The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Enugu

  • Ugwuanyi inaugurates neurosurgical hospital complex

    Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has inaugurated the second phase of the Memfys Hospital, Enugu, which he said has remained a reference point in the healthcare delivery of the country.

    Flagging off the multi-million naira new complex of the hospital at its 16th anniversary, the governor represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Fintan Ekochin, stated that Memfys Hospital was the single biggest individual contribution to healthcare on the African continent in the area of neurosurgical services.

    He reiterated government’s commitment to render every logistical support that would facilitate the growth of private enterprises in the state.

    While showering praises on the founder of the hospital, Prof. Sam Ohaegbulam, the governor noted that the establishment of the hospital had worked against brain drain in the country, as Nigerian medical professionals now have an institution with state-of-the art facilities where they can practice and conduct surgeries on patients locally instead of travelling overseas.

    According to him “in fact, I am surprised that instead of the director of the centre of excellence for neurosurgery, asking for help, he was more concerned with making a case for an improved healthcare for Nigerians.”

    Ugwuanyi, also disclosed that Enugu State was one of the 10 states in the country that had already implemented the national health insurance adding that the effect of the scheme would be felt next year.

    “We have even gone further than that by introducing universal health coverage which will involve all persons in the state, the workers, parastatals and traders,” he said.

    The founder and medical director of Memfys Hospital, Enugu, Prof. Sam Ohaegbulam, said that the institution was established in 2002 with the objectives of providing high quality patient care, conducting health education and training programmes and engaging in health-related research, especially on the nervous system.

    He stated that apart from phase I which houses most of the hospital activities, the multi-million naira phase 2 building complex being inaugurated, has more than doubled the facilities available at the hospital, which include the clinics, rehabilitation centre, lecture theatre and administrative offices.

    The renowned neurosurgeon said that the master plan is comprehensive and ambitious, stressing that it was envisaged that when fully completed, the hospital would compare with similar institutions anywhere in the world.

    Ohaegbulam expressed joy that before celebrating its 16th anniversary this year, the hospital had graduated from a centre of excellence in Neurosurgery to a national medical centre, offering services in neurology, paediatrics, orthopaedic surgery, radiology, CT scan, MRI and Siemens mobile digital X-Ray and several others.

    On the national health insurance scheme, the UNN’s 10th inaugural lecturer in 1986, called on government at all levels to make it functional to enable Nigerians enjoy its dividends.

    Highlight of the occasion was the presentation of certificates to four newly graduated neurosurgeons by the Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, while cultural dances entertained guests.

  • Ignore IPOB’s social media propaganda, Army urges public

    The Nigerian Army has condemned circulation of pictures and videos of gory images on social media, saying it is misinformation and propaganda by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sagir Musa, stated this in a statement in Enugu on Thursday.

    Musa said that the illegal group was using the images for falsehood and hate speech to portray the Army and other security agencies in bad light.

    He said that the stunts were specially targeted at the South-East and intended to truncate the successes of Exercise Egwu Eke III also known as Python Dance 3.

    According to him, the posting and circulation of the disgusting videos and pictures is a wicked plot and deliberate campaign targeted at smearing the reputation of the military and other security agencies.

    The army spokesman said that the intention of the peddlers of those images was to insinuate that the bodies were victims of security clampdown in parts of the country, especially in the South-East.

    He said, “the Nigerian Army has observed with dismay that various social media platforms, of recent, have been inundated with gory images and horrific videos.

    “The videos are of few recycled corpses dumped at roadsides and refuse sites in Obingwa-Asa-Aba axis of Abia and other targeted areas in the South-East.

    “Members of the proscribed IPOB have been alleged to be behind the violence-inciting posts, apparently to create panic and tension among the public in their ill-motive towards free, fair and credible general elections.

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    “Some of the images and videos analyzed by the intelligence services show that most of the corpses were suspected to be victims of road accidents, jungle justice or ritual killers.

    “None of the images or videos could be attributed to any military operation as there were no footages to indicate so.

    “While the Nigerian Army will ensure that the peddlers of such fake news and hate speech that could create insecurity in the country are nabbed for prosecutions, the public is urged to ignore such wicked and sickening propaganda.’’

    Musa called on health and emergency agencies at the state and local government levels to be proactive in ensuring adequate evacuation of corpses of victims of road accidents, ritual killings and jungle justice in communities.

    “It is also of security concern that the dumping of abandoned corpses of loved ones in unorthodox mortuaries is becoming rampant.

  • Irate mob kills man after he hacked mother to death in Enugu – Police

    The Police Command in Enugu State is now investigating the circumstance surrounding the killing of a man by a mob after he allegedly hacked his mother to death.

    The man was said to have been killed by the mob at Isiagu Ibagwa community in Igboeze South Local Government Area of the state on Monday.

    The state’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO, SP Ebere Amaraizu, confirmed the development.

    Amaraizu said : “Tragedy had allegedly struck at Isiagu Ibagwa community when a son identified as Ifesinachi Ukwueze allegedly murdered his mother identified as Beatrice Ukwueze with a cutlass over a yet to be established issue.

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    “It was further gathered that the action of Ifesinachi Ukwueze allegedly angered irate mob who descended heavily on him and left him lifeless before the arrival of security operatives,’’ he said.

    The police spokesman added that the dead bodies of the son and mother had been deposited in a nearby mortuary “while police operatives have commenced a full scale investigation into the incident.”

  • CAF Confederation Cup: Rangers intensify training for C S Sfaxien

    Rangers International FC of Enugu have opted to train twice daily for their upcoming Confederation Cup match against C S Sfaxien of Tunisia on Feb. 13.

    The fixture between the Flying Antelopes and their North African opponents in Tunisia is the second match of the ongoing Confederation of African Football (CAF) Confederation Cup Group B.

    Confirming the club’s preparedness to newsmen in Enugu on Friday, Rangers’ spokesman, Norbert Okolie, said that the club would train in the morning and evening hours.

    “We know what it takes to survive the North African clubs and that is why we are preparing seriously for the match.

    “C S Sfaxien is a big club and one time Confederation Cup champion, so, we are not going to take them for granted and do not forget that they subdued Etoile du Sahel 1-0 in their first match of the group.

    “Sfaxien is a familiar foe in the continent and I remember we beat them in 2013 but they used protest to kick us out and went ahead to win the competition.

    “Although it is only change that is permanent, but I believe that they have not changed much and even if they did, not better than us,” he said.

    He said that the club had been doing well in the ongoing Confederation Cup and would not falter as they want to maintain their unbeaten run in the competition.

    Okolie also said that the club would do all in its capacity to record a good result in Tunis.

    According to him, two Tunisian clubs in their group may likely pose a major threat owing to their continental experiences.

    “I know that we have players that can withstand the North African weather and who are familiar with their style of play.

    “North African clubs are not new to our players as many of them have engaged them while playing for us or in another club in the country.

    On the tendency of playing at night in Tunis, Okolie noted that most of the player had played at night while in their previous clubs.

    “We have players who joined us from Enyimba FC, Akwa United FC, foreigners, even those who have played abroad before coming home to join us and they have night match experiences.

    Rangers top the group B with C S Sfaxien with three points but on superior goals difference, while Etoile du Sahel and Salitas FC of Burkina Faso remain third and fourth respectively without a point each. (NAN)

  • Foreign observers commend military’s professional conduct during elections

    Some Independent Foreign Observers have commended the Nigerian Military for their professional conduct during the Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.
    They gave this commendation via a statement made available to The Nation on Tuesday.
    The observers in the statement signed by Bill Campbell added that having examined the roles of stakeholders in the electoral processes found out that military played a commendable roles in the Saturday’s elections.
    They said, “The Independent Foreign Observers is an amalgamation of organizations drawn from all over the world to monitor the general elections in Nigeria on the invitation of a select Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Nigeria. Consequently, the head of the mission, Bill Campbell deployed election observers around Nigeria with a view to ascertaining the credibility of the elections and the role of the various actors in the electoral process.
    The Independent Foreign Observers was headed by Bill Campbell, a diplomat, and conflict resolution expert who has garnered years of experience in election monitoring in African countries. Bill Campbell’s experience spans 6 continents and over 50 countries, where he has experienced dozens of elections and other less conventional changes of government.  He has braved tsunamis, typhoons, earthquakes, political revolutions and long treks on public transportation, to learn about and observe democracy in action.  A graduate of NYU, Bill has been the President of his Rotary Club, constantly looking for ways to serve communities big and small. He brought his wealth of experience to bear in the monitoring of the general elections in Nigeria.
    As part of its mandate to monitor and report the credibility of the general elections in Nigeria, the Independent Foreign Observers undertook a systematic survey of the dynamics inherent in the Nigeria society and consequently designed a template that accommodated the religious and ethnic sensitivity of the Nigerian people in various states of the federation with a view to getting the objective responses from the electorate as the case may be. The essence was to help observe the dynamics, make recommendations and commendations where necessary based on the competence of the team.

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    It was observed amongst other things some section of the country whipped up ethnic sentiments which could undermine the electoral process.
    Some segment of the populace also played the religious card before the electorates in an attempt to induce or coerce votes for their political parties.
    Outcome:
    Consequently, there was palpable tension in the polity as regards the security of lives and properties.
    The government, therefore, deployed a mix of security agencies to maintain the sanctity of the electoral process as well as maintaining law and order throughout the polls.
    Election Issues
    Elections were conducted in the 36 states in Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Our team of observers were on ground to monitor the polls and turned in a detailed report on what they observed in the various states that they were deployed.
    The Independent Foreign Observers worked in active collaboration with local NGOs in the various states, and this unique collaboration made the election monitoring exercise seamless and worthwhile.
    Voters Turnout:
    It was observed that there was a huge voters’ turnout in parts of the country especially in Northern Nigeria. (North East and North West)
    The voters defied the harsh climatic conditions to come out in their numbers to cast their votes at the various polling units
    The South Eastern States also witnessed a large turnout of voters (Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi, and Imo)
    The South Western States didn’t experience as much voters’ turnout as in other parts of the country. This was primarily due to a palpable tension because political analysts had classified the South Western states as the battleground for candidates of both parties.
    The South-South states of Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River also witnessed a large turnout of voters.
    The Elections:
    From monitoring the elections, it was observed that the electoral process was able to maintain its credibility by the combined efforts of the security agencies led by the Nigerian Army that ensured that incidences of ballot box snatching and other electoral vices were curtailed.
    Voters exercised their electoral franchise without fear especially in the northern part of the country. Our team of observers noted that in the Northern parts of the country, which hitherto was known for underage voting did not experience cases of underage voting. Incidences of vote buying were also prevalent in most parts of the South-South and South Eastern States.
    The outbreak of Violence:
    Our team of observers witnessed pockets of violence in some parts of the country occasioned by attempts by party agents to snatch ballot boxes. This resulted in an open confrontation with the security agencies who showed resilience in the face of provocation.
    Rivers States witnessed the highest level of violence and arms bearing by political thugs that led to the death of an INEC official, an officer of the Nigerian Army and scores of people.
    The Election and the Nigerian Military:
    Our team of observers noted the contributions of the Nigeria Army in maintaining the credibility of the electoral process. The Nigeria Army was able to provide security of lives and properties throughout the election process.
    In the North Eastern states of Yobe and Borno, the Nigeria Army provided watertight security, and this accounted for the large turnout of voters in the region.
    In the fringes where it was expected that there would be security lapses, the Nigeria Army rose to the occasion as there were no recorded cases of security lapses by our team of observers.
    Conclusion:
    The Independent Foreign Observers salutes the resilience and courage of the Nigerian people through the duration of the elections.
    The elections were conducted in an atmosphere of peace brought about by the combined efforts of the security agencies.
    Cases of electoral violence were minimal but for a few states
    The Nigerian Army rose to the occasion by deploying men and resources around the country to protect the credibility of the process
    The Nigeria Army conducted itself professionally and within the ambit of the law even in instances of provocation as experienced in some states.
    Commendation:
    The Independent Foreign Observers particularly singles out the Nigeria Army for praise in its conduct during the elections. We noted a display of a high sense of professionalism even in the face of provocation by agents of political parties.
    The Independent Foreign Observers also commends the leadership of the Nigeria Army for the high-level coordination of its troops across the country. The Independent also charges the Nigeria Army to deploy the same strategy in the forthcoming gubernatorial and states houses of assembly elections.

  • Two corpses found near police checkpoint

    Two lifeless bodies were on Friday discovered in a forest at a police checkpoint between Enugu and Ebonyi states by stranded passengers held up by a clash between policemen and a lorry driver.

    A driver of a lorry fully loaded with yam was stopped at the checkpoint by policemen on duty and the driver allegedly gave them N500, which was reportedly rejected by the policemen.

    It was gathered the policemen had requested for N1,000 which the driver said he could not pay.

    Trouble was said to have started when the driver resisted the policemen from deflating his tires and the driver was beaten to pulp which warranted other drivers to block the road for over two hours.

    It was in the process that some stranded passengers who went to defecate saw lifeless bodies in the bush.

    This infuriated road users who alleged it was the police that killed and dumped the corpses in the bush.

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    A source, who craved anonymity, said: “What I saw was that a driver of lorry fully loaded with yam was stopped by the policemen at checkpoint and he gave them N500 and the policemen rejected the money.

    “The policemen approached the driver when he told them that since he had given them N500 which the policemen rejected, that none of them can deflate his tire.

    “Trouble started when the policemen attempted to deflate his tire. When he tried to stop them, they started beating him.

    “The driver was almost killed. It was at this point that other drivers with articulated vehicles blocked the road causing hold up for hours along the Abakaliki-Enugu Expressway.

    “As the road was blocked, stranded passengers and other drivers who were pressed entered the bush to defecate and they saw two lifeless bodies.

    “I left Enugu so early this morning as at 6am, but I was there till 8am this morning.

    “The dead bodies were found around the police checkpoints. The people around were suspecting it was the police that killed them.

    “They were surprised why the dead bodies should be found around the checkpoint.

    “That is why the people were accusing them. I was there when it was happening. Nobody told me about it.”

    The Nation could not independently confirm the allegations against the Police as at press time.

    Police spokesman in the state, Lodah Loveth, said she was yet to be officially briefed on the matter.

  • APC decides 2023 presidency, says Chime

    Former Enugu State Governor, Mr Sullivan Chime says the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will have the final say on the zone that gets the president in 2023.

    Chime disclosed this on Thursday night in Enugu while fielding questions from newsmen following the campaign tour of President Muhammadu Buhari in the state.

    The former governor said that the appropriate organ of the party would make the decision at the appropriate time.

    He said that the party was currently preoccupied with the reelection of Buhari.

    Chime allayed the fears in certain quarters that the South West was positioning to usurp the chance of the South East to produce the president in 2023.

    “At the appropriate time the party will take a final decision. However, we have always been of the view that we have the reason to say it will come to us.

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    The reason is simple: Power is shared between Northern and Southern Nigeria. The South West and South South had taken their turns remaining the South East,” he said.

    Chime, however, said that the South East must work to justify its clamour to produce the president in 2023.

    He called on the people of the zone to vote massively for Buhari in the Feb. 16 presidential election to stand the chance.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Director General of Buhari Campaign Organisation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi had at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium during the APC presidential campaign said the South East will produce the president in 2023.

  • Fans urge Rangers on extra effort for CAF group stage

    Enugu Rangers International FC fans in Ebonyi have urged the team to put in extra efforts in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage which draws hold on Monday in Cairo, Egypt.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the team defeated Bantu FC of Lesotho 2-1 in the play-off return leg in Enugu on Sunday, to qualify for the competition’s group stage on a 4-2 aggregate.

    The fans, who spoke to NAN on Monday in Abakaliki, congratulated the team for scaling the preliminary round hurdles but noted that the group stage would be stiffer.

    Desmond Ome, Secretary of Ebonyi Football Association hailed the team’s resilience, noting that it had carried its AITEO cup winning streak unto the competition.

    “Rangers have been impressive in the confederation cup competition as the players have shown unparalleled dedication, commitment and desire to excel.

    “The team’s away-record in the competition has been splendid with the favourable results eliminating the pressure it would have encountered while playing at home,” he said.

    Melvin Uzor, Defunct Nitel-Vasco Dagama FC Player however noted that the competition in the group stage would be stiffer because of the presence of champions like Rangers.

    “Teams that would compete at the group stage are those which won their preliminary matches and are there for business.

    “The players should therefore redouble their efforts by heeding to the coaches’ instructions, playing with more sense of purpose and strengthening the bond of unity among them,” he said.

    Chief Basil Anagha, a businessman and soccer buff, urged the technical crew to review the team’s performance in all its matches to correct areas of defect.

    “From the team’s matches I watched, the players tend to relax and become serious only when their opponents ‘take the game to them’ or when they are on the ‘back foot’.

    “They should realise that teams competing at the group stage are highly technical and experienced and might seal the encounters if given such opportunities by Rangers,” he said.

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    Mrs Chika Okoro, a teacher and ardent Rangers fan, urged the team to still concentrate on its league matches despite participating in the confederation cup group stage.

    “The team should approach its first league encounter with MFM of Lagos on Wednesday with utmost seriousness, including other domestic engagements on its schedule.

    “It should avoid a repeat of the 2016/17 season where it was eliminated in the CAF Champions league preliminary rounds and struggled to remain in the domestic league’s elite division,” she said.

  • Police hunt for couples who bought sisters stolen from Edo

    Men of the Edo State Police Command have launched manhunt for the couples who bought two sisters stolen from Utese village in Ovia North East local government area.

    The police have deployed its men to Enugu State and Portharcourt in search of the couples.

    Both sisters aged four and six and identified as Christabel and Amanda were reportedly sold to the different couples for N500,000 each.

    They were stolen by two girls, Rose and Mary, who rented an apartment in their resident at Utese village.

    Their mother left them in the care of the two girls while she went to the stream to get water.

    Police sources said Mary has since been arrested but the whereabout of Rose is unknown.

    It was learnt that the sisters were first sold to a woman identified as Joy in Agbor.

    Joy was arrested in Onitsha and she confessed to have sold the children to one Ruth Eze, a 58-year old woman based in Onitsha.

    The police source said Ruth sold one of the children to somebody living at Ogwashi-Uku while the other was sold to a couple at a Catholic Church in Enugu State through one Mrs. Favour Uju.

    A police team that visited Ogwashi-Uku discovered that the women that bought one of the sisters has died but had already sold the girl to a couple in Portharcourt.

    It was also learnt that police investigators have taken the suspects to some Catholic churches in Enugu but the suspects could not identify who they sold the girl to.

    Parents of the stolen siblings have parted ways since the incident happened last year.

    A family source said they were confused as to how the police would recover the sisters.

    Father of the children, Spark Omokpia, said he would do anything to ensure his children returned to him.

  • Re: Lies against Enugu

    I read Gabriel Amalu’s Law and Public Power column published in The Nation of January 15, noting particularly the judgment passed on the government of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State.

    I begin with a quote taken from the address delivered by Sir Winston Churchill to the British House of Commons on June 4, 1940.

    “We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight on the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.”

    I have read quite a few things about this man that has been rated one of the best British prime ministers of all times but I have never come across where it was written that he was a great soldier, naval officer or fighter pilot. In fact, Churchill was as famed with his World War II rallying speeches as he was with drunkenness and oftentimes, irreverent trysts with women.

    But Britain remember their prime minister for the great speeches he delivered that helped mobilize the people to push back invading Nazi forces, restoring the British empire in the process and most would agree that had Churchill not emerged in place of Neville Chamberlain in 1940, Britain would have lost the war and the allied forces would not have had the chance to defeat Hitler.

    Why did I have to go through this route in responding to an article that, as far as I can decipher, has scant information as its foundation and political prejudice as pillars?

    Much the same way as Sir Churchill employed great oratory to re-ignite spirits of nationalism among Britons during the rather challenging periods that Hitler was almost overrunning England between 1939 and 1940, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has been able to employ genuine spirituality in tuning the minds of the people of Enugu State to higher goals that has engendered unprecedented peace in Enugu State.

    Before the coming of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, armed robbery and violent crimes of all frightening shades had become second nature to Enugu. The institutions of higher learning in the state were hotbeds of cult activities, with killings occurring brazenly every other day. Enugu State University of Science and Technology was called “War College” as a result of the incessant cult clashes of those locust years.

    It is unimaginable for anyone to conclude that in always mentioning that “Enugu State is in the hands of God,” Ugwuanyi had put the state on autopilot, leaving the people and their affairs at the mercy of the elements. As a practicing Christian, Governor Ugwuanyi strongly believes in faith. But he also understands that such faith has to be accompanied by good works as clearly stated in the Bible. And that is why all over the state, his exemplary leadership style has been positively impacting the people.

    I understand the writer’s pain and hurt with regards to some identified development challenges in his community, Ogwofia Owa in Ezeagu Local Government Area. He talked at length about the sorry state of the Native Authority road and, in all sincerity, I feel his disappointment.

    But did he also take time to go round some other communities in Ezeagu Local Government Area just to be sure the government was not active in development projects in those areas? While I am aware of the importance of access roads in the social and economic life of the people, it also remains a narrow prism from which a fair and proper appraisal of government can be done.

    I say this because facts before me point to other development strides in and around his community. Owa has always been one community before some of the present autonomous communities were created. If he had moved around Owa during this period, he would have been able to notice the improvements in some of the primary schools in the area. His Excellency, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi undertook to rebuild primary schools and had started with blocks of 3-5 classrooms in almost all the primary schools in the state. So far, 208 of such projects have taken place across the state. There is one at Central School, Owa Imezi. There is another one at Aguobu Owa High School. Community Secondary School, Umana Ndiagu; Community Primary School, Uwani Umumba Ndiagu and Community Primary School, Akama Oghe, all in Ezeagu Local Government Area, are among the 208 of such rebuilt schools already delivered by the government of Enugu State.

    It needs be emphasized that this is the first time since the administration of former Governor Jim Nwobodo between 1979 and 1983 that such vast overhaul of schools have taken place in the state.

    I am sure it would not have taken much to also notice that electricity has been provided for Awha Ndiagu community. This community had no electricity before now. This government ensured this was done.

    I am sure the writer is not aware of the “One Community, One Project” programme of the Enugu State Government through which every “autonomous community” is empowered to undertake a development project of their choice. Through the town union and traditional ruler, the sum of N5 million was disbursed at a time.

    Lastly, if it was while moving around that the writer also discovered that retirees from the Enugu State Water Corporation and those of Daily Star were owed over 81 months of pension arrears, then that must have been some movement! Now did it occur to the writer that 81 months is equivalent of almost seven years? And that Governor Ugwuanyi had been in office for less than four years?

    Is he also aware that both the Enugu State Water Corporation and Daily Star are supposed to be revenue generating parastatals of government? That long before Governor Ugwuanyi came into office, the Enugu State Water Corporation was no longer generating anything and that corruption conspired with elements in the corporation to shut down water supply from Ajali in his local government area as well as the one from Oji River? Governor Ugwuanyi only recently rehabilitated these water projects, renewing the supply of water into the Enugu capital city after many years?

     

    • Okuhu is a media aide to Governor Ugwuanyi.