The Anambra Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it has shut down 15 illegal security guard companies operating in the state.
Assistant Commandant-General (ACG) Ben Dikuro made this known in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Friday.
Dikuro warned that the organisation would not live any stone unturned in making further arrests and closures of illegal security companies in the state.
“We have been able to x-ray their activities and have provided the enabling environment for the licensed operators to carry out their duty within the law.
“Those who want to operate must be licensed to do so.”
He said the agency had created awareness of its operations and had set machinery in motion to put away vandals of national assets.
“We have set up mobile patrol to monitor national assets, including electrical installations.”
He said that because of the corps’ uncompromising stand, it has been able to effectively check vandalism in the state.
“All the entry and exit points of the state are being manned by our officers to monitor movement of adulterated petroleum products.”
Dikuro urged members of the public to see the corps as a full-fledged para-military organisation of government by providing information that could lead to the arrest of criminals.
The commandant, however, appealed to the state government to assist in building a befitting command headquarters for the NSCDC as well as donate vehicles for patrol.
He advised his officers to be hardworking, loyal and always appreciate God in all they do.
It looked like a carefully thought-out plan. Youths from across the country under the organisation, All Progressives Youth Forum (APYF) have opened their Awka, Anambra State, zonal office, saying their intention was to help President Muhammadu Buhari run the country well.
All the youth leaders in the country from all the zones were in attendance.
The spacious office is located beside the Anambra State teaching hospital, close to the popular Arroma Junction.
Though, the National Leader of the group, Alhaji Ismaila Ahmed was absent, its National Secretary, Obi Mac Oscar, a lawyer, and the National field Director, Alhaji Alwan Hassan were present.
The Southeast Coordinator of the (APYF), Nze Ozoemena Unegbu, told the crowd that the aim of the gathering was not to open the office alone, but to reposition to help the incoming administration led by Muhammadu Buhari to lead the country to glory.
Unegbu, further said that within the next few days, local government and ward cordinators of the group would be inaugurated throughout the entire Southeast for the journey ahead.
The youths were not alone in the project, some of the elders in the capital city like Ozo Anaekwe and Ozo Omile, charged the youths to be diligent in their good plans for the new administration.
For the National Secretary of the youth group, Obi Mac-Oscar, the pressure group is not like others in the country who according to him, are like parasites to politicians and office holders, adding that their aim is to direct the incoming government on certain reforms and policies.
He said, “What happened during the presidential election in the country especially, in the Southeast was not the true reflection of the entire exercise, we are now ready to go”
“APYF is like a watch dog for the All Progressive Congress (APC) party, we have to call the leaders to order anytime they want to derail in making sure that the incoming government will not derail like the outgoing administration of President Goodluck Jonathan”
“What killed the outgoing administration are the corrupt tendencies of its leaders, who are greedy, selfish and full of deceit” Oscar said.
The group has its slogan as “take part, to take change, while every state coordinator out of the 36 states including the federal capital territory addressed the audience, all spoke in the same Direction of their national leaders.
However, he commended the leaders in Anambra state and the south east for setting the paces by getting a comfortable environment for the youth to direct their affairs.
Speaking with the Nation, National field Director of the group, Alhaji Alwan Hassan, said that throughout the country from the high lands of the north to the plain lands of the south, the gods of positive change and good governance will shine on the great country with the coming of Buhari.
“As we gradually transit today into a new government, remember that our work as young people starts now, remember that it was not only enough to take part in the political process before and during elections, but, we must make sure that the promises made during the campaigns are kept”
He said that their work will be in association with the Buhari government to move Nigeria forward by regaining its lost glory since the past 16 years.
After last Sunday’s tragic tanker accident, a team of agencies has finally moved all the bodies to a teaching hospital in Nnewi, as Vice President Yemi Osinbajo visits. NWANOSIKE ONU reports
One phase of the tanker horror is over: evacuation of bodies.
Five days ago, a petrol-laden tanker exploded at the busy Upper Iweka Roundabout in Onitsha, Anambra State’s commercial hub. Casualty figure varied, depending on who you talked to, but many held that about 70 people perished in the disaster.
Some have dubbed it a Black Sunday. As soon as the tragedy happened, evacuation of the dead became a pressing need. The Red Cross and other agencies and first responders teamed up to move the bodies out of fire scene to the hospital. The process continued from that Sunday up till Tuesday when it was confirmed that the bodies were taken to the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, the state’s industrial town.
It was a horrible day for everyone in the state and beyond. Officials of als the Federal Road Safety commission (FRSC), Red Cross and even passersby had a hectic day.
•One of the victims at the hospital
Anguish was spread; thousands wailed. Bodies were mangled, many charred and fire fighters, for the first time in the state, worked overtime trying to save some lives.
With evacuation wrapped up, another phase has begun: taking care of the injured and relatives of the dead.
Anambra State government led the way in responding to relatives of the victims. Governor Willie Obiano said the government would foot the bill of patients in the hospital. He also banned trucks from plying the roads in the daytime.
On Wednesday, President Muhammadu Buhari sent his deputy Prof Yemi Osinbajo to Anambra to felicitate with the state and people. The Vice President also said the Federal Government would help relatives of the victims.
The vice chairman of the Red Cross, Prof Peter Katchy, who spoke with TheNation, said 70 people died in the incident. FRSC’s head of operations in Onitsha, Obinani Ezekannagha, said they counted 45 dead. Eyewitnesses, though, said over 100 people died in the incident.
The incident forced Governor Obiano to cancel all his engagements on the day; he also wept when he arrived at the scene.
He has taken over the bills of all the causalities in the various hospitals in the state, including Boromeo hospital at Old Nkpor Road and Toronto Hospital located along Enugu-Onitsha Expressway not far from the accident scene.
Some victims are still battling to survive at Toronto Hospital, while two have been discharged, according to the Medical Director and Chief Executive of the hospital Dr. Emeka Ezeh.
Two newspaper vendors and two circulation officers, all members of Onitsha Newspaper Distribution, Directors Association (ONDDA) in the commercial city lost their lives in the accident.
The vice chairman of the group, Emmanuel Uwakwe, who confirmed this to TheNation, gave their names as Ifeanyi Nzekwe; Ifeoma; a local man and a new member of the association.
He said: “We are in pains and agony right now; we also went to the hospital to visit the injured ones.”
The vice chairman of the Red Cross in the state, Prof Peter Katchy, told TheNation two days after the incident that 57 persons had been identified by their families, while 13 were yet to be identified.
This was corroborated by the CEO of the Toronto Hospital Dr. Eze, who said family members identified some of the relatives by the ornaments they wore.
One of such persons was a woman who died in the fire incident with her little baby she was carrying.
•Nkiruka Ezeh, searching for her sister
Ezeh told TheNation that the hospital had stopped relations and others from going to see the patients who are in stable conditions in order not to contract infections because of the severity of the cases.
Furthermore, he said the hospital would not be able to release any corpse to relations or discharge any patient unless instruction was passed to the hospital by the state ministry of health.
After the second day of the fire incident, relations of the affected victims had been trickling to the Toronto hospital, Boromeo hospital, both in Onitsha and Nnamdi Azikiwe teaching hospital to see if they could identify their own.
Red Cross chief in Anambra, Prof. Katchy said he and his members will not rest until they were sure everything was going right in managing the incident.
The Red Cross volunteers moved from Onitsha to Nnewi teaching hospital where pathologists have started the process of forensic analysis, according to Prof Katchy.
Miss Nkiruka Ezeh, who hails from Nkanu in Enugu State, was at the Toronto hospital to search for her sister, Nkechi Eze, who left their Awada residence on that fateful day to Asaba, Delta state.
Her sister’s mission was to see their in-law, one Ogbonna Igwe, a motor parts dealer.
In tears, she told TheNation that since she left the house, nobody had seen her including their in-law who denied seeing her at Asaba.
Also, Nkiruka Eze said everybody had been calling the telephone number of her sister without getting any response, adding that they have been worried since then.
For Amaechi Alor, a trader at Mgbuka spare parts market in Onitsha, the situation is the same as he came in the company of other distant relations to the hospital to see a nephew, Chukwudi Nwanga.
Nwanga survived the tanker fire incident on Sunday, but was still going the medical process at Toronto hospital.
Though Obiano was said to have taken up the responsibility of offsetting the medical bills of the victims, Alor, told TheNation at the hospital that he spent N3,750 on drugs on Monday while another N14,000 drugs had been prescribed by the hospital for him to purchase.
However, the Special Adviser to Governor Obiano, Mr. James Ezeh, told The Nation that Obiano had been working round the clock in making sure that things were put in the right perspective.
Ezeh said the state ministry of health and the hospital management should liaise well in making sure that immediate action is taken in ensuring that the bills are appropriately taken care of as the governor said.
Ezeh further told TheNation that Obiano had not been able to visit the victims again because of pressing government matters, adding that the governor had been sending his aides to those areas on a daily basis.
Already the order by Governor Obiano to remove all the 12 burnt vehicles at the fire scene to the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has been carried out, as all the burnt vehicles have been taken to the agency’s office in Awka.
The fire incident scene has become a tourist centre at Upper Iweka by Anambra residents and indeed, foreigners since the incident took place.
The office of the transporters was burnt including the 12 toilets built by the federal ministry of works inside the premises which had not been commissioned till date.
There is an effort in Anambra State to keep the reading culture from dying. The resource centre situated at Esther Obiakor Housing Estate in Awka, the state capital, built by the late literary giant, Prof Ezenwa Ohaeto, is credited with that effort.
•Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Ohaeto and a guest at the colloquim
The Centre’s contribution to reviving the reading culture was made known at the third edition of Ohaeto’s colloquium, led by his wife, Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Ohaeto, chief executive of the resource centre.
The event was chaired by another literary icon, Odia Ofeimun, who lauded those who pulled their resources together to establish the centre.
Ofeimun noted that Anambra is the gateway for African literature, because it is home to such renowned African writers as the late icons Professor Chinua Achebe and Christopher Okigbo, and Chukwuemeka Ike, now a traditional ruler, among others.
Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano was represented by his special Assistant on education Dr. Ifeanyi Paul.
The governor told the gathering that his administration was passionate about the education sector, the reason according to him, behind setting up of some reforms to encourage the students in the state.
Some of those reforms were the handing over of the schools back to the missions and making sure that the students do not lack anything in their different schools.
He also promised to encourage the use of the published books of the bi-annual colloquiums in schools across the state.
For Ofeimun, “literary endowment should not be allowed to waste or die rather, the state government should strive to create monuments to celebrate the literary icons found in the cultural environment of the state”.
The guest lecturer and professor of English language at the University of Lagos Akachi Ezeigbo, while delivering her lecture, advocated for the introduction of peace education in the country’s school curriculum.
Ezeigbo spoke on the topic “human rights, citizenship, culture, women empowerment and peace education in Nigeria”.
According to her, such introduction could come in handy in addressing major challenges facing the country including politics, economics, cultural violence, Boko-Haram, armed robbery, militancy, rape and kidnappings on the land.
According to the English professor, “peace education is the type of education that will raise awareness in the child about the issues of strategizing on issues of conflict resolution”
“It should be enshrined in the curriculum from primary to tertiary institutions, apart from introducing it into the school system, it should also be encourage and practiced at homes, in governance, markets and religious places and town unions” Ezeigbo said.
The participants at the colloquim, were moved including the senator representing Anambra central Dr. Chris Ngige and his counterpart from the south senatorial zone, Dr. Andy Ubah.
The embattled vice chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, (Unizik), Prof. Joseph Ahaneku was all, but clapping throughout the event.
Speaking with The Nation, the wife of the late Prof and literary giant, Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Ohaeto, said that the centre plans to hold literary competitions for secondary schools in the state any moment from now.
She said the place was established to encourage creative writing and reviving reading culture among children, exactly what her late husband had in mind.
But Mrs. Ohaeto did not stop there; she appealed to the state government and public-spirited individuals to support the centre in the interest of the youths.
Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra state has appointed five new commissioners to assist in steering the affairs of the state.
Those appointed are Mr. Okey Moka (Finance), Mrs Gladys Ilobi (Special Duties), Mr Afam Mbanefo (Agriculture), Mr Frank Offor (Housing and Urban Development) and Dr Uju Nwogu (Information, Culture and Tourism).
Administering oath of office on the appointees on Monday in Awka, the Director of Civil Litigation, Mr Emeka Ike, explained that the appointment was in accordance with the provision of Sections 190 and 194 of the Constitution of the country.
The governor, on his part, congratulated the appointees, urging them to see their appointments as a privilege and call to serve the people.
“Serving under this administration is an honour to those of you who have been sworn in and we look up to you to assist in moving the state forward.
“What you have just signed is your job specifications, with time frame for performance monitoring.
“So you will only stay as part of the team if you are found worthy,” Obiano said.
Responding on behalf of the commissioners, Nwogu expressed gratitude to the governor for finding them worthy to serve the state, promising to key into the tempo of developmental strides.
She pledged their dedication in ensuring the success of the Obiano administration’s four pillars of development in the areas of agriculture, oil and gas, trade and commerce as well as industrialisation.
When in 2013 residents of a community in Anambra State suddenly discovered floating corpses on their river, it was volunteers of the Red Cross Society who helped to evacuate the bodies.
Also, when a substantial part of the country was flooded a year before, it was personnel of the Society who delivered relief materials to victims of the disaster in the state.
For the past four years, the Red Cross under the chairmanship of former Chief Judge of Anambra State, Justice Paul Obidigwe, has been saving and enhancing lives in the state.
Since he assumed that position, the group has made some impact in the state in terms of responding to emergencies.
During the 2012 flood disaster in the state, about 47 communities were submerged especially in Anambra East, Anambra West, Ogbaru and Ayamelum.
Before now, the vice chairman of Red Cross in the state, Prof. Peter Katchy said the agency had responded to 65 emergencies in the state.
Katchy told The Nation that Red Cross has about 14,000 volunteers in the state, noting that the volunteers of Red Cross are being used by the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in such events.
On Friday, Red Cross celebrated its world day in the state with the theme “seven fundamental principles” at its headquarters in Awka.
To show the synergy existing between the state government and the group, the state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, though absent, deployed the state commissioner for health, Dr. Joe Akabuike to the occasion.
The state government used the event to remember what transpired in 2013 during Ezu-River tragedy, and the input by Red Cross in making sure that things were normal.
Akabuike, while speaking with The Nation, said that Red Cross needs help in executing its numerous humanitarian services in the state.
He said that Red Cross took it upon itself to make sure that the issue of cholera was a thing of the past when it broke out in Inoma community recently, adding that the state government would find it difficult without the collaboration with Red Cross.
As a result, the state government has provided Red Cross with a well equipped ambulance for its humanitarian service.
The commissioner further said that the Obiano administration had purchased 17 flying boats and six boat Ambulances for the Riverine areas to help in the humanitarian jobs especially in rural communities.
Other things the state has done to help Red Cross, were setting up primary Health Development Agency to pilot primary health care in rural communities in Anambra.
For the erstwhile Chief Judge, Obidigwe, the objectives of the Red Cross is based on seven fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality with its motto, through Humanity to peace.
He said the seven fundamental principles are the core of all Red Cross and Red Crescent thinking, policies and action.
Already, Red Cross had made Governor Obiano and wife, Ebelechukwu Grand Patron and Mother-General of Nigeria of the group, while the investiture would take place soon, on consent and approval by the Governor.
Obidigwe, while speaking with the Nation, said Obiano has evolved virile, erudite and articulate strategies to change the fortunes of the people of Anambra State in order to achieve the much desired Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
He said Red Cross is highly indebted to Governor Obiano and the people of Anambra state for their concerns during any period of disaster emergencies.
Speaking further with the Nation, Prof. Peter Katchy, said there were problems being encountered by the agency during such periods like Hilux vehicles to access the rural communities.
According to him, “we are saving lives in Anambra State, but our happiness is that the state government and individuals recognise that in this state, Red Cross does not believe in noise making because it is a voluntary assignment”.
“Our members are suffering in making sure that things are got right, we are in every emergency in this state and despite not being appreciated by some people who do not understand, we are not going to be deterred in any way, it is service to humanity,” Katchy said.
The Anambra State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Awka has warned that any attempt to sway the panel into perverting the course of justice will be resisted.
The chairman of the three-member panel, Justice Joseph Aganaba, gave the warning during the tribunal’s first sitting.
Other members of the panel are Justice I.B Garba and Justice N.K Hamidu.
It was observed that four petitions were filed for the senatorial election, 12 for House of Representative election and 14 for the State Assembly elections.
Justice Aganaba said proceedings would be guided by the Electoral Act and the Constitution. The decisions of the Tribunal would be based on facts and evidence before it.
“Election matters are serious matters that cannot be treated with levity, and I wish to state that any attempt to sway us will not work.
“It is the quality of the evidence and what the constitution says that will determine who wins or loses. We shall discharge our duties in line with the constitution and the law.
“The tribunal is set up to ensure that those who won the election were elected,” Aganaba said.
The Anambra lawmakers-elect have been issued their Certificates of Return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Of the 30 lawmakers, 27 belong to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) while the others belong to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Presenting the certificates, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Edwin Nwatalari, said losers should channel their complaints to the Election Petitions Tribunal and not INEC.
He said losers should not call for his help because it was the Returning officer who declared their results. “I need my rest,” Nwatalari said.
Twenty new magistrates in Anambra State have hailed their appointment, saying they would work for a better judiciary in the state.
There was a traffic snarl on the high court premises in Awka, the state capital, when the new magistrates were sworn in by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Peter Umeadi.
Security operatives had a hard time controlling the surging crowd, while everyone else lapped up the celebratory atmosphere. The new magistrates savoured the day, unmistakable in their dressing and carriage.
It was a new dawn for the state judiciary, as it was the first time such a number of magistrates were appointed in the state.
Another new Deputy Chief Registrar (DCR), Agbasionwe Eugene Agbasionwe, was sworn in to replace Irene Ndigwe, who was elevated to a high court judge in the state.
The Chief Judge Justice Peter Umeadi warn hostile communities to be good to the magistrates, as he would not hesitate to withdraw their services if the environment is not conducive for them.
The new magistrates are: Arinze Ijeoma Juliet, Kanu Onyeka Moses, Ezebilo Nnedu Obiamaka, Igbokwe Ijeoma and Nwakanma Chika P.
Others were Chigbo Chizoba Catherine, Maduakor N.G.C, Ani Nneka Loveth Nwadi, Ezeudeka Stella, Onyekwuru Gladys Moneke.
Also sworn in were Nduka Victory Chidnma, Onunkwo Ijeoma Ebere, Stanley Udo-Chizoba, Adumah Nnamdi Martins, Eke-Peter Nnamdi, Okosi Maureen Eyiuche, Udeze Uzoma, Agwunobi Rebeka, Anyaegbunam Nonye and Ogugua Ifunanya Clara.
Furthermore, Umeadi said that the state judiciary had been at the crossroads, following the four month-old strike embarked upon by the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) for a better service.
The chief judge did not stop there; he commended Anambra state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano for the assistance he had given to the judiciary.
He added that the magistrates had come at a time the state judiciary was being repositioned, adding that there is a synergy between the Obiano led administration and the state judiciary.
Again, Umeadi told them that out of the new eight judges of the high court appointed recently, that three of them came from the magistrates.
The new magistrates, 16 females and four males, according to the Chief Judge, went through a selection process done through examination by Nigeria Judicial Institute.
He further told them that they would assist the state government in making sure that Internally Generated Revenue of the state (IGR) was well secured.
Furthermore, the new magistrates would equally assist the police in running mobile courts, adding that there is need to bring back court room police officers.
According to Umeadi, “I tell you, there was no person that failed the examination that was considered in this process, therefore, you should emulate those before you in their mode of dressing and conduct”
Earlier, the chief registrar in the state, Dorothy Ezeani, had read out the names of the magistrates who in turn, according to seniority at the Bar, took their oath of office and allegiance.
Some of them expressed joy for being part of the new system and thanked God for what he had done in their lives.
Mrs. Okosi Maureen Eyiuche from Onitsha told The Nation that she would not disappoint her people especially her husband on her new portfolio.
Speaking after being sworn in as the new Deputy Chief Registrar, Agbasionwe Eugene Agbasionwe, told the Nation that he would help in taking the judiciary in the state to a greater height.
He thanked the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and the Chief Judge of the state for finding him worthy of being in the position.
Agbasionwe, however, promised to discharge his duties diligently by cooperating with the judiciary staff to achieve it.
