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Tag: Anambra State

  • Monarchs vow to stop vandalism

    The Obi of Onitsha, Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, and his colleagues in Anambra State, have vowed to stop vandals from destroying government facilities.

    Achebe, who is the Chairman of Southeast Traditional Rulers’ Council, spoke yesterday in Awka, when a government delegation, led by the Commissioner for Public Utilities, Emeka Ezenwanne, visited the monarchs in their chambers.

    Achebe promised that the traditional institution would partner the government to reduce the likelihood of vandalism occurring in their domains.

    He urged the government to always notify the traditional rulers anytime they had government installation in their communities, lamenting that the activities of the miscreants must be stopped.

    The monarchs said they would work with security operatives to arrest the hoodlums, their sons and daughters and anybody patronising them.

    They also promised to educate their subjects on continued protection of government utilities, as well as increased security, public awareness and police involvement to track the miscreants.

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    Ezenwanne, who was worried at the rate hoodlums vandalised government utilities, warned the vandals to relocate or risk arrest and prosecution.

    He, however, assured the monarchs of stronger partnership to safeguard government facilities such as streetlights, transformers, water projects, among others.

    On water projects, Ezenwanne, appealed to the traditional rulers to help get credible experts from their communities to take over the management and operation of big water schemes.

    He called for public private participation to ensure sustainability of such water facilities in rural areas.

  • ‘Our children trek miles to school’

    Residents of Federal Housing Estate, ‘33’, Onitsha suburb, Anambra State, have lamented a lack of primary and secondary schools in the area.

    They said their children trekked far distances to access schools, wondering why an estate of such a magnitude could exist for years without educational facilities.

    They called on government to come to their rescue by siting primary and secondary schools in the area to reduce the risks the children were exposed to.

    One of the residents, who simply identified herself as Mrs Okereke, told The Nation that the absence of schools in the area have compelled some parents to relocate to areas where their wards would easily have access to schools.

    Okekere, a mother of three, said her children risked their lives on daily basis to access schools outside the estate.

    She said, “It sounds strange that a Federal Government project of this magnitude as Federal Government Housing estate has no primary and secondary schools.

    “Every morning, my three kids trek to schools outside the estate at their own risk because government at the state and federal levels cannot provide schools for children of the area.

    “Some trek to Oyolu primary school and Nkwelle-Ezunaka High School that are outside this our domain, risking their lives on daily basis.

    “I appeal to Governor Willie Obiano and Commissioner for Education to do something about it urgently because it is our children, not Federal Government children that suffer it.”

    A teacher, who preferred anonymity, lamented the untold hardship they were subjected to as a result of absence of primary and secondary schools in the area.

    She said: “As a teacher, I know what it takes me to go out of this place to another school to teach because there is no primary school here, not to talk of a secondary school.

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    “Some parents have even parked out of the estate to areas where their kids will have easy access to schools so they will not be in trauma whenever their kids go to school.”

    Also, the state chairman of Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Comrade Vincent Ezekwueme, said many children had been victims of various accidents because of the long commute.

    “The problem of lack of primary and post primary schools in the area has resulted in school children falling victims of ghastly auto accidents, molestation and kidnapping as they trek far distance to schools.

    “I advise the governor and education commissioner to visit the area and see things for themselves.

    “They will discover that for years now, the residents have been without schools and they need not to be told the hazards of trekking outside one’s domain to acquire educational knowledge,” he said.

    Ezekwueme also called for the establishment of blind and talented schools for both indigent, physically challenged but brilliant students in the area.

  • Mother of five seeks help as husband absconds over pregnancy bill

    A Middle-aged woman, Mrs Chioma Nwaemerum has pleaded for assistance from spirited individuals to enable her pay her medical bill and re-unite with her family.

    Nwaemerum, a mother of five children, was admitted at the Christian the Saviour Hospital, 3-3 near Onitsha, Anambra state, where she was to put to bed.

    The Nation gathered that the hospital had billed her the sum of N224,000 for cesarean operation following her inability to deliver through the normal process.

    She was however, allegedly abandoned by the husband due to his inability to pay the said sum of money.

    Speaking with the Nation, Nwaemerum said the husband had left her to her fate in the hospital as a result of the whopping bills.

    She however expressed appreciation to all who intervened to ensure a successful operation.

    She said, “The medical director has been of immense assistance to me. He even operated me without deposit because, he knows we do not have money.

    “My husband could not afford such money and left us to our fate to solicit for help and people have since then been giving helping hand.

    “The parish Priest of St. Augustine Catholic Church, where we worship in Omeide 3-3, Father Benjamin Okonkwo, brought N75,000.

    “State chairman of Civil Liberties Organisation, Comrade Vincent Ezekwueme, did not only bring his personal and organisational money, but was the brain behind the financial help coming from spirited individuals.

    “I urge the public to come to my help as I am still here in the hospital waiting for the bill to be completed before discharge”.

    A source from the hospital said the husband hurriedly left the hospital shortly after he was informed of the amount for the operation to save the baby and his wife.

    The source however regretted that the woman lost the baby due to delayed labour.

    The source said, “Though the woman was eventually operated upon by the hospital without the deposit, the baby could not survive the prolonged labour.

    “The husband who works as a mason, later sent N10,000 after some days, and another N12,000, making it N22,000 from his hideout.

    “It was not enough to take care of the woman’s feeding let alone paying the hospital bills, so, she is still kept at the hospital.”

    Reacting, the CLO boss, Comrade Ezekwueme, thanked God for a successful operation, urging the woman to take heart over the death of her baby.

    He appealed to the state government to establish maternity homes in all the 21 local government areas of the state to enable indigent pregnant women access free medical care.

    He equally thanked the medical director for his understanding on the condition of his patient by operating her without waiting for deposit.

  • Flood destroys N50m drugs in Onitsha market

    Drugs worth over N50milion have been destroyed by flood water at the Drug Market, Bridge Head, Onitsha, commercial city of Anambra State.

    This is even as a 45-year old trader, Nnaemeka Okoli, reportedly got drawned in Umuchu community in Aguata Local Government Area of the state.

    The two-day down pour which lasted for several hours on the first day, spread to almost half of the market, destroying drugs in over 130 shops.

    Some of the victims who made efforts to evacuate cartons of drugs already damaged by the flood, described the disaster as alarming.

    Speaking with the Nation, the traders attributed the cause of the disaster to the blockage of drainages in the area with refuses.

    They narrated how the previous rain compelled them to carry out emergency sanitation exercise which took them over three hours.

    One of the victims, Arthur Ndimele said the flood that ravaged the market so much that it was difficult to identify the drainages from the roads within the market.

    He said, “The early morning down pour started by 5.30am and by 7am our shops had already been flooded.

    “It was not up to twenty minutes we finished evacuating the flood that another heavy dòwn commenced.

    “The entire market got so flooded that we could not identify the drainages from the roads within the market.

    The Executive Secretary, Anambra State Special Taskforce on fake drugs adulterated and substandard products, Chibuzor Nwokeji said his team would embark on routine check soon after the flood recedes.

    He said, “The traders embarked on sanitation but the second rainfall has destroyed a lot of  drugs.

    “The drainage system linking the flood water to the River Niger have been blocked, making it difficult for easy passage of flood.

    “The taskforce will embark on routine check. If the drugs were totally damaged we will confiscate them to avoid selling them to the consumers which have now become poisonous to the body.”

    He appealed to the state government to come to their aid in view of the huge loss they experienced.

    The body of late Okoli, a trader at Nkwo market Umuchu, was said to have been dumped at the boundary between Osete and Ugwuakwu villages, both in Umuchu community.

    According to an eyewitness, the deceased had shut his shop around 7pm and was home bound when the incident occurred.

    He said, “It was raining heavily and night was fast approaching as at the time he closed. But on his way home, he fell into a deep drainage system that was filed to capacity with fast moving, devastating flood.

    “His where-about was not known and as his family went to sleep and handed over the entire thing to God after waiting tirelessly for his arrival.

    “The next morning, a search party was set up which later discovered the dead body at a lonely boundary spot after an intense search.

    Reacting, state Chairman, Civil liberties Organization, Comrade Vincent Ezekwueme attributed the death to the ongoing rehabilitation of the Umuchu road by the state government.

    He added that the flood was not properly channeled by the construction firm.

    He said, “There should be proper channeling of the flood. This man had closed his shop and left because it was raining heavily and night was fast approaching.

    “Little did he know that it was death that was knocking on the door until he was washed away by the devastating flood.

    “The corpse has since been deposited at a morgue in Umuchu.”

  • ‘Frequent change of police commissioners affects security’

    The Concerned Indigenes of Anambra has lamented that premature removal of Police Commissioners (COP) in Anambra State was disrupting the state’s security strategies.

    It noted that the police hierarchy had changed COPs in the state four times since July 8, 2017. The group, therefore, urged the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, to stick to the Police Service Commission (PSC) Policy Guidelines, which, according to it, recommends a minimum of two-year tenure for a state COP.

    A statement by its Chairman Joseph Ndukauba and Secretary Chike Obodoeze reads: “Frequent transfers of Commissioners of Police and instability of their tenure may lead to non-effectiveness of the police top hierarchy in the state as they will not be sure of how long they may stay in office, before being moved again, (thus) they may not be keen on effective planning and supervision of their strategies for ensuring adequate security.

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    “Between July 8, 2017 and July 5, 2019, a period of two years, three Commissioners of Police were posted to the state – Mr. Garba Umar (July 8, 2017- February 12, 2019); Dandaura Mustapha (January 12, 2019 to July 5, 2019) and then the new CP Abah John who has just assumed duty.

    “Subsection V of the PSC Policy Guidelines stipulates that ‘the person appointed to office as Commissioner of Police of a state shall serve for a period not less than two years, except for the reason of retirement or death. The group wonders why in the case of Anambra State, the tenure lasts for only a few months.”

    It, however, praised past CPs for keeping the state safe and making it one of the safest and most peaceful states in the country.

  • ‘Our children trek miles to school’

    Residents of Federal Housing Estate, ‘33’, Onitsha suburb, Anambra State, have lamented lack of primary and secondary schools in the area.

    They said their children trekked far distances to access schools, wondering why an estate of such a magnitude could exist for years without educational facilities.

    They called on government to come to their rescue by siting primary and secondary schools in the area to reduce the risks the children were exposed to.

    One of the residents who simply identified herself as Mrs Okereke, told The Nation that the absence of schools in the area have compelled some parents to relocate to areas where their wards would easily have access to schools.

    Okekere, a mother of three, said her children risked their lives on daily basis to access schools outside the estate.

    She said, “It sounds strange that a Federal Government project of this magnitude as Federal Government Housing estate has no primary and secondary schools.

    “Every morning, my three kids trek to schools outside the estate at their own risk because government at the state and federal levels cannot provide schools for children of the area.

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    “Some trek to Oyolu primary school and Nkwelle-Ezunaka High school that are outside this our domain risking their lives on daily basis.

    “I appeal to Governor Willie Obiano and Commissioner for Education to do something about it urgently because it is our children, not Federal Government children that suffer it.”

    A teacher, who preferred anonymity, lamented the untold hardship they were subjected to as a result of absence of primary and secondary schools in the area.

    She said: “As a teacher, I know what it takes me to go out of this place to another school to teach because there is no primary school here, not to talk of a secondary school.

    “Some parents have even parked out of the estate to areas where their kids will have easy access to schools so they will not be in trauma whenever their kids go to school.”

    Also speaking, the state chairman of Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Comrade Vincent Ezekwueme, said many children had been victims of various accidents because of the long commute.

    “The problem of lack of primary and post primary schools in the area has resulted in school children falling victims of ghastly auto accidents, molestation and kidnapping as they trek far distance to schools.

    “I advise the governor and education commissioner to visit the area and see things for themselves.

    “They will discover that for years now, the residents have been without schools and they need not to be told the hazards of trekking outside one’s domain to acquire educational knowledge,” he said.

    Ezekwueme also called for the establishment of blind and talented schools for both indigent, physically challenged but brilliant students in the area.

  • Anambra APC reconciliation committee submits reports

    The  14-man fact-finding and reconciliation committee set up by the State Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State has submitted its report.

    The report was submitted on Monday by the committee’s Acting Chairman, Chief Ikechukwu Ibe and a member, Nze Modestus Umenzekwe.

    It was gathered that the report was received by the State Secretary, Chukwuma Agufugo.

    But Chairman of the Committee, C. J Chinwuba, who was suspended, said the report had not been submitted to anyone. According to him, the committee was planning to submit its report before the end of the week.

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    Party chairman Chief Basil Ejidike said he was not aware of the submission as he was not in town. He added that the planned summit on Friday had been shifted to accommodate all stakeholders, especially those who travelled.

    The fresh crisis in the party allegedly stemmed from the fact that the committee was set up abnitio by the party without consulting some of the major stakeholders, which included former Minister of Labour Chris Ngige, Senator Andy Uba, Chief George Moghalu, among others.

    As a result, the committee members could not reach any agreement.

     

  • Anambra community petitions Buhari against IG 

    Residents of Abba, Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State have petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari and the Police Service Commission (PSC) to rescue them from the Inspector General of Police (IG) and his “foot soldiers”.

    The petition was signed by the President-General B. C. Anaekwe and Secretary-General Ernest Udedibia.

    The community has been in turmoil because of the alleged invasion of its land by Ukpo community, using the police to harass and intimidate youths, elderly and women.

    However, the community has vowed not to allow anybody or group take over its land by force, unless, according to it, the court permits that.

    The petition was copied to the National Security Adviser to the President, the Chief Justice of the Federation and other relevant bodies.

    The community said the IG should channel his strength to finding lasting solution to Boko Haram insurgence, kidnappings and herdsmen issues rather than engaging himself in “abetting and aiding illegal boundary demarcations”.

    The petition reads: “Abba community has been under police siege in the last one month. Precisely on June 19 and July 5, the police commissioner, on the orders of the Inspector General of Police (IG), mobilised over 500 policemen to stop our people from trading at the Oye Abba market at Abba Junction, on the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.

    “The IG also directed the commissioner to ensure that Abba people are not allowed into the market again, with a command to mobilise the forces under his command to deal ruthlessly with the people should they resist the forceful takeover of their land by Ukpo community.

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    “What we are asking is when has the job of providing security by the police changed to land dispute settlement and boundary demarcation? Abba Community is calling on President Muhammadu Buhari, the International Community and concerned Nigerians to know what we are experiencing and save us from total extinction from our land. The desperation and brigandage employed by Ukpo Community and involvement of the police in this land matter is what we cannot understand.

    “The land is not running away, it is still there, so if in the end the court says it belongs to them, we will accept the decision. But we shall resist anything in the contrary aimed at forcefully and illegally taking over of our inheritance from us. We pray for peace to reign in Nigeria as we have more than enough security challenges facing us.”

    Anambra police spokesman Mohammed Haruna said he would not make any comments until the petition was served his command.

  • ‘Nri kingdom confirmed Onyeso as regent’

    Mr Nkemjika Vincent Oraeki, the Personal Assistant of former Chief Judge of Anambra State, Justice Peter Umeadi, has debunked a report that a resolution confirming Prince Ikenna Onyeso as regent of Nri Kingdom in Anambra State was doctored.

    In a statement, Oraeki said it was not true that the Peace/Reconciliation Committee resolution on a dispute between Nzemabuo/Ndi Nze General and the Eze Nri Palace held on January 6 was tampered with.

    “His Lordship took no part whatsoever in the process that occurred immediately Eze Nri went to be with his ancestors and whatever went on in the Palace.

    “He was not directly involved with what was going on in the Palace, nor did he in any way get involved with what the son was doing personally, in so far as the traditional authority in the Kingdom was concerned,” the statement said.

    Oraeki said Umeadi was invited to mediate in the dispute, adding that an outcome of the process was the recognistion of Onyeso as the regent.

    “It is not true that Justice Umeadi is supporting Prince Ikenna Onyeso as regent so he would in turn support Justice Umeadi to be the Eze Nri. The position of the Eze Nri rotates between known families in Nri.

    “The immediate past Chief Judge is a scion of a family one of which is expecting a mention, if providence permits, when the selection for the Eze Nri begins.

    “His Uncle Akunnia Obudegwu Umeadi was the head of both the Orunzenaino and Nzemabuo under the reign of Eze Nri Nrijiofor II Tabansi Udene.

    “That is double of the group which Octogenarian Michael Igidigi is laying claim to, even when a court of competent jurisdiction has decided that he has no right to such a position.

    “The repudiation by their group shows the embarrassment they face as their actions are totally contrary to the Resolutions which they joined to reach,” the statement added.

  • School feeding: Group intervenes in 63 schools in Anambra

    AN American based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Adaigbo Women in Diaspora, has promised  to intervene in the feeding of over 63 primary schools in Anambra State.

    President of the group, Mrs Eunice Onwunyi, stated this on Friday at Trinitas Nursery and Primary School, Nri, Anaocha Local Government Area of the state.

    She said the intervention was part of the community development effort of the Diaspora women of Igboland.

    Onwunyi represented by Mrs. Nkiru Udeorji, said the distribution of the food rich in protein and vitamins as well as drinks would cover primary schools in the zone.

    She said, “This programme is to complement the efforts of the federal government for healthy growth of school children in the country.

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    “Three primary schools from private and public sectors which were most disadvantaged would be selected from each of the 21 council areas of Anambra to benefit from the feeding intervention.”

    Lamenting the dilapidated state of Trinitas Nursery and Primary School, Onwunyi assured that the group would provide the basic needs to the school in no distant time.

    “We shall help to improve the school’s learning environment by making it part of our programme implementation chart,” she added.

    The proprietress of the school, Mrs. Roseline Jideobi, was full of gratitude to the group for choosing her school as one of the beneficiaries of the exercise.

    Acknowledging that the school was in dire need of help, Jideobi said the school had never had such gesture, expressing hope of positive effect on the pupils.

    “We shall equally appreciate sending us children’s books and sport gears to complement the expected good and healthy life of the pupils,” she said.

    The NGO’s cardinal community development programme includes medicare and educational supplies.