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Tag: Ochekpe

  • Youths hail EFCC for probing Ochekpe

    Youths hail EFCC for probing Ochekpe

    A group, Coalition of Youths Congress of Nigeria (CYCN), has hailed the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) for investigating cases of embezzlement of government funds by the former administration to fund the 2015 elections.

    CYCN said EFCC is doing a good job, considering that another election year is approaching.

    It hoped those who diverted public funds to finance elections are punished to deter others in future.

    Addressing reporters yesterday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos, CYCN Leader John Pam said the anti-corruption stance of the present administration would ensure that politicians do not divert the money for the development of the country.

    Pam was reacting to the arraignment of a former Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, a former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State, Mr. Raymond Dabo and the Coordinator of Jonathan/Sambo re-election campaign in Plateau State, Evangelist Lyons Sunday Jatau.

    They were charged with the embezzlement of N450 million belonging to the Federal Government.

    The trio will be arraigned on February 13 at a Federal High Court sitting in Jos, the Plateau State capital, on charges of receiving money from a former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Deziani Alison-Madueke, to finance the re-election of former President Goodluck Jonathan and Sambo.

    At the first hearing of the suit, Ochekpe told Justice Justice Musa Haruna Kurya that she gave the money to the late PDP governorship candidate in the 2015 election in Plateau State, G. N. S Pwajok.

    CYCN said: “We are commending EFCC for taking these people to court so that when found guilty, justice will take its cause, which will be a warning to others who may want to so enrich themselves by diverting public funds meant for the provision of social amenities for our citizens.

    “The interest of our group is to ensure corrupt a free society. For the first time, we have seen a government that is determined to rid this country of this scourge.”

     

  • 4,560 patients treated in Ochekpe’s outreach

    4,560 patients treated in Ochekpe’s outreach

    Over 4,560 ailing people have been treated in Zamko, Langtang North Local Government Area of Plateau State in a medical outreach launched by the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Reng Ochekpe. The effort is directed at drumming up support for President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Of the number, 126 people had eye surgeries, 348 were given reading glasses while over 4,000 treated mosquito nets were distributed to nursing mothers and children.

    Also, a total numbers of 118 major and minor surgeries were carried out successfully. The surgeries include hernia, fibroid and appendicitis. A total 3,833 HTC counseling were conducted.

    In related development, about 33 snake bite patients were rushed to the centre and administered with Anti snake venom-EchiTAbG 10ml. According to the Nurses on duty, one of such Anti snake venom cost between N20, 000 to N25,000 and one or two doses were given depending on the level of complication.

    A sixty years old woman, Hanatu Dashe and eleven years old little girl, Satya Ventnom both victims of snake bite were full of thanks to Mrs. Ochekpe who made it possible for them to get treatment quickly, which would have been impossible for them as treatment costs about N90,000 per patient.

    Commenting on the entire exercise, Pastor Sonnie Reng, the General Administrator of the Outreach, disclosed that over 4,500 people were  treated during the five days Free Medical Outreach in Langtang  North.

    According to him, the figure kept increasing day by day and therefore called on Mrs. Ochekpe not to relent in doing more for the people. “Though when you reach out to people in this manner, you hardly get their appreciation back because most of them don’t know you in person, but their shout of glory announces your name in heaven”, he said.

    In his remarks, the Lead Consultant on the Outreach, Dr. Talemoh Wycliffe Dah who is also the Director, Soteria-Afrique Rural Health Initiative one of the collaborating organizations in the Outreach, said that minor surgeries cost between N30, 000 to N40, 000 and major ones cost between N60, 000 to N70, 000 in rural areas like Langtang and could cost much more in the city.

    He further “thanked Mrs. Ochekpe for bringing succor to the teeming population of this area that needed urgent and serious medical care who ordinarily could not afford these services due to financial constraint”.

    He praised the zeal and patience of the medical team, doctors, nurses, lab. scientists and attendants, pharmacists and other auxiliary workers who were up to 230 and volunteers willing to work for the five days.  According to him,” all these workers mentioned here were doing these services free of charge, they were volunteers moved with passion for the plight of the ordinary people and their desire was to see that the Project succeeded.

    Mrs. Ochekpe is full of gratitude to God for the successful completion of the 4th Edition of the Outreach to the South Senatorial District of Plateau State.  She is deeply touched by the commitment and passion of the volunteers led by Dr. Talemoh Wycliffe of Soteria Afrique.  She prayed God to bless them richly and grant quick recovery to all those treated.

  • Fed Govt advocates technology transfer to tackle water challenges

    The Federal Government has advocated technology transfer in tackling water sector challenges in Nigeria.

    The Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, in Abuja at a seminar and exhibition of “Water Africa and West Africa Building and Construction,” stated that this will improve service delivery to Nigerians.

    She noted that cross fertilisation of ideas by the participants on how to effectively and efficiently utilise the new technology would improve service delivery to enhance access to safe, potable water and sanitation in Nigeria.

    According to the minister, information and knowledge are keys to critical development in the sector.

    In a statement by the ministry’s Deputy Director (Press), Mrs. Boade Akinola, Ochekpe urged participants to explore the seminar and exibition for their technological development, adding that the exhibition would allow staff of the ministry to key into the new tools and ideas being displayed.

    In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Baba Umar Farouk, stated that the objective of this year’s seminar and exhibition was to showcase new tools, machineries and techniques for water, housing and construction sectors, as well as provide a platform for interaction with experts for purposes of cross fertilisation of ideas among all stakeholders.

  • FG to delineate flood plains – Minister

    FG to delineate flood plains – Minister

    The Federal Government is to embark on the mapping and delineation of flood plains in the country, as part of efforts to control flooding and halt further dislocation of communities.

    The Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, disclosed this on Saturday in Kaduna during the 7th Engr. Mahmud Armiya’u Memorial Lecture organised by the Kaduna branch of the Nigeria Society of Engineers.

    The lecture had as its theme: ‘Water Resources: Its Management and Transportation.”

    “Mapping and delineation of flood plains shall be embarked upon as a way of alerting communities residing in these areas and keeping them off flood plains for safety sake,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the minister as saying at the forum.

    She said the government would also vigorously construct dams “identified as having huge potentials of assisting in flood control.”

    The minister added that the government would take inventory of all water infrastructure nationwide to determine their safety level and ensure that they could function “even under adverse conditions.”

    Ochekpe described the increasing frequency of flooding in the country as alarming, saying an integrated approach to water management was necessary in checking the trend.

    She advised state governments and agencies involved in water management to partner with her ministry to ensure proper management of water resources in the country.

    Earlier, the Chairman of the event, retired Justice Mamman Nasir, said Nigeria must continue to invest in technical education if it hopes to attain any level of development.