The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ebonyi State

  • Umahi breaks eight years water scarcity jinx in Ebonyi

    Umahi breaks eight years water scarcity jinx in Ebonyi

    Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi has broken the age long jinx in the area of distribution of portable water in the state since inception of successive administrations.

    The Commissioner for Water Resources, Mrs. Euphemia Nwali stated this in Abakaliki Saturday while addressing journalists.

    She said the ministry has been able to fix all problems associated with reticulation of water across the state with the state capital taking the lead.

    She said the state government through the ministry of water resources had embarked on provision of affordable water to the people of Ebonyi state in a sustainable manner to improve living standard of the people.

    Nwali disclosed that following the water losses in the pipe network in Abakaliki metropolis, often occasioned by vandalism on the pipes conveying water from the Oferekpe water scheme, the state government embarked on comprehensive pipe replacement programme in order to reduce water loss, replaced aged pipes and ensured sustainability in water delivery.

    She said water has been reticulated to a distance covering over 500km using different sizes of HDP pipes which WHO recommended for water
    distribution and over 23 streets have been covered and HDP pipes ranging from 181 lengths of 6 HDP pipes and installation of fitting were also used to achieve the feat.

    The Commissioner also flayed the statement allegedly credited to the former General Manager of the defunct Ebonyi Water Corporation, Paul Okorie alleging that there was no water in the state and described the statement as pure falsehood coming from the propagandists of opposition party in the state.

    “The state government has completed two giant water schemes it inherited from the past administration example of such included the Iyiokwu washout chamber which was awarded to James JS Construction Company and Washing of Oferekpe Water transmission line.

    “The state government has been able to design and initiate the construction of new water scheme in Ishiagu in Ivo local government area of the state and reconstruction of Uburu water scheme. All these were achieved within just two years in office and that is why water is running in every home in the state”

     

  • Ebonyi distributes relief materials to IDPs

    Ebonyi distributes relief materials to IDPs

    Ebonyi state Governor, David Umahi on Monday distributed relief materials worth N20million to Internally Displaced Persons in the intra-communal dispute between the people of Ogiri and Okporojo, Afikpo South local government area of the state.

    The two neighbouring communities have been locked in land dispute which claimed the lives of over 40 persons when fighting broke out in May this year with properties including houses worth millions of naira destroyed.

    The relief materials include cartons of noodles, bags of rice, cartons or wrappers, sleeping mattresses among others.

    In addition to the relief materials, the government also gave each household affected in the crisis N100, 000 to the over 121 households.

    Handing over the relief materials to the IDPs at government house, Abakaliki, Governor Umahi represented by his Deputy Dr. Kelechi Igwe called on the over 130 communities in the state to live in peace.

    He said the distribution of the relief materials will) be the last time the government will be intervening in intra crisis.

    He noted that the government was spending much in maintaining security of lives and property of the citizenry and warned that it will not tolerate anyone or community frustrating the government’s
    efforts.

    “We are doing a lot to change the state for good and also touch lives. What security is taking from this government is so much that any other government would have collapsed because in all our border communities, there are crisis and the government has been providing security in all these flash points. The government ensures the welfare of the security agencies in these areas”, Umahi said.

    The Chairman of the local government, Eni Uduma Chima who commended the government for the gesture, said normalcy has returned to the two warring communities. 

    Eni Uduma Chima who lamented over the condition of the affected village in terms of infrastructure and welfare added that the present administration has begun the reconstruction of the houses in the area to ensure that the people were comfortable and repositioned to face the challenges ahead of them.

    Chima further noted that security personnel were fully mobilized within and around the affected village to ensure peace and order adding that his office would ensure that the relief materials were duly distributed to the IDPs.

  • Akanu Ibiam Poly students make table water

    Akanu Ibiam Poly students make table water

    To ensure that its students are employable or self-employed after graduation, the Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic Uwana, Ebonyi State, established a department for entrepreneurial studies.

    The plan worked. The department has now procured its own water purification machine for the production of bottled table and sachet water. The processing plant is run by the students themselves, and their products are already sold within the school and Afikpo community with plans to extend the market farther afield to other parts of the state and beyond.

    The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, (TET-FUND), Dr Abdullahi Bichi Baffa commissioned the facility during an assessment tour of the facilities with a promise to make more funds available to the institution to enable it continue the laudable entrepreneurial programme.

    He noted that the programme is in line with the President Muhammadu Buhari government’s agenda on empowering students and graduates with the requisite skills and knowhow to become job creators upon graduation and by so doing bridging the unemployment gap in the country.

    Baffa said the TET-FUND has been making giant strides in the tertiary education sector of the country by providing funds for the upgrade of facilities and building the capacity of the lecturers.

    He said, “Perhaps the best measure is for anyone to work into any campus of any university, polytechnic or college of education in the country whether state or federal government owned and one will see the very clear impact of TET-FUND. I can say without any fear of contradiction that more than 60 percent of the physical infrastructure in any tertiary education institution is provided by TET-FUND. Just imagine our institutions without TET-FUND support, probably they would have crumbled.”

    The Executive Director also commissioned other facilities built by the institution which include twin lecture theatre halls with 3000 sitting capacity, school of environmental design and technology housing seven different programmes, a workshop for the animal production department of the institution.

    He expressed satisfaction on the use of the funds by the institution and promised that TETFUND will expedite action on outstanding 2014, 2015 and 2016 funds yet to be accessed by the institution to enable it complete some ongoing projects and commence new ones.

    Earlier, while receiving the Executive Secretary, the Rector of the institution, Ven. Ogbonnaya Ibe-Enwo thanked TET-FUND for the support it have been giving the institution in the past and appealed for release of more funds to enable it carry our more projects and complete ongoing one.

    Members of the board of the institution led by the Chairman, Prof J.T. Orkar and Director of Administration and Training of Nigeria Television Authority, Dr Steve Egbo joined the Rector in receiving the Executive Secretary.

  • Ebonyi threatens to revoke C-of-O of undeveloped lands in Abakaliki

    Ebonyi threatens to revoke C-of-O of undeveloped lands in Abakaliki

    The Ebonyi State Government has threatened to revoke the Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) of undeveloped lands across Abakaliki and its environs.

    Mr Stanley Okoro-Emegha, Special Assistant to the Governor on Capital Territory, disclosed this on Monday.

    Okoro-Emegha said that the government was serious on the issue because such lands had become haven for the perpetration of crimes by hoodlums, among other practices that were inimical to societal well being.

    “All lands within Abakaliki and environs must either be put to use, developed or the owners will stand the chance of forfeiting their C-of-O.

    “The owners should use them for agricultural purposes or make them available to government for use to enhance its agricultural programmes,” he said in a statement.

    He also advised the residents of the town to keep their surroundings clean by properly disposing their refuse to ward-off diseases.

    “The state government has invested much to enhance the aesthetic nature of the state capital and the citizens should complement this effort by keeping their surroundings clean,” he said.

  • Ebonyi begins certification of yam for export

    Ebonyi begins certification of yam for export

    The Ebonyi State Government said on Friday that it has started discussion with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for the certification of yam for export.

    The Gov. David Umahi, who made the disclosure to journalists in Abakaliki, said the move was in line with the Federal Government’s efforts to boost yam export to the United Kingdom and the United States (U.S.).

    According to him, when the certification is through, we will commence export of the yams immediately.

    “Our yam is the biggest and sweetest in the whole country.

    “I have discussed with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development; we have agreed that the certification of our yam will be done.

    “The moment that is done, by the next dry season, you will see containers of yams leaving Ebonyi State for export,’’ the governor said.

    Umahi said the state would establish an equity investment law that would enable land owners benefit from foreign investment in the state.

    “We will establish a law whereby if you want to take 5,000 hectares of land that you want to farm in as an investor, the farm owners will aggregate to form a cooperative society.

    “The farm owners will become shareholders by reason of the percentage of the area the owners have on the hectare housing the investment.

    “The law will be such that individual owners will have like 10 per cent equity of investment and the state will have 10 per cent as the constitutional owners of the land,’’ he said.

    The governor explained that the law would no longer tolerate the previous business of employing only host community natives or paying tax to the government.

    “I recommend this to the Federal Government too. Let investors come but let the owners of the place have equity in whatever business that will be set up on the land.

    “Host communities should be part of the consideration in terms of benefits because their land is being damaged and de-possessed.

    “If you didn’t damage the land, they should have used it to do other things within their reach,’’ Umahi said.

  • Ebonyi borrows N10bn to finance agriculture – Umahi

    Ebonyi borrows N10bn to finance agriculture – Umahi

    The Ebonyi State Government says it has borrowed N10 billion from the Federal Government to finance agricultural activities in the state.

    Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi specifically told newsmen in Abakaliki on Friday that the credit would be used to support farmers and domesticate rice production in the state.

    The governor added that the state government would also establish Mega Rice Cities in the various local government areas of the state to boost rice production.

    “We have also borrowed some funds under CARTS from the Federal Government.

    “We borrowed N2billion, we will be paying off in the next 3 months, of course we borrowed another N5 billion and another N3 billion.

    “We want to domesticate rice production in Ebonyi State and we are going beyond individual production.

    “We are now beginning to see how we can institute what we call rice mega cities in each local government area where by we have 5,000 hectares of land dedicated for rice production in each of our local government areas.

    “Already, we have 4 rice mills that are in operation and you also see private people that are  milling with their traditional machines.

    “We have imported another 3 sets of rice mills which we will install in the next 3 to 4 months and our idea is that before the middle of next year, we will be able to have one rice mill in each local government area.

    The governor stated that the idea is to maintain the nutritious quality of the rice produced in the state with a view to making it compete internationally.

    According to Umahi, the state is planning to cultivate 100,000 hectares of land to produce 400,000 tonnes of rice in the next two years.

    He said government was already supporting farmers with inputs and subsidies and that buyers from neighbouring African countries were patronising the rice market in the state.

  • Hajj sponsorship an important social, religious responsibility – Official

    Hajj sponsorship an important social, religious responsibility – Official

    Alhaji Abass Egwuu, Executive Chairman, Ebonyi State Muslims Pilgrims Welfare Board, says the state government considers hajj sponsorship as an important social responsibility.

    Egwuu said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday that Gov. David Umahi was supporting the board to discharge its duties effectively.

    According to him, hajj sponsorship is part of a social responsibility of every sensitive government.

    He urged other state governors to take hajj sponsorship serious to enhance public confidence in governance.

    Egwuu said that preparations for the 2017 hajj operation had reached advanced stage, adding that the board had secured decent accommodation for its pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.

    “Gov. Umahi has made the job very easy for me since I was appointed. He has consistently sponsored the board, paid allowances to board members and also sponsored private pilgrimage,” he said.

    Egwuu added that the board had organised several orientation programmes for intending pilgrims in the state.

    He said that pilgrims enlightenment and education was ongoing in Yoruba, Hausa and the indigenous Muslim communities in various mosques across the state.

    “Apart from that we have a centre which is known as the Islamic Centre located at Ebonyi South Senatorial District.

    “So, what we normally do is to encourage our Muslim brothers and sisters to go to the mosque for education.

    “However, we do enlightenment through radio and television programmes to ensure wider coverage,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the National Hajj Commission had allocated 97 hajj slots to Ebonyi and approved N1.52 million as 2017 hajj fare for the state.

  • Police confirm arrest of IPOB, MASSOB members in Ebonyi

    Police confirm arrest of IPOB, MASSOB members in Ebonyi

    The Police in Ebonyi on Saturday confirmed the arrest of some members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in various part of the state for alleged unlawful sensitisation programme.

    The command’s spokesman, DSP Jude Madu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday that the arrested suspects also included members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).

    Madu said that the suspects were arrested for unlawfully sensitising the public to stay at home on May 30, in observance of the group anniversary.

    “They would be charged to court and the command would ensure that they are duly prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.

    “IPOB and MASSOB are illegal groups and did not get permission from the police to embark on such exercise which threatens the peace and security of the state.

    “The command with the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Mr Titus Lamorde, has commenced intensive sensitisation of the populace to disregard the sit-at-home directive and go about their lawful businesses,” he said.

    Madu warned members of the group not to carry out outlawed activities within the state before, during and after May 30, as the full weight of the law would be brought on any defaulter.

    “Any person or group found culpable would be arrested and duly prosecuted as the groups’ activities amount to mutiny or fighting a sitting and legally recognised government.

    “IPOB and MASSOB are techniques developed by some individuals to gain public interest and recognition as the former is even a breakaway organ of the latter.

    “These groups have not provided amenities or other forms of social security for the people they are directing to stay at home; it shows that their intentions are not sincere and must be rejected by all,” he said.

    He advised the groups that not everybody was interested in issues concerning secession as people still remember the horrors of the civil war and other upheavals in the country after then.

    According to him, they should realise that most people are not interested in their preaching, therefore, they should not force anybody to be involved in their illegal and unlawful practices.

    Madu called on traditional rulers and town unions across the state to assist the police in sensitising the people and provide relevant information about the group’s activities.

    “The command has distributed various call contacts (numbers) to the public to report activities of these groups within this period, especially molestation, if they refuse heeding to the stay-at home order.

    “Any gathering of two or more people propagating the IPOB/MASSOB messages or executing related activities should be promptly reported to the police for immediate actions,” he said.

    A NAN Correspondent who visited the state police command reports that the arrested IPOB members were upbeat and chanting solidarity songs.

  • Three killed, scores injured in renewed Ebonyi, C/River boundary crisis

    Three killed, scores injured in renewed Ebonyi, C/River boundary crisis

    At least three persons from Ndiagu Okpotiumo in Abakaliki local government area of Ebonyi state have been reportedly killed following  attacks by hoodlums suspected to be working for a nearby community in Obubra local government area of Cross River state.

    Also over twenty other persons sustained both bullet and matched wounds in the attacks, it was gathered.

    The attackers were said to have invaded the community at about 2pm on Monday and started burning houses and shooting anyone in sight.

    At the time of filling the report, about fourteen victims of the attack who were brought to the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki on Monday night were still receiving treatment at the emergency ward.

    It could be recalled that Azuoffia Edda community in Abakaliki LGA were attacked by a neighboring communities in Obubra in Cross River state a month ago over boundary disputes.

    A medical Doctor from the community, Mr. Lawrence Nwangele said he received a call from the people of his community around 4.30pm about the development and they asked him to be on alert that they were bringing victims of the attack to the hospital.

    He explained that a total of 15 persons were brought to the hospital but one of the victims died on arrival. He said the remaining 14 were receiving adequate medical attention in the hospital.

    While some of the victims said they were attacked in their farms, others said they were attacked at their homes by the hoodlums but acknowledged that they have been having land disputes with the cross river people and have lost over seventy persons from incessant attacks.

    A victim, Mr Peter Oche alleged that the attackers invaded the community with sophisticated weapons.

    Another victim, Sunday Ugoru said they were farming when the hoodlums came and started destroying their farms and when they tried to stop them, they started attacking them with guns and marchers.

    Also, Mr Julius, a victim, noted that they have been witnessing series of attacks as a result of the intractable land disputes.

    Police spokesman in the state, DSP Jude Madu confirmed the development and noted that the command has moved in more men to reinforce existing manpower.

    The Spokesman, however, said he was yet to ascertain the number of casualties as a result of the attacks.

     

  • One dead in Ebonyi village headship tussle

    One dead in Ebonyi village headship tussle

    One person has been killed while a dozen others were wounded in a clash between rival groups in Igbagu community in Izzi local government area of Ebonyi state.

    Also, properties worth billions of naira were destroyed in the clash. The Nation gathered that the crisis which started at the early hours of Tuesday is a tussle over the headship of the village.

    The Special Assistant to the state Governor on Internal Security, Hon. Kenneth Ogbala disclosed this to our reporter in Abakaliki.

    Hon. Ogbala, who condemned the killing and incessant communal crisis in the state, accused some individuals of Igbagu community who had an interest in the headship of the village of forming the division among youths who went out to cause the mayhem.

    He, however, pointed out that issue of who becomes the village head is already a matter before the court but due to impatience, some individuals took the law into their own hands to foment a crisis.

    Mr Ogbala revealed that over 7 suspects have been arrested by the Nigeria Police force in the state over the incident.

    His words: “It is just common issue among the villagers, they had the issue of village headship, the matter currently is in court but like you know some people did not have patient and allow the judiciary to settle the matter.

    “So some villagers formed themselves into 2 groups and started fighting each other over the village headship. I visited there today and I saw vehicles and houses worth millions of naira destroyed. I was however told that one person lost his life in the crisis and dozens wounded. But normalcy is gradually returning to Igbagu community”, he explained.

    “And now the police have arrested about 6 or 7 persons in connection with the crisis at Igbagu community, so we are thoroughly on top of the situation,” he assured.