The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Imo

  • Special school for the blind in Imo

    Special school for the blind in Imo

    Things are looking brighter for people with visual challenges in Imo State.

    Governor Rochas Okorocha has pledged to build a special school for them in the state before the end of May, 2014.

    Governor Okorocha made the promise while interacting with members of the Nigeria Association op the Blind, Imo State chapter at the Government House, Owerri.

    Governor Okorocha, who promised to provide education and employment opportunities to ameliorate the sufferings of the group, assured that his administration would continually consider the welfare of the physically challenged persons to give them a sense of belonging.

    He also promised an upward review of their bursary for those in the institutions of learning and further made financial support to enable the association to sponsor her up-coming zonal conference holding in the state.

    The state chairman of the association, Mr. Clinton Chinonyerem Amaechi had appealed to the governor to address some of their pressing needs which include regular payment of their bursaries, employment opportunities to their members and giving them a voice in government through political appointments.

    He pointed out that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities calls for practical and positive approach to the issues raised. He urged people in authority to grant equal opportunities to the physically challenged persons.

    Mr. Amaechi thanked governor Okorocha for his concern for the group and assured him of their support to his administration.

    In a related development, Governor Okorocha has reaffirmed his commitment to resolve all kingship tussles to ensure smooth take off of the Community Government Council in the state.

    Governor Okorocha stated this at Ahiajoku Convention Centre while settling some of the cases brought before him by the Ministry of Community Government Council.

    He noted that Community Government Council has not gained the needed ground because some communities have no traditional rulers to pilot the affairs of their areas.

    While describing the disputes in some communities as a setback to the fourth tier government, Governor Okorocha said his involvement was to ensure that justice prevails in the selection process of traditional rulers.

    The governor regretted that the kingship tussles in some communities had led many people into selling their lands and property, stressing that his administration has come to put an end to such practice.

    According to him, kingship should not be by election but by divine mandate.  He, however, advised those who emerged as Ezes to carry everybody in their communities along for the sustenance of peace.

    In an interview, the Eze-elect of Awara Community in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area, Eze Andrew Nwakolam Ezenwoke thanked the governor for wading into resolving kingship tussles in the state, even as he promised to carry others along in order to bring development to the community.

    The communities whose cases were settled were Umualumaku Umuehime in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area; Awara community, Asa community all in Ohaji/Egbema Lo Government Area; Ozuzu community in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area and Agbala community in Owerri North Local Government Area.

  • Imo to create more jobs

    Imo to create more jobs

    IMO State Governor Rochas Okorocha has reiterated his administration’s determination to create employment and complete all on-going projects in the second half of his tenure.

    Okorocha said this while addressing newsmen at Government House, Owerri.

    He said this would be done by revamping the state’s economy through the establishment of industries while ensuring the security to lives and property.

    He said his administration had embarked on the provision of motorable roads, standard hospitals in all the local government areas, and qualitative free and compulsory education, to ensure improved standard of living for all citizens of the state.

    The governor also gave an assurance that his administration would continue to anchor its policies and programmes on the need, interest and aspiration of the people, for effective development.

    “It is the determination of this administration to take the state to the peak of infrastructural development, to improve the standard of living of the people.

    “We have embarked on the construction of several roads, building of standard hospitals, to enable our people have the best in terms of good roads and healthcare.

    “The essence of the free education for all is to enable our children to be good citizens by not roaming the streets and getting involved in other vices like kidnapping and armed robbery.”

    Okorocha urged the people to continue to support his administration to enable it to take the state to the peak of infrastructure development.

  • Commissioner-nominees’ list upsets politicians in Imo

    Commissioner-nominees’ list upsets politicians in Imo

    Politicians in Imo State have expressed dissatisfaction on the list of commissioner- nominees sent to the House of Assembly by Governor Rochas Okorocha.

    It was learnt that some highly-placed politicians, who had sent their nominees to the governor for consideration, were disappointed by the absence of the names of their candidates.

    An insider, who preferred anonymity, said: “Most politicians were shocked when the governor released the names of 13 commissioner- nominees, with seven former commissioners making the list. They are holding marathon meetings to see a way of bringing the governor to the negotiating table again.”

    The House of Assembly yesterday set up a seven-man committee to screen the commissioner- nominees.

    The nominees are Prof. Uba Nnabue, Chike Okafor, Mrs. Uche Ejiogu, Ugochi Nnanna Okoro, Uche Okoro, Jerry Okorie, Love Mma Onyechere, Best Mbanaso, Prof. Okey Magnus Okoro, Nick Oparandudu, Uche Nwosu and Dr. Ifeanyi Nwachukwu.

  • Imo Cargo Airport ready soon

    Imo Cargo Airport ready soon

    Plans by the Federal Government to make Sam Mbakwe International Airport in Owerri, Imo State, a cargo gateway will soon be realised, the Airport Manager, Mr Young Ekwekwuo has said.

    He said the cargo apron of the airport under construction will be completed before the end of this year.

    He, however, added that disruptions caused by youths seeking financial rewards have been resolved.

    “The elders have appointed elder statesmen to mediate and since then, the hostilities from the youth is a thing of the past. We now have the enabling environment; the contractors handling the project are no longer being disturbed,” he added.

    He said it had been a challenge managing the airport, especially that of the youth restiveness on land compensation, but expressed delight with the way the matter was handled.

    Ekwekwuo said the airport has been fenced to ward off intruders, adding that security measures have been put in place to ensure safety.

    On the projection of the airport, he explained that after the inauguration that the sky would be the limit because the airport has been fitted with the state-of-the-art equipment.

    “At the beginning, there were challenges and Nigerians never believed that this thing will get to this stage. Those of them who spoke against the remodeling now have a rethink. They never knew that such a terminal building can be reformed, remodeled and reconstructed to what it is today,” Ekwekwuo, said.

  • Imo indigenes in Lagos get leader

    Imo Towns Development Association, Lagos (ISTDAL) has nominated Pastor Okey Anuroe, a Lagos-based businessman, as its new helmsman for the next three years.

    Anuro emerged winner among the five contestants from the three senatorial zones, comprising the association.

    The election was held last Sunday at the Imo State Liaison Office, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    The cleric polled 134 votes to beat his Owerri counterpart, Mr Chioma Obara, who had 50 votes.

    He became the first Okigwe man to assume the position.

    Anuroe, who is also the Chairman of Yaba Traders’ Union, said his election was a call to serve and provide purposeful leadership to indigenes of the state.

    He promised to improve on the achievements of his predecessor, Mazi Tony Ohakwe.

    He thanked Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha for his support.

    The new leader urged Imo indigenes in Lagos State to join the association, adding that it has several benefits.

  • Imo police chase NSCDC official

    There was tension yesterday at the Imo State headquarters of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), following an attempt by about 40 policemen to forcefully arrest an NSCDC official.

    It was learnt that the NSCDC man ran into the compound to escape the “provoked” policemen.

    Our reporter also learnt that the policemen barricaded the gate and disrupted vehicular and human movements on the busy Okigwe Road.

    An eyewitness said the incident happened when the policemen demanded the identity of the NSCDC officer, which he promptly produced.

    The source also said the policemen, who were apparently not satisfied with his explanation, were shouting at the NSCDC man.

    “They were pushing the officer around and threatening to beat him up for talking back at them. It was at that point the terrified officer ran into the headquarters, which was just a pole away,” the eyewitness said.

    An NSCDC officer, who spoke in confidence, said: “The way they stormed the headquarters to forcefully take away a fellow uniformed officer showed that they have no respect for other security agencies. This was after he had identified himself by showing his identity card. But the policemen still molested him before he escaped.”

    The NSCDC spokesman, Chimezie Lowell, confirmed the incident.

    He said: “It was a minor misunderstanding between our man and the policemen. The policemen had a misunderstanding with one of our men outside the headquarters and they invaded the command to arrest him. But we are already resolving the matter.”

    A similar clash occurred between the police and Prisons officials about two months ago when a shoot-out occurred on the detention of a tricycle operator.

     

     

  • Another baby factory discovered in Imo

    Women from Umuguma in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State yesterday uncovered a baby factory in the area.

    This followed a search conducted as part of activities to mark this year’s August meeting.

    A teenage girand the owner of the “factory”, Chukwudima Chinedu, were arrested.

    They have been handed over to the police.

    Over 1,000 women, decked in black, marched on the Government House, saying the “baby factory” has been in the community for the last three years.

    The women’s leader, Mrs. Rose Ozoemena, described the sale of babies as an abomination.

    She said the purpose of the protest was to appeal to Governor Rochas Okorocha to close the factory.

    Addressing the women on behalf of the government, the Sole Administrator of the Council, Nelson Ifeanyichukwu, praised the women for their concern.

    Police spokesman Mrs. Joy Elemoko confirmed the arrest of the owner of the baby factory, who she said has been assisting the police with their investigation.

  • Imo students endorse APC

    Over 500 students at the weekend in Owerri, the Imo State capital, endorsed the All Progressives Congress (APC), noting that the progressives will turn Nigeria around to achieve its potential greatness.

    The students, under the aegis of APC Students Support Group, said they are dumping the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for APC.

    At a meeting of the Southeast APC Students Support Group, the former Chairman of the PDP Students’ Roundtable, Ugochukwu Chinedum, said 14 years of PDP rule has not improved the lives of the people.

    He said: “We have watched and followed developments in APC. We discovered that it is on course with the agenda to rescue Nigeria from its present sorry state.

    “We believe that if Nigeria must be better, we must also show that by our action. We are happy with the initiatives of the leadership of APC Students Support Group (APC-SSG) led by Imo State Youth Ambassador, Godstime Chukwubuikem Samuel and his team.”

  • NSE inducts new members in Imo

    The Owerri branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) at the weekend inducted new members.

    The inductees were urged to be part of policy and decision making organ of the government.

    Also at the ceremony, which held at the Umez Eronini Hall, Owerri, the Imo State capital, deserving engineers were conferred with the NSE Diamond Award.

    The Owerri branch Chairman, Emma Ossai, said Nigerian engineers are not inferior to their counterparts from other parts of the world, stating that the difference is in the attitude of the engineers.

  • Police in Imo nab suspected kidnappers of monarch’s wife

    The Imo State Police Command has said it has arrested the suspected abductors of the wife of the traditional ruler of Nkwumeto Autonomous Community, Ihite Uboma Council Area, Eze Basil Nwokeke.

    Debunking speculations that the kidnappers were still at large, the command, in a press release signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Joy Elemoko, disclosed that the suspects were tracked down while negotiating a ransom with the family of the victim.

    According to the release, three of the five suspects were arrested 48 hours after the incident, while one was killed during a gun duel with the police and the fifth suspect, whose name was given as Chizuru Nwagbisi escaped.

    “Contrary to reports in some quarters that the suspected gunmen who kidnapped the wife of his Royal Highness, Eze Basil Nwokeke of Nkwumeto Autonomous Community, Ihitte Uboma Council Area, were yet to be arrested, the Imo police command wants to state that within 48 hours of the incident, the principal suspects were traced to their hideouts and arrested,” the release read in part.

    The fifth suspect, Chizuru Nwagbisi, popularly known as “Point One”, who escaped arrest has been warned to turn himself in at the nearest police station, while members of the public have been urged to volunteer credible information that will lead to the arrest of the fleeing suspect.

    Expressing worry over the activities of criminals in the villages, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Muhammad Musa Katsina, warned that anyone who has knowledge of the whereabouts of any criminal, but fails to report it to the police would henceforth be treated as an accomplice.