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Tag: Enugu

  • Enugu police sensitise tricycle operator on security

    ‘He advised the group to close ranks with the police for a safe and secure environment and state by cooperating with them and reporting promptly any threat to security of their environment as well as their smooth operations to the police and other relevant
    security agencies’

    The Enugu State Police command has interacted with commercial tricycle operators, sensitising them on the need to be law abiding, and safety and security conscious as well as partnering with the police in fighting crime.

    The one-day sensitisation on security for the operators was held at the IMT Campus II Park. Attending were no fewer than 600 tricycle operators.

    The police spokesman in Enugu, Ebere Amaraizu, a Superintendent who represented the Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Dan-Mallam Mohammed told them that there was need for them to be law abiding in order to run away from issues that will put them in conflict with the law.

    He advised the group to close ranks with the police for a safe and secure environment and state by cooperating with them and reporting promptly any threat to security of their environment as well as their smooth operations to the police and other relevant security agencies.

    He also informed participants that the state command under the close watch of CP Dan-Mallam Mohammed has intensified action against any form of extortion of cyclists by police personnel at stop and search as the command has promptly mobilised its x-squad and monitoring unit to that effect and with a view to fishing out any erring personnel for necessary disciplinary action

    He released the commands distress call numbers and social media contacts for easy partnership with the group and advised operators to report through the appropriate authority about any perceived case of extortion.

    The state chairman of the Association Comrade Benjamin Ikah had thanked Amaraizu for the sensitisation which he described was a right step from a right direction and also thanked Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his support for the cyclists in the state.

    He advised his members to be law abiding and not to engage or encourage criminal activities and above all not to take laws into their hands.

    There was also road traffic sensitisation by the officials of Federal Road safety Corp Enugu state command where relevant traffic guide were released to operators.

  • Ohanaeze applauds FG on agric initiatives

    The President of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, has applauded the agricultural initiatives of the Federal Government saying they are yielding positive results in Igbo speaking states.

    Ohanaeze Ndigbo is the apex socio-cultural organisation of Igbo speaking states in Nigeria.

    Addressing newsmen in Enugu on Wednesday, Nwodo contended that with the implementation of the initiatives, the federal government had taken the best move to take the people out of recession.

    He said that the various agricultural schemes embarked by the government through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) were a huge success.

    The Ohanaeze chieftain said that the CBN governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, should be commended for the intervention of the apex bank in various empowerment programmes aimed at stimulating the economy.

    Nwodo said: “we want to use this opportunity to salute the governor of the Central Bank.

    “This gentleman has had one of the most difficult challenges that have faced any governor of the CBN.

    “What he has done lately in terms of fighting the value of the naira is most commendable.

    “His programmes at assisting agriculture have impacted positively on the sector.

    “It is working in Imo, Ebonyi, Abia, Anambra and it is beginning to work in Enugu state and we are immensely grateful to him.

    “We encourage him to continue to work in this way to ensure that the ordinary people in Nigeria can bounce back as this recession continues to recede in its calamitously effect on our standard of living.”

    Nwodo said that the achievements of the government in the petroleum sector should not be overlooked as the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had been reinvigorated.

    He said that the achievements recorded in the NNPC during the tenure of Dr Ibe Kachikwu as Minister of State for Petroleum and Managing Director were outstanding.

    “Since the NNPC was incorporated, no minister or managing director has ever put the corporation on public portal.

    “But by the click of the mouse, when our son was there, you could tell how much came into NNPC every day and how much was spent.

    “For the first time, petroleum subsidy was removed without the economy collapsing,” he said.

    The Ohaneze president appealed to the Federal Government to intervene and rehabilitate the Enugu/Port Harcourt expressway which he described as “death trap.’’

    “While we commend the minister of Power, Works and Housing for the work that has started on the Enugu/Onitsha road, we want to draw his attention to the road between Enugu and Port Harcourt.

    “The road is a death trap. It is tortuous and God knows how long it will take to rehabilitate the road especially with all the stops by security men,” he said.

    Nwodo expressed concern that the entire South-East seemed to be under security siege by officers of the armed forces, who he alleged, extort money openly from innocent citizens and road users.

    He said that complaints by the organisation against the brazen impunity of the security agencies on the roads across the zone had remained unattended to.

  • ‘Our Governor is most labour friendly in Nigeria’

    ‘Our Governor is most labour friendly in Nigeria’

    Workers of Enugu State, on Monday, conferred on Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi the “Most Labour-friendly Governor Award in the history of Enugu State” in recognition of his administration’s development strides and commitment to their welfare, despite the severe economic crisis in the country.

    The state workers, who were visibly joyful, noted that the award was also in appreciation of the governor’s sustained harmonious industrial relationship with the state workforce, such as regular payment of salaries, pensions and other allowances on or before every 25th of the month, when many other states could not do so.

    The ceremony, which climax was a match past by all the unions under the various ministries, parastatals, agencies, among others, witnessed for the first time, the pensioners of the state participating in the exercise in a joyful mood.

    In his welcome address, the state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Virginus Nwobodo, commended Gov. Ugwuanyi for his administration’s feats in the prudent and transparent management of the Paris Club refund, especially the use of 100 % of the Local Governments’ share of the fund to offset the arrears of LG workers’ salaries and some pensions arrears owed pensioners in the 17 councils of the state.

    Comrade Nwobodo, also added that the governor as a labour-friendly governor, has made the workers proud through “the promotion of teachers and recruitment of over 1300 primary school teachers as well as elongation of the terminal grade of qualified primary school teachers to level 16; absorption of 54% of total cost of the 100 housing units at Elim Estate allocated to workers within the junior and intermediate grades; implementation of 2006 approved scheme of service for local government employees in the state through the release of senior staff promotions with qualified workers progressing to grade 16 in all the departments; successful conduct of Biometric exercise at the state, among others.

    While listing some demands, the labour leader, assured the governor of their support and cooperation and called on the workers to sustain their current efforts towards service delivery for the benefit of the state.

    The state Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Igbokwe Chukwuma Igbokwe also applauded the governor for “the transparent disbursement of the N4.2 billion bailout fund for arrears of salaries and pensions of the state public servants” and “the ongoing massive infrastructural development in parts of Enugu metropolis and across the 17 local government areas of the state” in line with the vision to open up more rural areas for socio-economic expansion.

    He also appreciated the governor for always identifying with the workers, saying that “Governor Ugwuanyi is the only governor who has attended the May Day celebration consecutively since the inception of his administration.”

    In his response, Gov. Ugwuanyi who was delighted to see the pensioners participating in the match past with smiling faces thanked the state chapter of the NLC for the honour bestowed on him barely a year the national body of the congress did same.

    Describing Enugu State workers as “committed allies in the struggle to make the State a better place for all citizens”, Gov. Ugwuanyi noted that “while others are lamenting the harsh effects of the recession, we are forging ahead in all areas of development and strengthening the bonds that tie us together. Even our pensioners are not left out in the celebration of this new dawn as they now receive their pensions regularly.

    “We know of course, that these achievements are the result of our collective efforts as people of one family. You have indeed been there for us from the very first day. You have shown us understanding and patience and have freely given us your cooperation as we sought to navigate our way through the very difficult economic and social conditions that we met.

    “I have nonetheless, taken due note of all the areas of concern that you have dutifully outlined and I want to assure you that, despite the daunting economic challenges currently facing us, the God that fed five thousand people with five loaves and two fish, will also make it possible for us to address and resolve these issues satisfactorily and comprehensively”, the governor stated

  • Enugu constituency tackles neglect

    Enugu constituency tackles neglect

    ‘We note with regret that despite our undiluted support for the party (PDP) whereby no person from Udi North challenged Governor Sullivan Chime during his elections, he never visited any part of Udi North either on a working visit or friendly tour’

    The people of Udi North in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State have marshalled out strategies to extricate themselves from “centuries of marginalisation and neglect” of their area.

    They pointed the finger of blame at the last administration led by Sullivan Chime, who hails from Udi South.

    At the meeting which saw eminent citizens of the area pouring out their minds, three papers were presented at the occasion tagged “Udi North Leaders’ Forum”. A former secretary to old Anambra State, Prof. Onyema Ochioha presented a Paper on “Development Administration as Vehicle for attainment off Good Governance”, a security chief, Mathew Obodoechi gave a talk on “Security and Vigilance” while a former legislator, Chief Marcel Njeze presented a paper “The price of inaction on the history of marginalisation of Udi North.”

    After a thorough examination of their disadvantaged they claimed to have found themselves in the socio-economic and Political Map of Enugu State the people in a communique, we resolved that Udi North Constituency has been politically and economically marginalised and ignored for too long that it seems they have been forgotten. That “our hope and chances of liberation was dashed by the immediate past administration that discriminatively cut off Udi North from the little development that was brought to Udi Local Government to the extent that the construction of old Opi- 9th mile Onitsha Road was commenced without considering the Udi North side of the road”.

    They further claimed that in “the last eight years prior to the assumption of office by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi administration, rural roads in Udi North were not considered, Schools were not renovated, school children sit on the bare floor while in many instances, learning was being done under the Mango and Cashew Trees. It is in the same strength that any people with snake bite in Udi North, be it as far as Akpakwume/Nze and Affa must have to travel to Enugu before treatment could be administered because no General Hospital exists in the entire Udi North neither is there any functional Health Center.”

    According to them: “We note with regret that despite our undiluted support for the party (PDP) whereby no person from Udi North challenged Governor Sullivan Chime during his elections, he never visited any part of Udi North either on a working visit or friendly tour throughout his tenure as Governor.

    We also stand to be challenged and make bold to say that the only road done and which Udi North incidentally benefitted is the road from Eke leading to Sullivan Chime’s Expansive Farm/Ranch in Oghu. This was done ostensibly to enable him access to the farm and easy evacuation of his produce.

    Against these backdrops of innate and calculated slavery status that characterized the plight of Udi North since 1999, we view Sullivan’s decision to come to Udi North and declare his joining the All Progressive Congress (APC) as insult to the sensibility of Udi North and a deliberate attempt to put the People of Udi North on collision course with the People Friendly Government of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and the worthy Representation of both Senator Ike Ekweremadu and Hon. Dennis Oguerinwa Amadi.

    We state in clear and unequivocal terms that Udi North has never ever supported any other party but PDP and this we vow to continue doing in support of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and Hon. Dennis Amadi We note with joy that in less than two years, the bypass to decongest traffic at the 9th mile, a project conceived by Chimaroke Nnamani but abandoned by Sullivan has been completed by Governor Ugwuanyi. That the Uborji – Ameke Ngwo – Ama bypass which was pegged by Chimaroke, abandoned by Sullivan was done and completed by Governor Ugwuanyi all to the greater benefit of Udi North people as this is the route to our various communities.

    We are also not unaware of some landmark efforts of our brothers in the National Assembly particularly Senator Ike Ekweremadu and Hon. Dennis Oguerinwa Amadi.”

    They sent a save-our-soul message to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State to come to their rescue in constructing many roads in Udi North especially the Umulumgbe- Amokwu Affa- Ikedimkpa – Egede- Awhum link road, Ebe Junction by Enugu – Nsukka Road to Ebe Market then to Eke- Egede New Road and the completion of Affa-Akpakwume-Nze- Mkpologwu-Aku Road.

    In an apparent spite of former Governor Sullivan Chime who dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) they declared: “In the light of these visible impacts, we state in clear terms that PDP is our party and that we are solidly in support of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and Hon. Dennis Amadi.

  • Enugu probes ‘sale of defunct NCC land’

    Enugu State has constituted a commission of enquiry into alleged sale of land belonging to the defunct Nigerian Coal Corporation (NCC) by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).
    Inaugurating the commission in Enugu, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi said the measure followed agitation and restiveness among host communities over the sale of such land.
    He said the action was in the interest of residents and other stakeholders.
    “The government decided to set up the commission of enquiry to look into the sale and alienation of the said land and other matters incidental to it in the interest of all,” Ugwuanyi said.
    He mentioned the terms of reference to include identification and collation of land granted to the defunct NCC by host communities for station and colliery purposes.
    The governor empowered the commission to identify land or landed property granted to the NCC by their host communities, which had become subject of sale, lease or grant or disposed of.
    He said the purposes for which the affected land had been alienated and the motive should be identified.
    Ugwuanyi urged the commission to ascertain if the persons or authorities to whom the plots of land were alienated to complied with the extant land planning laws.
    “The committee has three months to complete the assignment and submit its reports,” he said.
    The Chairman of the commission, Justice Kingsley Udeh (retd), thanked the governor for finding them worthy to serve the state in such capacity.
    He said the commission was made up of tested professionals.
    “The job is onerous and challenging, but we shall not let the state down.
    “We shall do the job with all sense of duty so that the restiveness will be addressed in the host communities,” Udeh said.

  • Army arrests impersonator in Onitsha

    Army arrests impersonator in Onitsha

    The Nigerian Army, 82 Division, Enugu, says a naval patrol team has arrested one Mr Abdullahi Yakubu at Kara, Atani road, Onitsha, Anambra for alleged impersonation.

    Col. Sagir Musa, Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, made the disclosure on Friday in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Onitsha.

    Musa said the incident occurred at about 12 noon on April 10, noting that Yakubu was at the time of his arrest, dressed in the Nigerian Army camouflage uniform and combat boots.

    “On interview, he could not provide correct answers to the questions asked, thereby exposing him as an obvious impersonator.

    “Further questioning revealed that the culprit had been in the habit of harassing and extorting members of the public under the guise of being a soldier, and presents fake identification card as evidence.

    “The patrol team, on April 10, at about 2:50 p.m., handed the culprit to troops of 302 Artillery Regiment deployed for duty at the Onitsha Head Bridge,” Musa said.

    The deputy director said the suspect had since been questioned at the Regiment’s Military Police Orderly Room, with the view to handing him over to the police for further action.

    He urged members of the public to take note of the occasional tendency of hoodlums who disguised as military personnel to defraud them.

    “The public are also requested to report such bad elements when seen to the nearest police station or any security office close to them,” Musa said.

     

  • Timaya rocks Enugu with ‘Legendary’ performance

    Timaya rocks Enugu with ‘Legendary’ performance

    Looking up with the Real Deal Experience, courtesy of Legend Extra Stout, dancehall artiste, Timaya, over the weekend, treated fans to an electrifying performance in Enugu.
    The event which held at the Polo Park Mall, Abakaliki road, saw the ‘Dem Mama’ crooner thrilling the crowd with scintillating performances with the backing of a live band.
    The crowd reacted, singing along with the self-styled Egberi Papa in the one hour plus performance as he dished out some of his hit tracks like ‘Dem Mama’, ‘Ukwu’ and ‘I concur’.
    “It’s been a fantastic night, I must say,” said Timaya.
    “There was too much love from the fans. I can only say a big thank you to them for the love. I’ve been on the Real Deal Experience train for a while and it just keeps getting better.”
    The Tipsy Kelvano band and comedian, De Don also spiced the show with their performances while some attendees won exciting prizes like flat screen TVs, generators and refrigerators.
    “The Real Deal experience will continue to bring Nigeria’s biggest acts to every neighborhood so fans can get to meet and interact with them on a more personal level, just as we continue to use the platform to promote local talents too,” said Oluseun Lawal, Brand Manager, Legend Extra Stout.

  • Depression: Psychiatric doctor advises Nigerians to ‘take things easy’  

    A Psychiatrist Doctor, Femi Taiwo, has advised Nigerians to take things easy with their personal and economic expectations to avoid depression.

    Dr Taiwo, who works with the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, gave the advice while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Tuesday.

    According to him, depression is something that cannot be seen, but it is nonetheless, a leading cause of death in people.

    “The economic situation in the country might have made individuals prone to depression.

    “However, people should always take things easy and commit everything to the hands of God,’’ he said.

    The medical expert also advised those constantly relapsing into depressive mood over a very short period of time to consult a psychiatric doctor.

    Taiwo enumerated some of the symptoms of depression as: prolonged feeling of sadness, reduced energy and activity level.

    Others, he said, are loss of interest in what was previously one’s hobby, reduced appetite and sleep, among others.

     

  • Enugu FA Cup: Star plus FC breaks five years quarter finals jinx

    Star plus FC of Ngwo has reached the Semi-Finals of the ongoing Enugu State Federation cup competition after five previous attempts that  ended in quarter –finals.

    Chief coach of the club, Anistar Izuikem,  told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu that the joy of his players cannot be measured after breaking the FA cup five years quarter-finals jinx on Wednesday.

    Izuikem who is also the secretary of the Enugu State Football Coaches Association, said that the club piped Purple Krown FC of Independence layout 1-0 at the quarter-finals match on Wednesday.

    “It is a thing of joy that we reached the semi-finals which has eluded us for five years.

    “I am happy that the players have matured to compete with the big clubs in the state and right now, we are not going to be carried away by this achievement.

    “Reaching the semi-finals at the  expense of big club like Purple Krown Academy made us believe that we can make it to the final on May 2, 2017 in spite of our next opponent.

    “We have started preparation for Rangers International FC because they are the club we may likely face at the next round,’’ he said.
    NAN reports that Rangers would have played Enugu Diocesan FC on Thursday  but their continental engagement compelled the organizers to postpone the match.

    Izuikem said that his players are now in high spirit to face any opponent in the round of four be it Rangers or Enugu Diocesan.
    The coach wished to face Enugu Diocesan instead of Rangers at this stage of the competition saying that no club has ever won Rangers in the State FA cup.

    “Enugu Diocesan will be an easy opponent for us at the semi-finals but beating Rangers would be a mountain for them to climb unless miracle happened.

    “If it is Rangers that we are bound to face, we fear no foes because the defending champions will have their hands full on that day as we are going to give them a run for their money,”the coach said.

  • Air Force tackles meningitis in Enugu

    Air Force tackles meningitis in Enugu

    The Nigerian Air Force has joined the fight against Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis (CSM), advising Enugu communities on how to prevent the epidemic, reports CHRIS OJI

    With no fewer than 489 persons dead and 26 out of the 36 states of the federation hit by cerebro-spinal meningitis or CSM, it is no surprise that the country’s latest epidemic is getting some attention in Enugu State. What catches the eye, though, is the fact military personnel are leading the charge against the disease.

    “So far, 489 deaths have been confirmed in 4,637 cases recorded as of April 10,” said Health Minister Isaac Adewole. “We call on the traditional institutions and leaders to help spread the message that our people must come forward to be vaccinated,” he said.

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has taken up the challenge. No fewer than 250 residents of Orjiagu-Agbani Community near Enugu have benefitted from its free CSM prevention lecture and medical outreach.

    The medical outreach involved distribution of free insecticide-treated nets to allow residents keep their windows open at night for ventilation as well as for mosquito prevention. Others are free HIV/AIDS test and awareness campaign; blood and sugar levels check; malaria and hepatitis tests; oral and dental test and free drugs.

    The Commander of 155 Base Services Group of NAF, Enugu, Commodore Paul Masiyer, said that the exercise was part of the corporate social responsibility of the Air Force to their host communities.

    Masiyer said that the exercise was focused on CSM due to its devastating impact in some parts of the country.

    He said that NAF had to get more insecticide-treated nets as an inducement to make the residents see the need to sleep in a well-ventilated and mosquito free area by keeping their windows open always.

    The commander said that the exercise was in line with the vision of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, for all NAF formations to know and interact in a cordial manner with their host and other communities in their domain.

    “So, the medical outreach is NAF’s way to show appreciation as well as identify with our host communities, neighbours and the general public in order to shoulder their health responsibility.

    “Through this, we are building a long lasting bond between the NAF and communities in Enugu State, which is our host state and community,’’ he said.

    He said that services provided during the medical outreach were free while some other light but prolonged cases would be referred to the 155 Base Services Group Medical Centre, Enugu.

    Earlier, the Commandant of Nigeria Air Force Comprehensive School, Agbani, Group Captain Musa Aileru, said that the teachers of the school and NAF medical team had embarked on the CSM lectures to alert the community and prevent it in the community and state.

    Aileru noted that NAF had benefited from the peaceful disposition of the community as the host of its comprehensive school.

    Responding, the Traditional Ruler of Orjiagu-Agbani Community, Igwe Sampson Nnamani, lauded the NAF for the medical outreach.

    “The Nigerian Air Force had been so nice to this community and we have no cause to regret having them as our neighbours,

    “The community will continue to pray for positive things to continue to happen to the Nigerian Air Force and his personnel for this wonderful gesture,’’ Nnamani said.

    A beneficiary of the outreach, Ma Veronica Onyia, thanked the NAF medical team for the free drugs and mosquito treated net given to her.

    “For over three months, I have been lying in my bed sick without anyone to come to my rescue. But today, I have been given free drugs, mosquito treated nets to allow opening of my windows and more air.

    “I am the most grateful and touched by this free medical outreach,” Onyia said.