, escaped after throwing an object into the nearby bush.
The object which was recovered was discovered The Nation learnt was an American made revolver pistol-NEF: CO INC Garderder MA model R373 No. NB 005177.
The suspect and the recovered pistol were referred to the State Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) for further investigation.
He added that the Police at Ubakala, in the same Umuahia South also recovered a tricycle suspected to have been abandoned by yet to be identified hoodlums.
According to him “the police had received information at around 1:15am that thieves were breaking into shops at Avodim Ubakala. The thieves on sighting the Police patrol team abandoned the Tricycle at Mgbarakuma Ubakala when it became obvious that the Police was closing in on them.
“The tricycle with Reg. No. ABIA, ACH 321 QA, security no. Ab/mot/umu/61/6114 was recovered by Police who are still making efforts to track down the thieves”.
Onyeke who maintained that police was working to ensure that there was peace and security in the state therefore urged members of the public to always call the police hotlines whenever they are in distress, adding that with the maximum cooperation and understanding of members of the public crime would be drastically minimised in the state.
The National Association of Oduduwa Students (NAOS) has honoured the Rector of Federal Polytechnic Oko in Anambra State, Prof. Godwin Onu. The award was in recognition of his immense contributions to the development of the education sector
The students’ body, led by its President, Adekunle Adeniyi, told our correspondent that they came to give award to the Rector of in recognition of his immense contribution to the well-being of the masses and the development of Nigeria’s education sector.
Prof. Onu received the prestigious merit award as an education icon for his outstanding contributions to the development of the institution since he assumed office in the institution located in Orumba North Local Government Area of the state.
The students said the essence of the award was reward hard work and people of exemplary character.
Others, who had received such award from students of Oduduwa included former Minister of Finance, Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu, former Nigeria’s First Ladies, Hajiya Turai Umaru Yar’Adua, Mariam Abacha and chairman of Coscharis Group, Chief Cosmas Maduka.
The students came in their droves. Those who came included its Vice-President, Olaleye Oluwaseyi, National Secretary, Oladoja Olushola, Public Relations Officer (PRO), Jegede Adesoji, Director of Media, Awoyemi Taiwo and Director of Gender, Miss Bioye Motunrayo.
Apart from the award by the National Association of Oduduwa Students to the Rector, he equally was honoured with another award of excellence by the Students’ Union Government of Federal Polytechnic Oko, led by its President, Ezinne Nwaka.
On how they students arrived at the award to the Rector, Adeniyi said: “Having taken time to study Onu’s performance in the education sector, we noticed his commitment to good governance, democratic global best practices, rule of law, innovation. We decided that he deserves the award.”
Continuing, Adeniyi said NAOS as the umbrella body of all Yoruba students both at home and in the Diaspora seeks to fulfill, as one of its objectives, discovering role models, outstanding institutions and members the society as exemplified in the lives of the recipients of the awards.
He praised Prof. Onu on his achievements, which he said had contributed to the reduction of social vices on the campus, even as he said he had introduced computer-based examinations, infrastructural development and standard academic calendar, among others.
The chairman of the Governing Council of the institution, Dr. Christian Odukwe, who was equally given an award by the NAOS, described the students’ gesture as commendable.
Speaking with our correspondent, Odukwe said recognising good work gives one the impetus and inspiration to do more, adding that the digitalisation of the institution by the Rector had brought relief in the school.
Also speaking, Miss Nwaka, told our correspondent that the union decided to honour the Rector based on his his ingenuity in transforming the institution.
However, Onu said the awards would spur him to do more for the school and the people of Oko community.
He said the successes in the institution would not have been possible, if there had not been peace among the management, the Governing Council, students and some eggheads in the community.
The Rector said: “It is my duty to build a bright future for posterity to avoid blames on the forefathers for failing in their responsibility. Acquisition of skill, which is what the institution stood for, was supposed to produce the middle level man power to propel the country’s economy.
“My intention was to ensure man power capacity as infrastructure will collapse without it. The Governing Council and the students understand the purpose of learning and scholarships.”
A Professor of Veterinary Medicine at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Prof. Maduike Ezeibe has said that medicinal synthetic aluminum magnesium silicate (AMS) can be used to cure HIV/AIDS.
Prof. Ezeibe said that AMS, an anti-viral medicine which he invented, has been patented by Nigerian government and has been tested and proven to cure the dreaded HIV/AIDS. He spoke in Umuahia, the Abia State capital. The Prof. of Veterinary Medicine said he has been working on the medicine since 1998 which has been concluded with results available for all to see.
Prof. Ezeibe said the Magnesium Silicate is available in the country, likewise the aluminum silicate, but AMS is not available in the country.
“However, there was need for me to create the synthetic one which I used to make the medicine,” he said.
He further stated that the two minerals have been purified and are being used as
medicines in the country, adding that both were reacted to get a synthetic form of AMS.
He explained that the medicine will also cure the Ebola virus and bird flu which have similar virus with HIV/AIDS, stressing that all the viruses are positively charged.
Ezeibe said the patients who volunteered to be tested on the viral loads of HIV/AIDS and for clinical trials of the MSAMS were assessed before and after they were treated.
He said the treatment lasted for four weeks, eight weeks and 12 weeks respectively, adding that, “a patient (names withheld) who could not access approved laboratory for viral load test on time, continued the treatment for 24 weeks.
Being treated with the medicine means that viral load of HIV/AIDS patients reduced from 86 per cent after four weeks, 96 per cent in eight weeks, 99.7 per cent in 12 weeks and the signs complained of before the treatment vanished at the end of the treatment and there were no side effects after taking the drug”.
Ezeibe said his works has been published by the World Journal of AIDS, adding that the publication is currently making waves across the world as a great contribution to medicine from Nigeria.
He noted that despite the result he got he was not satisfied, as a male patient from Jos in Plateau State with 4,000 RNA who, after treatment came down to 1,000, which, to him, was not what he expected.
Ezeibe said: “I was satisfied when a female doctor from Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Umuahia told me that it is not the viral load that matters, but the
RNA and that if it is below 51 per cent, it means that the patient is cured, as the body immunity will wipe out the remaining virus if any.”
Prof. Ezeibe said as a Veterinary Doctor, he cannot prescribe the dosage that could be administered on a patient, urging doctors to monitor their patients.
“When their RNA is below 50 per cent, the drug administration should be discontinued,” he said.
He challenged the Federal Government and other s in authority to come after him the way they went after Dr Agbalaka and if not help him to produce the drugs to help mankind.
In what looked like the celebration of excellence, the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State, last week at Enugu, presented its Millennium Award of Excellence to the vice chancellor, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Prof. Chukwuma Ozumba. Ozumba, who is a professor of obstetrics and gynaecology.
Staff of the department had packaged the grand event to celebrate and thank God that one of its members, Prof. Ozumba is the first to be appointed the vice chancellor of the University of Nigeria since its inception in 1960.
The occasion attracted renowned gynaecologists and other medical professionals from within and outside the country, heads of health institutions and principal officers of the University.
The roll call included the Chief Medical director of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Dr. Chris Amah, former deputy vice chancellor of University of Nigeria Enugu – campus, Prof. Bede Ibe, former provost college of medicine, UNN, Prof Martin Aghaji, the current provost of college of medicine, UNN, Prof. Ernest Onwasigwe and his deputy, Prof. Fidelis Ebele Ejezie.
Others were, Prof. Nene Obianyo who was former provost college of medicine ESUT Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu, the doyen of obstetrics and gynaecology Prof. Arthur Ikeme, Prof. Iloabachie, Prof. Chukwudebelu, the controller of the Federal Mortgage Bank Enugu, Mr. Ibuzo Chris, the former dean, faculty of dentistry UNN and chairman Welfare Committee of the college of medicine, UNN, Dr. Mrs. Linda Oge Okoye, Dr. Peter Nkwo and Prof. Vincent Emeka Egwuatu, the chairman of the occasion.
The editor-in-chief of the college of medicine Newsletter, Dr. Obi Ikechukwu, Dr. Uche Agu, of the department of gynaecology and Ezennia Austin Akpali of the department of medical rehabilitation medicine, Enugu – Campus of UNN were also there.
The elated vice chancellor of UNN, Prof. Chukwuma Ozumba, said that machinery had been set in motion to ensure that UNN would be ranked among best Universities in Africa within the next 18 months.
He restated that research, intellectual development and improvement of staff welfare remained the main trust of his administration, adding that his recent trip abroad was part of a robust attempt to link the University of Nigeria with the best in the world for growth.
Ozumba expressed joy that during his foreign trip, he was received warmly everywhere he visited “UNN will continue to be better, UNN has changed and research is at its peak now”.
He, however, called for patience and support of all stakeholders and told the crowded audience to better assess him after his tenure.
“For now, I am yet to work for one year, but anyone close to the university would know that Prof. Ozumba is not sleeping, that Prof. Ozumba, who changed the face of the college of medicine, when he served as provost, has not changed”, he further remarked.
The University don praised the head of department of obstetrics and gynaecology, UNN, Prof. Samuel Nnamdi Obi, for organizing the event, stressing that despite the busy schedules of the doctors and other logistical challenges, the occasion was a huge success.
According to him “although, the department is always on the move since I joined it as a house officer several years ago, we need occasions like this where we can dine and wine and re-new friendship, I thank some of my teachers who shelved their busy schedules to honour me today, I remain grateful”.
Ozumba, also congratulated Dr. Chris Amah on his re-appointment as chief medical director of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital for a second four-year tenure.
The organizer of the event and head department of obstetrics and gynaecology, UNTH, Prof. Samuel Nnamdi Obi, explained that the departmental get together was designed to enhance social interaction and promote love among staff and students, see those we have not seen for some time and say farewell to those retiring.
Obi said that the 2015 edition was unique, as it afforded them the opportunity to honour one of their own, an erudite scholar, Prof. Chukwuma Ozumba, who rose to the position of vice chancellor of the University on June last year.
The chairman of the occasion, Prof. Vincent Emeka Egwuatu of the ESUT Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu, charged the vice chancellor to do all he could to lift UNN and regretted that despite its age and population, it was not ranked among 50 best Universities in Africa.
Also speaking, the doyen of gynaecology and the former president of the Rotary Club of Enugu, Prof. Arthur Ikeme, described Prof. Chukwum Ozumba as the pride of the college of medicine.
He said following his performance profile in academic and administration since he joined the department, he was not surprised that Prof. Ozumba would rise so rapidly and traced his success to his school days at Government College, Umuahia, where he gained quality education and leadership training.
The department also honoured one of its staffs, Mrs Edith Abadom for high productivity and discipline.
The vibes from the new governor of Abia State on local fabric are promising.
Why? Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has said he will wear clothes made in Aba all through his tenure.
Local tailors and designers are likely to cheer up after years of neglect by majority of Nigerians who seem to prefer textile from other lands.
Dr. Ikpeazu has pledged that he would be wearing clothes sewn and designed by Aba tailors.
Ikpeazu was speaking at the Umuahia township stadium after he was sworn into office as the fourth democratic governor of the state since its creation in 1991.
The governor promised to give adequate attention to Aba artisans including small and medium entrepreneurs in order to help them get the needed support in harnessing their technological prowess and the spirit of ingenuity in them.
The governor whose speech lasted for about 20 minutes said that his administration would promote trade and economic activities in the state, equip over 700 health centres across the 17 local government areas of the state with medical facilities, promote education and also to sustain the security template of the out gone governor Chief Theodore Orji.
He used the opportunity to call on Abians in the Diaspora to come home and invest as part of their contribution to the growth of the state’s economy, assuring them of the safety of their investments, adding that attention would also be given to infrastructure and urban renewal.
Ikpeazu praised his predecessor, Chief Theodore Orji for fulfilling his promise of handing over power to the people of Abia South.
He promised not to let the electorate down, asserting that he will run an all-inclusive government even as he extended a hand of fellowship to his defeated governorship candidates.
The governor who pointed out that it was not going to be all rosy for him owing to the task ahead of him, stated his desire to work collaboratively with the Judiciary, legislature, traditional and religious institutions.
He said that he was also going to ensure that service delivery in the civil service would be enhanced, disclosing that plans were already on ground for training and retraining of civil servants in order to equip them with the modern ways and skills of service delivery.
He also used the opportunity to announce that there shall be a cultural carnival in the state every December which would be aimed at promoting and sustaining the rich cultural values of the people of the state, even as he sought for the support of every Abian to help his administration succeed.
Meanwhile some Aba residents who spoke to our correspondent over the decision of Ikpeazu to wear Aba made clothes lauded the step taken by the new Governor and called on other in the Southeast including political appointees under Ikpeazu’s administration to emulate the pace set by him.
They said that such step if the Governor of the state would fulfill his promises and not being carried away like his predecessors would go a long way to showcase their ingenuity and competence to the world at large.
“For us, what the Governor said is a welcome development. At least, it has given us sense of belonging. But the truth remains that most of the clothes our senators and other politicians wear are being sewed in Aba. Like you can see, most of the clothes I am sewing now is owned by one of my customers that has a boutique in Abuja. They come to this place, show us what they want us to sew for them and we do same. When they go back to Abuja, they will sell them as if they were imported.
“Some aides to some of the senators do come to us and we sew for them. some of them do waybill of materials and now that social media is the order of the day, some of them send us email and we also chat on facebook and whatsapp to tell them when they are going to pick their clothes. And we try as much as possible to deliver on time, though some of them pay us for urgent service delivery”, a respondent stated.
The Enugu State Housing Development Corporation and the Anglican church in Enugu are locked in a fierce battle over the ownership of a nine-hectare piece of land.
The corporation planned to use the land for a housing estate after ascertaining that it had been lying fallow for over 50 years.
When the corporation entered the land located at the Christ Church Uwani based on the revocation letter by the Ministry of Lands, it was stiffly resisted by irate priests of the church led by Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma.
But the Managing Director and chirf executive officer of the Enugu State Housing Development Corporation, Mr. Vitalis Emeka Onah, painted a gory story of the situation. He alleged to have been manhandled by the priests and church members, as a result sustained injuries. Onah had gone there after receiving a distress call from the director of works, Pius Chukwunta who was beaten to pulp.
The church denied these allegations but heaped the the blame on government officials of attacking and wounding four priests in the process.
However, Onah insisted that the church members were the ones who shot the first salvo by attempting to stop the bulldozers sent to work on the land for immediate parcelation.
The land in contention, according to Onah was previously on lease to the church but that the lease expired several years ago, reversing the ownership to the government.
He added that the land was duly allocated to the Housing Corporation by the ministry of land before the clearing process began on May 22.
According to him, “two properties situated at Uwani, Enugu were leased by the Enugu State Government to the Anglican Communion. These properties were registered as No 43/43/778 dated 5/3/1946 and 27/27/273 dated 4/2/1961 and leased for 5 and 20years respectively.
“The said leases were for educational and agricultural purposes only. By effluxion of time, the leases had long elapsed without a renewal.
“Following series of notices to the Anglican communion to that effect and their refusal to acknowledge the letters sent to them; coupled with the breach of convenant contained therein; non-development within the stipulated period; deviation from purpose clauses among others, the Enugu State government revoked the said lease agreements and duly notified the Anglican Communion”.
Onah added that, “Upon revocation of the properties, the State Government through its Housing Corporation led by the Director of Works, Mr Chukwunta entered the empty parcel of land with the intention of clearing the site and mounting it’s signpost ‘Transparency Estate’.
Narrating the alleged involvement of ArchBishop Chukwuma, he said, “Unknown to the Director of Works and his workers, the ArchBishop of the Anglican Communion, Lord Bishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, (Bishop Chukwuma ) had laid ambush with some members of his congregation and rough looking young men clutching dangerous weapons and gallons of gasoline. Upon entry into the land, Bishop Chukwuma and his men swooped on our staff and beat them up. The Bishop personally approached the director of works, slapped him severally, collected a club from one of his boys and hit the director continually with it until the director broke one of his arms.
“Emboldened by the actions of their Bishop, the other adherents and thugs accompanying him went beserk, hauling stones at our staff and pouring gasoline on the five bulldozers on site, threatening to set our staff and equipment ablaze. One of my fleeing staff alerted me of the ugly development on phone and I promptly called the Commissioner of Police”.
The MD, who showed journalists some bruises on his right shoulder, said he escaped death by the whiskers.
According to him, “no sooner had I arrived the scene at Uwani, than a couple of Reverends descended on me while I was asking them to stop hauling stones at the workers. One hit me with a heavy stone inflicting injury on me while another came rushed me with a large chunk of wood. In the ensuing mayhem, one of the said thugs dressed as a reverend approached one of my staff and poured a gallon of gasoline on him before the Commissioner of Police and his team arrived the scene. The Commissioner of Police in unequivocal terms admonished the church leaders and their thugs for brazenly taking laws into their hands and resorting to self help.
“He finally advised them to seek redress in a court of law if they want to challenge the powers of a Governor to revoke the said parcel of land”.
He maintained that “the revocation of the parcel of land was done in accordance with the laws and due process.
“The said parcel of land was empty/vacant with no structures except for a small clinic situated very far away from the scene of the incidence and as such the issue of demolition of structures as alleged by the Bishop was an outright lie.
“The Bishop had earlier threatened to burn and roast any government official who ventures into the said parcel of land and true to his threats, they came into the land armed with petrol.
“The Bishop had told the director of works that the governor of Enugu State was lucky not to have been physically present otherwise, he would have done worse things to him”.
“Even the bible encouraged us to respect those in authority and not to alter landmarks. If Bishop Chukwuma feels that injustice is being done to him and his church, he needs to take it up with the court rather than resorting to violence. I call on all well meaning Nigerians and the Law enforcement agents to call Bishop Chukwuma to order”, he concluded.
But the Anglican church in its version of the fracas, claimed that more than six persons, including four priests, were allegedly beaten to stupor by some members of task-force working with the Enugu State Housing Corporation. They absolved Archbishop Chukwuma from the attack.
They gave the names of the victims as Reverends Collins Odoabuchi, Mbaka Peter, Eugene, and Maxwell Onyia.
Others members of the church said to have been affected were Ekpecha Okechukwu and Naomi Ibekwe. Naomi Ibekwe claimed that she was hit iron and hard objects.
One of the victims, who gave her name as Naomi Ibekwe told journalists that she was hit by iron and hard objects, including stones causing bruises and severe injuries on her.
Reacting to the incident, the State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, told the angry church leaders and their faithful at the scene of the disturbance that they should allow peace to reign as negotiation had begun.
“We have discussed with the church. If anybody is injured, we will not take it lightly. We have already asked that a formal report be made and we will follow it up. We have agreed on peace move and we are following it up”, he stated.
Also speaking, the Priest in-charge of the Christ Church, Venerable N. Aghadi said, “We have talked at length and discussed very progressively.
“The Commissioner of Police is requesting that we should please go home and rest. He has promised that the matter is in good hand and that immediately the Archbishop returns, he will have meeting with him”.
While the clash lasted on Friday, five bulldozers were being used to demolish the structures at the disputed land inside the Church premises.
Findings showed that the Church was dedicated by His Grace, the Most Reverend C . J. Patterson, the then ArchBishop of West Africa and Bishop of the Niger in 1965.
It looked like a carefully thought-out plan. Youths from across the country under the organisation, All Progressives Youth Forum (APYF) have opened their Awka, Anambra State, zonal office, saying their intention was to help President Muhammadu Buhari run the country well.
All the youth leaders in the country from all the zones were in attendance.
The spacious office is located beside the Anambra State teaching hospital, close to the popular Arroma Junction.
Though, the National Leader of the group, Alhaji Ismaila Ahmed was absent, its National Secretary, Obi Mac Oscar, a lawyer, and the National field Director, Alhaji Alwan Hassan were present.
The Southeast Coordinator of the (APYF), Nze Ozoemena Unegbu, told the crowd that the aim of the gathering was not to open the office alone, but to reposition to help the incoming administration led by Muhammadu Buhari to lead the country to glory.
Unegbu, further said that within the next few days, local government and ward cordinators of the group would be inaugurated throughout the entire Southeast for the journey ahead.
The youths were not alone in the project, some of the elders in the capital city like Ozo Anaekwe and Ozo Omile, charged the youths to be diligent in their good plans for the new administration.
For the National Secretary of the youth group, Obi Mac-Oscar, the pressure group is not like others in the country who according to him, are like parasites to politicians and office holders, adding that their aim is to direct the incoming government on certain reforms and policies.
He said, “What happened during the presidential election in the country especially, in the Southeast was not the true reflection of the entire exercise, we are now ready to go”
“APYF is like a watch dog for the All Progressive Congress (APC) party, we have to call the leaders to order anytime they want to derail in making sure that the incoming government will not derail like the outgoing administration of President Goodluck Jonathan”
“What killed the outgoing administration are the corrupt tendencies of its leaders, who are greedy, selfish and full of deceit” Oscar said.
The group has its slogan as “take part, to take change, while every state coordinator out of the 36 states including the federal capital territory addressed the audience, all spoke in the same Direction of their national leaders.
However, he commended the leaders in Anambra state and the south east for setting the paces by getting a comfortable environment for the youth to direct their affairs.
Speaking with the Nation, National field Director of the group, Alhaji Alwan Hassan, said that throughout the country from the high lands of the north to the plain lands of the south, the gods of positive change and good governance will shine on the great country with the coming of Buhari.
“As we gradually transit today into a new government, remember that our work as young people starts now, remember that it was not only enough to take part in the political process before and during elections, but, we must make sure that the promises made during the campaigns are kept”
He said that their work will be in association with the Buhari government to move Nigeria forward by regaining its lost glory since the past 16 years.
Abia state has inaugurated the first phase of the Aba Mega Mall shopping complex project.
The project located at Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area on the outskirts of the commercial city, according to reports, will help to change the trading pattern and manner in which economic and trading activities are being carried out in the city.
•Orji cuts the tape to flag off the facility. With him are other dignitaries
The mall was flagged off by former governor Theodore Orji, who said at the the event that the facility was part of his administration’s commitment to leave behind a good legacy and infrastructures that will stand the test of time.
Orji recalled with bitterness how the state lost out the citing of a Guinness Breweries plant to Enugu State, blaming his predecessor for the missed opportunity.
He added that his government could not resist the temptation of handing over the land for the purpose of the mall when Greenfield Assets Limited, the company in charge of the project came calling.
He thanked the people of the Osisioma community on whose land the project was cited for cooperating and showing understanding with the state government in ensuring that the project was a reality and expressed hope that the incoming administration would step up and ensure that the project was completed.
Orji called on the Aba and southeast business community to buy into the project, adding that it would change the face of the state.
The Group Managing Director Greenfield Limited, Mr. Paul Obanua said that he had hesitated to come to Abia to cite the project, but was grateful to Orji for making their job easier tha he had thought.
He also thanked the people of Osisioma for their hospitality since construction work started.
Obanua added that the project when completed would serve not only the Aba business community, but will also serve the southeast eastern states and beyond.
Greenfield GMD who highlighted the benefits shop owners at the mall stand to get on completion and of the project, disclosed that a lot of business owners from other parts of the country have equally indicated interest in owning shop and warehouse facility there.
He said that the idea of the Mall was to change the trading pattern of the people of the area and to stimulate urban renewal and to harness the ingenuity and industrial prowess of the Aba people.
In their speeches, Okey Ezeala, the Regional Head Southeast-South-south of First City Monument Bank (one of the major financial Institutions funding the project) and Elder Emmanuel Adaelu, a business mogul expressed hope that the facility when completed would be a business choice destination for shoppers within Aba, Abia and southeast.
Ezeala said that they embarked on financing the project because the state government was in support of the project and expressed the willingness of the financial institution in assisting the state government to promote trade and investments that would lead to economic growth in the state.
According to Adaelu, the Mall “will promote the modern way of doing business in Aba like other it is being done in other climes” and hope promised the management of Greenfield the patronage of Aba people as soon as the project was completed.
High points of the event were the commissioning of the project and laying of foundation for the commencement of the second phase of the project by T. A Orji.
After last Sunday’s tragic tanker accident, a team of agencies has finally moved all the bodies to a teaching hospital in Nnewi, as Vice President Yemi Osinbajo visits. NWANOSIKE ONU reports
One phase of the tanker horror is over: evacuation of bodies.
Five days ago, a petrol-laden tanker exploded at the busy Upper Iweka Roundabout in Onitsha, Anambra State’s commercial hub. Casualty figure varied, depending on who you talked to, but many held that about 70 people perished in the disaster.
Some have dubbed it a Black Sunday. As soon as the tragedy happened, evacuation of the dead became a pressing need. The Red Cross and other agencies and first responders teamed up to move the bodies out of fire scene to the hospital. The process continued from that Sunday up till Tuesday when it was confirmed that the bodies were taken to the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, the state’s industrial town.
It was a horrible day for everyone in the state and beyond. Officials of als the Federal Road Safety commission (FRSC), Red Cross and even passersby had a hectic day.
•One of the victims at the hospital
Anguish was spread; thousands wailed. Bodies were mangled, many charred and fire fighters, for the first time in the state, worked overtime trying to save some lives.
With evacuation wrapped up, another phase has begun: taking care of the injured and relatives of the dead.
Anambra State government led the way in responding to relatives of the victims. Governor Willie Obiano said the government would foot the bill of patients in the hospital. He also banned trucks from plying the roads in the daytime.
On Wednesday, President Muhammadu Buhari sent his deputy Prof Yemi Osinbajo to Anambra to felicitate with the state and people. The Vice President also said the Federal Government would help relatives of the victims.
The vice chairman of the Red Cross, Prof Peter Katchy, who spoke with TheNation, said 70 people died in the incident. FRSC’s head of operations in Onitsha, Obinani Ezekannagha, said they counted 45 dead. Eyewitnesses, though, said over 100 people died in the incident.
The incident forced Governor Obiano to cancel all his engagements on the day; he also wept when he arrived at the scene.
He has taken over the bills of all the causalities in the various hospitals in the state, including Boromeo hospital at Old Nkpor Road and Toronto Hospital located along Enugu-Onitsha Expressway not far from the accident scene.
Some victims are still battling to survive at Toronto Hospital, while two have been discharged, according to the Medical Director and Chief Executive of the hospital Dr. Emeka Ezeh.
Two newspaper vendors and two circulation officers, all members of Onitsha Newspaper Distribution, Directors Association (ONDDA) in the commercial city lost their lives in the accident.
The vice chairman of the group, Emmanuel Uwakwe, who confirmed this to TheNation, gave their names as Ifeanyi Nzekwe; Ifeoma; a local man and a new member of the association.
He said: “We are in pains and agony right now; we also went to the hospital to visit the injured ones.”
The vice chairman of the Red Cross in the state, Prof Peter Katchy, told TheNation two days after the incident that 57 persons had been identified by their families, while 13 were yet to be identified.
This was corroborated by the CEO of the Toronto Hospital Dr. Eze, who said family members identified some of the relatives by the ornaments they wore.
One of such persons was a woman who died in the fire incident with her little baby she was carrying.
•Nkiruka Ezeh, searching for her sister
Ezeh told TheNation that the hospital had stopped relations and others from going to see the patients who are in stable conditions in order not to contract infections because of the severity of the cases.
Furthermore, he said the hospital would not be able to release any corpse to relations or discharge any patient unless instruction was passed to the hospital by the state ministry of health.
After the second day of the fire incident, relations of the affected victims had been trickling to the Toronto hospital, Boromeo hospital, both in Onitsha and Nnamdi Azikiwe teaching hospital to see if they could identify their own.
Red Cross chief in Anambra, Prof. Katchy said he and his members will not rest until they were sure everything was going right in managing the incident.
The Red Cross volunteers moved from Onitsha to Nnewi teaching hospital where pathologists have started the process of forensic analysis, according to Prof Katchy.
Miss Nkiruka Ezeh, who hails from Nkanu in Enugu State, was at the Toronto hospital to search for her sister, Nkechi Eze, who left their Awada residence on that fateful day to Asaba, Delta state.
Her sister’s mission was to see their in-law, one Ogbonna Igwe, a motor parts dealer.
In tears, she told TheNation that since she left the house, nobody had seen her including their in-law who denied seeing her at Asaba.
Also, Nkiruka Eze said everybody had been calling the telephone number of her sister without getting any response, adding that they have been worried since then.
For Amaechi Alor, a trader at Mgbuka spare parts market in Onitsha, the situation is the same as he came in the company of other distant relations to the hospital to see a nephew, Chukwudi Nwanga.
Nwanga survived the tanker fire incident on Sunday, but was still going the medical process at Toronto hospital.
Though Obiano was said to have taken up the responsibility of offsetting the medical bills of the victims, Alor, told TheNation at the hospital that he spent N3,750 on drugs on Monday while another N14,000 drugs had been prescribed by the hospital for him to purchase.
However, the Special Adviser to Governor Obiano, Mr. James Ezeh, told The Nation that Obiano had been working round the clock in making sure that things were put in the right perspective.
Ezeh said the state ministry of health and the hospital management should liaise well in making sure that immediate action is taken in ensuring that the bills are appropriately taken care of as the governor said.
Ezeh further told TheNation that Obiano had not been able to visit the victims again because of pressing government matters, adding that the governor had been sending his aides to those areas on a daily basis.
Already the order by Governor Obiano to remove all the 12 burnt vehicles at the fire scene to the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has been carried out, as all the burnt vehicles have been taken to the agency’s office in Awka.
The fire incident scene has become a tourist centre at Upper Iweka by Anambra residents and indeed, foreigners since the incident took place.
The office of the transporters was burnt including the 12 toilets built by the federal ministry of works inside the premises which had not been commissioned till date.
