The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Anambra

  • 100 drivers, technicians, others begin training in Anambra

    100 drivers, technicians, others begin training in Anambra

    Over 100 drivers, plant operators and technicians in the state civil service, under the umbrella of Anambra State Co-ordinating Council of Technical Workers Association (ANSCCTWA), have begun free mandatory conversion course.

    Declaring the workshop open in Awka, Head of Service (HoS), Theodora Igwegbe, said the six-month Batch 15 mandatory conversion course for drivers and technicians on grade level 7, was to improve service delivery.

    She urged the workers to imbibe discipline and professionalism in the discharge of their duties. 

    Igwegbe said: “We have gathered because we want to embark on a programme to improve your skills. We want you to realise that there are best practices to embrace to do your work well.

    “This course is aimed at improving service delivery. Without the training, none of you will be able to progress in your career or perform your duty very well.

    “The training has been held 14 times under previous administrations, but the current administration has considered the present economic hardship in the country to deliver it free of charge to the workers.”

    Describing the training as part of the welfare package of Governor Chukwuma Soludo to civil servants to advance in their career, the HoS enjoined the participants to take it seriously, warning culprits of chances of losing opportunity of being converted. 

    Read Also: Polio vaccination: Anambra emerges first in southeast, vaccinates 2.3m children

    A director in the ministry, Mr. Bayo Ojeyinka, urged the participants to use the training to change the narrative about drivers by demonstrating professionalism and devotion to their job.

    He said: “Most of us are interested in what we are supposed to get. These things must change. We have to change our attitude to our work. There is nothing like a chief driver in the civil service. You’re given this work to elevate you and not to depreciate you.” A director in the Ministry of Public Utilities, Bennett Aniekwe, an engineer; advised participants to shun truancy, but should take the programme seriously. to excel at the end of the exercise. 

    ANSCCTWA Chairman, Egbuonu Daniel, described the exercise as a relief to his members whom he lamented had stagnated on the job.

    He hoped that the exercise would not only assist in changing drivers narratives, but would also help to better their lots.

    “The training is not solely for drivers, but also for tailors and caterers, as it is a prerequisite for advancement in the service,” Egbuonu said.

  • Truth commission uncovers mass grave site in Anambra, says Bianca Ojukwu

    Truth commission uncovers mass grave site in Anambra, says Bianca Ojukwu

    Bianca Ojukwu, wife of the late Biafran leader, Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, has disclosed the existence of a mass grave site in Anambra State.

    She said this in a statement she posted on her Facebook page titled: ‘A mass grave site discovered in Anambra sealed off for forensic investigation.’

    Although the former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain did not disclose the location of the grave site, she said the discovery of the mass grave was brought through testimonies, to the attention of the Commission of Inquiry.

    Read Also: Tinubu departs Abuja for Saudi-Africa summit Thursday

    She added that about 322 people were verified as killed or dead as a result of violence as testified by the witnesses, who appeared before the Anambra Truth, Justice and Peace Commission.

    The commission was constituted by Governor Chukwuma Soludo in June 2022 to inquire into the violent agitations and restiveness in the state and the Southeast.

    When contacted to know if the state government was aware of the development, the Press Secretary to the Governor, Christian Aburime, said a formal report had not been presented on it.

    Police spokesman DSP Tochukwu Ikenga did not respond to inquiries when contacted on the development.

  • Vehicles, buildings destroyed as Anambra youths protest election outcome

    Vehicles, buildings destroyed as Anambra youths protest election outcome

    Several vehicles, buildings and other properties worth millions of were on Tuesday destroyed by irate youths in Odekpe in Ogbaru Local Government Area in Anambra State over election crisis in the community.

    The Nation gathered that trouble started when the landlords Association (non indigenes) in the area carried out election of their leaders which did not go down well with the indigenes.

    A resident,who preferred anonymity, said,:”In efforts to hold firm the leadership of the community, the indigenes sponsored a candidate of their own and conducted election last Sunday, ahead of that of the landlords’ billed for the following day (Monday).

    “As the landlords association members were conducting the election on Monday at Creative Model School, the youths stormed the scene and sacked residents, destroying chairs, tables, electoral materials, vehicles, buildings, among others items.

    “The landlords who insisted on conducting the election, went to another place where they successfully conducted the election and Sunday Obinze, was declared the winner.”

    Reacting, the elected President, Obinze who put worth of the damage at over N30million, said the perpetrators must pay for the damages.

    He said, “At about 7.30 am, some youths from Ogbaru, stormed my house, set my car ablaze, smashed the glass windows, doors, collected #3.5million meant for workers.

    “They must pay for the damages and car, including those of other people. What they destroyed worth over #30million. One person is almost dead, and over 15 people sustained various degrees of injuries. 

    “The igwe of Odekpe and the PG, Innocent Nwanosike, sent the youths who made it known to us when they were carrying out the destruction,” he stated.

    Read Also: Anambra, SMEDAN okay N1b loans for SMEs

    The secretary, Okolie Chukwunonso, on his part, claimed his pharmacy was broken into and N4million used for POS business, his barbing equipment, provisions in his shop, among other items were carted away.

    He accused both President General of Odekpe and the monarch of being behind the destructions that resulted in residents vacating the community.

    In a swift reaction, the accused President General of Odekpe community, Innocent Nwanosike, described the incident as unfortunate, saying the matter would have been resolved through the court or government instead of resorting to violence.

    “I heard of the mayhem and lamented over the damages. This case would have been amicably solved by the court or Government instead of resorting to violence. This case is election matter, who will be the President of the landlords association,” he disclosed.

    Confirming the incident, Police spokesperson, Ikenga Tochukwu said the police were on top of the situation.

  • Women protest husbands’ abduction, killing of sons in Anambra community

    Women protest husbands’ abduction, killing of sons in Anambra community

    Women of the Ogwuaniocha community in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra state have protested the alleged abduction of their husbands and the killing of their sons by a militant group in the area.

    They accused the group of daily invasion and attacked them in the various camps they were taking refuge in, calling for Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s intervention.

    The protesters carried placards with varying inscriptions like, “Stop attacking us with naval personnel”, “Gov. Soludo come to our rescue” and “Release our abducted husbands, stop killing our sons, enough of this destruction of lives and property, among others.

    Speaking during the protest, Mrs. Augustina Ejiofor, whose husband was abducted, said the group had declared their opposition wanted, alleging that their members were on the payroll of a missing monarch, Igwe Oliver Nnaji.

    She said: “My husband, Sunday Ejiofor, was abducted by Pillar youths when we went to sympathize with a relation that was bitten by a snake. My husband’s brother was also arrested by the same youths and is now at Awkuzu SARS. They didn’t commit any offence.

    “The problem in the community is lgweship/oil revenue derivation. Our monarch, Igwe Okwudili Ogali is now in detention, they started to attack him when he was installed as our monarch.

    “They accused him of being responsible for the disappearance of one Oliver Nnaji who claimed to be our monarch by imposing on us himself as the igwe to collect oil money.

    “Oliver calls us amusu, (witchcrafts), for opposing him and always sends his pillar youths to abduct us and declare us wanted, in collaboration with the Navy, police and Ebube Agu security outfit.

    Read Also: Lightning kills three, injures six in Anambra

    “We plead for the release of our abducted husbands and for them to stop killing our sons and destroying our property, we ran to camps where we have stayed for about three years without help and they come and abduct us there daily.

    “Their people in Diaspora supply them with weapons and money to attack our boys who also fight them. Our boys are the Lion Squad.”

    On her part, Mrs. Ebele Ogana wife to the rival traditional ruler of the community now in detention, Igwe Okwudili Ogali, said the attack on her husband started after his installation.

    “Government should come to our rescue because the intimidation by Pillar Boys is much. We don’t know anything about the whereabouts of the so-called Igwe Oliver.

    “I urge Governor Soludo to prevail on the Pillar Youths to release the husbands of those women and stop attacking us and killing our sons. Now pillar youths have declared us wanted and attack us daily.”

  • Lightning kills three, injures six in Anambra

    Lightning kills three, injures six in Anambra

    Lightning has killed three pupils in a secondary school in Anambra State.

    Six others have been resuscitated.

    Those involved, according to sources, were Senior Secondary School (SS3) pupils in Awka South Local Government.

    The incident, according to a source, occurred at the weekend, when the pupils were playing football.

    There was a downpour at the weekend in Awka, Anambra State capital and its environs.

    The source said the lightning struck nine male pupils who were playing football with others on barefoot.

    According to the source, “the pupils were practising on the football pitch with their coach, preparatory to a football tournament.

    “The coach had ended the training before the rain started, but some of the pupils stayed to continue playing football.

    Read Also: Unending battle of touting in Anambra

    “Lightning, accompanied by claps of thunderstorm, suddenly enveloped the area and the boys were struck.

    “A teacher heard the pupils screaming, he saw them running. He ran to the field and saw at least nine pupils trembling and jerking on the turf.

    “That was when he raised the alarm and people gathered to help.

    “The boys were immediately rushed to the school clinic, from where they were taken to one of the hospitals in Awka.

    “Six of the nine boys were resuscitated and are receiving treatment, but three did not survive.

    “Their parents have been contacted.”

    Contacted, police spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga, said the matter had not been reported to the command.

  • Thunderstorm tragedy: Lightning claims three lives, injures six in Anambra

    Thunderstorm tragedy: Lightning claims three lives, injures six in Anambra

    • Nwnosike Onu, Awka

    A tragic incident occurred at a secondary school in Anambra state, where three students lost their lives due to a lightning strike.

    Six other students who were also affected by the incident have been successfully revived. The victims were reportedly Senior Secondary School (SS3) students in Awka South Local Government Area.

    The incident, according to a source, happened at the weekend, when the students were playing football.

    There was a heavy downpour at the weekend in Awka, Anambra state and its environs.

    The source said the lightning struck nine male students who were playing football with others barefoot.

    According to the source, “The students were playing on the football pitch with their coach in preparation for a football tournament.

    “The coach had ended the training session before the rain started, but some of the students stayed behind to continue playing football.

    Read Also: Unending battle of touting in Anambra

    “Lightning, accompanied by claps of thunderstorm suddenly enveloped the area and the boys were struck in the process.

    “A teacher heard the students screaming and running. He ran to the field and saw at least nine students trembling and jerking on the turf.

    The eyewitness said: “That was when he raised the alarm and people gathered to help. The boys were immediately rushed to the school clinic, from where they were taken to one of the hospitals in Awka.

    “Six of the nine boys who were resuscitated and are currently receiving treatment, but three did not survive. Their parents have been contacted.”

    When contacted, the state police public relations officer, Tochukwu Ikenga, said the matter had not been reported to the command.

  • 600 Anambra pupils get Chinese scholarship

    600 Anambra pupils get Chinese scholarship

    Over 600 pupils of Igwebike Grammar School, Awka, Anambra State have been offered scholarship by a Chinese Engineering firm, Zhongtian Construction Nigeria Ltd.

    Managing Director, Tu Makuan, said the scholarship, meant for pupils from SS1 to SS3, would run for an academic session.

    He added that the gesture, which was part of the firm’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), was in line with Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s free education policy.

    “We’re the company building Solution Fun City. Whenever I’m driving to our site close to your school, I get attracted to your school.

    Read Also: Soludo’s N2bn to 5000 youths will curb crime in Anambra – Ohaneze youth leader

    “I’m here to announce the sponsorship of school fees of pupils from SS1 to SS3 for one academic year. This is part of our CSR,” Makuan said.

    Education Commissioner Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh said the philanthropy by the firm was informed by the commitment of teachers and pupils.

    She thanked the company for its generosity, describing it as worthy of emulation by other good spirited individuals and organisations in the state.

    Responding on behalf of the pupils, the school’s senior prefect, Chinedu Anago, thanked their benefactor for the gesture, pledging improved dedication to their studies to justify the scholarship.

  • Anambra’s gated funerals

    Anambra’s gated funerals

    It is a morbid story, but there are useful morals entailed. Anambra State is showing the way on how burying the dead should not be allowed to become a crushing burden on the living. True, the dead deserve all the celebration they get in the course of being committed to mother earth, but that committal should not in its implementation make relations of the deceased into the living dead. That was what the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo brought to attention again lately in highlighting the provisions of an existing Anambra State Burial/Funeral Ceremonial Control Law, 2019 and penalties for violations.

    A statement by Anambra State Information Commissioner Paul Nwosu reminded people of the state that the law on funerals remained in force though being observed in the breach, warning that contravention could incur jail terms. He recalled that the state assembly, since 2019, enacted the law providing, among others, that billboards/banners/posters of deceased persons are not to be erected but only directional posts to funeral venues that shall be erected seven days to burial date and removed not later than seven days after; that no one should leave a corpse in the mortuary beyond two months after death; that no one is to block an access route for burial ceremonies except with permission from appropriate council authority; and that no person shall publicly display a casket for the purpose of fabrication and sale in the state. Other provisions of the law include that there shall be no second funeral rites after burial except in the case of legacy; no wake-keep of any kind for a deceased person and all vigil-mass/service of songs/religious activity prior to burial shall terminate latest by 9pm; no food, drink, live-band or cultural entertainers during and after any vigil-mass/service of songs/religious activity for the deceased; and that all burial/funeral ceremonies shall be for a day, with burial mass/services commencing not later than 9am and shall not last more than two hours. Violation of these provisions respectively has jail terms and fines stipulated in penalty.

    Read Also: Soludo’s N2bn to 5000 youths will curb crime in Anambra – Ohaneze youth leader

    When the law was being processed in 2019 by the state assembly, its sponsor, Charles Chukwuma Ezeani, said it was aimed at curtailing ostentation and unnecessary show of wealth during funerals in Anambra. Besides, the law is to address unnecessary pressure plied on bereaved persons to borrow money for funeral activities and thereby incur debts they cannot pay back thereafter. Ezeani added that the whole intent of the law is that people should celebrate their loved ones while alive and not spend a fortune buying golden caskets upon their demise. Hardball thinks there is much to say for this law, and it is a marvel other states haven’t borrowed a leaf.

  • Leadership crisis tears APGA apart in Anambra

    Leadership crisis tears APGA apart in Anambra

    The Anambra chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) is currently facing a leadership crisis, although the state chairman of the party, Chief Ivy Obi-Okoye, has downplayed the situation, characterizing it as an internal family matter.

    Obi-Okoye was the one-time chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

    Trouble started last week when some of the young politicians working the Governor Chukwuma Soludo organised a rally for the party in the Central senatorial zone without the knowledge of the state chairman.

    As a result, the chairman put up a statement, cancelling the rally.

    The action did not go down well with the organisers, who reported the matter to Soludo and were given a go-ahead order by the governor.

    The rally, which was held in Awka on Saturday, October 28, was under the auspices of Soludo Ambassadors, led by Hon. Ossy Onuko, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA).

    Onuko said: “It is a transformation day and no distraction rally for the solution government.”

    He maintained that the rally was the avenue through which the achievements of the Soludo government were being preached to the Anambra people

    However, speaking with The Nation Monday in Awka, the state chairman of APGA, Chief Obi Okoye, said they were still working together to make sure the party grew bigger.

    Read Also: Join hands with Tinubu, APGA,LP faction tell Atiku, Obi

    He noted: “APGA has become a big party and I’m making sure everyone works towards that purpose of building a synergy in the party. There is no form of any crisis whatsoever and there’s no cause for alarm.”

    The Nation gathered that the reason for the leadership crisis was people positioning themselves for a cash-out, ahead of Soludo’s second-term campaigns.

    The governorship election in Anambra state would be held again in 2025, while political parties had started putting things in order ahead of time.

  • Anambra community to CP: tell your men to leave our land alone

    Anambra community to CP: tell your men to leave our land alone

    No fewer than 1,000 indigenes of 20 villages in Awka community, Awka South Local Government of Anambra State, yesterday stormed streets in the capital city, protesting land grabbing by another community with the alleged help of the police command.

    Carrying placards with inscriptions such as: ‘Ezinano land doesn’t need police post’, ‘Police have taken bribe’, ‘Police face security, not our land’, among others, the indigenes, including the young and the old, took their protest to the police, blocking the police headquarters at Amawbia.

    Read Also: Days of touting in Anambra over, says Soludo

    Police Commissioner Aderemi Adeoye hailed the protesters for their peaceful disposition.

    He said: “Police are not interested in your land and no attempt is being made to take over any community land. We’re here to serve the public and we won’t support any party. My doors are always open to listen to you.”