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Tag: Enugu

  • Ugwuanyi has wiped away our tears, says University VC

    Ugwuanyi has wiped away our tears, says University VC

    …as governor flags off 10km road construction

    The Vice Chancellor of Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu, Prof. Christian Anieke has described Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State as a Messiah sent by God to wipe away the tears of the University and the people of the host communities through the commencement of the construction of the 10-kilometer Ugwuomu-Nkwubor-Godfrey Okoye University road.

    Speaking during the flag-off ceremony of the road by Gov. Ugwuanyi, Prof. Anieke expressed gratitude to the governor for coming to the rescue of the university and the people of the area through the intervention on the deplorable road. Godfrey Okoye University is owned by the Catholic Diocese of Enugu.

    The Vice Chancellor regretted that all efforts by the university and the people of the communities to get previous governments to construct the road yielded no result “until the Messiah arrived”.

    “Among all the politicians in Enugu, only one person got the heart to do this road and you are the person, Your Excellency. I thank you. You have wiped away the tears of Godfrey Okoye University. You have wiped away the tears of the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu.

    “You have wiped away the tears of Reverend Sisters and Fathers, Ugwuomu and Nkwubor communities; Caritas University, Emene community and all the surrounding communities.

    “This road will be the greatest blessing of your life. Anything you ask God, you will get it”, the Vice Chancellor, who is also a priest prayed.

    He also promised the governor that he will continue to offer prayers for his landslide victory in the forthcoming election.

    Flagging off the road, Gov. Ugwuanyi noted that the action of the government was in response to a formal request from the authorities of the university to assist them improve infrastructural development in the school and its environs.

    The governor added that it was also in keeping with the rural development policy of his administration, stating that the road, when completed, will help to open up the agrarian communities and stimulate rapid economic development of the area in particular and Enugu East local government area in general.

    Gov. Ugwuanyi reiterated his administration’s commitment to “the continuous improvement of the state’s education sector, particularly, through the provision of necessary infrastructure, equipment and logistical support to educational institutions at all levels”.

    He, therefore, pledged continued partnership and cooperation with the university and similar institutions in the state, to ensure the realization of the common visions and objectives in the education sector, “for the benefit of our children and the society at large”

    Earlier in their remarks, the Executive Chairman of Enugu East L.G.A, Hon. Alex Ugwu; the traditional ruler of the Mgbulu Anyuli kingdom, HRH Igwe Mike Ogbuchi; the University’s Board of Trustees’ Chairman, Prof Bartho Okolo and Chairman of Juhel Pharmaceutical Company, Ifeanyi Okoye, commended Gov. Ugwuanyi for his intervention on the road through partnership with the university authorities. 

  • Sell at N145 or lose your petrol, DPR warns Anambra marketers

    Sell at N145 or lose your petrol, DPR warns Anambra marketers

    The Department of Petroleum Resources ( DPR ) has warned petrol marketers within its Enugu Zone to comply with N145 pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) or have their products dispensed to customers free.

    Mr Unyime Akpan of Health, Safety and Environment Department, DPR Enugu Office, gave the warning in Awka when he led an enforcement team to Anambra on Tuesday.

    Akpan said the team sealed one filing station for allegedly refusing to revert and enforced the pump price sale of petrol in nine other stations on Atani road in Ogbaru and some parts of Idemili North Local Government Areas.

    He expressed regret that some marketers had remained defiant, in spite of DPR’s efforts to ensure compliance, noting that the DPR might apply more stringent punishment by dispensing products of defaulting marketers to customers for free.

    READ ALSO: More pains as fuel scarcity returns

    “Petrol price is controlled; stations are not supposed to sell above N145 per liter and if the cost of getting products suggests they cannot sell at that price, then they should leave out.

    “Marketers are the people encouraging the hike; if they are not gaining from it, then they leave out until the system returns to normal.

    “We may have to begin to dispense their products free because DPR also has the powers; if this price compliance sales proves ineffective, we may be left with no option than to give out their petrol, so that they can understand how serious we are,” he said.

    In a reaction, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria ( IPMAN ) absolved its members of any complicity in the hike of petrol price and blamed it on scarcity.

    Chief Ikechukwu Nwankwo, Chairman of IPMAN, Enugu Depot, in charge of Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states, urged DPR to stop the clampdown the members as sealing outlets and auctioning the products would not solve the problem.

    Nwankwo decried the petrol supply situation in the country and called for a more sustainable measure to normalise it.

    He said DPR’s action on IPMAN members, especially those under his zone, amounted to being punished for a problem they did not cause and could not solve.

    Nwankwo said that solution to the problem was massive and sufficient supply of petrol into the system by the NNPC.

    The IPMAN chairman said marketers were making efforts to make petrol available to customers as complete scarcity would amount to shutting the economy and holding the masses hostage.

    “I have spoken with my members here in Anambra, the situation of fuel supply is bad and it is our wish that we begin to get products like the way it used to be before.

    “IPMAN is not happy with the way the DPR is harassing us, closing our stations and auctioning our products. It is like they want to push us out of business because we cannot continue to suffer this loss.

    “NNPC is not allocating products to us, DPR should go and monitor the marketers that get allocation from NNPC; how can we buy product at N190 or N195 and DPR sells them off at N145.

    “We make extra effort to get product at tank depot so that economic activities can go on and we should not be punished for that; we may have to close our stations if they continue to pursue us,” he said.

    Newsmen reportes that pump price of petrol has dropped from between N240 and N250 to N200 per liter.

    NAN

  • COSON storms Enugu for music copyright royalty enforcement

    COSON storms Enugu for music copyright royalty enforcement

    Last week, the Chairman of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Chief Tony Okoroji, led a music copyright royalty enforcement team to Enugu to ensure that, henceforth all users of music in public and commercial settings in Enugu State get appropriate copyright licence or face the wrath of the law.

    Other members of the team included Mr. Uche Stanley Onowo, COSON Enugu State Copyright Royalty Licensing Consultant; Prince Biodun Eguakhide, COSON Edo/Delta State Copyright Royalty Licensing Consultant, Ms. Christabel Odiase, the team’s Media Coordinator and a squad of armed mobile policemen.

    While visiting various hotels, events centers and clubs in Enugu, Chief Okoroji said that in 2018 and beyond, music must pay the songwriters, performers, publishers and investors in the Nigerian music industry and contribute significantly to the growth of the nation’s economy. The COSON Chairman said that with the setting up of the COSON Rapid Response Legal Team made up of eight of the nation’s foremost intellectual property law firms, there is no place anymore for any music copyright royalty defaulter to hide.

    At Bon Hotel Sunshine, one of Enugu’s topmost new hotels, the COSON royalty enforcement team was received by the entire management team of the hotel led by Mr. Stanley Nwakwe, the Operations Manager. Addressing the Bon Hotel Management, Chief Okoroji said that anyone running a hospitality facility in Nigeria now must understand that one of the critical inputs towards the success of the facility is good entertainment which is produced by some people at some cost and which like every other input needs to be adequately paid for.

    He commended the management for the high-quality facilities at Bon Hotel Sunshine and said that he is looking forward to the hotel being a trail blazer in music copyright royalty compliance in Enugu State and the establishment of a good working relationship between COSON and Bon Hotel Sunshine. According to Chief Okoroji, such a relationship can only produce a win-win result for both parties.

  • Inmate emerges overall best Masters graduate of NOUN

    Inmate emerges overall best Masters graduate of NOUN

    An inmate of Enugu Maximum Security prison, Chukwununso Nomeh has emerged the overall best Post-graduate student of the National Open University of Nigeria ( NOUN ) prisons special study centres nationwide.

    The spokesperson of the Nigeria Prison Service in Enugu State, Mr Chukwuemeka Monday made the disclosure in a statement issued in Enugu on Friday.

    Nomeh, a convicted inmate, who was sentenced in 2010 gained admission to study Masters in Business Administration (MBA).

    He graduated with a cumulative grade point of 3.80.

    The Desk Officer of Enugu study centre, CSP Kelvin Iloafonsi said two other inmates also graduated from the NOUN post graduate school.

    Iloafonsi said that one of the inmates had since been released.

    The spokesperson recalled that one of the ex-convict of the same centre, Theophilus Adeniyi, emerged the overall best graduating student in 2014 while in incarceration.

    Monday said that he was currently pursuing his PhD in one of the universities in Nigeria.

    The Controller of prison in the state, Ndubuisi Ogbodo, encouraged more inmates to enroll into NOUN and embrace the transformation mantra of the Controller General of Prison, Ja’afaru Ahmed which focused on training and retraining of both staff and inmates.

    Read Also: Buhari applauds NOUN for redefining ODL

    The CP also called on the public to accept ex-convicts as reformed and responsible member of the society.

    He said that their continuous rejection would only lead them back to crime.

    NAN

  • Plateau United FC ready for 2017/2018 NPFL season

    Plateau United FC ready for 2017/2018 NPFL season

    Defending champions, Plateau United Football Club of Jos on Wednesday said they were fully prepared for the new 2017/2018 Nigeria Professional Football League ( NPFL ) season which begins on Sunday.

    Albert Dakup, the club’s Media Officer, said in Jos that the management has put in place all necessities for a successful outing.

    He recalled that the club had shortly after the end of last season released 12 players whose service were no longer needed.

    “In their stead, the club has recruited 12 new players to strengthen the team for the new NPFL season, as well as its continental engagements.

    Read also: Ikoyi Club fetes ‘Elders’ for 2018

    “Experience was a key factor which was considered in the recruitment of new players, taking into cognisance the continental matches.

    “Based on that, some experienced players like Terna Suswam from Enyimba, Amos Gyang from Kano Pillars, Charles Henlong from Rangers of Enugu, Raphael Ayagwa of Lobi Stars, amongst others, were recruited,” Dakup said.

    The spokesman said also that Plateau United played two pre-season tournaments and some friendly matches as part of its preparations for the new season.

    “We played the NPFL invitational tournament and the Ahlan pre-season tournament.

    “The club began closed camping in Abuja on January 2 and played a friendly match with a Nationwide League One side, Water FC of Abuja.

    “Our first match of the season is away to Nasarawa United of Lafia on Sunday and we are confident that with our level of preparations, we will get a positive result,” he said.

    NAN

  • Enugu Police to honour 15 athletes

    Enugu Police to honour 15 athletes

    No fewer than 15 athletes of the Nigeria Police are to be honoured for exemplary conduct by Enugu State Police Command.

    The Command’s Sports Officer, Ebere Amaraizu, disclosed this on Tuesday in Enugu.

    Amaraizu, who is also the command’s Public Relations Officer ( PPRO ), said that some of the athletes to be honoured were those who performed exemplarily in sports in 2017.

    He said the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Mohammed Danmallam, gave the directive.

    Amaraizu said Danmallam directed that a grand recognition ceremony be held to honour all sportsmen and women who made the command proud nationally and internationally in 2017.

    Read also: Police to strengthen ‘bail is free’ campaign

    He said that the command’s athletes performed well in the last Police Games and the One Service, One Game ( OSOM ) involving all security agencies in Kaduna State in 2017.

    Amaraizu said that some players in the command’s football team, Crime Busters FC, also made the command proud at the just concluded National Nationwide League One ( NLO ) season in 2017.

    He also said that some athletes in track and field ( sprint ) as well as taekwondo also did extremely well in national and international meets in 2017.

    “This grand recognition and honour will help to encourage sports men and women within the command to put in their best in subsequent sporting events.

    “It will also encourage potential sport talents to come forward and display their God given talents for the betterment of the command.

    “We believe they will come forward since they know that they will get the full backing and support of the command, especially the commissioner of police,” he said.

    According to Amaraizu the ceremony will hold on Jan. 19 at the Senior Police Officers Mess, Agbani Road, Enugu.

    NAN

  • Police investigates fire incidents in Enugu

    Police investigates fire incidents in Enugu

    The Police Command in Enugu State has commenced full scale investigation into two separate fire incidents in Enugu city that occurred during the Yuletide and destroyed property worth millions of Naira.

    The Command’s Spokesman, SP Ebere Amaraizu, said in a statement on Monday that police operatives of Ogui Division in Enugu had begun investigations into the fire outbreaks.

    Amaraizu said the fire incidents occurred on Dec. 25, 2017 and Jan. 4, 2018.

    Read Also: Fire: Enugu corn millers seek govt’s assistance over N200m loss

    He said the outbreaks occurred at Otigba Garden in Ogui axis and at I.T.C Computer Department located at Achike Udenwa Complex of the Institute of Management Technology (IMT) both in Enugu.

    “It was gathered that the fire incident which allegedly erupted on Dec. 25 had engulfed the roof of the Achike Udenwa Complex of IMT before the arrival of the fire fighters which prevented its escalation.

    “However, some properties were said to have been destroyed by the inferno.

    “Similarly, that of the Otigba Garden is said to have occurred in the early hours of Jan. 4 but the intervention of the fire fighters prevented its escalation.

    “Although property said to be worth about N2.5 million was said to have been destroyed by the fire.

    “The cause of the two fire incidents has yet to be ascertained as full scale investigations have commenced,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • Osun, Enugu, Borno, Bauchi governors present budgets

    Osun, Enugu, Borno, Bauchi governors present budgets

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola yesterday presented a N173,980,083,007 budget for 2018 to the House of Assembly.

    The budget is N27 billion larger than that of 2017, which stood at N146.6 billion.

    The “Budget of Enduring Legacy”, Aregbesola said, is anchored on his administration’s commitment to make living conducive for the people.

    According to him, the budget will be financed from allocation in the Federation Account N27 billion (15.56 per cent); Value Added Tax N8.8 billion (5.10 per cent).

    He said: “Others are excess crude account N77.7 billion (0.04 per cent); other revenue from FAAC ý(N5,052.6 billion – 2.90 per cent); personal and corporate taxes (ýN25.1 billion -14.45 per cent) and N9.7 billion (5.58 per cent), among others.

    ”Our ultimate goal for the 2018 udget is to ensure a continuous improvement in the welfare and standard of living of our people.

    “This will be achieved by consolidating our previous achievements, and doing everything possible to recover the state’s lost glory”

    The Speaker, Najeem Salam, hailed Aregbesola for delivering good governance and his faithfulness to his campaign promises.

    He promised that the budget will get swift attention.

     

    ENUGU

    enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has presented a N98.5 billion budget to the House of Assembly.

    He noted that it is his third budget presentation aimed at sustaining economic growth.

    The “Budget of Sustainable Economic Growth” has a capital expenditure of N37.84 billion and recurrent expenditure of N60.776 billion.

    The Ministry of Works got the highest allocation, followed by Education, with N6.238 billion.

    Others are Health (N3.7 billion); Rural Development (N2 billion); Housing (N1.18 billion); Water Resources (N782 million); Agriculture (N707 million) and Commerce and Industry (N250 million).

    On expected receipts, Ugwuanyi said the government would get N43 billion from statutory allocation and N2.5 billion from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

    The governor said the budget was articulated in line with the state’s mid-term expenditure frame work, whose basis was formed by the success of the 2017 budget.

    “It’s a multi-year prospective budget and our determination is to surpass the past achievements,” Ugwuanyi promised.

    The Speaker, Edward Uboshi, promised that the budget will get accelerated passage.

     

    BORNO

    borno State Governor Kashim Shettima yesterday presented a budget of N170 billion for 2018 to the House of Assembly.

    The “Budget of Resettlement and Empowerment”, Shettima said, would be financed from expected Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N116, 075,548,000.00; allocations from the  Federation Account of N115, 734,194,000.00 and Capital Receipts of N36,469,772,000.00.

    The budget has a recurrent expenditure of N61, 871, 934, 000.00 and capital expenditure of N108, 408, 580,000.00.

    The 2018 budget is N13.5 million, representing 7.38 per cent, lesser than the 2017 budget.

    Education got the highest share of N27 billion, followed by the Ministry of Works and Transport, which got N22 billion.

    Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development got the lowest allocation of N1.8 billion.

    The Speaker, Abdulkareem Lawan, promised that the House will ensure the quick passage of the bill to enable the government carry out its responsibilities.

     

    Bauchi

    Bauchi State Governor Mohammed Abubakar has presented a budget of N167.9 billion for the 2018 fiscal year.

    The “Budget of Consideration”, Abubakar said, will prioritise Agriculture, Education, Health, Water Supply, Roads, Women and Youth Employment.

    The estimate has a recurrent expenditure of N68.7 billion and capital expenditure of N99.8 billion.

    The revenue expenditure is N114,600,617,381; the government projects an internal revenue generation of N13.11 billion, and statutory allocation of N101,474,233,151.

    The Speaker, Kawuwa Shehu Damina, promised that the budget will be given accelerated treatment.

    He, however, vowed that “the budget will undergo the deserved scrutiny as the House of Assembly could not deviate from its constitutional responsibility”.

    He urged Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to give maximum support to the House Committees during the defence and oversight functions.

    The House of Assembly proceeded on recess yesterday, to resume plenary on February 5, after the budget was referred to relevant committees to study.

  • Police declare ‘Malaysian Boys’ gang wanted in Enugu

    Police declare ‘Malaysian Boys’ gang wanted in Enugu

    The Police Command in Enugu State has declared members of  the “Malaysian Boys’’ gang wanted for alleged criminal activities.

    Police said the gang had been operating within Nimbo and Adani axis of Uzouwani Local Government Area.

    The Command’s spokesman, Ebere Amaraizu, said in a statement yesterday that the command had issued a warrant of arrest for members of the gang.

    Amaraizu urged the public to furnish it with information that could lead to their arrest.

    He also said the command had intensified manhunt for the fleeing “Malaysian Boys,” who had been a thorn on the flesh of the public within Nimbo and Adani axis of Uzouwani council area.

    “They are advised in their own interest to report to the state Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department (CIID) of the command in Enugu.

    “They are Ikechukwu alias Master; Okoro Ifeanyi alias Bukar; Mathew; Marcel Ojike; Ogbobe Ajulu; Odumodu alias Asogwa, Mike also known as Anyi Anyi and Hyacinth Ugwu Julius.

    “Others are John Okwelli; Anselem also known as Photo; Ikechukwu Aaron; Nnamdi Michael; Gabriel also known as Gabos as well as others known as Fela, Zero, Akwasa, Mmiri and Ratty.

    “The command gathered that these group of fleeing suspected hoodlums and mischief-makers masquerading under the aegis of Malaysian Boys operating in their habitat at the dreaded Malaysian Forest, come out to unleash mayhem on residents of Nimbo community and its environs,’’ he said.

    Amaraizu said the police was working with relevant stakeholders to fish them out anywhere they might be within and outside the country.

    The police, on March 25, acting on intelligence report, raided the dreaded forest (Malaysian Forest) and arrested some of the suspected hoodlums.

    Police recovered dangerous exhibits.

  • NSCDC deploys 2,000 personnel ahead of Christmas

    NSCDC deploys 2,000 personnel ahead of Christmas

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC ) on Thursday deployed more than 2,000 personnel in Enugu State to ensure safety of lives and property of residents during the yuletide season.

    The Corps Commandant in the state, Mr Steve Amoga, told newsmen in Enugu.

    He said that the command had also deployed 10 vehicles for 24-hour operations by the officers and men in uniform and plain-cloth.

    The NSCDC boss said that the command had deployed its rapid response squad in strategic locations in the state to protect sites with critical public infrastructure.

    “They are also deployed to places where large number of people gather such as worship centres, markets and shopping malls in Enugu,’’ he said.

    Read also: NSCDC trains 380 officers on criminal prosecution

    According to Amoga, the massive deployment is to ensure that the residents of the state have a well-secured environment during and after the festive period.

    “We are also ensuring that we take pro-active steps to have our plain-cloths and uniform officers and men to nip any act of criminality and terrorism in the bud,’’ he said.

    He explained that every operative had been placed on red alert in order to ensure quick response to any incident in the state, saying that the special operation would last up to the third week of January, 2018.

    The NSCDC boss, however, advised residents to be mindful of the activities of the security personnel and report any suspicious object, movement and persons.

    “When you see any face or group of people that unknown to you lurking around your building and premises, please do report to the NSCDC so that our intelligence officers can come around.

    “Also, if someone comes around you where it is clear that there is enough space for him to pass but he or she decided to squeeze his or her body on you.
    “You must check properly your pockets and belongings to ensure that you have not been robbed.

    “And once you notice any theft raise alarm and call the nearest NSCDC official around especially if you are in a market or shopping mall,’’ he added.

    NAN