The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abia State

  • Aba market women protest excess taxes, levies

    Traders made up of women from various markets in Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State especially from Popular Ngwa road market in Aba South Local Government have taken to the streets in protest over multiple taxes and levies by the State Vigilante popularly known as Bakassi Boys.

    The women numbering over 500 marched peacefully from Ngwa Road to Ahia Ohuru (New Market) and major roads including Asa and Aba-Owerri roads respectively as a way of registering their dissatisfaction and drawing the attention of the government to their plight.

    The women bearing placards with different inscriptions also sang songs depicting that they were tired of being forced to pay monies that they don’t know what they were being used for.

    According to one of the protesters who craved anonymity, she said, “the rate they’re being harassed by the men of Bakassi (Security men) prompted them to embark on the protest.

    “We are being embarrassed, harassed everyday with different kinds of tax and levies, they, at times beat us up and lock up our shops if we did not oblige. This is becoming too much, thus led us to embark on this protest, said the woman.

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    Another protester who spoke out of anger said she is a victim of the security men, according to her; “They came to my shop this morning and started locking up my shop over a levy we rejected to pay”.

    “It’s becoming too much and we can’t continue to pay this, state government should do something about it, else the protest will continue”, the woman concluded.

    Officials of the vigilante group could not be reached for comments on the issue raised by the women.

  • 39 Abia prison inmates regain freedom

    About 39 inmates who were remanded at the Afaraukwu Federal Prison in Umuahia, the Abia State capital for allegedly committing various offences have regained their freedom.

    The inmates including Chukwudi Kalu, Njoku Okoro, Okechukwu Ubani, Ndubuisi Ndukwe, Chimdi Onuobia, Obinna Okechukwu, Ahamefula Okereke, Innocent Ibegbulam, Eze Nwachukwu, Chima Ilochukwu, John Samuel Peter, Chikodi Temple Azuogu, Mfom Bassey Okon and among others were released by the acting Chief Justice of the State Hon. Justice Onuoha A.K Ogwe during his visit at the correctional facility.

    Read Also:Court remands husband in prison over wife’s death

    The freed inmates; all males were said to have been brought into the correctional home after being accused of murder, armed robbery, attempted murder between 2006 till date.

    The Public Relations Officer of the Abia State Judiciary, Chika Orji-Nwoke said that the action of the acting Abia CJ was in line with the directives of the President, Muhammadu Buhari for State Chief Judges to review cases of awaiting trial inmates with the intention of decongesting prisons which have exceeded its limit.

    It was gathered that while some of the freed inmates were unlawfully detained at the correctional home as no case against them has been brought any competent law court, other inmates were said to be culpable of the crimes that they were accused of, but have overstayed their time in the home.

    According to Orji-Nwoke, the acting CJ had setup a committee on prisons decongestion which he charged to find out and recommend what could be done to reduce the number of awaiting trial inmates and decongest the prisons in the state.

    It was learnt that the visit at the Umuahia prison could not have been unconnected with the recommendations of the decongestion committee who may have called for decongestion of correctional homes in the state whose facilities are already overstretched by the inmates’ population.

    Our reporter gathered that Ogwe while admonishing the freed inmates not to waste their useful years in crime, urged them to ensure that they become useful to themselves, families and the society at large by ensuring that they are law abiding citizens of the country.

    The acting Abia CJ having pity on some freed inmates whose houses were far from the yard promised to carter for their transportation fares to their respective homes.

  • Buhari promises new textile investments for South East

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday in Abuja expressed optimism that new investment commitments coming into Nigeria’s textile sector, of which Aba is a major beneficiary, will be actualized within the shortest possible time.

    He gave the assurance while receiving traditional rulers from Abia State led by His Royal Majesty, Dr. Isaac Ikonne, Enyi 1 of Aba.

    The President also assured the monarchs that the issue of unstable electricity and other basic infrastructure in Ariaria market, a major trading hub in West and Central Africa, would soon be a thing of the past.

    In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, the President also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to rapidly industrialize the country through projects that promote import substitution.

    The President said the investments in the textile industry would create thousands of jobs for youths in Aba.

    He said ‘‘Just last week, I was in China to attend the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation. During that visit, I personally met with executives of one of the largest cotton and garment companies in the world who will soon establish operations in Aba.

    ‘‘This is following a joint effort of attracting this investor by both the Federal and Abia State Government.

    ‘‘The proposed investment will create thousands of jobs for the vibrant and creative youths in Aba.

    ‘‘I am very excited about this project. I have directed the Hon. Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment to ensure this investment is actualised within the shortest possible time,’’ the President told the visiting royal majesty and his entourage.

    On Ariaria market, the President recounted that during his visit to Aba in 2015 as a presidential candidate, he was warmly received and walked through parts of the market where he observed the lack of electricity and other basic infrastructure for its over 40,000 shops.

    Read Also: Buhari promises new textile investments for South East

    ‘‘As a government, we issued a presidential mandate to the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing and the Rural Electrification Agency to energise the market.

    ‘‘In June 2018, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission granted an electricity generation licence as well as a distribution licence for the market. This will enable the generation and distribution of 9.5 Megawatts of electricity within the market.

    ‘‘The project is moving smoothly and I have been assured the market will be fully electrified soon. We are working closely with the State Government, Local Government, Traditional Rulers, Market Associations and the community on this project to ensure this goal is actualised by the end of the year,’’ he said.

    On security, the President reiterated that the APC-led government would continue to do its best to maintain the sovereign integrity of Nigeria while protecting the livelihoods of its hardworking and honest citizens.

    He also underscored the need for elder statesmen, leaders, parents and patriots to continue to guide youths on the path of peace and prosperity while eschewing hateful and divisionary rhetoric.

    ‘‘We must not shy away from this responsibility. We only have one Nigeria. And we must ensure we hand over a better Nigeria to the next generation,’’ he said.

    Eze Ikonne lauded the President for successes recorded so far since he assumed office in 2015, particularly in the fight against corruption, agricultural revolution, infrastructure development and security.

    On infrastructure development in the South East, His Majesty said: ‘‘ Mr President, I thank you for the massive federal roads rehabilitation going on in the South- East; like the Enugu-Aba-Port Harcourt expressway, Port Harcourt-Elele-Owerri road, Enugu-Onitsha expressway.

    ‘‘These roads were death traps for 16 years before you came into office, but today they are wearing new solid looks, though not completed but relief is already there with the level of work done so far.’’

    Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Mac Wabara, a former Managing Director of the defunct Hallmark Bank, who was among the delegation, described President Buhari as a courageous and a decisive man who is committed to the growth and development of this nation.

    He said, “For six decades our people have been working in line with our founding fathers. In that respects our successes have been limited by lack of political will, lack of political stability and unity among the various constituencies making up Nigeria.

    “In the life of great nation, challenging times like this produce men of courage, men of capacity, men who are committed to nation building and in Mr. President we have a man like that. He is courageous, decisive and he is committed to the growth and development of this nation.

    “We are glad to note that following his trip to China, the biggest cotton producing company is going to establish in Aba, Abia State. These are the works of Mr. President and I believe we can take that to the bank. So, we are happy that Mr. President has his eyes not only on Abia but on the whole of Nigeria.”

  • IPOB Sit-at-home: Aba residents shun security directives

    Despite assurances of safety of lives and property of residents and visitors to the state by heads of various security agencies in Abia State, residents, traders, private and government workers in Aba, the commercial nerve of the State on Friday stayed away from their shops and offices as the Indigenous People of Biafra ( IPOB ) hold sit-at-home across the southeast states.

    A release by the spokesman of the secessionist group, Emma Powerful had urged the people to stay away from their offices and shops in honour of their late colleagues who were murdered in Afaraukwu, the country home of their leader and Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu by soldiers.

    Our correspondent who monitored compliance to the sit-at-home order by the IPOB, reports that while there was compliance to the order in Aba, it was business as usual in Umuahia, the state capital as the people were seen going about their businesses without any harassment by anybody.

    According to our reporter, while the gates of major markets in Aba including Ariaria International market, Cemetery, Shopping Plaza, Ahia Ohuru, Bakassi among others were open, traders however stayed away from their shops.

    While some commercial banks at the time of this report were running skeletal services, some of the staff interviewed disclosed that they were open for business because they didn’t get official memo from their headquarters directing them to stay away from work today. Offices, shops along Okigwe, Azikiwe, kent, Market, Aba-Owerri roads respectively were however devoid of their usual hustling and bubbling.

    Police patrol vans were spotted stationed at Sameck by Faulks, Market road by Shopping Center and other strategic places in the commercial city.

    Read Also: IPOB: Sit-at-home fails in Enugu

    In a chat with a senior police officer in Abia State Police Command who pleaded not to be mentioned said that they were stationed at various flash points in Aba and other parts of the state in order to forestall any breakdown of law and order by any group of person who would want to capitalized on the IPOB sit-at-home to foment troubles or stop citizens of the state from going to their normal duties.

    Some members of the pro-Biafra group members who spoke to our reporter thanked the people and residents of Aba for complying with the orders of the group.

    The respondents, including Ifeanyi Okafor described the day as a day of sober reflection and also used the opportunity to call on world bodies including the United Nations to investigate the killings in Afaraukwu in 2017 by soldiers.

    Okafor said that no amount of intimidation from the federal government and security agencies would deter them from continuing with the peaceful agitation for the sovereign State of Biafra.

  • Mixed feelings trail IPOB sit-at-home order

    …as Aba markets, banks witness large turn out

     

    Residents, visitors and shop owners in Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State and Umuahia, the state capital have expressed mixed feelings over the planned sit-at-home directives by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) which is expected to be observed in parts of the Southeast Friday.

    Our reporter who visited some major markets in Aba, the Enyimba city and the State capital reports that economic and business activities were on the increase as many even until the time of filing this report were trying to make last minute shopping before the markets close for the day.

    Read Also:Sit-at-home: Ebonyi Police Commissioner, Ohaneze Youths warn IPOB

    Some branches of commercial banks in Aba witnessed high patronage as customers who said that they wouldn’t want to risk their lives and that of their staff came to carry out different transactions which they said would have taken place tomorrow.

    An official of one of the banks who spoke anonymously told our reporter at the time of the visit that they were yet to receive official memo from their headquarters in Lagos asking them not to come work Friday.

    According to the bank source, they would be open for business tomorrow in the morning where they would be running skeletal banking services to customers and if nothing happens thereafter, they would commence normal banking activities.

    Some of the respondents who spoke to our reporter in Umuahia and Aba expressed optimism that the presence of the police and other security agencies in the state who paraded the streets of Umuahia and Aba on Wednesday in a show of force would be capable of arrest any situation that could lead to unrest or breach of peace.

    According to the respondents including Mrs. Grace Okeke, a shopper at Cemetery market in Aba, said that they were in the market to shop ahead of the sit-at-home order.

    “Tomorrow is Friday and we can’t predict what will happen which could affect opening of market on Saturday. So, I am being pro-active so as not to be caught in the web of any eventuality.”

    An official of one of the markets in Aba disclosed that they would be opening the market for business tomorrow (Friday) despite the IPOB order, stressing that they would not force people to come to market.

    Meanwhile, the spokesman of the IPOB, Emma Powerful in a statement urged their members to remain at home in adherence to the directives, alleging that investigation gathered by the group has it that plots have been made by security agencies to kill people and hang it on IPOB.

  • APGA blames Abia’s backwardness on PDP’s misrule

    Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has come down hard on the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state blaming the backwardness of the state on the party’s 20 years misrule.

    In a release titled “APGA access the living in Abia- console Abia citizens” and endorsed by Abia State chairman of the party, Rev. Augustine Ehiemere, APGA said that the heart of its members bleed daily for the continuous hardship the PDP-led government has brought on the people of the state.

    “Our heart bleeds daily for the continuous hardship, suffering and decay in the state which is making life miserable. It is both sad and shocking that after 20 years of democratic rule, Abia state is the only south-eastern state, perhaps in Nigeria as a whole that is worst in all aspects of developmental indices than it was before PDP took over political and economic control of the state”.

    Ehiemere enumerated some of the factors that have pulled the state in her present backwardness to include “Imposition of persons that lack leadership qualities as leaders, god-fatherism, refusal to allow people’s vote to count, insensitivity of politicians to the plight of citizens, civil service degradation, abysmal neglect of maintenance of basic amenities and rising corruption”.

    The APGA state chairman said whereas other states in the south east have extricated themselves from the monstrous god-fatherism, PDP in Abia state has retained it as tradition and style of governance, adding that the consequence is the persistent strangulation and draining of public fund to service the insatiable greed of the god-fathers and their agents.

    Read Also: Abia PDP chieftains defect to APGA

    “This trend has become more chronic under this regime. We do not know how we can describe a political party that for 20 years continue to plunder fund meant to develop the state and improve the living conditions of Ndi Abia and her residence.

    “We cannot see any justification for starving workers and pensioners for periods ranging from seven months to one year and some pensioners owed 18 months.

    “This starving of civil servants has impacted negatively and frustrated economic activities and families. The number of school dropouts is rising from time to time because their parents can no longer sustain them”.

    APGA said the government’s repeated excuses of shortage of allocation from the federation allocation were unacceptable as other states like Anambra which have similar experience in reduction of FAAC monthly allocation are doing very well.

    “States like Anambara that receives less allocation than Abia state pays their workers and pensioners on or before 28th of each month and also provide infrastructure for her people.

    “For clarity, the low receipt of FAAC allocation is as a result of reduction in revenue from oil, and other sources of income, and not by the arbitrary will of the president Buhari as most people are deceived by PDP to believe.

    “For example, the PDP regime of president Goodluck Jonathan got about $360 bill from oil sales between 2010 to 2014:while the present regime has got about $121 billion from May 2018 to August 2018. The low oil output notwithstanding president Buhari’s regime has not short changed any state”, APGA said.

    Ehiemere equally accused the State government of lack of maintenance culture which he said has forced all big and medium scale factories to collapse.

    The party chairman therefore urged the people of the state to do away with the party it said has deceived them for 20 years and vote in APGA in 2019 for a new lease of life for Abians.

  • Abia, Ebonyi erosion: Ohaneze youths beg FG to intervene

    The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide (OYC) has appealed to the federal government to intervene in the menace perpetrated by erosions in some parts of Ebonyi and Abia States.

    It said the situation in Abakaliki Ugep road in Ebonyi and Isuikwuato in Abia are now death traps to motorists and other road users.

    These were contained in a statement issued in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital by its Deputy President General, Obinna Achuonye.

    The group said if the situation is not remedied, it might degenerate to a distasteful situation.

    “The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide urges the Federal Government to help in the area of erosion control in Isuikwuato and Abakaliki Ugep road, which is a death trap for motorists.

    “We applaud the mutual cooperation with President Buhari, especially with high regards to ensuring that the South East gets their fair share from the projects and economic programmes of the administration.

    “Governor Umahi remains an embodiment of unity among the Igbo, his approach to governance in Ebonyi is unprecedented.

    “We advice the state government to explore this relationship with President Buhari and the Federal Government, for mutual development,” the group said.

    The group further said it was endorsing both governors for re-election in next year’s general election for their transformative performance since they assumed office.

  • Ikpeazu calls for early submission of budget proposals

    The Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has urged heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the state to ensure that they prepare and submit their budgets in order to ensure that it was passed into law early by the State House of Assembly.

    Ikpeazu represented by his deputy, Ude Oko Chukwu while flagging off the 2019 Budget Defence Session of the MDAs, tagged “Budget of Consolidation” at the conference Room of the Abia State Planning Commission, Umuahia said it was important that stressed the need for the participants in the exercise to ensure that a realistic budget that reflects government policies and aspirations as every government programmes and policy revolves round Budget planning.

    Oko Chukwu maintained that the early passage of the budget by the State House of Assembly would enable government to start early in addressing issues raised by various MDAs in addition to enhanced the state ranking by international and Donor Agencies.

    He commended the 2019 Budget Defence Committee under the chairmanship of Ugoeze Adanma Iheuwa for their dedication to duty and hard work and assured that government would always provide every assistance to enable them execute their jobs more efficiently.

    In her address, the Chairman of the state Budget committee and Permanent Secretary/ Executive Secretary of the Commission, Ugoeze Adanma Iheuwa said the 2019 Budget Defence session tagged ( Budget of Consolidation) was prepared in accordance with global best, envisaging government policy direction, improve internal generated revenue ( IGR) as well as allow completion of ongoing projects started by governor Okezie Ikpeazu administration who attaches great importance to planning for economic,social and over all development of the state.

    Read Also: Ikpeazu: Okpara inspired me

    She said that the Budget outlay and the MDAs ceiling/ envelopes were obtained after careful analysis of fiscal updates and actual performance trends and risk elements for six(6) years.

    The Executive Secretary advised MDAs to ensure that their proposal do not exceed their given ceding as the Budget committee would remain focused in their deliberations and consideration by ensuring that government realised its developmental objective through prioritized Budget provisions.

    Ugoeze Iheuwa thanked the state governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu for his encouragement and solicit approval to link the state planning commission with the integrated software server at the office of the state Accountant General.

    In his vote of thanks, the state Auditor General, Elder O.U. Ngwobia assured that they will do their best to come up with a realistic Budget consolidation that would enable the governor continue his developmental plans across the state.

  • Kwankwaso promises to promote justice, fairness if elected

    Former governor of Kano State and Presidential hopeful of the People’s Democratic Party in 2019 general election, Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso has vowed to promote justice, fairness and equity if elected the president of the country which he said that the country is lacking at the moment.

    Kwankwaso while addressing members of the PDP at the Abia State chapter secretariat of the party at Finbarrs road Umuahia, the state capital said that he wants to lead a Nigeria where people are educated and exposed beyond the confines of their tribe, religion, linguistic group or place of birth when elected president.

    According to the Kano born politician who attributed the challenges being faced in the country is as lack of leadership capacity by the incumbent administration said he is committed to address the needs of Nigerians bothering on restructuring and stated that the constitution of the country needed to be reviewed constantly in order to meet the yearnings of Nigerians.

    While praying for credible primaries of the party, Kwankwaso said he believes in one united and developed Nigeria and appealed to prospective PDP delegates to the primaries to make a good choice amongst the party’s presidential hopefuls in order to withstand the major opposition party which he accused of not giving proper attention to the challenges the challenges that have bedeviled country in recent times.

    He also commended the State PDP Chairman led Executive for their continued support for a free, fair, transparent and credible elections in Nigeria, which according to him will ensure lasting peace.

    In his remarks, the State PDP Chairman, Sir Johnson Onuigbo saluted the consuming zeal and courage of Mr. Kwankwaso, saying that many people have heard about his good deeds even when he served as the Governor of Kano state.

    Read Also: Kwankwaso pledges paradigm shift at declaration

    Onuigbo observed that the Aspirant has both the quality and academic vibrancy to lead Nigeria, pointing out that his leadership in Kano State cannot be wiped out in a hurry.

    Sir Onuigbo pointed that his leadership in Abia also preaches for credible and verifiable elections, disclosing that Abia PDP respects the rule of law and promotes democracy in action.

    He further promised that the party will take his plea of support to the appropriate quarters.

    Earlier during a courtesy visit on Governor Okezie Ikpeazu at the Government House, Umuahia, Kwankwaso congratulated Ikpeazu for his giant strides for Abians and his contributions to the PDP family across the country.

    He said he has heard so much about the Governor’s achievements and seen things on the ground despite the fact that Abia receives one of the least allocations from the federation account and also among the least in terms of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

    He said Abia was lucky to have Dr. Ikpeazu as Governor and advised the people to come out en masse to vote him back to power in 2019 to avoid the mistake made by Kano state in 2003.

    According to him, his visit to Abia was to inform the Governor and the party in the state of his intention to run for president of the country and to solicit for their support and cooperation.

    The presidential aspirant who said he left the PDP at a time because he thought the party was bad only to realize that the PDP is better than the APC. “This time we are all out to change the change itself”, he said.

    Receiving the Presidential Aspirant, Governor Ikpeazu restated that Nigeria needs somebody with capacity and exposure to confront the challenges facing the country especially security.

    He stressed the need for social mobilization so that every Nigerian will have belief in government and governance of the country.

    The Governor said his greatest achievement in the state is the prevailing peace and unity, explained that Nigeria currently needs a unifying factor as the country is yearning and crying for ownership.

    He assured his guest that Abians are on the same page as it concerns national interest rather than primordial sentiments.

     

  • APGA receives over 3000 PDP defectors in Ikpeazu’s LGA

    The leadership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has reportedly received about 3,500 members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State.

    Recall that Obignwa local government area where the incumbent Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu comes from is noted for their voting strength and in the 2015 election was said to have produced over 82, 000 votes that gave Ikpeazu victory in 2015 including Osisioma LGA.

    Read Also:I’m not going to APGA, says Atiku

    The ceremony to receive the defectors to the APGA fold could have held last week at the National Institute for Nigerian Languages (NINLAN), Umuokahia, Obingwa council area, but was disrupted by thugs allegedly hired by PDP which prompted the state chairman of APGA to issue a statement condemning the action.

    Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Hon. Maduka Akpulonu said they decided to dump their former party for APGA because according to him, PDP as a party has failed to provide purposeful governance to the people of the state in the past 20 years.

    Akpulonu accused the chieftains of his former party of making efforts to stop them from defecting to APGA, stressing that nothing will make them to return to PDP.

    “We decide to dump our former party for APGA because PDP as a party has failed to provide purposeful governance to the people of the state. Some chieftains of our former party made efforts to stop us from defecting to APGA, but we resisted that and nothing will make us return to PDP”.

    While welcoming the governorship aspirant of the party, Dr. Alex Otti and other leaders of the party to the area, he urged him to extend his campaign tour to all the 11 wards of the council, Akpulonu apologized for the botched rally last week.

    “We apologize for the botched rally last week. Our defection has shaken PDP to its foundation in Obingwa.  They frustrated our efforts to dump PDP. The party (PDP) won’t do anything for the people and won’t allow them to leave to a better party”

    He boasted that APGA will win majority wards in Obingwa in 2019, adding that there was no going back as they were poised to take the message of APGA and Dr. Otti to every part of Obingwa.

    Receiving the former PDP members, APGA State chairman, Rev. Augustine Ehiemere, stated that the people of Obingwa council area have nothing to show for producing the governor, Dr. Ikpeazu, adding that the council has the worst network of roads.

    He commended the former PDP members for their courage to dump the party and assured of a level playing field for all members and expressed optimism that their defection marks APGA’s victory in the 2019 general election.

    The governorship aspirant of the party, Dr. Otti said APGA was set for a total transformation of the state from bad governance by the PDP.

    He vowed that Abia will be rescued from those he described as ‘blood sucking godfathers and council of elders in 2019 and urged the people to support APGA in this direction.