The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abraham Nwali

  • Ebonyi: Umahi to empower 13,000 indigenes with N2.6bn

    Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi, on Thursday said that the state government would empower 13, 000 Ebonyi indigenes with N2.6 billion within the next three months.

    Umahi made the disclosure during a meeting with political, social, religious and other stakeholders on the importance of the continuous voter registration exercise.

    The governor said the beneficiaries would receive N200, 000 each to start businesses of their choice as the amount could be increased to N400,000 with the support of the Bank of Industries ( BOI ).

    “Stakeholders are therefore, enjoined to compile the names of the beneficiaries from our various communities and training programmes will be organised for them for effective utilisation of the funds.

    “Emphasis should be placed on women, youths and the vulnerable, as no other state has empowered its people more than the present Ebonyi government,’’ he said.

    Umahi urged the stakeholders to assist in re-orientating the youths to embrace self-sustaining ventures, instead of craving for political appointments and white-collar jobs.

    “Politics will become unfashionable in the next 10 years as people will only sustain themselves with what they can do with their hands,’’ he said.

    He noted that the state would target the registration of 2.5 million persons to improve on its statistics of having 1.5 million persons below the registration age.

    “Massive participation in the voter registration exercise would enable us to negotiate our way to the top as we strive to record the highest number of registered voters in the South-East zone.

    “We should embark on house-to-house campaign to ensure massive registration, especially from those that are qualified but are temporarily not registered.

    “We have set up committees to ensure the success of this exercise as they will become station rooms in the polling units, wards, councils and state levels,’’ he said.

    The governor said that workers could be exempted to register within the next two weeks but those who absent from work and fail to register would be severely punished.

    “The exercise should be devoid of political undertone as the Inter-Party Advisory Committee ( IPAC ) should organise political outreaches to ensure that everyone participates in the exercise.

    “Anybody who truncates the exercise will be physically dealt with and such person should be reported to security agencies and Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) among others,’’ he said.

    Rev. Fr Abraham Nwali, Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN ), Ebonyi Chapter, urged the people to actively participate in the voter registration exercise because such had biblical undertone.

    “It is the duty of the citizens to participate in exercises that will produce good leaders whom God will use to fulfill his numerous promises to his people,’’ he said.

    Stakeholders from various sectors of the state pledged their commitment to ensure the overall success of the exercise.

    NAN

  • Ebonyi commences sanitisation of ministries

    Ebonyi commences sanitisation of ministries

    The Ebonyi Government says it has commenced the sanitisation of its ministries to correct detected administrative flaws in the system.

    Dr Kelechi Igwe, the Deputy Governor, said this on Friday in Abakaliki while reacting to the dilapidated state of the multi-billion Naira international market built by the past administration in the state.

    Igwe led a delegation of government officials, opinion leaders and market associations, among others, to inspect the facility constructed in a swamp.

    “We have commenced the correction of ills in the ministries as it is saddening to have Ministries of Works, Housing and Survey involved in such a ruse.

    “These ministries have qualified engineers and surveyors to advise the past government as the project’s erection in such area is one of the worst things to happen to the state.

    “It is pertinent to note that if the officials failed to advise government, it was laxity on their part.

    “But if they did, it means the government was not responsible to listen to advice,” he said.

    He said that the tour of the edifice was to assuage the people’s anxiety over the delay in completing the project by the present administration.

    “The governor as a professional engineer will not embark on a project that will not add economic values to the state.

    “We have tried severally to relocate traders to the market but they have consistently told us that it was not habitable and conducive for business activities.

    “During the rainy season, flood will submerge goods and other property belonging to traders and even drown children around the area.

    “We want to assure the people that the era of government embarking on phantom projects was over; Government will never embark on projects without economic significance,” he said.

    Rev.Fr. Abraham Nwali, the Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN ) in the state, advised the state government not to abandon the project in the spirit of continuity.

    “The contractors handling the project should be re-instated if they are willing to complete it but should be made to refund the monies collected, if they are unwilling to continue.

    Mr Ugochukwu Akpa, Chairman, Association of Town Unions in the state, said the unions would besiege the homes of the contractors, to let them refund the money they collected from government.

    “We will stay by their doors and cry loudly for them to refund the money because it belongs to the entire state and should be utilised judiciously,” he said.

    Mr Eze Ogbonna, Chairman, Abakaliki Main Market Amalgamated Traders Association, said that traders would never relocate to the market until it became habitable and conducive for business.

    NAN

  • Ebonyi pledges commitment to welfare of physically challenged persons

    Ebonyi pledges commitment to welfare of physically challenged persons

    The Ebonyi Government has pledged its commitment to the promotion of the welfare and wellbeing of physically challenged persons in the state.

    Rev. Fr. Abraham Nwali, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Gov. Dave Umahi on Religious Matters and Social Welfare, made the pledge on Wednesday in Abakaliki at an event to mark the World Sight Day (WSD).

    According to him, the state government is committed to alleviating the suffering of physically challenged persons
    as well as protection of their rights.

    Nwali encouraged the visually impaired to be useful to themselves and not to lose hope because of their physical condition.

    “There is ability in every disability, hence you must remain focused in the pursuit of your dreams and do not allow your physical challenges to limit or deter you from actualising your life dreams.

    “As a government, we will do everything within our powers to ensure that we encourage and support you individually and collectively to overcome your difficulties.

    “Again, you must believe in God and in yourselves and determine to succeed in whatever task you set to achieve,’’ Nwali said.

    The governor’s aide who described the visually impaired as special segment of the society, said that government would ensure the protection of their fundamental rights and support them to become economically independent.

    ” We will ensure that your fundamental rights are well protected from any abuse; ensure that you report any abuse of your rights timely to relevant government agencies.

    “Government is also determined to support you to be economically independent in order to contribute to the development of our dear state, “he added.

    Mr Joseph Enyi, the President of the Ebonyi chapter of the Association for the Blind, commended the state government for its good disposition towards the association.

    He said that the group would continue to support the programmes and policies of the present administration.
    The WSD is an annual day of awareness that holds on the second Thursday of October, to focus global attention on blindness and vision impairment.

    World Sight Day 2017 was held on Oct. 12, 2017 globally, with Ebonyi celebrating the event on Wednesday,

    NAN

  • Don’t give our pupils much garri, rice, Umahi charges feeding committee

    Don’t give our pupils much garri, rice, Umahi charges feeding committee

    Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has charged the state Steering Committee on Primary School Feeding Programme,not to give the pupils much garri, rice and other foods containing carbohydrate.

    Umahi spoke in Abakaliki when he inaugurated a 10-man committee, stressing that emphasis should be placed on giving them foods with rich minerals contents.

    “You should emphasize on vegetables, fruits, milk among others to give them rich mineral supplements and help in their physical nourishment and mental development.

    “The state executive council is aware that catering for the committee’s logistics is its responsibility as its chairman will soon present a budget to the council.

    “This is to enable the committee move freely to schools, especially at the local government areas to collaborate with the committees at the areas, consisting of council chairmen and others from the education sector,” he said.

    He stressed the importance of ensuring adequate development of children through good meals and sound moral upbringing, noting that it would benefit the state.

    “Individuals saddled with the responsibility of taking care of our children should not mortgage it as it will make the society secure and progressive in future,’’ Umahi said.

    Mr Augusine Nwankwagu, state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice noted that the steering committee replaced the disbanded one.

    Rev. Fr. Abraham Nwali, the Governor’s Senior Special Adviser of Religion and Welfare Matters, and Chairman of the steering committee, pledged to justify the confidence reposed in them by the governor.

  • Four commissioners, two SSAs, 11 SAs swap positions in Ebonyi

    Four commissioners, two SSAs, 11 SAs swap positions in Ebonyi

    Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi on Friday carried out a major cabinet reshuffle in which four commissioners, two Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) and 11 Senior Assistants swapped positions.

    Sen. Emmanuel Onwe, the state Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, made this known in Abakaliki while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the state Executive Council meeting.

    According to Onwe, the state Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Chief Sabinus Nwakwegu, will take charge of Ministry of Border, Peace and Conflict Resolution, while his Economic Empowerment counterpart, Chief Donatus Njoku, takes over Environment ministry.

    “The Commissioner for Border, Peace and Conflict Resolution, Dr Francis Orji, takes over the Solid Minerals ministry, while the Commissioner for Environment, Chief Moses Ogodo-Ali will head the Ministry of Economic Empowerment,’’ he said.

    Onwe said that the SSA on House of Assembly Matters, Mr Ikechukwu Ogbu, will be in charge of Salt and Cement Production, while the SSA on Salt and Cement Production, Mr Sunday Ugwuocha, will take over Assembly Matters.

    “The SA on Talent Development, Mrs Jacinta Nworie, will be in charge of Income Tax, SA on Primary Health (Ebonyi North), Dr Chris Achi, takes over Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and SA, Primary Heath (Ebonyi South), Chikere Omebe, takes over Training.

    Onwe announced that the suspended state Accountant-General, Mrs Queen Agwu, had been restored to her position.

    According to him, the state’s Executive Committee on IGR has been dissolved and a new one constituted.

    “The new committee on IGR is led by the state Deputy Governor, Dr Kelechi Igwe.

    “It includes the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Bernard Odoh, and SSA on Welfare and Religious Matters, Rev. Fr. Abraham Nwali,” he said.

    Onwe said that the appointments took immediate effect.