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Tag: abia

  • Will Abia, Imo help this baby?

    Will Abia, Imo help this baby?

    If the three children of the Onumaraekwus, the youngest has an abnormally swollen and aching head. Chibuike Miracle Onumaraekwu, nearing two years old, needs N5m for an urgent surgery. His father, Iheanyichukwu Onumaraekwu, a small-time trader at Ariaria Market, Aba, Abia State, cannot raise the money, nor can his wife. All the cash they had has been used up in the search for their boy’s cure. They have moved from one hospital to another and from one church to the other. Their effort has yet to yield any fruit.

    Imo State-born Onumaraekwu has appealed to the Abia State government as well as that of Imo to help save his son who was diagnosed with Hydrocephalus, a condition responsible for the swollen head.

    Miracle is almost always lying down because he can hardly sit. This has worsened his condition as bed-sores often break out of his head.

    “I live at Owerre Aba for now,” the trader to The Nation at a Deeper Life service at Abia State Polytechnic, Aba where he and his wife took Miracle for prayers.

    “I am from Mbieri, Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State. I am a petty trader at Ariaria International Market, Aba Abia State.

    “Miracle was born on September 2, 2014. I wasn’t living with them because things became hard for us and my family left for the village while I stayed back in Aba to be doing my business.

    Three months after his birth, I got to the village and saw his condition, but I never knew it would be this serious, though my wife after his birth noticed that his head was big, but didn’t know it was a serious problem.

    One week later, my junior sister called to inform me that my baby’s head was developing in an unusual manner. I went home and took him to FMC (Federal Medical Centre Owerri), but they were on strike. We couldn’t go to Enugu since February to see one of the Pediatrics we were referred to go and see in Enugu because of lack of money and as such have been going from one place to another for treatment and that is why we are here today to see if God can use the Man of God (Kumuyi) to heal our son.

    “As at the time we were referred to Enugu, we learnt that doctors at UNTH, Enugu were equally on strike. Fortunately for us, we met a doctor who saw us and told us that the baby will be operated upon on his head to enable him live his normal life. We noticed it since December 2014. He is my second son and third child. The child is healthy. He doesn’t have fever, he eats normally and feels discomfort because of the weight of his head.

    “The truth is that we don’t have anyone and the little money that I had has gone into his treatment because we had taken Miracle to herbal doctors but yet, there was no improvement before we finally met the doctor that suggested that the baby will be operated upon.

    “I am appealing to the Imo State governor and the father of the needy in Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha to come to our assistance. The life of this baby is under threat and it will take good-hearted Nigerians like the governor of Imo State and concerned Nigerians to come to our rescue. The name of our baby is Miracle and I hope that through kind Nigerians, the significance of the baby’s name will be made manifest,” Miracle’s father pleaded.

    His wife, Mrs. Chidinma Iheanyichukwu Onumaraekwu, an indigene of Abia State who spoke in tears, corroborated her husband’s account of the incident.

    According to her, “I took in for my third child while in the village because we left Aba due to condition of things for us. I went for scan but it was not detected. It was about two months after his birth that we noticed that his head was growing big. We initially took it for granted, but when we noticed that it was becoming abnormal for a child of his age, we took him to hospitals including FMC Owerri, Imo State. It was after medical examinations that we were told that he will be operated upon. This condition has made me and his elder one to be staying at home. They no longer go to school because we don’t have money to carter for their educational and academic needs.

    “We have visited many homes; both hospitals and traditional homes seeking for cure. The life of this baby is precious and we don’t want to lose him. I know he has a great future and I want the meaning of his name to manifest in his life.

    “I am appealing to the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, charity and Non-Governmental Organizations to come to our assistance and help to give this child back his life. We don’t have gold or silver, but I know that God who maketh man to be rich will always replenish their purses and wherever they will bring money to assist us”, Mrs. Blessing Iheanyichukwu prayed.

    Financial assistance may be sent to Onumaraekwu Iheanyichukwu Joseph on his Ecobank account number 4083019392.

     

  • Bid to kidnap baby in Abia foiled

    An attempt to snatch a two-week-old baby in a village in Abia State has been thwarted by police, The Nation learnt.

    Two armed men were said to have attacked a house in Amaede community in Isiala Ngwa Local Government Area of the state in a bid to kidnap a baby.

    They were stiffly resisted by the child’s parents, forcing the hoodlums to flee upon also sensing the presence of police in the area.

    The hoodlums fired some shots and inflicted a machete injury on the baby’s mother Glory Nweze before abandoning the operation.

    The suspects were said to be struggling for the baby with Mrs Nweze, leading to cut on her left hand.

    The hoodlums fled the scene as soon as they learnt that the police were in the neighbourhood. They left behind one locally-made double-barrel gun, one machete, two expended cartridges, a mask, two Itel handsets, a rubber slippers and two set of head torch.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO Ezekiel Onyeke Udeviotu confirmed the incident.

    Udeviotu who said that the boy’s mother was responding to treatment in an undisclosed hospital added that one of the gang members identified as Azunna from Umuokoro village.

    He said that the house of the suspect was raided and two long locally made single-barrel guns, one live and two expended cartridges, one iron rod and a photograph portrait were found.

    The PPRO further appealed to members of the public to avail the police of useful information on the whereabouts of the suspects who were still at large at the time of this report.

     

  • Abia approves engagement of investors for markets re-development

    Abia approves engagement of investors for markets re-development

    The on-going efforts to redevelop and re-position the markets in Abia State got a boost when the state Governor, Dr.  Okezie Victor Ikpeazu approved the formal engagement of foreign and local investors for selected major markets.

    This was in fulfillment of his pre-election promise to, among other things, “transform Abia State into a functional private sector-led economy; creating better opportunities for her citizens, improving the quality of their lives and shaping the state into a regional entrepreneurship hub through good governance, appropriate developmental and environmentally sustainable policies.”

    Subsequently, the Abia State Markets Development Committee (ASMDC), the state’s special purpose vehicle for engaging various stakeholders to remodel, upgrade and manage existing markets for viable economic activities, has commenced a rigorous process of evaluation and short listing of local and foreign investors for the redevelopment of selected markets in the state.

    The ASMDC had earlier requested for the expression of interests and proposals from interested and qualified and competent investors/developers.

    The investors will be selected after completion of the evaluation of their proposals and due diligence to ascertain the pedigree, integrity and ability of the potential investors/developers to undertake the massive infrastructural re-engineering of the selected markets in the state in line with Governor Ikpeazu’s vision.

    Some of the investors under consideration include GES GmbH, a German investment group which provides financial, commercial & project management support for clients and partners and utilizes its specialist expertise and skilled resources to support the entire project development process; Briscoe Properties Limited (a subsidiary of RT Briscoe Plc), which offers management and engineering services related to the property industry and Donchez SL of Spain with extensive operations in several countries with specialization in project management and financing.

    ASMDC chairman, Chief Nwaigwe Solomon Nwaigwe, expressed satisfaction with the companies and investment groups under consideration and confirmed their ability to deliver timely and value-driven service to Abia state.

    He said the committee’s doors are still open to more investors in its avowed bid to ensure the remodeling and redevelopment of major markets in the state, particularly in Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the state and Umuahia, the state capital.

    Chief Nwaigwe also reiterated his Committee’s commitment to the vision of the state governor and determination to deliver on their mandate. He praised the governor for his great vision for the state and called on all market stakeholders and indeed all citizens of the state to support the governor and ASMDC in its effort to make Abia the state of our dream.

    The ASMDC is proposing to use five major markets including the Ariaria International market, Ngwa Road Market (Ahia Ohuu) and the Eziukwu/Cemetery  Road market as pilot scheme for the re-development of the market systems in the state not only for the revitalization of viable economic activities but for improvement of revenue generation to the government.

    It is expected that the markets post redevelopment will contribute about 5 billion Naira monthly to the state’s internally generated revenue  (IGR).

    ​

  • Abia 419 gang arrested

    Abia 419 gang arrested

    Members of a three-man gang in Aba, Abia State have been arrested by the Ngwa High School Forward Operation Base (FOB) under144 Battalion, Asa.

    The suspects, who are specialized in swindling innocent visitors and residents of Aba, operated between Osisioma to Ariaria junction as sources disclosed that their targets were traders and individuals going to Ariaria International market Aba to shop, visitors who prefer boarding cab along the Aba – Port Harcourt Express than using the park.

    It was also learnt that many traders who are always in a hurry to be in Ariaria have fallen victim and left heartbroken after they must have been swindled by this gang.

    The gang members identified Udo Mba (aka Chief Udo Mba of Amavo-Ukwu), an indigene and traditional title holder in Amavo-Ukwu, Osisioma Local Government Area, Ifeanyi Enwereji of Obuda, Aba South Local Government and Philip Nwulu of Rivers State were allegedly apprehended when one of the female victims they swindled last month identified them and raised the alarm that alerted the people nearby who swiftly went after them.

    The Nation learnt that the gang who were already waiting for their would be prey on sighting the girl drove off, but luck was said to have been against them when their Blue Coloured 504 Peugeot car with registration number Oyo State AA 851 EGB entered into a ditch on the expressway.

    Sources said that by the time they could open their car to run away, the surging crowd caught up with them and were about lynching them when some soldiers came and prevailed on them.

    They (gang members) were said to have been taken to the Ngwa High School FOB by the soldiers where they were being kept, though a source at the army base said that they would be handing them over to the police for further investigation.

    The victim who simply gave her name as Miss Chidinma, a cosmetic dealer at the Umuahia main market narrating her ordeal to reporters said “It was about last month when I came to Aba to buy what I will sell in my shop from Ariaria International market. When our bus stopped at Osisioma junction, I entered their car because I was in a hurry and wanted to do my shopping fast so that I can go back to Umuahia early enough.

    “I was inside the car when the driver drove off with a male passenger and later picked another woman on the road. I didn’t suspect anything. We got to a point where the woman brought out dollars.

    “At a point I didn’t know what I was doing but I remembered that they said that I should give them money to buy chemical which they will use to produce more money. I declined but later told them that I have N15, 000 with me… After signing what an agreement that they will pay me back the money, the two male members left and the woman later left leaving me alone in a particular place that I can’t remember.

    “I left without buying what I came to buy. And today when I came down from the bus that brought me to Aba at Osisioma junction, I saw them (gang) at the same place where I entered their car on that fateful day and immediately they saw me, they drove off but I started shouting and people who were around there went after them”.

    A source at the area who commended the quick response of the Ngwa High School FOB however disclosed that the gang was already beaten to pulp by the angry mob who had gathered materials to execute jungle justice (setting them ablaze).

    The suspects confessed to the alleged crime and promised to turn a new leaf if they were granted pardon.

  • Abia happy with tribunal

    Abia State government has expressed satisfaction with the performance of the Governorship, National and State House of Assembly election petition tribunal in the state, describing it as a true reflection of justice to all parties concerned.

    The Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to  Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Mr. Godwin Adindu,  who said this while addressing journalists in Umuahia, the State capital, noted that Abia people are happy with the judgments delivered so far by the tribunal, even though they are yet to complete their assignment.

    He added that the people of the state are very much happy with the painstaking efforts with which they have addressed all issues brought before them.

    “Election cases are not quit easy but the tribunal has taken pains to address all the matters before them one after the other. Abia people are happy with all the judgment so far. We believe that all the judgment are  fair to all concerned   and they have reflected the true taste of justice and the wheel of justice has been allowed to run its full course in election cases in Abia State,” he said.

    Adindu condemned the attempts by some elements of the major opposition All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in the State to dent and assassinate the character and the integrity of the honorable jurist of the tribunal by accusing them of collecting bribe from the PDP as well as compromised with properties in the united states of America for them to alter justice.

    The governor’s chief scribe insisted that such allegations and accusations levelled against such honorable jurist were not palatable at all and at the same time do not reflect the true identity of the Abia people and as such the Abia state government wants to disassociate herself from such comments.

    “We vehemently condemn the action of those making such comments in totality and we also want to advise them to refrain from insulting the intelligence of our judiciary.

    “We as a people respect the rule of law, the impartiality of the judiciary, we respect the judiciary as the last bastion of hope for the masses and therefore will not be happy when anybody or group of persons  tries to dent the integrity of the Nigerian judiciary.

    “We believe that the tribunal members have done a good work in Abia State and they are going to complete their work successfully having taken the final written addresses of both parties and having dismissed sine die.  We all also hope that they will come up with the date of the final judgment which will be fair to both parties.

    He also condemned ‘the serial campaign of calumny’ that has been unleashed against the honorable tribunal on the pages of newspapers by APGA members in the State, adding that  just from there have been four full page advertorials alleging all manners of things against the tribunal members.

    “In one of such advertorials the authors even campaigned for the jailing  and execution of the members of  the tribunal. We say that the people who have been making such attempts to undermine the judges are not guided by good morals and wisdom and therefore we ask them to refrain from such act without delay,” he added.

    Adindu pointed out that the chairman of the major opposition party Rev. Austine Ehiemere further embarrassed the state when he openly denied having knowledge of one of such advertorial he authored and signed which was published on page 49 of the Nation newspaper on Friday the 16th of October 2015.

    “Such action was very embarrassing to his person and party and the people of Abia State.  It shows the level of desperation with which this opposition party is pursuing the issues of election.

    “It does show that they are not ready to serve Abia people in all sincerity but only advertises their quest for personal aggrandizement,” he said

     

  • Abia to demolish illegal structures despite protests

    The Abia State government has said that it will go ahead with its plans to demolish illegal structures in commercial hub Aba despites protests from the opposition All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the state.

    The opposition had alleged that the state government was targeting the buildings of its members in the demolition exercise with the aim to demoralise them and bring them to submission.

    But the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Godwin Adindu said that the demolition exercise in Aba will continue from street to street until to make way for free flow of waste water.

    Speaking in Umuahia, Adindu said that the exercise was not targeted at any group or individuals but is aimed at restoring the city to the status of a modern city which has been defaced with illegal structures over time.

    He said, “There is no selection pattern in the demolition exercise that is going on in Aba and there is no one or group that is the target of government; what we are demolishing are all illegal

    structures that contravene town planning regulations”.

    The CPS said that contrary to the insinuations by the opposition that the demolition was the state government’s way of paying Aba people back for not voting PDP in the last election, that the reverse is the case in this matter.

    Adindu said, “If the government should think or behave in relation to who voted or did not vote for PDP, it will not start its developmental work in Aba at all in view of the voting pattern in the election; we are not as petty as APGA would want people to believe.

    To us, Aba is beyond the voting trend of one election, the city is beyond the election, it belongs to everybody, to all Ndigbo and entire Nigerians, by developing Aba the governor is developing a place that is home to all and not to APGA people”.

     

  • ‘Ikpeazu on course in Abia’

    ‘Ikpeazu on course in Abia’

    Abia State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Ben Onyechere spoke with reporters in Lagos on the achievements of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and how the governor is staying focused, despite moves by the opposition to distract him. MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE was there.

    The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) has accused Governor Ikpeazu  of demolishing structures belonging to its members in Aba to give room for the road rehabilitation going on in the state…

    In the  first place, the All Progressive Grand alliance (APGA) is not the only opposition party in Abia State . Be that as it may, the claim is a mockery of the sensibilities of Abia people who are yearning for rapid rehabilitation of the road infrastructure within the state, particularly in Aba. This governor is not the conventional politician who may tend to be sectional; by his nature, training and now as governor he is the leader and father of all. The claim is infantile and depicts clearly that some people are paranoia about the pace of work going on in Abia, otherwise it is bizarre to politicize demolition of illegal structures even as the generality of Aba inhabitants are overwhelmed with joy that a Daniel has come to judgement, if that claim is right it means that they are responsible for the decadent nature of roads in Aba, for it is only enemies of progress who can make such fictitious statements.

    The governor has promised to reinstate engage sacked civil servants but only a handful has been recalled. How does he intend to fulfil that promise?

    To start with it is very surprising to many that he has quashed the policy of indigenization of civil service in this hard times but he is very committed to that project and has commenced a systematic and installmental re engagement of the workers. But as you may have heard the same group who are seeking relevance in the name of opposition have also insinuated falsehood about the governor’s noble intention,  in any case he can not be distracted from that noble cause because he has vowed to uplift the living  standards of all  in all ramification.

    The opposition is saying that government should not do roads in the rainy season

    They are saying many funny things at the same time, that’s the sign that they are surprised at what the governor is able to achieve in a short space of time. The need to fast track road rehabilitation particularly in Aba where the governor lives and every body is complaining can only  be trivialized by chronic pessimists who can not see beyond their noses. If the government decides to engage  highly mechanized contractors to alleviate the sufferings of motorists in era of peculiar down pour and somebody is complaining in the name of politics then  the government has  no apologies for such people because their opinion is minority. Have they bothered to ask how bridges are built across rivers,

    Apart from roads what else should the people expect?

    We are in an  era of surprises which is the choice of the governor, but suffice it to say that he has prioritized government developmental activities to suit the most demanding needs of the people, for example you will be surprised that there are areas in Abia that have not seen electric bulb before and he has started taking electricity to such areas, that is just one of such intentions.

    Are you are aware that the opposition has insisted that the last governorship election was rigged?

    The problem with those people is that they had a misconceived notion about the level of political awareness in Abia state for which reason  they are overwhelmed by the way the people voted. The voting in last election was purely methodical in the sense that every body voted for PDP in the South east,  not minding that opposition may have secured some seats in some assemblies which is still part of the pattern of voting not only in Abia but the whole of South East even in Anambra that is controlled by Apga government.  If you check properly you  will find out that Otti is the only stakeholder in Apga as opposed to PDP where he belonged before but could not meet up with the primaries. The generality of Abia had decided in principle that an Ngwa man should be allowed to govern this time around and otti is not an Ngwa man an the people know it,in addition to the fact that he came into politcs too late, he should borrow a leaf from President BUHARI who contested severally before winning. The harassment of Inec and tribunal by that group is uncalled for because it does not make them more viable because in abia everybody knows everybody.

  • Abia vans for security agencies

    Abia State Government said it was planning to distribute over 20 patrol vans with well-equipped security and communication gadgets for security agencies in the state.

    This was disclosed to our correspondent by the Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu on Monday.

    The governor said the distribution of the vehicles was part of his administration’s commitment to tackle insecurity.

    The governor expressed hope that the vehicles when donated would be put into good use in order to achieve the purpose for which it was provided for.

    He also disclosed that arrangements were ongoing to mount Close Circuit Camera (CCTV) at various parts of the state to compliment efforts of security agencies.

    Ikpeazu who just returned from a business trip to Turkey reinstated his administration’s commitment towards the promotion of entrepreneurial and skills acquisition, adding that the recent Education for Employment (E4E) launch in the state was to make graduates of the programme employable by companies that would hire their services.

    He further pleaded with Aba and Abia residents to exercise patients with the government, pointing out that the aim of the ongoing road rehabilitation and reconstruction were to ensure that the government addresses the problem of flooding and road congestion network in the state.

    He also said that he would soon name members of cabinet, adding that he has carefully selected people with great repute and astute professionals that would make up his cabinet even as he said that they wouldn’t have any other choice than to perform what was expected of them.

  • Orji: I was not booed in Abia

    Former Abia State Governor Theodore Orji has debunked reports that he was booed at the burial of Senator Nkechi Nwaogu’s husband.

    A statement by his legislative aide and media adviser, Eddie Onuzuruike, described the report as false.

    The statement reads: “To put the fact straight, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu was received by Senator Orji at his residence in company of Senator M. Ohuabunwa, before leaving for the Abia State Government House.

    “The trio moved to the funeral service of Dr. Rowland, husband of Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, where they were welcomed with a loud ovation and contrary to the report, there was no murmuring or booing of any kind.

    “If I may ask, was this booing selective when the trio arrived at the venue or when Orji gave a speech? Senator Orji did not give any speech. Do you boo one who won an election or the one who failed in many attempts?”

    He wondered why the press crew of Senator Ike Ekweremadu and other journalists present at the event did not report the incident except the newspaper.

  • Abia launches jobs scheme

    Abia launches jobs scheme

    The Abia State government has flagged off a scheme designed to equip youths with requisite entrepreneurial skills.

    The scheme launched at Boys Technical College (BTC), was tagged E4E or Education for Employment.

    Mr. Endi Ezengwa, the programme’s consultant, has been interacting with industrialists, with a view to securing their partnership on the project. Ezengwa, who is also the chairman of Kiara College United Kingdom, said he was partnering with seven government ministries; ministry of youth development, ministry of agriculture and others, adding that bringing in the services of industries would ensure that the programme’s success.

    He disclosed that the programme which was expected to provide employment for about 100,000 (25,000 each year) youths within the first four years of the incumbent administration, stressing that the programme was not political.

    He said that they were going to make use of the existing skill acquisition centres built across the state by the out-gone Chief Theodore Ahamefule’s administration as their training centers.

    “We are here to have a stakeholders meeting with owners of industries and businesses in Aba. We want to consult and carry them along. We want them to also tell us what their needs are so that the programme can be holistic. We don’t want to do haphazard programme. So we have met with ministry of youths, ministry of rural development we are now meeting with educational institutions amongst others. So, we want to be able to carry everybody along in this programme because Okezie Ikpeazu is very serious about youth empowerment and want it to be done properly. So he is the one who sent me. he is willing to invest in this programme but we need to show return on investment. It won’t be business as usual, we have to show that there will be output on investment. We also need to be sure that whatever that we will provide has value for money and that it will be fit for purpose; meeting the three cardinal principles of this programme. This is to prevent what has been happening before from repeating itself. We hope that we will give it our best and make sure that this is something that will last beyond his tenure as a governor.

    “The target audience of this interactive section is industrialists in Aba. There has been so much said about Aba and our ingenuity, creativity and industriousness, but this has not transcended into cash and the improvement of our lives. So E4E is  an interface that we want to create in order to help to transform the energy of the youths; to convert them into money when they become entrepreneurs, self sustaining and also when they work with established industries. That way, it is a win-win programme because it is going to ensure there is low crime rate, more money to everybody and we will all be happy. If we must be like the Taiwan and Chinese, we must learn to think and behave like the people that we are trying to imitate.

    “Students will be taught practical skills and craft on their chosen areas by the stakeholders they are going to learn the trade from and we are going to monitor the project very seriously. If the prospective candidates were supposed to learn a particular trade for 3years for instance, we will make sure that the candidate stays back on the job to complete the training and at the end of the training, they will be certified. This will enable them go for government contracts and even compete favourably with their counterparts from the Polytechnics and universities”, Ezengwa stated.

    Sir Onyebuchi Nwankpa, Director, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, represented by the Senior Technical Officer of the ministry, Mr. Aloy Chukwu, described the state government’s step to empower youths in the state with skills as laudable and describe technical and vocational education as one that would not only to put the youths off the streets, but to ensure that they have food on their tables.

    Chukwu who noted that most economies of the world are now private sector driven said that the benefits of programme would include sustaining existing industries and as well, improve the state economy with well-equipped manpower which the programme was going to provide.

    He expressed the readiness and commitment of the ministry to ensure that they assisted in their own capacity to ensuring that the purpose for which the government initiated the programme was met.

    Speakers at the event however urged the organisers to ensure that the programme works, citing examples of such programmes that looked lofty and yet could not stand the taste of the day or met the purpose for which it was initiated.

    They also want government to assist them by providing them with the enabling environment and machines to work optimally and as such boosting trade and investment in the state even as they prayed that the programme achieves the purpose for which it was meant for.