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Tag: Dave Umahi

  • States seek take over of Federal roads

    States seek take over of Federal roads

    To revive the near total collapse of most federal roads across the country, states governors on Thursday urged the Federal Government to hand over such roads to them.

    This was one of the major resolutions adopted by the National Economic Council (NEC), chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    NEC comprises of the Governors of the 36 states of the Federation, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and some Ministers.

    Council members expressed concern over issues of roads construction, damage and maintenance and suggested that the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing should come up with strategies to regulate the weight of heavy duty vehicles plying the roads as this may be responsible for road damage and collapse.

    Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, while briefing State House correspondents after the NEC meeting said the Governors were disturbed by the state of the roads and urged the federal government to hand over the roads for repairs.

    He noted that already discussions were on amongst the states to collaborate with investors and fix the roads on Public private partnerships arrangement which will allow states toll such roads to recover funds expended on them.

    He said “We are highly concerned about the failure of our roads, even after fixing the roads, they would collapse with six months and we identified that the over loading is one of the major factor because in road design you take an axial load.

    “Most of the time you don’t use an axial load of more than 35 tonnes but we have noticed that a lot of our trucks carrying majorly fuel do 45,60,70 tonnes and that’s a major concern to state governors and we said that the minister for works and housing should come up with a strategy to regulate the weight of heavy trucks plying the roads which have been fingered as the root causes of road collapse.

    “The state governors are very much concerned about these failures, its being agitating our minds and we are thinking about strategies and we are soliciting that federal government give out some of the federal roads to states so that states can fix the roads through investors and toll the roads and we believe strongly that it will be more effective because the number of federal roads that is being handled by federal government there is no amount of budget that can fix it but if some of these roads are given out to state government and they maintain a handful of it and ofcourse the budgeted funds” he said

    Council therefore resolved that interested States could write to the President requesting approval for States to take over some of the Federal Roads to ensure proper and efficient maintenance.

    NEC also expressed willingness to take a wholistic approach on the issue of such roads across the country.

    He said “The Minister of Finance had earlier made a presentation on special accounts of the federation and gave us the closing balances.”

    It was revealed that Stabilization Account Balance as at 26 September 2017 stand at N4.354,300,295,64k

    Development of Natural Resources Account balance as at 26 Sept. stand at N84.693,588,214,54k, while Excess Crude Account balance as at 22nd of sept stand at $2,309,577,899.02

    “You know there was a gentleman agreement entered into between the Minister of Finance in the NEC and the 35 governors and Lagos is not participating and that is a programme we call budget support and the agreement was because of the down turn of economic challenges that endangers a number of states not being able to pay salaries”

    “So, we came to understanding that every month the total sharable revenue in the federation account any time it is less than N600billion then the Minister of Finance will give each state budget support, we concluded that in the last twelve months and that continued for the second year, states have done very well some states have been able to pay their accumulated salary debts and then also increase their commitment to infrastructure and generation of revenue”

    “From July that was not paid and in the month of August I think about seven states were paid because according to the minister other states did not comply with the set down rules, the most outstanding of that was the non remittance of virety from the states, so those seven states have been paid but more states have complied but we requested that those states that have complied should be paid.”

    “The good news is that in the month of September the shareable amount is N630billion so there would be no budget support for the states.” he said

  • FG targets $30 billion from non-oil revenue yearly 

    FG targets $30 billion from non-oil revenue yearly 

    • Sets up panel to boost export promotion

    Towards restructuring the Nigerian economy, the Federal Government is targeting to get at least $30 billion revenue from the current $5 billion from non-oil sources.

    This was disclosed by the Director – General of Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Segun Awolowo while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting chaired by Vice – President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa.

    He was with the Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, Governor of Kwara State, Ahmed Abdulfattah, and Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu.

    According to him, Nigeria is going through the sharpest falls of export revenues in her history, losing over $100 billion (N30 trillion) of national export revenue between 2015 to 2017 due to the crashing oil prices, which resulted in recession.

    He said “The NEPC made a presentation to the NEC on a plan to restructure the Nigerian economy to survive without crude oil. The plan is called “the zero oil plan.”

    “Council was informed that there was urgent need to rapidly ramp up non-oil exports as our future earnings from crude oil faces significant headwinds.

    “The zero oil plan aims at earning at least $30 billion from non-oil sources in the near to medium term as against the current earnings of about $5 billion.

    He said the objectives of zero oil plan is to add $150 billion to Nigeria foreign reserves in the next 10 years, create 500,000 jobs, lift 10 million Nigerians out of poverty and integrate each state of the federation into the export value chain.

    Awolowo said that the focus of the plan is on the export of the following crops: rice, wheat, corn, palm oil, rubber, hides and skin, sugar, soya beans and automotive parts among others.

    He listed the destination countries for Nigeria’s exports to include Netherlands, China, Iran, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Sapin, Italy, India, Saudi Arabia, among others.

    He said NEXIM briefed Council on the “States Export Development Initiative” which is being pursued as a medium to long term strategic plan aimed at stimulating and increasing deliberate funding intervention to SMEs in the non-oil sector for attainment of its objectives.

    He further said that council was informed that one of the major objectives of the initiative is contributing to the implementation of economic policies of the country, like the ERGP and Agricultural Promotion Policy, among others.

    He added that the initiative is built on schematic transaction dynamics with key features like provision of a dedicated funding of a minimum of N5 billion as a pilot phase with window for other facilities and partnership for transactional support.

    “Council was further informed that the initiative will also help re-awaken the business consciousness of the states towards export and value added production especially in the areas of manufacturing, agro-processing and solid minerals,” he stated. 

    He said the Managing Director of NEPZA briefed council on the need to have more special economic zones in addition to the Calabar Free Trade Zone.

    “He told the council that the major defect in Calabar Free Trade Zone is that the zones have not been linked to the Calabar Port and that there is urgent need to do so in order to make the zone a lot more effective.

    “Partnership between the federal and state governments as well as the private sector is needed. He urged council to ensure that the location of free trade zones should be done strictly on business consideration and not political considerations.

    “He also asked council to provide incentives for free trade zones to include linkage to rail line, express ways, close proximity to utilities, airports among others,” he stated.

    The Council on Thursday also constituted a committee towards improving Nigeria’s non-oil exports.

    The National Committee on Export Promotion is to review several ideas and suggestions tabled at the NEC meeting.

    The committee consisted of three State Governors: Jigawa, Lagos and Ebonyi and the federal ministers from Industry, Trade & Investment, Agriculture & Rural Development, Power, Works & Housing, Transportation and Finance.

    Other members of the Export Promotion Committee of NEC are  the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority, NEPZA, NEXIM Bank, and the CBN. Jigawa State Governor Alhaji Mohammed B. Abubakar is the Chairman, and Industry, Trade & Investment Minister, Dr. Okey Enelamah is Co-Chair.

    The Committee which is expected to submit an initial report by November is expected to come up with a concise action plan on how to drive non-oil exports based on the presentations and discussions of Council at today’s meeting.

  • We didn’t accuse FG of killing IPOB members – S’ East governors

    We didn’t accuse FG of killing IPOB members – S’ East governors

    The South-East Governors’ Forum has described a report saying it accused the Federal Government of killing members of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a ’’tissue of lie from the pit of hell.”

    The Chairman of the forum, Dave Umahi, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Emmanuel Uzor, said the report was a figment of the writer’s imagination.

    He said the report was intended to embarrass the forum and bring confusion between the governors and federal government to thwart the peace processes initiated with IPOB.

    “The originators of the falsehood are trying to sabotage the process of moving the zone forward and achieve lasting peace in it,” the Ebony governor said.

    He noted that although it was the forum’s responsibility to protect the people’s lives and property, including IPOB members, it should not be linked to politics.

    Umahi said: “The writer and his paymasters, failed to appreciate the peace agreements reached between the governors’ forum and leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, during its last meeting in Enugu.

    “The forum, therefore, wishes to assure the public that the communiqué raised during its last meeting with IPOB leadership still stands and anybody circulating any contrary report is Ndigbo’s real enemy.

    “Such reports should, therefore, be disregarded as there was no such meeting against the federal government by the forum.”

     

  • Prison controller advocates use of ADR in resolving minor crimes

    Prison controller advocates use of ADR in resolving minor crimes

    Mrs Emelia Oputa, the Controller of Nigerian Prisons Service in Ebonyi, has advocated the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in resolving minor crimes.

    Oputa who said that adoption of ADR would help in reducing prison congestion also advocated for regular jail delivery to hear deserving cases.

    She spoke on Tuesday in Abakaliki in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    Oputa said that adoption of ADR to resolve minor criminal cases would ensure that only persons involved in alleged capital offences were charged to court, while lesser crimes were resolved at informal levels.

    “If you visit prisons across the country, you will be shocked to see people who have spent months or years in prison awaiting trial for trivial cases such as quarrel, affray, ordinary theft, among others.

    “These cases could have been easily settled at the family, village or community levels, using the alternative dispute resolution approach and traditional legal system of dispute resolution.

    “Sadly, most of these cases end up with the police arraigning the victims to court sometimes without carrying out diligent investigation.

    “The suspects end up staying months or years in prison awaiting trial,” Oputa said.

    She said that the Abakaliki Prison built to accommodate 387 inmates was now housing no fewer than 1,000 inmates, and called on the relevant authorities to act fast and address the situation.

    “The Abakaliki Prison built during the colonial period was originally designed to accommodate 387 inmates.

    “The number of prisoners inside the yard have risen above 1,000, mounting undue pressure to the facility,” Oputa said.

    The controller appealed to the police and Ministry of Justice to ensure that case files of inmates awaiting trials were speedily processed to avoid keeping them in custody without trial.

    “Our duty is to keep custody of suspects brought to the prisons and to produce them when they are needed in courts.

    “Unfortunately, some suspects under our custody do not have case files and as a result are made to stay in custody without accessing the court.

    “An accused is presumed innocent until found guilty by court, hence denying inmates fair hearing infringe on their fundamental rights.

    “The police and Ministry of Justice should ensure that all preliminary investigations and processes needed before arraignment of criminal suspects are done before charging them to court to enhance speedy trial of their cases,” she added.

    Oputa commended Ebonyi Government for embarking on the building of new prison yard, which she said, was at an advanced stage of construction.

    She said that during the 2016 attempted jailbreak by inmates, Gov. Dave Umahi during his visit, promised to construct additional prison yard to decongest the Abakaliki Prison.

    “I am happy to announce that the governor has graciously kept to his promise and that work on the new prison facility has started and is now at an advanced stage.

    “When completed, the problem of overcrowding in Abakaliki Prison will be a thing of the past.

    “The governor has also intervened in many areas to enhance the conditions of the Abakaliki Prison and welfare of the inmates.

  • Ebonyi distributes relief items worth N19m to IDPs

    Ebonyi distributes relief items worth N19m to IDPs

    The Ebonyi Government on Tuesday distributed relief materials worth N19 million to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Ebouwana Camp in Afikpo South Local Government Area of the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the beneficiaries are victims of an intra communal clash in Itinam, Ebouwana community.

    The Chairman of the local government, Mr Eni-Uduma Chima, who distributed the relief items on behalf of the state government, said the gesture was to alleviate the suffering of the IDPs.

    “We are here to distribute relief items from government to lessen the hardship faced by our brothers and sisters displaced by the intra boundary conflict among the Itinam people of Ebouwana.

    “The relief materials will facilitate the settling down of the returnee IDPs. Gov. Dave Umahi is committed to promoting and entrenching peace in all parts of the state,” Chima said.

    He urged the people to live in peace, shun violence, and love one another, adding that peace was essential for the socio-economic development of any society.

    Chima warned that the state government would not hesitate to deal with anyone or group found to be causing violence and war in Ebonyi.

    “Government has warned that it will henceforth punish anyone or group discovered to be responsible for outbreak of violence or war in any part of the state.

    “Government is irrevocably committed to this policy.

    “We don’t want to have our people killing one another and displacing hundreds of others,” he said.

    NAN reports that items distributed included 121 bags of rice, 121 cartons of Indomie noodles, 121 wrappers, 121 sleeping mattresses and N12 million cash.

  • South-East Governors’ Forum secretariat inaugurated

    South-East Governors’ Forum secretariat inaugurated

    The South- East Governor’s Forum on Monday in Enugu inaugurated its secretariat and unveiled the Director-General, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, and other directors.

    Speaking at the event, the Ebonyi Governor and Chairman of the Forum, Dave Umahi, said that the secretariat would coordinate activities of the Forum.

    Umahi commended the Department for International Development (DFID) for its role in the screening and recommendation of the officers.

    He praised the directors for scaling through the rigorous selection process to serve the people.

    The governor said that the task before the Forum was enormous, considering the living conditions of the people in the area.

    Umahi said that it had become imperative to rebuild the South-East, adding that though challenging, it would be achieved.

    “This task is challenging especially at a time our people are very badly challenged in every part of the country and beyond.

    “We rely on you to give us the support and direction, ‘’ he said.

    Umahi said that the Forum condemned the incident at St. Philips Catholic Church, Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra, where 13 worshipers were killed and others injured.

    He also condoled with the people and government of Imo over the recent building collapse that claimed the lives of four people.

    Umahi expressed concern over the vilification of Abia, Ebonyi and Enugu governments on their interest in an Islamic Bank loan.

    He said that the banking system had nothing to do with religion, stressing that it had nothing to do with foisting Islam on the people.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other directors of the Forum are: Mr Orlando Nweze, Finance and Administration; Mr Michael Udah, Media and Communication, and Mr Chibuike Amaechi Project Initiation and Execution.

  • Ebonyi to relocate Abakaliki main market

    Ebonyi to relocate Abakaliki main market

    The Ebonyi Government says it has concluded arrangement for the relocation of the Abakpa Main Market, Abakaliki to its permanent site at the International Market.

    Mr Peter Nwogbaga, the Special Assistant to Gov. Dave Umahi on Market Development, disclosed this at a meeting with traders at the market on Thursday in Abakaliki.

    Nwogbaga said that government was committed to repositioning markets in the state to enhance their viability and boost commercial activities.

    He said that traders who obtained and processed their forms would be allocated shops, adding that allocation would be on “ first-come, first-served basis.’’

    The governor’s aide who briefed the traders on the outcome of the peace meeting held between government and the executive of the market association, urged them to sustain the prevailing peace in the market.

    He advised the traders to form cooperative associations in order to benefit from the state government’s loan facilities to boost their trade.

    “We have concluded preparations for the relocation of the Abakpa Main Market in Abakaliki to its permanent site at the International Market, Ochoudo city.

    “The move is part of efforts by government to reposition the market to enhance its commercial viability as well as provide more space and accommodation for traders.

    “We are going to conduct the allocation on first come first serve basis.

    “Let me also use the occasion to inform you that the governor is interested in your welfare in the market and will do everything within his statutory powers to ensure that you do your business in good and conducive environment.

    “We urge you to form yourselves into cooperatives to benefit from the state government’s loans facilities to boost your trade,’’ Nwogbaga said.

  • Ebonyi trains 190 members of Neighbourhood Watch Group

    Ebonyi trains 190 members of Neighbourhood Watch Group

    The Ebonyi Government on Wednesday in Abakaliki began a one-week training for the 190 members of the Ebonyi Neighborhood Watch Group (ENWG), under the first batch of the training programme.

    Dr Kenneth Ugbala, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Internal Security to Gov. Dave Umahi, who declared open the training, said that the initiative was to enhance the capacity of the members.

    He charged the participants to take the training seriously, explaining that their duty was to assist the police and other law enforcement agencies to curb criminal activities through prompt information and intelligence gathering.

    He warned members of the group against indulging in illegal activities, including carrying of arms and jungle justice against suspected criminals.

    “You are not permitted by law to carry arms or execute jungle justice on arrested criminal suspects.

    “Your duty is to assist the police in areas of information and intelligence gathering on criminal activities that will lead to the arrest of criminals as well as curtail their operations in the state.

    “Government will not hesitate to discipline any member of the group that goes outside of the mandate provided by the law establishing the Ebonyi Neighborhood Watch Group, ” Ugbala said.

    Mr Titus Sumba-Lamorde, the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi Command, urged the participants to use the platform to assist the police in the fight against crime.

    The commissioner who was represented by Mr Felix Gani, Deputy Commissioner of Police, charged the trainees to shun acts that could derail the good intentions of the government.

    He commended the state government for its unwavering support to the police in maintaining peace, security, law and order in the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 190 participants who where the first batch of trainees were drawn from the 13 local government areas of the state.

  • South East leaders reiterate commitment to united Nigeria

    South East leaders reiterate commitment to united Nigeria

    South East leaders and stakeholders have reiterated their commitment to a united Nigeria where peace, fairness and equality of opportunities are paramount to citizens irrespective of ethnicity or political affiliation.

    The leaders also threw their weight behind the call for full restructuring of the country on the platform of fairness and equity.

    The Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum, Gov. Dave Umahi announced in the early hours of Sunday in Enugu while addressing newsmen on the outcome of an interactive forum of stakeholders.

    Umahi, who is the governor of Ebonyi, said that leaders from the zone condemn all manner of hate speeches from any segment of the country.

    He said that they were in consultation with leaders from other parts of the country with a view to engaging the Federal Government in a meaningful dialogue.

    He said that the region was in full support of the 2014 National Conference report and urged the Federal Government to set up structures for implementing same within a reasonable time.

    “We are also in full support of the clamour for the restructure of the country and call on the Federal Government to start a dialogue with Nigerians on the modalities for achieving it,” he said.

    The governor said that the governors’ forum and South East National Assembly caucus would constitute the official organ that would speak for the people of the area.

    Umahi appealed to the Federal Government to take steps that would ensure safety of the people of the area wherever they lived in the country “just as we have guaranteed the safety of those in our domain”.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor of Enugu State, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi had in an address of welcome charged the people of the area to forge a common front.

    Ugwuanyi said that moment like that called for love among the people.

    The governor said that nothing would please residents of the state than to remember that Enugu was the venue where the people of the zone gathered to resolve their differences.

    NAN further reports that the meeting which held at the Nike Lake Resort had all governors of the zone in attendance.

    Former Senate Presidents Chief Ken Nnamani and Chief Adolph Wabara as well as the Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu was also in attendance.

    Other prominent leaders in attendance included, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, Sen. Gil Nnaji, Sen. Chukwuka Utazi and several members of the House of Representatives from the zone.

    Members of the clergy, traditional rulers and the leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo was also represented.

  • NEC approves rehabilitation of prisons by states

    NEC approves rehabilitation of prisons by states

    The National Economic Council (NEC) on Thursday resolved that state government with the financial capacity can rehabilitate prisons and provide necessary facilities towards reducing prison decongestion across the country.

    The decision was reached during the 78th session presided over by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The Council had expressed worries over the appalling conditions of structures and logistics in the nation’s prisons after a presentation by the Minister of Interior, Abdulraman Danbazzu and the Comptroller General of Prisons.

    Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, said the governors were unanimous on the need to rehabilitate prisons in the country.

    He said: “The situation they painted was quite pathetic. I visited the prisons in my state for the first time recently and what l saw was terrible. So, it was agreed that governors should on their own develop initiatives to manage the prisons. For instance, some have transferred prisons from urban centres.

    “NEC agreed that governors should support the federal government on prison matters. States that have the capacity to build prisons should go ahead and do so, including the involvement of private sector participation.

    “The minister said 70 per cent of inmates are awaiting trial. Some of them can be converted to labour use. 10 per cent of them are condemned, meaning 20 per cent are true prisoners. Some of the prisoners should be engaged in agricultural programme.

    “Governors should do a number of things to decongest prisons. Chief judges of states should frequently visit prisons. Governors should either sign death sentences of those condemned or commit them because it is risky leaving them after their trial had been concluded. NEC resolved that there should be emergency situations on prisons.”

    Also speaking, Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo, gave an update on the Excess Crude Account (ECA) put at $2.3billion as well as Stabilization, Natural Resources Development and Ecological Funds.

    He said that Council also approved extension of budget support to states due to the economic recession.

    He said: “Council was briefed on budget support to states because of dwindling revenue and budget implementation. The programme was meant for a year but because of recession, acting president said the facility should continue pending when other claims of states and local governments would be settled.”

    The Budget Support Loan Facility is an initiative of the Buhari administration to help states boost their funding in the light of the dwindling Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations.