The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Enugu

  • Metrology institute vital for economic diversification – SON

    Metrology institute vital for economic diversification – SON

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) says functional metrology institute is vital for economic diversification needed to improve the nation’s economy.

    The Director-General of SON, Mr. Osita Aboloma, said this at the 2017 World Metrology Day in Enugu on Tuesday.

    The event, which was organised by the Weights and Measures Department of Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and SON had the theme: “Measurements for Transport”.

    Aboloma said that functional metrology would support the accreditation of all products, especially export destined goods and services.

    “At present, metrology is still one of the fundamental factors enabling a successful modern and economic viability and a prosperous society.

    “This is what we do must depend in order to check disagreement in businesses, human activities as well as standard of life in general,” Aboloma, represented by Mrs. Oluremi Ayeni, a Director in the agency, said.

    On the theme, Aboloma said that every type of transport from bicycle to ship, from car to spacecraft, required to meet appropriate standards as the basis for domestic and international regulation.

    He said that such policies could specify essentials for every aspect of performance like safety, economy and emissions.

    “As demands for accessible and efficient transport increase so also for measurements and standards to underpin them.

    “Ultimately, some of the demands are met by new technologies like driverless cars and zero-emission vehicles – consecutively generating new measurement challenges,” Aboloma said.

    Delivering a lecture on “Measurements for Transport”, the Director of National Metrology Institute (NMI), Enugu, Mr. Obiora Manafa, said that transport remained a vital determinant in business as well as production.

    Manafa stressed on measurement in road, water, air, railway and pipeline modes of transportation.

    “Both the Holy Bible and Quran said that God is concerned about appropriate weights and measures.

    “The Holy books want people to applying appropriate weights and measures to avoid misunderstanding and cheating in business or human affairs,” he said.

    The director said that NMI conference coming up later this year would ensure that Nigerians products meet all standards; while the issue of rejection of any product from the country would be a thing of the past.

    A representative of the Weights and Measures Department of Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Okechukwu Ejiofor, advised Nigerians to seek standard measures in all their doings to establish integrity for their products or services.

    Ejiofor, however, called for the re-introduction of road weighing bridges as part of revenue generation for the Federal Government meant to fix or repair the roads at intervals.

    Highlights of the event was the inspection of the ongoing construction at the National Metrology Institute (NMI) being facilitated by the Federal Government with support funding from UNIDO and the European Union.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the World Metrology Day is an annual celebration since the Meter Convention was signed by countries on May 20, 1875.

    Nigeria chose to celebrate the Day on May 23 because the actual date fell on a Saturday.

  • Former Enugu Speaker attributes popularity of APC to good governance

    Former Enugu Speaker attributes popularity of APC to good governance

    Former Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Chief Eugene Odo, says the growing popularity of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state is a call for good governance.

    Odo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Monday that the current leadership style and quality in the state was inconsistent with what obtained in the past.

    He said that the leadership lacuna was so glaring that members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state were joining the APC in their numbers.

    “Part of the reasons why we joined the APC is that with the level God has assisted us, I do not think the state government has anything to offer for now.

    “We do not want to show the difference between what is happening now and what happened in the past because the facts are glaring.

    “God has benefitted us and we should be in the vanguard of benefitting others. That is our mission in APC,” he said.

    The former speaker lauded residents of the state for embracing the APC, adding that with committed men and women, the state will go back to its former glory.

    He appealed to members of the party not to join issues with other political parties but to work assiduously in ensuring that APC won future elections in the state.

    “We should not be reactive to the threats from the PDP because they are confused.

    “Most importantly, there is nothing like PDP in Enugu again. What we have is a group of people that will soon be lumped into another party,” he said.

    Odo said that the party faithful in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area were working round the clock to make the APC formidable.

    “Our slogan and strategy is that any political appointee in the other parties must lose their polling booths during future elections and we are working towards that.

    “We thank God that the PDP is now history in Enugu State so whatever reaction coming from there is panic measure,” he said.

    He said that it was imperative that members of APC worked together to achieve its set goals.

    “We were thinking of how to develop and transform APC into a formidable party in the state when former Gov. Sullivan Chime joined us.

    “His presence has assisted us even in our respective local government areas because people who might not have taken some of us serious now know that we are powerful.

    “By the grace of God, APC will certainly take over the Government House in Enugu in 2019,” Odo said.

    NAN recalls that Odo, who led the state assembly for eight years as speaker joined the APC in January, 2017.

     

  • Kogi, Enugu inaugurate committee to resolve boundary dispute

    Kogi, Enugu inaugurate committee to resolve boundary dispute

    The Kogi and Enugu Governments have inaugurated a 10-man technical committee to resolve the lingering boundary disputes between the two states.

    The committee, which has five members from each state, is to be co-chaired by the Surveyors General of both states – Michael Abolorin, Kogi and Ishiwu Godwin of Enugu.

    A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to Kogi Deputy Governor, Sylvester Akor, said that the committee would look into issues in the dispute and work out some meeting points toward a final resolution.

    “The committee will explore areas of common agreement and present same to the National Boundary Commission (NBC),” the statement, made available to newsmen on Sunday in Lokoja, said.

    It quoted Kogi Deputy Governor Simon Achuba as advising members of the committee to imbibe the spirit of ‘give and take’, so as to reach common grounds and sustain the existing peace and harmony between the two states.

    Achuba emphasised the need for compromise from both sides so as to speed up amicable settlement and eliminate areas of mutual suspicion among the border communities.

    He also called for honesty in the discussions, and counseled members on the need for mutual fairness.

    Enugu State Deputy Governor Cecilia Ezeilo, on her part, said that Kogi and Enugu States had many things in common and had every reason to agree after any disagreement.

    She expressed optimism that the committee would come out with workable and acceptable resolutions that would sustain peace and unity.

  • Rangers coach tasks team to demolish Gombe United

    Rangers coach tasks team to demolish Gombe United

    Chukwuma Agbo, Interim coach of Rangers International FC of Enugu, has tasked his players to demolish Gombe United FC in their Sunday encounter.

    Rangers FC will trade tackle with the Gombe side at home in Enugu in the first match of the second stanza of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL)

    During the first stanza of the league, the two teams played a 3-3 draw in Gombe.

    Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu, Agbo said his players need to score as many as 5 goals on Sunday.

    “Rangers went, saw and nearly conquered but for some lapses. So, it will make full sense if we spell Gombe with goal on Sunday.

    “We are not relaxing because no match is easy, the job we started in Gombe we want to accomplish it here.

    “If you look at the table we are still not safe, but on the other hand, you can see that we can still retain the trophy.

    “So we are not relenting as we have made up our minds to go out and win the match on Sunday,’’ he said.

    Agbo recalled that the first leg encounter in Gombe did not end the way he had expected as the team had travelled determined to get the three points.

    “Our match in Gombe was interesting. Yes, I decided to use the word interesting because the referee we saw in the first half changed in the second half.

    “It was after the interval that Gombe cancelled our 2-0 lead and scored the third goal but we were able to equalize because the players applied our philosophy of sustaining mental strength and that was why the scoreline ended 3-3.

    He said that the technical crew was working assiduously to balance the club’s defense and midfield.

    “We are growing from strength to strength as we have started scoring goals, so we have to protect the goals because that is what makes a champion

     

  • Police begin shooting exercise in Enugu

    Police begin shooting exercise in Enugu

    The Police Command in Enugu State will on Saturday begin its 2017 shooting range training and re-training exercise.

    The Command’s Spokesman, SP Ebere Amaraizu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Enugu that the exercise would include musketry and unarmed combat.

    Amaraizu said that the exercise would take place at the command’s shooting range site located behind the Superior Police Officers Mess at Agbani Road in Enugu.

    “Members of the public are advised not to panic or entertain fear during the event as it is a routine exercise embarked upon by the command for its personnel.

    “To this end, residents of the axis are advised to stay away from the shooting range zone to avoid any injury,’’ he said.

    He said that the exercise would last for some months.

    NAN reports that the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Danmallam Mohammed, had always stressed the importance of training and re-training of police officers and men for competence and pro-activeness.

     

  • Chamber urges journalists to emphasize enterprise, innovation among Nigerians

    Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA) has urged journalists to emphasis on the spirit of enterprise and innovation of Nigerians rather than recession.

    Rev. Ugochukwu Chime, President of ECCIMA, made the call while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Enugu.

    He said that although the country was gradually getting out of recession, there was need to project those new enterprise and innovative ideas that Nigerians had come out with to survive the out-going recession.

    “We are now having a change in the economic narrative of the country.”

    The chamber boss noted that Nigerians had been creative now than ever before, especially finding ways to manage their businesses and homes better.

    “Our youths are highly enterprising in the entertainment, creativity and art world; thus, fighting their way from the national market to the global stage,’’ he said.

    According to Chime, that is the new spirit of Nigeria and Nigerians which people must discuss and journalists must write and promote.

    “Promoting these new enterprise and innovation will further create jobs, wealth and check restiveness,’’ he said.

    The chamber boss, however, commended the Central Bank of Nigeria for maintaining sound fiscal and monetary policies.

    “I must thank Mr President for creating the space and empowerment to fight corruption.

    “Also, I am not forgetting vast majority of Nigerians who had joined the anti-corruption crusade of the government to ensure that public funds are no longer used for jamboree.’’ he said.

     

  • We will win future elections – PDP

    We will win future elections – PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State on Sunday expressed optimism that it would win all future elections in the state.

    Some chieftains of the party in the state said at a zonal meeting in Awgu for Enugu West that the party would continue to control the state in spite of recent political realignments in the state.

    The Deputy Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly, Chief Donatus Uzogbado, said that the party was not envisaging any challenge from any of the opposition parties in the state.

    Uzogbado said that the faithful needed not fret over recent events where some members defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), adding that PDP was “still on ground”.

    “The APC challenge is no challenge to us. In fact, the 2019 elections is going to be the easiest for our party in the state,” he said.

    Also, the Chairman of Aninri Local Government Area, Mr. Chidi Ekwe, said that the unprecedented peace and unity in the party would be the tonic for its successful outing of the party in future polls.

    Ekwe hailed the exemplary relationship between Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and the Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, saying that the state had not had it so good.

    “We at the local government are trying to replicate the good works of the governor in our various councils,” Ekwe said.

    The Commissioner for Water Resources, Chief Charles Egungbe, said that the PDP had a well-thought out secession plan which could not be thwarted by any of the opposition parties.

    Egungbe said that there was nothing to fear as the PDP was synonymous with the state, adding that the second term of the governor was assured.

    He, however, urged the party faithful not to rest on their oars or remain indifferent if the PDP must be successful.

    “Our loyalty is with Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and we shall keep supporting him,” Egungbe said.

    The member representing Aninri constituency in the House of Representatives, Chief Toby Okechukwu, said that Enugu West was a no-go area for the opposition parties.

    Okechukwu said that politicians in the area were so focused that even without a political party they could decide where their allegiance stood and would not waiver.

    “However, we will do our best to make sure that the party continues to prosper. Our support for the governor is not in vain. We are with him because of what he is doing,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the party leadership in the zone received some members of opposition parties in the state who defected to it at the event.

    One of them, from All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Mrs. Ijeoma Chukwu, said that her decision to join PDP was borne out of conviction that it was the party of the moment in the state.

    Chukwu, who was APGA’s candidate for the Enugu West senatorial election in 2015, said that her former party was dying.

    “We have decided to join the PDP because of some reasons. I love my former party, APGA, but it is unfortunate the party is gradually dying,” she said.

     

  • Corruption: Church to excommunicate erring members in Enugu

    The Enugu Diocese of the Methodist Church, will henceforth excommunicate its members, who are prosecuted for corrupt practices, the archbishop of the diocese, Most Rev. Christopher Edeh, has said.

    Edeh, who gave this caution in Enugu in his state of the nation’s address to the congregation at the end of the 42nd Annual Synod of the church on Sunday, said that such people were a disgrace to the body of Christ.

    The cleric urged the Federal Government, as a matter of duty, to prosecute all suspected corrupt government officials in the country, irrespective of political, ethnic or religious inclinations.

    Edeh noted with dismay that some corrupt officials in government were avoiding investigations, pointing out that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should give more attention to this development.

    “The suspension of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Babachir Lawal and the Director of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ayo Oke, was the height of  fighting corruption by President Muhammadu Buhari,’’ he said.

    The cleric, however, opined that the investigations should be handled by an independent panel rather than by government functionaries.

    The archbishop also called for transparency and accountability in the disbursement of all the looted funds.

    Edeh also urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts on the diversification of the economy to agriculture, solid minerals and industrial development to tackle the present recession.

    The clergyman, who advised the congregation to embrace farming, called on the government to check the invasion of farmlands by herdsmen, who had been rendering the efforts of farmers useless.

    On the ongoing continuous voters’ registration, the archbishop urged churches to ensure adequate participation in the exercise.

    “The time has gone when in the name of Christian faith, believers stand aloof when national issues like the census or the National Identity Card registration pass by.

    “Performing our civic responsibility is also a Christian responsibility, we cannot be heavenly conscious and earthly useless,’’ Edeh said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the synod is, “God’s Word, My Guide”.

  • Crime Busters pushing to enter Pro-League Division – Team Manager

    The Team Manager of Crime Busters FC, Enugu, Ebere Amaraizu, says the club is going through reformation to achieve its target of gaining promotion to the Pro-League Division.

    The club will play its first match in the ongoing 2016/2017 Nationwide League One (NLO-1) against Enyimba Feeders FC at the Aba Stadium on May 12.

    Amaraizu disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Enugu that the club had made preparation to play this season well to gain promotion to the Pro-League.

    “All hands are on deck as every match in this season will be taken seriously.

    “We have charged players and coaches to live up to their billings as the club is going through series of internal reformation to meet its set target.’’

    He said that players to be featured by the club would be U-19 as directed by the league board and approved by congress.

    Amaraizu, who is director in-charge of South-East clubs in the NLO board, noted that no over-age players would be allowed in the club in line with the standard set by the board.

    NAN reports that the friendly match played at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, on Saturday between Crime Busters and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence FC ended 1-0 in favour of the police team

  • Police nab three armed robbery suspects in Enugu

    The Enugu State Police Command says it has arrested three armed robbery suspects who specialized in car snatching in the state capital.

    The Commissioner of Police, Mr Danmallam Mohammed, told newsmen on Friday in Enugu that the suspected robbers were on the police wanted list for their involvement in various crimes.

    “The notorious armed robbery and car snatching gang were trailed to their various hideouts at Abakpa Nike axis and Presidential Road areas of Enugu metropolis.

    “In the process of their arrest, a gun duel ensued between our operatives and the hoodlums in which they were overpowered by the superior fire-power of our operatives.

    “This left them fatally injured while some of their gang members escaped,’’ the commissioner said.

    He said that investigation into their nefarious activities continued while man hunt for other fleeing members of the gang were intensified.