The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Delta State

  • ‘Unity list’ sparks protests at PDP convention

    ‘Unity list’ sparks protests at PDP convention

    The unity list containing the names of preferred candidates for all the 21 positions available for contest has sparked protests at the convention venue.
    One of the chairmanship candidates, Chief Raymond Dokpesi was one of the persons that protested the circulation of the list to the various delegates.
    Speaking with journalists while voting was ongoing, Dokpesi said he complained to the chairman of the convention planning committee, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State.
    The media mogul said he also complained to the former governor of Benue State, Mr. Gabriel Suswam who was one of the organisers of the convention.
    According to him, both Okowa and Suswam admitted having seen the controversial list, but that they could not do anything about it.
    Dokpesi vowed to explore available internal conflict resolution avenues to seek redress but he was silent on whether he would challenge the alleged imposition in court.
  • Pandemonium as robbers attack bullion van in Delta, cart away millions

    Pandemonium as robbers attack bullion van in Delta, cart away millions

    THERE was pandemonium yesterday in parts of Asaba, the Delta State capital after bandits attacked a bullion van and made away with millions of naira.

    The Nation gathered that the bullion van belongs to a first generation bank in Anambra State. Sounds of gunshots echoed during the operation forcing motorists and passers-by to scamper for safety. The development which made motorists to abandon vehicles in the middle of the Benin-Asaba dual carriageway resulted in traffic gridlock.

    It was learnt that the policemen escorting the bullion van engaged the robbers in a shootout, but were overpowered by the superior firepower of the robbers. An eyewitness who pleaded anonymity said the siren blaring bullion van was ambushed by a gang of robbers in a convoy of three vehicles which included a grey Sienna van. “The police escorts numbering eight subsequently fled the scene of the incident,” the eyewitness said. Another eyewitness said: “The hoodlums came in about three cars and intercepted the bullion van at the junction. They started shooting and innocent people took to their heels to avoid being victims of stray bullets.

    “Even vehicles on the expressway were making detour as a result of the attack. The officers attached to the van responded but I think the hoodlums had superior fire arms because the officers soon disappeared, giving the bandits an unfettered access to the cash stocked in the bullion van.” Delta police image maker, DSP Andrew Aniamaka, who confirmed the incident said “internal connivance” cannot be ruled out, lamenting that some commercial banks were still in the habit of conveying money without using bullet-proof vans despite repeated warnings by the police command.

    He said the van was coming from Onitsha and heading towards Agbor, adding that the bullion van had made stops at Awka, and Onitsha in Anambra State. His words: “I suspect internal connivance. This is in spite of the warning issued by the state command for commercial banks to convey money following approved guidelines.

    The bullion van is not bullet proof. It is a configured bullion van” Continuing, he said: “Who informed the hoodlums that they were carrying cash through that route? It is quite unfortunate that banks are still using configured bullion vans without bullet proof, subjecting their personnel and escort officers to unnecessary risk. “As we speak now, investigation is on, but I cannot tell you how much cash the bullion van was carrying before the attack. What I can assure is that the command will put necessary measures in place to bring whoever was involved directly or indirectly to justice.” Aniamaka also confirmed that no life was lost and no injury was sustained during the shootout.

  • Bandits attack bullion van in Delta, carting away N60million

    Bandits attack bullion van in Delta, carting away N60million

    There was pandemonium Friday in  parts of Asaba-the Delta State Capital after armed bandits  attacked a bullion van carting away over N60 million.

    While the operation lasted many motorists abandoned their vehicles in the middle of the Benin-Asaba dual carriageway causing a traffic gridlock.

    Guns boomed during the midday raid forcing many motorists and passers-by to scamper for safety around the ever-busy Koka junction end of the Benin-Onitsha expressway.

    The Nation gathered that the bullion van belongs a to a first generation bank in Anambra State.

    An eyewitness who pleaded anonymity said siren blaring bullion van was ambushed by a gang of robbers in a convoy of three vehicles including a grey coloured Sienna van.

    It was learnt that the policemen escorting the bullion van engaged the robbers in a shootout, but were overpowered by the superior firepower of the robbers.

    The Nation gathered that the police escort numbering eight fled the scene of the incident.

    Delta Police image maker, DSP Andrew Aniamaka who confirmed the incident said “internal connivance” cannot be ruled out, lamenting that some commercial banks were still in the habit of conveying money without using bullet-proof vans despite repeated warnings by the Police Command.

    He said the van was coming from Onitsha and headed towards Agbor, adding that the bullion van had made stops at Awka, and Onitsha in Anambra State.

    His words, “I suspect internal connivance. This is in spite of the warning issued by the State Command for commercial banks to convey money following approved guidelines. The bullion van is not bullet proof; it is a configured bullion van”

    Continuing, “Who informed the hoodlums that they were carrying cash through that route? It is quite unfortunate that banks are still using configured bullion vans without bullet proof, subjecting their personnel and escort officers to unnecessary risk.

    “As we speak now, investigation is on, but I cannot tell you how much cash the bullion van was carrying before the attack. What I can assure is that the command will put necessary measures in place to bring whoever is involved directly or indirectly to justice.”

    Another eyewitness said, “It was like a scene in one of those foreign movies where the actors engage in gun battle. The hoodlums came in with about three cars and intercepted the bullion van at the junction. They started shooting and innocent people took to their heels to avoid being victims of stray bullets.

    Continuing, “Even vehicles on the expressway were making detour as a result of the attack. The officers attached to the van responded but I think the hoodlums had superior fire arms because the officers soon disappeared, giving the bandits an unfettered access to the cash stocked in the bullion van.”

    Aniamaka also confirmed that no life was lost and no injury was sustained during the shootout.

  • Ogboru vows to end PPD Rule in Delta

    Ogboru vows to end PPD Rule in Delta

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta state, Chief Great Ogboru has vowed to put an end to the dominance of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state and deliver the state to the APC in 2019.

    Ogboru who said he was going to run for the governorship ticket of the APC in 2019 said if given the ticket by the party, he was capable of displacing incumbent governor, Ifeanyi Okowa and give President Muhammadu Buhari 75 percent of votes at the Presidential election.

    Speaking when he visited the Director General of the Buhari Support Group Centre, BSGC, Alhaji Umaru Dembo in Abuja, Ogboru said it is evident that the PDP, had always rigged elections in the State since 1999, and vowed to put a stop to it in 2019 when he hoped to contest on the platform of the ruling APC for the State Governor’s office.

    He said “We must thank God that president Muhammadu Buhari has come to sanitize the nation and put an end to impunity which the PDP institutionalized since 1999 when it came to power”.

    He assured that he was going to rally support of his supporters that formed the bulk of the Labour Party LP, and the Democratic People’s Part, DPP, to coalesce on the platform of the APC to rid Delta State of the PDP, in 2019, saying “I can claim that with the huge support base that we enjoy in Delta, we can deliver more than 75% votes to President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.”

    Responding, Alhaji Dembo who is a former minister of state petroleum, commended him for his foresight in joining the APC and assured him of the support and cooperation of the centre in the struggle to secure the party’s nomination ticket and go on to win the gubernatorial election in Delta in 2019.

    The former minister further assured his visitors that with President Buhari’s democratic credentials, and accomplishments within the last two years of the APC’s administration, Nigerians would readily embrace him and those who associate with his vision as leaders they can trust.

  • Police panic as suspects attempted to flee 

    Police panic as suspects attempted to flee 

    Operatives of the State Criminal Investigative Department (SCID) at the Edo State Police headquarters were thrown into panic on Monday morning when a suspect that was arrested in Delta State made a bold attempt to escape.

    The suspect was said to have slipped out the handcuffs on him and ran away wearing only boxers and singlet.

    He was arrested with two others after being pursued for over one week after they duped someone the sum of N20m.

    They were being taken to the command headquarters for proper documentation of their case and for onward conveyance to Lagos state when one of them made away.

    The fleeing suspect ran into a nearby bush and abandoned buildings near the Benin Owina River Basin Development Authority office just opposite the headquarters of the Department of State Services (DSS).

    A shot fired by a DSS operative did not deter the suspect.

    Over 20 policemen attached to the police headquarters gave the suspect a hot chased and caught up with him when he could not jump a fence in one of the houses he ran into.

    The suspect was later rearrested and given the beating of his life.

    He was tied up and locked in the booth of a car.

    A female SCID officer who did not disclosed her name and her other male colleagues were heard thanking God for saving their jobs and possibly made to face orderly room trial.

  • Fire razes Warri market

    Fire razes Warri market

    Property and commodities, mainly fish, were late Tuesday destroyed in an inferno that once again swept through a part of the popular Ogbe-Ijoh Market in Warri South council area of Delta state.

    Tuesday night’s incident, which came barely a year after a similar incident destroyed shops and wares in the market, destroyed some 500 shops.

    Meanwhile, the Eric Omare-led faction of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has once again urged the Delta state government to quickly complete the construction of the ultramodern Ogbe-Ijoh Market, to finally put stop to the perennial fire incident.

    Warri market

    Though the real cause of the fire could not be ascertained immediately, some victims of the incident who spoke to journalists on the site of the ruins left of the market traced it to a electricity power surge, while some others accused the vigilance team paid to watch over the market of complicity.

    The situation was further compounded for the grieving victims when urchins from the area stormed the market to and started looting the shops, defying the raging inferno.

    Commenting on the incident, leader of Ogbe-Ijoh Market Traders Women Union, Mrs Queen Ajemitolu, in pidgin said “I don tire for this market wey dey burn every time.

    “Na fish we dey sell here, because of no proper care, and temporary structure so the time people dey dry fish, or if NEPA light come, e dey cause fire,” she lamented.

    Speaking during his visit to the scene of the incident, the IYC President, Eric Omare, sympathized with traders over the unfortunate incident and bemoaned the persistent outbreak of fire in the Ogbe-Ijoh market while calling on Governor Ifeany Okowa to as a matter of urgency commence the construction of the market.

    Warri market

  • Delta approves N7.04bn for construction of Ayakoromo bridge

    Delta approves N7.04bn for construction of Ayakoromo bridge

    The Delta State Executive Council has approved N7.04bn (about 22.7 million dollars) for the implementation of two major projects, the establishment of an Agro-Industrial Park at Aboh Ogwashi-Uku in Aniocha South Local Government Area.

    The money is also to be spent on the construction of Ayakoromo Bridge across River Forcados in Burutu Local Government Area.

    The Commissioner for Information, Mr Patrick Ukah, who made the disclosure on Wednesday said that the approvals were part of the decisions taken at the state Executive Council meeting on Tuesday in Asaba.

    Ukah said that the Agro-Industrial Park would provide common dedicated infrastructure and facilities for agro-processing, value addition and agribusiness as a means to improving the ease-of-doing business.

    It will also promote economic diversification and growth of the state, including creating more than 5,000 jobs along the agricultural value chain.

    According to the commissioner, the park will be executed through Public-Private Partnership between the state government, Mirai Group in Israel and Norsworthy Investments Ltd.

    On the Ayakoromo Bridge, Ukah said the approval was in line with the determination of the government to link the riverine and upland communities in the state to bring about economic and social integration.

    Ukah said that with the construction of the bridge, Burutu Town, which hitherto had not been accessible by road, would become a beehive of social and economic activities with vehicular movements witnessed for the very first time.

    He said that the bridge would also connect other riverine communities to other parts of the state.

    The Executive Council further approved the rehabilitation and asphalt overlay of Market and Crudas Roads, construction of Kings Street, reconstruction of Apollo/Palm Avenue and the construction of Low Cost Housing Estate Road, off Shell Road, Sapele, Sapele Local Government Council Area.

    Also approved for implementation is the rehabilitation of Issele-Uku/Issele-Mkpitime/Onicha-Olona Road in Aniocha Local Government Council, Ukah said.

    NAN

  • Maritime University: 304 ex-agitators apply for jobs – Boroh

    Maritime University: 304 ex-agitators apply for jobs – Boroh

    The Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme ( PAP ), Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh, said on Thursday that 304 amnesty beneficiaries had applied for job at the Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State.

    Boroh, who is also the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Matters, disclosed this in an interview in Abuja.

    The Coordinator said the University had commenced operations and placed advertisements for those interested in working with the institution as academic staff.

    He said that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved increase in the of take-off grant for the University from the earlier  N2 billion announced to N5 billion.

    He said the grant had already been included in the 2018 budget, under the Federal Ministry of Education allocation, presented to the National Assembly.

    Boroh described the recent upward review of the earlier budgetary allocation from N2 billion to 5 billion in the 2018 budget for the new university, as a show of commitment on the part of the President towards sustainable peace, stability and development in the region.

    He assured that the University would  create massive employment opportunities for youths in the region, adding that so many youths have been trained in different disciplines and vocations.

    Many of them were trained in marine engineering, maritime studies, seamanship, shipping, marine transport related studies, diving, underwater welding, automobile engineering, aviation, tourism and hospitality, agriculture, particularly in aquaculture.

    The Special Adviser said the youths can fill the manpower gap in the maritime sector, using the maritime university as the channel.

    Boroh added that the maritime university would continue to provide the platform for many other economic activities and development that would shape the geo-political and socio-economic dynamics in the region.

    He said the University is now hiring professors, readers, senior lecturers, lecturers, assistant lecturers and graduate assistants to teach in the faculties of Science, Maritime Transportation, Maritime Engineering & Technology, Maritime Environmental Management and General Studies.

    “It is important to see unemployed graduates thinking about how to take control of their career development on a daily basis by developing  their skills, values and interests as this will be helpful to them throughout their working life,”.

    The Coordinator , however, urged youths in the region not to give up on their dreams.

    “With high competition for graduate jobs in Nigeria , it’s easy to feel discouraged when looking for a job.

    “You don’t have to give up on your dream job,”  he said.

    He lauded the President for his commitment to the smooth take-off of the University and release of grant.

    He, however, assured that the federal government would sustained the establishment for good.

    The Presidential aide stressed the importance of giving support to the planned development of this administration for the ultimate purpose of improving the wellbeing of Nigerians.

    “Nigerians should know that the president is human and needs the sincere prayers of all well-meaning Nigerians to move the nation forward,” he said.

    NAN

  • Maritime varsity takes off in Delta

    Maritime varsity takes off in Delta

    Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State, has now commenced operations, inviting job applications for academic staff, just as President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a significant increase of the take-off grant from N2B earlier announced to N5B.

    A statement by the Minister of Niger Delta Pastor Usani Uguru Usani revealed  that grant has been included in the 2018 budget presented to the National Assembly earlier this week, under the Federal Ministry of Education allocation, superseding the previous provision of N2B for the university.

    The presidential approval for the N5B budget allocation was based on the recommendation of a committee in the Ministry of Education tasked with the activation of the university.

    Besides, President Muhammadu Buhari has also approved an immediate release of N1B to the university to support essential infrastructure works and staff recruitment. This release is separate from the N5B allocated in the 2018 budget submitted to the National Assembly.

    Recently, the Maritime University authorities have commenced the process of hiring staff with advert placements published in the Punch, Vanguard, and Sun newspapers, blogs and other online outlets.

    In the published academic staff vacancies, the Maritime University is now hiring professors, readers, senior lecturers, lecturers, assistant lecturers and graduate assistants to teach in the faculties of Science, Maritime Transportation, Maritime Engineering & Technology, Maritime Environmental Management and General Studies.

    It would be recalled that under the New Vision for the Niger Delta, which followed the President’s meeting with PANDEF leaders last November, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, was delegated to undertake a tour of the oil producing communities and the issue of the take-off of the Maritime University was one of the major requests tabled before the federal government

  • 2019: PDP leaders in Delta demand legislative slot

    2019: PDP leaders in Delta demand legislative slot

    Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) leaders in northern axis of Oshimili North Local Government Area in Delta say the elective position desirable to them in 2019 is House of Assembly seat.

    The leaders made this known in a communiqué released to newsmen in Abuja on Sunday.

    In the communiqué signed by Chief Martin Okakwu, Senior Special Assistant (Political) to Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa and Mr Frank Esenwah, the leaders said that Ibusa axis of the area had occupied the legislative seat for 18 uninterrupted years, from 1999 to date.

    Besides, they said that Ibusa people had since the creation of Delta in 1991, picked all the commissioner slots allotted to the local government area, and monopolized the chairmanship of the council for that long, except in 2014.

    In addition, the leaders pointed out that the senator currently representing Delta North at the National Assembly, Mr Peter Nwaoboshi, was from Ibusa.

    They, therefore, contended that the resolve of the North-North axis of the local government area to occupy the constituency’s seat in the state’s legislature was predicated on the tenets of equity, justice and reciprocity.

    They said that Ibusa people should not take the cooperative and good mindedness of the north-north axis for granted.

    According to the communiqué, Ibusa axis needs to show resounding and deep appreciation for the political understanding and cooperation which the northern axis has given to it over the long period.

    The people urged the leadership of PDP in the state to intervene in the matter, saying that they occupied a larger part of the local government area and had more population.

    “We will not continue to play second fiddle in an area we have equal stake.

    “Over the years, we had shown tremendous understanding just for peace to reign, yet such gesture is unappreciated and has been taken for granted and perhaps, weakness,” the communiqué stated.

    The leaders said that they held Nwaoboshi in high esteem as a senator, but that he would “not begrudge our expectations that you carry us along as your immediate constituents and that none of us is seen or taken for a fool.

    “More respectfully and with stronger resolve, we reiterate our earlier position that the PDP House of Assembly ticket be reserved for the North-North axis’’.

    NAN