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Tag: Abia State

  • Abia key to Nigeria’s growth, says IBB

    Abia key to Nigeria’s growth, says IBB

    Former military president, Ibrahim Babangida has described Abia State as key to the economic development of Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

    He also praised Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for his efforts in repositioning the state for growth.

    The state was created in 1991 by the Babangida administration.

    A press release by Ikpeazu’s Chief Press Secretary Mr. Enyinnaya Appolos said Babangida was speaking when Governor Ikpeazu visited him at his Hiltop home in Minna, the Niger State capital.

    Babangida said, “Abia is very important to Nigeria and Africa. I hear about your efforts to reposition the state. God will bless you for the good work you are doing for us in Abia. Please do not stop the good work you are doing already, and always remember that the opportunity to serve has expiry date. I am indeed happy when I read of your good works in Abia.”

    In his response, Ikpeazu thanked the elder statesman for giving his best to Nigeria and promised that his effort and that of other leaders of Nigeria will be sustained.

    Governor Ikpeazu said, “I must thank you, Sir, for your efforts in keeping this nation as one. You gave your best and we will not allow your efforts for a better Nigeria to be in vain.

    “I must also thank you, Sir, for your support to us in Abia, you encouraged us a lot and I promise that we will keep doing our best in Abia. It has not been easy, but we are addressing the issue of infrastructure in the state, particularly in Aba.”

    Governor Ikpeazu was accompanied on the visit by some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia including, Chief Allen Nwachukwu, Ochiagha Reagan Ufomba and Ambassador Empire Kanu.

  • 27 commissioners take office in Abia

    Twenty seven commissioners have been sworn in to serve in the administration of Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

    Three out of the commissioners are women while seven new ministries were created by the government.

    Some of the new ministries are the Ministry of Strategy and Social Development; Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources; Ministry of Inter-state Affairs, and Ministry of Small, Medium Entrepreneur Development.

    Addressing the new commissioners, Governor Ikpeazu urged them to see their appointment as a call to duty.

    He said Abia is in need of credible men and women, urging them to serve with humility and fear of God as well as correcting whatever shortcomings witnessed in the past state executive council.

    Okezie said, “We also believe that if there were things we did not do properly during the last council, you are called upon to fill that gap and do it better this time around.

    “Abia State today is not just in need of men and women. We are in need of men women  that can be trusted. People on whose shoulders the development of Abia state is going to rest for the rest of the tenure of this administration. Therefore, I want to make it clear that the position you occupy today you occupy on behalf of your people and the people of Abia State. It is not a position with which you have been called to oppress anyone,” he said.

    The governor expressed confidence that the commissioners are capable of leading Abia to the next level of development and urged them to make use of the opportunity to serve the people of the state and be bridge builders in their areas as he shall no longer tolerate commissioners that no longer reach the grassroots.

    “Something is peculiar with this particular council and that is that there is no tenure attached to the lifespan of this council. For all those that will work in tandem with this administration they will last but those who will not keep pace and faith with what we have innunciated for ourselves  to create better life for Abia people they may easily fall by the wayside”.

    Responding on behalf of the others, the Commissioner for Works, Eziuche Ubani promised to meet the expectation of the governor and people of the state, pledging to be loyal to the government.

    The full list of the Commissioners and their portfolios as obtained by our correspondent is as follows

     

    1. Thaddeus Izuogu Imo – Inter-State Affairs
    2. Barr. Gab Igboko – SME Development
    3. Obike Mascot – Boundary Affairs
    4. Barr. James Okpara – Housing
    5. Chief Henry Ikoh – Industries
    6. Lady Elizabeth Uhuegbu  – Special Duties, Est & Training
    7. Chief Fabian Nwankwo – Science & Technology
    8. Precious Achumba  -Special Duties, Vulnerable Groups
    9. Lady Kate Onyemaechi – Women Affairs
    10. Hon. Young Onyike – Corporatives & Rural Development
    11. Martin Okoji – Sports
  • FRSC sensitises on safe driving

    FRSC sensitises on safe driving

    Abia state Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has thanked the management and staff of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for what he described as the thankless job they have been doing for the country.

    Ikpeazu said many people in the society do not appreciate the good work the corps is doing in the area of saving lives.

    He also urged the people to always show respect to them whenever they see them on the highway.

    The governor who was represented by Kingsley Megwara, the chairman of Abia State Passenger Integrated Manifest Scheme (ASPIMSS), said that the scheme has been working in tandem with the FRSC to ensure that the highways and  lives are safe.

    He said that the scheme has eight ambulances scattered across the state,.

    “We have placed them at strategic places and when there is an accident my people arrive there either before or after Road Safety to ensure that those involved are taken care of”.

    Ikpeazu said that he has spoken with the police so that they can find a way to let ASPIMSS respond to distress calls.

    “However,” he said, “we are in a dilemma as in most cases when our ambulances arrive at any accident scene our nurses are always attacked for the reason that they arrived late which should not be so.”

    The governor used the forum to plead with officers of FRSC who are on the highways to stop the habit of flagging down vehicles that are on high speed, stressing that in such cases most of the vehicles may lose control and thereby cause accident.

    He said that government is making plans to enact laws that will stop the sale of alcoholic beverages in motor parks across the state.

    “Such beverages which most drivers take before embarking on trips also lead to crashes on the roads”.

    In his speech, the sector commander of FRSC in Abia, Linus Ojukwu said that this years’ theme is ‘Right to Life on the Highway not Negotiable’, which is the reason behind their determination to reduce road crashes that has remained a dreadful plague all over the world.

    Ojukwu said that the cause of the road crashes ranges from poor maintenance of vehicles, absence of appropriate road signs, poor driving skills to lack of concentration by drivers and alcoholic intakes.

    He said that despite the many causes of road crashes that the Corps has been devising several means over the years to make the roads safe for all, adding that the end of year patrol operations is a ritual of the corps that seek to meet the challenges of ensuring safety on highways.

    The Abia sector commander said, “It is a general knowledge that the Yuletide period is characterised by high vehicular movement all over the country with its attendant incidences of road traffic crashes, so we are determined to reduce it”.

    “The axiom that says ‘crashes do not just occur’ goes to confirm that the causes of road crashes are mainly caused by road users which the Corps has been trying very hard to stem the tide”.

    “We are determined to ensure the full actualization of the Corps 2017 strategic goals of enhancing public education and enlightenment, improving enforcement, refusing road traffic crashes by 15% and fatality by 24%, advance road safety administration and strengthening professionalism and transparency”.

    Ojukwu said that this years’ theme seeks to bring to the consciousness the seeming eluding sense of decorum on the roads for all road users, “We are going to enlighten all road users that we all have a role to play to put an end to the car ages we usually witness during this time of the year”.

    He noted that most mistakes lead to the cause of crashes which have been claiming lives, saying that no one has the right to take the life of another, “Which is the reason behind our insisting on sped limiter on fleet vehicles which will go a long way in reducing road accidents”.

  • Abia CP urges residents to ignore IPOB threats to shut down Aba

    Abia CP urges residents to ignore IPOB threats to shut down Aba

    Masked men suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Thursday stormed popular Powerline sections of the Ariaria International Market, Aba, Abia State, sharing Anti-Anambra Saturday poll.

    The presence of the masked men, The Nation gathered caused panic among visitors and shoppers in the market.

    According to a flyer made available to our correspondent, their message is that people shouldn’t participate in Anambra election come Saturday.

    They also urged shop owners in Ariaria not to open shops for business come Saturday in solidarity to their counterparts in Anambra who they said were not going to be part of the voting process of choosing who governs Anambra in the next four years.

    Our correspondent gathered that the sharing of the flyers have created panic among traders of Ariaria on whether the market will be opening for business on Saturday or not.

    Some of the traders however, expressed fears of coming to the market on Saturday to avoid being caught in the web of any possible crisis between the masked men and security agencies.

    The Chairman of Ariaria, Mr. Emeka Igara could not be reached for comments on the threat by the masked men.

    But the Commissioner of Police in Abia State, Mr. Anthony Ogbizi in a press briefing urged Abia residents and traders at the Ariaria international market to disregard the threats by members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra to shut down the markets in the state on Saturday November 18th, 2017.

    Ogbizi said the State Police command acting on intelligence gathered that IPOB members has been circulating leaflets aimed at intimidating law abiding citizens from doing their lawful business.

    The Police boss, who spoke at the command headquarters in Umuahia stated that members of the group in show of support to their counterparts in Anambra State were spreading false information that the Saturday governorship election will not hold in Anambra State.

    He disclosed that the intent of IPOB members, who no longer wear the outlawed Biafra insignia or hoisting Biafra flags, is to cause confusion and disrupt the peace and security of the State.

    He dismissed the misinformation and propaganda of IPOB members as baseless, urging members of the public to disregard them.

    He said, “The Police here by wish to inform the general public that the Anambra State election will on November 18, 2017 as selected. We advise all law abiding citizens in Anambra state to go out and exercise their civic duty on Saturday.

    “The Police also assure the general public, particularly all people in Abia State of adequate protection of their lives and properties”.

    Ogbizi maintained that the police will deal decisively with any person or persons operating under whatever guise to spread rumor and confusion in the State.

    He disclosed that Police officers have been deployed to Start stop and search operation on all borders between Abia and Anambra State from Friday November 17 to November 19, 2017.

    He urged all businessmen operating in Ariria or any other part of the state, to co-operate with the Police and other security agencies by promptly providing information on any gathering of any outlawed group for necessary action.

  • Pepsodent praised for promoting oral hygiene

    Pepsodent praised for promoting oral hygiene

    Speakers at the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) have praised Pepsodent, produced by Unilever for promoting oral hygiene.    The PSN made the disclosure during its 90th annual conference in Umuahia, Abia State, from the 6th to 10th of November. Speakers at the event emphasized the importance of excellent oral hygiene, and focusing on the importance of brushing twice daily.

    With theme: Medicines Availability and National Security, the conference featured discussions on a personal approach to combat tooth ache and plaque build-up, as health experts at the event deliberated on measures to address health issues such as the prevalence of gum disease and tooth decay in Nigeria.

    In a statement, the Brand Manager, Pepsodent, Ogechukwu Anozie stated that with the organisation’s key mission to be a dependable healthcare provider of quality, safe and cost effective drugs and health information in the country.

    She said that Pepsodent, as a leading health vendor, strongly supports the responsibility of securing faster and equitable access to oral healthcare for all Nigerians.

    “Unilever is committed to doing business in a sustainable way and improving the lives of the Nigerian people, and our partnership with the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria is intended to create awareness about the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene” she concluded.

    Through the Pepsodent Brush Day & Night School Programme, the brand has a long term goal to improve the oral health of ten million children in the country by 2020. One of the highlights during the conference was the launch of the new close up variant ‘Cool Breeze’, a new toothpaste from Unilever that contains anti-bacteria mouthwash formula to gives cool and fresh breath for 12 hours.

  • Again, Aba residents appeal for security

    Security has always been an issue in Aba, the commercial capital of Abia State. This is why the state pays close attention to the city, deploying security personnel there as often as needed. But hard as the security community tried to contain challenges, criminals still manage to cause a lot of trouble.

    Residents of Aba frequently calls for more security. Even politicians have joined the call, asking for more deployments of security personnel.  A member of the House of Representatives, Ossy Prestige, who represents Abia, has echoed the call.

    The calls are not unheeded, but the challenges persist.

    Now, residents of Ohanku, Obohia and adjoining streets in Aba South Local Government Area appealed to the police, army and other security agencies in the state’s economic hub to beef up security in their areas.

    The residents of the affected areas who spoke to our reporter in Aba said they more security in their neighbourhood of continued threats to their lives in recent times.

    Some of the residents including Mr. Wilson Okereke stated that activities of armed robbers and street cult groups especially among teenagers have been on the increase in their area which has put their lives in danger.

    Okereke, recounting his experience in the hands of the hoodlums, said that they made away with cash and other valuables when he had an encounter with them, stressing that he was not the only one that has fallen victim.

    A resident of Obohia who pleaded not to be named said that they no longer sleep as their area has become escape route of kidnappers, armed robbers and others when being chased by security agencies.

    He added that when the hoodlums operate in their area, they do so for hours without being challenged by the security agents.

    Asked if the people attempt reaching out to security agents in times of distress or attack, the resident attributed lack of manpower, operational vans and the inaccessible nature of their roads as part of the reasons security agents give for the delay in response to their distress calls.

    “Obohia, Ohanku, Umuogele and neighbouring communities no longer sleep with two eyes closed due to the incessant attack of hoodlums on the areas. Last week, there was rain of bullets where some residents of college road were killed. We later read that it was a drug war according to the Abia police command Public Relations Officer Geoffrey Ogbonna. We don’t know if any arrest has been made by the police and other security agencies.

    “You don’t talk about street cultism that has become the order of the day and some of these boys have become terrors to this community. Parents no longer correct wrongs of their children and that of their neighbour’s because of the fear that he or she may be attacked by some cult groups. We want government to come to our aids,” pleaded the source.

    A top security agent who asked not to be named blamed the bad terrain and the inability of the people to provide information for the persistence of crime in the areas, and the inability of the police to arrest the hoodlums.

    The security agent assured that the police and other sister agencies were working collaboratively to contain crime in Aba and its environs regardless of the challenges.

     

  • Home care for Abia senior citizens

    Home care for Abia senior citizens

    There is a programme in Abia State under which the health of elderly citizens will be monitored at home to save the ordeal of moving around over long distances, Sunny Nwankwo reports

    When they go for pension verification, they are always a pitiable sight.  Some simply cannot move a limb, and cannot report for the exercise. Some who do report are carried by their children or other relatives. Some others are aided by walking sticks. There are also reports of collapses and even deaths on the queues.

    But in Abia State something refreshing is happening. The government has flagged off a programme where senior citizens are catered for right at their homes. Their blood pressures and blood sugar, for instance, are monitored at home. Those who require medications have them delivered to them.

    At the Michael Okpara auditorium in Umuahia, the state capital, venue of the flag-off, the gathering of senior citizens was a happy one.

    While many of them walked into the arena by themselves, others were aided by their loved ones to come and witness for the first time in the state, the flagging off of a home healthcare initiative for the elderly by the state government.

    Some of them said they were happy about the initiative coming from government.

    They also called on the state government to ensure that the project is replicated in all the 17 local government areas of the state.

    Speaking while launching the Free Home Health Care Initiative for the Senior Citizens, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu directed the chairmen of the 17 Local Government Area of the state to key into the initiative by providing security and logistics for the health workers that would be deployed to work in their areas.

    Ikpeazu who described health as an important enabler to the development of the state, appealing for support from volunteers and well-meaning Abians towards the success of the project.

    Minister of Health, represented by the CMD, FMC, Umuahia, Dr. Abali Chukwu appreciated Governor Ikpeazu for introducing such a rare project for the elderly.

    He advised that the programme should be sustained and assured that the Federal Government would key into the project.

    The administrator of the programme, Chief Emenike Osondu said by accepting the idea of establishing the programme,  Ikpeazu has written his name in gold.

    He said that the governor has spent over 200 million naira in the project and thanked him for his interest in elongating the lives of the elderly in the State. Chief Osondu informed that the programme would also create employment opportunities to the youths in the State.

    Also speaking, one of the staff of the scheme, Miss Nkeiru Esomonu mentioned the areas the free health care services would cover to include:

    .Blood pressure, pulse and respiratory status assessment.

    .Monitoring of nutrition and hydration status.

    .Monitoring response and teaching of medication.

    .Administering insulin, wound and ostomy care, catheter care, obtaining specimens, such as blood for lab testing.

    .Visiting the elderly who have diabetes, cancer, heart disease Alzheimer, hypertension, arthritis, fractures, stroke among others.

    She thanked Governor Ikpeazu for sponsoring the programme, promising they will do their best to ensure the success of the programme.

  • Abia, others get World Bank’s $500m for rural growth

    Abia State with 17 other states across the federation has been selected by World Bank through Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) that would benefit from the $500 million for rural development.

    Speaking in Umuahia during a one day workshop for rural communities on Resettlement Policy Framework, the Abia state Project Coordinator (PC) for RAAMP Dr John Chibunna said that three other states like Anambra, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states are some of the participating states.

    Chibunna commended the state governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu for showing political will and commitment for the state to be part of the laudable project which will go a long way in opening up the rural areas of the state.

    The Abia PC said, “This project has expounded his administration’s policy of uplifting the economic life of rural dwellers in the state through the provision of suitable road network and mainstreaming of agricultural marketing and Agro hubs in the rural areas”.

    “The new and improved RAAMP will foster value chain addition to our agricultural produce from production, processing and storage which is in line with the ‘Zero reject’ of the agricultural policy of the federal government”.

    “Thus reducing wastages arising from transport of farm produce and mitigate the effect of lack of storage facilities in the state, as the legacy project adopted by the present administration will leave an indelible foot prints in the sand of time”,

    Declaring the workshop open the state governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu said that his administration is happy with the arrival of RAAMP into the state, as they are poised to benefit with the sum of $25 million from the $500 million.

    Ikpeazu who was represented by his adviser on Policy Implementation and Evaluation, Chima Chukwu said that what the project will be doing in the state will benefit all in the state as they will provide access roads and make movement of food produce from planting to harvesting.

    The governor used the forum to plead with the people of the state to bear with the World Bank as they have many projects in the state which will affected the people adversely, pointing out that they have the capacity to pay compensation for things damaged in the process.

    He urged the traditional rulers to go home and alert their people on the need for them to cooperate with the RAAMP to allow them do their project of uplifting the rural areas of the state.

    Ikpeazu frowned at petition writers who will be ready to write against the projects of RAAMP simply because they are not going it benefit from the project, stressing that anything they damaged will be adequately compensated by the World Bank.

     

  • No automatic ticket for Ikpeazu, others in Abia – PDP

    No automatic ticket for Ikpeazu, others in Abia – PDP

    The Abia State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party ( PDP ) has said that it won’t give automatic ticket to its members aspiring for any elective position for the 2019 general election in the state.

    The party stated that it will provide a level playing ground for all aspirants irrespective of the position involved.

    The State Chairman of the party, Chief Johnson Onuigbo made the decision of the party known at the end of the State working Committee meeting held in Umuahia the State capital.

    He pointed out that the state PDP has resolved to do away with all manners of impositions and impunity in the party.

    Onuigbo noted that party also passed a vote of explicit confidence on Governor Okezie Ikpeazu based on his performance during the last two years and six months in office.

    He said, “The party has declared that all offices for 2019 general election are open and contestable in line with the Abia charter of equity and PDP zoning formula.

    “We urge all our party faithful to remain loyal, steadfast and continue to have confidence in party leadership”.

    Onuigbo also added that the SWC also passed a vote of explicit confidence on the state leadership of the party for transparence and effective leadership.

  • Detained IPOB inmates compound prison’s logistics challenged – ACG

    Detained IPOB inmates compound prison’s logistics challenged – ACG

    The issue of accommodation and logistics challenges being faced by the prisons has been compounded by the 100 Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) members in its zone E custody.

    Speaking with newsmen at the Abia State headquarters Umuahia, after a meeting with the officers of the command, the Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) zone E, Mr Alloy Uchenwa, said, it was a miracle yesterday how the command was able to convey 100 IPOB members to court.

    Uchenwa who was in Abia State as part of his routine inspection of facilities in commands under his zone, identified logistics as one of the major challenges of the prisons.

    He therefore called on individuals, organisations and governments to assist the zone by providing logistics to enable it convey inmates to court at the appropriate time.

    The ACG equally identified overcrowding/prison congestion as another challenge confronting the prisons, “A situation where more than 90% of inmates are awaiting trial was worrisome”.

    The zone E prison boss, called for building of more prison cells to ease the challenge of overcrowding, saying that a situation where cells for 500 inmates were occupied by 1000 prisoners was not the best.

    According to him, the society would enjoy peace only when there is peace in the prisons saying that the zone’s commitment to excellence would not be compromised.

    He disclosed that in his meeting with the Abia State Attorney General and commissioner for Justice, Chief Ume Kalu (SAN) he raised the issue of prison decongestion with a promise from him to expedite trial of cases.

    Uchenwa commended Abia prison command for the improvements recorded since his last visit.

    He said that of particular interest was the reform which has helped the inmates to enroll in classes which has helped most of them to write WASCE even as others were taking courses in the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).

    He commended the prison personnel while describing them as disciplined officers and men and assured that their promotion would remain regular even as the 2017 promotion would soon be released.

    On the issue of babies born in the prisons who automatically become members of the community even without committing any crime, the prison boss said the law is silent on that but added that such children were normally released to their parents or relatives after 18 months.

    He said, “But the first few months of birth, the baby would need the attention of the mother”.

    On the issue of lack of adequate medication and food for inmates, he said the inmates would not be satisfied with the service because all the inmates need is freedom.