The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Dave Umahi

  • Umahi appoints Hyginus as new SSG

    Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, has approved the appointment of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Dr. Hyginus Nwokwu, as the new Secretary to the State Government.

    He replaced Prof. Benard Ifeanyi Odoh who resigned from the position on Monday.

    Read Also: Ebonyi: Umahi appoints new SSG

    Nwokwu, who hails from Ezza North local government area of the state, was the Deputy Director of the Umahi campaign organisation during the 2015 election, Divine Mandate.

    He was also a former Commissioner for Education during the Sam Egwu administration in the state.

    According to a statement issued by the state Commissioner for Information, Emmanuel Onwe, the new SSG would be sworn in later on Tuesday at the Executive Chambers of the State Government House in Abakaliki.

     

     

  • Ebonyi: Umahi appoints new SSG

    Gov Dave Umahi of Ebonyi has appointed Dr Hygenius Nwokwu as the  new Secretary to State Government ( SSG ).

    The appointment came less than six hours after  Prof Bernard Odoh, the former SSG, resigned his appointment.

    The Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Umahi, Mr Emmanuel Uzo confirmed the appointment in a telephone interview with our correspondent in Abakaliki on Tuesday.

    He said: “Yes, Dr Hygenius Nwokwu has been appointed the new SSG and his appointment is with immediate effect.

    “The Governor personally signed the appointment letter and the SSG has assumed duty immediately.”

    Nwokwu has previously held appointments as Commissioner for Education, Commissioner for Rural Development and Commissioner in the Ebonyi Civil Service Commission.

    He was until his present appointment, the Permanent Member in Ebonyi Secondary Education Board (SEB).

    Odo, appointed SSG in May 29, 2015  resigned his appointment in the late hours of Tuesday, April 2.

    NAN

  • FG committee on farmers, herdsmen clashes visits Zamfara

    FG committee on farmers, herdsmen clashes visits Zamfara

    The National Economic Council Committee on Farmers and Herdsmen clashes on Saturday visited Zamfara on a fact-finding mission over security challenges in the state.

    The committee was led by its Chairman, Gov. Dave Umahi of Ebonyi.

    Speaking during the courtesy visit at government house Gusau, the Umahi said “we are in Zamfara today for fact finding over the recent security challenges faced by the state”.

    He said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, constituted the committee on behalf of the Federal Government.

    Umahi said the committee is expected to interact with the government and major stakeholders in the state.

    According to him, the aim is to find solutions to the security problems in the state and country at large.

    “The committee since inception have been working hand in hand with the governor’s forum to address security challenges in the country.

    “We have earlier visited Benue, Nasarawa,Taraba and Adamawa and we have recorded great successes during the visits.

    “We are in Zamfara today and from what we have seen we are expecting good outcome from the people of the state.

    “I am using this opportunity to call on Nigerians irrespective of our differences to continue to cooperate with the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammad Buhari to improve security of the country,” he said.

    Responding, Gov. Abdul’aziz Yari who described the visit as timely, commended the Federal Government for establishing the committee.

    Yari said the state government would support and cooperate with the committee to end security challenges in the state and country at large.

    The committee also met with the major security stakehokders in the state.

  • Governors’ delegation meeting with Buhari

    Governors’ delegation meeting with Buhari

    Governors delegation meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

    GOVERNOR’S DELEGATION. R-L Zamfara State Governor and Chairman of Governor's Forum, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, Akwa Ibom State Governor. Udom Emmanuel, Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Dave Umahi, Kaduna State. Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, Kastina State Governor, Rt Hon Aminu Masari, Kebbi State Governor, Senator Atiku Bagudu and Plateau State Governor, Mr. Simon Lanlong during a meeting with a delegation of Governor's Forum at the State House in Abuja during the Governor’s delegation Meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja yesterday. PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN
    GOVERNOR’S DELEGATION. R-L Zamfara State Governor and Chairman of Governor’s Forum, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, Akwa Ibom State Governor. Udom Emmanuel, Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Dave Umahi, Kaduna State. Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, Kastina State Governor, Rt Hon Aminu Masari, Kebbi State Governor, Senator Atiku Bagudu and Plateau State Governor, Mr. Simon Lanlong during a meeting with a delegation of Governor’s Forum at the State House in Abuja during the Governor’s delegation Meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja yesterday. PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN
  • Buhari, governors meet in Aso Rock

    Buhari, governors meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday met behind closed doors with some state governors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting which started at about 2:00 p.m. has six governors in attendance.

    Those at the meeting were – Governors Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi) and Aminu Masari (Katsina).

    Others were – Simon Lalong (Plateau), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi) and Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara).

    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

  • Ebonyi governor reshuffles cabinet

    Ebonyi governor reshuffles cabinet

    Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Dave Umahi, on Thursday effected a minor cabinet reshuffle in the state.

    The Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Dennis Ekumankama was moved to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry while the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry Deacon Obinna Nwachukwu took over the Finance Ministry.

    Also, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Dr. Ignatius Unah was moved to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry while the Director of Accounts, Government House, Mr. Orji Moses Agama, moved in as the Permanent Secretary in Ministry of Finance.

    The governor also approved the appointment of Mr. Albert Igwe Alo as the new Solicitor-General for the state.

    He doubles as the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice.

    Speaking shortly after the swearing in ceremony held at the state Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Umahi said the reshuffle was a guided step taken to improve on the mechanism of governance.

     

  • Buhari to commission stadium, factory, road projects in Ebonyi

    Buhari to commission stadium, factory, road projects in Ebonyi

    Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi on Thursday said that all is set to receive President Muhammadu Buhari on working visit to the state.

    According to him, the President is expected to commission stadium, factory, and many road projects in the state.

    He spoke with State House journalists after meeting with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He said “I am here to see some of the officials of the Villa because of the coming of Mr President to our state next week.

    “We are fully prepared for the visit. We pleaded with Mr. President for the visit and before then we have been preparing, we are fully prepared.”

    On the kind of projects the President will commission in the state, he said “We have quite a lot of projects that we have executed within this past two and the half years. We have three numbers of twin flyovers that is built across the African transahara Road running from Enugu to Cameroon passing through  Ebonyi State, so we have to build  three twin flyover to decongest traffic on that  road, each of the twin flyover is 700 metre length.

    “We have completed two and the third one is 80% done, Mr President will commission the two. We also have a mall what we call Ebonyi mall that is modelled after the famous Dubai mall. But a kind of microcosm of that microcosm.

    “And we intend for the President to lay a foundation stone of that mall which we will like Mr President to commission within the next 12 months.

    “Also we are building a tunnel that dovetails into a flyover that is parallel to the existing flyover, that particular junction that is called Akanibium junction, we want Mr. President to lay the foundation stone and that flyover bridge will be named after Mr. President and we are sure to finish that project in the next 12 months, Mr. President will also come back, he will be commissioning it when he comes back during his campaigns.

    Read Also: Buhari remains only credible candidate for 2019 Presidential election

    “So we will like to make them ready. So there is also a federal Road that is 14.5km that we got the consent of Mr. President to build and the road is fully done. We have 18.5km that is leading to the Federal University, we did that road with concrete and overlaid it with Asphalt, its fully ready.

    “We have 15.5km of Nigercem that road passes through the first cement factory in the country which is in Ebonyi State and it’s passes to Benue, we will build the 15.5 km in the axis of Ebonyi with concrete ,ready for Mr. President to commission. 23.5km of state road we built with concrete is ready for Mr. President to commission.” he said

    The governor added “We have 500 km of internal roads which we completed in Ebonyi is ready for Mr. President to commission. We have the stadium we remodeled, we have the best VIP stands in the whole country in our stadium is fully air conditioned and all the stands are fully covered. Mr. President will also commission that; we can go on and on.

    “We have a minimum of 30km of concrete Road in each of our local government; most of them completed some have attained 80% completion. We have quite a lot for Mr President to commission. We have mushrooms factory, Agric project that I want the president to commission. We have a launch of one man one hectare programme in Ebonyi, we want Mr President to launch it for us.”

    Asked if the President told him he was going to re-contest, he said “Well, any first term governor would want to go for second term and if what you wish yourself, you should be honest enough to wish another person the same. Since, Mr President is doing his first term and I am doing my first term, it’s my wish to re-contest and I will as well wish the president the same to re-contest.

  • Ebonyi pledges commitment to welfare of physically challenged persons

    Ebonyi pledges commitment to welfare of physically challenged persons

    The Ebonyi Government has pledged its commitment to the promotion of the welfare and wellbeing of physically challenged persons in the state.

    Rev. Fr. Abraham Nwali, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Gov. Dave Umahi on Religious Matters and Social Welfare, made the pledge on Wednesday in Abakaliki at an event to mark the World Sight Day (WSD).

    According to him, the state government is committed to alleviating the suffering of physically challenged persons
    as well as protection of their rights.

    Nwali encouraged the visually impaired to be useful to themselves and not to lose hope because of their physical condition.

    “There is ability in every disability, hence you must remain focused in the pursuit of your dreams and do not allow your physical challenges to limit or deter you from actualising your life dreams.

    “As a government, we will do everything within our powers to ensure that we encourage and support you individually and collectively to overcome your difficulties.

    “Again, you must believe in God and in yourselves and determine to succeed in whatever task you set to achieve,’’ Nwali said.

    The governor’s aide who described the visually impaired as special segment of the society, said that government would ensure the protection of their fundamental rights and support them to become economically independent.

    ” We will ensure that your fundamental rights are well protected from any abuse; ensure that you report any abuse of your rights timely to relevant government agencies.

    “Government is also determined to support you to be economically independent in order to contribute to the development of our dear state, “he added.

    Mr Joseph Enyi, the President of the Ebonyi chapter of the Association for the Blind, commended the state government for its good disposition towards the association.

    He said that the group would continue to support the programmes and policies of the present administration.
    The WSD is an annual day of awareness that holds on the second Thursday of October, to focus global attention on blindness and vision impairment.

    World Sight Day 2017 was held on Oct. 12, 2017 globally, with Ebonyi celebrating the event on Wednesday,

    NAN

  • Opposition is not about insults – Umahi

    Opposition is not about insults – Umahi

    Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, has advised politicians in the opposition not to insult those in government but to criticise them constructively to enhance development.

    Umahi spoke at a gala-night held on Sunday in Abakaliki to celebrate 21 years of the creation of Ebonyi and the 57th Independence anniversary of Nigeria.

    He advised members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to refrain from insulting the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) Federal Government.

    The governor also urged members of APC in Ebonyi to refrain from insulting him and his PDP-led state government.

    “I always tell my people (PDP) that opposition at the centre is not about insults. I also advise the opposition in our state to tow the same line.

    “Opposition is about constructive criticism, putting the leader in check and reminding him that he has not fulfilled the promises he made.

    “It should not involve lying to the people, deceiving them and practising politics with bitterness and anger.

    “I will ask our grandfathers who are tackling us to do so with wisdom and love because it is a shame that a grandfather would tackle his children,” he said.

    Umahi said the opposition would not succeed in the state because the state was neat and did not need to be “swept.”

    “We have been holding the umbrella for an old man who was under the umbrella for eight years and we will take him to the boundaries of Ebonyi to sweep.

    “We are standing on God’s mandate and not shaking because over 10,000 people are praying for us day and night to succeed and take the state to another level, “the governor added.

     

    NAN

  • Umahi suspends headteacher, seven others for absenteeism

    Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, on Friday suspended the Headmaster of Community Primary School, Amazu, Ishielu local government area of the state, Mr. Augustine Eze and seven other teachers for absenteeism.

    Umahi, who paid an unscheduled visit to the school directed the suspended teachers to report to the Chairman of the local government, Mr. Henry Eze.

    He also directed the council chairman to refer them to the chairman of the state Universal Basic Education (UBEB) for more disciplinary actions.

    The governor, who expressed dissatisfaction with the “shabby” appearance of 15 teachers he met in the school gave them N300,000 cash to change their wardrobe.

    He also engaged them in academic exercise, drilling them in English Language and Mathematics.

    Umahi condemned the nonchalant attitude of some civil servants in Ebonyi and warned that the state government would no longer tolerate the conduct of workers who were not committed to the duties.

    “It is very unfortunate the way and manner some of our civil servants do their jobs without passion.

    “We have called for change in our attitude to and perception of what we refer to as government property.

    “It is absurd that pupils will be in the school and the school headmaster and teachers will be absent.

    “We shall not take this anymore and the headmaster and the absentee teachers are hereby suspended.

    “They are directed to report to the chairman of the local government area who will take them to the UBEB chairman. They must be transferred after serving their suspension,” Umahi said.

    NAN