Tag: Anambra

No fewer than seven people lost their lives in a tragic accident on Sunday, June 2, in Anambra state when a lorry collided with six vehicles.

The incident occurred around 10 am in Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area, along the Onitsha-Owerri expressway.

The Nation gathered that the collision involved two tricycles, two Hiace vans, and a private vehicle, all of which were reportedly crushed by the lorry, allegedly being chased by some government agents.

An eyewitness claimed that the death toll might be higher, saying that some people were still trapped in the wreckage.

In his reaction to the incident, Governor Charles Soludo’s press secretary, Chris Aburime, debunked the claims that the accident was caused by government agents.

He informed The Nation that many touts, known locally as “agberos,” operate in the area, noting that this has been a persistent issue the Soludo administration has been addressing.

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He assured that those responsible for such fatal accidents would be apprehended and face justice, emphasizing that Soludo’s government is committed to preserving lives and would not engage in activities that endanger them.

“Honestly, it’s regrettable and unfortunate,” he added.

Although the details of the accident are still being investigated, the Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Anambra State, Adeoye Irelewuyi, confirmed the incident.

He said that the FRSC is working on gathering comprehensive details and noted that some local youths were protesting in response to the crash.

Irelewuyi said, “Yes, there was an RTC at Oba along the Onitsha -Owerri expressway earlier today.

“Details of the crash are still being gathered. Some youths in the town and others are allegedly protesting over the incident.”

…as two communities engage each other

Tension has heightened in two communities in Anambra State following verbal war and threats from their leaders over land issues.

The two neighbouring communities are Abacha in Idemili North and Nimo, in Njikoka local government areas of the state.

Despite the case of both communities being in court, the leaders are not relenting in their claims of the ownership of the lands.

In a recent publication by one of the newspapers ( not The Nation), the President General of Nimo Town Development Union, NTDU,  Dan Zeelunjo Analikukwu, mentioned some of the lands he claimed belonged to them.

It was during the town launching of the 2024 Farming Season,  namely: Nimo Owa, Owe, Mkpuluota, Nkokpo, Agunogba, and Aguekpe to be cultivated by his people to achieve bumper harvest.

 But  Chief-Ejike Okafor, the President General of Abacha Development Union (ADU), a neighbouring community to Nimo, faulted the statement dubbing it as mischievous and a charade put up to cover the truth of the whole matter.

He  noted that the statement was a ploy to confuse the general public on the true ownership of the said lands.

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He said that such public talk could ignite crises if not well managed, adding that his people (Abacha community) had been living peacefully with their neighbors and had been in  possession of the three lands, which he mentioned as Agu Owa, Ugwu Ogazi, Agu Nogba from time immemorial.

Okafor wondered why the President General of Nimo decided to delve into such matters knowing full well that the land belonged to Abacha town people.

He said, “These three lands Agu Owa, Ugwu Ogazi, Agu Nogba belong to the Abacha people starting from the time of our forefathers, We Abacha people don’t know why the Nimo people are making such a statement.

 It is on record that Abacha people are bonafide owners of these places as these areas are part of the areas on the ongoing court matter involving Abacha community as defendants and  Nimo as plaintiffs in suit No. NN/110/2018 in the Anambra State High Court, sitting at Neni.

Mr. Mathew Obi, the Secretary General of ADU, called on the Nimo PG to choose the path of peace, adding that the two towns had been living peacefully and could not afford to be enemies this time.

A 30-year-old teacher has been arrested for allegedly beating an 8-year-old pupil into a coma in Anambra state.

The Anambra state government has permanently shut down Landmark School Mgbakwu in the Awka North Local Government Area.

The commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, disclosed this to reporters in her office on Monday.

She had summoned the school’s proprietor and the teacher involved, Faith Nwonye, to explain the incident that led to the brutalization of the primary two pupils.

Speaking shortly after the meeting, Chuma-Udeh explained that the school’s closure was not only based on the ugly incident but as a result of its illegality.

She expressed sadness over the development, lamenting that the chances of the victim’s survival currently in admission to the hospital were 20 percent, according to the medical Doctor.

Describing as criminals running illegal schools in the state as well as beating a child, the Commissioner warned that perpetrators were doing so at their peril.

She said: “We received this unfortunate incident from an illegal school in Mgbakwu that a child was beaten to a coma over the weekend.

“On behalf of the State Government, we invited the proprietress of the illegal school as well as the teacher who purportedly beat the child.

“We’ve handed the matter to the police for further investigations, as we await Mr Governor’s directives.

“Meanwhile, the school is closed down indefinitely because it’s not supposed to exist in the first instance.

“Any parent who is enrolling his/her child in an illegal school is doing so at his/her own peril.

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“To the proprietors of private schools, anyone running an unapproved school in Anambra is a criminal. It’s a criminal offence to run an illegal school in the state.

“Whether the school is legal or not, it’s criminal to beat a child. According to the doctor, the chances of survival of the child is 20%.

“As soon as the police are done, the teacher will face other institutions against child rights. She’s going to have the full wrath of the law brought upon her over her actions.

“Anambra state abhors violence to children, women, and any other person. It’s not part of this administration and Mr. Governor is against such.” Chuma-Udeh said

A midnight fire has killed one student and destroyed properties at the Bishop Crowther Memorial Seminary School, Awka, Anambra state.

The cause of the fire that occurred on Saturday remains unknown.

The fire destroyed the school’s hostel, including mattresses and other students’ belongings.

A student, who died in the incident, was reportedly taken to a mortuary.

The Anambra State Fire Service’s media unit in Awka confirmed the incident in a statement.

The state Fire Service Chief, Chukwudi Chiketa, said firefighters and a fire truck were deployed immediately after the incident occurred and the fire was contained.

The statement said, the fire chief visited the school on Sunday, where the principal narrated how the fire affected a part of the school’s hostel.

The statement was titled, ‘Update on the incident that occurred in Bishop Crowther Seminary, Awka’.

It read in part: “The Anambra State Fire Service Chief arrived at Bishop Crowther Memorial Seminary School, Awka at 10:55 am on Sunday, for a firsthand inspection and assessment of the level of damages caused by the fire outbreak that occurred on Saturday night in the school.

“Recall that Anambra State Fire Service received a distress call at 11:30 pm, on Saturday, May 18, 2024, which reported a fire outbreak in one of the school’s hostels.

“Our firefighters and one of the fire trucks were deployed immediately to the scene of the incident, and the fire was contained.

“The cause of this fire is still unknown, but it’s confirmed that one of the students died at the scene and has been taken to a mortuary.

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“The school Principal, Ven. Dr Emendu, who received the fire chief, narrated how the fire affected a part of the school’s hostel, damaged everything, including mattresses and other students’ belongings therein, and left one dead. According to the principal, there was no other casualty, and no injury was recorded.”

“Emendu, commended the state fire service, stating that they arrived promptly and prevented the fire from further escalation to other parts of the building.

“The Fire Chief sympathised with the school management and the entire students of Bishop Crowther Memorial Seminary School, urging them to take heart as God will console them in his way.

“He also commiserated with the family of the deceased, who at the time of the visit were still on their way to the school, stating that it’s always painful and heartbreaking to lose a child, not to talk of in such a situation of fire outbreak. He prayed to God to give them the fortitude to bear the loss,” it read.

The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), Anambra chapter, says it has suspended the indefinite strike it embarked upon on March 28.

The Chairman of the association, Mr Abraham Okoye, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Awka that the decision was reached after the government had set in measures to address their demands.

Okoye said that part of the measures was to address issues of unpaid peculiar allowances of staff of the state House Assembly.

“The executive of Anambra PASAN and south east zonal leadership of PASAN met with the leadership of the state Assembly, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Head of Service, and a team of permanent secretaries.

“The meetings resolved that the leadership of the Assembly commits to the payment of Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS) to the staff.

“A joint committee of the Executive and the Assembly was set to look into and advise the governor on the modalities for financial autonomy of Anambra state House of Assembly.

“Therefore, with the above developments, Anambra state PASAN is directed by its national body to suspended the indefinite strike for two months,” Okoye said.

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According to Okoye, if nothing is done by the end of the two months timeline, PASAN will recommence the strike.

NAN reports that the indefinite strike was due to non implementation of full legislative financial autonomy and non payment of the allowances that had been recurring in the state’s budget since 2019.

The association was also protesting non-constitution of the state Legislative Service Commission as provided by Anambra Legislative Service Commission Law, 2022.

(NAN)

• Ranks second lowest in malaria prevalence in Nigeria

Commissioner for Health, Anambra State, Dr Afam Obidike on Saturday disclosed that 6,000 deliveries and 120 Cesarean Sections have been recorded since Governor Chukwuma Soludo flagged off the free antenatal care and delivery scheme for pregnant women in September 2023.

He also announced that the state ranked second among the states with the lowest prevalence of malaria in the country.

Obidike disclosed on Saturday in an interview in Awka to assess the impact of the interventions in the health sector by Gov. Chukwuma Soludo’s administration.

He said that according to the current National Malaria Survey, Lagos State had the lowest malaria prevalence with three percent while Anambra ranked second lowest with five percent.

The Commissioner also said that the District Health Information system of 2023 indicated that children under five deaths due to malaria had continued to decrease in Anambra.

According to him, Anambra recorded 4.6 percent of under-five mortality due to malaria in 2020, 4.4 percent in 2021, 3.5 in 2022 and 0.96 in 2023.

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“Anambra State was able to achieve the reduction in malaria prevalence with the desilting of drains across the state and the distribution of 3.8 million mosquito nets in partnership with Malaria Consortium.

“The rate of net use has increased in Anambra from 27 percent to 57 percent which is above the national average of 37 percent.

“In the Free Antenatal Care scheme introduced by the state government, pregnant women are given the Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine drug to treat malaria in pregnancy.

“Our goal is to make Anambra the lowest state with malaria prevalence in Nigeria, and we are working tirelessly to achieve that,” he said.

Obidike further said that the government was recruiting more health workers, and upgrading and equipping health facilities to ensure unhindered access to quality and affordable healthcare in the state.