The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Owerri

  • Uzodimma shuts down mining sites in Owerri

    Uzodimma shuts down mining sites in Owerri

    Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has ordered the closure of mining sites within the Owerri capital territory. 

    The state Commissioner for Industry, Mines, and Solid Minerals, Rt. Hon. Ernest Ibejiako, made the announcement on Tuesday at the state Secretariat in Owerri.

    Ibejiako, said the state government will no longer tolerate mining activities within the capital territory, citing concerns for safety and environmental impact.

     “Today marks the end of mining activity within the capital territory of the state,” he declared.

    He said the ban extends to areas such as Army Barracks and Obinze and other parts of Owerri West LGA. “Anyone outside the capital territory, we can allow it, but anyone within the capital territory, we will not allow it, including Army Barracks,” Ibejiako emphasized.

    Read Also: Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway to boost Nigeria’s economy by $12bn annually – Uzodimma

    “This is governor’s directive, it will be executed to the latter,” he added 

    The commissioner further disclosed that a monitoring team has been established by the state government to enforce the ban, warning that anyone found violating the directive, regardless of their status, will face prosecution.

    This move, he said is aimed to protect the environment and prevent potential hazards associated with mining activities in the capital territory.

  • PBAT, OBJ: A dramatic meeting in Owerri

    PBAT, OBJ: A dramatic meeting in Owerri

    The two patriots — and foes — met at last in Owerri. 

    It was neither at the Council of State meeting nor the home of any of them.

    The first face-to-face meeting of the duo since Bola Ahmed Tinubu took office on May 29, 2023, was hosted by Governor Hope Uzodimma.

    They were his guests at the governor’s second-term inauguration.

    The two knew that they would meet. The organisers knew they would also be on the “top table.” They made a sitting arrangement that put Senate President Godswill Akpabio in between them.

    Eyes were on the two August visitors, who always have an axe to grind over nothing but Nigeria.

    Protocol was strictly adhered to. 

    Both were decked in white. President Bola Tinubu was resplendent in buba, with a red Igbo cap to match; former President Olusegun Obasanjo was decked in agbada, with a blue cap. 

    Tinubu beamed the hilarious smiles of a city boy as he stretched his right hand to OBJ, as the former president is fondly called. The General, a master of protocol, stretched out his two hands to the President and Commander-in-Chief, beaming hard smiles. 

    The two adversaries looked at each other in the face. 

    What was going on in their minds?

    It appeared Tinubu was saying to Obasanjo: “Baba, this is me, the ex-governor you tried to stop from getting a second term; the man you fought in his first term by seizing his state’s local government funds.”

    Obasanjo did more than that. His administration stopped the independent power project. In his book, ‘My Watch,’ Obasanjo also made unprintable statements about the former Lagos governor.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Tinubu arrives Owerri, commissions 10km airport drive

    Obasanjo’s residual goal in life was to stop, if he could, Tinubu from getting to the presidency. He was never a fan of Asiwaju. During last year’s poll, the former president exercised his right to reject the All Progressives Congress (APC) standard bearer.

    It was one moment of reality. Obasanjo embraced that reality in Owerri that despite his perception about BAT, he triumphed at the poll by the grace of democratic majority growth. 

    The Ota farmer smiled and muttered perhaps what only he could truly decode. OBJ, with both hands, grabbed Tinubu’s hand, with his accustomed wry smile. Who can decipher the thoughts of man, except his creator?

    Obasanjo has his views about Tinubu. Those opinions may not have changed. It seemed the ex-president had much to say, but could not utter the peculiar words of contempt.

    He may have muttered in his mind: “This idan boy, at last, despite all odds, made it to power at the centre.”

    In another twist to the tale, OBJ suddenly stood while Tinubu was still reading his speech during the ceremony at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, and took his exit from the event.

  • Auditions for The People’s Hero hold August

    All is set for auditions for The People’s Hero reality show happening on the 17 and 24 of August at the Oakland Hotel, Enugu and Glo-Ran Hotel, Port Harcourt Road, Owerri respectively.

    The reality show will reward winners with the sum of seven million naira, two million naira and one million naira for the first, second and third winners in that order. Although registration to participate and vie for the grand prize can be done at the venue of auditions, interested participants can also register online on www.thepeopleshero.ng to fast track their audition process.

    An initiative of Hero Lager Beer, The People’s Hero is a television reality show that seeks to reward creativity and originality in the culture of the South-eastern and South-southern people through singing, dancing, acting and spoken words.

    Read Also: Hi-life Fest wraps up regional auditions in Aba

    The Marketing Director for International Breweries Plc, Tolu Adedeji said: “The People’s Hero offers the bridge to stardom and prosperity for thousands of youths who are very creative in their own rights but have not got a platform to showcase their skills and get handsomely rewarded for it.”

    Expressing his company’s readiness for the show, the Country Manager, Viacom International Media Networks Africa, Mr. Bada Akintunde Johnson, said all is set to host the thousands of young people who will be coming to Enugu on 17 August and Owerri on 24 August to show the world what they are made of.

    “We have exciting activities lined up and in a short while, we will reveal the judges who are equally excited with great hope to see new Heroes arise from this show,” Bada said.

    “Sufficient security measures have been put in place to ensure the auditions are hitch free and provide fulfillment for every participant.”

  • Lawyers, others advocate ‘strict compliance’ with rule of law

    The Owerri, Imo State Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has held its Law Week, with speakers noting that democracy will be endangered without strict compliance with the rule of law. Legal Editor JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU reports.

    For democracy to thrive, institutions of government must abide by the rule of law.

    This was the position of speakers at the at the 2019 Annual Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Owerri branch.

    It held at the RockView Hotel Owerri, with the theme: Democracy and the rule of law in Nigeria.

    The keynote speaker, Catholic Bishop of Bauchi Diocess , Dr. Hilary Dachelem, said the rule of law is crucial to democracy.

    He referred to a United Nations Declaration adopted on September 24, 2012, which says: “Human rights, the rule of law and democracy are interlinked and mutually reinforcing and that they belong to the universal and indivisible core values and principles of the UN.”

    According to him, while the rule of law is fundamental in advancing democracy, emphasis must be on protection of rights and advancement of inclusiveness within the broader discourse on human development.

    “There is no doubt that the rule of law is unambiguously enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution. The only surprising thing to any competent individual is the blatant disrespect shown to this constitutional provision by Nigerian rulers who had openly sworn to uphold it

    “Rule of law is opposed to authoritarian or despotic juntas which have zero tolerance for upholding the constitution.

    “In military rule, as we saw during the various juntas in Nigeria, civil liberties which often conflict with the will of the dictator are denied. What is more, people are ruled by decrees and force,” Dachelem said.

    Rule of law  is supreme,says bishop

    The Bishop said in constitutional democracies, the rule of law is supreme.

    “The majority will have their way while the minority their say. This is the beauty of the rule of law.

    “Everyone is equal before the law and everything is done according to the law. This means that both those who govern and the governed justify their actions in law,” he said.

    Dachelem identified the essential properties of the rule of law to include supremacy of the law, equality before the law, and protection of individual rights

    He identified the major challenges as high level of corruption in government, lack of clear separation of powers, societal class and their interests, broken justice system, tribalism, insecurity and insurgencies and poverty and ignorance:

    “All stakeholders ought to ensure the nexus between democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

    “This will no doubt bring about domestic accountability within democratic ownership frameworks.

    “Suffice to say that both democracy and rule of law are indispensable dimensions of the next generation of Millennium Development Goals/Sustainable Development Goals.

    “Indeed, in ideal democracies, human rights, goals and the rule of law are drivers of integral development

    “To save Nigeria, we must rely on capable hands, popular movements for democracy and the rule of law.

    “The time starts now and Nigerians are looking up to esteemed members of the Bar and the Bench to begin the revolution,” Dachelem stated

    What is rule of law to a layman?

    Chancellor and proprietor of Gregory University, Uturu, Prof Gregory Ibe gave a presentation entitled: Rule of law in Nigeria: the layman’s perspective.

    To him, human rights include economic rights.

    “The layman does not understand the right to vote when he is  hungry and shown that his vote could be bought.

    “He does not understand the right to life if he cannot find employment; human right, generally is meaningless to him if he is an illiterate person.

    “The layman is a practical being and wants to see his aspirations met.

    “He wants food on his table; he wants to be fairly treated and he is ready to contribute to the society,” Ibe said.

    ‘Imo committed to rule of law’

    Imo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice  Mr. Ndukwe Nnawuchi (SAN), said he accepted to serve because Governor Emeka Ihedioha’s commitment to rule of law.

    According to him, he advised that the state’s law officers unjustly sacked by the past administration be recalled.

    He said part of the rebuilding process is to be rule of law compliant.

    Nnawuchi said the state has asked anybody who has a judgment against the state to come forward for a discussion.

    The commissioner restated the state’s commitment to repositioning the Judiciary.

    “The administration of Rt. Hon Ihedioha will return Imo State to its lost glory,” Nnawuchi said.

    When was rule of law was absent

    NBA Owerri Branch, Mr. Damian Nosike, said: “In a state where the rule of law has been raped silly, derided, and scorned by the head of the executive arm of government, democracy and the rule of law can never be discussed adnauseam.

    “Rule of law is as important to our democracy as lactation is to new born baby.

    “What this new born baby has witnessed in the last eight years in Imo State is a premature weaning and starvation which has consequently stunted its growth and development.

    “But its future now looks bright with the emergence of a more responsible lactating mother.”

    Prof:judiciary must have integrity

    In a chat with The Nation, Prof.  R. Achara of the Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria (UNN), said while other arms of government have power and financial control as the basis of their powers, the judiciary has integrity as a basis for its authority and power.

    He said: “The judiciary is a peculiar arm of government and this has been in place since the time of James Madison, when they were writing the Federalist papers over two and half centuries ago in the USA.

    “Prof.  Alexander Bickel  expounded that people should realise that of the three arms of government, the executive wields the sword, the force of the state, the legislature has the purse strings because they are the ones who determine whether money will be released or not.

    “But that the Judiciary has neither sword nor the purse but how does it stand where there is a contest?

    “What the judiciary has is reason and integrity, though they didn’t expressly mentioned integrity but it is implied in it.

    “My submission is that there is something that is unique. If you do a study of the judges we had in the throes of absolute government, when the military were in government there were no pretense of following any democratic process.

    “The military were in charge yet there was a lot of respect for our judges.

    “There were a few occasions where things went awry, but by and large, you would see the kind of respect those judges had.”

    How to redeem Judiciary’s image

    Achara wondered why judges were highly respected during military regimes and less so in a democracy.

    “My view is that perhaps, we as lawyers either on the Bench or at the  Bar, must reconsider our personal  integrity, our appearance of neutrality, our self-sacrificial behaviour in terms of the application of law to be able to gain the buy-in of the populace.

    “It is the populace that props up the judiciary because they don’t have any other thing other than trust.

    So, if we  had judges like Justice Kayode Esho, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, Justice  Andrews Otutu Obaseki, even in recent times, we have  judges like Justice George Oguntade, we had a lot of such Judges and Justices in the judiciary who were exemplary in their conduct and judgments.

    “I don’t want to mention the names of current judges who are living up to expectation because it will be invidious for me to talk about them whether in good terms or bad terms.

    “There are currently good judges and they are the victims of the few bad ones and it is the bad ones that undermine the respect that is due to us as a family of lawyers and judges.

    “When they do wrong, they make us  to lose the respect that is due to us and this makes the public  treat us with disdain. It affects the populace we are trying to protect,” Achara said.

    Case  for constitutionalism

    Appraising the law week, Prof. O. E. Nwaegbo said: “The law week has been well planned, well executed. From theme, it could be concluded that Nigeria is not getting it right and we have shown that the rule of law and democracy  are intertwined; you cannot extricate them, one is important for the other one to thrive.

    “And if you don’t have democracy, you cannot have the rule of law and if you have the rule of law, then democracy can endure.

    “You need the two, but unfortunately in this country, corruption, tribalism, neo-patrimonism are factors that militate against the upholding of the principles of democracy.

    “Constitutionalism in this country has been thrown overboard and we need to wake up and ensure that the rule of law prevails because where you don’t have the rule of law, you cannot have democracy.

    “You cannot have peace and where you don’t have peace you cannot have progress. We need to revive our respect for the rule of law; we need to abide by the tenets of democracy and the elements of the rule of law.

    “For us to do that, the lawyers – the Bench and Bar – must take the initiative to make sure that the principles are upheld and not only that, the society as a whole must also make sure that the rule of law prevails in our society.

    “This should not be left for the Bar and Bench alone, the entire society must be involved, the Civil Society, the media must all engage because if the society is bad, every part of the society is bad.

    “So, the three main organs of government have a responsibility to ensure that they uphold the rule of law.

    “It is not only the judicial organ, but the legislature must operate on the basis of the rule of law and the executive must allow other arm of government to play their role.

    “So, it is obvious from the discussions that the executive is the main culprit in violating the principles of the rule of law.

    “We have a responsibility as members of the Bar and Bench to impress it on the society that the executive should allow other arms of government to carry out their duties,” Nwaegbo stated.

    The law week Committee Chairman, Dr. Livy Uzoukwu,SAN, praised participants for finding time to be part of the week. He lauded his Vice-Chairman, Mr. Soronnadi Njoku, for standing in for him while he was busy at the Presidential election petition TRIBUNAL

    Present were NBA First Vice –President Stanly Chidozie Imo, who represented the NBA President; NBA Financial Secretary Emeka Anosike, Justice Nonye Okoronkwo of the Court of Appeal, Chief Judge of Imo State, Justice Pascal O. Nnadi and Ag. Chief Judge of Anambra State, Justice Ijem Onwuamaegbu.

    Others are Justice E. F. Njemanze, Chief C.C. Onyeagbako, Justice Florence Duroha-Igwe, Justice Njaka  I.M, L.M. Alozie ( SAN), Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme of the Court of Appeal, Dr. C.K Okorie, Prof.Philip Ogbonna, Prof.  Nnamdi Obiaraeri, JTU Nnodum (SAN), F. A. Onuzuluike, among others.

  • Court quashes suit against Nwosu

    The Appeal Court in Owerri, Imo State, on Thursday struck out a suit challenging the emergence of Uche Nwosu as the authentic Imo State governorship candidate of the Action Alliance (AA) in the March 9 governorship elections.

    Justice R.C Agbo ruled that the appeal was statute barred in line with the virtue of the 4th Alteration of the 1999 Constitution, Section 285(12).

    Read Also: Alleged N20m fraud: Court grants ex-Ikeja NBA chiefs bail

    The Plaintiff, Mr. Leonard Okolienta, had appealed the judgment of the lower Court, which earlier ruled that Nwosu was the authentic governorship candidate.

  • Natural rulers’ quest for democracy, good governance

    Current resolve of traditional rulers to carry the message of peace and unity to the six-geo political zones in the country, starting with the Southeast’s Owerri Summit, has raised questions on how the natural leaders can help build and sustain healthy polity and good governance, reports Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu

    THE gathering of most of the top traditional rulers in Nigeria in Owerri, the Imo State capital, last week, has revived the view that our natural rulers have some vital roles to play in the unity of the country and the promotion of democracy and good governance.

    The meeting, a post-election peace summit, which held last week’s Thursday, merely days before the May 29 inauguration of the new administration, under the platform of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, has been a subject of debate since then. While some stakeholders, like the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed it as Governor Rochas Okorocha’s scheme to lavish Imo State’s resources before quitting office, some other observers said the initiative of the natural rulers is not only timely but also necessary, considering the violence that trailed the just concluded general elections.

    Peace and Unity

    As if the royal fathers anticipated the controversy over their intentions, the Sultan of Sokoto said clearly at the summit that the unity of Nigeria was of paramount interest to them as royal fathers and that this was one of the primary reasons for the summit.

    “We’re here today to mark the Southeast post-election and peace conference of the National Council of Traditional Rulers. The unity of Nigeria is of paramount interest to all of us, that is why we have gathered here,” he said.

    Dr. Raymond Nkwocha, a political analyst in Lagos, supporting the initiative, told The Nation during the week that the voting pattern and some other issues that played out during the just concluded general elections exposed the depth of division and distrust in Nigeria, adding that “we can no longer pretend that all is well with the polity and the nation called Nigeria. Aside the issue of political distrust, which needs to be resolved, the level of insecurity, killings, violence and hatred in the land demand calculated intervention of the critical leaders and stakeholders in order to save the nation. It is in this context that I commend the initiative of traditional rulers to go round the country at this critical time to preach unity and peace. I do not see it as a political gimmick. To me, nothing could be more timely and necessary in our polity than this initiative,” he said.

    President Muhammadu Buhari also believes the initiative for peace is commendable. He said that much at the Owerri summit. Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, Buhari explained why traditional rulers are most suited to play key roles in the maintenance of peace in Nigeria when he said “the responsibility of ensuring peace rests squarely on the shoulders of the traditional rulers because they are closer to the people than the government.” The President acknowledged that without the unique fatherly roles the natural rulers played during and after the 2019 general elections, “the relative peace that existed could not have been possible.”

    According to the SSG, one practical way of sustaining the vital role as the country prepares for the inauguration of the new administration is by taking the message to all the political zones in the country. Further emphasising the importance of the summit and the determination of the Federal Government to support it, Mustapha said “My Royal Highnesses and traditional rulers, the presidency has saddled my office with the very responsibility of overseeing the Post-Election Peace Conference/Summit in the six geo-political zones of our dear country.

    Acknowledging that the quest for peace and unity constitute the major plank to the gathering of the traditional rulers, the  spokesman of the royal fathers, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ojaja II, also said “the group was aware of the political tension in the country, hence its resolve to intervene in restoring stability in the polity.”

    He explained that they were poised to join efforts with other segments of the nation in fostering unity and peaceful coexistence among the various tribes in the country, “regardless or our political, tribal or religious differences.” According to the royal father, “What we are known for, as traditional rulers, is to foster unity and peaceful co-existence across the entire country, Nigeria.

    “We are aware of the political tension across the country and we are here to make a statement that we all belong to Nigeria and Nigeria is greater than all of us.”

    Security at the grassroots

    Even more than strict politics, both the government and other stakeholders are of the view today that natural rulers should take up the responsibility of fighting insecurity at the grassroots level if they desire unity and good governance for the people and country.

    Buhari led this call at the Summit when he said: “But the most sterling issue about the whole matter is establishing peace, how to bring peace to Sokoto, to Adamawa and others. But we all understand that this responsibility rests rather more squarely on the shoulders of our traditional rulers who are closer to the people than the government.

    “This is why my office attends to everything pertaining to this matter with utter dispatch. Also, the team-spirit with which you have carried out your functions has not gone unnoticed.

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, also spoke on this matter, even as he urged his fellow royal fathers to wake up from their slumber and help save Nigeria from the hands of violent terrorists and killers. As he puts it: “My fellow Traditional Rulers from across the various ethnic groups of Nigeria, I want us to bear in mind that the reason for this conference is the peace of this country.

    “We cannot afford to be seated on our various thrones and see the people we are ruling scattered. So, the peace of Nigeria must cost us something worth sacrificing. All of us seated here have a duty to let our subjects know that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. Therefore, we must rise up to join our leaders to find lasting peace to our diverse political and cultural situations”.

    Need for constitutional backing

    While many agree that, as Buhari said, the responsibility of maintaining peace at the grassroots level rests greatly on the shoulders of the natural rulers, they said the monarchs currently lack the needed constitutional powers to effectively fight insecurity.

    Mr. Rotimi Adeniji, a lawyer told The Nation that it amounts to wishful thinking to believe the natural rulers can truly fight insurgency today. They lack constitutional powers to police their communities and kingdoms. So, how do you expect them to confront the criminals? It’s all a joke. If you want them to do more than they are doing today, you will need to empower them constitutionally.”

    The call for constitutional backing for traditional rulers in the task of maintaining peace did not begin today. It would be recalled that a similar meeting of royal fathers held in 2014 ahead of the 2015 General Elections, after the notorious kidnapping of the Chibok girls when the political atmosphere was equally charged and violence and bloodletting were being spread across the country leading to calls for traditional rulers to take the centre stage in the maintenance of peace at the grassroots level.

    It was a two-day national conference on Culture, Peace and National Security held in Kaduna State.

    The conference, with the theme: “Culture, Peace and National Security: Role of Traditional Rulers in Nigeria’s Democracy”, was organised by the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) in collaboration with UNESCO.

    In that conference, one of the speakers, the paramount ruler of Oko Community in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Igwe Laz Ekwueme, particularly identified insecurity and corruption as the bane of development in Nigeria. He therefore called for a legal backing for the Royal Fathers; arguing that “if constitutional responsibilities are assigned traditional rulers, they would be able to join hands with government to tackle the rising rate of bomb attacks by the Boko Haram terrorists since they were closer to the grassroots.”

    Another Royal Father at the 2014 conference, the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Umar El-Kanemi, said “the current security challenges could only be surmounted if appropriate measures were taken through proper consultations.

    “If the roles and welfare of traditional rulers are properly spelt out, such will enable them to effectively contribute their quota in national development,” he said.

    The then Vice President, Namadi Sambo, who was represented at the occasion by the then Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Mr. Nuhu Bajoga, said: “While the present administration is committed to the promotion of peace and security in the country and to also ensure that the abducted Chibok school girls are rescued, there is the need for deliberate cultural re-engineering in order to restore the nation’s lost values and ethics.”

    The current summit held at the palace of HRM Eze Samuel Ohiri, who is the Chairman of Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, five years after, maintains the same position, that if the government truly empowers the natural rulers to help fight insecurity, peace and sustained political culture would be promoted.

    Commenting on the current efforts, Adenijii said: “The quality of the traditional rulers and their statements of commitment suggest greater resolve to work together and with the government to ensure a peaceful political nation. So, it seems today that the ball is in the court of the government to ensure that natural rulers are legally empowered to help fight insecurity. They are vital to the nation’s quest for a peaceful polity.”

    It would be recalled that apart from the Sultan and the Ooni, other first class traditional rulers present at the occasion include the Obi of Onitsha, His Royal Majesty, Prof. Alfred Achebe; Obong of Calabar, His Eminence Ediden Ekpo Okon Abasi; Etsu of Nupe, HRH Alhaji Valiya Abubakar.

  • Easter: Lagos airports record higher numbers of passengers

    The domestic terminals of Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos recorded higher numbers of passengers on Thursday ahead of the Easter holidays.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Government had declared April 19 and 22 to mark the Easter celebration by Christians in commemoration of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

    NAN correspondents that visited the airport terminals observed that more travelers were leaving Lagos to other destinations.

    At the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), the counters of Air Peace and Arik Air had the long queues of passengers, while Dana Air and Max Air also had the long queues at the MMA2.

    The upsurge of the out-bound passengers led to increase in air fares due to lack of seats on available flights.

    Mostly affected were flights from Lagos to Abuja, Owerri, Port Harcourt, Enugu and Benin which usually sell for between N25, 000 and N32,000, but have gone up to about N42,000 and 46,000.

    A travel agent, Mr Madu Ezechi, said the increase in the air fares was normal due to the high demand by passengers.

    “This is a long holiday and many people want to take advantage of it to go home, see their loved ones and settle other issues.

    “So, getting tickets is a bit difficult, especially if you are traveling in groups. Some people want to sit with their family members and are willing to pay for it,” he said.

    Read Also: Sanwo-Olu, Hamzat to unveil key Lagos road map

    A passenger, Mr George Uko, said many Nigerians have embraced air travel, especially as it was safer and faster.

    Uko, however urged domestic airlines to improve their services by reducing incidents of delayed and cancelled flights.

    “Flight delay and cancellation are still big issues. I remember one time my flight was delayed for almost two hours and I nearly missed my appointment. I was not happy at all, “he said.

    NAN reports that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) had assured passengers and other airport users that her network of airports were fully prepared and ready for the usual upsurge in passenger traffic during the Easter period.

    FAAN, in a statement signed by its General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, on Wednesday said that all necessary facilities, infrastructure and manpower had been deployed to ensure seamless operation at the airports.

    She said that the relevant security agencies had been mobilised to beef up security at all airports during the period.

    Yakubu advised intending travelers to endeavour to leave for the airport early enough to ensure that check-in formalities were conducted in good time.

    NAN

     

  • Flights resume at Imo Airport after fire

    Flight operations have resumed at the Sam Mbakwe Cargo Airport, Owerri, Imo State, after a fire outbreak that razed part of the arrival terminal.

    When The Nation visited the airport yesterday, passengers were queuing to get their boarding pass, though the number of passengers was minimal compared to what it used to be before the fire.

    It was also gathered that the executive lounge of the airport was completely razed and has been cordoned off.

    The Airport Manager, Mrs. Rejoice Ndudinachi, said the cause of the inferno was yet to be ascertained as investigation was still on.

    Read Also: Robbers raid Imo Airport, cart away cash

    According to her, flight operations have fully resumed and the fire didn’t affect any critical infrastructure or equipment.

    She said: “We are following Airport contingency plans to make sure that flight operations resume, and it has resumed. We are sorry for what happened; there was no casualty; the fire department was able to contain the inferno.”

    Governor Rochas Okorocha and Governor-elect, Emeka Ihedioha, during separate visits to the airport, praised the management for the proactive measures taken to avert what a major disaster.

  • Three Nigerian students die of tramadol, codeine overdose

    Three students of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) were found dead in a hotel after allegedly taking a mixture of tramadol, codeine and vodka.

    One other student was still unconscious as at the time of filling this report.

    The bodies were found at the Sunshine Castle Hostel, Umuchima ihiagwa, one of the state lite communities close to the University.

    Two of them, according to an eyewitness account, died instantly while the only lady amongst them and another male student were found unconscious.

    They were immediately rushed to the Federal Medical Centre Owerri where they were admitted at the Intensive Care Unit.

    Read Also: Renewed cult clash claims three lives in Calabar

    The male student later died at the hospital, after efforts to revive him by a team of medical personnel failed.

    At as the time of filling this report, students have vacated the hostel while the caretaker has been arrested by the Police.

    However when contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the University, Mrs. Uche Nwaelue, said that the institution cannot yet confirm if the victims were its students.

    Confirming the incident, the Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, Orlando Ikeokwu, a Superintendent of Police, confirmed two of the students died in the hospital after they were found unconscious.

    According to him: “The caretaker reported the matter and our men visited the scene and found the four of them stark naked and unconscious.

    “They were rushed to the hospital where two of them gave up the ghost. Substances suspected to be tramadol and Indian hemp were found with them”.

  • INEC regrets election irregularities in Imo

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Imo, Prof. Francis Ezeonu on Tuesday expressed regrets at the challenges and irregularities witnessed at the Feb. 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections in Imo.

    Ezeonu made his view known at the Imo INEC Interactive Meeting with Stakeholders in Owerri.

    He noted that the meeting afforded the commission an opportunity to X-Ray what happened during the Feb. 23 election in the state.

    The REC explained that there were a few hitches which impeded the early deployment of materials on the election day.

    Read Also: INEC yet to commence collation in Imo

    “There were deliberate efforts to frustrate the use of Registration Area Centres (RACs) and in some places, our water tanks were carted away soon after delivery and wires used in reticulation of the centres were removed and taken away.

    “In a few places, the community members disrupted activities at the RAC centres.

    “Out in the field, there were too much turmoil, we battled with thugs for INEC materials, corps members were hijacked and returning officers harassed and intimidated and in a few places forced to declare results that were obviously concocted under duress.

    “Some other staff were obviously compromised. The maxim was either to play along or be battered.

    “Our materials were destroyed and our office at Isiala Mbano burnt down by irate mob. At Isiala Mbano alone where the office was burnt, we lost 204 Smart Card Readers and over 600 ballot boxes among others.

    “In Ohaji-Egbema we lost more than 30 Smart Card Readers. Our ballot boxes and other electoral materials were destroyed with impunity. This obviously is not our idea of an election.

    “I regret that the election did not turn out as good as we planned,” the REC said.

    Ezeonu explained that the most painful was that highly respected members of the society, who were supposed to demonstrate leadership allowed emotion and muscle to displace reason.

    “For me, it is not a palatable experience. I had earlier warned that in this journey each one of us had a role to play.

    “As the Resident Electoral Commissioner, I take responsibility for all the shortcomings during the last election and I pledge to make amends. However, there are issues for which I cannot be held liable,” he said.

    The REC said that there was the need for Nigerians to create an amiable environment for the ad hoc staff to do their work urging those who claimed to be honourable, distinguished and Excellencies to exhibit honourable conduct.

    “The experiences of the last election have sent shock waves; so much so that some ad hoc staff have given notices that they would not wish to participate in the next election.

    “Even corps members are threatening to withdraw.

    “The way things are going, we may come to a stage where no person will be willing to officiate during elections. The situation is that bad, but we can all work together to change it,” he said.

    He however, declared that strategies would be employed to ensure the experiences of last election did not repeat.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the stakeholders drawn from the civil society groups, party agents, party candidates, party chairmen and others expressed their dissatisfaction with the last election.

    They advised INEC to ensure they put modalities in place to check the discrepancies.

    Mrs Juliet Okayi, Programme Officer Development Dynamics while commenting, reeled out all the challenges and anomalies experienced during the election and called for correction.

    Mrs Ijeoma Onwubuariri, Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) Secretary urged INEC to opt for the use of electronic voting to curb the challenges.

    She said that observers and other staff that participated at the election experienced hardships, while the election started very late in most polling units in the state. (NAN)