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Tag: Abia State

  • Ikpeazu distributes medical equipment worth millions to health centers

    Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu on Monday distributed free medical equipment and consumables worth about two hundred and forty two thousand Dollars.

    The equipment which was donated to the state government by a non-governmental agency; Life Resources International in partnership with Zikora Foundation, Aba were distributed to various healthcare centers in the three Senatorial Districts; Abia North, Central and South of the State.

    Distributing the medical equipment at the Government House, Umuahia, the Governor said his desire was to bequeath to Abia people total healthcare delivery in the State.

    Ikpeazu, represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. John Ahukanna, informed that the administration is committed to delivering total and qualitative healthcare with emphasis on vulnerable and elderly people in the State.

    Ahukanna stated that in line with Ikpeazu’s healthcare policies targeted at uplifting the health of the people, the governor has introduced Telehealth Initiative, Save One Million Lives Initiative Emergency Medical Services and the ensured the shipping of the medical equipment among other interventions in the State.

    Read Also: Ikpeazu mourns ex-CJN Kutigi

    The Health Commissioner said that the items are specifically made for primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare centres in the State, including a private hospital and charged the beneficiaries to make use of the equipment.

    In his speech, the personal physician to the Governor, Dr. Mike Enyinnaya said that the consignment which was given free of  charge and shipped to Abia from overseas was facilitated by Dr. Zik Ikeora, the founder of Zikora Foundation, Aba in partnership with

    Life Resources International, USA.

    He disclosed that the various types of equipment and consumables which worth 242 thousand Dollars were in the consinement and said that the equipment are necessary for healthcare delivery in the State.

    Dr. Enyinnaya appreciated the interventions in health sector, especially his commitment in ensuring Abia benefited from the free medical equipment.

    Earlier, in an address, facilitator of the free medical equipment and founder Zikora Foundation, Dr. Zik Ikeora said that the Life Resources International, USA, which Zikora Foundation is a member, is interested in achieving the universal coverage of healthcare in Africa.

    He stated that the equipment were donated free of charge to assist medical practice in Abia would supply more to the State.

    The benefiting healthcare providers include; Aba General hospital, ABSUTH, Abia Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Abariba General hospital, Abia Specialist hospital and a private hospital (Madonna hospital, Umuahia).

  • Stop politicizing Kalu’s health – APC warns opposition

    The Abia State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned opposition parties in the state to stop politicizing the health challenge of their leader and former governor of the state Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, insisting that he is hale and hearty.

    In a chat the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Comrade Benedict Godson stated that anybody can have health challenge, adding that Kalu was never in coma contrary to insinuations making rounds.

    “He wasn’t in coma. I want to correct that impression. He only had a surgery. Anybody can be ill and be rushed to the hospital. He was never in coma, rather he was taken to the hospital.

    “Some of the opposition parties are happy about that information, whether they are the creators of that information, it’s not right. He only went for a surgery in Germany and it was successful. He is strong and healthy. I spoke with him and he would soon be back” he said.

    Comrade Godson who maintained that Kalu is coming to recover the mandate of the people of Abia North as a senator in 2019 said he is in good condition.

    Read Also: Kalu’s alleged N3.2bn fraud: EFCC tells court

    He added that the governorship candidate of the party in the state, Dr. Uche Sampson Ogah is urging Abians to remain calm as he is going to change a lot of things which the people will be happy about when he becomes the governor of the state in 2019.

    He thanked the state chairman of the party, Hon. Donatus Nwamkpa for steering the affairs of the party to greater heights. He said the party will not be distracted by a legal battle it is passing through in the state, adding that the party believes in democracy and will play by it.

    Godson advised Abians to disregard the rumours of Dr. Kalu being in coma, describing it as a total falsehood.

    He also urged the opposition in the state to desist from discussing personalities but politics and how to develop Abia and Nigeria in general for the overall good of the people.

    He thanked Abians for their loyalty and support, maintaining that APC will take over leadership in the state come 2019.

  • Tension in Abia Community over imminent pipeline explosion

    There is palpable fear of imminent death lurking in Umuinwere and Amaukwu villages in Obokwe in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State following a leakage on the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipeline (Kms 38 to 43) suspected to be Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS).

    Recall that Umuimo, Umuaduru and Uratta communities in Osisioma Local Government Area of the state have suffered loss of their indigenes from pipeline explosions that recently rocked the three communities.

    It was learnt that the people of the area had been living in fear after reported efforts to alert concerned authorities over the matter failed.

    Yet-to-be confirmed reports have it that unscrupulous persons from and outside the communities have been going to the leaking pipeline to scoop petroleum product while exposing their lives and that of the communities to danger.

    Read Also: Abia partners chamber of commerce, think tank

    But the state government through the Commissioner for Petroleum Barr. Chizuru Kanu has reportedly warned the general public, particularly residents and visitors in Obokwe area to stay away from the affected pipeline to avoid any disaster.

    In a release signed by Kanu, he called on relevant security agencies and officials of NNPC to immediately ensure the cordoning off of the area as well as prevention of unauthorized activities.

    The release further advised the management of NNPC to mobilize necessary resources and execute remedial actions along the affected areas of the pipeline as well as the entire length of the 143km length of pipeline across the state.

    The pipeline monitoring and protection unit of the NNPC is also advised to be more proactive in their operations to ensure that the ugly incident recently witnessed along the Osisioma axis of the pipeline does not happen again in the state.

  • NNPC to Consumers: Don’t mishandle petroleum products

    As the dry season draws near in the country, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has warned petroleum products consumers across the nation against mishandling of white products.

    NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, in a release on Wednesday in Abuja, stated that experience had shown that commuters stock petroleum products at home or move about with them in their vehicle boot at this period of the year, exposing themselves and others to serious danger.

    Ughamadu said the incident involving a car laden with fuel which burst into flames while in motion last week at Umuode community, Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area of Abia State, exemplified the danger of transporting imflamable petroleum products in vehicle not made for that purpose.

    The corporation’s spokesman admonished communities hosting NNPC facilities to refrain from taping products from NNPC pipelines or engaging in activities that my lead to spill of petroleum products, saying individuals involved in such an act may suffer untold casualties.

    Read Also: NNPC urges communities to calm vandals

    He encouraged communities in NNPC’s areas of operations to report suspicious movements around the corporation’s facilities to the law enforcement agencies, adding that observing basic safety rule of keeping away from areas where imflamable petroleum products spills had occurred could save lives and properties.

    Recently, fatalities were recorded while property worth millions of Naira were lost when some members of Umuaduru and Umuimo communities in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area of Abia State were caught in a fire while they were reportedly scooping petrol around NNPC’s pipeline in their community.

    Meanwhile, the NNPC Group Managing Director, Maikanti Baru, has assured motorists and other consumers of petroleum products of availability of white products for their comfort as the year end festivities draw near.

    Baru explained that NNPC has 37 days fuel sufficiency, according to the release by the NNPC spokesperson, stressing the GMD said that strategies had been put in place to ensure that Nigerians experience a hitch-free festive period.

  • Pastors, female church member allegedly assassinated in Umuahia

    Residents Umuobia Housing Estate, Olokoro in Umuahia Local Government Area of Abia State and parishioners of a new generation church; Winds of Glory located at Ohokobe village in Umuahia North LGA were at the weekend thrown into shock as decomposing bodies of their pastors and a female member of the church were evacuated from the pastor’s residence in Umuobia, Olokoro.

    Until the time of this report, Police were yet to release official statement over the incident, but a source in the area reportedly told newsmen that they were shocked to the marrow when the news broke.

    The decomposing bodies of the three persons identified as Pastor Blessed Kelechi and his assistance pastor, Ambassador Kalu Ikeagwu, and one Ruth Andrew (women leader) it was gathered were evacuated by team of police personnel led by a Deputy Commissioner of Police, in charge of the State CID, Patrick Edung.

    Read Also: ‘Blame pastors for Nigeria’s woes’

    It was learnt that the bodies of the deceased were discovered when some members of the church who were worried that their Pastor was yet to be seen in the church for over a week went to his house to inquire on why he has been absence in church, only to meet his corpse and two others.

    Information has it that the suspected assassins also carted away some properties of late Pastor Kelechi including car.

    Police have reportedly cordoned off the crime scene and have began investigation into the matter with the aim of unraveling the cause of the death of the deceased persons and those behind the dastardly act.

  • S’East govs never against Peter Obi’s candidacy – Ikpeazu

    The governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu on Wednesday denied reports making round that South East governors and Igbo leaders of the People Democratic Party (PDP) extraction were against the nomination of former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi as the running mate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar for 2019 presidential election.

    Ikpeazu who was answering questions from journalists at the Governor’s lodge located in Aba, the commercial hub of the state when Obi paid a condolence visit to him and the people of Abia State over the pipeline explosion in Osisioma Ngwa which has reportedly claimed over hundred lives, said it was wrong for anyone to claim that the governors of the South East were against Obi’s nomination.

    He described Obi as a worthy son of Igbo land and a gift from Ndi-Igbo to Nigeria whom every Igbo man both at home and in the diaspora will queue behind considering his pedigree.

    He said: “You were told a lie. Let me use this opportunity to congratulate our brother and a worthy son of Igbo Land for his nomination. He’s a gift from Ndi-Igbo to this country. His works and pedigree bears eloquent testimony of the Igbo DNA.

    “It will be foolhardy for anybody not to queue behind a man like this to continue to serve this country to the best of his ability. What the South East governors said was that we expect our candidate to come back from his trip and have a tete-a-tete with us. And he said he will come to speak with us.

    “There were no time leaders of Ndi-Igbo and South East Governors said we are not happy. His choice was apt and you can see the wide spread reception it is getting. If we are banking on the eleven million Igbos in the diaspora to vote it is only Mr. Peter Obi that can get them to do so.”

    Read Also: Ikpeazu: Nnamdi Kanu’s father’ll return soon

    Also speaking, the chairman of the South East caucus of the National Assembly and senator representing Abia South Senatorial District in the senate, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe said that Peter Obi’s selection is one that has lifted the spirit of every Igbo person and has no opposition from any angle.

    “As the chairman of South East Senate caucus of the National Assembly that the whole National Assembly is behind Peter Obi  and at no time was there any problem about his nomination as running mate to our presidential candidate.

    “We know that ourselves, the governors forum and everybody in the South East are all in support of him. Because today, Nigeria needs men and women who their yes is their yes and no is no.

    “We need people who will not see subsidy and call it under recovery. We need people who will not say that they’ve defeated Boko Haram and they turn around and keep executing Red Cross Workers. Today, what we have is somebody we can all queue behind to rescue Nigeria. Let me say it without equivocation that all Igbo leaders are queuing behind Peter Obi.”

    Meanwhile, Mr. Peter Obi while speaking during his condolence visit urged Abia people to take heart. He consoled the locals and made personal donations to the affected people.

    Speaking on his nomination and the perceived opposition from South East Obi said, “We in the South East has never been divided and we have never acted against each other.

    “We have always acted as a team. The governors and the leaders are my own leaders. Since this wrong insinuation started, I’ve consulted governor Umahi, Ugwuanyi and of course today I’m here with my brother Ikpeazu, all the three PDP governors I’ve spoken with them.

    “I have spoken to Senator Ike Ekweremmadu, one of our leaders.  Of course Senator Abaribe  is here with me. I’ve spoken with all of them including T. A Orji and Sam Egwu. For us,  we are going to work like a team. For us what is important is to rebuild Nigeria and rebuild the South East.

    “What we need is to create jobs and make Nigeria better. We have always acted as a team. It is an opportunity for us to come out and vote massively for the PDP. we must put all hands on deck to get this mission accomplished.”

     

     

  • Abia PDP lawmaker loses fourth term bid

    The camp of Hon. Nnenna Ukeje was on Thursday stunned to the marrow as a first timer, Chief Chima Anyaso from Igbere in Bende North local government area of Abia State defeated the lawmaker to become the 2019 PDP’s flag bearer of the party in Bende Federal constituency.

    According to results announced by the returning officer, Hon. Sam Ejekwu, Anyaso polled 82 votes against 70 by Ukeje while Paul Chikezie Mba polled 6 delegate votes.

    Prince Chima Onyegbu polled 3 votes while Nwokocha Chidiebere received no vote.

    Read Also:PDP declares results of primaries for Reps in Nasarawa

    Responding to the announcement, Hon. Ukeje congratulated Anyanso and wished him victory during the main election.

    According to her, “the election is transparent, peaceful and fair. I am so happy for the way it played out. Democracy is supposed to emanate from the people and that has just happened.

    “I have served my people for 12 years and they have seen a fine young man in Chima and feel otherwise. I therefore congratulate Chima for this victory and enjoin him to continue from where I stopped. I am a proud member of PDP and will not jettison my party. Democracy has played out,” was quoted to have said.

    In another development, the lawmaker representing Umuahia/Ikwuano Federal Constituency, Hon. Sam Onuigbo has clinched the 2019 ticket of his party.

    Onuigbo scored 117 votes  to emerge the overall winner of the primary while other like John K Nwadinobi got 90 votes, Uni Agomuo 8, Emeka Inyama 49, Wada Ijeoma 30, Emeka Njoku 20, Megwara Kingsley 16,Ejiogu 14, Uwaoma Adaku 16, Longman 3, Gospel 37.

  • Tambuwal promises to tackle Southeast bad roads, ecological challenges

    Leading presidential aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and governor of Sokoto state, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has promised to take on ecological challenges and infrastructural deficit in the southeastern part of Nigeria.

    Tambuwal made this promise in Umuahia, capital of Abia state, when he paid a courtesy visit to the state governor, Okezie Ikpazu, on Tuesday October 2, 2018, as part of his nationwide consultations over his 2019 presidential ambition.

    The Sokoto governor, who in a statement by his campaign spokesman, Dr. Okey Ikechukwu, described his presidential aspiration as ” a mission to rescue Nigeria from ineffective and ineffectual leadership”, lamented the multiplicity of security challenges that the nation is currently faced with, as he pledged to provide a responsible leadership that would comprehensively tackle “insecurity, impunity and lack of transparency in doing government business, if given the opportunity to serve this great nation president.”

    He told the Abia state governor that he understood what the zone is suffering as regards the poor state of federal roads in the area, emphasizing, “I have seen firsthand, what Abians and the people of the entire South east are suffering as a result of bad roads. On my way to Umuahia from Port Harcourt through Owerri, we meandered through potholes, gullies, ponds and even swimming pools, in the name of federal roads. This is a shame.

    Read Also: 2019: Tambuwal wants INEC to live above board

    “Nigeria is a good country, but It can and will be better.  When I become president, we shall take on the challenges of infrastructural deficit in this region, address the ecological problems here, by applying the ecological funds judiciously.

    “We shall collaborate with the state governments to provide jobs through Small and Medium Enterprises (SME). Abia people are very enterprising and we shall support those with entrepreneurial skills to fulfill their potentials and help in creating jobs for the teeming youths.

    “I will be that Nigerian President that will come up with policies that will help the Industrial cluster of Aba to grow .These Nigerians are not asking for too much , but only need business friendly policies that will help their businesses and our economy,” the former speaker, House of Representatives said.
    Tambuwal also vowed to make “NNPC  more accountable. We shall ensure that there is proper accounting by the NNPC. The nation has to know how much crude oil we are getting out daily and the amount of revenue that is derivable.”

    According to the former speaker of House of Representatives, ” NNPC has constituted itself into a government of its own and operates as if it is not accountable to anyone. The states are continually shortchanged by the federal government and NNPC. But all that will change when I’m elected president because I will take on the issues of secrecy in NNPC accounting and ensure that there is transparency and fiscal discipline so that Nigerians know the true state of things in the corporation’s operations in terms of the revenue accruable to the nation”

    He said that Nigeria at this critical moment “needs a democrat that will unify the nation and return her to the part of progress, not a nepotist leader  that believes in the interest of a few. I will not be a leader that will shut doors against critical national issues. I will work for a United prosperous Nigeria where rule of law is supreme and respected. And where every citizen will live peacefully in any part of this great nation without fear of molestation or intimidation.”

  • Abia APC guber primary: Four aspirants stage walk out

    …alleges cash inducement

     

    Candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of the Ngwa extraction have reportedly pulled out of the Abia State gubernatorial primary scheduled to hold across the 17 local government areas of the state Tuesday.

    One of the gubernatorial aspirants, Prince Paul Ikonne while addressing journalists on behalf of other agitators of Ngwa extraction staged a walk out from the APC party secretariat in Umuahia; the state capital said that they have lost faith in the committee to organize credible guber primary election in the state.

    Read Also:APC holds guber primaries in Ogun – Onanuga

    Ikonne also claimed that the committee has perfected plans to use doctored membership registers to favour one of the governorship aspirants and party members whose names were not in the party register.

    Ikonne further alleged that a chieftain of the party has induced the committee with cash gifts running into millions to influence the eventual winner of the exercise.

    While acknowledging that the leadership of the party remains supreme to such issues which they have raised, Ikonne however used the medium to call on the national leadership of the party to listen to their complaints and call the committee to order.

    Until the time of filing the report, Ngwa guber aspirants; Comrade Chris Akomas, Sir Friday Nwosu, Rt. Hon. Martins Azubuike, Prince Paul Ikonne were in a crucial closed door meeting at Damgrete Hotels where it was learnt, they would take consensus decision on what to do.

    Meanwhile, the chairman of the committee David Iyola has denied the allegations raised by Ikonne.

    Iyola said he wasn’t aware of any walk out by any aspirants or aspirant, stressing that the committee was committed to ensuring a credible primary in the state.

    Meanwhile, distribution of materials to different polling units across the state started at about 12:30pm at the party secretariat under the supervision of various security personnel at the APC party secretariat on Azikiwe road.

     

  • Let us do away with acrimony, strife – Ikpeazu

    Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has called for the collaborative effort of all Nigerians to build the country of our dreams.

    The governor who made the call in his independence anniversary message, signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Enyinnaya Appolos, noted that a better Nigeria is possible if we do away with acrimony, strife and politics of bitterness which remains the bane of our national growth.

    Read Also: Ikpeazu calls for early submission of budget proposals

    Governor Ikpeazu call on all men of goodwill to stand up for the country and work hard to make Nigeria a country we can all be proud of and where equity, justice and fairness rules, maintained that there is no price too high to pay for a better Nigeria

    He added that he is sure that with everybody working together, our tomorrow will certainly be better than our present and past.

    Governor Ikpeazu therefore wish all Abians and Nigerians a happy fifty eight independence anniversary.