The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Anambra

  • Xenophobia: South African mob burns another Nigerian alive

    The Nigerian Community in South Africa has announced the killing of Clement Nwaogu, who was burnt alive by a mob in the latest xenophobia attack in that country.

    The Publicity Secretary of the Nigeria Union in South Africa, Mr Habib Miller, confirmed the killing from Pretoria in a telephone interview with our reporter in Port Harcourt on Monday.

    He said the victim, a native of Njikoka in Anambra and an upholsterer in South Africa, was attacked and killed by a mob in Rustenburg, North West Province.

    Miller said that the victim was murdered in cold blood over his accent and habit, which the mobsters supposedly found offensive.

    “The mob descended on him like a common criminal with all sorts of dangerous weapons in the presence of South African police officers.

    “Eyewitnesses say the victim beckoned for help from the police to intervene and help him, but they turned a blind eye.

    “When Nwaogu could no longer persevere, he ran for safety; the mob chased and caught him, poured petrol on him and set him ablaze,” he said.

    Miller said that the mob then left Nwaogu when they thought he had died.

    The spokesman said that shortly after the mob left Nwaogu that some passersby called emergency personnel, who later took the victim’s charred body to the hospital.

    “The eyewitnesses feeling that the victim was still alive called for help; unfortunately, Nwaogu could not survive the ordeal and died at Job Shimankane Hospital in Rustenburg,” he said.

    In another development, Miller said that 14 Nigerians, who protested the killing of a fellow citizen in that country’s North West Province in February, are still in detention.

    He said the police officers murdered the Nigerian in cold blood on Dec. 17 after failing to extort money from the victim.

    Miller said that the police officers had since been released on bail while those who protested the killing were still languishing in detention.

    “Our legal team is doing everything possible to facilitate the release of the protesters.

    “We are worried that nothing has been done by the Nigerian government to stop the killings.

    “We once again call on the Nigerian mission in South Africa to do the needful urgently because things are getting out of hand.

    “The union with its legal desk will follow up the matter with the appropriate institutions until justice prevails,” he added.

    Nwaogu was married to a South African and was blessed with two children; aged three and five years.

    Our reporter recalls that the killing of Nwaogu follows extra-judicial killing of another Nigerian, ThankGod Okoro, 30, by the South African Police Flying Squad.

    Okoro, a native of Ogbaku in Awgwu Local Government Area of Enugu, was shot dead at Hamburg, Florida West Rand, Johannesburg on April 9.

    Records show that no fewer than 118 Nigerians have been killed in South Africa since February, 2016.

    NAN

     

  • Erosion: Buhari to declare state of emergency in Anambra

    The people of Orumba North and Orumba South in Anambra have urged President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency to the unending erosion disaster in the federal constituency.

    They made the request in Abuja on Friday when the traditional and town union leaders, led by the member representing the federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Rep Ben Nwankwo, visited Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    The lawmaker told State House Correspondents after the meeting that the disaster was beyond the capacity of the affected communities and the state to handle.

    He said that the disaster required urgent intervention of both the federal government and international agencies.

    “We are here on a triple mission; the first is to commend the federal government of Nigeria through the Vice President on their very gargantuan input toward the burial of (late) Dr Alex Ekwueme.

    “The second mission is to notify them of the war going on in Orumba North and South between erosion and the people as to who owns the land.

    “While there is Boko Haram in the North East there is `erosion Haram’ in the South East particularly in Anambra state.

    “The Agulu-Oko-Nanka, down to Umunze is the deepest gully erosion in the country and we have notified the Vice President of this situation; about 100 houses have caved in and hundreds of people rendered homeless.

    “They are squatting at various places and we are asking for international intervention especially in the area of survey, risk assessment, mapping and ecological engineering.

    “But most importantly, the site in-toto should be declared ecological emergency to give it the attention it rightly deserves so that the international community should be able to come into it, otherwise the next two years there will be more disaster.’’

    Nwankwo said that the third plea was to ask the federal government to upgrade the two federal institutions in the area to degree-awarding institutions.

    They are the Federal Polytechnic, Oko in Orumba North and the Federal College of Education, Technical, Umunze in Orumba South.

    He explained that the request was to ensure that both institutions did not continue to produce manpower that would not be utilized by the industry.

    The lawmaker stated that the request was trendy and international adding that more than 13 countries had such polytechnic universities.

    Nwankwo commended the President in the onerous task of fixing Nigeria.

    The Rep said that the declaration of the erosion emergency was not essentially a legislative process but one that could be started by the executive.

    He said the communities had properly situated it with the executive domain and promised that when the leadership tabled it before the National Assembly, it would receive positive attention.

    Nwankwo said that the legislative instrument that would back the request was already before the National Assembly.

    The traditional ruler of Oko, Prof. Laz Ekwueme, added that the erosion situation in the region had continued to grow worse with every rain and called for urgent help by the federal government.

    “We are pleading and praying and urging the government to do everything possible to start work on it with international help.

    “It is beyond the community, beyond the state even beyond the federal government but it can initiate the process of getting outside bodies to assist.

    “We are in the great danger of losing the whole communities and beyond; whatever the media can do to help to urge everybody to come to assist and to save our souls we will appreciate it,’’ the monarch said.

    NAN

     

  • Anambra: 13 NYSC members to repeat service

    No fewer than 13 members of the National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC ) 2017 Batch A stream 1 will repeat their service in Anambra.

    Mr Ebenezer Olawale, the NYSC Coordinator in the state, disclosed this at the passing out of the corps members in Awka on Thursday.

    Olawale, however, did not give details of those who would either repeat the service and those whose service year was extended.

    He said that out of the 2,814 corps members, 2,801 satisfied the requirements of service and were accordingly issued discharge certificates.

    The state coordinator said seven members won the Governor’s Award while five won the Chairman’s Award and 13 went home with the State Coordinator’s Award.

    He prayed for the repose of the souls of one corps member and a staff of the NYSC in the state who died during the service year.

    Read Also: Lagos NYSC appeals for new permanent orientation camp (more…)

  • FRSC cautions dealers against selling fake spare parts

    The Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC ) in Anambra has advised motor spare parts dealers to desist from selling fake spare parts to motorists in order curtail road accidents.

    The Sector Commander, Mr Sunday Ajayi, gave the advice during a safety campaign tour at the New Spare Parts market in Nkpor, Idemili Local Government Area of the state on Wednesday.

    Ajayi attributed usage of fake spare parts as factors responsible for most vehicular accidents.

    He advised the traders to always sell genuine parts.

    He said that the dealers were critical stakeholders in ensuring safety on the nation’s roads.

    The sector commander said that the agency would extend the campaign to other major stakeholders in the state to sensitise them to the need to key into the campaign.

    He said that if stakeholders could collaborate and check factors that caused road accidents, the country would be better for it.

    He appealed to leadership of the traders to key into the commission’s drive to flush out traders of fake spare parts in the state.

    The FRSC official also advised the participants on the need to adhere to safety rules and obey other necessary safety codes while driving.

    He urged vehicle owners to first attend driving school before driving, pointing out that most road accidents on the roads were caused by human beings and were avoidable.

    The Chairman of the Traders Union in the market, Chief Aloysius Ozokwelu, lauded the sector commander for the enlightenment campaign.

    NAN

  • Easter: We must love, sacrifice like Christ – Oduah

    As Christians around the world celebrate Easter, Sen. Stella Oduah, has urged Nigerians to emulate the virtues of love and sacrifice which Jesus Christ exhibited by dying on the cross.

    In an Easter message she signed on Saturday, the lawmaker, representing Anambra North in the National Assembly, said with love, Nigeria would surmount its challenges.

    She stated that “we must learn to love like Christ loved and we must sacrifice as Christ exemplified for us.

    “If we love one another, the wanton killings, clashes, kidnappings, theft and other vices that bedevilled our society would not exist.

    “With love and sacrifice there in empathy, understanding, tolerance and coexistence, we would indeed be united.

    “Just as Christ taught us and also taught in Islam and other religions, love is a virtue which conquers all, where there is love, all other good virtues go along with it.”

    Read Also: No plan to dump PDP for APGA – Oduah

    The former Aviation Minister said Nigerians must also learn to assist the poor and the needy around them instead of indulging in lavish celebrations while neighbours go hungry.

    She added that Easter was a time for sober reflection, a time for moral reevaluation and a time to retrace one’s steps.

    “We must see the Easter as not just a time to celebrate the resurrection of Christ but a time to soberly reflect on the significance of his suffering death and resurrection and how well we are emulating the virtues he taught.

    “For parents, it is a time to reflect on how well you have brought up your children. The family holds the key to good upbringing and therefore parents must raise their children up in the right way for an honest future generation.

    “I, therefore, wish every Nigerian Christian and friends a wonderful Easter celebration.”

    NAN

  • APGA forum: Obiano means well for Anambra

    The national co-ordinator of the APGA Media Warriors Forum, Chinedu Obigwe, has said Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano means well for the state.

    The group, in a statement yesterday, said the governor had demonstrated his love for his people.

    The statement reads: “ Unfolding events in Anambra State with regards to Governor Obiano plans for the people are proofs that the governor is a godsent.

    ‘’He came to govern the state to make life better for the people. At a time other states are finding it difficult to pay workers, Obiano has concluded arrangements to pay new wages by July.

    “The governor plans to launch a 50-year sustainable development plan in the state. This is a good omen and will  entrench development in the state.”

    Obigwe hailed the governor for empowering youths.

    He said: “Obiano is committed to ensuring that he runs a corrupt-free government, hence  he invited Magu, EFCC chairman, to the retreat for new appointees.’’

    ‘’The opposition is an enemy of progress using unnecessary litigation to thwart the governor’s plan to conduct council elections.

    ‘’The opposition is frustrating the governor’s good intention and giving the people the wrong impression that he won’t conduct elections.

    “The people should hold the opposition responsible for the non-conduct of  elections, and prevail on it to withdraw the suit filed in court, so Obiano can go ahead with his plans to conduct council elections.”

     

  • Prison escapee arrested in Anambra 

    •Robbery, fraud suspects paraded

    The Anambra State Police Command has arrested Emeka Osita (22), who escaped from Minna prisons, Niger State, during a jail break in 2015.

    Commissioner of Police Garba Umar stated this yesterday at the headquarters in Amawbia. He also paraded five persons for various crimes.

    According to him, Osita, who hails from Agulu Otu-Aguleri in Anambra East Local Government Area, named Ugochukwu Odumegwu from Ihiala as his co-prisoner. He answered Chukwuebuka Okwujinne Ozoregbue in prison.

    Umar said the suspect would be handed over to the state Comptroller of Prisons as stipulated by law.

    Other suspects paraded yesterday included Chekwube Anthony Nkemaka, who hails from Nibo, Awka South council, Ifeoma Acholonwa and Stanley Nwafor, both from Arondizuogu, for robbery. Chekwube Chukwu and Amarachukwu Orjiakor were also paraded for suspected fraud.

    Umar said the suspects will soon be prosecuted after investigations.

    Items recovered from the suspects include a locally-made single barrel pistol, three expended cartridges and substances suspected to be Indian hemp.

  • Anambra executive council not sacked— commissioner

    Anambra executive council not sacked— commissioner

    Chief Tony Nnacheta, the Commissioner for Information and Communication Strategy in Anambra, has dismissed the report that  Gov. Willie Obiano has sacked all his political appointees.

    Nnacheta made the clarification at a news conference in Awka on Thursday.

    He said the internal memo directing all commissioners and political appointees to prepare their handover notes and properties for submission to permanent secretaries and secretary to the state government was misinterpreted.
    The memo was signed by Prof Solo Chukwulobelu, the Secretary to the State Government and dated March 2.

    “His Excellency, Dr Willie Obiano, has directed that all political appointees and non-civil servants, heads of MDAs in the state submit their handover notes and reports on or before Friday, March 16, 2018, to the permanent secretaries of their respective MDAs.

    “All appointees, non-civil servants, heads of MDAs and SSAs/SAs under reference are to hand over any government projects/ utility vehicles in their custody to the permanent secretaries, secretary to the state government or to the office of the governor on or before 16th March 2018,”  Chukwulobelu wrote.

    Nnacheta said Obiano merely asked the political appointees that their handover notes be completed on or before March 16 when the tenure of the administration would end.

    He said the memo was in line with best practices and not a sack letter as purported in some reports.

    He urged those who published the erroneous and misleading report to re-cast their headlines and apologise to the state government.

    “The memo was done on March 2, that is; two weeks to the end of this administration, on that day the governor’s tenure ends and every political appointee’s tenure end as well.

    “From March 16, the government will be in the hands of senior civil servants until the governor is sworn in on March 17.

    Read Also: Anambra inaugurates monthly road walk for workers, residents

    “The memo says; hand over your notes and the project vehicles in your possession, so all political appointees in the state have two weeks to prepare and hand over these things.
    “So, Anambra State Executive Council has not been sacked, not been dissolved and has not been removed, you do not issue a man letter and tell him you are sacked in two weeks.

    “Some media houses which did not deem it fit to confirm ran that story to the embarrassment of Anambra Government and the good people of the state.

    “Next week another EXCO meeting would be convened and that will be the valedictory session and EXCO will eventually stand dissolved on March 16,” he said

    The commissioner said the handover ceremony which would hold on March 17 would be low-key and urged Anambra people to come out en masse at Alex Ekwueme Square and celebrate the success of the Obiano administration.

    NAN

  • Anambra inaugurates monthly road walk for workers, residents

    Anambra inaugurates monthly road walk for workers, residents

    The Ministry of Sports and Youths Entrepreneurship in Anambra has inaugurated a monthly road walk for workers and residents in the state.

    The exercise, supported by the Anambra Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission ( FRSC ), was led by Mr Harry Udu, the Head of Service in the state on Wednesday.

    Uju Nwogu, Commissioner for Sports and Youth Entrepreneurship, joined some senior civil servants and some residents in the state on the road walk on the major roads in Awka, the state capital.

    Nwogu said the monthly exercise was part of the activities of the ministry aimed at raising awareness on mental and physical alertness of workers.

    She said that obesity resulting from sedentary lifestyles of people was responsible for the frequent visits to hospitals over minor ailment and heart attacks.

    The commissioner also said it was targeted toward enhancing the physical well-being of the residents of the state and engenders greater productivity of workers.

    She said the ministry would make staff of government in the local governments to hold their own exercise in subsequent editions as all workers could not come to Awka for the programme.

    “This is a monthly jogging and walking, a programme of the Ministry of Sports and Youths Entrepreneurship for all workers and residents of Anambra.

    “We want to encourage physical exercise to keep fit because a healthy man is a wealthy man; it is only a healthy man that can be productive.

    “Again, it is important because it drives away illnesses like cancer, high blood pressure, heart attack and other related illnesses; the psychomotor of workers is also sharpened,’’ she said.

    Meanwhile, Sunday Ajayi, Sector Commander of the FRSC who participated in the exercise, said it was a welcome development.

    Ajayi said the FRSC would provide all logistics support within its powers to enable it succeed, adding that keeping fit was good for safety on the road.

    “I want to say that health is wealth as they say, what has happened today is a landmark event and I thank the state government for approving this exercise.

    “I foresee positive outcome after this exercise in terms of productivity of workers, the FRSC has always collaborated with the state government and we shall work with the ministry of sports on this programme.

    “Fatigued people are advised not to drive, sick people are advised not to drive, you need exercise to drive those things away,’’ he said.

    Earlier, Udu said that road walk was not just for workers in Anambra, but the entire citizenry.

    The head of service said that even though the inauguration was symbolic, the people of the state were expected to engage in physical exercise at the individual levels on daily basis.

    He said the monthly programme was a ministerial duty which was in line with the rules of civil service, and encouraged workers to turn out in large numbers whenever they were called out to exercise.

    “It should not be a monthly affair, individuals should work out their plans for daily exercise and it is not for workers only, but the entire people.

    “This will improve the thinking process, metal alertness and strength of our people both those in civil service and those that are in business, the state government is encouraging people to keep fit.

    “This is part of the awareness, we will ensure that those outside Awka also benefit from this exercise, people can gather at the local government field and exercise for some minutes,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • Reps to probe alleged loss of N2bn, $3.8m interests from sale of PHCN

    Reps to probe alleged loss of N2bn, $3.8m interests from sale of PHCN

    The House of Representatives is to investigate the alleged loss of two billion naira and 3.8 million dollars through banks’ non-payment of interests on the proceeds of the sale of PHCN successor companies.

    The decision followed the unanimous adoption of a motion by Rep. Chukwuka Onyema ( Anambra-PDP ) at the plenary on Tuesday.

    The session was presided over by the Speaker, Mr Yakubu Dogara.

    The house resolved to set up an ad hoc committee to carry out the probe and to report back to the house within six weeks for further legislative action.

    Onyema had said that the Electric Power Sector Reform Act of 2005 unbundled the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) into 18 successor companies.

    He said the companies were six generation companies, and 12 distribution companies covering the 36 states of the federation as well as National Power Transmission Company.

    Onyema said following the divestiture of Federal Government from PHCN through privatisation, the company was divided into separate companies known as the Local Electricity Distribution Companies.

    He said the successor companies made payment to the Federal Government through Standard Chartered Bank, Fidelity Bank, Stanbic IBTC, Access Bank, FCMB, Skye Bank, Sterling Bank, Zenith Bank and Unity Bank.

    “The accrued interests due to the Federal Government to the tune of two billion naira and 3.8 million dollars were alleged to have been diverted by those banks in collaboration with officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria,’’ Onyema said.

    He pointed out that the Nigerian Constitution empowers the House to conduct investigations for the purpose of exposing corruption, inefficiency or waste in the execution or administration of laws and management of funds.

    NAN