The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Enugu

  • Police arrest three suspects over killing of 105-yr-old man

    The Police Command in Enugu State has arrested three suspects in connection with the alleged killing of a105-year-old man, Chief Eze Nwah-Onuh, in Igboeze North Local Government Area of the state.

    The command’s spokesman, SP Ebere Amaraizu, disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria  in Enugu on Friday.

    Amarizu gave the names of the suspects as Onyeka Abugu, 22; Ogbonna Eze, 22 and Nnamdi Eze, 19 and said they were already helping the command in its investigation.

    Nwa-Onu of Ekposhi Umuidoko village in Ogurute community was allegedly strangled on Aug. 9.

    The spokesman said the body of the deceased had been deposited in a hospital mortuary.

    “The command through its operatives of the state’s Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department (CIID) has commenced investigations into the alleged killing of Chief Eze Nwah-Onuh of Ekposhi Umuidoko village of Ogurute community.

    “It was gathered that on that fateful day the alleged suspects conspired and strangled the deceased over a yet-to-be established issue or issues and escaped.

    “But through intelligence information, the suspects were promptly nabbed,’’ he said.

  • Enugu seals banks, others, over N200m tax debts

    The Enugu State Board of Internal Revenue (ESBIR) has carried out a distrainment exercise on four banks and two other private firms located in Enugu metropolis and Nsukka.

    The action was over non-payment of taxes due to the state government, totaling over N200 million.

    The exercise was carried out after obtaining court orders to do so.

    The affected companies, according to the board’s Director of Back Duty Audit, Mr. Edwin Iyidiobi, who spoke to newsmen after the exercise, include Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) Plc; Sterling Bank Plc; Unity Bank Plc; Heritage Bank Ltd; Robertson Nig. Ltd and Paladium Hotels Ltd.

    Mr. Iyidiobi said GTB owed N46million; Sterling Bank N72.2million; Unity Bank-N22million; Heritage Bank-N53.8million; Robertson Nig. Ltd-N3.1million and Paladium Hotels Ltd-N3million, totaling over N200 million.

    He said the detrainment exercise became imperative “after several failed appeals to these companies that are indebted to us”, adding that “they did not comply with our request and of course being law abiding citizens we had to ask for court’s assistance”.

    He maintained that the exercise followed due process and was successful. He said: “We got court orders to seal off the affected companies, and distrain them until they pay what they owe the state government.”

    Mr. Iyidiobi further explained that the taxes being owed the state government by the affected companies were in form of “unpaid PAYE (pay as you earn); under-remitted PAYE; under-remitted Withholding Tax; under-remitted Development Levy and interests and penalties charged on the under-remitted taxes as provided by the law”.

  • SON, stakeholders explore metrology

    Stakeholders across the country and beyond gathering in Enugu State for the 12th Africa Metrology System (AFRIMETS) General Assembly have sought to explore the benefits of metrology, a science of measurement, in order to boost trade in the continent.

    Over 25 African countries attended the event, which was hosted by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and targeted at ensuring a significant increase in the low level of trade between African countries through the deployment of metrological infrastructure, a vision also shared by SON.

    The gathering was in tandem with the plans by the SON to boost trade within the region through metrology. The agency used the occasion to stress the imperatives of developing, strengthening and upgrading the national metrological infrastructure to facilitate trade, enhance export, accelerate economic development and protect the environment.

    At the forum, Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi disclosed that his administration is in full support of the SON to deliver on its core mandate, especially the agency’s huge investment in the establishment of a National Metrological Institute (NMI) in Enugu, the state capital.

    The governor, while admitting that the importance of metrology cannot be overemphasised, as it helps to bring about uniformity in trade and serves as a mechanism to ensure that the unsuspecting Nigerian consumers and Africans at large are not shortchanged.

    ”As a government, we will continue to pledge our necessary support and assistance towards the attainment of SON’s quest to rid Nigeria of sub-standard products. We have seen that the road leading to the institute is bad and we will definitely do something about the road, because we believe in this project to bring about the much needed development in the State,” he said.

    The Director General (DG), SON, Osita Aboloma, while thanking the federal government for committing huge resources to human capacity development in metrology and instrumentation, disclosed that the agency, in the last couple of years, has made concerted efforts aimed at creating awareness on metrology services and its benefits to the nation’s economy, including to the welfare of her citizens. The hosting of the AFRIMETS forum, he added, serves as a further boost to stakeholders’ awareness of the benefits of metrology to Nigeria and the African continent as a whole.

    Nigeria’s membership of AFRIMETS and other continental and global standardisation bodies, Aboloma said, has been a deliberate effort in ensuring that the nation participates actively in inter-laboratory comparisons amongst National Institutes of Metrology (NMIs).

    The DG revealed that in the last three decades, SON, with support from the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) and encouragement from its development partners like United Nations Development Organisation (UNIDO), have made huge investments in developing human capacities in the field of metrology.

    In similar vein, a former DG of the agency, Joseph Odumodu, said that standardisation must co-habit with metrology, accreditation and conformity assessment. “This project is a dream come true, and I can tell you that Africa will benefit immensely from this project because Nigeria is a very large economy. This National Metrology Institute will provide services even beyond Nigeria. This project, as soon as it takes off, will actually begin to show that Nigeria has come of age as an industrialised economy.”

    The Chairman, AFRIMETS, Mr. Denis Maturi, said the thrust of the forum was to create awareness on the impact of metrology in intra-African trade. “This project is in line with the African Union’s effort to facilitate trade within the continent,” he said.

    The Regional Director, UNIDO, Jean Bakole, lauded the agency’s efforts. As the first metrology institute in the country, he is convinced that the institute would add value to goods manufactured by Nigerian companies to gain acceptability in Africa and world over.

     

  • Man, 39, bags 10 years for rape in Enugu

    An Enugu State High Court on Wednesday sentenced a 39 year old man, Ede Eze to 10 years imprisonment for rape.

    The trial judge, Justice Ngozi Oji had on Tuesday, last week, convicted the accused on a one count charge but subsequently suspended the sentence till Wednesday. ‎

    The charge reads: “Ede Eze on or about the 2nd day of September, 2014 at Ubahu Community in Enugu East Local Government area of Enugu state had carnal knowledge of one Oluchukwu John without her consent, and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 309 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 30 volume II laws of Enugu state of Nigeria, 2004”.

    However, pronouncing the 10 years jail term the court said it was to serve as a deterrent to others who see rape as just something ordinary or minor.

    The judge stressed that it was disheartening that rape cases have become prevalent in our society.

    The prosecuting counsel, Ngozi Okoye, thanked the judge for the courage to hand down the 10 years sentence.

    She said the sentence was in order and is a welcome development due to the prevalence of rape not only in Enugu state but also in other parts of the country.

    She encouraged other women who have been abused or had gone through any form of sexual violence to come to Tama Sexual Assault Centre Enugu (TAMASAC), report their case for immediate redress.

    Okoye warned those in the act of rape to know that rape is a crime, “not only against an individual but also against the society. The long arm of the law will definitely catch-up with you if you are found guilty of rape.”

    The Enugu State Commissioner, Ministry of Gender Affairs, Princess Peace Nnaji, who was in the court said that with the judgment, history has been made. “People are taking the case of rape for granted but today they have seen that case of rape is very serious. To hand down a jail term of 10 years is not something to be joked with. Anybody that is involve in a rape or contemplating of raping anybody has to think twice.”

    She promised that Enugu State government would continue to do everything possible to dissuade those contemplating committing rape in the state.

  • NAFDAC seizes medical devices, expired drugs at Enugu airport

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has seized fake medical devices, cosmetics, expired drugs and empty labels worth N5.804 million at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

    NAFDAC’s Airport Head, Mr John Okwori, disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Enugu on Tuesday.

    Read Also:NAFDAC seizes 3,300kg of banned frozen vegetables

    Okwori said that the seized fake products included unregistered and unlabeled blood glucose test strips unbranded from China to be possibly labelled in Nigeria and sold as imported original brand.

    He noted that other items confiscated were herbal skin doctor massage cream for stretch marks, which had no NAFDAC registration number and was equally imported from China.

    According to him, the agency also seized empty PVC cosmetic packaging containers for counterfeiting registered products and Benchmate PAR-BRO 60 powder in sachets all imported from China.

    “NAFDAC is hereby warning prospective importers of fake consignments to desist from patronising the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, as the unit is up and ready to deal appropriately with such violators.

    “Just as the NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has directed that serious action be taken against such imports and violators henceforth,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • Colonial road rehabilitated in Enugu

    It used to be the only link road from Enugu to the western and northern parts of the country before the construction of the Enugu-Onitsha express road during the military regime of Olusegun Obasanjo.

    Miliken Hill Road, with 25 serpentine curves stretching 3km, was abandoned by successive administrations ever since the completion and use of the Enugu-Onitsha Express Road. Lying several metres atop a narrow ledge overlooking a deep and scary valley, the road became a haven for criminal elements. There were no safety wedges to block vehicles from fallen into the scary valley said to be home to mighty pythons. There were no also street lights to illuminate the curves against the dangers and perils of night.

    At the receiving end of all this were the people of Ngwo who use it as the only access road to their community. They had made representations to successive governments for the rehabilitation and upgrading of the road, but all to no avail.

    But their sorrow and lamentation recently came to an end. Tears of joy flowed thanks to the intervention of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State.

    The Miliken Hill Road or Ngwo-Enugu Road, was constructed in 1909 during the colonial period by countless labourers drawn from neighbouring villages, using pick and axe to cut through the thick bush of the hill’s stony base.

    Miliken Hill is a famous tourist attraction in the beautiful city of Enugu. Indeed a visitor to Enugu who had not gone to Miliken Hill is said not to have visited Enugu. History has it that in 1908, a British expedition on its way to the Middle Belt from Awka sighted the hill at Enugu Ngwo, one of the ten villages that comprise Ngwo community, and reported back to Lagos.

    Interest in the mineral potential of the hill compelled the colonial government to send a team of mining engineers to the place in 1909 to prospect for silver, but the team struck coal instead. The Europeans decided to settle at Enugu Ngwo on the top of the hill now called Hilltop (Enugu), from where Enugu derived its name up till this day.

    The 3km-long meandering Miliken Hill Road was constructed because of coal discovery under the hill and was named after the head engineer who designed the road.

    Due to years of neglect, the narrow and undulating Miliken Hills Road gradually became a death trap before Ugwuanyi came to the rescue.

    There was wild jubilation among the residents of Enugu particularly the Ngwo people during the commissioning of the newly reconstructed and modernised road with street lights for the first time since it was constructed in 1909. It will now also provide an alternative route for travelers plying the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.

    Inaugurating the road amid excitement from residents of the state and road users, Governor Ugwuanyi stated that the project is a “great infrastructural asset and rich heritage of our coal city state”.

    Ugwuanyi also inaugurated other legacy projects in the rural areas such as the Ebonyi River Bridge in Ikem, Isi-Uzo Local Government Area and Obollo Eke – Agala – Okpaligbo road in Udenu LGA in keeping with his dministration’s grassroots development initiatives.

    Describing the road as “our natural roller coaster”, Ugwuanyi disclosed that “no road in our environment affords tourists and motorists the beautiful view of Enugu that this road offers.”

    He said, “I stand here today with joy in my heart, buoyed by the happy faces of Ndi Enugu, to inaugurate this reconstructed historic and legacy Miliken Hill road; a renowned tourist attraction hose history is consistent with coal discovery in our state in the early 20th century.

    “The great excitement that greeted the reconstruction of this legacy road is therefore consequential and our gratitude, most profound, goes to God Almighty for affording us the means and commitment to deliver this project”.

    Ugwuanyi urged motorists to drive safely and with care.

    While inaugurating the other projects, Governor Ugwuanyi noted that they were “in keeping with our policy to open up the rural areas and encourage the all-round economic growth of the state.

    “We were also motivated by our resolve to alleviate the sufferings of our people and give them a new lease of life wherever they may be in the state,” the governor added.

    A leader of Ngwo community and former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Chief Dubem Onyia expressed gratitude to Ugwuanyi for keeping faith with his promise to reconstruct and modernise the road with street lighting and other safety measures.

    Onyia stated that the road was symbolic and very significant to the people of Ngwo, Enugu State and the entire Igbos”, saying that the governor has wiped out their tears for good.

    He maintained that no government had reconstructed the road after it was built, appreciating the governor for his prompt intervention on the road. He equally reassured the governor of the people’s unflinching support for his re-election in 2019.

  • Senate probes Enugu Airport runway contract

    The deplorable condition of Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu came under the scrutiny of the Senate Thursday.

    The upper chamber mandated its committee on Aviation to investigate the design and repair of the runway of the airport.

    This followed the presentation and adoption of a motion entitled “Need for emergency reconstruction of the runway of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu.”

    The sponsor of the motion, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, who painted a gloomy picture about the airport, warned that the lives travellers who use the airport may not be guaranteed if nothing was done to fix the airport urgently.

    Read Also:Akanu Ibiam International Airport terminal ready soon

    Utazi said, “Informed that while aboard an Air Peace flight from Abuja to Enugu, the pilot made a chilling announcement about the state of the runway of the Akanu Ibiam International airport and enjoined passengers on board who can get the necessary authorities to listen to help in immediately setting about the resurfacing of the runway to forestall accident as the potholes and cracks pot marking the runway make take-off and landing a bumpy and frightening undertaking;

    “Observes that the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu is the first Airport east of the Niger that was built even before Nigeria’s independence and was only upgraded to the status of International Airport on August 24, 2013, long after PortHarcourt Airport was;

    “Notes that the runway before it was upgraded was 2400 metres length and 45 metres width but after the upgrade, it was extended to 3000 metres length which can now take medium to large size aircraft;

    “Informed that a result of a technical appraisal shows that due to high water table of the airport, water percolates and gets trapped between upper asphalt and bottom concrete and this persistent retention of water weakens asphalt and creates potholes and cracks as a result of the weight of landing aircraft which are now heavier that the aircraft of the 60s and 70s

    “Informed that palliative works carried out in the last quarter of 2017 to Create water drains embedded in the asphalt surface end to end have not solved the problem as transition between new asphalt and old asphalt makes the surface rough and bumpy;

    “Further informed that the airport also lacks approach lights at two ends of the runway which has necessitated that the airport operates between 7am to 7pm and the nearness of the runway to Orie Emene market attracts birds which perch around refuse dumps and abattoirs in the market that are awfully dangerous to aircraft engines especially during takeoff and landing;

    “Considering that the SouthEast is the last, among all the geopolitical zones of Nigeria, to have an international airport, the condition of the runway of the airport is disheartening and it would not only expose users of the airport to harm and avoidable accident, it would also discourage international airlines and interests from using the airport;

    “Notes that the upgrade of the airport to international status was a fulfillment of the dreams of the people of South-east of Nigeria who are famed entrepreneurs and have long clamoured for direct flights to parts of the world where they engage in myriad of commercial activities in order to cut costs associated with logistics and distance,”

    Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe in his contribution said that about three years ago, the airport was shut down for upgrade.

    Abaribe said that the chamber should investigate who handled the contract in order to establish who why the runway had to breakdown in less than three years of its reconstruction.

    He insisted that in as much as the Ministry of Aviation should urgently do something about the airport, it was necessary to find out what went wrong.

    Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah who gave the technical side of the motion, said that the technically the Enugu Airport is unsafe.”

    The Senate adopted the prayer to “urge the Federal Ministry of Transport and other relevant Authorities, to as a matter of emergency, resurface and reconstruct the Runway of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, and also extend the length of the Runway.”

     

     

  • CP patrols black spots in Enugu

    The Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mr Mohammed Danmallam, and key officers of his command on Wednesday undertook a situation patrol of “black spots and emerging black spots” in the state.

    The commissioner’s patrol team visited areas and black spots in Enugu-Makurdi Road along 9th Mile and Ebe-Egede-Nsukka Road.

    Other areas visited included Obioma-Udi-Oji River Road and Udi-Ozalla Road linking Enugu-Port Harcourt road axis among other emerging black spots.

    Addressing newsmen during the patrol, Danmallam said that the exercise would offer the command the opportunity to make prompt deployment of security operatives to the affected areas.

    “This is to ensure that police will be in constant touch with members of the public, particularly residents and motorists plying those areas and its environs,’’ he said.

    Read Also: State police is ultimate solution to security challenges – Zwingina

    He assured residents of the state that the command was working in synergy with relevant stakeholders, the government and sister security agencies toward sustaining and consolidating on the existing peace and security in the state.

    The commissioner urged residents of the state to continue to partner with the police and other security agencies toward the sustenance of the existing peace in the state.

    He warned against raising false alarms, entertaining fears and any form of panic arising from any farmers/pastoralists’ issues in the state by members of the public.

    “The command is working in partnership with the state’s Farmers/Pastoralists Committee set up by the government for safety and security of citizens.

    “The command is advising the residents to go about their lawful businesses as there would be continuous peace in the state,’’ he said.

  • Ugwuanyi redeems N5m pledge to Super Eagles

    The Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has fulfilled his N5 million pledge to the Super Eagles for the team performance at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

    Ugwuanyi had made the pledge during a fund raising ceremony for the Super Eagles in May.

    He fulfilled the promise when he presented a cheque for N5million to the team through the state Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Joseph Udedi.

    Read Also: CP patrols black spots in Enugu

    Ugwuanyi congratulated the Eagles on the team performance in Russia and wished the players luck as they returned to their respective clubs in Europe and other parts of the world.

    NAN

     

     

  • Health workers give Enugu, Anambra three months to address CONHESS issues 

    The Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), has given the governments of Anambra and Enugu states three months to address the impending issues of CONHESS or face the wrath of the workers

    The National Vice President of MHWUN, South East zone, Comrade Ikechukwu Nwafor, said this Friday in Awka, Anambra state, during its zonal workshop and meeting of the Union at the Noble Hotels.

    He said the issue with Anambra was the disparity in payment of the CONHESS, where local government pays 40 percent to health workers, while their counterparts in the state pay 60 percent, calling for the harmonization.

    But in Enugu said, Nwafor said nothing had been started, adding that Abia, Ebonyi and Imo states were 100 percent on the CONHESS issue.

    “We are giving these governments in the South East three months or we use every other available means at our disposal to get our rights and they should not allow us to exercise it”

    The Anambra state Chairman of MHWUN, comrade Chinwe Orizu, commended the state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano for the prompt payment of workers’ salaries in the state, while calling on him to address the disparity.

    She said the Union had written several letters drawing the attention of the Governor to the discrimination and the committee setup to look into labour issues for the past one year, had not equally submitted its report.

    On contributory pension Scheme, she said notwithstanding the overwhelming opposition of workers to the scheme, government still deduct from worker’s salary.

    The Head of Service HoS, Harry Uduh, who was represented by Permanent Secretary, Establishments, Carol Njaka, said the state government and workers relationship had been cordial in the state, adding that they should be patient.

    For the Permanent Secretary, Environment, Okafor S N, represented by Rev Sis Monic Okeke, workers should be united in everything they do, adding that they should not allow ‘bad blood ‘ divide them.