ANAMBRA State Government has attracted non-oil direct foreign investment of over thirty billion naira within the first quarter of this year. Governor Peter Obi made the disclosure when a delegation from the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture paid him a courtesy visit at the Governor’s Lodge. The governor said his administration had provided the necessary infrastructure and conducive environment to promote the growth of commerce and industries for wealth creation and expansion of employment opportunities. He explained that this was part of the comprehensive programme of his administration to fight extreme poverty, hunger and crime in the state, as part of the efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Earlier, the President of the Chamber, Dr. Ifeanyi Okoye, represented by the Vice President in charge of Membership Development, Dr. Emmanuel Nwankpa, noted the commendable achievements of the governor on human and infrastructural development.
Tag: Obi
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Obi tackles infrastructural deficiency
•Governor splashes N6b on varsities
Dearth of infrastructure has been the major problem of most higher institutions across the country.But the story is changing in Anambra State.Reason: The governor ,Mr Peter Obi, has donated N6 billion to the institutions to address their infrastructural challenges..
There are about 20 tertiary institutions in the state including colleges of education, polytechnics and universities.They all benefitted from the governor’s largesse penultimate Friday as he made handsome donations to them. Obi made history as the first governor to address the problem of these institutions whether private or government-owned.
Such institutions as Paul University, Awka (missionary), Madonna University Okija,Tansian University(private) and federal university like Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, all smiled the banks.
Governor Obi began with the state university, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Uli. He presented a cheque of N5 billion and six vehicles to the university; two buses to students’ union in the two campuses of the university at Uli and Igbariam and four patrol vehicles for security matters.
He moved to Paul University where he donated N100m and two vehicles and then went to Madonna University, Okija and donated also another N100m and two buses. He later presented two vehicles and N100 million to Tansian University, Umunya.
At the Nnamdi Azikiwe University , (UNIZIK) Awka, Governor Obi presented a cheque of N100 million for developmental projects including construction of internal roads in and the road to Beautiful Gate.
Obi also presented four new vehicles including two Hilux security vans and buses for Students Union Government tothe institution. Ekwueme Multi Disciplinary Centre also benefitted got a 50 KVA generator, among others . He promised to provide the school with a life saver ambulance.
He said the monies are for infrastructural upgrade and development with the promise that the assistance would get to all the higher institutions in the state. So far, he has spent over N6 billion in cash and vehicular donations to the institutions he visited.
The governor said the support his government was offering to higher institutions in the state was in line with the policy of his administration to offer support to all organisations and institutions in the state, whether private, public or government-owned, provided their services were for the good of the residents.
He assured that all higher institutions in the state will benefit from the initiative. He expressed optimism that the support would impact positively on the institutions. He stated that the N100 million that was released to the institution and other institutions were part of the state government’s effort to create a better learning environment and uplift the level of infrastructure in the university.
Obi said that the policy of his government to support all institutions in the state was borne out of the fact that those institutions not owned by the government also assist the government, sometimes even better in the training of residents of the state.
The governor, who disclosed that his administration was able to save the sum of about N20 billion in its savings account with the banks, also gave the sum of N1million to Anambra State Indigenes Association studying in the university.
Responding, the Vice chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka , Prof Boniface Egboka, thanked Governor Obi for his sustained favourable disposition towards the university, its staff and students.
‘’Your unquantifiable broadmindedness towards the university has manifested in your various donations to the university , with a Toyota Coaster bus ; a Nissan bus ; a bus for the Faculty of Law; the rehabilitation on the request of the university administration, of the Ifite –Amansea road used mostly by staff and students .
‘’Your Excellency’s personal intervention in the PAYE tax imbroglio between the university and the Anambra State Board of Internal Revenue. Though this issue has not been completely resolved , Your Excellency’s personal intervention helped to mitigate the matter , and was a giant step forward in the pending resolution of the matter, and your promised financial assistance towards the rehabilitation of the road leading to the beautiful gate of the university.
Egboka, represented by Acting Vice Chancellor/Deputy Vice Chancellor( Administration), Prof Greg Nwakoby , a Professor of Law noted that ,’’ indeed , never before in the university’s 34 years of history , first as a state university and later as a Federal University has it been the beneficiary of such highly commendable level of attention from any chief executive of Anambra State . We can never be grateful enough to Your Excellency.
‘’Your Excellency, if your positive attention to Nnamdi Azikiwe University is described as astonishing , then your relentless drive towards the transformation of Anambra State , even in the twilight of your administration , could be said to be both captivating and mesmerizing. Through the Anambra State Integrated Development Strategy (ANIDS), articulated by your administration which for the first time in the history of the state is bringing an integrated and holistic approach to the development of the state , every nook and cranny in the state, every segment of the society is experiencing positive changes.
‘’The constraints of time do not permit us the privilege of going into specifics , but we must not fail to mention your empowering of community policing which has brought with it relative security of life and property. We cannot overlook Your Excellency’s return of mission schools to their original missionary proprietors. The policy decision is going a long way in character formation of our children for the betterment of the society. …we therefore , seize this opportunity to congratulate you for your most outstanding good governance of Anambra State .
“You have done exceedingly well for the state and Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, we wish you success in all your future endeavours, praying that the rest of Nigeria would one day have the blessing of experiencing the wonders of Obimetrics , a term we have coined to describe your dazzling performance in office as Executive Governor of Anambra state. At the Anambra State University, Obi explained that the philosophy behind direct disbursement of funds, the Governor said it was not, and could not be interpreted as abdication of responsibility of governance. He said that the state government built a lot of structures in the university, including the perimeter fencing of the permanent site at Igbariam, the Faculties of Law, Social Sciences, Mass communication, Agric and Management buildings, the Administrative Block, classrooms, among others, but insisted that direct disbursement achieve more, especially through the Churches. “With the Churches doing the projects directly, you hardly hear of variation and related terms”, Obi said.
The governor said that the presentation of cheques to schools and hospitals had not made him turn blind eye to other needs of the state. “For instance, in investment alone, since I became the governor, we have invested over N20b for the state, which which was different from the culture I met. Before I came it was debt all the way. In INTAFACT (SABmiller), government invested 10 per cent, which is above N2 billion. A few days ago, I laid the foundation for the expansion of their facility in Anambra State. As part of our contribution, the state will pay another N2 billion and we shall pay it this February,” the Governor said.
Governor Obi used the visit to inspect various structures, equipment and facilities at the university. He said the support to the institutions, which will get to others, was in line with the comprehensive education programme of his administration geared towards turning around all schools and institutions, irrespective of ownership for functional and qualitative knowledge.
He charged the students to aspire to be good and worthy ambassadors by working hard to equip themselves properly to attain full potential in life, assuring that the government would continue to assist the universities to tackle their various challenges.
Speaking at St Paul’s University and Madonna University at Awka and Okija respectively, the governor said the intervention was necessary because those institutions were in Anambra State and they train children from the state.
At both universities, Governor Peter Obi presented cheques of N100 million each to both of them. He also gave one bus and one security vehicle each to them.
At St Paul’s University, the Archbishop, Province on the Niger and Bishop of Aguata Diocese, Most Reverend Christian Efobi while thanking the governor for the gesture, assured that the church would continue to pray for his administration to complete its vision for the state. The Awka Anglican Bishop, Dr Alex Ibezim, expressed gratitude that Governor Obi is investing in human infrastructure rather than in frivolities.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Gaius Igboeli who presented the governor with a plaque, disclosed that the institution was grappling with challenges of accreditation.He thanked him for his intervention.
At Madonna University, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Chuks Ezedum, who thanked the governor for his numerous achievements that marked him out from other governors, commended him for the visit and sought the reconstruction of the access road to the university.
At Tansian University, Most Rev Prof (Msgn) John Bosco Akam while receiving the cheque and key to the vehicles, thanked God for the gift from Governor Obi to the state and said it was marvelous that for the first time since the state was created God gave Anambra State a leader that understood that governance must be according to the dictates of God and for the benefit of all.
Disagreeing with the idea of retiring from politics by the governor, he prayed to God to continue to give him the strength to serve Nigeria in higher capacity.
The governor also performed the foundation laying ceremony of the St Peter Hostel the school is building .
The Acting Vice Chancellor of Tansian University, Rev, Fr. Prof. Pantaleon Umechukwu assured that the money would be judiciously used for the progress of the students.
Governor Obi also visited Tansi International College, Okpuno, where he thanked the teachers for the great job they are doing. He promised them computer machines, money to upgrade their library, sick bay and other facilities.
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Obi: my administration ‘ll pay attention to rural areas
Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has said he is satisfied with the attention his administration has given to rural areas, through the provision of access roads.
He spoke during a visit to Atani, where he said government had approved the building of an access road to Ogwuaniocha in Ogbaru Local Government. Obi said the road would start from Umunankwo through Mputu to Ogwuaniocha, adding that it was part of the effort to open up the area to other parts of the state.
The governor said government had sited a hospital in the area to ensure affordable and accessible healthcare delivery.
According to him, government would embark on more road projects at Okpoko to upgrade infrastructure.
The lawmaker representing Ogbaru 1 Constituency, Sir Benson, thanked Obi for approving the project and for other programmes.
He said they would give the indigenes a sense of belonging and urged them to sustain support for the government.
Government has awarded contract for the reconstruction of Upper-Iweka to Zik’s Roundabout in Onitsha.
This followed Federal Government’s approval to embark on the project.
Obi, who announced this when he visited Onitsha North, said the contract was awarded to a reputable firm at N3.5 billion.
He stressed the determination of his administration to make Onitsha one of the 10 major cities.
The governor reassured that the incoming administration would sustain infrastructural development of Anambra West.
Speaking during a visit to the area, Obi recalled that his administration was the first to initiate projects in the area, adding that it spent over N8 billion on the Umuezeanam, Mmiata-Nzam road.
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We saved for the rainy day, says Obi
ANAMBRA State Governor Peter Obi has said his administration was able to execute many projects without borrowing because the team planned well in addition to a sound saving culture.
The governor said such painstaking prudence and saving for the rainy day helped to keep his administration afloat and not having to borrow or go to the bond market.
He also said he liked laying the foundation of only projects which are never abandoned. He said this during the laying of the foundation for the second arm of the Onitsha Hotel Resort at the GRA, Onitsha. Both the first and the second arms of the hotel have reached 70% completion.
Speaking further, the governor said that what gladdened his heart was the fact that he made planning the cornerstone of his administration and that through prudent and painstaking planning, he was able to do much in the state without borrowing a dime or raising a bond. He said that upon that, his government has been able to meet its financial obligations, ranging from paying debts that preceded his administration, liquidating arrears of pension owed workers since 1999 to the tune of N33billion, among others.
Speaking on the so many projects he flagged off, the governor said that his government set aside the money for the completion of those projects and called on the people not to worry.
“Even the recent recruitment exercise was adequately planned for. We are recruiting over 3,500 civil servants and teachers. In other not to encumber the incoming government, we have equally set aside their salaries for two years,” Obi said.
The governor who described what will happen in the remaining two months of his government as a “tsunami”, said: ”We shall do something unprecedented in the next two weeks. I do not want to let the cat out of the bag; watch out and see what will happen, including presentation of over 25,000 computers and generators to schools in the State all of which we had taken delivery of.”
In his earlier remarks, the Commissioner for Housing, Engr. Patrick Obi said that his Ministry had literary been kept awake trying to move as fast as the Governor. He said that the first arm of the Hotel project would have been completed but for delays occasioned by the need to expand the hotel to 150 rooms to meet the specifications of foreigners already in agreement with the Government to manage the Hotel and the one also being built at Agulu Lake.
In her own remarks, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Project monitoring, Mrs Chinelo Ofoche said that while her counterparts in other States were idle for want of projects to monitor, that covering the entire gamut of Governor Obi’s projects was quite herculean.
The governor also inspected the on-going Shoprite Shopping Mall within the same expansive compound and expressed satisfaction with the speed and quality of work. He also thanked the contractor that dualised the road to the complex for a job well done
Asabe Ahmed has been a Special Adviser on Investment and Housing to Niger State Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu.
A graduate of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria where she read Public Administration, she hails from Bida in Bida Local Government Area of Niger State. She is a daughter of Professor Jonathan Ndagi, the first Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna.
She worked with KPPC-NNPC as Administration and Strategic Planning Officer after a stint with the Niger State Ministry of Education
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Don’t quit politics, cleric pleads with Obi
FOLLOWING a proclamation by Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, that he was through with politics, the Catholic Bishop of Nnewi, Most Rev. Dr. Hilary Odili Okeke has appealed to the governor not to quit. The cleric said in view of Governor Obi’s exceptional performance in Anambra State, the entire people of Anambra State, Igbos and Nigerians pray that people like him should have the opportunity of serving Nigerians at the centre. Bishop Okeke made the remark yesterday at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Ihiala, shortly after he received the cheque of N100million for ongoing projects at the hospital, as well as another cheque of N30 million for the maternity and childcare complex at Azigbo. The cleric commended the governor for his commitment to projects that impact directly on the lives of the people, noting that people of the state would forever remain grateful to him for touching their lives in special ways. Bishop Okeke said the hospital had benefited a lot from the Obi administration, as his support had repositioned the hospital and provided a conducive environment for efficient healthcare delivery. In his remarks, Governor Obi restated the determination of his administration to upgrade the hospital to first class health facility that would become a reference point in the country and beyond. He thanked the church for assisting the state to achieve its vision on MDGs, and for a prudent and efficient use of funds released to them to deliver the set goals. While handing over the N30 million cheque for the maternity project, Governor Obi said the state government had provided in full the N300 million needed to build and equip the on-going ten ultra modern maternity and childcare centres in the rural areas. He assured that the maternity and childcare centre would be completed on schedule, and according to specifications to bring quality health services near to the people.
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Obi hails Army
Anambra State Governor Peter Obi yesterday hailed the Nigerian Army for contributing to nation-building.
The governor spoke in Awka when he led other top government officials to lay wreaths at this year’s Armed Forces and Remembrance Day celebration.
The ceremony, held at the Alex Ekwueme Square, climaxed the remembrance and Emblem Appeal Week.
The wreath-laying exercise started with prayers by a priest and an Imam.
Obi said the sacrifices and bravery of the fallen heroes in armed conflicts and peace-keeping missions sustained world peace.
The governor urged Nigerians to do more for ex-servicemen and their families to show appreciation for their sacrifices.
Obi and his deputy, Emeka Sibeudu, led the dignitaries for the wreath-laying ceremony.
House of Assembly Speaker Princess Chinwe Nwaebili; State Chief Judge Justice Peter Umeadi; Commander of the 302 Artillery Regiment in Onitsha Colonel A. J. Fagge; Commanding Officer of the Naval Outpost in Onitsha Navy Capt O. M. Oamen; Police Commissioner A. U. Gwari, represented by Deputy Commissioner of Police D. P. Yakadi, laid wreaths at the event.
Others are: Chairman of the Nigeria Legion Major Gabriel Enyibuaku (rtd) and representative of the State Traditional Rulers’ Council, Igwe S.I. Okafor of Okpuno.
The ceremony also featured firing of shots by the Military Burial Party and release of pigeons by the governor.
Obi also inspected a guard of honour mounted by the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Legion.
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My administration will continue to pay attention to rural areas –Obi
ANAMBRA State Governor, Peter Obi said he was satisfied with the attention his government had paid to the development of rural areas by providing them with access roads that had succeeded in opening up the areas. The governor made the remark during his visit to Atani, where he revealed that the state government has approved the construction of major access road to Ogwuaniocha, Ogbaru Local Government Area. He said the road would start from Umunankwo through Mputu to Ogwuaniocha as part of present effort to open up the area and give the people access to other parts of the state. He also disclosed that government has sited a hospital project in the area to ensure affordable and accessible healthcare delivery. According to Governor Obi, work would also commence on more road projects in Okpoko in continuation of the on-going upgrading of infrastructure in the area. The member representing Ogbaru One Constituency, Sir Benson thanked the governor for approving the project and for the various other interventions in the area, noting that the projects would further give people of the area a sense of belonging and urged them to sustain support for the state government. In another development, Governor Peter Obi has reassured that the in-coming APGA government would sustain massive infrastructural development of Anambra West. Speaking during a visit to the area, Governor Obi recalled that his administration was first to initiate development projects in the area and was expending over eight billion naira on the construction of Umuezeanam, Mmiata-Nzam road.
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Do not invite me to all occasions, Obi warns
ANAMBRA State Governor, Peter Obi, has appealed to the people of the state to stop inviting him to occasions that do not add value to governance in the state. The governor said that a governor of a state has a lot of responsibilities, and does not have time for events that do not contribute in any way to the progress of the people. Governor Obi gave the warning on Friday at Nanka, during the commissioning of Oka Agbiligba Libaray, built for the town by a group of friends, led by Okwudili Ezenwankwo. While commissioning the building, Governor Obi commended the people that contributed to the building, and said he would be delighted to attend such events. He said that the gesture was a good example to the rich on how to use their wealth for the progress of the society. “When some people are rich, all you get from them is indecent display of wealth. “Some use their wealth to oppress the less-privileged. Today, Okwudili and his friends have demonstrated to us one way to use one’s wealth to serve humanity”, Obi said. Obi, who called on the people of the village to make good use of the library, said that the promotion of education in any form was part of the efforts of his government to empower the people. According to him, education remains the most portent tool for competition in the world. Obi said that his government had taken delivery of 25,000 computers, generators and tonnes of books that would be presented to schools in the state. He said he was encouraged to follow that path because similar assistance given to schools in the state, as well as the return of schools to churches, had made Anambra State the number one in external examinations, such as WAEC, JAMB and NECO.
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Anambra needs equity and justice for progress, says Obi
ANAMBRA State governor, Peter Obi, has said the state needed a leader with equitable sense of justice for her to sustain the present development. The governor made the remark yesterday during the presentation of a cheque of N20m to the Anglican Bishop of Mbamili, Most Rev. Dr. Henry Okeke, to pay off the N13m loan taken by farmers from Anambra West from First Bank. The farmers defaulted in the payment of the loan as a result of the 2012 flood. Governor Obi said most commissioners and decision takers always loved to site all available projects in their home town, but that he always refrained them from doing so, arguing that projects should be sited according to needs. He cited the example of the 10 maternities the state government is building in remote parts of the state, saying that he had to order that the one cited in his home town be relocated to a remote area. “I am from Agulu. Besides Agulu having a General Hospital, one can access Awka from any part of the town in less than 20 minutes. But there are some towns in the state that do not have any health facility and cannot access Awka in hours. These are the type of towns that need those health facilities,” Obi said. On the N20m presented to the Bishop, Obi explained that it was part of the faith-based loan his government is extending to the people of the state, adding that the loan was targeted at the poor and the less-privileged. In his remarks, an elated Rev. Okeke thanked the governor for having the interest of the people at heart.
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‘Obi is running a model government’
The Catholic Archbishop of Owerri, Most Reverend Anthony Obinna, has said Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State has set a model of government that should be emulated by all levels of government. Speaking to journalists at Owerri at the weekend, Most Reverend Dr. Obinna noted that Governor Obi used public resources judiciously for the collective welfare of the people. The Archbishop who, recalled that Anambra State went through serious depression during which almost all the key institutions collapsed, observed that Governor Obi in less than eight years had rebuilt and repositioned the state to become a reference point in the country and across the world. Most Reverend Obinna explained that Governor Obi’s all-inclusive style of administration offered everybody the opportunity to make input, while the partnership with the Church had improved service delivery is all sectors and uplifted the quality of life, as schools and hospitals in the state were setting standards for others in the country. He noted that the governor also attracted and sustained collaboration with various donor agencies, including the World Bank, who saw his administration as exemplary and people-oriented. On the face-off between President Goodluck Jonathan and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Archbishop enjoined Chief Obasanjo to pray and give positive advice to President Jonathan to achieve his vision for the country, and allow him to govern.