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Tag: Ebonyi

  • Ebonyi commuters lament poor federal roads

    Ebonyi commuters lament poor federal roads

    More than any other season, the roads get busier at Yuletide but those travelling to Ebonyi State are in for quite an ordeal. Many are already lamenting the poor roads, especially those of the federal government. Abakaliki-Afikpo Expressway is probably the worst.

    Although both state and federal roads in the state have been receiving attention since the coming on board of the Governor Martin Elechi-led administration in 2007, much still has to be done.

    One of the most critical of them all which requires the attention of the Federal Ministry of Works is the Abakaliki-Afikpo Expressway. It is being reconstructed and rehabilitated but at a very slow pace.

    Despite the efforts of contractors like Chinese Civil Engeneering Construction Company (CCECC) and UNI GLOBE, among others, which have done have helped to upgrade it, a section of the road is still in a deplorable state. This development has instigated lots of complains from both road users and communities residing within the road network.

    A few years back, contracts were awarded for the construction of the road by the Federal Ministry of Works to two companies.

    While the Chinese Civil Engeneering Construction Company (CCECC) was awarded the portion from Afikpo to Abaomege, an indigenous company UNIGLOBE was awarded the stretch from Abakaliki to Onueke.

    Both sections have since been completed.

    Curiously and disappointingly, the middle section from Onueke to Abaomege has been abandoned by the federal government.

    The section has since become a death trap to road users.

    At the height of the rainy season, that section was impassable as many trucks usually break down on the road, blocking the road and trapping road users who are forced to navigate dangerous pathways though the villages.

    The villagers also capitalise on this to erect emergency toll gates and extract charges of between N200 to N1000 from the drivers before they are allowed pass.

    This section of Abomege in Onicha Local Government Area to Onueke in Ezza South Local Government Area of the state is causing lots of pains, hardship and discomfort to both road users and commuters who ply the trans-Africa Mombazzer Highway.

    The road is very strategic, as it leads to Cameroon, Cross River, Lagos, and other Southeast states, among other parts of the country.

    A bus driver of Imo State Transport Company, ITC, who gave his name as Okey Emmanuel, complained bitterly on the deplorable state of the road.

    “My brother, that portion is very bad; it slows us down each time we are driving to our destination. The federal government should quickly award that road if they have not done so, because it is posing serious threat to road users.

    “Each time, I am driving through that spot at night, I hold my heart in my hands; armed robbers can easily attack and rob any vehicle without any restriction from security operatives in the area. That spot is very bad”.

    He wondered why the federal government will award contracts for both ends of the road and leavethe middle section unattended.

    “Their action defeats the purpose of the road construction as one can’t get the maximum satisfaction of plying the road”

    The gullies on the roads are so deep that most cars which ply the road are sent to the mechanics after plying the road for repairs from these deep gullies.

    A community leader, James Nweke, who lives within the axis of the road, complained how commuters would leave the bad spot and navigate through family compounds because of the state of the road.

    He called on the federal government to expedite action adding that the completion of the road would add aesthetic value to it and further give commuters confidence to ply the road.

    The Federal Controller of Works in the state who did want his name in print said the road was still awaiting procurement and will soon be awarded to a notable contractor.

    A commuter, Ikenna Orji said the federal government is not sincere about awarding that road.

    “That is what they have been saying for over a year now, we wonder when this their procurement will end. Is that how long procurements usually take?”

    Meanwhile, the section from Afikpo to Abaomege which was the first section completed about two years ago has started started failing as portholes have sprang up in almost all parts of the road.

    The contractor was seen patching up the roads recently perhaps to make the roads passable for commuter during the Yuletide period.

  • Court sacks Ebonyi Council Chairmen

    A Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki on Tuesday morning sacked all the 13 local government chairmen, vice chairmen and all the councillors elected in last year’s council elections in the state.

    In a judgment delivered on the suit filed by one of the aspirants in the election Mr. Alieze Nweka of Ohaukwu local government area, the court ruled that the open ballot system used in the conduct of the exercise was inconsistent with the electoral law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    It therefore nullified the elections conducted across the 13 council areas on September 28, 2013.

    The trial Judge, Justice Mauren Onyetenu, also ruled that the Ebonyi State House of Assembly which adopted the open ballot system for the exercise acted “ultra vires.”

    She added that the amendment of the local government law by the  House was unconstitutional.

  • Ebonyi House of quandary

    SIR: Ebonyi State House of Assembly has of recent been grabbing the headlines for a negative reason.  The 26-member house has long relegated its constitutional duty of law-making to the background and now pursues personal gains and self agenda. The House is largely dominated by men and women whose focus is not how to better the lots of their constituents. Their main target remains their pockets and not public good. The leadership impasse in the house only exposes the kind of personality that the state parades in the hallowed chamber.

    In any case, one is not surprised by the reported impeachment of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Chukwuma Nwanzuku.  It should be noted that this is not the first time the lawmakers would be embarking on this infamous path, and certainly it may not also be the last. The same Nwanzuku was in August this year impeached but was curiously reinstated after the state executive waded in. That intervention by the governor left much to be desired on the country’s democratic and political landscape. The governor appeared to have usurped the power of the judiciary when he purportedly pronounced the impeachment illegal even when the matter had been seized up by a court of competent jurisdiction. That unfortunate meddling in the affairs of the house by the executive arm may have laid the foundation for the present quagmire.

    Sadly, the House action has nothing to do with improving the deteriorating welfare of the already impoverished constituents of the state on whose back the members rode to prominence. Neither can it be argued that the lawmakers’ move is aimed at enthroning the culture of accountability and probity in governance in the state as they would want the public to believe.

    It is essential to note that this current house, right from inception, has become notorious for dwelling so much on the irrelevant as opposed to serious legislative business. It has earned itself the record of arbitrary suspension of its members every now and then. Virtually every member of the 26-man house has at one time or the other been suspended. The most ignoble was the suspension of a female member of the house, Barrister Lilian Igwe, in 2012, over alleged “misconduct, dishonourable act and public embarrassment to the legislative house”.

    Equally appalling is the fact that the house has been conducting its legislative activities in almost a part-time manner. By their own admission, the members had only sat for 28 times in August when the first impeachment was carried out. This is a clear breach of Section 104 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which requires every state House of Assembly to sit for a minimum of 181 days. Yet they have been earning full salaries and allowances. This only shows that the lawmakers were not prepared to serve ab nitio. Little wonder, their impact in the state have been abysmal and cannot be felt.

    The electorate must, therefore, be on guard as the 2015 general election approaches. The election presents a second chance for the people to right their wrong and make better choice, as it will amount to double tragedy if the electorates repeat the 2011 mistake. Once beaten, they say, twice shy.

    • Barrister Okoro Gabriel,

    Ebonyi State.

  • Ebonyi urges Jonathan to ignore speaker’s letter on bond

    Ebonyi urges Jonathan to ignore speaker’s letter on bond

    Ebonyi State government yesterday described the letter written to President Goodluck Jonathan by embattled factional Speaker of the Assembly, Chukwuma Nwazunku, as an act of desperation.

    It said what the former speaker had done was to tell the world about the low-level of his literacy and comprehension in his hurry to satisfy the whims of his new found godfathers.

    The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Martin Elechi, Dr Onyekachi Eni stated this in  Abakaliki in a reaction to Nwazunku’s letter, titled “Records don’t lie, only rebels do”.

    Nwazunku had, in an open letter, called on the President not to approve the State’s second bond application of N15 billion until it satisfactorily explain how it expended the first bond of N16 billion it got in 2007.

    But Eni wondered why Nwazunku would be opposed to the bill now after he had overseen the plenary session that approved the request for the second bond issue in March this year.

  • Corps Marshal sensitises Ebonyi motorists

    Corps Marshal sensitises Ebonyi motorists

    Ebonyi State has hosted Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Boboye Oyeyemi in his nationwide campaign to cut road crashes in the country.

    Since his appointment, he has not only expressed his desire to reduce fatalities on the roads but has seized every opportunity where he went to sensitise road users on safety.

    Oyeyemi says he wants to reduce crashes by 50 per cent next year.

    To this end he has been touring the states of the federation to sensitize stakeholders, road safety officials on the policies and programmes being put in place by the Corps to meet the target.

    The tour also provides him the opportunity to strengthen inter-agency cooperation with other bodies like the police, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), military and National Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), among others.

    It was the turn of Ebonyi State last week to play host to the Corps Marshal and his team.

    Oyeyemi was received by the state commandant of the Corps, Mrs Ann Abhiele alongside leaders of other agencies at the Command Headquarters along the Enugu-Abakaliki Expressway.

    From there he went to the Peoples Club Resort Auditorium where he addressed stakeholders on the policies of his administration.

    The FRSC, he said, will install what he called “speed governors” in all commercial vehicles in the country, adding that the enforcement of the speed checkers will start by June next year.

    The Corps Marshal noted that the installation of speed governors will reduce road traffic crashes in Nigeria.

    He added that the enforcement of the installment of speed governors in all commercial vehicles was born out of the need to curb overspeeding.

    Oyeyemi explained that the command is mounting advocacy and enlightenment campaign at motor parks, adding that the Corps has made plans to provide logistics for effective operation.

    He said that the Corps has notified all the transport workers’ associations in the country and appreciated the cooperation between them and the transport workers’ associations.

    He said, “The most important thing is for us to recognize that we are all working together to lift the nation and ensure peaceful coexistence and development. I am happy with the inter-agency co-operation existing among all the security agencies in the state”.

    ”The NDLEA has been helping us a lot; in the process of arresting people dealing in fake drugs they also arrest people dealing in fake number plates and promptly hands them over to us. It shows we are all working together. From what I have seen here, all the agencies are working together and this is how it should be because we are working together and it shows that we are making progress.

    “What road safety is all about is safety on our roads that is why we say safer roads safer life for us to reduce crashes. From the data I have received here I could see an appreciable reduction is road crashes but yet just like Oliver Twist I’m not yet satisfied.

    “What I want to see is zero crash; I know it is a big task but I’m sure with more strategies we can achieve that. We are in the ember-months now and we are putting the appropriate machinery in place for the end of year patrol operations”.

    “We will provide more logistics to the command; we are also increasing our advocacy, education and enlightenment with more campaigns at local parks. We have seen that speed violation account for 39 percent of all total road crashes and also loss of control accounts for about 15 percent that means that over 50 per cent of crashes is as a result of two factors alone.

    “Because of that we evolved a policy. We said that to cut down the speed we must compel all commercial vehicles and high capacity buses to install the speed governors. With the stakeholders we have already signed a memorandum of understanding. By 1st of June we are going to commence enforcement of participation and installation of the speed governors on all the commercial vehicles, high-capacity buses, trailers, tankers, trucks. And the unions have been very cooperative. Because they are buying into it and with the installation we believe if we can cut down the speed we will go a long way to reduce road crashes substantially.

    “This is one critical area where there is no going back. We must crash the crash by compelling all commercial vehicles to install speed governors. And we are not the marketing officers, anybody wishing to install the governors can go and get the cap number from the Standard Organisation of Nigeria and with these you can install it. We are hell bent that next year we must cut down the rate of crashes. We are targeting reduction of fatalities by 50 percent in 2015 and to reduce fatalities we must cut down the crashes”.

    “Also the UN decade of action stipulates that fatalities must be reduced by 50 per cent and having signed on to this decade of action which is a UN mandate for all member nations of the UN we must bring about the instrumentalism to get this done.

    ”We are also working to ensure compliance to all the statutes laws and regulations is complied with by all road users. On vehicle maintenance, we don’t allow all un-road worthy vehicles to be on the road for the end of the year patrol, so all road users should make sure that their vehicles are road worthy. Any rickety vehicle will not be tolerated.

    “On overloading we are not going to compromise our stance on this issue of over loading. All vehicles should carry the number of approved passengers. All these lives we are losing are human beings we need the understanding and full collaboration of everyone to ensure that we stop it. Everyone is planning for 2015 already but the only way to ensure we are alive to achieve our goals in 2015 is by being road safety conscious at all times and obeying all traffic laws and regulation”.

  • Fighting violence with jobs in Ebonyi

    Fighting violence with jobs in Ebonyi

    It is just as well that jobs are proving far more effective in fighting crime than bullets.

    In Okposi, a community in Ebonyi State, armed youths were once daily terrors. They spilled blood, killing many and maiming others. Quite a number of residents fled their community for dear life. Some others would not risk coming home. Properties worth millions of naira were destroyed. The youths simply ran wild in the community located in Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state.

    It was alleged that the anarchy was perpetrated by youths loyal to the then coordinator of Okposi Development Centre, who was accused of recruiting some boys said to be members of various cult groups to maintain control of the area for his godfather.

    The former coordinator always denied it, but the perceptions stuck, as did the mayhem.

    According to reports, the godfather, who hails from a neighbouring town in the local government, had nominated the coordinator for the position in order to use him to fight his political enemy who is from Okposi, all in a bid to control the local government area ahead of the 2015 polls.

    But the situation was said to have got out of control for the coordinator, culminating in his sack by Governor Martin Elechi a few months later. He was replaced by Nze Magnus Eze, a renowned journalist and public relations practitioner.

    Nze Eze immediately swung into action with his Mezia Okposi (develop Okposi) movement to reclaim Okposi community.

    While his peace initiatives led to the return of normalcy in the area, his administration discovered that there was a high level of unemployed youths in the community who can easily be used to foment trouble.

    What did he do next? He put together a comprehensive skills package aimed at taking idle youths off the streets. It worked like magic. Many of the youths became gainfully employed.

    Recently, the second batch of the jobs scheme started with the training of youths in various technical and domestic vocations, including aluminum fabrication, telecommunication, hair dressing, auto electrical, electrical fabrication, fine arts, decoration, mason and bricklaying, fishery and poultry and catering, among others.

    Of late, the centre held a formal inauguration of its Youth Capacity Building and Empowerment Programme (YCABEP), at its Okposi headquarters.

    The 35 beneficiaries of the programme were also enrolled into the programme the same day.

    Speaking at the inauguration, Nze Eze noted that the first batch of 15 beneficiaries had already begun their training in partnership with the National Directorate of Employment (NDE).

    He further said 35 new beneficiaries would be trained and sponsored by the centre, adding that the training and resettlement of all the 50 beneficiaries will cost about N10 million.

    He said: “We are committed to extending the frontiers of result-based governance which the current administration represents. Therefore, in furtherance of the Chief Martin Elechi administration’s commitment to wealth creation and mitigation of our recent history where youth restiveness ravaged the community, Okposi Development Centre is officially instituting a well-mapped-out skill acquisition programme for the youth.

    “A recent data from the centre revealed that the number of youths who are desirous to acquire skills rose to 768.

    “However, as daunting as the challenge of youth unemployment might seem, we are determined to confront the situation within the limit of available resources. We are therefore pleased to announce to you that 35 people would be benefiting from the first batch of the skill acquisition/empowerment programme.

    “As part of the programme’s components, the development centre would also re-settle each trainee on successful completion of the programme with a minimum grant of N100, 000 or its equivalent in tools/equipment. The support at the completion of the training would enable the beneficiaries to start small businesses to be able to create wealth and employment opportunities.

    “While the training lasted, the trainees are also entitled to monthly stipends ranging from N5, 000 to N10, 000.

    “It is important to mention here that the programme will cost the centre about N10 million in 12 months.

    “Three persons who were trained through our partnership with the NDE in May are already doing well for themselves while 10 other people who began in August are currently undergoing similar training. The 10 beneficiaries comprising six males and four females are being trained in welding; aluminum fabrication, printing, catering, auto electrical and electrical installation, among others.

    “We are totally averse to giving out hand-outs to the youth in the name of youth empowerment. Instead, we strongly believe that the best way to go in this circumstance is the Chinese approach of ‘teaching a child how to fish, so that he could go fishing by himself.’

    “This noble path is the most ideal; it does not only engender self-reliance, but it is also sustainable. Our target in the Youth Capacity Building and Empowerment Programme is that, at least 100 youths from Okposi Development Centre would be trained and fully equipped and empowered before the end of Governor Martin Elechi’s administration next year.

    “We are not under any illusion that this programme may encounter some challenges; hence we have designed some safety valves whereby the administrators will, through monitoring and evaluation, tackle such challenges.

    “We believe that a reputable financial institution such as First Bank Plc that serves as bankers to this programme will bring their expertise to bear in making it a huge success.”

    Inaugurating the programme, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Celestine Nwali, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. P.C. I. Umoke, said the programme was timely.

    His words: “I am particularly thrilled by what I have seen today. That a development centre is embarking on this kind of laudable programme to empower our youths and remove them from the streets is quite commendable.

    “It is very auspicious because the coordinator understood that the white collar jobs are nowhere to be found; hence he has packaged this programme to engender self-reliance and create wealth among the youth of Okposi.

    “Coming from your recent experience earlier this year, when the youth of the area caused all manner of crises, there is no doubt that this programme is very timely. There is a popular saying that an idle man is devil’s workshop; so I believe that the beneficiaries of this programme would not be tools for any form of social vices again in life.

    “As for the trainees, I urge you to take this programme very serious because your life and future depend on it. You are lucky to have a man who thinks deeply about your well-being.

    “With the thorough manner the programme is packed; involving the National Directorate of Employment and a financial institution like First Bank; I have no doubt that it would bear good result. We are prepared to partner with the NDE at a larger scale to create jobs and wealth for our people.

    “Let me assure you Mr. Coordinator that the ministry will give you any kind of assistance you may require because this is not a small project. Please, don’t hesitate to come to us in case you need any assistance.”

    In her remarks, Mrs. Ngozi Ihenacho, state coordinator of NDE, urged the coordinator to ensure that the trainees are adequately monitored after they are settled.

    She said: “We, at the National Directorate of Employment, have found a good partner in the Coordinator of Okposi Development Centre. I must confess that the Coordinator has uncommon passion for his people and that is why we are partnering with the development centre to create jobs and empower the youth of the area.

    “So far, 15 youths from this centre are benefiting from our various training programmes.

    “With what I have seen today, we will continue to assist the centre in training and empowering the youth. We will always consider your area in any opportunities we have.

    “I urge the trainees to be very committed and ensure that they do not toy with this golden opportunity you have offered them.

    “My advice is that in resettling them at the successful completion of the programme; do not give them cash. We have the experience that when you give trainees cash, it is usually subject to misuse.

    “So, in settling them, provide them with tools and equipments. Don’t give them cash”

  • Ebonyi PDP chair resigns

    Ebonyi PDP chair resigns

    The Chairman of the Ebonyi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Ugorji Ama-Oti, has resigned.

    Ama-Oti, a former member of the House of Assembly, resigned to contest the Afikpo North/Afikpo South Federal Constituency.

    He briefed reporters on the outcome of the weekend’s Executive Council meeting.

    Said he: “The resignation takes effect from today. I am happy that the request was granted because an employer can reject an employee’s request for resignation.”

  • Ebonyi South celebrates Chukwu’s endorsement

    Ebonyi South celebrates Chukwu’s endorsement

    There is jubilation in Ebonyi State following Monday’s endorsement of Health Minister Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu as the Peoples Democratic Party’s  (PDP’s) consensus governorship candidate.

    His endorsement was spearheaded by the party’s caucus members in Ebonyi South Senatorial District, where the ticket is zoned to.

    The minister was endorsed by stakeholders of the old Abakaliki bloc after a meeting with Governor Martin  Elechi at the Government House.

    The old Abakaliki bloc comprises Ebonyi Central and Ebonyi North senatorial districts.

    Two aspirants from Ebonyi South, Prince Sam Agom Eze and Chief Ben Akpa, stepped down for the minister.

    The Nation gathered that there was jubilation in  Afikpo, Chukwu’s hometown, when they got the  news of his endorsement.

    Yesterday, the Ebonyi South Consultative Forum (ESCF) also endorsed  Chukwu as its candidate.

    The forum comprises leaders from the five local government areas in the zone.

    In a statement, its Chairman , Chief Mike Okoro, and 23 others thanked the Old Abakaliki bloc for adopting Chukwu.

    They urged the people of  Ebonyi South to unite and work for  Chukwu’s victory at the polls.

    They said: “On behalf of the people of Ebonyi South, we align ourselves with efforts to strengthen the unity of Ebonyi people as envisioned by the founding fathers of the state.

    “In pursuit of furthering the bond of brotherhood and accommodation in Ebonyi, we subscribe to the noble idea of power rotation among the three zones.”

    The forum thanked  Elechi for promoting unity and development, adding: “We reaffirm our commitment to the unity and solidarity of Ebonyi State and assure our brothers and sisters from the North and Central zones of absolute fairness, complete integration and undiluted inclusion in a government led by an Ebonyian of Southern Extraction.”

     Okoro said the forum would meet with all governorship aspirants from the zone and appeal to them to support Chukwu.

    A resident, Chief Chuks Okoh, applauded Chukwu’s endorsement and urged other aspirants from the zone to step down for him.

  • Ebonyi’s international market to boost economy

    Ebonyi’s international market to boost economy

    When Ebonyi State Governor Martin Elechi assumed office, he evolved several policies and pogrammes that will help in shaping the young state to be a home where investors will come.

    One of such programmes is the Abakaliki International Market which was initiated because of the governor’s desire to have a standard market for the state that will promote trans-Saharan trade with other African countries.

    The decision was laudable when one takes into cognizance the fact that Abakpa Main Market, which serves as the only standard market in the state, has become over-crowded following the influx of people from other states.

    According to the Commissioner for Land, Survey and Housing, Mr. Friday Nwaoha, the international market is a sight to admire. It measures about 49 hectares of land and is strategically located on the Abakaliki-Enugu Expressway which is part of the trans-Saharan African highway.

    “The highway runs through Ebonyi into Cross River State and onwards into Cameroun and from there to other African countries. The market is very strategic to boost commerce in the region.”

    According to him, the market, which will cost the state government N20.6 billion, including channelisation and road network is almost 95 per cent completed.

    Mr. Nwaoha said the international market is made up of 7,070 shops and other facilities and structures which include 15 warehouses, maintenance work building for fire service, police post; two observatory towers for security purposes and so on.

    “The market was divided into three lots because of its size and is being handled by three major contractors; namely GMK Nigeria Limited, Costain West Africa Limited and Edon Nigeria Limited.

    “However, because of the topography of the place, it has been increased from three lots to four lots which include the channelisation and drainage of the market. This is because years back; we discovered that flood used to be a problem in this area. Therefore, one is going to do the road network and channelisation of the market,” he said.

    The commissioner said the market, when completed, will boost the economy of the state, even as he enumerated other gains the people are expecting from the market.

    “The environment is going to be comfortable for trading within the country and so it’s going to boost the economy of the state and bring Ebonyi to the world in terms of trading.

    “Secondly, the market is one of the needs where people can buy and sell. It will also develop our tourism sector because the market will be the biggest market east of the Niger.

    “Thirdly, the choice of the market is good because of the road the Trans-Sahara Road that connects most countries in West Africa. If you are coming from Enugu, if you’re going to Ogoja, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and everywhere, you must pass through that road if you are passing through Ebonyi State.”

    On the completion of the project, he noted that the international market will be ready by next month.

    “Most of the shops have been painted, roofed and so it is very few structures that are still remaining and we urging the contractor to speed up the work in order to deliver on time.

    “Though we have some challenges that delayed the pace of work at the market, the government terminated the contract awarded to Costain West Africa Limited when we discovered that after series of warning, the company couldn’t improve, even when the state is paying them. So, we had to terminate the contract.

    “And to be sure that what happened with Costain didn’t repeat, we re-awarded it to many contractors. That was why for the little delay.”

  • Ebonyi kidnapped doctor freed

    Freedom came at the weekend for Ebonyi State Dr Chester Onuora, four days after he was abducted in Abakaliki, the state capital, by four gunmen.

    Onuora was reportedly taken from his Holy Trinity Hospital in Abakaliki when he was rounding off for the day.

    A source close to his family said the abductors tied his hands and feet, blindfolded him and took him to an uncompleted building near neighbouring Enugu State.

    The source added: “When they brought him to the uncompleted building, he slumped. This caused panic among his abductors to the extent that they bought drugs and forcefully administered them on him.”