The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abakaliki

  • Recruitment of 500,000 teachers: Lecturer calls for transparency

    Recruitment of 500,000 teachers: Lecturer calls for transparency

    Mr Greg Esheye, lecturer, Ebonyi State College of Education, Ikwo, has called for transparency in the recruitment of the 500, 000 teachers approved by the Federal Government.

    He made the call in Abakaliki in an interview with the newsmen.

    He commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for coming up with the initiative, saying the exercise would provide job to teeming unemployed youths and reduce youth restiveness.

    He said that the recruitment would also boost teaching and learning at primary and secondary school levels.

    Esheye, who is the Chairman of the College’s chapter of Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), urged the federal government to ensure equal spread in the recruitment.

    “The directive by President Buhari to recruit 500,000 teachers is a commendable initiative that will help tackle youth unemployment, boost teaching and learning in primary and secondary schools as well as reduce youth restiveness.

    ‘Those charged with the responsibility of organising the recruitment should ensure that they observe due process and transparency in conducting the exercise.

    “Let there be equal spread of opportunities among the 36 States and the FCT in line with the Federal character principle,” Esheye said.

    He warned that politicians should not be allowed to hijack the exercise by recruiting people without the requisite teaching qualifications.

    The government should ensure that necessary instruments are put in place to guard against manipulation of the exercise by politicians for their selfish gains.

    Buhari in a nationwide broadcast on May 29 to mark the administration’s one in office announced that the federal government would recruit 500,000 teachers as part of strategy to reduce the unemployment among graduates.

  • Flood: Ebonyi residents lament losses

    Residents of Ebonyi state have continued to lament their woes following last weekend heavy downpour as a fish farm in Abakaliki, the state capital Monday said it lost over 4000 fishes to the rampaging flood.

    Conducting The Nation round the Oluchika Nigeria Limited fish farm located at No6 Edda Close Abakaliki, the Manager Mr Onwe David said the rain wrecked severe havoc to the farm.

    “We lost over 4000 fishes to the flood. The damage is so much that we are feeling very terrible,” he lamented.

    He said that the farm also had one of its biggest fish pond destroyed by the flood.

    According to him, the flood forced the wall demarcating the farm and a nearby hotel, Salt Lake hotel to cave in and thus flooding the fish pond.

    “In the process many of the wishes were killed and washed away,” he added.

    The Chairman of the Company, Chief Bestman Anikwe said millions of naira was lost to the flood by the company.

    He noted that despite the good work the government did by building a canal to channel the water, the enormity of the rain meant that the canal could not contain the water.

    He appealed to the state government and the NEMA to come to the aid of the company.

    “We are praying that they will come and help the people leaving along the area as the water is trying to overpower the people”, he pleaded.

    In Ohaozara Local government area, council buildings belonging to Ohaozara West Development Centre and an Assemblies of God Church building were severely damaged by the heavy winds that came with the rain.

    The Church which is located in Governor David Umahi’s hometown, Uburu had its roof blown off by the wind which also damaged some other buildings in the area.

    Chairman of Ohaozara Local Government Area, Mr Justice Ogbonna who confirmed to our reporter the damage to the Church, council building and others, however, thanked God that no lives were lost in the disaster.

    He said his administration has done a thorough assessment of the damages done and forwarded same to the Ebonyi State Emergency Management Agency (EBSEMA) for onward transmission to NEMA.

    Secretary of EBSEMA, Pastor Ken Eze said the agency is making an assessment of the damages done with a view to making a report to NEMA and the state government.

    “I do believe that as we send our report to them they will respond with relieve materials very soon”.

    Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), have called on Ebonyi state government to checkmate erection of structures on water ways to prevent flood disaster in the state.

    South East Coordinator of the Agency, Martins Udeinya made the call while accessing the level of damage done by the flood disaster in the state.

    He said: ‘’sometimes hard decisions must be taken in order to build sustainable cities. So, it is my advice that government must really do something about the development of the city.

    ‘’People cannot be allowed to build on water ways because it is disaster in the waiting; one day it will happen whether we like it or not.

    ‘’The institutions or authorities responsible for controlling urban development should live up to expectation and ensure that people are not allowed to build on water ways.

    ‘’ It is a very hard decision to take but if you take it, you are ensuring sustainability of the future because one bad thing about flood disaster is that you don’t know the dimension it can take.

    ‘’Efforts should be made by government to ensure that people don’t build on water ways and on our own part, we are going to step-up sensitization on flood prevention and mitigation and what people are expected to do for flood prevention and mitigation and other issues around disaster risk reduction.”

    He described the damage done by the flood as terrible.

    ‘’It is a terrible devastation. I saw lots of devastation; no one can believe that a flood disaster can be of this magnitude.

    ‘’It has affected many people, it has affected properties, it has affected livelihood. So many things caused it. Streams that supposed to flow free were chased to narrow areas. The chasing of the streams into narrow areas directly or indirectly affected free flow of streams”.

    ‘’I have been directed by the Director- General of National Emergency Management Agency(NEMA), Alhaji Muhammed Sanusi to proceed as a matter of urgency to Ebonyi state to look at the devastation and report back to him. We will send the report to Abuja to tell them what we have seen with a view to assisting the victims,’’ Udeinya stated.

     

  • Police retrieve Ebonyi ex- senator’s corpse

    Police retrieve Ebonyi ex- senator’s corpse

    The Ebonyi Police Command has confirmed the retrieval of the corpse of a Second Republic Senator, Dr Offia Nwali, from a pond behind his house.

    ASP George Okafor, the Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), made the confirmation to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki on Tuesday.

     

    He said Nwali’s corpse was found in a pond at the back of his building in his hometown of Ameka, Ezza South Local Government Area, at the weekend.

    “We cannot establish whether he drowned inside the pond or whether he was killed but investigations have commenced to unravel the mystery behind his death.

    “We have not made any arrest so far but we assure the citizens of the state that we would ensure that the matter is investigated to its logical conclusion,” he said.

     

    Meanwhile, Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has described the death of 74-year-old Nwali as a ‘monumental loss’ to the state and nation.

    Umahi, who commiserated with Nwali’s family during a condolence visit on Tuesday, described him as a great scientist and patriotic Nigerian.

    “His death is shocking to all citizens of the state as his life which was full of mysteries, embodied truth and commitment to the state’s cause,” he said.

    The governor who was accompanied by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Bernard Odoh, and top government officials, urged Nwali’s children to immortalise him.

    “You should live just and principled lives which your late father epitomised during his sojourn on earth .

    “The state government would assist the family during his burial and afterwards while upholding the legacies he left behind,” he said.

     

    Nwali’s first son, Oguzor, said that his corpse had been deposited at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki mortuary.

    Oguzor described his father as a legend, noting that his love for the unity of the state, Igbo race and Nigeria, knew no bounds.

    NAN reports that Nwali was one of the first Africans to obtain a doctorate degree in Computer and Analytical Studies from Harvard University, U.S.

    His return to Nigeria in 1972 was facilitated by a former Inspector General of Police, Muhammadu Yusuf, as he was appointed Chairman of the School Board by the then East Central State Government.

    He represented Abakaliki Senatorial District at the National Assembly from 1979 to 1983 and was the first individual to submit a written request for the creation of Ebonyi on Oct. 10, 1979.

     

    Nwali lost his entire family in a Forker 28-plane crash at the Enugu Airport in 1983 but later remarried.

    NAN also recalls that the Police Command in Ebonyi on Monday confirmed the retrieval of the corpses of two students of Federal Government College, Okposi in Ohaoazara Local Government Area , from a stream in the area.

  • Ebonyi uncovers 838 cemetery keepers

    Ebonyi state government has uncovered a job scam in the local government system involving 838 cemetery keepers who are receiving CONHESS.

     

    Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Samuel Okoronkwo stated this on Thursday in Abakaliki, the state capital.

     

    The Commissioner also debunked rumors making the rounds that the state government wants to sack medical workers in the local government system.

     

    He what the state government was doing was to find out the workers who are not health workers but are earning salary under the Consolidated Health salary Structure (CONHESS).

     

    According to him, investigation so far have revealed that previous administrations in the state fraudulently employed about 838 workers as cemetery keepers even while there was no cemetery in the 13 locql government areas managed by the state government.

     

    He said, “The only cemetery in the state is in Abakaliki and it is being managed by the Catholic Church, so what are the cemetery keepers doing. Why are they earning CONHESS?

     

    “So this people have no work schedule, they don’t go to work but take very high salary at the end of the month, more than those who are actually working. That is fraudulent and this government will not allow it to continue”, he added.

     

    He assured that the affected workers will not be sacked but will be removed from the CONHESS and reposted to other areas in the local government where they will be useful.

     

    The Commissioner said a Committee has been set up to look into the issue with members drawn from various Unions and government.

     

    Mr Okoronkwo further stated that the Ministry will also embark on screening of certificates having discovered that many workers in the local government system have fake certificates.

  • FIRS begins sealing off business premises

    FIRS begins sealing off business premises

    The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS),Ebonyi State Office has begun sealing off business offices that have defaulted in their tax payment.

    This is one of the new strategies adopted by the Controller of the Service in the State, Comrade Effiong Kenneth to drive up revenue generation.

    The measures is now paying off as the office of the service in Abakaliki is now a beehive of activities as people throng the office to pay their tax to get their offices reopened or to avoid being shut down.

    Other measures introduced include tax notices and workshops.

    The Controller said these measures did not seem to have had the desired effects hence the new measures of sealing offices.

    He said: “we know things are difficult, but this does not exonerate tax payment. It is the duty of a good citizen to pay his tax. As a Christian, it is a sin not to pay tax because our Lord Jesus humbly did it, so that the wordly government will not be disrupted”

    “At a time period external revenue from oil is dwindling, while government responsibilities is increasing, it is left for government to look inwards”

    “And why the people are grumbling is because many have not been paying their tax in the past and now they see it as unjust policy”

    “I don’t blame the people because, when oil revenue was there, government cared less about tax payment and collection making the people think that it is a new policy of exploitation introduced by the authorities”.

  • Umahi laments death of nine in auto crash

    Umahi laments death of nine in auto crash

    Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has expressed sadness over the death of nine persons in a motor accident which occurred on Wednesday at Ezzamgbo- Abakaliki- Enugu Expressway.

    Umahi, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Emma Anya, described the accident as very sad especially judging by the fact that a similar accident occurred on the same spot barely two months ago which claimed the lives of 10 people.

    The governor said that information reaching him attributed the cause of the latest accident which involved a lorry and a commercial bus to over- speeding and burst tyre.

    He advised motorists to always avoid over- speeding and check the condition of their vehicles before putting them on the highways.

    Umahi said: “It is unfortunate that we have allowed avoidable accidents to happen. People must learn to be patient and cautious on the roads.”

    Governor Umahi called on the Federal Road Safety Corps to deploy more of its officers on the highways in Ebonyi State to check recklessness on the part of commercial drivers.

    He also called on the National Union Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) to intensify the enlightenment of their members on safe driving.

    The governor wished the survivours quick recovery and prayed for the repose of the souls of the departed. He asked God to grant the families of the victims the heart to bear the death of their loved ones.

  • Fire razes shops, goods worth millions in Abakaliki

    Fire razes shops, goods worth millions in Abakaliki

    An early morning inferno yesterday razed shops, with goods worth millions at the Abakpa main market in Abakaliki.

    It was gathered that the fire, which started at about 3am, destroyed over 16 shops, most of them electrical shops, and warehouses behind the building. Also affected were shops housing curtain dealers.

    One of the victims, Aaron Onuorah, said the fire took everybody by surprise. He lamented his loss of over N6 million worth of goods.

    “Before I realised what was happening, the fire burnt so fast and I couldn’t salvage anything. The goods I was able to save were also affected; the goods worth over N6 million.”

    Another victim, Mr. Stanley Ngwu, expressed shock at the outbreak. He ruled out electricity spark as a cause because according to him, the shops were not connected to the grid and neigbours confirmed that there was no power at the time.

    “I can’t explain the fire because there was no power supply. People were able to salvage few of their goods but I lost most of my curtains in bundles, rods, rays and other items, though I still need to check.”

    Mr. Nnanna Edu lamented: “We don’t use NEPA light here; I have N220,000 cash in the shop with rolls of curtains, rods, rolls of carpets, curtain rays. Fire outbreak is becoming a culture in the state, the government should investigate this as it’s not ordinary.”

    Efforts to speak with the Director of Fire Service, Mr. James Onwo, were not successful. But one of the fire fighters, who pleaded for anonymity, said they are yet to ascertain the cause of the fire.

  • Fire guts Abakaliki main market

    Fire guts Abakaliki main market

    Fire has destroyed goods and property worth millions of naira at the Abakpa main market in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State Capital.

    The fire, which started about 8pm, was quenched through the combined efforts of fire fighters and sympathisers, including Deputy Governor Dr Kelechi Igwe.

    Igwe described the incident as unfortunate. He said the relocation of the traders to the new International market had reached an advanced stage.

    According to eyewitnesses, the fire emanated from a spark at a milling section and five buildings, shops on Gunning Road and Olowere Street, were affected.

    Chairman of the State Emergency Management Agency (EBEMA), Revd. Ephraim Ononye and Chairman of Ebonyi Local Government Area, Mr. Anslem Enigwe, who witnessed the incident, praised relevant agencies for their promptness in responding to the distress calls.

    Commissioner for Commerce and Industry Mrs. Elizabeth Ogbaga expressed sadness over the development and assured victims that the state would not abandon them.

    Security agents led by the police spokesman, Mr. George Okafor were around to prevent miscreants from looting goods and property.

  • 10 die in Ebonyi road crash

    10 die in Ebonyi road crash

    At least ten persons including a woman and her two kids Tuesday lost their lives in a ghastly accident that took place at Hausa quarters junction along Abakaliki-Afikpo road.

    The accident involving 18 seater bus belonging to Ezza south local government area with the registration number NKE 28LG rammed into crane truck belong to a Chinese company with the registration number DKA 17YF.

    An eyewitness, Mr Favour John who spoke to our correspondent at the scene lamented that the junction is prone to constant accidents.

    “The truck was trying to turn all the way from Spera in deo junction but the bus driver, instead of stopping like others who saw it and stopped decided to drive past but unfortunately he rammed into it”. It is due to over speeding that made him to ram into the turning truck”.

    He called on the state government to put up bump at the junction to prevent further accident occurring at the area.

    Another witness, Chibuike Nwali described as painful the death of the passengers who lost their lives a few weeks to the yuletide season and blamed the driver of the bus for causing this mayhem.

    “The impatience of the driver led to this accident. The most painful thing was the death of a woman and her two kids who died instantly at the scene.”

    Also, Mr Victor Ituma a resident of the quarters blamed the accident on the truck for turning at such a busy point on th road.

    He said: “I was just coming out from my house reaching to this junction, this crane was turning when the bus rammed into it. My annoyance was that a truck like this with this capacity coming to turn at this junction where people are making use of should have had a revolving light or a security guard who must be positioned in this junction to direct road users”.

    It was also gathered that the same driver was last week warned by an officer of the federal road safety commission, FRSC for over speeding.

    People responding to the accident had to use axe to break open the mangled bus to retrieve the bodies.

    A pregnant woman who was rescued was still breathing heavily and was immediately rushed to the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki for treatment.

    She and other wounded victims are believed to be in critical condition at the hospital as doctors and nurses were seen battling to save their lives.

  • Tribunal upholds Umahi’s election

    Tribunal upholds Umahi’s election

    The Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state capital on Friday upheld the election of Governor David Umahi of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) as the winner of the governorship election held in the state on April 11, 2015.

    In an eight hour judgment, the tribunal in its ruling held that the petitioner failed to prove his case beyond reasonable doubt and consequently dismissed the petition for lacking in merit.

    The Labour Party candidate in the election, Dr Edward Nkwegu had approached the tribunal seeking for the nullification of the victory of Umahi on ground that the election was marred by irregularities and substantial non compliance with the provisions of electoral act and provisions of the constitutions of the federal republic of Nigeria.

    The petitioner also contended that the election was marred by corrupt practices and that the first Respondent (David Umahi) did not score the majority of the lawful votes cast which he said were enough ground to nullify the election.

    The three-man panel headed by Theresa Egoche began by striking out paragraphs containing allegations against named and unnamed persons who were not parties contained in the petition on the grounds that they are vague, imprecise and lacking in simplicity in line with objections of the counsels to the Respondents.

    The panel also rejected INEC election guidelines for the governorship election tendered as evidence by the petitioner on the ground that it was not part of the list of evidences sought to be tendered in the petition by the petitioner.

    Also, the tribunals held that the electoral guidelines were mere instructions and have no force of law against the offenders/defaulters and as such cannot be a ground to challenge an election.

    She noted that a breach in the electoral guideline as alleged by the petitioner cannot be a ground to nullify the election.

    On the usefulness of the evidences tendered by the Expert witness called by the petitioner, the tribunal held that it never asked for any expert analysis to be able to consider whether there was over voting or not in the said election and for that reason cannot use such evidences in the analysis of expert witness as grounds to determine the petition.

    It ruled equally that the petitioner failed to tie evidences dumped before the tribunal to his claims noting that a judge is an adjudicator and not an investigator.

    It observed that the petitioner’s Witnesses on the process of cross examination discredited the evidences earlier tendered by the petitioner before the tribunal.

    She said: “The inability of the petitioner to call witnesses who were present during the election to prove his claim that the results shown through the card readers’ evidence were the authentic makes his claim doubtful and cannot be relied upon by the tribunal.

    “None of the witnesses called by the petitioner gave the evidence of how the card reader functioned at their polling units “the panel further held”.

    It also held that the petitioner who is alleging over voting did not tender any result sheet showing that votes were illegally allocated/awarded to the first Respondent.

    “We cannot see the evidence of non compliance to the electoral act or guidelines in the evidences given by petitioner’s witnesses”.

    “The petitioner having failed to provide evidence showing that he scored the highest number of votes proves that the first respondent was duly elected,” the tribunal said.

    Counsel to the petitioner A.I Akaraiwe thanked the panel and urged them to make the copies of the judgment available to concerned parties as soon as possible.

    Counsels to Chief Umahi (1st respondent), Chief Arthur Obi Okafor SAN , PDP Chief J.U.K Igwe SAN and INEC E.S Nriezedi commended the tribunal for the judgement.

    Reacting to the judgment, Governor Dave Umahi said he had relied on God throughout the period of the petition.

    He reiterated the readiness of his administration to fight corruption in the state.