The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ebonyi

  • Leprosy victims in Ebonyi decry stigmatisation by relatives, friends

    Leprosy victims in Ebonyi decry stigmatisation by relatives, friends

    Leprosy victims in Ebonyi have decried the increasing rate of stigmatisation they faced from friends and relatives, stressing that the development was affecting their re-integration into the society, after treatment.

    The affected victims, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the St. Patrick’s Tuberculosis and Leprosy Colony, Mile 4 Abakaliki, called on relevant authorities to address the anomaly, adding that the disdain treatment had also compounded their sorrow.

    Mrs Chimma Eze, 80, from Ishieke Community of Ebonyi Local Government Area (LGA), said she had been afflicted with the disease for over 15 years with no one to cater for her.

    “A Good Samaritan brought me to this colony due to my terrible condition; he has been treating me free, providing for my feeding and taking adequate care of me.

    “I have ruled out the possibility of returning to my home because my family members have deserted me.

    “I urge government to provide skills acquisition centres and other empowerment interventions for leprosy patients to enable us survive after being discharged, “she said.

    Patient Nwizi, 26, a nursing mother from Ukpachacha Community of Izzi Local Government Area, noted that her husband abandoned her with a seven-month old baby, due to her condition.

    “I started experiencing symptoms of the disease in 2014 and was brought to the colony where I was treated and subsequently discharged.

    “The sickness resurfaced in February, but my husband, parents, siblings, friends among other relatives, abandoned me since then, ”she said.

    She said that leprosy patients depended on the goodwill of kind-hearted individuals and groups to survive, noting that religious bodies had also been most supportive.

    “I seek urgent help from government, well-meaning individuals and groups, because my child’s health is being affected due to my inability to breastfeed him presently,” she said.

    An official of the colony, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, commended the patients for behaving positively and religious, despite their predicament.

    “We call for more assistance from relevant authorities because taking care of the patients in these austere times is tasking, coupled with the challenge of sustaining the centre,” he said.

  • Ebonyi CJ frees 38 awaiting-trial inmates

    Ebonyi CJ frees 38 awaiting-trial inmates

    The Chief Judge of Ebonyi State, Justice Alloy Nwankwo has freed 38 inmates serving in Abakaliki and Afikpo federal prisons  during a jail delivery exercise.

    Nwankwo, while addressing journalists, said that the jail delivery exercise was in exercise of the constitutional rights conferred on the Chief Justice of the Federation and the Chief Judges of states by the Nigerian Constitution.

    Giving a breakdown, the Chief Judge said nine inmates were released from Abakaliki prisons while nine others were released from Afikpo prisons.

    He said the exercise was to decongest the prison yard by releasing awaiting trial inmates who have been in custody without trial over a period of time.

    According to him, 11 inmates awaiting trial were discharged, nine were granted bail on self-recognition while the other nine were admitted to conditional bail in Abakaliki prisons.

    Also, in Afikpo prisons, 5 inmates were discharged without condition, 3 released on bail condition and 1 freed on self-recognition.

    He said that the facility was built to accommodate 387 inmates but lamented that no fewer than 1000 both awaiting trial and convicted inmates were presently housed in the facility.

    “There are over 1000 inmates in the prison yard built to accommodate 387 inmates hence the need for us to regularly visit the prisons to treat deserving cases in order to decongest the prisons in line with  the  prisons reform policy.

    “Our work as I said earlier does not include coming here to release all awaiting inmates, there are procedures otherwise we will be disobeying the law and that is not our intention”, Nwankwo said.

    Justice Nwankwo commended the prisons authority for compiling the case files in proper order, saying by October, there would be a repeat of the exercise to further decongest the prison.

    He urged the freed inmates to be of good conduct and to avoid engaging in further criminal activities that could throw them back to prison.

    “You must be of good conduct, shun further criminal activities and work to contribute meaningfully to the society.

    “Those on bail we are charging to be of good behaviour and to stick to the bail conditions to avoid revocation of the bail,” he added.

    Those released include; 66-year-old Patrick Orji accused of alleged murder incarcerated for nine years without trial, Ikechukwu Okoro and Chibueze Nweke.

    Others discharged are: Chinonso Nwibo who is deaf and dumb, Chibuike Agbo, Ndubuisi Ogbonna, Ndubuisi Nworie and 12-year-old Chibuike Omuka charged with alleged burglary among others.

    Also, the Prisons Boss, Comptroller Emelia Adaobi Oputa, has handed over barbing saloon equipment to one of the freed prisons inmates  Chinonso Nwibo, as part of efforts to rehabilitate prisoners serving various jails terms within the facility.

    Handing over the equipment to Chinonso Nwibo, she advised him to be of good behaviour and make use of the equipment to start his trade.

     

  • Pro-Buhari group provides fertilisers for Ebonyi farmers

    Pro-Buhari group provides fertilisers for Ebonyi farmers

    A group, Initiative for Demonstrating Change, has distributed over 650 bags of fertilisers, in addition to cash, to farmers in Ikwo Local Government Areas of Ebonyi State.

    The gesture, national coordinator of the group Chinedu Ogah said, was to complement the efforts of the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration in boosting food sufficiency.

    He stressed the urgent need to empower local farmers with incentives and financial assistance.

    The youth leader added that the beneficiaries were drawn from the 20 electoral wards in the council stressing that he would extend the gestures to other farmers in other council areas in the state.

    He disclosed that Initiative for Demonstrating Change was among the first groups that lent its voice to President Muhammadu Buhari’s transformation agenda and anti-corruption fight in the country and further urged the people to have patience with the Buhari’s administration as he fixes the ailing country’s economy and other dilapidated sectors.

    Ogah said, “Unless we empower and help these local farmers, there is no headway for this country. The only problem affecting the local farmers is the availability and accessibility of farm inputs. This is the time to help the poor farmers because the President has done so much for farmers.

    “The distribution is for all the local government in Ebonyi. This is the time to come home and help the powers. There is time to invest on the young farmers. Most of them have no money to buy fertilisers. We will continue to provide incentives and assistance for our poor farmers to strive”.

    One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Chinyere Nwede commended the donor for his show of love and concern to help farmers in the state who have no money to buy farm inputs.

    Nwede said, “I am happy today. Our son has given us free bags of fertilizer. His philanthropic gesture is indeed inborn, that is the reason why God will continue to strengthen him. His giving has no bound. He has been doing exploits and he will continue to do it”.

    She urged the Federal government to support local production of foods by assisting farmers with grants and improved seedlings to enable them cultivate their crops.

    “His (Ogah’s) philanthropic gesture is  indeed inborn, that is the reason why God will continue to strengthen him. His giving has no bound. He has been doing exploits and he will continue to do it,” she added.

  • Ebonyi to relocate Abakaliki main market

    Ebonyi to relocate Abakaliki main market

    The Ebonyi Government says it has concluded arrangement for the relocation of the Abakpa Main Market, Abakaliki to its permanent site at the International Market.

    Mr Peter Nwogbaga, the Special Assistant to Gov. Dave Umahi on Market Development, disclosed this at a meeting with traders at the market on Thursday in Abakaliki.

    Nwogbaga said that government was committed to repositioning markets in the state to enhance their viability and boost commercial activities.

    He said that traders who obtained and processed their forms would be allocated shops, adding that allocation would be on “ first-come, first-served basis.’’

    The governor’s aide who briefed the traders on the outcome of the peace meeting held between government and the executive of the market association, urged them to sustain the prevailing peace in the market.

    He advised the traders to form cooperative associations in order to benefit from the state government’s loan facilities to boost their trade.

    “We have concluded preparations for the relocation of the Abakpa Main Market in Abakaliki to its permanent site at the International Market, Ochoudo city.

    “The move is part of efforts by government to reposition the market to enhance its commercial viability as well as provide more space and accommodation for traders.

    “We are going to conduct the allocation on first come first serve basis.

    “Let me also use the occasion to inform you that the governor is interested in your welfare in the market and will do everything within his statutory powers to ensure that you do your business in good and conducive environment.

    “We urge you to form yourselves into cooperatives to benefit from the state government’s loans facilities to boost your trade,’’ Nwogbaga said.

  • Umahi effects minor cabinet reshuffle

    Umahi effects minor cabinet reshuffle

    Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi on Thursday effected a minor cabinet reshuffle, which saw two commissioners swapping positions.

    Sen. Emmanuel Onwe, Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, who briefed journalists on the outcome of the state executive council meeting, said the changes were with immediate effect.

    ‘‘The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr Uchenna Orji, takes over the Ministry of Economic Empowerment and Job Creation.

    ‘‘The Commissioner for Economic Empowerment and Job Creation, Chief Ogodo-Ali Nome, takes over the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources,’’ Onwe said.

    He also said that the executive council approved setting up a committee for the procurement of herbicides for farmers, with the Commissioners for Information and that of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters as members.

    ‘‘The committee also has the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Special Assistant to the Governor on Agricultural Services, Special Assistant on Donor Agencies, among others as members,’’ he added.

  • Don’t give our pupils much garri, rice, Umahi charges feeding committee

    Don’t give our pupils much garri, rice, Umahi charges feeding committee

    Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has charged the state Steering Committee on Primary School Feeding Programme,not to give the pupils much garri, rice and other foods containing carbohydrate.

    Umahi spoke in Abakaliki when he inaugurated a 10-man committee, stressing that emphasis should be placed on giving them foods with rich minerals contents.

    “You should emphasize on vegetables, fruits, milk among others to give them rich mineral supplements and help in their physical nourishment and mental development.

    “The state executive council is aware that catering for the committee’s logistics is its responsibility as its chairman will soon present a budget to the council.

    “This is to enable the committee move freely to schools, especially at the local government areas to collaborate with the committees at the areas, consisting of council chairmen and others from the education sector,” he said.

    He stressed the importance of ensuring adequate development of children through good meals and sound moral upbringing, noting that it would benefit the state.

    “Individuals saddled with the responsibility of taking care of our children should not mortgage it as it will make the society secure and progressive in future,’’ Umahi said.

    Mr Augusine Nwankwagu, state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice noted that the steering committee replaced the disbanded one.

    Rev. Fr. Abraham Nwali, the Governor’s Senior Special Adviser of Religion and Welfare Matters, and Chairman of the steering committee, pledged to justify the confidence reposed in them by the governor.

  • Ebonyi trains 190 members of Neighbourhood Watch Group

    Ebonyi trains 190 members of Neighbourhood Watch Group

    The Ebonyi Government on Wednesday in Abakaliki began a one-week training for the 190 members of the Ebonyi Neighborhood Watch Group (ENWG), under the first batch of the training programme.

    Dr Kenneth Ugbala, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Internal Security to Gov. Dave Umahi, who declared open the training, said that the initiative was to enhance the capacity of the members.

    He charged the participants to take the training seriously, explaining that their duty was to assist the police and other law enforcement agencies to curb criminal activities through prompt information and intelligence gathering.

    He warned members of the group against indulging in illegal activities, including carrying of arms and jungle justice against suspected criminals.

    “You are not permitted by law to carry arms or execute jungle justice on arrested criminal suspects.

    “Your duty is to assist the police in areas of information and intelligence gathering on criminal activities that will lead to the arrest of criminals as well as curtail their operations in the state.

    “Government will not hesitate to discipline any member of the group that goes outside of the mandate provided by the law establishing the Ebonyi Neighborhood Watch Group, ” Ugbala said.

    Mr Titus Sumba-Lamorde, the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi Command, urged the participants to use the platform to assist the police in the fight against crime.

    The commissioner who was represented by Mr Felix Gani, Deputy Commissioner of Police, charged the trainees to shun acts that could derail the good intentions of the government.

    He commended the state government for its unwavering support to the police in maintaining peace, security, law and order in the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 190 participants who where the first batch of trainees were drawn from the 13 local government areas of the state.

  • NUT opposes handover of payment of teachers’ salaries to LGCs

    NUT opposes handover of payment of teachers’ salaries to LGCs

    The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), says the union is opposed to handover of payment of primary schools teachers’ salaries to the local government councils.

    Mr Simon Ozo, Ebonyi NUT Chairman, stated this on Monday in Abakaliki in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    According to him, the union’s opposition to the planned handover of payment of teachers’ salaries to local government administration is hinged on the Supreme Court decision, which granted payment of salary of primary school teachers to states.

    “There is need for the Federal Government to respect the 2012 Supreme Court’s judgment on the responsibility of state and federal governments to primary school education in Nigeria.

    “The plan if allowed to sail through will pose serious threat to the foundation of education in Nigeria, and every genuine and bold attempt must be made by education loving Nigerians to rescue and save primary education from imminent collapse.

    “We do not want the payment of salaries of our primary school teachers to be joined in the autonomy that will be granted the local government.

    “The Supreme Court made it very clear that the management of primary school is in the hands of state governments and we stand on this verdict.

    “We don’t know why anybody in his right thinking senses will want primary school teachers’ salaries to be joined with local government areas.

    “We know the excesses of our local government chairmen and their administration, they will not remember the teachers, they will prefer to marry new wives, build new houses, buy new cars and take care of their girl friends rather than pay our salaries.

    “This is why the union is opposed to the plan and as teachers we say, have your autonomy, but allow our salaries to come from state governments or let it go through Universal Basic Education Commission direct so that we receive our salaries promptly, “Ozo added.

    He said that the protest which took place on June 22 in Ebonyi, also took place in other parts of the country.

    Mr Leo Nkah, the President, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Ebonyi Chapter,who spoke on the issue, supported the NUT’s position.

    Nkah said that the teachers only want to secure their future, stressing that they were not against local government autonomy.

    Nkah, who is also the Acting Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC ), Ebonyi Chapter, noted that the local government councils were saddled with the payment of teachers’ salaries.

    He stressed that it should not be so, adding that the local government council were required to participate in the payment of teachers’ salaries.

    Nkah said that any constitutional arrangement should ensure that this participatory clause is respected.

  • Ebonyi earns N600m through N-Power scheme – Presidential aide

    Ebonyi earns N600m through N-Power scheme – Presidential aide

    No fewer than N600 million has been injected into the economy of Ebonyi through the Federal Government’s job creation scheme, N-Power, since December 2016, a Presidential aide has said.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Job Creation and Youth Employment, Mr Afolabi Imoukhuede, said this during the scheme’s stakeholders’ meeting in Abakaliki.

    According to him, the amount is the total payments made to volunteers in the state in the past seven months of its operation.

    He, however, noted that in spite of the investments, the volunteers had yet to come to terms with the vision of the programme resulting in chronic absenteeism from places of deployment.

    Imoukhuede said that the Federal Government would no longer tolerate truancy, adding that 21 volunteers in different states were on suspension for various infractions in the programme.

    He observed that while some volunteers had earned stipends in the state without working, another in Taraba, Mr Daniel Joshua, returned two months stipends paid to him to the Federal Government’s Single Treasury Account (TSA).

    He said the volunteer got a new job and resigned from N-Power two months ago but sent a message that he was paid for two months that he had left the scheme.

    Consequently, he requested for the TSA to enable him to return the money that he did not earn appropriately to the government which was obliged him.

    The Presidential aide, currently on Monitoring and Evaluation in Ebonyi, confirmed that Joshua on Friday sent him a scanned copy of the teller he used to repay N60,000 to the TSA.

    He said N-Power was a programme to facilitate the employability skills of volunteers and advised any participant who had secured employment since joining the scheme to emulate the good example to create chance for other job seekers.

    Imoukhuede hailed the attitude to work and entrepreneurship of one Titus Nwali, a HND Mechanical Engineer of Federal Polytechnic Afikpo, on N-Teach at the Amaizu/Amangbala Central School, Afikpo.

    Nwali, besides being regular in schoool, said he had opened a shop with his stipend and retired to it after school every day to earn more money for the upkeep of his family.

    The Presidential aide was, however, unhappy with the attendance of volunteers at the nearby  Amuro Mgbo Community Secondary School and said that two truant volunteers there would be punished for indiscipline.

    At the Afikpo North Local Government Headquarters where 18 volunteers were posted to for N-Agro, he said the agriculture volunteers in the state were under-utilised and directed their withdrawal and re-posting to ADP.

    The Ebonyi Commissioner for Economic Empowerment and Job Creation, Chief Moses Nomeh, promised to address the challenges facing the volunteers to enable the state to get maximum benefits from the scheme.

    According to Nomeh, the state will not tolerate non-performance caused by the un-seriousness of the volunteers, adding “this is a serious programme and one should not expect to reap where one did not sow.’’

  • Paralysed academic activities at GTC Abakaliki as students protest

    Paralysed academic activities at GTC Abakaliki as students protest

    The protest by students of the Government Technical College (GTC), Abakaliki on Wednesday paralysed academic and social activities in the institution.

    A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who monitored the protest reports that the students were protesting alleged poor feeding, poor hostel management, lack of functioning technical equipment, among others.

    Mr Uche Nwankwo, the Senior Prefect (SP) of the college, who spoke to journalists alleged that the school has been poorly managed since its handover by Ebonyi Government to the Catholic Church in 2016.

    Nwankwo alleged that the management of the school was not committed to both academic and welfare of the students.

    “We are protesting so that the government, the church and the general public can hear us because several efforts we have made as students to get the school management listen to our grievances have failed.

    “We have on so many occasions complained to the principal of the school the hardship we are facing due to poor learning environment, poor feeding, lack of functional laboratory and technical workshop as well as lack of hostel maintenance.

    “Since the full takeover of the school administration by the Catholic Church in January, 2017 there has not been any practical in any of the subjects we offer in the school and this is a technical college.

    “The principal stopped all recreational and sporting activities in the school and as I speak to you there are no functional electric bulbs in any of the dormitories and the school refectory.

    “We have complained and complained and the principal was not receptive to the problems we are going through and that is why the students decided to embark on the protest as a last resort.

    “We demand that the principal should be removed and that the school be properly funded to meet the academic and social needs of the students, ” Nwankwo said.

    Efforts to speak with the principal, Rev. Sister Amaka (other name not given) was abortive as she was alleged to have been smuggled out of the school to avoid being attacked by the students.

    Meanwhile, Vice Principal, Rev. Fr. James Nwofoke, said that the withdrawal of the N5,000 subvention paid by the state government for each student per term was affecting the effective running of the school.

    He said that the management depended on the N5,000 paid per term by students for the running of the school, which he explained was not sufficient to provide the needs of the students.

    “We depend on the N5,000 paid by students which includes the tuition and hostel service charge for the running of the school and the money is hardly sufficient to provide the basic needs of these students.

    “The school management is working hard to ensure that the students’ academic and social welfare are taken care of.

    “We are appealing to the students to be calm and go back to classes and avoid any conduct that will truncate the academic time table of the school,” Nwofoke said.

    Meanwhile, the Ebonyi Commissioner for Education, Prof. John Eke, who intervened decried the development and said that government would interface with the school management and Catholic Church to address the problem.

    The commissioner who debunked the alleged removal of N5,000 subvention paid on each student by government per term appealed to the protesters to remain calm and go back to the classrooms.

    He further assured that government was committed to sound and qualitative education for the Ebonyi child.

    “We have listened to the grievances of the protesting students. We are going to interface with the school authority and the Catholic Church, the owner of the school and I want to add that the state is committed to the payment of the N5,000 feeding subvention.

    “As a government our commitment is to ensure that we provide functional, qualitative teaching and learning, including the provision of enabling environment conducive for acquisition of proper knowledge, ” Eke said.

    The students barricaded the popular old Abakaliki /Enugu road and caused traffic gridlock which lasted for several hours, before they were dispersed and chased back to the school premises by a detachment of the police.
    Mr Jude Madu, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ebonyi Police Command, confirmed the incident.

    He said that the Command immediately drafted men and officers of the Kpiri-kpiri Police Division to the school to calm the situation.

    “We got the distress call and we immediately moved our men from the Kpiri-kpiri Police Divisional Headquarters to calm the situation and ensure that law and order were maintained.

    “It was a peaceful protest and the students have gone back to their dormitories. Our men went to ensure that hoodlums did not exploit the situation to unleash mayhem on innocent and law abiding citizens, “Madu said.