The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abakaliki

  • Ebonyi to boost rice production

    Ebonyi to boost rice production

    Ebonyi State Governor Martin Elechi has expressed the state’s determination to boost food production in the country through increased rice production.

    Elechi made the pledge in Abakaliki during an interactive session with members of the “Course 22’’ of the National Defence College, Abuja, who were on a tour of the state.

    The governor, who was represented by Chief Fidelis Mbam, the Secretary to the State Government, noted that increased rice production in the state and in the country, in general, would end the importation of staple food into Nigeria.

    “Ebonyi is determined to contribute effectively to the country’s food security, while conserving our foreign exchange.

    “This informed the establishment of three rice mill clusters in the three senatorial zones of the state to boost its production.

    “What we are saying is that Ebonyi is about to carve a niche for itself in the area of food security,” he said.

    Elechi, however, said that the strength of each state of the federation should be encouraged by the Federal Government in efforts to actualise the goals of its transformation agenda.

    He also stressed that efforts should be made to ensure the infrastructural development of the nation, saying that this would consequently fast-track the country’s development.

    He, therefore, underscored the need to increase budgetary allocations to the states.

    Elechi praised the course team for choosing Ebonyi for their study tour, stressing that the state had performed creditably in efforts to develop the infrastructure.

    “The secret of our success is based on the prudent management of our meagre resources.

    “In Ebonyi, the stakeholders pool resources for the implementation of meaningful ventures,’’ he added.

    The team leader, Brig-Gen. Rogers Nicholas, said that Ebonyi was selected by the college for the study tour, in view of its remarkable achievements in infrastructural development.

  • Fake naira notes flood Abakaliki markets

    Markets in Ebonyi State, especially those within the capital city of Abakaliki, are now flooded with fake naira notes by a suspected syndicate.

    It was gathered that the syndicate takes advantage of unsuspecting businessmen and women they transact business with and exchange the fake notes with genuine notes.

    Investigations by our reporter showed that a suspect, Obaji Chijoke, was arrested at Nkaliki market in Abakaliki Local Government Area after paying for a disc he bought from Nwite Izuchukwu with a fake N1,000 note.

    “The CD is sold for N100 and he (Chijioke) was expecting a balance of N900 of genuine currency notes,” a source said.

    Izuchukwu was said to have examined the N1,000 note to know if it was genuine.

    When he discovered that it was fake, he raised the alarm which attracted other traders, who handed the suspect to the police.

    It was further learnt that when the police searched Chijioke, N25,000 fake notes were discovered in his pocket.

    Police spokesman Igbo Sylvester said the money recovered from the suspect was fake, adding that they were still investigating the matter.

    Igbo advised traders and other service providers to be cautious of the type of currency they receive.

    “Traders and other service providers should be on the look out to avoid the counterfeiters from disseminating fake currency notes in Abakaliki,” he said.

  • Police confirm kidnap of paediatrician in Abakliki

    The Ebonyi Police command on Monday confirmed the kidnap of Dr Pius Mauyike, a consultant paediatrician at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, by gunmen.

    Confirming the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Sylvester Igbo, the command’s Public Relations Officer, said the doctor was kidnapped on Sunday evening as he approached his private clinic at No. 15A Owerri Street, Abakaliki.

    Igbo said that Mauyike, who is the owner of St. Marks Specialist Clinic, Abakaliki, was abducted with his vehicle, a black BMW, by two men armed with AK-47 rifles.

    “His gate-man, who was simply identified as Peter, was shot dead as five shells of bullets were picked at the scene of the incident.

    “The corpse of the deceased has been deposited at a mortuary, and the command has intensified efforts to trace the perpetrators of the dastardly act,’’ he said.

    A doctor at the hospital who spoke on condition of anonymity, decried the spate of attacks on the hospitals’ doctors in recent times, noting that it was worrisome.

    “Early this year, one of our doctors was nearly blinded by an Assistant Superintendent of Police for attending to his sick wife.

    “Last week, another doctor was brutalised by relatives of a patient that died in the hospital over alleged complicity that turned out to be false.

    “Efforts should be made by relevant authorities to ensure the safety of doctors to enable them to concentrate on discharging their duties,’’ he said.

  • Running Abakaliki varsity by remote control

    Running Abakaliki varsity by remote control

    SIR: When I heard that the Federal Government would establish a new Federal University in Abakaliki (FUNAI), I was overjoyed because there is little federal presence in Ebonyi State. With the exception of the massive military barracks in the outskirts of Abakaliki and the federal roads linking Enugu State with Cross River State, there is little to show of any largesse from our federal government.

    Since the university was established, I have visited the temporary site of the university nearly 30 times. I have watched the slow pace of development of the site, the delayed admission of students, and a general sense of apathy in the place.

    By contrast, I have also visited the Federal University at Otuoke (FUO) not less than 20 times and seen the hectic pace with which physical structures have sprung up, staff, students and visitors mill around and a general sense of excitement and optimism in that university in spite of problems caused by floods and other natural events.

    I kept pondering why FUNAI is progressing slowly while FUO is bubbling until the reason occurred to me. FUO has a full-time, on-the-premises, hands-on vice chancellor while FUNAI has an absentee, part-time vice chancellor who prefers the comfort of Lagos to the parched earth and dry heat of Abakaliki.

    It occurred to me that each time I was at FUNAI and asked if the vice chancellor or registrar was in, the answer was always that the registrar was in but the vice chancellor was away. In all occasions when I asked the question, I got the same answer. On the other hand, any time I asked that question in Otuoke, I was told that the VC was in, or on very few occasions had gone to Abuja.

    You may ask what business of mine is it. As a science graduate by training and a contractor by trade, I am eminently qualified to make a living through providing necessary supplies and equipment to universities and other institutions of higher learning in our dear country. All of these must ultimately be approved by the Office of the Vice Chancellor and any supplies made must also be paid following approval from the Office of the Vice Chancellor.

    But more importantly, as a Nigerian citizen and Ebonyi indigene, I am and should be concerned about how a new federal university in my state is progressing. When the registrar is always there and working, but the captain of the ship the vice chancellor is always away, how can a new university thrive? How can the relevant culture of scholarship and integrity be transmitted to students, staff and lecturers? How can the essence of university training be imparted to new students and new lecturers? How can Deans and Heads of Department buy into the vision of the university when the leader is not there to ensure buy-in? Can a ship or airplane carrying hundreds of young impressionable and pliable Nigerians be piloted by remote control?

    I have the greatest respect for the esteemed erstwhile vice chancellor of University of Lagos (UNILAG) who is the current vice chancellor at FUNAI. Perhaps, being vice chancellor at UNILAG sapped all his administrative strength. However, is a tired Vice Chancellor what FUNAI needs at this primordial stage of its development?

    •Cassandra Ogbonna

    Port Harcourt, Rivers State

  • Robbers kill Ebonyi Govt House worker

    •Police shoot dead suspect

    worker at the Ebonyi State Government House, Mr. Pascal Ugadu, was yesterday shot dead by a five-man robbery gang on Afikpo Road, Abakaliki, the state capital.

    An eyewitness, who pleaded for anonymity, said the robbers invaded Nnoli Filling Station about 9:15am and shot at a Toyota Hilux van, BDG 899 AG, which was refueling.

    The witness said the van was conveying some government officials to Ishiagu for an election into the Ishiagu Community Development Union (ICDU).

    Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters Celestine Nwali, Commissioner for Border and Security Donatus Ajah and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Internal Security, Mr. Collins Agbo, were at the filling station when the incident occurred.

    The eyewitness said the robbers, who operated with Cater motorcycles, carried sophisticated weapons.

    The witness said they stole an undisclosed amount of money from the station and robbed the employees of their phones.
    The eyewitness said: “We were heading to Ishiagu for the ICDU election in the company of some top government officials, who were expected to monitor the election. On getting to Nnoli Filling Station, we stopped to buy fuel.

    “We saw about five young men on motorcycles coming towards us with speed. On getting to where the Hilux van was parked, they immediately opened fire on the van, killing Ugadu, who was sitting at the back of the vehicle. The driver escaped unhurt.

    “We took Ugadu’s body and the vehicle to the Government House Clinic, where sympathisers, including the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Fidelix Mbam, and other top government officials wept uncontrollably.

    “About 12:30pm, the body and the vehicle were taken away from the Government House Clinic by a security team led by Mr. Godwin Okeke of the Government House Criminal Investigation Bureau.

    “We suspect that the aim of the hoodlums was to kill Agbo, in whose van the deceased was riding, but Agbo was not in the vehicle when they struck.”

    It was learnt that the body had been deposited at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki.
    Police spokesman Sylvester Igbo confirmed the incident. He said one of the robbers was shot dead by a team of mobile policemen and soldiers, but the others escaped.

    Igbo said one AK 47 rifle, one shot gun, expended magazines, two motorcycles and other items were recovered from the hoodlums.
    Secretary to the State Government Mr. Fidelis Mbam described Ugadu’s death as “tragic, painful and unfortunate”.
    He urged the police to apprehend Ugadu’s killers.