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Tag: Ebonyi

  • Tension as police kill football fan in Ebonyi

    Tension as police kill football fan in Ebonyi

    A football fan known as Obinna Igwe has been shot dead by a trigger happy cop in Ebonyi State. Two others sustained bullet wounds following a fracas involving some policemen and a football team during match in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. The Nation also gathered that two police officers were also injured during the incident.

    The football match which was between Ndufu Alike and Ndufu Echara teams was the final of a Unity Cup competition organized by the Chairman of Ikwo Local Government Area, Elder John Nnabo at Urban Secondary School, Ndufu Echara. An eyewitness told our reporter that trouble started when the centre referee issued a red card to an Ndufu Alike player which eventually resulted in his team conceding a goal in the second half. According to him, the development did not go down well with the dismissed player as he returned to the pitch and launched an attack on the centre referee along with other players on the bench. “As they attacked the referee, a police officer started shooting into the air to disperse the crowd.

    The situation made the people to start running towards the gate of the school to leave the premises but another police officer opened fire on them and injured many who were later evacuated to hospital,” the eyewitness said. The deceased was said to have died before getting to hospital. Doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital later confirmed him dead. The eyewitness hinted that the situation would have degenerated as some youths of Ikwo almost confronted the police. “It took the intervention of some public office holders in the area to douse the tension,” the eyewitness added. One of the stakeholders, Mr Onyekachi Nwoba, condemned the use of live ammunition by the police pointing out that their action was not in line with rules of engagement. When contacted, the police spokesman, Mrs Loveth Odah, alleged that the fan was killed when the rampaging youths attempted to snatch a rifle from one of the policemen.

    Odah explained that normalcy had returned to the area as the Commissioner of Police in the state had deployed more policemen to prevent further breakdown of law and order. She said the officer involved in the shooting had been arrested and would undergo orderly room trial according to the rules and regulations of the police. It was further gathered that the remains of the dead fan had been deposited in a mortuary while those injured were receiving treatment at various hospitals. The state governor, David Umahi, has ordered investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of victim. The governor in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Uzor, described the incident as tragic and called for calm.

    He assured that his administration is committed to securing the lives and property of every citizen. “The news of the death of one of our brothers during an altercation with the security agents who came to save a football referee from the grip of angry mob during a football match in Ndufu Echara Ikwo is highly unfortunate and uncomfortable. ” While we condemn the incident, I want to commiserate with the family and call for full investigation into the whole drama. My administration shall not take lightly the outcome of the investigation and anybody found culpable in the entire drama shall be dealt with.”

  • 10-room bungalow gutted by fire in Ebonyi

    10-room bungalow gutted by fire in Ebonyi

    Property worth about N500 million was destroyed yesterday when fire gutted a 10-room bungalow on 7, Momo Street, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

    It was gathered the fire started about 4 am.

    One of the occupants, Mr. Umaru Yakubu, said he was awakened by neighbours, who raised the alarm.

    He lamented that one of his brothers, who trades in cattle, lost the N200 million he withdrew the previous day to buy cattle.

    “We lost many things. My brother, who is a tailor, lost his industrial machine and everything in the shop. My other brother, who trades in cattle, lost over N200 million. He was supposed to travel to the north the following day,” he lamented.

    Yakubu blamed officials of the Ebonyi State Fire Service, who, according, to him, did not arrive early to quell the fire.

    According to him, their station was just a stone’s throw to their house.

    “For over 15 minutes, officials of the Fire Service did not come, even when their station is just a stone throw to our house. When they finally came, they sprayed little water and packed up, complaining that they don’t have enough water,” he said.

    Another occupant, Bamba Hamajobia, lamented that their foodstuff and other wares were lost in the fire. She said the fire was caused by an electric spark from a refrigerator.

    The victims called on the government and the public to come to their aid.

  • Properties destroyed as fire guts bungalow in Ebonyi

    Properties destroyed as fire guts bungalow in Ebonyi

    Properties worth about N500 million were destroyed in Abakaliki on Thursday morning by fire.

    The incident happened at No 7 Momo Street

    When Our Reporter visited the area, the about 10-room bungalow was still smouldering. All the properties in the building were completely razed.

    It was gathered that the building caught fire at about 4am while its occupants were still asleep.

    One of the occupants, Mr Umaru Yakubu, told journalists that he was aroused from sleep by neighbours who raised the alarm over the fire.

    He narrated that in addition to their loss, one of his brothers who trades on cattle lost about N200 million he had withdrawn the previous day for the purchase of cattle.

    Read Also: Fire guts N183m TETFund project

    “We lost many things. My brother who is a tailor lost his industrial machine and everything in the shop. Another brother of mine who trades on cattle lost over N200 million. He was supposed to travel to the north the following day” he narrated.

    Yakubu blamed the officials of the Ebonyi State Fire Service who according to him, failed to come in time even when they were beckoned upon. He said that their station and the scene of the incident was just a stone throw.

    “For over 15 minutes, the officials of the Ebonyi State Fire Service did not come even when their station and the scene is just a stone throw. When they finally came, they sprayed little water and packed up; complaining that they don’t have enough water” he narrated.

    Another occupant, Bamba Hamajobia, lamented that all their food items and other wares were lost to the fire. She revealed that the fire was caused by an electric spark were a refrigerator was plugged.

    The victims also called on Government and members of a the public to come to their aide.

  • Umahi presents N208.332b budget to State Assembly

    Umahi presents N208.332b budget to State Assembly

    *Governor Umahi also commissioned the reconstructed House of Assembly complex

     

    Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi on Friday presented an appropriation bill of N208, 332, 100 to the Ebonyi State House of Assembly for their consideration and passage into law as the state budget for 2018 fiscal year.

    This is over N81bn increase from the 2017 budget which is about N127,233,074,419.

    Presenting the bill at the chamber’s of the State House of Assembly Nkaliki road Abakaliki, Ebonyi state capital, Chief Umahi stated that in the Recurrent Revenue, the expected sources of Revenue for 2018 Fiscal Year would include bank opening, statutory allocation and internally generates revenue.

    The budget, according to the State Governor is tagged budget “Divine Manifestation”.

    According to him, Banks Opening Balances brought forward stands at 18.889 9.07, statutory Allocation from Federal Government 72.916 35.00, internally Generated Revenue stands at 13.965 6.70
    Others 2.00 0.96, while loan (Internal and External) 100.562 48.26, total Expected Receipts for 2018 budget 208.332 100

    Governor Umahi stated that in the above revenue sources, the inflow from Federation Account amounts to N72.916bn or 35% of the State’s 2018 Budget Estimates.

    “This includes statutory allocation and the component of the capital receipt, which includes: Value Added Tax share of Exchange Rate Gain; non oil Revenue Reimbursement from the Federal Government of Nigeria.Other sources include: N18.889bn unutilized dedicated funds that will be carried forward as the opening bank balance for the financial year; N100.562bn internal loan and N13.965bn from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR)”, he said.

    The State Governor insisted that the State Government intends to increase her tax revenue in the 2018 Fiscal Year by aggressively diversifying into numerous untapped tax revenue sources.

    He stated that the plan became imperative consequent upon the Federal Government’s de-emphasis on oil revenue and the impending austerity measures aimed at cutting the cost of public sector governance. “The revenue source to be strategized includes landed property documentation, fines and fees, among others.

    Governor Umahi stated that in the 2018 Fiscal Year, the Expenditure ratio between Recurrent Expenditure and the Capital Expenditure stands at 20.8% to 79.20% adding that Recurrent Expenditure will gulp N43.326bn (including inbuilt contingency fund of N3bn that will be mainly expended in unforeseen areas of recurrent needs), while the Capital Expenditure will gulp N165.004bn inclusive of contingency provision of N5.5bn for capital projects.

    Governor Umahi said that the Economic Sector in the 2017 budget has a provision of N124.064, thus taking the largest-chunk of the Capital provision. “This is justified on the basis of Government’s serious commitment to commence the construction of flyovers, rehabilitation of urban roads, construction of rural roads, water reticulation in our urban centers among other commitments.

    He stated that wiithin the Economic Sub-sector, works and transport has the highest allocation of N96.567bn followed by Ministry of Power with the sum of N4.626bn and the sum of N63.811bn. is shared among other sub-sectors.

    The State Governor who expeessed happiness with the budget expenditure of 2017 noted that the state is rising adding that the journey thus far has been extremely tough; “yes, we have had to do extraordinary things in unusual ways; yes, we have been tossed by economic exigencies but we have remained unsinkable. “We have done a great work but there is still a greater work to be done”.

    He pointed out that in keeping with the promise of making Abakaliki the best state capital in the country, the State is on course and are almost there within the first 2 years of the administration but added that “We still have more to do”.

    “In keeping with our promise of making Ebonyi State the number one economy through agricultural revolution, we are almost there. At this time last year, Ebonyians paid between N10,000 and N12,000 for a bushel of rice. But because we have kept faith with our promise, Ebonyians today are paying just N5,000 for a bushel of rice – reduction of more than 50%. And yet we still have plenty more to do in this area – the price of chicken most come down to N1,500”, te governor said

    “In keeping with our promise of securing the life and property of our citizens, we have made giant progress in the resolution of internal conflicts, the crown of which is the final settlement of the Ezillo-Ezza Ezillo conflict. We still have a lot more to do, especially in persuading our neighbouring states to accept our hands of friendly relations”, he said.

    The Governor also used the period to commission the reconstructed House of Assembly complex.

    Earlier, The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon Francis Nwaifuru commended the state government for the prompt and judicious implementation of the 2017 budget adding that the House of Assembly would ensure steady passage of the 2018 budget.

    Rt. Hon Nwifuru urged the Governor to assist the House in the reconstruction of the Speaker’s residence adding that the residence is no longer befitting and needs urgent attention.

    The budget passed first reading and second reading of the house and was also accepted immediately as a working document by the house.

  • Deportee appeals for help to return family to Nigeria

    Deportee appeals for help to return family to Nigeria

    A Nigerian who was recently deported from India for having issues with his traveling documents, Mr Chukwudi Onu has called on Ebonyi state government and well meaning individuals to come to his Aide by assisting him to bring back his wife and three kids to Nigeria.

    Narrating his ordeal, Mr Onu who said he is from Uburu in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State lamented that his wife and three kids are still stranded in India following his arrested and deportation in May this year.

    “I have been living in India for the past six years, I travelled with my family in December 2011 and on May 15th, I was arrested by Indian Immigration Police over expired visa, from there to deportation camp where I spent over a month before I was deported to Nigeria”, he said.

    Mr Onu explained that his family had been kicked out of their apartment over unpaid bills and could not go to deportation camp because of the harsh treatment being meted out to Nigerians.

    “My family are staying in an open church, even to raise money for their air tickets is an uphill task for me. I ve been reaching out to the government and Nigerian High Commission in India. Right now, I am appealing to Ebonyi State government because am from Uburu in Ohaozara Local Government Area and well-meaning Nigerians to help me rescue my family”.

    The deportee said he was worried about the condition of his family as Indian weather presently is too cold noting that he was paying eight hundred dollars for their rent from Nigeria until he ran out of cash.

    He stated that air ticket for his wife and three kids from New Delhi India to Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu would cost a total of four thousand dollars but would prefer tickets.

    “Each ticket from New Delhi to Enugu is about three hundred and twelve thousand multiplied by four is about One point two million Naira but I have been able to raise about two hundred thousand Naira by myself, am only appealing to Federal and Ebonyi State governments as well as well meaning Nigerians to assist. I don’t really need the cash, if tickets are bought from any travelling Agency, I will send it to them.

    “I run a restaurant in New Delhi, CJ African Restaurant as well as Medical Tourism Management Business to help those on medical trip with necessary logistics”.

    Mr Onu however blamed himself for his travail pointing out that he failed to renew his papers because he travelled with a medical visa which required that he returns to Nigeria before applying for a permanent visa.

    Mr Onu also called on the Federal government to widen the scope of its repatriation project to cover not only Nigerians stranded in Libya but also those held in deportation camps in Asian countries such as India and Malaysia.

    He explained that at least One thousand Five Hundred Nigerians were languishing in deportation camp in India.

    Mr Onu said Indian government had become hostile to Nigerians recently, alleging that even those with valid passports were most times arrested and hauled into deportation camp, only to be released after their papers must have been verified.

    He noted that so many Nigerians in the camp had been there for over one year without any hope of returning as they had not been able to raise money for their tickets.

    “Yes there were over one thousand five hundred Nigerians, because in my room I think we were about sixty something and they have over twenty one rooms, there are places for Pakistanis and Afghanistans, I think I saw one Polish and an Australian, but the population of Nigerians is twenty to one of other Nationals”. Ends

  • 2019: INEC seeks support of monarchs in Ebonyi

    2019: INEC seeks support of monarchs in Ebonyi

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) in Ebonyi says it will collaborate with traditional rulers to mobilise rural communities to fully participate in the electoral process.

    Prof. Godswill Obioma, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), stated this on Friday in Abakaliki, when he briefed newsmen on the outcome of a meeting held between the Commission and traditional rulers preparatory to the 2019 general elections.

    Obioma explained that traditional rulers had influence among their subjects and live with them in their rural communities, saying that the support of the royal fathers would be useful in mobilising rural participation in the electoral process.

    The resident electoral commissioner noted that the meeting with the traditional rulers was imperative in view of their strategic importance to information dissemination in rural areas as well as closeness to their subjects.

    He said: “Majority of the electorate live in hinterlands especially women and youths, hence the need to solicit cooperation, collaboration and support of the royal fathers who wield great influence among their subjects.

    “We must explore every avenue and opportunity available to ensure that the conduct of the 2019 general elections is credible and that it meets the expectations of the electorate in the state. “

    He said that the meeting was centred on five key issues which included mapping out ways to mobilise women and improve their participation in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), create strategies to enhance collection of unclaimed Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    He said that ensuring how to mobilise the grassroots through proper sensitisation to come out and register and how to move the registration machines from place to place to get every eligible voter registered were among other critical issues discussed in the meeting.

    He said that the Commission was determined to explore ways of improving on the number of eligible voters turning out to participate in the CVR, which he noted was on a continuous decline.

    “In the first quarter of the CVR, we recorded 40,000 registrants, while the number declined to 20,000 during the second quarter with more men registering.

    “The drop in the number of registrants coupled with fewer female eligible voters coming out to register are posing some concern to the Commission.

    “We are also disturbed that no fewer than 50,000 unclaimed PVCs are domiciled in all INEC’s local government area offices and the state headquarters since 2014, ” he added.

    He said that INEC headquarters in Abuja had approved the delineation of additional 370 registration centres, with 10 registration centre for each state and the Federal Capital Territory to enhance the ongoing CVR.

    “We have gotten 10 more registration centres in the state and we are going to sit down with stakeholders and work out how to spread the centres, ” he added.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that no fewer than 30 traditional rulers from various Ebonyi communities attended the meeting held at the Ebonyi Council of Traditional Rulers’ chambers.

    Read Also: 2019: INEC trains staff on ICT in Ebonyi

  • Photo: NYSC DG visits Ebonyi Orientation Camp

    Photo: NYSC DG visits Ebonyi Orientation Camp

    The DG of National Youth Service Corps,like ( NYSC ), Suleiman Kazaure on Friday visited the Ebonyi Orientation camp in Afikpo North LGA where he interacted with Batch B 2017 Corps Members who are on their 3 weeks Orientation course.

    The DG was Represented by the Acting Director in Charge of Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, Mrs Mojibola Adeola Eboagwu.

    Kazaure who was received by NYSC staff in the state led by the Coordinator,Mrs Regina Illuebbey also inspected facilities in the camp before addressing the Corps Members at the Multi Purpose Hall.

     

     

  • 2019: INEC trains staff on ICT in Ebonyi

    2019: INEC trains staff on ICT in Ebonyi

    The Independent National  Electoral Commission ( INEC ), on Monday in Abakaliki, Ebonyi, commenced three-day training on Information Communication Technology (ICT) for its staff in the state.

    Prof. Godswill Obioma, the State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), who declared the workshop open, said that the initiative was to train and equip the staff with basic knowledge of computer and application of ICT.

    According to him, the training is part of strategies being put in place to ensure credible, free, fair and efficient conduct of the 2019 general elections.

    He said that the ICT training was the 5th batch in the series, slated to enhance the capacity of the staff of the commission.

    He said that 300 staff of the commission at its headquarters in Abakaliki would first undergo the training before it would be stepped down to the staff at the various local government areas.

    “Election is a process and the training we are organising for our staff is to equip and enhance their skills and capacity for efficient and effective election management.

    “This is the 5th batch in a series of training, lined up for the staff of the commission in the build up to the 2019 general elections.

    “We are concentrating on equipping the staff with knowledge of computer in this 5th batch and we identified and isolated those staff without any knowledge about computer and ICT.

    “We are going to train them on basic computer application for three days, and we are starting with 35 of them and each set will be trained for three days until we train all our 300 staff.

    “We expect that the over 300 staff stationed at the headquarters will undergo the training programme before we move down to the local government areas to train our staff there.

    “Voting and issues about election have become electronic-based, hence the need for the commission to build capacity of its staff to cope with the new trend,” Obioma said.

    He said that the commission had improved on its card-reader machines, saying that the use of the machine and electronic voting in 2019 would be hitch-free and more efficient.

    “The application of the electronic voting and the use of card-readers have been discovered to reduce election fraud and other irregularities associated with manual voting.

    “We have improved on our systems; the Federal Government is going to change and strengthen the card-readers, and the card-reader which was introduced in 2015 general elections has depressed considerably the issues of malpractices in elections,” he added.

    Obioma urged the trainees to pay attention, adding that the commission was depending on them to deliver on its mandate of conducting credible, free, fair and acceptable polls in 2019.

    NAN

  • Ekwueme: Varsities open condolence registers

    Ekwueme: Varsities open condolence registers

    St. Paul University, Awka, and Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Abakaliki, have opened condolence registers in honour Dr Alex Ekwueme, Nigeria’s first elected Vice President, who died in a London clinic on Nov. 19.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the late Ekwueme had been the Board of Trustees Chairman of the St. Paul University since its inception in 2009 and chancellor of EBSU until his death,

    Prof. Uche Isiugo-Abamihe, the Vice Chancellor, St. Paul University, said in his tribute that Ekwueme’s demise was a huge loss to the university community.

    The vice chancellor noted that Ekwueme had undertaken major capital projects in the university, ensuring that it met all requirements that would facilitate securing full accreditation by the Nigeria Universities Commission (NUC).

    Isiugo-Abamihe described Ekwueme as “irreplaceable and honourable chairman whose name would be written in gold in history of St. Paul university’’.

    “He was a patriot, a man of courage, a father and a trail blazer,’’ the vice chancellor stated, adding that his achievements would be built upon.

    Similarly, Chief Ikechukwu Abana, the Public Relations Officer of the institution, told NAN that the university had “lost a voice’’.

    According to him, Ekwueme, as BOT Chairman, was attracting personalities to sustain the university.

    A NAN correspondent who visited the university on Friday, reports that Prof. Chigozie Ogbu, a former Deputy Governor of Ebonyi and Acting Vice Chancellor of the university, was first to sign the condolence register opened late on Wednesday at EBSU after a management meeting.

    Similarly, Prof. Francis Idike, the immediate past Vice Chancellor, and other principal officers of the institution numbering about 16 have so far paid tribute to Ekwueme.

    His younger brother, Igwe Laz Ekwueme, who is also the traditional ruler of Oko in Anambra, had issued a statement announcing the former vice president’ s death.

    Read Also: Oko Poly wants FG to immortalise Ekwueme

  • Ember season: FRSC reassures road users in Ebonyi

    Ember season: FRSC reassures road users in Ebonyi

    The Ebonyi Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC ) has reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property of road users during the ’ember period.

    The Sector Commander, Mrs Stella Uchegbu, at a briefing with journalists on Friday in Abakaliki, said that the command had launched the 2017 end of the year sensitisation campaigns aimed at creating awareness among motorists and other road users.

    She urged motorists to drive with caution and shun acts that could endanger their lives and the lives of the passengers.

    According to her, the theme of the 2017 end of the year road crash awareness campaign is “Your right to Life on the Highway is not Negotiable”.

    She warned motorists to desist from using worn-out tyres as records had shown that it is a major contributor to road crashes in the country.

    The sector commander said that safety on the highways during the ’ember months was a collective responsibility of all road users.

    ‘‘Safety on our roads require is our collective responsibility and we all have one role or the other to play in reducing crashes.

    “We must learn to drive to stay alive and hence must adhere to road safety precautions and shun all forms of compromise that could result in road accidents.

    “We have increased our patrol and surveillance and have also identified accident flash points in the state.

    “We are also interfacing with officials and members of road transport unions to explore ways to effectively reduce road crashes in the state this ember period.”

    The sector commander implored all road users to be cautious and warned drivers to desist from overloading, speeding and drinking while driving, to ensure the safety of all passengers.

    She further advised road users to pay attention to road traffic signs while urging drivers to ensure proper maintenance of their vehicles before embarking on any journey and adherence to the normal speed limit.

    ‘’We urge motorists, especially commercial drivers, to constantly service their vehicles before embarking on any trip.

    She further urged drivers to regularly use their seat belts and desist from receiving calls while driving.

    Read Also: FRSC designates alternative routes