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Tag: Soludo

  • Firm apologises to Soludo, promises timely delivery

    Firm apologises to Soludo, promises timely delivery

    TEC Engineering Company Nigeria Ltd, the firm handling reconstruction of Niger Bridge Head to Sokoto Road Junction, as well as the channelisation of Nwangene Stream to River Nigeria, has assured citizens of completion of the road and channel sections before the end of the year.

    It acknowledged its responsibility to pay fines as stipulated in Article 28 of the contract, or to have the contract terminated in the event of failure to meet the deadline.

    In July, Governor Chukwuma Soludo terminated the firm’s contract after unscheduled inspection, following slow pace of work.

    Read Also: ‘Support Soludo’s green environment’

    The company has since been meeting with the Ministry of Works to synergise with the government on possible amendments and the way forward.

    But speaking after a closed door meeting with the Commissioner for Works, Ifeanyi Okoma, an engineer: Marketing Manager of the company, Engr. Xiao, pleaded with the state government to return to site for the road project.

    TEC Engineering Ltd in a letter addressed to Governor Soludo, assured the government and people of the state that it would deploy the best and certified technical manpower to undertake all aspects of the construction work and to ensure standard and professionalism were maintained.

    Okoma said they had looked at the firm’s programme of work, methodology, manpower and equipment disposals, noting that his conviction was that if they kept to the agreement, they would deliver.

    Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Christian Aburime, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works, Mrs. Stephanie

  • ‘Support Soludo’s green environment’

    ‘Support Soludo’s green environment’

    Federal Government has urged Anambra State residents to support Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s initiative of clean, green and sustainable environment.

    Minister of State, Environment and Ecological Management, Dr. Ishaq Salako gave the advice at the Plastic Waste Sustainability Summit organised by Anambra State Waste Recyclers Association (ASWRA), in conjunction with the Ministry of Environment.

    The minister, who spoke virtually, said Federal Government was planning to establish more recycling hubs to help in converting waste to wealth.

    He, however, regretted that over 1.5million tonnes of plastic waste generated annually in Nigeria were posing threat to food safety and quality.

    He said: “Plastic pollution has become one of the environmental problems not only in Nigeria, but also in the world.

    Read Also: Soludo: President fair to Igbo with appointments

    “Federal Government through the Ministry of Environment is putting together a national system to support cycler management of waste products such as plastic, aluminium, electro and electrical equipment, batteries and so on.

    “I want to assure Anambra Government that once the system becomes operational, the state will get its slot of benefits.”

    Secretary to State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, assured people of government’s readiness to support efforts geared towards conversion of waste to wealth, waste to biogas, waste to compost manure, waste to energy and waste to other useful products.

    Commissioner for Environment, Felix Odumegwu, an engineer; said the summit was in furtherance of the clean, green and sustainable environmental vision of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration.

    He called on the residents to stop indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste materials.

    Convener of Anambra State Waste Recyclers Association, Philip Obuesi, a lawyer; said waste products such as plastic waste materials, when properly recycled, would help reduce the volume of waste to be managed and evacuated by the Anambra State Waste Management Agency (ASWAMA).

    He added that plastic waste, when recycled, served as resource materials for many other end-products.

  • Soludo to honour predecessors, industrialists

    Soludo to honour predecessors, industrialists

    • Names Int’l Convention Centre after Obiano

    Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo yesterday announced plans by his administration to name major institutions after former governors of the state.

    He said the International Convention Centre (ICC) would be named after his predecessor, Chief Willie Obiano, being one his legacy projects, besides the international cargo airport.

    Soludo spoke during the maiden Anambra Investment Summit 2023, powered by Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA), with the theme: “Role of Corporate Governance in Building Sustainable Businesses.”

    He said the move was in recognition of Obiano’s contributions to the development of the state.

    Soludo, who noted that hard work and entrepreneurship were celebrated in the state and not criminality, said other citizens of the state who had contributed to the development of the state would also be honoured.

    Read Also; Wike faults Ushafa-Bwari road contract variation

    Describing the summit as extraordinary, Soludo said it was in line with his quest to transform the state, noting that the summit promised to be an eye-opener for the business community in Nigeria and beyond.

    He said: “Our politics in Anambra is different. We play politics of statesmanship. We’ll celebrate our former governors by finding institutions to name after them.

    “I appreciate my predecessor, Chief Obiano. We can’t acknowledge him enough. This ICC we’re using was built by him, as well as the International Cargo airport. We’ll name ICC after him if he accepts.

    “Time has come to honour every Anambra leader who had made meaningful contributions to the development of the state. We will also find other institutions to name after other past governors like Chief Emeka Ezeife, Dr. Chunwoke Mbadinuju, Dr. Chris Ngige, Peter Obi.

    “We’ll also celebrate those putting in their money, creating jobs and wealth in the state. In Anambra, we don’t celebrate criminality, but hard work and entrepreneurship.”

    According to Soludo, one of his visions included converting the state from departure land to destination point, stressing that the summit would offer the state opportunity to seal deals and sign Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

    “Turning Anambra from departure land to destination point remains one of our key visions. It will come to a point if you’ve not been to Anambra; you’ve not been to Nigeria.

    “We’re very deliberate and intentional about it. We’ll have plans to reward investors making impact in the state. We’ll de-risk your investment. We’re not just here to talk, but sealing deals and signing MOUs.”

    Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Christian Udechukwu, listed part of his ministry’s mandate to include bringing back dead industries, building weak ones as well as transiting small industries to micro and large enterprise.

    “We’ll help strong industries to become stronger, and stronger ones become champions; we’ll support the industries through government policies.

    “We’ll encourage made-in-Anambra products to grow their businesses, import to export policies, and to engage importers to manufacture products for export,” he said.

  • Erosion: Soludo seeks FG, partners’ intervention on Anambra roads

    Erosion: Soludo seeks FG, partners’ intervention on Anambra roads

    Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra state has called for the intervention of both the federal government and development partners on the gully erosion at Umuagu, Nnobi road, along Nnobi-Ideani-Nkpor federal road.

    He described Anambra as the erosion capital of the world in view of hundreds of erosion sites scattered across the state.

    Speaking during an on-the-spot assessment visit to the location, Soludo regretted that the road, strategically located has been completely cut into half by deep gully erosion making it almost impossible for motorists to ply the highway.

    He, however, promised that his government would begin immediate remedial measures.

    The governor noted: “We’re already dispensing funds and intervening on the Onitsha-Owerri road which is a major entrance into Onitsha.

    “It is high time people embarked on preventive measures against gully erosion ravaging the state.”

    Read Also: Otti’s emergence as governor, Abia’s answered prayer –Soludo

    Soludo further called for collective action by both the government and the people to control run-off water from various compounds by digging water retention pits within their compounds, and non-blockage of drainage systems, among others, in order to mitigate the causes of erosion.

    He stated: “The communities have a huge role to play to ensure compliance. There’s also a need for a positive attitude towards the environment to prevent landslides and gully erosion.”

    The governor, who also inspected some roads in Nnewi, including the popular bank road, observed certain obstructions and illegal structures on the road as well as on top of the drainage system.

    He assured that such illegalities would be corrected, while the road would be widened for improved accessibility.

  • Subsidy: Allocate 10 per cent palliatives to PWDs in Anambra, JONAPWD begs Soludo

    Subsidy: Allocate 10 per cent palliatives to PWDs in Anambra, JONAPWD begs Soludo

    Person’s with Disabilities in Anambra State have appealed to Governor Chukwuma Soludo to specifically allocate to them minimum of 10% palliatives within each ward/community in the state.

    The PWDs, under the aegis of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) said the dedicated percentage would enable them to meet their basic needs of food, healthcare, and other essential assistance during the challenging period.

    JONAPWD’s State Chairman, Comrade Ugochukwu Okeke, in a statement on Saturday also called on the governor to make one of them a member of any committee to be set up to handle the palliatives’ distribution.

    He said the step would significantly mitigate the adverse impacts faced by his members and uphold their right to healthy living.

    Read Also: Soludo lifts 118 indigent students with scholarships

    He added that the initiative would also demonstrate his members’ commitment to inclusivity, compassion, and the principle of leaving no one behind.

    The statement reads in part, “It has come to our attention that persons with disabilities, who often face additional challenges in daily life, have been disproportionately affected by the current hardship.

    “Consequently, there is an urgent need to ensure that they are not left behind in terms of accessing essential services and support.

    “While we appreciate the government’s commitment and intentions to distributing palliatives at the community/ward levels, we would like to request a specific percentage dedicated to persons with disabilities to ensure their fair and equitable access to palliative.

    “We kindly request you to consider this proposal seriously and initiate immediate action to facilitate the allocation of a specific percentage of government palliatives to persons with disabilities in the state.

    “We would also appreciate it if you would issue directives to our community leaders as regards percentage reservation for persons with disabilities in any palliative disbursement or that the disability community should be regarded as an additional special ward in the state making it 327 wards.

    “We remain hopeful that our government will take the necessary steps to address the concerns of persons with disabilities during these challenging times.

  • Otti’s emergence as governor, Abia’s answered prayer –Soludo

    Otti’s emergence as governor, Abia’s answered prayer –Soludo

    Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, says the emergence of Dr. Alex Otti, as the Governor of Abia State is not just an answered prayer for the people of Abia State but for the South East and the whole of Nigeria.

    Soludo spoke at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Ikwuano Local Government Area, Abia State, where he delivered the keynote lecture at the 30th anniversary of the creation of the institution and Founder’s Day ceremony.

    Referring to Otti as the “New Abia” Governor, Soludo said: “The election of Governor Otti is not just an answered prayer for Abians but for the South East and the whole of Nigeria.”

    He told the audience that he had no doubt in his mind that Abia, in the hands of Dr. Otti, is very safe and on a path to greatness.

    Read Also: Soludo committed to digitising Anambra workforce, says commissioner

    “You ain’t seen nothing yet, it’s about three months now, he is just starting. We are all starting. South East will not be the same again,” Soludo, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) declared.

     In a  keynote lecture titled, ‘Leadership, Agriculture And Entrepreneurship: The Dr. Michael Iheonukara Okpara Model For National Growth and Identity,’ which he retitled, ‘Our Future is in our Past,’ Soludo extolled the exemplary leadership qualities and selfless service of the late premier of Eastern Nigeria, who hails from Ohuhu in Umuahia.

    The Anambra governor highlighted some of the legacies of the late Dr. Okpara which include farm settlements in all the provinces of the Old Eastern Region, provision of pipe-borne water, electricity, well-planned clean cities, and good road networks, among others.

    In his remarks, Otti described Soludo as an erudite scholar, and an economist of repute. He thanked the Michael Okpara University leadership for taking the wise decision to invite Prof. Soludo to give the keynote lecture.

    While inaugurating the endowment fund established in honour of Dr. Okpara, by the University, Governor Otti said he remains a student of Dr. Michael Okpara’s brand of economics, which he has demonstrated by appointing experts in various fields in his cabinet.

  • Soludo’s wife laments death of baby rescued from pit toilet

    Soludo’s wife laments death of baby rescued from pit toilet

    Anambra State Governor’s wife, Mrs. Nonye Soludo, has stressed the need for parents, guardians and the society to rise against increasing moral decay and abandonment of basic societal norms.

    She spoke yesterday while reacting to the death of a three-day old baby boy rescued from a pit toilet in Otuocha, Anambra East, three days after his 20-year-old mother dumped him inside the pit.

    The baby, who was rescued and taken to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Awka, by the Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Ify Obinabo, died while receiving medical attention. 

    Mrs. Soludo described the act as inhumane, saying the news of the death came to her as a shock, having prayed for his full recovery while at hospital.

    She said: “As a mother, I feel the pains of having to deal with such news, which brings shock and discomfort.

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    “I was in prayers for full recovery of the baby boy immediately it was confirmed that he had been taken to hospital and was looking forward to visiting him, until the sudden news of his passing away.

    “This ugly incident, along with so many others of such, tells an unacceptable story of the present society, and how morality has been eroded by growing, unmitigated decadence.”

    Blaming some parents and guardians who have abandoned their primary responsibility to home and proper child upbringing, the governor’s wife regretted that moral deterioration had thrived, following failure of those entrusted with such sensitive task.

    “The society must rise up immediately and take decisive actions if the spate of current moral decline will be cut down, while individuals and institutions entrusted with the job of societal sanity have to show renewed zeal and commitment to the occupation. 

    “Once again, I call on parents to teach their children more about culture, tradition, fear of God and common values such as sanctity of life, value of patience, self-control, hard work, perseverance, among others,” she said

  • Ngige’s community hails Soludo over court’s removal of monarch

    Ngige’s community hails Soludo over court’s removal of monarch

    Alor community in Idemili South local government area of Anambra state has hailed Governor Chukwuma Soludo for adhering to the court’s judgement of the dethronement of Mac-Antoney Okonkwo as a traditional ruler.

    The community is where the former governor and immediate past minister of labour and employment, Chris Ngige hails from.

    The decision of the Anambra state government was a sequel to the petition by the former president general of the community, Uzoma Igbonwa, to the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of the state.

    The petition was to stop the planned celebration of the new yam festival by the dethroned monarch, which according to the petitioner, was to forestall the breakdown of law and order in the area.

    In the petition to the government, Igbonwa officially submitted the judgment of the High Court of Anambra State, Ogidi Judicial Division that dethroned the monarch.

    Read Also: Soludo committed to digitising Anambra workforce, says commissioner

    The judgment, delivered in February 2022, had restrained Mac-Anthony Okonkwo from parading himself as the Igwe of Alor or performing any function in the name of the community.

    Ngige’s community had been in a leadership crisis for a long time, culminating in having different town Unions and two different monarchs.

    When the former monarch sued a section of the community, that he was duly selected as the monarch, the other group led by Igbonwa, equally counter-sued, saying he was never elected or selected according to the constitution of the community.

    The people said that Alor customs, tradition, and the constitution were not followed, adding that the certificate of recognition by the state government then led by Peter Obi was illegal and unconstitutional

    Following the Court judgement of February 22, 2022, restraining the former monarch, the community installed a new traditional ruler, Ebelechukwu Chukwumesili, an evangelist, as Ezedioramma 111 of Alor, which took place on November 3rd, 2022.

    However, the former monarch, Mac-Anthoney, had appealed the matter, which was still pending

    As a result of the High Court’s judgement which had not been vacated, the state government had stopped the 2023 celebration of the new yam festival by Okonkwo, following a petition from the community.

    According to the document obtained by The Nation Monday, August 28, in Awka, signed by TC Ikenna, Esq on behalf of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the court order must be obeyed to avoid a breakdown of law and order in Anambra state

    The document, dated August 22, 2023, read: “I am directed by the honourable Attorney general and commissioner for Justice, Anambra state to inform you that after considering the content of your petition and stated judgement in suit HiD/354/2019, between Mr. Frank Nwabufo Okoye and ORS Vs Incorporated Trustees of Alor People’s Assembly and ANORs

    The government said: “Having been satisfied that the judgment and orders delivered in the above-mentioned suit in Paragraph 1.1 above are the extant and subsisting orders of the court between the parties and on the same subject matter, save and until the contrary is established, Mr. Mac-Anthony Chinedu Okonkwo should not conduct or superintend over the new yam festival scheduled on Saturday, in the purported capacity of Traditional ruler of Alor Town.

    “It is unlawful and against the public peace of the town, therefore he is restrained from doing so to avoid a total breakdown of law and order in the community. Finally, it is the opinion of the Hon.

    “Attorney-General/Commissioner for Justice that since the motion for stay of execution had been dismissed, he should not parade himself as the Igwe of Alor or perform any function in the name of Igwe of Alor until the High Court Judgment is overruled by the appellant Court. At the interim, he is not the the Igwe of Alor.”

  • Soludo lifts 118 indigent students with scholarships

    Soludo lifts 118 indigent students with scholarships

    A total of 118 indigent students from secondary schools in riverine areas of Anambra State are currently under the scholarship scheme of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, has stated.

     The commissioner made the revelation in Awka, the state capital while fielding questions from reporters on achievements of the governor in the education sector since assumption of office.

     She described Soludo as an educationist who is desirous of raising competent, skilled and technologically equipped citizens, who would be useful both at home and in diaspora.

     Chuma-Udeh added that the governor had not hid his passion for education, including declaring state of emergency in the sector from inception.

     She said: “Prof. Soludo, as you may know, is an educationist. He hit the ground running in the education sector. In fact, he declared state of emergency in the sector.

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     “For him, he is desirous of raising, competent, skilled and technologically equipped citizens, who will be useful at home and exportable abroad.

     “We have series of award. Last year, the President’s award for the teachers, 15 in all, Anambra State clinched 5. The best teacher in Nigeria is in the state and best run public secondary school in Nigeria is also here.

     “The best technologically alert teacher is in Anambra State. We came home with car, motorcycle, generating sets and other series of awards.

     “The All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) Cup, both senior and junior are in the state. The state became the debate team of the nation after defeating other states in Malaysia.

     “That’s not all, seeing that education space is not up to what the UN required, especially when it comes to the teacher and the taught, the governor decided to employ 5,000 teachers at a stretch to fill the obvious dearth of teachers.

     “With this influx of teachers, life  breathed into the system. Presently, we’re into continuous upgrade of knowledge of the teachers.

     “We’re planning to have the first solution teachers’ holiday boot camp where 1,500 teachers will be going back to school for one week; all targeted at breeding quality teachers and quality teaching. It’s going to be carried out every holiday.

     “Mr. Governor has scholarship scheme for all indigent students in the secondary schools in the riverine areas of the state. Currently, we have 118 of them. We pay their school fees in any school of their choice.”

  • Ezeife, Soludo lead Obiano’s re-election bid in old Aguata

    •Ekwueme, Uba brothers absent

    Former governor of old Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife and former Central Bank of, Nigeria Governor (CBN), Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, are leading the charge for the re-election bid of Governor Willie Obiano in the Old Aguata Union (OAU) in Anambra State.

    But the major absentees during the meeting were other prominent sons from the zone like former vice president, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Senator Andy Uba, Senator Ugochukwu Uba and the godfather of Anambra politics, Chief Chris Uba.

    The Old Aguata Union comprised three local government areas of Orumba North, Orumba South and Aguata with 45 communities out of the 177 in the state.

    The meeting which was held at the weekend at triple tree hotels at Amaokpala in Orumba North was chaired by Ezeife, which also had in attendance two former Deputy Governors in the state, Dr. Okey Udeh and Chief Emeka Sibeudu.

    According to the speakers led by Ezeife and Soludo, the aim of such gathering was to tell the people, it would be better to give support to Obiano to complete his four year tenure, than the south senational zone waiting for more eight years again.

    They declared that the zone was tired of being deputy, adding that they would support Obiano for power to shift to south in 2022, which according to them was the surest way of getting it.

    Soludo said those saying if elected, they would only serve for four years were either “naïve or fraudulent” adding that nobody voluntarily leaves power, noting that anybody who was desperate for power would always find it difficult to relinquish.

    “So, the surest way of getting power in the south is through Obiano, therefore, we should support him to win the election, we want Governorship and not deputy and we are going to start door to door campaign politics on this project, “Soludo said.

    For Ezeife, “the only way to achieve peace in Anambra state is through rotation of the office of the Governor to each of the three senational zones, and our rotation has to be rigid, eight years to each zone starting with Obiano”

    Former deputy to Mr. Peter Obi, Emeka Sibeudu, said there was nothing on the position of Deputy Governor, adding that deputies were always suppressed by the governors.

    Also, one time deputy to Dr. Chris Ngige, Dr Okey Udeh, said the surest way of achieving the aim of old Aguata was to make sure that Obiano wins, nothing that if APGA loses the election, the party was dead in the state.

    But the member representing Orumba North and South at the House of Representatives, Hon. Ben Nwankwo, a member of the people’s Democratic Party (PDP), told them that such arrangement would succeed, if everybody was called together at Ezeife’s house and not in a hostel.

    He said he would not oppose every decision taken by the OAU, adding that it would be good to hold such a meeting at Ezeife’s house.