The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Delta

  • Women protest invasion of farms in Delta

    OVER two hundred women from Ohoro-Uwheru community of Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State yesterday marched on the council secretariat to protest the invasion of their farmlands by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

    The women carried palm fronds and placards with inscriptions that read: “nama nama people have taken over our farmlands”; “We are afraid to go into our farmland for fear of rape” ; “They are killing our husbands and children, government should intervene.”

    A protester, Mrs. Rose Osiebe, said since the Fulani herdsmen came into their land, so many women have been defiled in the bush.

    “They have killed our husbands and children and any attempt by the youths to challenge them always end in a bloodbath.

    “Two weeks ago, three indigenes of the community were killed by the Fulani herdsmen.

    “We have complained several times at the Ughelli Police A Division, all to no avail.

    “We call on the Chairman, Caretaker Committee, Ughelli North Council Area Friday Akpoyibo to come to our rescue.”

    Friday urged them to be calm and assured that the issue would be reported at the appropriate quarters.

     

  • UNIDO’s shoe-making village for Delta

    THE United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) is partnering with the Delta State government to set up a shoe-manufacturing village where local shoemakers will be trained.

    Coming under the auspices of Delta Micro-Credit Programme, headed by Commissioner of Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Antonia Asheidu, the project is expected to absorb no fewer than 488 shoemakers and their products are expected to be a brand that would compete with ADIDAS and NIKE.

    Mrs Asheidu said given the track records of UNIDO in poverty reduction in developing countries, the project would be a huge success.

    “It’s a project we will be proud of in future.With UNIDO coming into it with their expertise, we believe that in a couple of months, jobs will be created and a huge market will emerge. Through it, we can buy into the markets,”Asheidu said.

    Speaking on the project in Asaba, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan noted that the shoe-making village will be the biggest in Nigeria, adding that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed soon week.

    On whether Nigerians would embrace branded indigeneous products, the commissioner stated that products which will be branded “DMCP” or “FRN” to mean Delta Micro-Credit Programme or Federal Republic of Nigeria, would meet international standards with the help of UNIDO and some international shoemakers that would be involved in the programme.

    UNIDO is saddled with generating and disseminating industry-related knowledge as well as providing technical support and implementation of projects geared towards reducing poverty through production and integrating developing countries in global trade through capacity building.

  • Gunmen kill policeman, kidnap Lebanese in Delta

    Fear gripped residents of Uti Street and other parts of Effurun, Delta State on Wednesday following the killing of a mobile policeman in the area.

    The incident occurred during a kidnap of an expatriate staff of a construction firm.

    An expatriate staff working for the Lebanese construction firm, Levant Nigeria Limited, whose identity was not immediately known, was abducted by gunmen brandishing dangerous weapons.

    The Nation gathered that the ill-fated policeman was among security personnel attached to the expatriate before the gunmen struck.

    Although the circumstance of the killing was yet unknown, our correspondent gathered that the attack took place along Uti Road, which link the DSC Expressway base of the construction firm.

    The Commissioner of Police in Delta State, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, could not be reached for comment as he did not take calls placed to his mobile phone by our reporter. He was also yet to reply to our text inquiry.

    However, a staff of the construction firm who answered calls to the company’s official telephone line in Abuja confirmed the kidnap. The staff, who simply identified himself as Shittu, said details were still sketchy when our reporter called at 2:16pm.

    He said, “Yes, we heard of it (kidnap), but we do not know the details yet. The events are still unfolding now.”

    Levant

  • Delta Airlines announces Business Elite

    Delta Airlines has announced the selection of wines to be served on board its Business Elite cabin in 2013.

    The selection profiles wines from four continents including wines from four European countries: Italy, Spain, France and Portugal; as well as from California, Australia, Chile and South Africa. The new wines will be served on board this year. Delta chooses its Business Elite wine cellar each year in a rigorous weeklong process during which Delta Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson evaluates and samples more than 1,600 different wines from more than 50 wineries worldwide.

    Numerous factors are considered including: the complexity and intensity of the wine; aesthetic details such as the image of the bottle and its label; and logistics such as the amount of production necessary to fulfill Delta’s requirements.

    Twenty-two winning labels are profiled in cycles throughout the year, including eight red wines, eight white wines, four dessert selections and sparkling wines. Approximately 1.5 million bottles of each wine are served worldwide in Delta’s Business Elite cabin every year.

    “Delta wants to offer an exclusive experience to its Business Elite customers who tell us they truly appreciate a great wine,” Robinson said. “This year I have made two selections label as ’discoveries’ – Banfi Rosa Regale dessert wine and Barco Reale di Carmignano. These wines are exciting because, while they are classic Italian wines, they are styles few people have tried. The Rosa Regale is a unique sparkling rose dessert wine, and the Barco Reale could be considered Italy’s first Super Tuscan.”

    Wine is an important part of Delta’s overall BusinessElite offering and the airline has launched a Sky Sommelier programme for pursers to provide a deeper insight into the wines served on board.

    “We want to inspire our customers to discover the world through our selection of wines and meals. Our global selections for the Business Elite cabin have heart and soul and represent the rich cultural heritage of all the countries selected,” Robinson said.

  • Delta to promote teachers on merit

    Delta State government has cancelled automatic promotion of teachers in the state unified teaching service.

    The state governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan who announced this during the first Sunday of the year Service at the Pasture of life Church in Asaba, said the era of mass promotion of teachers in the State Teaching Service was over.

    The governor said that henceforth all promotions would be based on job performance, stressing that the idea was to encourage hard work and development in the education sector.

    He said about 1400 teachers on salary grade level 16 do not teach because of their seniority grade level, adding that this was not good enough.

    “We do not like the situation because it is not just only unhealthy but counter-productive as it will not promote good academic performance by students,” he said.

    Governor Uduaghan called on persons in positions of authority to strive to influence the society positively and excel in assigned duties so that they will be role models to others.

    Speaking further, he said appropriate measures have been taken to address the flood challenge to check future occurrence in the state even as he explained that the strategies adopted will effectively prevent flooding.

    The governor praised the Founder and Presiding Pastor of the Pasture of Life Christian Church, Reverend Jude Akhere and other church leaders for believing in the state government and for standing by him in all his governorship elections.

    He recalled that Reverend Akhere mobilised other church leaders to pray for the success of his re-run elections and expressed gratitude for the support.

    Governor Uduaghan pledged support for the expansion effort of the church, adding that the road construction leading to the church earlier abandoned would be re-awarded to a more competent contractor.

    In a brief response, the Pastor of the Pasture of Life Church, Rev. Akhere preached on the sermon: 2013 year of influence

    He reminded Christians that they were uniquely created by God to influence the society positively and should increase their level of commitment in serving God this year.

  • Delta board to notify CBN, EFCC on missing N1.1b from bank

    The Delta State Board of Internal Revenue has said it would report two banks to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the “disappearance” of N1.106 billion tax paid by Chevron Nigeria Limited.

    It was gathered that the money was deducted from December salaries and allowances of Chevron’s staff.

    The money was paid through a first generation bank to the Board’s account on December 27 via CBN/RTGS confirmation number O0032P0026000012.

    A controversy ensued when the money failed to reflect in the board’s Diamond Bank account, weeks after the electronic transfer was reportedly done.

    Financial experts say the process usually takes hours to complete.

    The Branch Manager of Diamond Bank in Asaba, Mrs. Noma Imilar, who was contacted on Monday, refused to comment.

    She said only the topmost echelon of the bank’s headquarters in Lagos could comment on the matter.

    However, a DBIR source said: “The Chairman, Thomas Joel-Onowakpor, is determined to pursue the case to its logical conclusion.

    “Plans are on to invite the EFCC to unravel the mystery of where the fund was within the last 11 days.”

    “We are also contemplating making formal complaints to the CBN through the relevant channel because this is not only embarrassing, it is unethical.”

    The Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) could be called upon to unravel the truth and prove which side is telling the truth.

    Our independent investigation showed that the incident has led to a frosty relationship between the two banks.

    One of the correspondence obtained by our reporter had one banker telling the other: “I am telling you in confidence that we have not received it.

    “You confirmed that you sent it since the 31st (December)!

    “How come it has not yet reached us? You are a banker and integrity is very key.”

    Joel-Onowakpor said: “It is true that we have been trying to fish out which bank is holding on to our funds.

    “When we are through, the bank will be publicly sanctioned and I also expect CBN to take action on this.”

  • Two herdsmen killed in Delta

    Two Fulani herdsmen have been killed in Egbo-Uwheru community, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State.

    Residents, especially youths, have been seen relocating from the community for fear of arrest.

    A source said the herdsmen were rearing cattle for Akpevwen Akedeye. The source said the victims were found with their stomachs opened.

    A police officer in the Ughelli ‘A’ Division said the victims may have been killed with a rifle.

    “We have taken the bodies to the mortuary and no arrest has been made but we are investigating the matter.”

     

  • Okada ban: Car sales, accidents soar in Delta

    The number of cars sold in Warri, Effurun, Asaba and other towns in Delta State has surged in the wake of the ban on the use of motorcycles (okada) for public transport, an investigation has shown.

    The government outlawed the use of okada in Effurun, Warri and Asaba, the state capital, on November 1, last year.

    The Nation found that the ban led to a boom in the sale of Belgium (second hand) cars in not only the cities, but across other towns, such as Sapele, Ughelli and Agbor, among others.

    Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has warned that more cities would join the list later this year.

    Mr. Ezekiel, a car dealer on Jakpa Road, Effurun, said: “Yes, it is true our business has witnessed a surge since the ban on okada.

    “I believe it is because of the ban because the kinds of cars being purchased are those small and affordable cars that people can use to get from one point to the other.”

    Another dealer, Pullye Ighodaro, said former okada riders have also shifted to the purchase of smaller cars for use as taxi.

    “Those who prepared for the ban had enough money to buy cars and have now converted to taxi drivers.”

    It was gathered that the presence of more vehicles on the roads has led to traffic jams in the cities, particularly the twin cities of Warri and Effurun.

    On the downside, with the increased number of cars and inexperienced drivers have come increased accidents in the cities, particularly during the Yuletide.

    Unofficial figures showed that 15 accidents occured between the last hours of 2012 and first three days of the New Year in Warri and Effurun.

  • Police kill 91 kidnap, robbery suspects in Delta

    •Governor donates patrol vans

    The police in Delta State yesterday said 91 kidnap and robbery suspects were killed between January last year and January 5.

    The Commissioner of Police, Ikechukwu Aduba, gave the figure in Asaba.

    He said though the state was a flash point for criminals, security agencies were ready to combat the criminals.

    Aduba warned the criminals to change because there would be no hiding place for them this year.

    According to him, the command arrested 473 robbery and kidnap suspects, killed 91, injured six and recovered 212 arms and 8, 158 ammunition.

    “We also rescued 82 kidnap victims, recovered 76 vehicles and 19 motorcycles in the year under review,’’ Aduba said.

    “Just last Friday, the police killed three kidnap suspects and arrested three suspects in Abraka, over the kidnap of Martins Denedo, an accountant with the Delta State University (DELSU).

    Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan yesterday in Asaba handed over 30 Toyota Hilux vehicles to the police as a new initiative to curb crimes in the state begins.

    The initiative, Delta State Government Special Security Patrol, is part of measures to ensure that crimes were reduced.

    The 30 vehicles have been specifically designated for patrol and surveillance of specific routes and highways across the state.

    Uduaghan said the vehicles have been assigned to different routes to ensure that all areas are adequately monitored and secured.

    “We are doing this to guarantee peace and security and to ensure that crime rate is drastically reduced,” he said.

  • Four suspected kidnappers arraigned in Delta

    Four people allegedly involved in the abduction of Delta State Higher Education Commissioner, Prof Hope Eghagha, were on Friday arraigned before an Asaba Chief Magistrate Court.

    Eghagha, who spent 15 days in the kidnappers’ den, was abducted at Owa-Ekei junction on the Abraka-Asaba expressway in September last year while on his way to Asaba to attend the Independence Day church service.

    The commissioner’s orderly was killed while his driver sustained severe injuries.

    Those arraigned before Chief Magistrate Sylvester Ehikwe were 21-year-old Dennis Iyayi, 34-year-old Odiri Uyovosisuohwo, 36-year-old Roland Briggs and 24-year-old Tina Okome, the only female among them.

    Although the two-charge of conspiracy to kidnap and unlawful kidnap and imprisonment of Prof. Eghagha, preferred against the suspects were read to them, their plea were not taken before Ehikwe adjourned the matter to January 31.

    Ehikwe, however, ordered that the three male suspects should be remanded at Ogwashi-Uku Prisons while the female suspect should be remanded in Agbor Prisons.

    Meanwhile, the Treasurer of Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU), Delta State University, Abraka chapter, Mr. Martins Denedo has regained freedom after three days in the den of his abductors.

    Denedo was seized by about eight gunmen at the gate of his residence in Abraka, Ethiope East LGA at about 1.am on January 1 while returning from church after the New Year Eve service.

    A family source said in Asaba on Friday that the victim was released at about 2.am along the Aboh-Orogun Road.

    He added that the police in Abraka division killed three suspects and arrested two during the rescue operation.