The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ebonyi

  • Obasanjo to Ebonyi: introduce annual national yam exhibition

    Obasanjo to Ebonyi: introduce annual national yam exhibition

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged the Ebonyi State Government to introduce annual national yam exhibition to encourage farmers to put in more effort in agriculture.
    Obasanjo, who noted that Ebonyi was one of the four pilot states selected for the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal’s Number Two, an international zero hunger project, suggested that the best yam farmer should be given accolades to motivate others.
    The former President spoke at a one-day Southeast Economic and Security Summit in Enugu.
    Also, Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi called for the resolution of boundary disputes to foster peace and development in the Southeast.
    In a statement yesterday by Umahi’s Chief Press Secretary, Emma Anya, the former President said: “Last year, leaders met in New York, the United States of America (U.S.A) at the end of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). They came with sustainable development goal and had 17 goals. Item Two is zero hunger by the Year 2030.
    “So, they approached me and said: ‘Yes, zero hunger, but we want you to lead the zero hunger review in Nigeria.’ We took four states and said we will focus on the four as pilot states.
    “I want to take Ebonyi, which is one of the four pilot states in the federation. Why can’t Ebonyi as a yam producing state have an annual yam exhibition? An annual yam exhibition where you will have judges that will determine who is the best yam farmer of the year. Not only in Ebonyi State but also across Nigeria. But Ebonyi State will be the state hosting the annual yam exhibition. That way you bring new interests to yam production. You start glamorising farmers and farming.”
    The event was hosted by Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and attended by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Anambra State Deputy Governor Nkem Okeke and retired army chiefs.
    Umahi said an end to boundary disputes in the Southeast was imperative for peace and development to take place in the zone.

    Umahi said: “Let me say that one of the key areas the promoters and organisers of this very important programme must help us to look into is our boundary problems among our states.
    “There are many developments that should have taken place in those locations where we have issues with one another. I think there is need to resolve them.”
    The governor, who noted that the challenges facing the region were beyond economic and security, urged the leaders of the zone to unite and ensure peaceful coexistence among the states.
    Umahi said: “We also need other summits. There is nothing we can achieve as a people without a political platform. So, we will need a political summit and integration; we will need cultural summit and integration. We will also need a love summit and integration.”
    The governor said mineral resources abound in the Southeast but regretted that not much had been done to harness them.
    He called for public private partnership (PPP) arrangement as well as the federal Government to assist the states in the South-East to develop their natural resources and boost the economy of the Igbo and Nigeria.
    Umahi added: “Our economic summit and security, to my understanding, must be of two types. And for this to work, the promoters are already in place. That is, the organisers. So, these promoters and organisers should look at the individual states in the Southeast where we are endowed with natural resources and give ideas to bring people who can assist us in the development of the God-given natural resources.”
    Ekweremadu condemned the continued detention of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Leader Nnamdi Kanu and called for his release.
    He said: “If the court says you should be released from detention, the government must do everything to respect that. Everybody who is accused of an offence must, as a matter of necessity and in good time, have his say in court.
    “This reminds me of the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu. Whatever is his offence, he must have his say in court. If the court says he should be released, he should as well be released.”

  • Honour for governor’s wife in Ebonyi

    Honour for governor’s wife in Ebonyi

    For championing the cause of women, Ebonyi State governor’s wife, Mrs Rachel Umahi has been conferred with the chieftaincy title of Ikedina Nne by the council of Traditional rulers. OGOCHUKWU ANIOKE reports

    For hours on December 19, guests from far and wide, joined the Chairman of Ebonyi State Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Charles Mkpuma, who led his colleagues to confer the chieftaincy title of Ikedina Nne on the governor’s wife, Mrs. Rachel Umahi.

    The carnival-like event was held at Osborn La Palm Hotels Limited forecourt in Abakaliki, the state capital. The ceremony was the climax of a one-day sensitisation and gender mainstreaming during which women honoured Mrs Umahi.

    As early as 8:00 a.m., women from all parts of the state and beyond had gathered at the arena which was filled to the brim. They came to pay homage to the woman they described as the greatest champion of women development.

    The women, dressed in colourful traditional attires and uniforms thronged the arena with various cultural troupes from their areas.

    They danced to melodious songs eulogising the efforts of the governor’s wife towards emancipation of women through her pet project, Family Succour and Upliftment Programme.

    It was not only women that converged on the beautiful Osborn La Palm Hotels Limited forecourt, the Deputy Governor of the state, Dr. Kelechi Igwe was also present as well as members of the state executive council.

    The women praised the governor’s wife for using her good offices to champion the cause of women.

    Wife of first civilian governor of Ebonyi State, Mrs Eunice Ukamaka Egwu, who was the Chairman of the occasion, commended Governor Umahi for championing the cause of women, adding that by so doing, the development of the whole family will be assured.

    She said: “When you remember women, you have saved the whole family, when you empower women like Mrs Umahi is doing, you elevate the whole family.”

    She also commended Governor David Umahi for his support to the wife that has enabled her put smiles on the face of the women.

    Ebonyi State traditional rulers at the event conferred the Chieftaincy title of Ikedina Nne on Mrs. Umahi.

    The conferment was part of a sensitisation programme on Gender Mainstreaming, organised by Ebonyi women and facilitated by the Focal Person of SDG, Dr. Ngozi Obichukwu and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Women leader, Mrs. Amaka Igboke.

    Deaconess Umahi appreciated the women for their support for the government and their love for her family, promising to do more for the women.

    She urged them to support the government led by her husband, David Umahi stating that “this government have shown that it gives priority attention to women and will continue to do, it has a lot in stock for women.

    Also speaking, Governor Umahi, represented by His Deputy, Dr. Igwe, assured the women of continued partnership. Dr. Igwe recalled the support the women gave them during campaigns and urged them not to relent.

    In their separate speeches, Dr. Ngozi Obichukwu and Mrs. Amaka Igboke said the event was aimed at appreciating the role Deaconess Umahi has been playing to mainstream women in the decision-making process.

    “It is also to recognise women for their doggedness in socio-economic and political engineering”.

    High points of the event were conferment of chieftaincy title on Mrs Umahi, presentation of wheel chairs to some physically-challenged persons and gift items by women from the three senatorial zones where Mrs Umahi hails from.

    Various dancing troupes namely the Nkwa Umu Agbogho of Afikpo dance troupe entertained the women and other guests at the event.

    High points of the event were conferment of chieftaincy title on Mrs Umahi, presentation of wheel chairs to some physically-challenged persons and gift items by the women from the three senatorial zones.

  • Flyover in Ebonyi excites motorists

    Flyover in Ebonyi excites motorists

    Despite appreciating government’s commitment to ensure that modern market is provided for traders in Abakpa Main Market in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, traders at the 6,000-capacity international market, located on the Trans-Sahara Highway which links the state with Enugu and Cross River states, have expressed their worry over how to cope with heavy vehicular traffic on a road directly opposite the market.

    Chief Peter Oba, former Chairman, Abakaliki Main Market Traders’ Association whose committee is negotiating the relocation of the traders said most neighbouring states in the area do not patronise the markets in Ebonyi State as they even pass through the state to Onitsha, Nnewi in Anambra State to buy goods whereas such goods abound in Abakaliki.

    To reverse the trend, Oba said every facility that would make the international market attractive would be put in place, noting that with three flyover bridges being built along the road by the government, there was no basis to raise the fears over traffic flow.

    “I have gone far in negotiating with importers from neighbouring states for them to invest in the International Market, Abakaliki with the view to improving the Internally Generated Revenue of the state through commerce. We have transformed 22 local unorganised markets into organised daily markets,” he said.

    Oba, who is also the President Ebonyi State Amalgamated Traders’ Association, further explained that as the Special Assistant to Governor David Umahi on Trade Unions/Associations and Market Development, he serves as a bridge between the government and the traders.

    “Traders in Ebonyi State understand the workings of government and perform their social responsibilities without murmuring or grumbling. As providence would make it, just recently, the dream came through.

    “It was a moment of joy for the commerce sector as the people trooped out en masse to witness the official test-running of Akanu Ibiam Flyover in Abakaliki built by David Umahi-led administration.

    The flyover would enhance free flow of traffic through the international market and link the neighbouring states. To many observers, it was like a moonlight night, especially for those who wondered how such gigantic project could be executed in the current economic recession which the country is experiencing.

    Before now, Akanu Ibiam Junction which situates at the heart of Abakaliki by Trans-Sahara International Highway and formerly known as Spera In Deo Junction used to be a nightmare not only for motorists but also residents and other road users.

    Apart from the traffic gridlock that was permanent feature in the area, it was also a death trap for both pedestrians and motorists as road mishaps were recorded there often.

    As a result of the development, Umahi promised the people during his electioneering campaigns that he would, in addition to beautifying the city, construct a flyover to ease traffic for motorists plying the ever-busy highway.

    During the test-run of the flyover, Umahi noted that the state would, by next year, embark on the construction of another flyover at Nkalagu Junction to reduce the spate of accidents there.

    The governor pointed out that the project was aimed at making the state capital one of the best in the country.

    He commended the Ministry of Works, especially the Commissioner for Works, Mr. Fidelis Nweze for being steadfast to the developmental dreams of the state government, even as he assured the people that three more flyovers would be constructed at Nkalagu Junction, Vanco and Ebonyi Hotels to ease traffic congestion.

    The Commissioner for Works, Nweze explained that the flyover was opened for use to allow for sand compartment, pointing out that the finishing touches would continue despite allowing motorists access to it. For the traders, it was a dream realised as they are to relocate to the market.

    Incidentally, the event was a platform to bless two indigent teenage hawkers, Ukamaka Ikema and Chimuanya Nwarie.

    The two children had unknowingly ran into the governor at the Akanu Ibiam Flyover.

    Ukamaka, 10 is a primary three pupil of Ezikwo Primary School while Chimuanya, 12, is a JS I student of Evangel Nursery, Primary and Secondary School  in the state capital.

    Umahi, in the company of his deputy, Dr. Kelechi Igwe and some members of the state Executive Council, had, on noticing that his security aides frightened the children, directed his orderly to bring them to him.

    After interacting with Ukamaka, who was hawking satchet water, the governor asked his ADC to deploy a patrol vehicle to go and bring the parents of the teenagers from their homes. The children had told the governor that they had closed from school before they began hawking for the day.

    Later, the governor interacted with the mothers of the two children, warned them against sending their wards to hawk. After hearing the plight of the parents, he approved N500,000 for each of them for their upkeep and tuition.

    Umahi told the parents to deposit N200,000 each in their banks and use the balance of N300,000 each to start small-scale business.

    The women, who were over-joyed, also had another package. They were both offered temporary appointments by the governor. Before they left the Government House, accounts were opened for the two children by officials of Zenith Bank.

    Mothers of the two beneficiaries, Mrs Blessing Nwarie and Mrs Ada Nwota, both natives of Okposi in Ohaozara Local Government Area, praised and thanked the governor for the gesture.

    They said they were convinced that Governor Umahi was God-send to uplift the downtrodden.

    “I pray that the Almighty God should continue to shower his blessings and wisdom upon our amiable governor and family,” Mrs Nwarie prayed..

    Ukamaka and Nwarie, in their separate remarks, thanked Umahi and promised to be good children.

  • Police assure Ebonyi residents of security

    Ebonyi State Police Command has assured residents of security of life and property before and during the Yuletide.

    Police spokesman George Okafor, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki, pledged the command’s readiness to ensure criminals did not operate during the period.

    He said men and officers had been mobilised to provide a 24-hour surveillance.

    Okafor added that area commands and divisions had been put on the alert.

    “The police authority has put in place plans to check criminals.

    “Police Commissioner Mrs. Peace Ibekwe-Abdella warned that there will be no space for criminals and she has kept her promise.”

    Okafor reiterated the command’s commitment to enforce the ban on use of fireworks, adding that anyone caught would be arrested and prosecuted.

    He advised parents and guardians to monitor their children and wards.

    The spokesman urged the public to report any suspected criminal to the police.

    He said they could be reached on the following numbers: 08037844377 and 07064515001.

  • Ebonyi can feed Nigeria, says commissioner

    Ebonyi can feed Nigeria, says commissioner

    Ebonyi State Commission for Information and State Orientation, Emmanuel Onwe, has said the state has the capacity to feed the country, if the Federal Government allows it to use some of its idle facilities.
    The commissioner, who visited Vintage Press Limited, publishers of The Nation titles yesterday in Lagos, said Ebonyi State could adequately take care of local rice consumption, export some to other countries, if the resources were harnessed.
    Onwe noted that shrinking Federal allocation to states could no longer take care of recurrent expenditure, much less the capital projects.
    The commissioner said despite the fallen finances, Governor David Umahi had not failed to respond to the domestic needs of the people.
    He said: “The governor is building bridges, constructing roads and embarking on other capital projects. But we recognise that the only thing we can do to make us to become one of the states that are viable is to look into agriculture. As it stands now, the Federal allocation is drying up.
    “In April, for instance, the total allocation that came to the Ebonyi State was N1.45 billion. That was so challenging because the subventions to the state university, college of education, the general hospitals and salaries, all put together, must be settled. Yet, you find out it is not enough, not to talk of maintaining security.”
    According to him, to meet its rice production project, Ebonyi State had to obtain a loan from a bank.
    Onwe said: “The governor took very positive steps to invest in the production of rice. The Ebonyi State Government borrowed N2 billion from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to finance its agriculture project.
    “We are aware the Federal Government spent lots of money on rice importation. So, if it invests the money in the project and releases its facilities for use, it will help in the long run.
    “According to Minister of Agriculture (Chief Audu Ogbeh), the Nigerian government spent about $9 billion on the importation of the rice. Why can’t the money be ploughed into local production? We map out plans to enhance food security. So, our plan of contributing 10 per cent to food production in Nigeria is beginning to become a reality.
    “Going by the harvest of Abakiliki rice that is on in the state, by the end of this year, we would have produced 105,000 metric tonnes of rice. This is a positive step toward the self-sustaining food efforts in the country. All things being equal, the price of rice remains positive with the way things are going. Processed rice of 50 kilogrammes sells between N13,000 to N15,000.
    “We are also calling on the Federal Government to release some of its grains reservoirs (silos). For instance, the one that is directly opposite my farm has the capacity to hold grains that will last 12 months in any emergency situation in the Southeast and Southsouth. But no single grain has ever gone into it since 1979.
    “It has the capacity to store 300,000 tonnes of grains, rice, maize and other produce. When the Minister of Agriculture and CBN officials visited the state, the repeated calls made by Ebonyi State were that they should hand over the silos to us. It is lying fallow. If we put all this into use, we should be able to meet the rice need of Nigerians.”
    The commissioner noted that some imported brands of foreign rice would have spent some years under preservation before finding their way to Nigeria.
    He added that such products have negative health implication on the consumers.
    Onwe said the Abakiliki rice was well processed, nutritious and better than imported brands.
    The commissioner said Ebonyi State used its comparative advantage over other states in the production of rice to make the country self-sufficient.

  • Boundary dispute: Ebonyi lawmakers condemn killing

    Two lawmakers in the National Assembly from Ebonyi state, Lazarus Ogbe and Obinna Ogbe have condemned the killing of one Chibueze Azuegu in a renewed communal clash between the people of Ochienyim in Amagu Ikwo in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State and the Adadama community in Cross River State.

    Ogbee who represents Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency and his counterpart Senator Obinna Ogba representing Ebonyi Central zone on Tuesday condemned the alleged killing as senseless.

    Azuegu was killed at the weekend following resumption of hostilities in the decades long boundary dispute.

    The dispute which have spanned many decades has led to loss of many lives estimated to be over 100.

    Also properties worth millions of naira have also been lost to the crisis.

    The recent outbreak occurred when warlords alleged to be from Adadama invaded Ochenyim community.

    They shot the victim Chubueze Azuegu and Stephen Nworie.

    But Azuegu would later die at the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki(FETHA) where they were rushed for medical attention.

    The National Assembly members expressed regret over the incessant killings in the last couple of months and  called on National Boundary Commission to address the age long land dispute between the 2 communities.

    Hon Ogbee and Senator Ogba in a separate statements pointed out that the age long crisis has left many especially women and children homeless while properties worth millions have been destroyed.

    They said the situation has brought about untold hardship to the people of Ochienyim who are currently seeking refuge in other neighboring communities in Ebonyi State.

    The lawmakers expressed shock over the persistent attack on the people and called on the Assistant Inspector General of Police, zone 6 and the State Commissioner of Police, Peace Ibekwe Abdallah to deploy more men to the area to ensure a cease fire.

    “Such attacks if not checked may result to further loss of lives”, they added.

    They lamented that a buffer zone was created in the area to check incursions into the disputed land but years after its creation, no effective security measures had been adopted to respect the creation of the zone.

    The legislators further urged security agents in the disputed land to be more proactive and vigilant to ensure that people do not make incursion into the land adding that security needs to be beefed up in the disputed area to restore peace in the area.

    They called on the people of Ochienyim not to take laws into their hands but should remain calm as the relevant authorities are working round the clock to ensure a lasting solution to the lingering crisis.

    The duo also assured the affected displaced persons of their commitment in ensuring that the economic hardship they are currently facing is alleviated and their children return to school.

    They called on the National Boundary Commission to urgently demarcate the boundary to put a stop to the restiveness in the area.

    They noted that the restiveness in the area has become a source of concern to the government and people of the area stating that effort must be put in place by security agents to ensure that the attacks and killings are put to an end.

    The lawmakers condoned with the family of the deceased and urged them not to take laws into their hands as the relevant authorities are working round the clock to ckeckmate further incursion and attacks against the Ochienyim community.

    They promised to soon visit the area and donate relief materials to the displaced persons and also urged the National Emergency management Agency (NEMA) and State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to donate relief materials to the displaced people to alleviate their suffering. Ends

  • Ebonyi and foreign rice ban

    Apparently buoyed by emerging support for its ban on the sale and consumption of foreign rice, the Ebonyi State government has to set up a task force to ensure full compliance.

    Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh had commended the state government for the decision to ban the sale and consumption of foreign rice during his assessment tour of some rice projects in the state. Ogbeh who was accompanied by the chairman, Presidential Committee on Rice Production, Abubakar Bagudu and CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele commended Governor Dave Umahi for ensuring massive rice production in the state. He said “I heard you banned the sale of foreign rice in your state, God bless you for it”.

    Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Abdullahi Adamu had in a different forum, endorsed the ban thus: “I support the ban on sale of foreign rice in Ebonyi. We have to start somewhere. What we know is that local production is not enough but we should consume it and that is not an excuse for importing rice”.

    Umahi directed the taskforce to “confiscate foreign rice found in our markets, the person should give us the certificate of the quality of the rice and has to provide the import duties paid for it, where he bought it from and give us Standard of Organization of Nigeria certificate to prove that the rice is not poisonous”. He sought to justify these measures on the grounds that some foreign rice were poisonous having been stored for over 20 years abroad before they were smuggled into the country.

    On the face value, it would seem all is well with the decision of the Ebonyi State government to ban the sale and consumption of foreign rice. This is especially so as the seeming overall objective is to discourage the consumption of imported rice and boost the consumption and production of local variant. This thinking is further supported given that Ebonyi has great potentials for the production of local rice which is said to be of better nutritive value than the imported variety. There is also a lot of economy of scale that will follow if our people are made to consume the rice we produce. It will create jobs, enhance income per capita and catalyze a positive leap in the general well-being of our people. These benefits are not in doubt.

    There is also the compelling imperative to discourage the seeming insatiable appetite of our people for what is foreign. Thus, the inward looking approach for solutions to our developmental problems cannot be faulted.

    These may have been some of the considerations that compelled Umahi to ban the sale of foreign rice –a product the state has elastic capacity to produce. Through the ban, it is seeking to encourage the consumption of locally produced rice which will in turn lead to increased production, job creation and improvement in the general well-being of the people. Conceived along this line, the ban would seem a step worth its while.

    But its success would depend on a number of extenuating variables some of which are beyond the control of the state government. The first presumption of the policy is that Ebonyi has available, enough local rice to meet domestic demand. The veracity of this claim is clearly in doubt. For a start, it is doubtful if the state government has accurate statistics on the quantity of rice consumed in the state yearly. It is unlikely to have one since it has no way of monitoring the quantity of foreign rice that hitherto came into the state.

    Even if it is privy to the quantum of local rice produced in the state, the unavailability of reliable data on consumption could in effect, render the policy nugatory. There could be scarcity of the product which in turn, will lead to price increase. It is also doubtful Ebonyi can produce sufficient rice to feed its people when the commodity is sold and consumed beyond the shores of the state.

    If Umahi discovers that the rice produced in his state cannot go round as it is sold in other states, will he then turn around and ban its sale outside the boundaries of the state? This poser is at the heart of the contradiction brought to the fore by the sole action of that state in banning the sale of foreign rice contrary to extant policy of the federal government. The same contradictions were at play when Umahi directed the taskforce to extract from foreign rice sellers such information as certificate of quality, duties paid on the commodity and certificate from SON that the rice is not poisonous.

    These issues are beyond the mandate of the state government as we have a surfeit of regulatory agencies for such assignments. Moreover, Ebonyi State is a land locked state. It neither has a seaport or airport nor does it share borders with any foreign country. What then is the propriety in going into the markets to inundate retailers with all these details that ordinarily should be supplied by importers at the ports of entry? Why hold the poor retailers responsible for issues they know little or nothing about?

    How many of our rice importers have their head offices in Ebonyi and how many of them are from that state if any? These posers have been raised to underscore the incongruity in some of the demands the task force has been assigned to confront foreign rice seller with. They also reinforce the problems we run into when we roll out an isolated policy that ignores extant position of the federal government on the matter.

    Ebonyi State went beyond its mandate to have unilaterally banned the sale and consumption of foreign rice in the state. The action is loaded with more problems than whatever benefits it is bound to achieve.  Apart from the fact that it cannot guarantee sufficient supply of local rice, it will amount to an undue harassment of foreign rice sellers, most of whom are middlemen and retailers.

    For such a ban to have meaning, the initiative should come from the federal government. But it cannot do so because of the mismatch between domestic production and consumption. Besides, Nigeria is signatory to many treaties on trade liberalization that frown at trade restrictions or outright ban on the importation of commodities. So where does the Ebonyi case fit within this matrix and of what value will it be in the overall national calculations to increase the consumption and production of local rice?

    The federal government said it has initiated measures in several fronts to boost domestic rice production. These should be pursued with greater vigour. Audu Ogbeh has promised government’s rehabilitation of the Ettem Amagu Ikwo Dam, supply of rice harvesters, threshers and parboiling drums to the state. These are the issues to be vigorously pursued by the Ebonyi State government to ensure it gets its fair share of them.

    The overall objective now should be to substantially increase domestic production of rice that can fairly compete with the imported ones. Once this has been achieved, the lure of force as a veritable tool to secure local consumption compliance will fizzle out unilaterally. Then, Ebonyi will have no need for a task force that will confiscate imported rice within its shores.

    More importantly, with the phenomenal high price of imported rice, the availability of cheaper local variant should be a soothing relief to the people of the state. By simple economic laws, this will result in a shift of patronage to the cheaper alternative. If we still depend on force to get our people to consume our local rice despite its cheaper price, it should instruct we are yet to get our acts right.

    These are the issue to worry about. The right approach is to get more rice produced, refined in such a way that will command local patronage. Then, there would be no need to worry about foreign rice influx and use of taskforces to harass sellers of the commodity. For now, the approach of the Ebonyi State government to the matter is a verity of putting the cart before the horse; an exercise in shadow chasing.

  • Ebonyi govt disowns illegal fees in schools

    Ebonyi State government has disowned the alleged collection of fees from pupils of primary and secondary schools in the state by the school authorities.

    The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Emmanuel Onwe, who said this on Monday while briefing Journalists on the outcome of the recent State Executive Council meeting, dissociated the government from the fraud, saying any fee collected without the knowledge of government was illegal.

    “It is government’s policy that no fine should be collected from pupils or students of public schools in the state without prior deliberation of the State Executive Council,” he said.

    Onwe said the free primary and secondary education policy of the state was still in force and that any anybody collecting any kind of fee from school children was indulging in illegal act.

    The Nation gathered that schools forced pupils to pay all kinds of fees causing parents to wonder whether the free education policy of the state government was still in force.

    Onwe also disclosed that the government has handed over three technical schools – Government Technical School Abakaliki, Government Technical School Afikpo and Girls Technical College Agba, to the Catholic Church.

    He said the state had set up a committee which recommended that the three schools be handed over to the Catholic church.

    Onwe added that the government was ready to hand over more schools to interested churches.

     

  • ITF trains 500 in Ebonyi

    ITF trains 500 in Ebonyi

    The Director-General of Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Sir Joseph Ari has stressed the need for Nigerians to embrace the federal government’s policy aimed at revitalising the economy through rapid industrialisation and economic diversification.

    The DG made the call in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital,  during the graduation ceremony for 500 trainees of the 2016 industrial skills development programme run by the Fund.

    He said President Muhammadu Buhari has consistently emphasised the need to diversify the economy by taking advantage of the numerous opportunities that abound in all sectors.

    “If Nigerians must make progress therefore, we must support Mr President’s vision for rapid industrialisation and economic diversification,” he added.

    The Area Manager in charge of Enugu Area office, Nonyelum Nneka said the trainees were trained in carpentry and joinery, tailoring and weaving, welding and fabrication, shoe and bag making and masonry and block laying.

    She said in addition to the skills training given by ITF, the youths were also exposed to entrepreneurial training by small and medium enterprises development agency (SMEDAN).

    Governor David Umahi charged the youths to be hard working and dedicated in their chosen field of endeavor.

    Represented by the Commissioner for local Government and Chieftaincy Affiars, Okoronkwo Samuel, said the state government have also empowered over 3,000 youths by providing them with grants to start off businesses.

    “Unemployment is a terrible vice which breeds subsequent characteristics of criminality and by this training you would have gone a long way to reducing it.”

    “There is no other way to success except hard work, commitment and honesty. So I encourage you to make good and adequate use of the skills you have acquired because that is the only way to show that the efforts f the state and federal government in training you is not a waste,” he said.

    One of the trainees, James Eze said thanked the federal government for training them and promised that they will work hard to ensure that the aims of training them are realised.

  • Deputy governors challenge cleric over doomsday prophecy

    Deputy governors challenge cleric over doomsday prophecy

    Deputy  governors of Abia, Ebonyi, Kano, Sokoto and Taraba states have  rejected a prophecy that they will have issues with their principals (governors) before the end of their tenure.

    The prophecy which was credited to Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele, the Spiritual head of INRI Evangelistic Spiritual Church, the deputy governors said was meant to create rancor and disaffection in the polity.

    The self-acclaimed prophet had in the prophecy said that the four deputy governors will have issues with their principals (governors) before the end of their tenure.

    An online news platform had at the weekend published the prophecy in which the cleric made certain wild assertions concerning the future of these politicians.

    But in a swift reaction, Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Dr Kelechi Igwe has described the publication as outright falsehood designed to create rancour and disaffection in the polity.

    In a statement he issued in Abuja  on behalf of his  other colleagues, Igwe  faulted  the cleric  on his prediction and accused him of concocting prophecies that had no foundation in reality.

    “Ordinarily, we would have ignored this so called prophecy   but doing so could create the impression that we believe him or that that he should be taken seriously.  We make bold to state that this prophecy like the ones before it are fallacies meant to create tension, rancour and unnecessary friction in the polity. We vehemently reject this so called prophesy which in our own estimation is nothing but a figment of the imagination of the man who released it.

    “We all have had and still have very good working relationship with our bosses in our various states and do not see any reason for the predicted crisis.  We urge the government and the good people in our various states to ignore Primate Elijah Ayodele for he knows not what he is saying or doing.

    “Primate Ayodele could not have heard from God because he has been in the business of releasing false prophecies at every turn in the politics of Nigeria and the world.  It was he who predicted that President Goodluck Jonathan will win the 2015 presidential election; it was he who predicted that Governor Ahmed El- Rufai will not win the governorship election in Kaduna State last year and it was the same man who recently predicted victory for Hilary Clinton, the Democratic Party candidate in the just concluded elections in the United States,” he said.

    Igwe  said that  with the series  of failed  prophecies  emanating from  the clergyman,  he should  be hiding his face from God and the general public, adding that he lacked   the credibility to utter  any further “gibberish”   in the name of prophecy.