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Tag: Delta

  • Delta to shut down illegal health centres

    Delta to shut down illegal health centres

    Delta State government has vowed to close illegal health facilities in the state.

    Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, who made this known while reviewing the conclusions reached at the State Dashboard Implementation Workshop in Asaba, said that all clinics, nursing homes and pharmacies operating illegally or below the minimum required standard would be closed down forthwith.

    The Dashboard Implementation Workshop is a self evaluation programme, designed to review the activities of ministries and parastatals and prepare a road map aimed at improving government policies.

    Uduaghan also directed the Direct Labour Agency (DLA) to complete all repair works on roads in Warri and Asaba before the end of this month.

    According to him, the state government has made appreciable progress in the health sector with the state recording above average in the World Health Organization’s standard on doctor/hospital ratio as well as other paramedical staff ratio to the population of the state.

    However, he charged the staff in the sector to be more vigilant and diligent in their duties to ensure that the standard was improved upon.

    Dr. Uduaghan said his administration will embark on mass housing programme, adding that N1.5 billion naira has been set aside for the project.

     

  • Delta closes flood victims’ camp

    Delta closes flood victims’ camp

    The Delta State Government has closed all camps opened to cater for the recent flood-ravaged victims in the state, the Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Tony Nwaka, has said.

    Nwaka told the News Agency of Nigeria in Asaba that the closure which started on October 30 was concluded on Friday, with the ones at Ogbe-Ijoh in Warri South West.

    NAN recalls that 22 camps were set up by the state government for the internally displaced persons in the 14 Local Government Areas affected by flooding.

    The government had announced the provision of N174 million as allowance, comprising N5, 000 to every adult and N3, 000 to every child, willing to leave the camp.

    The measure was informed by the fact the many of the victims had started leaving to participate in the farming season.

    “The remaining camp, out of the two in Ogbe-Ijoh, was closed on Friday, and that was the last camp to be closed in the state. With that, we have officially closed all camps of all persons displaced by flood in the state”, Nwaka said.

    He, however, said that relief materials donated for the victims would soon be distributed to them.

     

  • Delta School of Health graduates 5,167 students

    THE Delta State School of Health Technology, Ofuama, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State at the weekend, graduated over 5,167 students in various disciplines at its 6th convocation held at the institution’s premises.

    The Provost of the school, Mr. Benson Ogheneroro, expressed appreciation to the state government for impacting positively on the school and said that the school had, since its establishment 19 years ago, made progress in training and providing qualified middle-level manpower for the healthcare needs of the state and beyond.

    He disclosed that his management under the then governing council of Chief Paulinus Akpeki, had worked hard to promote self-confidence and better behaviour among students during examinations and positive relationship with and good perception of the institution by statutory health bodies.

    He added, “We got accreditation of some courses which had not been accredited or whose accreditation had lapsed thus requiring re-accreditation visit. As at today, the school has 15 courses of studies in different health disciplines; eight have full accreditation status, three have provisional accreditation, one has recognition of the Delta State University and the outcome of one is still being awaited, while the other two are due for re-accreditation next year.”

    In his speech, the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, who was represented by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Joseph Otumara, said that the commitment of his administration to the development of the school was not in doubt.

    He said his administration had released funds for its infrastructural development, equipping and furnishing of the school to ensure that it met accreditation requirements of various regulatory councils.

     

  • Shell’s operations getting more injurious in Delta

    Shell’s operations getting more injurious in Delta

    SIR: Shell has been operating in Nigeria for more than 50 years now, and the Nigerian people have nothing to show for their operations. Crude Oil is being produced, refined and sold at the expense of the Nigerian people. Shell, being a very large Multinational Oil and Gas Company has infiltrated the very corrupt Nigerian Government officials and held them hostage. For instance, the Petroleum Industry Bill has not been passed because Shell and other oil companies are opposing the Tax Regime, whereas, they pay more taxes in other places like UK and Holland where they operate. Shell allegedly a means of engaging, bribing and infiltrating government officials and regulatorsso that favourable policies are passed. These they do through alleged award of contracts to influential community members. Most of Shell’s Surveillance Contracts are allegedly given to the kings or leaders of the host communities to silence them.

    In UK, Oman, Russia and such other countries, there are strict Corporate Governance Guidelines and Codes which Shell adhere strictly to. But in Nigeria, it is the direct opposite. In Nigeria, they do whatever they want and get away with it because they have willing accomplices in the corrupt government officials and regulators who are on their payroll. Shell is flaring millions of cubic feet of gas into the Nigerian atmosphere daily (SCF/d) irrespective of all the cries and noticeable effects about Global Warming and Ozone Layer Depletion.

    These things are currently being experienced in Nigeria that we didn’t used to experience: Acid rain, sea-level rise (as is being experienced where villages have been sacked), ecosystem imbalance, extreme weather like hurricanes, and extinction of plants and animals.

    However, Shell is not bothered and still smiling to the bank. Instead of having Gas Gathering Facilities to gather, compress and use the gas for useful purposes, Shell is more comfortable flaring it, thereby, wilfully sabotaging the Nigerian economy of the millions of dollars accruable from the sale of gas to Nigerian users, African users and to the rest of the world. Terrible things will happen in the future if Shell does not stop gas flaring immediately.

    Responsible companies consider the environment and social wellbeing, in addition to profit. But Shell considers only profit and doesn’t care about the environment (evidenced by the continuous gas flaring, crude oil spillages, improper remediation activities, etc) or People (malicious sack of employees in the name of Divestment, sack of uncooperating Union workers, etc).

    We are appealing to international bodies to call Shell to order before they destroy our country and leave for elsewhere. We have borne it enough. Crude oil is more of a curse to we the Niger Deltans than blessing. They have polluted our environment, destroyed our ecosystem, rendered our youths, farmers and fishermen jobless and sacked the few they managed to employ.

     

    • Delta Rights Group,

    Delta State.

     

  • Delta supports resource control, increased derivation

    Deltans yesterday canvassed varied positions during the public session of the 1999 constitutional review.

    Constituents in Bomadi/Patani demanded for increment of the revenue allocation to 20%.

    They voted against immunity from criminal proceedings against Presidents, Governors and their deputies.

    But they endorsed the immunity of Presidents, Governors and their deputies from civil cases.

    They also backed 50% control of resources by states while other proceeds are paid to the Federation.

    Aniocha/Oshimili constituents supported the amendment of Sections 135 and 180(2) to create a single tenure of six years for the offices of the president and governors and endorsed independent candidacy.

    Bomadi/Patani constituents also endorsed the single tenure idea, but did not set a time limit.

    Both federal constituencies rejected the amendment of section 214(1) to enable the establishment of state police, insisting that state governors should not have control over commissioners of police in the respective states.

    These decisions were, among others, taken in Asaba and Warri respectively at the peoples’ public session on the review of the 1999 Constitution organised by House of Representatives for the constituency.

    They voted for the amendment of Section 8 to remove ambiguities in the process of state creation.

    While constituents of Aniocha/Oshimili federal constituency endorsed the creation of twelve more states across the country, Bomadi/Patani federal constituents rejected the idea of parity among the geo-political zones, advocating that creation of states should be based on merit.

    The Aniocha/Oshimili people supported the creation of three more states in the South-East, one state in the North-West while the South-South, South-West, North-East and North-Central should have additional two states each.

    While Aniocha/Oshimili people supported the insertion of a provision for the office of the president to be rotated between the northern and southern parts of Nigeria, Bomadi/Patani people rejected the insertion of such provision in the Constitution.

    Both federal constituencies supported the insertion of a provision for the rotation to be extended to the six geo-political zones.

    Both federal constituencies threw their weight behind the rotation of the governorship seat between the three senatorial districts of a state.

  • Man arraigned for stealing relief materials in Delta

    The Delta State Customary Court President, M.O.C Obeh has adjourned to November 21, hearing in the alleged case of theft of relief materials for flood victims in Delta State.

    Obeh adjourned the case due to the absence of other parties in court.

    The suspect, Emonena Awheme, 50 years allegedly stole relief materials meant for flood victims at the St Michael College relief Camp, Oleh, Isoko South local government area.

    The suspect was caught attempting to remove relief materials from the camp in an ambulance.

    The items included three half bags of garri,one bag of beans,20 litres of ground nut oil, one bag of Omo detergent, 11 empty jerry cans and 50 litres of palm oil.

    The suspect, who spoke to The Nation, said he was not guilty, stressing that the relief materials he is being accused of stealing were sold to him in the camp because they were perishables.

    He said he was tempted to buy the items because they were cheap.

    There had been incessant case of theft of relief materials with Governor Uduaghan recently calling for the removal of an official of another camp at Illah,Oshimili North LGA.

     

  • Delta 2015: The factors at play

    Delta 2015: The factors at play

    Although 2015 is still about 30 months away, politicking is already underway across the country. In this report, Assistant Editor AUGUSTINE AVWODE examines the situation in Delta State.

     

    DELTA State Governor Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan is only 18 months into his current tenure, but would-be successors have started jostling for tickets of the various political parties, especially the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The governor ends his mandatory two-term tenure on May, 29, 2015. It promises to be as intense as it would be interesting to watch.

    The elections of 2015 will be determined largely by many factors, primary among which is the ability of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) to keep and maintain its preeminent position in the state and more importantly, maintain a united front. The PDP has ruled the state from 1999 when the country returned to the path of democratic governance with near absolute monopoly.

    However, the party felt the heat of the presence of the opposition in the April 2011 general election. But even at that, the governor still triumphed and subsequent court cases instituted by Chief Great Ogboru of the Democratic Peoples Party ( DPP)’ the main opposition in the state have so far failed to change the situation. But the DPP made such a phenomenal showing, especially in most populous senatorial district, Delta Central, where it produced the only senator of the party throughout the country in the person of Senator Pius Ewherido.

    To that extent, it would be wise for the ruling party to reckon with the potential threat that the DPP poses to its fortunes in the state by ensuring that nothing is done to expose its flanks. Besides, the DPP has not given up its attempt to upturn the victory registered for Uduaghan by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

    Of particular importance in the 2015 contest will be power shift. The clamour is almost sending the roof out of the building for a governor of Anioma extraction to be elected in 2015 in the interest of equity, fairness and justice. The clamour among the Igbo speaking part of the state for the 2015 governorship ticket received a boost last week when traditional rulers and elders in Delta North Senatorial District threw their weight behind the quest.

    The royal fathers under the aegis of Anioma Congress at press conference in Asaba, the state capital, also said that the creation of Anioma State was not negotiable and would be pursued with the vigour and commitment that it deserved. The chairman of Secretariat of the congress and former Deputy Governor of Delta State, Sir Benjamin Elue, who addressed the conference, said the congress “will commence the sensitisation of our people with a mass rally” in Agbor.

    According to him, the programme will focus mainly on the “need for Anioma people to support the creation of Anioma State and in the event of not achieving that, to prepare to take over the governance of Delta State come 2015, through one of their own.”

    He highlighted the various dates and venues that the mobilisation train of Anioma Congress would berth in at the ethnic enclaves that make up Anioma nation, adding that the grand finale will be held on November 17, 2012 in Asaba.

    But will it be easy for Anioma to ensure that indeed, “ one of their own” emerges the governor after Uduaghan’s tenure?

    If the state were to still maintain its uni- party status of the James Ibori days, when there was no visible opposition, it would have been as easy as agreeing to disagree among family members on any issue of importance. It helped in no small way to influence the outcome of the 2007 contest. Today, that has changed and that is why opposition from other ethnic groups especially the Urhobo in the Delta Central senatorial district, will make the quest by Anioma to Government House a bit challenging.

    Anioma ‘s claim to the top job is justifiably hinged on fairness, equity and justice. The most the zone has come is the deputy governor. Both the Central and the South Senatorial District would have had eight years each by 2015 since 1999. The same cannot be said of Delta North.

    When it was announced last week by the national secretary of the PDP, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, that the party wishes to stick to its zoning policy, it was applauded by a political pressure group called the Anioma Agenda. Mr. Alex Onwuadiamu, the interim chairman of the group that is committed to the realisation of the governorship dream of the Anioma people in the Northern Senatorial District described it as sweet music to the ears of all minority groups in the country. Onwuadiamu, former secretary-general of the Anioma Political Forum, said the Aniomas had for long been nursing the governorship ambition, but never succeeded and 21 years of Delta State never held that position before.

    He argues: “The governorship of Delta State has gone to central senatorial zone, it is now in the south senatorial zone and by that principle come 2015, and it will be the turn of Anioma people to produce the governor for Delta state that is all we are asking for”.

    Onwudiamu said no one political zone can win election in the State without the support of other groups, so the imperatives of working with other stakeholders cannot be discounted.

    He said: “How we will go about it is by consultation; we have said that we will consult with our brothers and sisters in the south and central, quite a lot of them are already working with us. We will mobilise our people, we will sensitise the entire populace on the need for equity and justice. Very soon there will be a lot of town hall meetings, seminars, symposia on this same issue. We are not just starting with a road show; we are consulting our people quietly and simultaneously. We are consulting various political stakeholders on the need for equity, unity and justice in our polity. It is not something we can do alone; Delta State is made up of three senatorial zones and if any zone, like we have seen in the last election, feels that it can do it alone, it will always meet with failure. That is why we will always seek for reasonable partnership from the south and central. That is how elections are won in Delta State. This one is not going to be an exception”.

    Notwithstanding, the Urhobo group has not hidden its desire to reclaim the governorship position since Chief James Ibori left office and has left no one in doubt in that regard. Many groups have suddenly sprung up in the last few months. They include groups like Urhobo Political Forum (UPF), led by Chief Ighoyota Amori ,Urhobo Political Congress (UPC) headed by Sir Tom Amioku and the Delta Central Political Movement (DCPM) with Olori Magege as Protem Chairman. Interestingly, these are chieftains of the PDP and that is where the keeping the bonds of unity within the party is seen by many analysts as a key factor if it wishes to retain the governorship.

    Though the Central zone poses the most formidable threat to the PDP, it is held in many quarters that if the ruling party can read the writing on the wall correctly, and throws its weight behind a formidable candidate from the Anioma axis, with the support of the South Senatorial district, it stands the chance of preventing protest vote from a section of the state that is particular in producing the governor to satisfy the yearning for a sense of belonging.

    As for the South Senatorial district there is the allegation that the Minister of Niger-Delta Affairs,Elder Godsday Orubebe may be nursing the ambition to be the next y not help the cause of the Aniomas.

     

    Unity as watchword

     

    Analysts are of the view that for the Anioma dream to come true, the first step would be to forge a united front. They argue that a situation where there is a is considerable large number of wealthy and influential aspirants within the PDP who may refuse to step down for one another, may lead to another round of bitterness and rancor within the Party, a situation the PDP can I’ll afford.

    Although none has declared his intentions publicly, some big wigs have been linked with the top job.

    These include current Speaker of Delta legislature Victor Ochei, member representing Aniocha North, Ndudi Elumelu, member representing Aniocha/ Oshimili Federal constituency, Senator Arthur Okowa representing Delta North in the NASS, ex-presidential aide and ex-federal legislator, Dr Cairo Ojougboh, and Chief Godson Obielum.

    Also the current Chief of Staff to Governor Uduaghan and ex-Information Commissioner, Dr Festus Okubor is also said to be nursing a gubernatorial ambition.

    Others from different political parties are multi millionaire businessman Okocha and Democratic People’s Party candidate in the 2010 senatorial election Mr. Ned Nwoko.

    Political observers say this may not augur well for the zone asthese individuals will seek to out done one another.

    Of more importance is the fact that the chairman of the major opposition party, the DPP, Chief Tony Ezeagwu is an Anioma son.

    He refused to be swayed by the zoning and rotation sentiments being held aloft by his brothers. He was quoted as delaring that his party will support any Deltan that emerges through a democratic process, stressing that DPP will not turn back any aspirant on the basis of ethnic consideration as the DPP does not recognise the principle of zoning within its ranks.

    His words, “Well, I am a man with a very broad mind. When you talk about Anioma people clamouring, I will not say what anybody is doing is wrong or right or I am supporting or not supporting. The issue is I am in DPP and the state chairman for that matter. You know that it has been clamoured long ago in PDP that Anioma man must be their candidate based on their zoning arrangement which I am not part of. As far I am concerned if an Anioma man comes to my party to take form, I will not deny him. And if an Urhobo man comes to take form, I will not deny him either because in my party there is no zoning arrangement for now, our party is open for all Deltans. What we believe in is not even who governs the state but who gives the people what they want, dividends of democracy. When you clamour Anioma, Anioma, Anioma, are you telling that Anioma people were not in Ibori’s government?

    Besides, the determination of Ogboru to pursue his petition at the Supreme Court may also be a major decider. Analysts say whether Ogboru wins or not, if he maintains a constant presence in the state and imbues the opposition with equal visibility, like it was in the campaign and election days, he may exert a lot of influence on the outcome of the 2015 election. A chieftain of the DPP, who pleaded for anonymity, however, said most of the party faithful are not happy with the “vanishing act” which Ogboru is said to always exhibit immediately after elections.

    “He did it the other time; this time he has also done it it. He needs to be round to give presence of mind to the boys and followers in the state. People like the party in the state but it seems as if there is no formidable leadership”’ the source explained.

    Many people have also read meanings into what happened last Monday in the ongoing legal battle over the last governorship election. In what seemed a predetermined decision, Ogboru’s counsel, Sebastian Hon (SAN) had shockingly withdrawn Ogboru’s case, asking the Supreme Court to reverse its earlier decision which struck out Ogboru’s appeal against the decision of the appellate court.

    A source in the state said the development would make the opposition more determined than ever. “The lawyer’s decision to withdraw the case came to many observers, especially Ogboru’s team of lawyers and supporters, as a rude shock given the lawyer’s upbeat mood and re-assurance just before the court hearing.

    Ogboru’s camp was dazed by this unhelpful decision as they had no intention to withdraw the case. There were also no orders to the lawyer to withdraw it. Hence their shock and anger over what appear to be an unprecedented complicity with the enemy more so when they (the Ogboru camp) were sure of winning the case. To many legal experts, the only way Ogboru could lose the case was if the case was not heard at all.

    Whatever the case is, the race to Government House Asaba has started and it will take more than just being the majority ethnic group or the appeal to the sentiment of zoning and rotation to win the race. The party that would win the race will the the cohesive one, the one that is able to balance the delicate political equation in the state that often than not exhibit the volatility of quicksilver and ethnic irredentism.

     

     

     

     

  • Delta flood victims get deadline to quit `illegal’ camp

    Delta flood victims get deadline to quit `illegal’ camp

    More than 300 persons displaced by flood in coastal communities such as Oko, near Asaba, in Delta, have resisted Delta Government’s attempts to relocate them to flood victims’ camps in Asaba.

    The people, who are taking refuge at some unaffected areas at the Asaba end of the River Niger Bridge, claimed that they could not abandon some of the belongings, which they had salvaged from the flood.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the people are living in makeshift homes built with materials such as cement bags, mats, wood, and discarded roofing sheets on both sides of the bridge.

    From their new abode, the people still go fishing on the fringes of River Niger with nets and canoes.

    NAN also reports that the Delta State Government had made four attempts to relocate the people, through persuasion and threats of forced evacuation, all to no avail.

    The displaced persons insisted that the only condition that would make them to move to the camps was if they were allowed to move with their belongings, which included beds, chairs and electronic items.

    However, at the people’s meeting with the state Commissioner for Bureau for Special Duties, Dr. Tony Nwaka, who coordinates all the camps set up for flood victims, it was resolved that the “Bridgehead camp’’ should remain for the time being.

    However, the government gave the people a December 15 deadline, after which they would either join other flood victims in designated camps or return to their communities.

    “After listening to them this time and seeing the situation, we have decided that the best thing is to allow them to remain there for some time.

    “Truly, they have some of their properties which they cannot take to the camps or leave behind. The collective decision is that we will, from Sunday, be taking food and other materials to them at the Bridgehead.

    “But we have also agreed that they have up till December 15 to remain there, after which they will be moved to the camps if the situation has not normalised by then or else they will be compelled to return to their communities,” Nwaka told NAN.

     

  • ‘630 schools submerged by flood in Delta’

    ‘630 schools submerged by flood in Delta’

    Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, has said that 630 primary and secondary schools in the state were submerged by flood.

    Uduaghan gave the figure, on Tuesday, while receiving the South-South Traditional Rulers’ Forum, led by its Chairman, Dr. Edmond Daukoru, in his office, in Asaba.

    He lamented the devastation caused by the flood, adding that the state government had set up camps for the persons displaced by the incident.

    “It has not been easy managing the flood victims; the state lost about 450 primary schools and 180 secondary schools to the flood. They have all been submerged”, the News Agency of Nigeria quoted Uduaghan as saying at the meeting.

    The governor, who commended the Federal Government for approving N500 million for the management of the victims in the state, said the state government had set up a committee to manage the funds.

    He thanked the traditional rulers for their role in maintaining peace and security and urged them to sustain the effort.

    Earlier, Daukoru told the governor that the traditional rulers came to seek partnership with the political class toward strengthening security in the region.

    He added that the forum was also concerned about the welfare of the flood victims and how the problem was being managed in the affected states in the region.

     

  • ‘131,011 displaced in Benue, Adamawa, Taraba, Delta’

    ‘131,011 displaced in Benue, Adamawa, Taraba, Delta’

    •Food crisis looms in Imo  •Relief materials flood camps

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed the registration of 88740 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Adamawa, Benue and Taraba states, where floods were triggered by the release of water from the Ladgo Dam in Cameroon.

    The Delta State government yesterday said 42,271 internally displaced persons are in 18 relief camps.

    Governor Emmanue Uduaghan spoke in Asaba, the Delta State capital. He said some victims refused to come to the camps.

    In Adamawa State, which was worse hit, emergency workers recorded 46,030 IDPs in seven local government areas.

    In Benue State, there are 19505 IDPs from six local government areas. In Taraba, emergency workers registered 23,205 IDPs in camps spread in seven local government areas.

    Prices of food have skyrocketed in Imo State, with a cup of gari selling for N200.00 as against N20.00 before the disaster.

    It is feared that a food crisis is imminent in Ohaji-Egbema and Oguta, which were submerged by the ravaging flood. Several hectares of farmland and fish ponds were washed away.

    A trader, Mrs. Ugochi Dikeomah, said: “Before now, one bag of gari was sold at N3, 000.00 but now we buy at N12, 00.00 per bag and at times we go as far as Edo State to buy gari, so this may be the beginning of the problem.”

    A civil servant, Mrs. Nkechi Uzoaru, was worried over the sudden hike in the price of food products, adding that, “if it continues like this, we all are going to starve because our meager salary can’t do in the present situation, especially those with large families”.

    The state depended on farm produce from Ohaji-Egbema and Oguta council areas for its source of food.

    The member representing Ohaji-Egbema State Constituency, Luke Chukwu, said: “Hundreds of farmlands have been submerged and crops and fish ponds washed away by the flood and our greatest challenge as a state is that the areas affected by the flood is responsible for over 80% food production in the state.

    “Already prices of food stuff have risen sharply and we are worried that food scarcity will hit the state and the affected communities will face starvation, if nothing urgent is done. We are working as lawmakers to initiate contingency plans that will take care of the post disaster challenges like the food crisis”.

    He said plans have been concluded to build four camps in the two council areas to accommodate the IDPs and serve as resettlement centres, where the victims would be empowered.

    Also, the lawmaker representing Estako Federal Constituency in the House of Representative, Dr. Abubakar Momoh has donated N2 million cash to flood victims in Estako East and Estako West local government areas of Edo State.

    Momoh told the displaced persons that the committee constituted by President Goodluck Jonathan on the flooding would provide a permanent solution to problems arising from the flood.

    He said the cash donation would not solve the displaced persons problems permanently but to give them hope.

    He said: “Giving of relief materials will not solve the flood victims’ problems, it is only met to keep them alive but with the committee, a more permanent solution will be worked out.

    “This is why I said the President’s timely intervention by way of releasing special fund for the affected states and subsequent constitution of Dangote/Agbakogba’s committee would proffer a permanent solution.

    “Nothing we do at this stage will be considered too little, we are only doing our best to give them hope pending when a permanent solution would be worked out.

    “My reaching out to them is to let them know they have every reason to live and that we understand and share in their pains.”

    A leading manufacturer of mattresses, pillows and other bedding sheets, Mouka Limited, has also donated mattresses and pillows to the victims in Edo State.

    Speaking during the donation of the relief materials at the Government House in Benin, Managing Director, Mouka Limited, Mrs. Peju Adebajo, said it is the collective responsibility of all to find a long term solution to the flood to avoid reoccurrence.

    Mrs. Adebajo also announced that Mouka would be giving out 10 free mattresses on every 100 purchased by any private or public organisation for the victims.

    She said: “We hope that this symbolic gesture will encourage non-governmental organisations and other corporate entities to support our brothers and sisters who have been displaced by the flood in the country.”,

    Deputy Governor Pius Odubu commended the efforts of the company. He said: “You have shown that Mouka cares just as the vision of the company depicts, you have indeed added comfort to the lives of the flood victims in the state with this gesture.”

    Chairman, Committee on Relief Materials, Edo State, Hajia Memuna Mommoh, thanked Mouka for the kind gesture.

    A philanthropist, Chief Nnaeto Orazulike, the CEO of Genesis Food, has donated two truckloads of relief materials to the victims of the floods in Anambra State.

    The materials include bread, sausage rolls and other confectionaries.

    Governor Peter Obi, while accepting the materials, said a committee has been set up to help to raise fund to assist the victims rebuild their homes and businesses.

    The governor enjoined those who want to assist the displaced persons to go through the committee to ensure proper documentation and transparency. He expressed gratitude to President Goodluck Jonathan for identifying with the victims.

    A member of the State Flood Relief Coordinating Committee and Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Prof. Chinyere Okunna, said more people were helping to alleviate the suffering of the victims.