Tragedy struck in Enugu yesterday as a petrol tanker exploded at the Ugwu Onyeama section of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, killing no fewer than 18 people, including three children.
Thirteen others were rescued, according to a statement signed by the spokesperson for the Federal Road Safety Corps, Olusegun Ogungbemide.
Ogungbemide attributed the accident to brake failure, adding that it involved 17 vehicles, including a petrol tanker, a water tanker, 15 cars, and a tricycle.
Eleven vehicles were burnt in the inferno while emergency responders managed to rescue 10 victims with varying degrees of injuries.
Three escaped unscathed while the remaining 18 victims were burnt beyond recognition.
The explosion, which occurred around 11:30am, caused widespread panic, affecting another petrol tanker and razing six other vehicles.
Rescue efforts were said to have been hindered by the intensity of the fire, which made it difficult for bystanders to access the scene.
It was gathered that some of the victims were trying to run away from the scene when they were caught by the fire.
Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, who visited the scene of the accident yesterday, expressed sadness, saying that government had already swung into action to ensure that the victims received full medical attention.
He also said that steps were being taken to forestall future occurrences, including enforcement of road rules and fixing the part of the federal road that was in disrepair.
Describing the accident as unfortunate, Mbah commiserated with the families of the victims.
He further directed the Enugu sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Mr Franklin Agbakoba, and the state’s Commissioner for Transport, Mr Obi Ozor, to ensure that all tankers conveying inflammable substances in the state have anti-spill lock that will prevent spillage in case of accident.
“This is an accident involving a tanker that preliminary investigation show may have had a break failure, fell down, had its product, premium motor spirit, spilled from the tank and ignited. So, this is for us a tragedy where we have some casualties.
“But as I said, investigation is still at preliminary stages. The police and other law enforcement agencies are on it. We want to get to the roots of this for us to understand the true cause of the accident.
“In the meantime, we have moved those that are in need of treatment to the hospitals for full medical attention.
“My Commissioner for Health and also my Special Adviser on Health, the Chief Medical Director of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology Teaching Hospital (ESUTTH), Parklane, Enugu, the police, and Federal Road Safety Corps are all involved.
“They have my instruction to ensure that maximum medical attention is given to the survivors,” the governor said.
He added: “We are also taking quick measures as a government. I have just been speaking the head of the Federal Road Safety Corps to make sure they enforce the rules that prohibit tanker drivers without an anti-spill lock from the road.
“Tankers conveying premium motor spirit and inflammable products must have anti-spill lock to ensure that when these trucks fall down, they do not spill (their contents). It is very important.
“Also, for us as a government, we are going to be looking at how we can deploy some traffic rules to ensure that we do not have a recurrence of this.
“We are obviously not going to wait for the federal government to fix the other section of the road.
“We as government are going to take steps to ensure that whatever needs to be done on that section of the federal road is done immediately so we would never want a reoccurrence of this.”
While briefing the governor on some of the preliminary investigations conducted by the FRSC, the Sector Commander for Enugu explained that the accident and spillage was as a result of a brake failure.
He said that injured road users were rushed to the hospital for treatment and thanked the governor for showing leadership by rushing to the scene and also undertaking to foot the medical bills.
Yesterday’s tanker explosion made it the third time that a similar accident would occur in the new year.
It came after the one that occurred at Dikko Junction in Gurara Local Government Area, Niger State penultimate Saturday, claiming no fewer than 98 lives and leaving 69 others injured.
A similar accident had also occurred in Agbor, Delta State on January 6, leaving five people dead while some bank buildings were burnt.
Tragedy struck on Saturday in Enugu when a petrol tanker exploded along the Ugwu Onyeama section of the Enugu -Onitsha Expressway, killing at least 15 people, including three children.
The explosion, which occurred around 11:30am, caused widespread panic, affecting another petrol tanker and razing six other vehicles.
It was not clear how the incident happened but witnesses told our correspondent that the explosion occurred when a fuel-laden tanker fell while navigating down the hilly busy expressway.
They described the blast as devastating, saying that the ensuing fire also gutted another truck behind it, leading to the escalation if the fire.
Rescue efforts were hindered by the intensity of the fire, making it difficult for bystanders to access the scene.
Victims reportedly burnt beyond recognition werr believed to be occupants of the vehicles caught in the inferno.
It was gathered that some of the victims were attempting to run away from the scene when they were caught by the fire.
When contacted, the sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Franklin Agbakoba Onyekwere, told our correspondent that he was at the crime scene and yet to fully collate data.
Since his assumption of office as governor of Enugu State in May 2023, Governor Peter Mbah has consistently been in the news for good reasons. But, the recent visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu seems to be an icing on the cake. DAMIAN DURUIHEOMA writes that the governor is opening up a vista of economic activities among Enugu State, Nigeria and the outside world.
When President Bola Tinubu drove through the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, into the heart of the Coal City during his one-day working visit to Enugu State on January 4, 2025, he had reassured himself that he has a personality in the person of Governor Peter Mbah, who is very committed to development and working in line with his (Tinubu’s) philosophy.
This was borne out of Mr President’s personal witness to the retinue of Governor Mbah’s developmental projects and other facilities the president had had to inaugurate during his visit to Enugu. The projects and facilities are already revolutionising the state’s economy and opening up a vista of economic activities among the state, Nigeria and the outside world.
Some of the projects inaugurated included the 30 completed and equipped Enugu Smart Green Schools (out of 260 under construction across the 260 wards in the state); completed multi-auditorium and multi-functional Enugu International Conference Centre and 90 completed urban roads in Enugu City. The projects and facilities, no doubt, are uplifting the state to its rightful economic status and thereby reducing poverty headcount index among residents of the state.
These projects stemmed from the governor’s audacious budget of about N521.5 billion for the outgone year 2024, with a capital expenditure component of over 80 per cent.
Significantly, about N134.5 billion, representing 33 per cent of the budget was committed to education, ramping it higher than the UNESCO’s recommendation of between 15 and 20 per cent.
The commitment of the Enugu State Government to the provision of the infrastructure was, indeed, a compliment to the Tinubu-led Federal Government’s efforts in that direction.
Aside from the state projects inaugurated in the state capital by the president, there were also the sprawling but magnificent ultra-modern Enugu Central Bus Terminal with their Nsukka, Abakpa and Gariki counterparts and the Enugu water project which has since restored potable water to the residents of the state long after it stopped functioning.
Perhaps, one of the initiatives that touched the heart of the president most was the inauguration of the state-of-the-art Command and Control Centre, stationed inside the Government House, Enugu and 150 patrol vehicles fitted with AI-embedded surveillance cameras at the Government House, which the state has since deployed to reduce kidnapping and other forms of insecurity in the state.
The President, who hailed Governor Mbah for his governance and development model and philosophy, said the governor had demonstrated that irrevocable commitment towards human development.
“I am very proud of Nigeria. Mbah is proud of Nigeria. He is doing everything possible to provide security, attracting foreign investors and other investors locally. There’s no better investment than that of securing lives. I saw those cars, the Distress Response Squad. It is the way to go,” President Tinubu said.
The president also emphasised the importance of cooperation between the Federal Government and the sub-nationals to drive development.
“This (Command and Control Centre) is a profound demonstration of what we can do together. It reassures me that more revenue going to the sub-nationals and local governments is not a waste; it is for development.
“We have committed leaders such as Peter Mbah who is taking Enugu State on the path of 21st-Century development, taking Enugu to greater heights, and building our tomorrow today.
“I cannot forget the sight of those children I just met at the Smart Green School. I have seen gadgets and vehicles with 21st-century technology. You are, indeed, working for today, tomorrow and the future,” Tinubu said.
There is no doubt that security has been the core of Mbah’s administration since his assumption of office as the governor of Enugu State in 2023.
To that effect, Mbah informed President Tinubu during an interactive session with Southeast leaders, that his administration’s goals of growing Enugu State from the $4.4 billion economy on his accession to office, to a $30 billion economy in the next four to eight years, as well as making Enugu State one of Nigeria’s top three states in GDP terms, were the reasons he took the decision to stop an illegal sit-at-home order imposed across the Southeast by a criminal gang, which almost literally held the public hostage.
“This is shaped by the knowledge that hardly any of our economic goals can be achieved if there is just a mere whiff of insecurity. That understanding is evident in the substantial investments we have made in strengthening security in Enugu State.
“The framework of our security system was designed to nip crime in the bud, and react swiftly when there is any security breach. This is what our Distress Response Squad (DRS) represents.
“However, a sense of security is not simply instilled through the physical presence of arms-bearing personnel. It is rather reinforced by a system that helps to guarantee a sense of security even when the threat of crime is remote.
“This is what our AI-enhanced security initiative, which has led to round-the-clock surveillance of our streets and neighbourhoods across the entire state, is helping us to achieve.
“This statewide Close Circuit Television (CCTV) network is operated via this Command and Control Centre inaugurated today,” Mbah said.
Governor Mbah also told President Tinubu about his intention to make Enugu one of the conferencing capitals of Africa with one of the most imposing structures in the state capital, the International Conference Centre which he also inaugurated.
“But, its significance neither lies in its elegance nor in its sheer size, which boasts a seating capacity that is easily one of the largest in Nigeria. Its real significance lies in the leverage it gives us in our goal to make Enugu the Conferencing Capital of Africa.
“Many might, indeed, wonder what value conferences, meetings and events can add to an economy.
“About 30 years ago, Rwanda was in the throes of a genocidal conflict that resulted in the deaths of over one million people. Currently, its capital–Kigali–is ranked as the second most preferred city for international conferences and events.
“This positive turnaround is not accidental. It was a reputation the country doggedly sought and carefully nurtured.
“To some, such statistics amounts to nothing more than bragging rights. But there’s real economic value behind this data. This could be gleaned from the fact that Rwanda’s Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE) industry recorded $95 million in revenue in 2023.
“Let’s think about that – that figure is over N155 billion. The market for Africa’s meetings, conferences and events industry is huge.
In 2022, it was valued at $10.50 billion. We want to get a huge slice of that. The International Conference Centre is a significant step towards this dream,” he said.
Mbah, who described President Tinubu as a true federalist, commended his administration for establishing the Southeast Development Commission (SEDC) and liberalising the electricity sector through the amendment of the Electricity Act.
He acknowledged the President’s efforts at revitalising Nigeria’s growth and economic resilience.
“Your Excellency, your credential as a true federalist stands out brightly, and the legacies thereof will long earn you resounding accolades.
“In signing the Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill, you liberalised electricity generation, transmission and distribution. That singular act will consistently rank as an enduring legacy.
“It is noteworthy that Enugu State was the first sub-national to which the NERC ceded regulatory oversight of the local electricity market. That reflects how swiftly we are pursuing our goals,” he said.
So far, the result of Mbah’s investment in infrastructure and security has shown in the number of investments that had come into the state in the last two years via the hospitality, tourism, real estate, commerce and mining, among other industries. There have also been improved economic and social activities as local businesses are booming, and economic activity is increasing on Mondays, which had previously and permanently declared sit-at-home days.
According to available data, there has been serious boost in confidence by local and external investors, which, The Nation gathered, has seen investments worth several billions of naira being attracted to the state.
Nevertheless, despite attracting investments, which came through partnerships with the government, such as the over $300 million state-of-the-art medical city by a group of Nigerians in the diaspora; the N40 billion deal to bring back to life Sunrise Flour Deal by Jelfah Nigeria Limited, a private investor and the N100 billion Enugu United Palm Products Limited, among other private concerns, Mbah’s administration’s strategic focus on economic growth is evident in the proposed 2025 budget, which totals a record N971 billion. This ambitious plan aims at enhancing the state’s economy and attracting more private investment in addition to the inroads the administration had made in 2024.
While Mbah may have had Enugu State in mind while making giant strides in his governance and inviting the president to inaugurate some of his developmental projects and facilities, the other four Southeast states became huge beneficiaries of President Tinubu’s visit.
This could be seen in the attendance by dignitaries, who included Mbah’s Abia counterpart, Alex Otti; Deputy Governor of Anambra State Onyeka Ibezim; Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu; two former Presidents of the Senate-Anyim Pius Anyim and Ken Nnamani, Minister of Works, David Umahi, former Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo and some other select Igbo political and religious leaders as well as captains of industry. These individuals participated in a town hall meeting, where they tabled the concerns of the region before the president.
In their presentation, they pleaded with the president to direct the dismantling of security roadblocks and checkpoints in the zone, noting that the roadblocks made goods expensive in the region.
They also appealed to the President to ensure that the Anambra Basin with its abundant oil and gas reserves is developed in the interest of the country’s economy.
The basin, experts posit, is estimated to hold up to 1 billion barrels of oil and 30 billion cubic feet of gas, which would unlock the oil and gas reserves lying waste in the area.
There was also yet another request, bordering on the need to revive the rail system in Enugu State and some other states in the zone, which was brought before the president by a former Minister of Power, Prof. Nebo.
According to Nebo, the rail links’ potential to boost Nigeria’s non-oil exports and economic growth could not be over-emphasised.
While applauding the Tinubu administration for completing the Port Harcourt to Aba section of the Eastern rail line, Nebo appealed to the president to prioritise the completion of the remaining portions of the rail link.
While responding to the requests, President Tinubu pledged his administration’s commitment to complete the Eastern Rail line connecting Port Harcourt to Maiduguri.
He also pledged that his administration would support the development of the Anambra Basin as a significant energy reserve.
He described the rail line as a work in progress, saying: “I inherited some of these critical problems and I am committed to solving them.
“On the support of the gas infrastructure, he said gas is an alternative to petrol. There is no wasting of time than to invest more in it. We will do it together, and I am lucky I have good governors.”
He pledged that the Federal Government would continue to support Enugu and other states in their development efforts.
According to Maxwell Ngene, a Mass Communication scholar, Governor Mbah’s administration has created a secure and enabling environment in Enugu State by prioritising security, innovation and community engagement; a development that has made Enugu State an attractive destination for investors and tourists alike, fostering economic growth and improving the quality of life for its citizens.
“The government’s resolve is evident in the improved security infrastructure, including upgraded police stations, strategically installed CCTV cameras and enhanced emergency response systems,” he said.
Ngene, who stated that the presence of Mr. President will, no doubt, further strengthen the relationship between the state and the Federal Government, added that his words of commendation on those projects inspected and inaugurated will further boost the confidence of local and foreign investors in the state.
“The impact of these initiatives has been profound, with a reduced crime rate leading to increased investment and significant growth in tourism. Enugu’s historic sites, cultural events and eco-tourism initiatives are attracting a wider audience, elevating the standard of living for residents and making Enugu a haven for local businesses and leisure.
“The influx of investors into the state will be doubled up after Mr. President’s visit and that will surely translate to more employment generation, increased commercial and economic activities and more revenue for the state government,” he said.
President Bola Tinubu’s one-day visit to the Southeast, his first of 2025, was not just a routine event. It was laden with symbolisms, from the enthusiastic reception to the subsequent positive comments.
The import of this visit, with its many remarkable aspects, was not lost on anyone. While many have spoken favourably and commended the visit, it equally throws up some questions.
Is President Tinubu’s January 4, 2025 visit to Enugu, the old capital of the Southeast region, during which he inaugurated Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah’s landmark projects and made important pronouncements a new level in his relationship with the Southeast geopolitical zone?
Is the President’s visit across the Niger a game changer and a subtle indicator of what lies ahead between him and the people of the South East?
The Southeast’s posture towards President Tinubu has not been enthusiastic, just as it was with President Muhammadu Buhari. Of course, the results of the 2015, 2019, and 2023 elections reveal the political aloofness of the zone towards the two leaders.
The Southeast was particularly lukewarm towards Tinubu’s presidential aspiration following developments in the build-up to the 2023 presidential election and the results that had arisen from it.
In the run-up to the election, the Southeast put all its political eggs in the basket of homeboy Peter Obi, former Anambra State governor, who had broken ranks with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party to emerge as the Labour Party’s Presidential Candidate.
The boisterousness of the Obidients –as Peter Obi’s supporters had christened themselves – had somewhat captured the imagination of the Southeast. Any Igbo who sang a different tune in the 2023 election was, more or less, seen as an outcast.
Peter Obi himself did not allow the kind of amity that should prevail. He campaigned based on his Igbo ethnicity and overtly promoted his Christian faith to reap electoral benefits. When the election came, the Igbo voted en masse for him, signposting a strong correlation between region, religion and elections in Nigeria.
As a geopolitical breakdown of the 2023 presidential election results shows, Obi and his LP polled 1,952, 998 votes from the five states of the Southeast, representing a massive 89.62% of the total votes in the region. President Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress polled 127,370 votes, a paltry 5.85% of the votes from the area while the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, got 90, 698 votes, amounting to a meagre 4.16%.
Although Obi recorded impressive results outside the Southeast, like winning Lagos, Nasarawa, Edo, Delta, Plateau, Cross River, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, his 2023 presidential challenge was essentially a Southeast affair.
After the election, he and his ethnic supporters remained in their cocoons—or the alternate reality they had built. They acted like Obi had won the poll but denied victory. It seemed that the Obidients would rather not hear the name Asiwaju Tinubu, let alone President Tinubu. This trend continued even after Obi’s petition against President Tinubu’s victory in court failed. Any move of the President was criticised and condemned.
On assumption of office, President Tinubu made overtures to the zone in key appointments such as the appointment of Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, who hails from Enugu, and through key ministerial appointments like those of Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi from Ebonyi State, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Hon. Uche Nnaji, and the first Minister of Trade and Investment, now Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, among others.
Remarkably, when the President reshuffled his cabinet in October last year, he brought in, among others, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, wife of the late Ikemba Nnewi, Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu. She got the portfolio of Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. President Tinubu also established the Southeast Development Commission, a significant move to promote and accelerate the region’s development.
A top journalist who is a friend from the Southeast zone and a staunch Obidient who had never masked his dislike for Tinubu said those two appointments were sufficient to forgive President Tinubu’s perceived sins against the Igbo.
It was against that background that President Tinubu accepted Governor Mbah’s invitation to inaugurate some of his projects in the New Year.
At the inauguration of Governor Mbah’s projects and during an interactive session with Southeast leaders, President Tinubu made significant statements that gladdened the hearts of the Igbo.
At the inauguration of the Command and Control Center, the President emphasised the importance of cooperation and collaboration between the Federal Government and the sub-nationals to drive development.
“This (Command and Control Centre) is a profound demonstration of what we can do together. It reassures me that more revenue going to the sub nationals and local governments is not a waste; it is for development.
“We have committed leaders like Peter Mbah taking Enugu on the path of 21st-century development, taking Enugu to greater heights, and building our tomorrow today.
“I cannot forget the sight of those children I just met at the Smart Green School. I have seen the gadgets and vehicles with 21st-century technology. You are indeed working for today, tomorrow and the future.”
The President inaugurated the GTC Smart Green School, New Haven/Bisalla Road, the International Conference Center, the Command and Control Center, and 150 patrol vehicles with surveillance cameras. He also inaugurated other notable projects virtually at the Enugu State Government House.
Later, at an interactive session with Southeast leaders, President Tinubu promised that his administration would complete the Eastern Rail line connecting Port Harcourt to Maiduguri and support the development of the Anambra Basin as a significant energy reserve estimated to hold up to 1 billion barrels of oil and 30 billion cubic feet of gas. He made the commitment while responding to the requests made by former Minister of Power Professor Chinedu Nebo and an Enugu State indigene, Chris Ugoh, at the interactive session.
After commending the Tinubu administration for completing the Port Harcourt to Aba section of the Eastern rail line, Nebo had appealed to the President to prioritise the completion of the remaining portions of the rail link to facilitate exports of non-oil products and catalyse development in the region.
Dignitaries who attended the session included governors, traditional rulers, captains of industry, and serving and former presiding officers of the National Assembly from the zone, including former Senate President Ken Nnamani.
With the Enugu visit and the importance he attached to the invitation by PDP Governor Mbah, President Tinubu demonstrated political maturity and his commitment to supporting developmental strides from any part of the country and by any governor or stakeholder.
The visit was a bold testament to his nonpartisan inclination and willingness to put the country first. He was full of commendation for Governor Mbah for demonstrating “an irrevocable commitment to human development.”
In the same vein, sighting Abia State Governor Alex Otti at the Enugu event, President Tinubu said: “I don’t care which party you come from; you are my friend. Alex Otti of Abia State is also doing very well. It is not about the differences in languages and place of birth.
“None of us has control of the mother tongue. God created us, and you can find yourself in Enugu, Onitsha or Lagos. We are all members of one huge family called Nigeria, but we live in different rooms in the same house. We must build this house to satisfy our immediate and future needs.”
Speaking before the inauguration of his projects, Governor Mbah had described President Tinubu as a true federalist committed to Nigeria’s development.
“Your Excellency, your credential as a true federalist stands out brightly, and the legacies thereof will long earn you resounding accolades.
“In signing the Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill, you liberalised electricity generation, transmission, and distribution. That singular act will consistently rank as an enduring legacy,” he said, adding: “It is noteworthy that Enugu State was the first sub-national to which the NERC ceded regulatory oversight of the local electricity market. That reflects how swiftly we are pursuing our goals.”
On the Southeast Development Commission, the governor said the commission would address infrastructure and ecological challenges in the region while complementing the many development strides unfolding across the state.
Development and governance may have been the overarching themes of the visit. Still, analysts reckon that given all that transpired during the visit, a new chapter in the relationship between President Tinubu and the Southeast geopolitical zone may have been unwittingly opened. This rapprochement, they observe, may signpost other important things to come for President Tinubu from the zone, particularly going into the next election in 2027.
*Rahman is a Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media Matters.
President Bola Tinubu, on Saturday arrived Enugu State on his first state visit and inaugurated some completed projects embarked by the administration of Gov Peter Mbah.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the projects the President inaugurated included 30 of the 260 Smart Green Schools, 60 completed Type 2 Primary Health Centres, and 19 kilometer Airport-New Haven – Bisalla and Okpara Square roads built by Mbah’s administration.
Other projects inaugurated were the completed International Conference Centre, and the state of the art Command and Control Centre with 150 patrol vehicles fitted with the AI-embedded surveillance cameras.
NAN reports that this is the first time a sitting President is paying an official visit to the state in over 10 years.
Inaugurating the projects, President Tinubu lauded Mbah for the projects, saying that, “Infrastructural development is a must to attract local and foreign investment, create jobs and give all a better tomorrow from today.
“It is a great honour for me and I therefore, declare this project inaugurated.
Earlier, Mbah said the Airport-New Haven – Bisalla and Okpara Square roads 19 kilometer represented 85 urban roads his administration constructed between October 2023 and October 2024.
“We are proud and grateful to have Mr President in Enugu and have him inaugurate these roads and others,” Mbah said.
Hon. Okey Mba, the member representing Nkanu East State Constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly, has clarified that the people of his constituency are not opposed to the siting of any federal government project in the area.
Mba’s statement comes in response to an alarm raised by the Energy Commission of Nigeria, a Federal Government agency under the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology.
The Commission had claimed that local opposition was hindering the ongoing construction of the multi-billion Naira “Renewed Hope” Bio-Methanol Pilot Plant in Amagunze, Nkanu East Local Government Area (LGA).
An official of the Commission, E. Okeke, alleged that work had been stopped at the site by the state government, which also deployed police officers to arrest seven construction workers and confiscate some of the project’s equipment.
In a press conference held in Enugu on Friday, Hon. Mba, a native of Amagunze, emphasized that his constituents would fully support any federal project in Nkanu East, as long as the people are properly engaged by the responsible agencies.
He explained that the local community had sought the state government’s intervention to halt the project temporarily in order to avoid a potential communal clash, which could have led to violence.
Mba reassured that his constituency was not against federal projects but wanted to ensure that all stakeholders were consulted to maintain peace and prevent misunderstandings.
Mba explained: “We got a report from our people, Amagunze farmers, whose farmland was destroyed, about the piece of land. The people called on me and the local government chairman and alerted the state government as well, concerning the destruction of their cassava farms.
“In getting to that site, we now saw a projecting sign, indicating that the federal government is siting a biomass-based ethanol plant and we were surprised as to where this was coming from.
“The irony of it all is that the sign bore Eziebe Akpugo Nkanu West LGA. To us, it’s a strange thing to have the name of Nkanu West in Nkanu boldly written. We couldn’t understand where that was coming from.
“You can’t say you are siting a project in Nkanu West and you now mount the signpost on the soil of Nkanu East.
“So, when we agitated to the state government, the immediate action the government took was to deploy security agencies to seal up the place to mitigate possible communal clashes”.
The lawmaker noted that the land in question, had for several years, been in dispute between Amagunze and Akpugo communities, and wondered why anyone would enter into the land without engaging with the rightful owners first.
“So, we’re not against the federal government siting any project in our local government. If they want to site any projects in Nkanu East, we welcome it. We have vast land everywhere to host whatever project the federal government wants to site in Nkanu East.
“We expected that if you want to site a project, you will engage the state government, tell them about the project, the impact of the project on the people and the economy, and so on. But none of these were done. No engagement whatsoever was done with the community, the LGA, and the state government. So, we became curious about that.
“I believe that if the federal government wants to site such a big project, there should be due diligence and things expected of them before that,” he said.
The lawmaker used the opportunity to call on President Bola Tinubu to disregard the reports that the Nkanu East council area of Enugu State was frustrating a federal government project in the area.
Some 20 female soccer teams aged between 12 and 16 years, are set to vie for honours at the Judith Chime female soccer championship holding in Enugu from 15-26 December 2024.
The female soccer classics enjoys the co-sponsorship of the College of Immaculate Conception Enugu (CIC)Class of 81 Old Boys Association.
Speaking with the media recently while announcing the championship, Judith
Chime, the former Super Falcons’ goalkeeper and Olympian, said the sports event will hold at Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium with some games at the CIC Enugu Multi Sports complex with much promises to light up the yuletide period.
She also hinted that she founded Judith Chime Foundation after ruminating about her journey of passion for soccer which took her away from the back streets of Enugu to the 1999 FIFA Women World Cup as well as to other international football tournaments highest being the 2000 Olympic Games.
Judith noted that the motto of the Judith Chime Foundation, Empower A Girl Child Today, aligns with the interest and core values of her upbringing and the benefits that can accrue from enabling the girl child.
The Enugu State government and an Austrian firm, WANDE NEXUS, have signed an agreement to implement the Sustainable Last Mile Connectivity and Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) project in the state.
With the signing of the agreement at the Government House in Enugu in the presence of the Austrian Ambassador to Nigeria, Thomas Schlesinger, WANDE Nexus will inject $100 million in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to modernise water infrastructure, improve service delivery, and ensure equitable access to clean water for all households, especially in Enugu, the state capital.
Governor Peter Mbah described the agreement as an example of the relationship that could exist between a sub-sovereign and a sovereign, as well a major step to getting water to the last part of Enugu City.
“We now have an investment of $100 million to deal decisively with the last mile connection, the downstream part of our water system. This huge sum shows that the economic reforms of the Federal Government and our effort to position Enugu as the premier destination for investment are yielding results because this is a major FDI, not just for us as a state but even as a country.
“For the record, this is not a case where we are just signing an agreement that is exploratory. This is an agreement we signed today for the funds to begin to flow. This is a discussion that started eight months ago. From signing an MoU, to Terms Sheet, and to getting a Concession Agreement.
“Today, we are signing the final agreement and we expect that the investment funds will start to flow immediately, as they should have started with the connectivity to the last mile, and the procurement of the metres will commence,” he said.
The governor explained that while his administration had been able to increase water production from an occasional 2 million litres to 120 million litres, the biggest challenge was in expanding the network and connecting the tertiary pipelines to the various homes.
He expressed the confidence that with the signing of the FDI agreement, the problem would become a thing of the past.
The Enugu State Police Command has apprehended eight suspects, including a dismissed soldier, involved in armed robbery and financial fraud in the state.
According to the command’s spokesman, Daniel Ndukwe, the interstate criminal syndicate was busted through coordinated operations involving the Emene Division, Crack, and Octopus Tactical Squads, along with the Neighbourhood Watch Group.
The efforts led to the recovery of firearms, ammunition, cash, and other stolen items.
The arrested suspects include Ismaila Isah (23), Sadik Ahmed (a dismissed soldier, 28), Abbas Usman (33), Mubarak Garba (24), Abubakar Haruna (23), Abubakar Sani (32), Obiri Chukwuebuka (22), and Bright Omeniru (22). Ndukwe reported that two locally made pistols, one loaded with a live and expended cartridge, and a cash sum of three hundred thousand four hundred and fifty Naira (₦300,450.00) were recovered.
Additionally, the police recovered ten laptops, land documents, ten mobile phones, assorted jewellery and watches, one MP3 player, one headphone, four power banks, two SIM cards, footwear, and bags.
“The operation commenced on November 12, 2024, around 3:30 a.m., when operatives from the Emene Division, supported by Neighbourhood Watch members, responded to a distress call regarding an armed robbery at an estate in Emene. During the operation, Ismaila Isah was apprehended with one locally made pistol, the said ₦300,450.00, and some stolen items, while others escaped.
“Ismaila was later transferred to the Crack Tactical Squad for further investigation. His confessional statements and subsequent discreet investigations led to the arrest of Sadik Ahmed, Abbas Usman, Mubarak Garba, Abubakar Haruna, and Abubakar Sani at their hideouts in New Garriki, Awkunanaw, Enugu. Another locally made pistol and additional stolen items were recovered.
“Furthermore, operatives from the Octopus Tactical Squad utilised an intelligence report and arrested Obiri Chukwuebuka and Bright Omeniru in Owerri, Imo State. During interrogation, they admitted to using phones stolen by the syndicate to fraudulently withdraw funds from victims’ bank accounts. Two SIM cards from different networks were also recovered.
“Investigations reveal that the suspects confessed to committing multiple armed robberies within the Enugu metropolis and using the victims’ mobile phones’ SIM cards to also commit acts of fraud.
“They further confessed to moving and selling the stolen proceeds in Imo and other states. Sadik Ahmed, the dismissed soldier, admitted to exploiting his background as a former security agent to bypass checkpoints during the interstate shipment of the stolen items,” the statement said.
Ndukwe disclosed that the suspects will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations.
Meanwhile, the commissioner of police, Kanayo Uzuegbu, has commended the operatives for the operational breakthroughs.
He urged them to sustain the momentum against criminal activities, especially during the festive season
Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu, Enugu State, has denied a bail application by one Blessing Amaka David-Agwa, an alleged fake fertility nurse, and ordered an accelerated hearing in her trial.
Blessing Amaka David-Agwa is being prosecuted by the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 45-count charge bordering on impersonation, forgery and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N28, 278, 600.
The defendant is alleged to have forged the certificate of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and the Certificate of University of Nigeria, Nsukka and parading as a fertility nurse, specially trained to assist women in getting pregnant with ease.
Investigations revealed that the defendant allegedly defrauded 45 innocent women who fell for her false claims.
The defendant was arraigned on October 22, 2024 and she pleaded not guilty, setting the stage for her trial.
However, the defence counsel, G. C. Madubuegwu made a bail application which he said was “brought pursuant to Section 162 and 165 (1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act”. He prayed the court to grant his client bail on liberal terms.
Opposing the said application, counsel to the EFCC, Blessing N. Obasi, reminded the Court that the allegation was a weighty which has adversely affected the mental health of the victims.
Delivering ruling, Justice Umar stated that the defence “did not place before the court sufficient materials to grant bail in favour of the defendant. The application for bail is hereby rejected. I hereby order for accelerated hearing”.
The matter was adjourned to November 21, 2024 for trial.
Count 41 of the charge reads: “That you, Blessing Amaka David-Agwa, sometime in 2024 in Enugu, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, with intent to defraud, did obtain the total sum of One Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira (N1, 600, 000. 00) only from one Okenwa Joy Chiamaka, under the pretence of being a Medical Fertility Nurse (Specially trained to assist women get pregnant with ease) which pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”.
Count 24 of the charge reads: “That you, Blessing Amaka David-Agwa sometime in 2024 in Enugu, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria with intent to defraud, did obtain the total sum of One Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N1, 250, 000. 00) only, from one Amarachi Okpala, under the pretence of being a Medical Fertility Nurse (Specially trained to assist women get pregnant with ease) which pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”.
