-Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) –From Sunny A. DAVID:
Anambra State Governor-elect, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has said that he will serve only palmwine and locally made beer in Government House and at government functions when sworn in.
The Governor-elect spoke through his publicist, Mr. Joe Anatune in a write up, saying that he is committed to promoting local brands and also noted that his decision to be wearing Akwete dresses has shot up the demand for the locally made fabric.
He said the media team of the former Central Bank Governor sent one of its reporters to Akwete in Abia State, where the fabric of mostly made, and it was discovered that the demand for the material is now high since Soludo announced that he will be wearing the locally made material.
Mr. Anatune said: “Akwete today is being popularised as a metaphor by Anambra State Governor-Elect, Cee Cee Soludo for the purchase and consumption of made in Anambra products and services.
“Already, the women of Akwete are smiling to the bank due to the association of their products with an iconic figure who many look up to as a role model.
“Our reporter, Chimeziri Franklin visited the Akwete Community recently and said the women can’t thank Soludo enough for igniting a spike in demand for their product.
“Mr. Anatune quoted the reporter as saying: “They have heard of what Cee Cee Soludo is doing for Akwete weavers which no State actor has done for them earlier.”
He also said beyond Akwete dresses, Prof. Soludo will also market other local brands, including local shoes, Innoson Vehicles and only drinks made in Anambra will be served at government functions, including palmwine.
“Beyond Akwete, Soludo will model other brands and commodities produced in Anambra in all industries and categories.
He has not hidden his decision to use Innoson vehicle as his official car or enforce that the only drinks that will be taken in Government House or at government functions will be beers produced in Anambra or the organic palm wine from Awa/ Awgbu axis.
“The list is long as he will not wear any shoes that are not made in Anambra. Soludo is aware that most of these products may not be the best in their classes globally but is of the well considered opinion that our patronage will help upscale their quality standards and make them competitive beyond our shores.
“Let’s face it, product development and diffusion is tough and gritty. All over the world, State actors take deliberate actions in nurturing and supporting global brands which no doubt have become veritable tools for economic diplomacy.
“We know a good salesman many poles away. Soludo is one. He sees solutions where others see bottlenecks. His total commitment to made in Anambra products will hugely improve the input-output matrix of Anambra’s agro value chain and ultimately make the State the most attractive place to live happily, learn happily, work happily, invest happily and enjoy happily in Nigeria,” Mr. Anatune wrote.
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Four personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have been lost to a buried landmine in Niger State.
A statement on Monday by the spokesman of the paramilitary agency, Olusola Odumosu said a bomb explosion has rocked an operational vehicle of the Niger State Command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps killing four personnel instantly while the driver of the vehicle sustained very serious injuries during the blast and had been rushed to the hospital where he is currently battling for his life.
He disclosed that the explosion occured along Galadiman kogo axis in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State at the early hours of Monday morning involving some officers and men of NSCDC Niger Command attached to Shiroro Hydro Power Station, Shiroro, Niger State on a routine patrol in the early hours of Monday morning when their patrol vehicle stepped on a buried land mine which exploded immediately killing all occupants except the driver who is currently in a very critical condition.
Odumosu said the dead personnel are Mohammed Ibrahim (Assistant Superintendent of Corps 1), Cheche Ahmed (Assistant Superintendent of Corps 11), Yunusa Mahmam (Inspector of Corps) and Bala Abdullahi (Corps Assistant 1), while the driver currently in critical condition at the hospital as been identified as Inspector Bala Adamu.
Odumosu said the Commandant General, NSCDC, Dr. Ahmed Audi, PhD, has commiserated with families of the deceased officers and men who paid the supreme price in service to the Nation and reassured residents of Niger of the Corp’s resolve and commitment to the security of lives and property of Nigerians without deterrence.
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PROSPER Adibor has a BSc in Accounting and is the CEO of Prosperity Leather Works, Warri. Though re-trained in Shoe Making in the State Government’s Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP), he had previously acquired knowledge in other aspects of leather works such as making of bags, purses, and belts.
–STEPreneur Adidor Prosper at work
With his starter pack, Prosper was able to establish a shoe-making shop in Warri and has lots of clients who patronize his products. Hear him,
“Though challenging, I am making progress. I make bags, shoes, palm sandals and slippers for both male and female.
“Over time, my capacity has improved, and the patronage and reward are good. I make at least 35% of my investment.
STEPreneur Adibor presenting a pair of shoe to Gov. Okowa during the Graduation Ceremony for 2020/2021 Cycle beneficiaries
“Job creation programme made me independent, married and able to fend for myself. I have trained ten persons, and two have graduated and become established.
“Entrepreneurship and Business Management Training made me what I am. I learnt a lot through the training, and I had the opportunity to meet competent resource persons who inspired me on how to manage and build my business.”
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Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced the sudden death of the country’s High Commissioner to Nigeria. Ambassador Wilfred Machage,
Machage was also accredited ambassador of his country to 12 other countries in Central and Western Africa.
The statement revealed that Ambassador Machage collapsed at home and was pronounced dead at hospital shortly thereafter at around 12.30pm on Saturday in Abuja, Nigeria.
The statement also revealed that his wife was with him when this unfortunate incident happened.
Confirming the passing of Amb. Machage, the Principal Secretary Ambassador Macharia Kamau said the Ministry, and the country had lost a dedicated and committed leader.
Ambassador Machage was appointed High Commissioner to Abuja, Nigeria by President Uhuru Kenyatta in January 2018.
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Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Bashorun Askia Ogieh, has enjoined youths in the state, especially in Isoko land to embrace peace and shun political thuggery, ahead of 2023 elections.
Bashorun Askia stated this in his remarks during the Isoko Youth Peace And Security Summit held on Thursday, February 17, 2022 at Opute Hall, Ozoro in Isoko North local government area.
He urged all Isoko youths and other stakeholders to painstakingly deliberate on the burning issues of insecurity in Isoko land, towards finding an all embracing, acceptable and workable solution that would endear sustainable peace and even development to the area.
While clamouring for sustainable peace, he revealed that DESOPADEC have been embarking on meaningful human, capital and infrastructure development, as well as partnering with youth bodies to engender peace in oil bearing communities throughout the mandate areas.
He however enjoined youths to change the narrative by taking decisive steps, devoid of violence, saying “These are no times for the drums of wars to be sounding in our clans; these are the times to be thinking of development, and we can only achieve this when we have peace”, Bashorun affirmed.
The remarks:
“Today we are gathered together as Isoko youths and other stakeholders who will do justice to the burning issues of insecurity in our land.
“Overtime, Isoko has transited from a warring nation to a very, very hospitable, friendly, and peaceful nation particularly when the book of God, the Bible descended from heaven into this land of Isoko at the Bible site at Araya. Since then, through the activities of the missionaries we have left our old ways and have embraced peace and the great religion of Christianity that to my mind has brought a lot of peace in our land.
“But very recently that peace has been broken by the quest of various individuals, personalities, and communities; either to expand their frontiers of the various communities and kingdoms and for some reasons I do not know. We have just discovered that the Isoko people have taken up arms at one point or the other, community rising against another community, something that was not known to us in modern times, and so I felt very agitated.
“Those of us in DESOPADEC have decided to partner with the oil bearing communities, particularly with youth bodies to engender peace throughout our mandate area, particularly as it affects me as Isoko man, because our agency is known for development and building of infrastructure.
“But we do know that without peace, without security, the atmosphere for the peace for the building of infrastructure will just not be there, and we needed peace in our land so that the needed development that we are yearning for as a people from government can be brought to us.
“Isoko land is one; it is only divided today for administrative purposes. The whole of Isoko stretching down to Bayelsa, down to Ndokwa East, to the North here we are all one; and we have done things in modern time as one. Your president was speaking of the crisis of Igbide and Ehwe, crisis of Igbide and Emede, Oleh and Ozoro, Igbide and Uzere, and Olomoro and Umeh in the past and continuously like that, we cannot continue to live that way.
“I recall when I was chairman of Isoko South Local Government Council, a lot of crisis were there that we inherited but we did so much to put them out, and we were able to bring back traditional rulers that were forced out of their kingdoms. At that time we thought we have had the worst moments and we are out of the woods. But in recent times I have discovered that we are still not out, but the worrisome aspect of it and why we have to collaborate with youth body is because we have discovered that it is the youths, this population that has a lot of energy, this population that mostly some of them are not having anything gainful at the moment, this population that some of them have not been able to find their ways through school, they are easily available to be used to perpetrate violence.
“We will soon be going into elections, and plenty of those that are being used in perpetrating the violence at times are mostly of the youth bracket and in most cases those who use us don’t have their own children in our midst. We need to think deeply and ask ourselves about the children of those using us to perpetrate this violence, are they partaking in this violence? It has got to a point where we need to make a resolution as a people, and ask those using us to bring their children to take the lead of perpetrating violence in our locality.
“That is why I have decided to grace this occasion today so that we can talk to ourselves and change the narrative of always picking on people’s children to cause violence in any form we may think of it. I just painted the one of the political front, but the most worrisome is this one of inter-communal crisis that the youths have been moving about for the past one week in talking to the various kingdoms. In the past, in the days of old, our kingdoms were frontiers to have a life space for our rulers to control but overtime we have come to the established and we now have known boundaries, our occupations are the same but we have known boundaries in doing all of these things. How come that people now leave where they have as their ancestral boundaries and are now rolling into other areas belonging to the neighbouring kingdoms and when you want to do argument over a mere piece of land we will resort to killing ourselves?
“We came into his world to meet these lands and we will leave this world someday leaving this land behind; why must we fight over this land? A fishing pond? That people will lose their lives? After the loss we still have sometimes to settle. As youth you can exhume some of the energy in you but it should not by way of violence, this energy can be applied to better productive avenues outside violence, and the fathers, the elders that are calling us out they have lived a better part of their lives for goodness sake, they have enjoyed their time. So why would they want to destroy you?
“We have so much ahead of us; we must meditate with these questions. I want you to identify those things that can bind us together so that we can have peace among ourselves. If it is because some of us are not gainfully employed, we should be thinking of how to do things that should give us employment. The commission I guide today, we are aware that a lot youth are perhaps not employable, some that are employable have not find the opportunity though; but for those ones that are not employable maybe because of skills, it led us into the establishment of the DESOPADEC Skills Academy, where we have taken people among the youths across our ethnic nationalities to train them in vocations that are useful to them. With such trainings they can now be employers of labour; they can now employ themselves and employ others. Let us key into some of these avenues that have been established by our agency and the state government that are training people every time to meet up with the various skills that we can acquire.
“We must take a decision for us as youths not to be used for any form of violence, and besides we must take a decision, we must resolve, we have to agree among ourselves that all those who to use us for the purpose of thuggery, for the purpose of violence should ensure that, first they must bring their family members, their children to the scene so that we can follow from the rear, if we have that as a resolution I think to a large extent the thuggery that we are seeing today will be minimised.
“If we insist that all elders who will call us to community town hall to say this community have done this to us we must fight back and they are beating the war drums saying come out let us go to the bush, you will tell that elder, that Oletu, that King, that chairman of community or President-general that yes we are going to the bush tomorrow, that your son Michael, he is available, he can just join us so that we go to the bush together. We must take this as a resolution so that anyone who believes that we must fight to keep a parcel of land, or a piece of fish pond, that person should lead with his children in front then we can follow from the rear, and may be when the bullets fly and he loses one of his children he will now know how it feels when you go to condole him, and not him coming to condole your father for the loss of his own children.
“It is important, let us try to deepen our friendship. I want to believe that when you have INYA, you are represented in every kingdom. I want to believe that if somebody like Amos Ogbokor gets to Uzere, Uzere youths should know him, and if the youths there get to Igbide or Emede they should know themselves. The essence is coming together in a relationship that can be so deepened, that will have bond that we can use for the development of the land, not the bond for crisis, bond for thuggery, bond for war.
“These are no times for the drums of wars to be sounding in our clans; these are the times to be thinking of development, how we can bring development to our clans to make it better than we met our communities, and we can only achieve this when we have peace, and so ladies and gentlemen I have come to reach peace, I have come to agitate our minds on the needs for us to come together and use our energy, the energy that God has given to us to develop it well, and use it for the purpose… Let us be tolerant, let us be Godly, it is not enough to say the Bible fell in Araya, the Bible is a book of peace, we cannot have the Bible descending from heaven at Araya and then that community around there will now be at war.
“I do know that we have a song called “Majovo, Emo-Isoko kpobi Majovo”, that’s what I want to leave you with.”
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The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu has said that the needs of the people will continue to be the focal point of his representation at the National Assembly.
Elumelu spoke on Thursday, February 17, 2022 at the official handing over ceremony of an Ecological Project, Ugbodu-Ohordua Road Flood and Erosion Control project, to the Contractor, held at Ugbodu in Aniocha North Local Government area of Delta State.
The occasion which was organized by the Ecological Project Office in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, in the Presidency, Abuja was attended by the Permanent Secretary, Ecological Project Office, Dr. Habiba Lawal.
Elumelu who represents Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives said that his people and their need will continue to be dear to him more than any other thing and revealed that the Ugbodu-Ohoadua Road Flood and Erosion Control project which he facilitated, was among over nine Ecological Projects within the Federal Constituency that he proposed and submitted for the consideration and approval by the President through the office of the Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF).
“Today being Thursday, naturally I should be on the floor of the House being the leader of opposition in the House of Representatives, but I choose to be with my people (constituents) who sent me to Abuja, because without you people, I won’t be there. I am not the most dedicated, neither am I the most intelligent, neither am I the most endowed, but God used you people to choose me.
So, in everything I do as your representative, I think of you,” Elumelu stated.
The Minority leader explained that for limited funds, only one project out of the nine he proposed, was considered and approved by the Federal Government and said that the challenge became the one to be picked among the over nine ecological projects.
“I had submitted, like every other principal officer over nine projects and when they took the memo to Mr. President, he told the SGF that they have limited fund for the ecological projects, so they should go and do random picking and of course my Sister, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Habiba Lawal turned out to be the one that was divinely asked to do that and Ugbodu entered her hand. Otherwise, you can see from the projects I enumerated, we have over nine ecological projects in my Federal Constituency proposed, but Ugbodu was the one her hand torched. So it is a thing of joy for you in Ugbodu.
“So, it now means that as lucky as you are, to have been so divinely chosen for this laudable project, You must do everything possible to support the Ecological Project Office and the contractors as regards to this project, even if, it means some of us opening our houses for them to keep some of their equipment at no cost,” Elumelu said.
The Federal Lawmaker further revealed that their desire as representatives of the people was to open up various communities for economic viability and said that when the Ugbodu-Ohordua road comes on stream, Ugbodu, Ohordua, Onitcha-Uku, Issele-Uku and its environs will be better for it, for the fact it will bring about improvement in the economic activities within the various communities.
Elumelu appreciated the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, and the Permanent Secretary in the Ecological Project Office, Dr. Habiba Lawal for their relentless effort in ensuring that the project was approved, even as he assured them of an undiluted support to see that the project is completed on time and in line with specification.
Earlier in her address, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Habiba Lawal, represented by a Director in the Ecological Project Office, Dr. Joel Oruche, said the handing over ceremony was necessary and aimed at building bridges of understanding between Ecological Project Office (EPO), Contractors, Consultants and benefiting communities.
She said the bridge building was essentially to bring the contractors and the consultants to meet with members of the host communities with a view to resolving any issue that may now or in future hinder the progress of work.
“Each contract/project has an expected completion period and we in EPO would not
want any delay occasioned by controversies or disputes between contractors/consultants and host communities.
“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the essence of this gathering in a nutshell is to emphasize the need for peaceful and conducive atmosphere devoid of rancour and acrimony to enable contractors deliver timely, good and quality projects for the benefit of your community.
“I am aware that often some host communities make demands from contractors; some even tend to dictate the way the projects should be executed. This tends to throw up disputes that linger for long thereby slowing down the pace of work. Genuine and legitimate demands on contractors must be channeled through community heads, particularly traditional rulers who if need be, will in turn forward such complaints to EPO rather than resorting to violence that would stop the progress of work,” the Permanent Secretary said.
Dr. Lawal also drew attention to the fact that Government embarked on addressing critical ecological challenges across the country to forestall environmental degradation, loss of lives and properties’, pointing out that it is imperative that peace and tranquility are needed to achieve timely completion of the projects.
“This interventionist project in this community is yours. You must do everything possible to protect and sustain it so that the resources which the federal Government has committed for the project would be gainfully utilised and will not at the end be in vain.
“You are expected therefore to co-operate with the contractor and consultant and avoid harassing them. I need to state categorically that the process of selecting projects for execution in communities is thorough with stringent criteria.
“In addition to these stringent criteria, EPO henceforth will not execute projects in any community that is notorious for harassing contractors. Only those communities that are peaceful, accommodating and supportive of contractors will be considered for more projects,” Dr. Lawal said.
She then pleaded with local government leaders, royal fathers, community heads, youth and religious leaders to prevail on their people to support and co-operate with government to serve them better.
“You should shun violence, extortion and conspiracy against contractors and by extension, the Federal Government. Most importantly, avoid actions capable of delaying the smooth execution of the project in your domain,” Dr. Lawal counseled.
Dr. Lawal commended the Minority Leader, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu for his proactive representation of his people and said that his love for his people is profound.
Highlight of the event was the signing of the document stating agreement for peace between the representatives of the community, the consultant and the contractor.
It was witnessed by dignitaries that included a Political Leader in the State and chairman, Delta State Civil Service commission, Chief Nkem Okwuofu, the member representing Aniocha North State Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Engr. Emeka Nwaobi, the Executive Chairman of Aniocha North Local Government, Hon. Kevin Okwechime, Chief krees Njiokwuemeni, Chief Victor Egbune, Chief Emma Eboh, Dr. Michael Osuoza, Hon. Chuks Oseme, the Leader of the Legislative Arm of the Local Government, Hon Nwike Okonkwo who was there with members of the Legislative Arm, the Secretary to the Aniocha North Local Government, Hon. Uche Chiejina and Royal Fathers amongst others.
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It was Dele Giwa, the assassinated journalist and founding Editor-in-Chief of the Newswatch magazine that wrote an article with a near similar title on what he thought to be strange in our clime, during his heydays.
Paul Akhalu, one of the magazine’s ace photographers was badly beaten, robbed and pushed out of a moving cab in the heart of Lagos Island by some dare-devil robbers.This was in the mid-eighties. Dele felt that the worst has happened to our collective peace and security and the freedom to move around in broad daylight was gone. He described it as “the death of innocence”.
Little did he know that in a few decades from then, peace and security will not only be dead in Nigeria but be cremated.
It is exactly four years now when Leah Sharibu, in her innocence, was adopted together with 109 others from the Science Technical school Dapchi, Yobe state by Boko Haram. While others were returned, Leah was held back by her captors on the account that she refused to denounce her Christian faith like the others did. Despite several promises by the government of the day to bring her back to the waiting arms of her emotionally devastated parents, up until now nothing happened.
Leah Sharibu has become a metaphor for state failure and neglect; a painful adjective to describe the frustration of being a Nigerian. And this has become an excruciating pain on our groin as a nation. So sad!
How can we explain to the then 14-year-old girl that her captors’ claws have become more lethal and invincible than the protective apparatus of the state in which she was born?
How disappointed will she feel to realise that she’s been forced into a marriage against her wish because of her faith in a secular nation such as ours?
As we mark the fourth anniversary of that evil, let everyone that has a conscience pray for Leah’s soon return while we continue to drum it into the forgetful minds of those who swore to an oath to protect us all.
Austen AKHAGBEME is a Columnist with Blank NEWS Online
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The new Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Juan Sell has said Nigeria and Spain needed to build on existing bilateral reletions for sustainable growth.
The envoy made the call on Thursday during a news conference held at the Spain Ambassador’s residence in Abuja, to announce a Spanish writer Ana Briongos and the team of LagosPhoto to present the cultural project “Unpacking the Suitcase”.
“Unpacking the Suitcase ” was derived from a true life experience of a Nigerian student Prince Adewale Emmanuel, who studied in Barcelona 60 years ago.
Emmanuel after three years of his stay in Barcelona left for London with his wife Elizabeth and leaving a suitcase behind in Spain with his friend Mrs Luisa Guadayol. Mrs Guadayol is the mother of the writer Mrs. Ana Briongos.
Mr Sell said that on his arrival to Nigeria he noticed that both countries had a long standing relations both diplomatic and economic.
It is no news that both Nigeria and Spain had collaborated in the fight against illegal immigration, holding meetings on the subject and numerous exchanges.
Also, experts of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and the National Agency for the fight against Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) have participated in various seminars and conferences in Spain.
Speaking also, Mrs. Briongos, a Spainsh writer and the custodian of the suitcase said that after her mother passed on many attempts to return the suitcase to Prince Emmanuel prove abortive and she decided to open the suitcase and the content of the case tells a story of two countries.
According to the writer, in 1967, Prince Emmanuel enrolled as a student at the art school Escuela Massana in Barcelona. Three years later Emmanuel and his wife Elizabeth decided to leave Barcelona for London.
Emmanuel left a suitcase and the content with his close friend Mrs Guadayol in Barcelona, when she passed away in 2016, her daughter Briongos was resolute in her quest to return the suitcase to Prince Emmanuel or his family in Nigeria.
She said: “The material found in the suitcase points to different social and cultural moments in the history of Nigeria and beyond: the Nigerian Civil War, the cultural ties between two countries.
“Also, in it was the Nigeria and Spain, the legacy of the artist, the story of emigration, Nigerian studio photography of the 70s.”
Mr Azu Nwagbogu, Director LagosPhoto, said nothing encapsulate the bond of friendship between people and countries and that was what was found in the suitcase of Prince Emmanuel.
He added that the project had made him to think of restitution of recovering one’s identity, adding that the archive in the suitcase cumulates’ the 1967 to 70 and its tells about so many story at the time.
He urged lovers of art, writers, photographers and the general public to come for more interpretation of the content in the suitcase during the 2022 LagosPhoto Festival schedule to hold in October.
Parts of the items found in the suitcase are: candles, 600 photos, 100 letter both written and received, painting , classical drawings among others.
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The Ghana High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Rashid Bawa on Thursday revealed plans by his country and Nigeria to partner in area of non-oil sector.
The Envoy stated this at the 2022 Ghana Nigeria Business Council CEO Forum in Abuja.
Bawa said the latest partnership between the two countries would extend to the agricultural sector such as cassava and ginger production.
He said: “This is the first Ghana Business Council Meeting. We are looking at various areas of cooperation. There have been series of meetings in the last few days. We are looking at the non-oil sector; in the area of cassava and ginger production.”
Bawa, while noting that the relationship between Nigeria and Ghana have been for ages, said: “It is difficult to put a finger on the number of Nigerians visiting Ghana for various reasons daily, and vice versa.”
He added that: “However, according to a report published by the US Department of Economic and Social Studies in 2019, there were more Ghanian residents in Nigeria than any other country in the world with 233,002 persons. This was followed by Ghanians living in UK and the US.”
The forum, which is historic according to him, is the first of its kind since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA.
He said: “The forum aims to encourage the private sector operatives of our two countries to pull resources together to be competitive when trading under AfCFTA,” insisting that: “We have the framework of ECOWAS protocol in the last fourty years to promote this kind of activities,” and then with the coming up of AfCFTA, “Ghana-Nigeria have the biggest economies in West Africa region, it is high time we formalize these engagements in order to take full advantage of the potentials between both countries.”
He said with this forum, there should be many more to come, for “we don’t want it to be a one-time forum. We want to sustain it. As we speak, the Nigeria Investment Promotion Council and Ghana Investment Promotion Council are working out arrangement in ways they will have annual meetings among themselves.
“There will be coordination between Nigeria and Ghana businessmen. We believe that pretty soon, we are going to have certain collaboration that will be beneficial to both countries.”
Meanwhile, Ghanians CEOs have been urged to create platforms for Nigerians to connect with investments opportunities that can generate growth for economies of both Ghana and Nigeria and create a win-win situation for both countries.
The President, Abuja Chambers of Commerce and Industry, ACCI, Dr. Al-Mujtaba Abubakar in his opening remark at the 2022 Ghana Nigeria Business Council CEO Forum in Abuja urged Ghana to take advantage of the population of Nigeria as it presents a large consumer market for investors and traders.
He said: “In 2009, Nigeria net trade with Ghana in the export of metal was $2.1 billion, transportation $1.59 billion, mineral product $232 million.
“In 2019, Ghana had a trade net with Nigeria in the export of footwear and headwear worth almost $105 million, foodstuffs worth $25million and chemical products worth over $11million dollars.
Abubakar who was represented by Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong, a former minister of state for health and later foreign affairs, who is the Vice President Communication, Strategy and External Relations of the ACCI, said the forum underscores the importance of the partnership between the countries over the years, urging that the forum should not just be a one off thing.
Abubakar commended the effort of ECOWAS and the governments of Nigeria and Ghana towards the quick intervention in resolving the crisis between the Nigerian and Ghanians traders in Ghana.
He said: “I think the intervention will go a long way in making sure that the relationship between the two countries and the vision of the ECOWAS to be quickly integrated.
“So it is highly commendable that the government of these countries have taken initiative towards solving this crisis.”
He however lamented that the forum was coming a little late for if had existed the crisis between Nigerian and Ghanaian businessmen would not have festered. He admitted though that it was rather late than never.
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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has reiterated that staff welfare will continue to be its top priority.
A statement on Thursday by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafem in apparent reaction to some media reports alleging complaints by some staff over NDLEA’s last promotion exercise, read that welfare of officers and men would continue to be priority within its available resources.
According to Babafemi, 75% of the workforce was promoted at once in June 2021, which is the highest in any single exercise since the establishment of the anti-narcotic body over three decades ago.
He said: “It is an established norm that promotions are not only based on qualifications but also on vacancies. No law enforcement organisation can elevate all its staff at a go considering such criteria as rank structure that is based on vacancies; only a specific number can be promoted to some vacant positions even if all are qualified and that’s why there can only be one State Commander in a State Command.
“At the highest level in the agency, where we have nine Deputy Commanders General of Narcotics, DCGN and 25 Assistant Commanders General of Narcotics, ACGN, these positions were not only spread along geo zonal considerations but religious balance.”
He further explained that at the due time, everyone deserving of promotion and other benefits will be considered based on available vacancies and resources. “This is in addition to other incentives such as provision of barracks for officers and men; life and injury insurance cover as well as working tools for drug demand control and drug supply reduction activities, all made possible by the current leadership of the agency.”
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DENNIS OLORI: From Information Communication Technology (ICT) for which he was trained and established in the 2015/2016 STEP Cycle, Dennis Olori, unable to find fulfilment in it, migrated to Fish Production and Poultry. As the CEO of Dennis Olori Farm in Oleh in Isoko South Local Government Area where he hails from, his passion for success is unparalleled. Hear him,
“After establishment, business was not moving. Instead of killing the vision of the Governor to make me a wealth and job creator, I changed my skill.
“First, I ventured into poultry. I sold my laptop, generator and printer and used the money to buy 100 broilers. My family gave me a private land to use. After four months, I sold my birds at Christmas and made three times what I invested. Since poultry is seasonal, I expanded into fish production which runs all year round.
“I began with a tarpaulin fish tank; I now have eight. The interesting part of his story is that he was his own trainer through online research and personal experience.”
Surprisingly, Dennis has a hatchery where he produces thousands of fries, fingerlings, post-fingerlings and juveniles for sale to other fish farmers and individuals in his community and environs. As at the time this visit, Dennis had 60,000 fingerlings and juveniles for sale and 15,000 fish of various sizes which he was training to table size. From the proceeds of the business, he has acquired a land to be used as his second farm and a minivan to facilitate movement.
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Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the former two-term governor of the State of Osun and Buhari’s minister of Interior, has broken his shell. He has chosen to speak out against his benefactor, mentor and Party leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
Unlike the chick hatched out of its shell, Aregbesola felt unperturbed and worried less about where the “next meal” will come from. He’s palpably angry about the arm twisting and the byzantine politics going on in his home state.
The former governor has a strong desire; that is, to enthrone Alhaji Moshood Adeoti as the next governor of the state against the powers that brought in the incumbent, Governor Oyetola. At least, this is the immediate cause of the feud that has set Aregbesola on the trajectory of “freedom” from his benefactor and mentor.
Nigerian politicians are an interesting lot. When it touches their interest, their emotions go anti-clockwise, ready to bite every finger in sight including those that fed and could still feed them.
The former governor declared that he was blindfolded to accept an incompetent candidate for the gubernatorial seat during the run-up to the 2018 election in Osun by his mentor. And now that push has come to a shove, he has to find his political destiny. What a sordid story!
Many have blamed Tinubu for raising men instead of institutions. They are of the view that when viable institutions are bequeathed to the next generation, such a leader or leadership can never be erased from the society’s hall of fame and the people’s conscience.
But our politicians loves and want those who will watch their backs and be at their beck and call when necessary. Isn’t that the nature of man for you? Bola Tinubu should watch out for such red flags of “disloyalty” as his campaign progresses. As for the party primaries on Saturday between Adeoti and Oyetola, let Osun APC members decide.
Austen AKHAGBEME is a Columnist with Blank NEWS Online
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The Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen Buba Marwa (retd), has said the arrest of the suspended Commander of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), DCP Abba Kyari, is a clear message that no one would be spared in the agency’s ongoing war against illicit drug business.
Marwa said this on Wednesday in an address in Abuja during a training on Sensitization on Drugs and Drug Prevention, Treatment and Care (DPTC) organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for NLDEA personnel and selected journalists.
He said that the system cannot allow those given the responsibility to fight crime, which includes the matter of drugs to themselves be proponents of it.
The anti-narcotics czar said the fight against drug abuse is serious business and the agency is committed to pursuing a drug free nation.
He said: “The media has a very important role to play in our society. The business of getting information out needs to be accurate and professionally done especially in the business of drug control, drug abuse, trafficking, there are technicalities that you need to get sufficient knowledge of the terrain so that when you get the word out, it is gotten out accurately because you mould the opinions of millions. It is for this reason that I urge the journalists to please take this training seriously and take full advantage of it.
“While we are at it there is an ongoing play which we are witnessing and I have followed the role of the media even in it. It is a serious business that is ongoing. We all are responsible. We want a drug free nation. We may not get to zero level, but definitely there is a certain minimum acceptability standard that we are all pursuing. And those given the responsibility to fight crime which includes the matter of drugs cannot themselves be proponents of it. This message I believe we have sent abundantly clear.”
Responding, Country Representative of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Oliver Stolpe, said more is still required to be done in the fight against drug abuse.
He said, “I think there is still more to be done because I still believe that most Nigerians perceive drug use as more of a failure of some sorts of basically those people that are using drugs.
“It has not yet been fully appreciated that drug use is a health condition first and foremost and it is a health condition that affects this nation much more severely than I think there is a true awareness of.
“Just to give you an idea. HIV/AIDS that USAID and international development partners have spent billions to fight to put under control affects 1.9 million Nigerians as we speak. COVID-19 affects roughly half a million people.
“The drug use epidemic in terms of pure use affects around 40 million Nigerians as we speak, and around 3 million are affected with what we would refer to as a drug use disorder. It means they would require medical intervention to stop using drugs. So this is a higher number than HIV/AIDS or COVID-19 and yet I think in terms of what is being put towards addressing this issue, it falls significantly short of other efforts.”
Stolpe added: “That is not to say other efforts are less important. It is just to say you need to understand where your public health priorities stand, where they are and how much resources are you putting against them to address them. So it is really critical and that is the message that I hope you will continue to help us to spread.”
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Watch the original video that got Abba Kyari in the net only on Blank NEWS Online.
That the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA declared the suspended DCP Abba Kyari wanted for operating a drug cartel and later arrested is no more news.
Abba Kyari will explain to the NDLEA his role in running a cartel.
NDLEA Spokesman, Femi Babafemi, presented a video where Abba Kyari was since in a car of one of the operatives of the NDLEA, where he offered him bribe in dollars, said Kyari was also recorded to have said he was in control of some officers who he employed in running the cartel.
He said it was unfortunate that a security operative that supposed to join in the fight against illicit drugs in the country had become the arrow head of working against their interest and presidential order to fight drug to a standstill.
He said though the lives of some operatives of the anti-drug agency is threatened, they cannot but exposed the cartel run by the suspended police officer.
Abba Kyari, could be recalled, has been fishing in troubled waters, after he was asked by a US court to be extradited to America over involvement in the celebrated Hushpuppi cybercrime case.
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Is He Really Member Of Drug Cartel Operating Brazil-Ethiopia-Nigeria Illicit Drug Pipeline?
–Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA):
Have you wondered about the actual reason that made the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, declare the suspended Commander of Intelligence Response Team (IRT) at the Force Intelligence Bureau of the Nigerian Police Force, DCP Abba Kyari wanted?
Is it over his involvement in a 25kilograms Cocaine deal or something else? Blank NEWS Online will unveil the facts as presented by NDLEA. Read on…
The anti-narcotic agency declared Kyari wanted at a press briefing addressed by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi at its National Headquarters in Abuja on Monday 14th February, 2022. The Agency said it took the decision after all efforts to get him honour formal invitations for his interrogation failed.
The Agency bemoaned a situation where those who are supposed to support current efforts to stem the tide of illicit drug trafficking and abuse are themselves neck deep in the menace.
Part of the text read at the briefing reads: There is no better way to start this press briefing than to remind us about the enormity of the drug problem Nigeria has on its hand and the imperative of all well-meaning Nigerians to play a positive role in curbing the illicit drug menace.
“Even before the damning findings of the 2018 National Drug Use and Health Survey, Nigerias drug problem was getting close to epidemic proportion. And if anything, the arrests and seizures by NDLEA in the past 12 months is an indication that the countrys drug problem was grossly underestimated before President Muhammadu Buharis resolve to strengthen the NDLEA and the subsequent launch of offensive action by the Agency to clean the society of the menace.
“And in just 12 months, even the most cynical of Nigerians now agree that the country is really in a drug quagmire and therefore appreciates the relentless efforts of NDLEA operatives.
“Unfortunately, some law enforcement agents who should be partners in the pursuit of the Presidents mandate are at the forefront of breaking the law, as they aid and abet drug trafficking in the country.
“Today, we are forced to declare one of such law enforcement agents wanted in the person of suspended DCP Abba Kyari, the erstwhile Commander of Intelligence Response Team (IRT) at the Force Intelligence Bureau of the Nigerian Police Force.
“With the intelligence at our disposal, the Agency believes strongly that DCP Kyari is a member of a drug cartel that operates the Brazil-Ethiopia-Nigeria illicit drug pipeline, and he needs to answer questions that crop up in an ongoing drug case in which he is the principal actor. His failure to cooperate forced the hand of the Agency and that is the reason for this press briefing.
The Agency provided a clue on some of its findings in the course of investigating the drug deal. The saga started on Friday, January 21, 2022, when DCP Kyari initiated a call to one of the NDLEA officers in Abuja at 2:12 pm. When the officer returned the call two minutes later, Kyari informed him he was coming to see him, to discuss an operational matter after the Jumaat service. “He appeared at the agreed venue of the meeting with the officer and went straight to the crux of the matter.
This was it: His team had intercepted and arrested some traffickers that came into the country from Ethiopia with, according to him, 25kg of cocaine. He proposed a drug deal whereby he and his team are to take 15kg of the cocaine and leave 10kg for the prosecution of the suspects arrested with the illicit drug in Enugu. In the meantime, the purloined cocaine will be replaced with a dummy worth 15kg. He asked the NDLEA officer to persuade men of the FCT Command, to play along as well.
“By 11: 05 am on Monday, January 24, after the Agency gave the officer the green light to play along, he and Kyari began a WhatsApp call for the rest of the day. The officer conveyed their willingness to play the game.
“At this point, Kyari disclosed that the 15kg (already taken out) was shared between the informants that provided information for the seizure and himself and his men of the IRT of the Nigerian Police. According to him, the informants were given 7kg while his team took 8kg which was already sold. He then offered to pay the NDLEA team (that is the officer and the FCT commander) by selling, on their behalf, half of the remaining 10kg, thereby further reducing the original cocaine for the prosecution to just 5kg. At N7m per kilogram, the proceed from the 5kg would amount to N35m, at the exchange rate of N570 per dollar being the black market rate for the day, January 24, 2022. In effect, he would be delivering $61, 400 to the NDLEA team. He put pressure on our officer to wrap up the arrangement with the commander of the FCT Command to take custody of the drug and suspects from his men who were on ground in Abuja. At the time, he was speaking from Lagos, where he allegedly travelled for private business.
“The next day January 25, Kyari offered to send his younger brother to deliver the payment while his men deliver the suspects, but our officer turned down the suggestion, insisting he would rather deal with him in person and was therefore prepared to wait for him to return from Lagos.
“And by 5: 23 pm, Kyari was in Abuja and met with the officer at the same rendezvous where they had the first meeting. In their discussion, he disclosed how his team received the information from a double-crosser who betrayed the traffickers to him, showing a sordid connection between law enforcement agents and the drug underworld; he narrated how acting on the tip-off, his team departed Abuja to Enugu and arrested the traffickers, removed part of the consignment on his instruction and replaced same with dummies. He also indicated how to identify the remnant of the original cocaine that would be delivered to NDLEA, five original packages marked with red dots. The reason for this was to avoid the dummies being subjected to test. He forwarded a picture of the marked original cocaine package. According to the plan, once the 5kg cocaine has been tested in the presence of the suspects and confirmed positive, there would be no need to test the remaining ones, being dummies.
“He also brought with him the money from the sale of the 5kg share of the NDLEA team, a total of $61, 400. Our officer, however, preferred to take the money inside his car. Well, the car was wired with sound and video recorders.”
While explaining that relevant channels of communication were duly followed in the demand for Kyari without any result, the Agency said it cannot continue to keep other suspects in the case indefinitely while the principal suspect fails to honour official invitation.
NDLEA has the mandate to take custody of suspects and consignments of drugs seized by other arms of law enforcement. And there is a standard protocol for such transfer. This we duly followed. The suspects and drugs were delivered to us on February 8 but the last part of the process, yet to be completed, is the debriefing of Kyari.
“DCP Abba Kyari was invited by NDLEA for debriefing on Thursday February 10 through two main channels because there is a whole lot of questions begging for answers. The invitation was legitimate and formal according to our protocol. But up till the close of office hours on Friday, February 11, he refused to respond. Up till this moment, he hasnt responded. We are a law-abiding agency of government. We follow due process. In that vein, we will not detain suspects beyond the stipulated period according to the law before we charge them to court. And Kyari must be debriefed before the suspects are arraigned in court.
Having failed to honour the official invitation, NDLEA has no option but to declare DCP Abba Kyari of the Nigerian Police WANTED, right from this very moment.
The Agency warned that its not unaware of threats to the lives of its officers involved in the case, assuring that it would do everything to protect its officers.
“We are not unaware of threats to the lives of NDLEA officers involved in this investigation, even as we continue to do our best to protect our officers and men in the line of duty.
We are making this strong statement to those contemplating harmful action against NDLEA officers. They would only succeed in compounding their problems in the event of the murder of or harm to officers and men of NDLEA.
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The Anioma Delta Baptist Conference of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, has concluded arrangements for its 8th Annual Conference in Session.
The Annual Session with the theme: Kingdom People For Kingdom Project will commence on Thursday, February 17 and end on Sunday, February 20, 2022.
New Era Baptist Church, located at number 5 New Era Avenue, by Iwezue Street, off Efiezomor Street, Boji-Boji, Owa in Ika North East Local Government Area, Delta State, is the venue for the main Conference in Session
His Eminence, Rev. Dr. Israel Adelani Akanji, President and Spiritual Leader of the Nigerian Baptist Convention is billed to declare this Year’s Annual Session open, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, Governor, Delta State, is expected to grace the General Session of the highly spiritual event, as the Father of the State and Special Guest of Honour.
The President and Spiritual Leader of the Anioma Delta Baptist Conference, the Rev. Dr. Paul Friday Anyasi, will be Presiding over the Conference in Session, with other great Men of God, drawn from the Baptist Denomination, espousing the word of God through the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Other top Baptist clerics who will be Ministering include, the Chairman of the Anioma Delta Baptist Conference, Rev Monday Opene, Rev. Dr. Simon Peter Dogoboro from Warri and Rev. Light Ugbede.
Also ministering will be the Vice Chairman of the Anioma Delta Baptist Conference, Rev. Johnbull Atamhenwan and Rev. Dr. Dike Utih, a highly anointed Baptist Minister from Okpanam, in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State.
The four day spiritual event will also feature high praise and worship, prayer sessions, as well as spirit filled classical hymns to be rendered by the Rev. Mrs. Nkechi Ewiwilem led Special Mass Choir of the Anioma Delta Baptist Conference.
Over three thousand delegates are expected from the fifteen Baptist Associations that consist of over 140 local Baptist Churches, in the Delta North Senatorial District of Delta State.
All Organizations within the Conference including; Men’s Missionary Union, MMU, Women Missionary Union, WMU, Youth Fellowship, Deacons’ Fellowship and Pastors Fellowship, as well as Christian Education Department, have been mobilized and are set for the four day annual session, which will commence at 9am. each day.
The Conference President and Spiritual Leader, the Rev. Dr. Paul Friday Anyasi, urges members of the conference to intensify prayers as they conclude preparations for the Annual Conference in Session.
Signed: Deacon Chijioke Williams Ugbolue Public Relations Officer Anioma Delta Baptist Conference.
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Like a heavy stone thrown from an elevated altitude, the embattled DCP Abba Kyari is truly on a free fall, cruising to oblivion; or so it seems.
It should be recalled that against the “exaggerated” pedigree of competence, professionalism, patriotism and discipline with which Nigerians held Abba Kyari in high esteem, the nation was rudely shocked about his alleged romance and complicity with the convicted internet fraudster and Instagram celebrity, Abbas Ramon, popularly known as Hushpuppi, a few months ago.
Those who loved him were shocked stiff and bemused about their falling hero, not knowing exactly what to make of it. But as the days goes by coupled with the melodrama of accusations and denials, it was becoming painfully clear that the award-winning crime buster has so much to answer to.
While Nigerians waited with bated breath to see the outcome of the various levels of investigations put in place to unravel this potential national shame, the newshounds are spilling yet another shocker, this time around, from the NDLEA. He’s freshly being linked to global drug groups and accused of complicity in an alleged 25kg of cocaine trafficking offence with a purported video “evidence” trending on social media.
What is going on? Could a public servant be that smart, bursting crimes and committing crimes all in one whole swoop unnoticed for such a long time, yet applauded while winning awards everywhere?
Or is it possible that someone is after Abba Kyari, determined to “bury him” by all means in reciprocity or vendetta? What if all of this is concocted as a profitable “smear campaign” against Kyari by those who are determined to keep him locally attended to while the international angle to his predicament wanes?
Just recently, too, the arrested kidnap kingpin, Evans, accused Kyari of maltreatment and brutal killing of suspects in his custody. There’s just so much to discover about this cop in the days ahead. Both the real and the unreal.
Austen AKHAGBEME is a Columnist with Blank NEWS Online
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–Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) –Compiled by Albert Ograka:
Executive Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa attended St Paul’s Anglican Church, Uzere in Isoko South Local Government Area of the state for Funeral Service for Late Prof. Odio Abednego Ekoko on Saturday February 12, 2022.
He was received by the MD/CEO of DESOPADEC, Bashorun Askia Ogieh FCNA, CrFA, an indigene of Uzere kingdom.
Others who accompanied the MD/CEO to welcome the Governor were Hon Ogbeni, Hon Ferguson Onwo, Hon Asasa, Odio Obaro Godspower, Itiako Ikpokpo among others.
Picture also shows From Right: Delta Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, member Representating Ika Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Victor Nwokolo, Senator James Manager, and the Secretary to Delta State Government (SSG), Chief Patrick Ukah at the Funeral Service on Saturday.
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APHIA, ROSELINE, a 2017/2018 Cycle beneficiary of the Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP), is our STEPreneur for the week. Roseline hails from Ughelli North Local Government Area and was trained and established in Fashion Design and Tailoring. She is a trainer, an employer and the CEO of Fit Style Fashion Enterprise located in Asaba.
Though a trained teacher, her passion for entrepreneurship and self-employment motivated her to skill up in Fashion Designing and Tailoring. She belongs to the category of Brown STEP. Her love for creativity took her further into acquiring skills in Fashion Craft and Leather Works. These of course make her works unique as her wears have bags, hats and other accessories to go with them. She is also known for making of female hats and fascinators.
After four years of practice, she has an extensive client portfolio. She has bought three additional machines, leather works equipment, maintains two shops, trained eleven persons and has three employees. She has acquired a plot of land too.
She does online training on Fashion Craft through which she has trained four persons whom she confirmed are doing well. For her aspirations, she has this to say,
“In five years’ time, I hope to establish a skill acquisition centre where I will train people on leather works, how to make purses, bags, souvenirs and modern trends in fashion. The scheme has made great impact on me and my family”
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For decades, the road between Biu, Shaffa and Garkida linking Borno state and Adamawa states in northeast Nigeria had been a nightmare for commuters. Successive representatives of the Hawul, Askira Federal constituency could not in any way make a move to establish facts that they are representing the most intellectual people in Borno state. Instead the road has remained like a nomad route and trending nomadic activities between Borno and Adamawa states.
I came across a piece of writing, which the writer asked? Where is our Dr. Haruna Mshelia? It is sad that unfortunately, the people of Hawul, Askira/Uba federal constituency have not been having a good representation. It is also shameful that the region which has the most intellectuals in Borno state could be producing derailed representation since the return of democracy in Nigeria in May, 1999. It is also pathetic that each of these representatives who only served four (4) years for the better part and being replaced could not have their names in the annals of history for good works for the people of Hawul, Askira/Uba federal constituency. Now it is shameful that the road linking Borno and Adamawa passes through Shaffa village where the current occupant of the constituency held from.
Between 1999 and 2003, a Major in the Nigerian (rtd) Stanley Dika Nggada occupied the Hawul, Askira/Uba federal constituency in the green chamber and the people described his tenure as a disappointment. 2003 and 2007, A Pharmacist, Ishaku Joshua What’s came as replacement for Nggada. His performance was no different but he was asked to continue in the hope that he may change. In 2007 and 2011 there was a slight improvement and the people felt he would do better with greater responsibility, therefore, they pushed him to the red chamber and he ended up a disappointment. Between 2011 and 2015, the people tried a secondary school leaver believing he will listen to the people but the situation was no different. They brought in a Pharmacist again for trial between 2019 and 2019, the Hawul, Askira/Uba sickness was not getting better. Again he was a disappointment and a referral was made in 2019 where a Medical Doctor was brought in…2019 to date, he could not figure out any medication for Hawul, Askira/Uba and the people are already calling for his replacement. He too was a disappointment to his constituency.
Let me not sidetrack further as his issues will come in the days ahead. I salute the man they called “The Head Boy”. Indeed, Hon. Muktari Aliyu Betara has demonstrated that he is a leader. No wonder the representatives from Borno state called him their “Head Boy”. After several years, I met him in Abuja recently and Hon. Muktari Betara remained the same as I knew him many years ago. The same smile and more followers, which means he has maintained a relationship with the people.
The last time I drove through the rocky road between Biu to Garkida in a small commercial ‘Toyota Starlet’, I was listening to the response of co-travelers and passengers at every swaggering move the vehicle made. Not to impress the villagers by the roadside or impress the darling road with quaking stones hitting back underneath the roaring of our engine. At each jumping, a curse followed. At some point it was hissing and sometimes it was a painful laughter. There was never a point where my co-travelers heave for relief. I was quiet all through the journey wondering why the road has not been attended to by all the names mentioned by these sufferers being punished for electing representatives that have no love for their constituency.
I knew for me, I would have to take Paracetamol at the end of the journey when I arrived at my destination. For my co-travelers I guess they are already used to the excruciating pains and are likely not to fall sick because they have to ply the road by morning and by night. Perhaps the roughness of the road keeps reminding them of the way to heaven as being sung by women’s fellowship on a Sunday service in Church to remind the devil that no matter the roughness of the road they are billed to go and trust in Jesus for safety throughout the journey.
The commentary, which informed this piece, reads: “Sigh of Relief for commuters of Biu-Garkida Road as Rt. Hon. Muktar Betara Aliyu through FERMA, Federal Min. of Works and Housing Rehabilitate Biu to Garkida Highway.
“Rt. Hon. Muktar Betara Aliyu has gone beyond his constituency’s duty call as he intervenes in the rehabilitation of dilapidated Biu-Garkida Road. The generous and magnanimous federal lawmaker sponsors the rehabilitation project through FERMA in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing. This infrastructure is of strategic importance considering the number of commuters and businesses that ply the road daily.”
End of quote. But it left a doubling check as my heart pumps blood through my veins and left me wondering again why it has to come to this? While the people of Hawul and Askira/Uba local government areas of Borno state would eternally remain grateful to Betara Aliyu, I do not know what they would be saying of the Man, who is currently representing them at the green chamber. Sometimes, I asked?…Is Hawul and Askira/Uba politically cursed!
James BWALA, a journalist wrote in from Abuja
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Prof. was cooking something big. He asked for my contributions. I did and on October 28, 2021, he sent me this on WhatsApp: “This is brilliant. Again, big congratulations. God bless you greatly.” Days after, Prof. passed on.
Since I was a teenager, Prof. envisaged a future for me. He saw my tomorrow when he advised me to take that fateful step that forever changed my identity and which set me on the trajectory of successes. He had asked me that fateful day in his house at the University of Ibadan, “Why are you avoiding what you must confront in the future?” The circumstances were foreboding, but that was a great leap for me. It was all about my education and future. And my identity. Before then, my surname was Akparewa, my maternal grandfather’s name, as determined by near abandonment. But I had Prof.
Professor Abednego Edho Ekoko was my maternal Uncle, I grew in his wings. His care was uncommon, his discipline was gentle but strict, if you understand that flogging with the mouth could be much more effective than with the cane.
I am traditionally versed, partly due to the grooming of Prof, who taught me the nuances and components of our culture and traditions, especially the oral tradition which stand me in good stead today as I get wiser and greying.
My Uncle, Odio (Prof.) Ekoko adopted History before he professed it, he was versatile and entitled with an authoritarian stamp.
As a Professor of History and expert on Boundary Matters, the renowned history scholar, Professor Ekoko was a rare genre of scholar that devoted his research to resolving numerous disputes in Nigeria.
In his time as a National Commissioner, National Boundaries Commission, he became a national asset through his diligence and application of innovative instruments in the amicable resolution of boundary disputes across the country, especially in Delta State.
The feeling of emptiness, deep loss that struck me when news of his passing reached me was overwhelming. Prof. Ekoko, who was the Oketa of Uzere, was a symbol of brotherhood in the Isoko nation and espoused the virtues of education, peace building and good community relations, especially as Odio of Uzere Kingdom. He believed and expanded the frontiers of cultural and traditional values. He was a core traditionalist. He was admitted into the revered traditional institution of Ogba-Edio Uzei (Edio-in-Council) of Uzere.
Prof. Ekoko was always involved in the task of evolving strategies for uplifting the people from poverty and improving the quality of education for the younger generation.
His commitment to ensuring that issues bordering on boundary disputes are handled with requisite expertise made him to work closely as an Adviser to the Governor of Delta State, His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, on Boundary Matters. A role he played in previous governments.
I am saddened by his death at a time we were looking forward to seeing him celebrate his 80th birthday April this year. Isoko Nation has lost an illustrious son, Delta State has lost an erudite scholar, Nigeria has lost a statesman and I have lost a mentor and leader, who thankfully saw me attain what he envisaged for me, prideful that I am Askia Samuel Ogieh.
May the Almighty God grant his soul eternal rest. Amen.
Bashorun Askia Ogieh, FCNA, CrFA
MD/CEO, DESOPADEC
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The Association of Resident Doctors have stressed the need for both the Federal and the State Governments to engage more qualified medical doctors and other health personnel in order to bridge the deficiency occasioned by what they called a “nationwide brain drain”
President of the Association of Resident Doctors, Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara Dr. Toritseju Ereku made the appeal when he led other executive members of the Association on a courtesy visit on the Head of Service on Wednesday in Asaba, the State Capital.
The Doctors who decried the high rate of medical doctors fleeing the country to seek better opportunities abroad, however acknowledged the sensibility of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to the wellbeing of workers in the State.
Dr. Toritseju commended the efforts of the Governor towards improving the welfare of workers, even as he expressed optimism that their requests and desires including a call on the state government to rescind it’s decision of No-work-no-pay-policy and the consequent withheld September 2021 salaries of House Officers.
The Resident Doctors who explained to the HOS that the House Officers’ were been owed three months salaries and a withheld September, 2021 salary for the Officers, called for the release of said salaries on compassionate ground as the FG has done same on the issue.
He appealed for the intervention of the Governor through the Head of Service in the payment of the three months salaries of the medical and dental House Officers, who are currently serving a three (3) months extension of postings without pay.
“medical and dental house officers are members of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and so were called upon to participate in the last industrial action in August 2021, together with their seniors. While the events surrounding that action are most regrettable, it is noteworthy that DELSUTH is the only institution in Nigeria where house officers were given a three months extension without salaries. This punitive action has brought undue hardship on these vulnerable cadre of doctors” said Dr. Toju.
He explained that the House Officers’ cadre formed a vital part of service delivery in any institution approved for their training, saying that they were usually the first contact with patients under supervision of the Medical Consultants.
“By the conditions of service and nature of their training, they reside fully in the hospital environment and are thus present round the clock to carry out duties delegated in patient care.”
“…unfortunately this cadre of doctors are currently overworked and understaffed in DELSUTH, accounting for the recurrent migration of House Officers away from DELSUTH to other hospitals within and outside the state.” Dr. Toritseju said.
Speaking further, the President of the Association of Resident Doctors DELSUTH maintained that they considered themselves as partners in the provision of health for all Deltans and promised to continue to contribute their quota to the development and growth of Delta State.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Civil Service Matters, Sir Emmanuel Okafor who was joined by the Functioning Permanent Secretary, Office of the Head of Service, Mr. patrick Ojeblenu while receiving the Doctors on behalf of the Head of Service, thanked them for the visit, even as they assured the visiting doctors that their demands would be addressed, provided that they were properly articulated and directed to the appropriate quarters for onward actions.
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Worried by the recent supply of adulterated petrol to the country, which has given motorists serious concerns in the last few days as a result of the unprecedented damage to cars and vehicles, the Commandant General, NSCDC, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, mni, has assured members of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) of the Corps renewed support and collaboration in nipping in the bud all forms of illegality in the oil distribution and supply chain.
He gave this assurance at the Corps National headquarters, Abuja, when the executive members of the association paid him a courtesy visit with a view to partnering with the Corps in salvaging the nation’s economy from the hands of economic saboteurs engaging in illegal dealings in Petroleum products.
The Corps helmsman averred that as long as oil is the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy, there is need for total overhauling and sanitization of the oil sector and this requires collective transparent effort by all stakeholders in fighting all nefarious individuals engaging in various activities leading to sabotage and destruction of the economy at both National and grass root level.
Audi reiterated the Corps’ commitment to safeguarding all Critical National Assets and Infrastructure but called on all respective stakeholders for collective engagement and synergy as he stressed that no organization has a monopoly of knowledge or ideas.
According to the president of the association, PETROAN is currently working with the Nigeria mainstream and downstream petroleum regulatory authority to set up a quantity assurance and quality control (QAQC) Petroleum products passport (3P) compliance and monitoring team to ensure quality certification and accurate Petroleum products quantity is dispensed from all sources including sea, depots, retail outlets, fuel storage dumps and actual product dispense through the federation.
While appreciating the pragmatic efforts of the NSCDC in its Antivandal drive, the National President of PETROAN, Prince (Dr.) Billy Gills-Harry lauded the NSCDC for standing tall in combating oil theft, stressing that the effort of the Corps would be improved upon with the introduction of the 3P and adequate logistics support through provision of operational vehicles as her personnel keep waging war against smuggling and diversion of petroleum products in and out of Nigeria.
He posited that continuous patrol of NSCDC team is required across the length and breadth of Nigeria to scrutinize and enhance the swift passage of legitimate petroleum products suppliers and users who operate within the ambit of the law.
In his final remarks, the CG promised to critically examine the introduction of the 3P as introduced by PETROAN and as such taking cognizance of its positive impact on crime prevention while safeguarding the critical national assets and infrastructure of the nation.
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Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have again intercepted 40,250 kilogrammes of the Schedule II controlled narcotic worth over N2 billion imported in two 40ft containers from India.
This latest interception is barely a week after 14,080 kilogrammes of codeine based syrup and 4,352.4 kilogrammes cold caps used to conceal the former in a 40ft container imported from India were seized at the Apapa seaport, Lagos and,
According to the spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi said the latest consignments intercepted on Tuesday were brought into the country in two containers marked HLBU 2239792 with 1,125 cartons of the drug and HLBU 1067338 with 1,751 cartons, with a market value of N2,012,500,000.
He disclosed that the consignments were seized at the Port Express Bonded Terminal, Berger-Apapa after they were discovered concealed behind cartons of hypergra 200 milligrammes and deluxe chilly cutters, after which the agency’s sniffer dogs were brought in to identify the illegal substance.
Reacting to the latest seizure, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) said the agency remains poised to deal decisive blows to drug cartels this year by ensuring that no gramme of illicit drug is allowed to come into or pass through Nigeria to other countries.
Meanwhile, he commended the officers and men of the Apapa Port Special Area Command of the agency for their vigilance, and expressed gratitude to foreign partners for sharing timely intelligence and other port stakeholders for their cooperation.
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The Executive Chairman of the State Sports Commission and President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria AFN, Chief Tonobok Okowa would be recognized at the second edition of Spottsville Special Recognition Award billed for the Radisson Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos on Sunday.
Spottsville would also honour 13 Sports personalities who have contributed to Sports development in the Country.
The Awardees include the Minister of Youths and Sports, Chief Sunday Dare, Bayelsa State Commissioner for Sports, Mr. Daniel Igali and Nigeria Football Federation, NFF first Vice President, Barr.Seyi Akinwumi.
Other recepients of the award are Mike Itemuagbor, Ayo Omidiran, Olumide Oyedeji, Danladi Bako, John Momoh, Sunny Ojeagbase, Ugo Udezue, Bukola Olapade, Segun Odegbami and the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Honourable Philip Shaibu.
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The National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) has commenced a language proficiency training for officers and men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to enhance their skills and mastery of the three major indigenous Nigerian languages as a panacea to breaking communication barriers during operations, Intelligence gathering and information sharing amongst others.
The Commandant General of the NSCDC, Dr. Ahmed Audi, while declaring open the programme, described the language training programme as very central and germaine to the corporate existence of the Corps as a grassroot security outfit saddled with the onerous responsibilities of protecting lives and securing critical national asset and infrastructure of government.
He stated that access to timely information and credible Intelligence gathering which drives most successful security operations requires proper indigenization and integration of officers and men of the Corps in various communities where they find themselves or are deployed for any national assignment.
Audi said, aside from protecting government assets and infrastructure, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps as a paramilitary outfit is charged with other mandates of training, licensing, monitoring and supervising private security guard companies as well as disaster management and crisis mitigation, as such, exigency of duty demands versatility and ability to maneuvre any challenging situation by any personnel, hence, the need for the collaboration with NICO to have Corps personnel fully trained in Nigerian languages.
He further stated that his administration is committed to training and retraining of personnel to enhance professionalism of the service for effective service delivery to the nation while at the same time building a positive culture that will create a unique Identity as a world class elite organisation that protects lives and property of its citizens;
He said: “It beholds on all general duty officers who could be posted to any location in the country to acquire requisite knowledge of our indigenous languages as it does not only promote our culture by bringing the officers closer to the people, but it also helps to blend with various communities easily for effective intelligence and information gathering. For instance, the newly established Female Squad have been interfacing and sensitizing students, teachers and parents in different parts of the country; therefore, the knowledge of indigenous languages comes handy in making interactions easy for them while on this assignment.”
In his address, the Executive Secretary of NICO, Mr Ado Yahuza stated that the Nigerian Indigenous Language Programme has come to address the unfortunate and alarming rate at which Nigerian languages are losing relevance in the scheme of things and the threat of its extinction.
He noted that indigenous languages is a strategic tool for fostering National Identify, National Consciousness and Integration.
He added that the language in the Barracks Programme has an added benefit of being an invaluable tool for effective intelligence and information gathering by officers and men of the military and para- military agencies, reiterating that with about 13 centers spread across the country, the agency will engage officers and men of the Corps in about six states across the country.
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–Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) –From Sunny A. DAVID In Awka:
The outgoing Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, has urged the people of the State to give total support to the incoming administration of Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo.
He stated this when he joined the Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Reverend Valerian Okeke at his pastoral visit to St. Dominic Parish Agaja, Abatete.
Governor Obiano who said that March 17th, 2022 is sacrosanct, thanked Ndi Abatete for mobilising their votes for the All Progressives Grand Alliance in the last election, expressing optimism that his successor will perform better than he did, reminding the people that it would be far-fetched without their support.
In his homily, Archbishop Okeke said the faith in God is the motivation that drives Christians to pray consistently for their needs, pointing out that faith in God shows the limitations of human power and the omnipotent powers of the divine, as God is all-powerful and all-loving to shower His faithful with favours when they pray to Him.
Our correspondent reports that some members of the Anambra State Executive Council were part of the mass.
Meanwhile, the National Co-ordinator of the All Progressives Grand Alliance Media Warriors, Mr. Chinedu Obigwe, has asked the public to disregard media reports that one Uzu, an aide to Governor Willie Obiano, has the backing of the Governor in his purported ambition to vie for the Senatorial seat of Anambra Central on the platform of APGA in the 2023 general elections.
Mr. Obigwe in a statement on Monday described any claims in that respect as the joke of the millennium.
“What I will add is that the insinuation that Governor Obiano is backing the yet to be confirmed aspiration of Uzu to Battle Umeh over APGA Senatorial ticket is a complete falsehood.
“If he is contesting for Senate, he is doing that on his own and should not leverage on Obiano’s goodwill by insinuating that he has the backing of our 1 and only humane Governor in Nigeria.
“If he has any goodwill, he should deploy it in pursuit of such ambition. The truth for now is that it is still a rumour but when he officially makes it known to the general public, I will say more.
“For now, I can say that Governor Obiano’s main interest is to complete his remaining legacy projects and handover to Prof. Soludo on March 17th.
“I will not also shy away from saying that the Governor favoured those that worked with him in such a way that they should be contented with how God used him to bless them.
“The good people of Anambra Central will make a wise decision in the forthcoming 2023 general election,” the statement stated.
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–Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) –From Mike SOGBOLA In Abuja:
Leaders of the Nollywood industry under the aegis of Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, have declared support for the ongoing war against drug abuse in Nigeria, even as they expressed their preparedness to join the crusade against the scourge.
They gave the assurance on Monday 7th February 2022 during a meeting with the Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) at the National Headquarters of the Agency in Abuja.
While commending the Nollywood actors and the entertainment industry for projecting the image of Nigeria, Gen. Marwa expressed confidence that the campaign against drug abuse in the country will go far with the offer of partnership and support from the leadership of AGN.
He said with drug use prevalence in the country three times the global average, the Agency needs committed partners like the Guild to mobilise the citizentry against the menace. According to him, “A number of artists don’t only use, they also encourage others to abuse drugs through their work and activities on social media. We want the Guild to set good example by leading the war within its circle. Your movies must promote messages against the use of illicit drugs because the minds of millions are shaped by what they watch in movies. We need you to set up War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, committees within your industry.”
Speaking earlier, National President of AGN, Emeka Rollas Ejezie said, “We are here today to affirm our complete support to your efforts in combating the menace of drugs in our society as we strongly believe will help reduce drug crime to the barest minimum.
“As a Guild of major influencers and in line with our set objectives to educate, inform and entertain as well as our avowed commitment to national development, we seek a mutually beneficial partnership with the NDLEA to leverage on the star-power of our members in promoting some of your transformation programs especially on drug trafficking and abuses.”
Listing the areas he will want the Guild to collaborate with the NDLEA, he “Majority of our members are youths and appeal to a generation of youths who are influenced heavily by internet content and social media.
We have therefore outlined some advocacy programs to enlighten Nigerian youths on the dangers of drug abuse and trafficking; they include but not limited to: production of skits majorly for social media campaigns; drama series on negative effects of drug abuses, rehabilitations, eradicating the fear of stigmatization and advantages of total abstinence; engage some of our A-List actors as NDLEA Ambassadors to help use their star power to discourage the youths from doing drugs”, among others.
“We share in the dream of a better Nigeria where success will be the reward for hard work and not through drug trafficking and other drug related offences. The era of glorifying drug barons and criminals is far gone and the Actors Guild of Nigeria, as Ambassadors of Nigeria’s image is readily available for advocacy campaigns, talk-shops, production of skits, playlets, feature films etc. on the menace of drug abuse and trafficking”, he stated.
Apart from the National President, Emeka Rollas Ejezie, other members of the delegation include: Mohammed Kareem, Vice President North Central; veteran actor, Zulu Adigwe; Steve Eboh; Onwurah Agility Ifeanyi; Waash Waziri, Vice President North West; Nazareth Jesse Bako, Mayor AGN Abuja; Pamela Abah; Veteran actor, Lisa Onu and Hajiya Salma Ibrahim, Chairman AGN Kaduna.
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One of the most important watersheds in Nigeria’s history is the external debt relief it secured from the Paris Club in 2006.
The debt burden in excess of $34 billion, piled up from the mid 80s into the late 90s, was so excruciating that the Federal Government was defaulting in loan servicing and worse still, unable to fund capital development resulting in failing and inadequate infrastructure.
The introduction of Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP), regular devaluation of the Naira and increase in petroleum pump price did not provide any respite.
As a direct consequence, the nation experienced unending ASUU, NMA, NLC, NUT strikes over non payment of teachers’ and workers’ salaries and entitlements which disrupted education and families while mortality worsened as a result of collapse of health service delivery.
Public institutions like the refineries, power service, railways, telecommunications, shipping, aviation and various other sectors experienced the same collapse.
Indigenous industries folded up while foreign investors divested from multinational companies, thus throwing the nation into an import dependent economy for basic manufactures.
The attendant rise in unemployment, inflation and decline in quality of life were not only predictable but became the everyday reality of the nation.
With successive leaders struggling without success to address these matters, the country remained helpless until President Olusegun Obasanjo brought in Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
She had studied Economics and Development Finance Management at Harvard University and had worked at the World Bank for 25 years, ascending to the position of Managing Director.
With her knowledge, expertise and contacts in the global finance arena, she engineered the cancellation of $18 billion and paid off the balance of $12 billion to free Nigeria from the overhang of $30 billion owed the Paris Club. Nigeria became literally debt free.
She also introduced various measures like the Excess Crude Account, Sovereign Wealth Fund, and efficient financial management systems that have saved the country billions in losses and leakages and moderated the wide fluctuations in national annual spending plans.
Despite growing challenges, the Umaru Yar’adua and Goodluck Jonathan presidency maintained her initiatives to control both domestic and external debts sustainably.
Unfortunately, the situation has been completely reversed. Nigeria presently has re-accumulated a debt overhang of about $38 billion as at mid 2021 and is still shuttling the debt market.
The consequences have been dire with almost 97% of its real revenue and above 35% of its current budget appropriated for debt servicing, even when about same percentage is borrowed to cover the budget deficit. The projection is that Nigeria might hit N50 trillion in debt by 2023.
The prime reason for this reversal is because we discounted knowledge, experience and expertise in the cut-throat politics of electing leadership.
Frightening is that there are more challenges ahead. Oil which accounts for over 80% of national revenue in our undiversified economy is becoming less in demand internationally as the developed and developing nations are veering increasingly towards green energy in reaction to climate change disasters.
The effect of this transition will be shrinking national revenue and dwindling allocations to states.
It is already here with us. Statistics indicate that 97% of all Federal Government’s salary payments, overheads, capital expenditures etc were all financed through ways and means from CBN which effectively means, the printing of Naira.
This situation isn’t looking to ease and Delta State and virtually all the Niger Delta States whose significant revenues come from proceeds of oil, by allocation and derivation, will definitely, if not mostly be impacted.
With such dim outlook, things might come to the point of “to your tents, O Israel” for the states.
This is why Deltans must think ahead to ensure that our 2023 politics should be to produce a Governor who not only understands the prognosis but is knowledgeable, experienced and competent enough to drive us through the future.
None other fits this bill more than David Edevbie. Not only will his sound education in Economics, professional knowledge from Cardiff and same Havard Business School where our Okonjo-Iweala was groomed, and his experience and national and international contacts working with the world-renowned Barclays Bank, Hill Samuel Banks and the Commonwealth Development Corporation as Development Finance Executive come into play, his understanding of issues and challenges of development through his service as several times Commissioner of Finance in Delta State, as Principal Secretary to President Umaru Yar’adua at the Presidency and later Chief of Staff to His Excellency, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, will be most helpful in steering the ship of our state.
The final pruning of Delta Central PDP aspirants to three sets us further into motion for the election of a Governor that should sustain the sterling achievements of Dr Ifeanyi Okowa and advance the economic and infrastructural development of the state.
No doubt, Chief Kenneth Gbagi and Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori who have been listed along with Edevbie, and even those eliminated through the screening process, sure have their value but, the times and challenges ahead call only for the best.
The Nigerian situation shows there are giants ahead to confront and we need a David. Luckily, we already have him.
Let’s settle for the best to secure the future of our state for the benefit of all Deltans and coming generations.
DIBIA is a management consultant based in Asaba
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Pakistan is quaking as both the ruling and opposition parties are at Daggers Drawn over what the relationship with terrorism group and treatment of terrorists should be.
The opposition in the Pakistani Senate has already slammed the government for being soft on terrorism and terrorists.
The opposition at a seating during the week alleged the ruling government of what it called “a policy of appeasement” towards terrorist outfits, noting that talks with those who challenged writ of the state had emboldened and encouraged such actors.
Speaking on an adjournment motion on the rising tide of terrorism, opposition senators also voiced concern over talks with the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which were being held through a government that was not recognised by any country of the world.
They said that the recently unveiled National Security Policy be discussed in parliament and that an internal security policy, as well as the Afghan strategy, should be framed in light of that discussion.
Senators claimed the government was devoting all its energies to stifling dissent and cornering its political opponents, while ignoring its responsibility to protect the lives of the people.
However, the interior minister claimed that negotiations with the banned group had stalled because their demands were unreasonable, warning the opposition of a potential terror threat if it went ahead with its proposed long march and asked them to consider rescheduling it.
Opening debate on the topic, Pakistan Peoples Party leader Sherry Rehman sought an explanation on how a sitting prime minister can decide who is the leader of the opposition or who is not — a reference to PM Khan’s recent statement where he said that he had no respect for Shehbaz Sharif and didn’t consider him an opposition leader.
“This is not his decision, nor is it his prerogative. It is the sovereign right of the people to elect their representatives, not his own prerogative as a manifestation of his own hubris and bizarre conceptualisation of the political and constitutional reality of the country,” she remarked.
She also criticised the prime minister for constantly blaming either previous governments, external factors, or anyone but his own government for all the ills that plagued the country. She said the people of Pakistan no longer knew where to turn in their hour of unprecedented misery as crisis after crisis was unleashed on citizens.
“He is making a laughing stock of Pakistan by threatening his own country, but also sending a message to his selectors, who are now clearly fed up with this amateurish show. Too much is at stake, given Pakistan’s national security challenges and economic distress. You can’t have rule by tantrum. Pakistan will not be sacrificed to anyone’s ego,” she said.
But defending his party chief, Leader of the House in the Senate Dr Shahzad Wasim said that the prime minister was merely holding up a mirror to the opposition.
Asking sarcastically who could possibly threaten “such an incompetent opposition”, he said after disqualification by the courts, they first distributed sweets and then started asking ‘mujhe kyon nikala’ (why was I removed). This prompted a token walkout by the opposition.
Former Senate chairman Raza Rabbani said the state had been patronising extremist right wing forces and religious groups, adding that TTP was said to be reorganising in Afghanistan.
He said that the TTP kept on violating a ceasefire agreement, but the government still says its doors are open for talks. Senator Tahir Bizenjo of the National Party said that over the last 10 days, eight terrorist attacks had taken place across the country, while Nawabzada Umar Farooq Kasi said that negotiating with terrorists only encouraged them. Jamaat-i-Islami Senator Mushtaq Ahmad regretted that terrorists and target killers ruled the roost and demanded that former military ruler Pervez Musharraf be brought to Pakistan and tried for his surrender before the US and the murder of Nawab Akbar Bugti.
He asked who was it that actually negotiated with the TTP, and what were the terms of these talks. He also sought an explanation from the interior minister over his statement about presence of terrorists’ sleeper cells in Islamabad. Responding to the opposition, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said no talks were currently being held with the TTP since their demands were considered to be against the country’s security interests.
He claimed India does not want good relations between the Afghan Taliban and Pakistan, adding that evidence suggested RAW was behind many terror attacks in the country, which were carried out by local criminals hired by the Indian agency. He also disclosed that the opposition’s protest march on the capital, scheduled for March this year, was also under threat of terrorist attack and called on its leadership to reconsider its decision.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping, has reiterated his commitment to working with African leaders towards the development of Africa.
Jinping, who sent on Saturday a warm congratulatory message to African countries and people on the opening of the 35th African Union (AU) Summit, said under new circumstances, China stands ready to work with the African side to actively implement the outcomes of the FOCAC conference, further synergize the Belt and Road cooperation and the Global Development Initiative with the AU’s Agenda 2063 and the construction of the African Continental Free Trade Area, in a bid to steer China-Africa cooperation toward higher-quality and wider-ranging development, and to write a new chapter in China-Africa friendship.
In his congratulatory message to the AU Summit, Xi pointed out that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the AU’s founding, and that over the past 20 years, the AU has stayed committed to seeking strength through unity, actively explored a development path suited to Africa, facilitated important progress in regional integration and coordinated a concerted response from African countries to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Such efforts have proven effective in maintaining peace, stability and development in Africa, and have won Africa growing influence and stature in the world, Xi said.
The year of 2021 witnessed robust growth in China-Africa relations, Xi stressed.
He however noted that the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was successfully held in November last year,stressing that he announced during the conference nine programs for cooperation with Africa in the next three years, and that he, together with African leaders, expressed their unanimous support for building a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.
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The DC-23 Screening Committee on Sunday evening, February 6, submitted its list of three aspirants from Delta Central Senatorial District for Governorship of Delta State, with Olorogun David Edevbie emerging the most preferred according to inside sources.
Others who made the list, though markedly distant on points from Edevbie, include Chief Kenneth Gbagi and Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori.
Following advice from several stakeholders, including His Excellency, Senator (Dr) Okowa, the leadership of the Delta Central lobby group had for the past few months been engaged in screening the aspirants to prune down the number and present the most qualified. All participants had earlier pledged to abide by the decision of the committee.
The screening committee, composed of highly reputed Delta Central political leaders with Prof Nyerhvowo as Chairman and Prof Sunny Awhefeada as Secretary, had earlier in December 2022 selected five aspirants, including Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, Chief James Augoye, Olorogun David Edevbie, Chief Kenneth Gbagi and Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori.
According to the committee, the selection criteria adopted and made known to the aspirants were acceptability across the state, accessibility, integrity/credibility, capability, development strategy and Pan-Delta disposition.
While presenting the report, Secretary of the committee, Prof Sunny Awhefeada, said the three names had been presented alphabetically.
However, sources at the committee revealed that Edevbie was shoulders high above other aspirants on all scores, proving to be the most experienced and prepared to consolidate on the achievements of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa towards advancing the development and growth of Delta State.
David Edevbie’s emergence as top on the list comes as no surprise as he was the consensus choice of Urhobo Progressive Union in 2014, still in recognition of his high education, experience and expertise.
Members of the committee include Chief Arthur Akpowowo, Chief Dr. (Mrs.) Augustina Erah, Hon. Felix Anirah, Mr Tony Omonemu, Revd. Fr. Christopher Ekabor, Chief Anthony Akpomiemie, Chief Andy Osawota, Deacon Raymond Edijala, Dr Godfrey Enita, Deaconess Florence Jakpovi and Mrs Rarute Mgbeke.
While receiving the report, the National Chairman of DC-23, Senator Ighoyota Amori, thanked the committee members for their commitment and job well done and urged those who did not make the list to take the outcome in good faith as only one person will eventually emerge the Governor. He said those not selected are still highly recognised and respected personalities in their own rights.
Assuring that the DC-23 will continue to discharge its leadership with fairness, transparency and without fear or favour, he urged political leaders and stakeholders to queue behind any of the three aspirants towards the final choice by Deltans.
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The Delta State Chief Job and Wealth Creation Officer, Prof. Eric Eboh, has said that array of role-model STEP and YAGEP alumni who attended the graduation ceremony has inspired fresh graduands to business successes.
Prof. Eboh, disclosed this at the graduation ceremony for 1000 STEP and YAGEP beneficiaires of the 2020/2021 programme cycle on Thursday 3rd FEBRUARY 2022, at the event center in Asaba.
He said the cycle covered 1,000 beneficiaries comprising 654 STEPreneurs and 346 YAGEPreneurs, including 25 Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), one in each of the 25 Local Government Areas is the 6th in the job creation programme series since 2015.
“All 1,000 beneficiaries here today have been duly trained in occupational, entrepreneurial and business skills. Also, they have been given starter packs and shop rent support (in the case of STEPreneurs) or support packages and cash support for critical farm operations (in the case of YAGEPreneurs). Beneficiaries were given starter packs and support packages in batches upon successful completion of all the phases of training and fulfilling the eligibility requirements.
“Altogether, the job creation programmes – STEP and YAGEP – have covered 6,074 beneficiaries from 2015 to date. This number is part of the expanding portfolio of the state government’s job creation and youth empowerment programmes including RYSA, GEST, WESAP and ICT-YEP.
“In addition to the 1,000 graduands gathered, we have assembled a small sample of outstanding previous STEPreneurs and YAGEPreneurs already profiled in the STEP & YAGEP Hall of Fame”, adding that the STEP and YAGEP Hall of Fame’ is an informative reference and promotional tool designed to recognize and promote outstanding beneficiaries in an ongoing series.”
“The sample of outstanding beneficiaries include three categories. Outstanding STEPreneurs who have recorded remarkable growth, diversification and innovation of their enterprises, and some of them have become trainers under STEP, RYSA and GEST. Outstanding YAGEPreneurs who have shown distinctive progress of their farm enterprises in terms of production size, market space and product innovation. Persons with Disabilities [PwDs] STEPreneurs & YAGEPreneurs who have displayed remarkable determination and abilities in growing their enterprises and employing other persons.”
He said the Bureau has created some institutional development tools developed and already being applied by Delta Job and Wealth Creation Bureau to ensure organizational and programme sustainability into the future.
“The sustainability tools include our online programme management information system (MIS); the Job Creation Magazine series published since 2015; the satellite-based digital survey map of all verified YAGEP farm enterprises throughout the state and the 5-Yr Masterplan of Delta State Job and Wealth Creation Bureau.
“All 1,000 beneficiaries here today are particularly happy and excited about this unique opportunity to say thank you and to receive your fatherly blessings for their enterprise endeavours,” Prof. Eboh stated.
In his address, Delta Governor, Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, called on Deltans to be wary of deliberate mischief against the state government, saying that citizens knew that no volume of devious criticism could taint the developmental efforts of his administration.
“Recently I hear some people criticise what we are doing for the youths of our state, they speak in manners that are becoming nauseating.
“When we recognised that we are doing a lot in infrastructure in such a manner that has earned us recognition but I know that our greatest strong point is in ensuring that we give our youths the necessary skills to keep them strong and keep hope alive.
“Our youth training programmes both the STEPreneurship, YAGEPreneurship and other programmes is our strongest point and we have no apologies about it.
“We know that today Delta is one of the most peaceful states and it is because the youths are working in collaboration with the government.
“This is so because our youths are responsible they are passionate about their future and about this state, and the youths of Delta wants us to have a great state.
“We will ignore what they say but its important for us as youths that as we go into the future to realise that in order to keep the future of the current youths and those who are growing up, we must learn to exercise our political rights in such a manner that we do not waste our votes for those who do not mean well.
“I say so because anybody criticizing what we are doing in collaboration with our youths does not obviously mean well for the state and such a person is an enemy to the youths.
“I want to urge you to stay strong, focused and we believe that together we can ensure the continuity and the growth of our various youth entrepreneurship programmes if you partner with us as we go into the new dispensation that is coming.
“It is well with our state and I use this opportunity to thank our traditional rulers for their support and prayers for the success of this administration.
“It is my belief that as they continue to pray for us our youths will continue to grow from strength to strength and we look forward to a Delta State that is not only stronger but a Delta State that will make a major difference in the comity of states in Nigeria.
“Am confident that you will make us proud going into the future and we will proud that we laid the foundation and that was built upon,” he stated.
The Governor lauded the Job and Wealth Creation Bureau for its diligent and professional handling of the programmes to become a major success story of his administration.
He assured that with the enabling law establishing the Delta State Job and Wealth Creation Bureau, the state’s job creation programmes would be sustained beyond his administration.
He commended the youths of the state for their dexterity and focus, assuring that in years to come the benefits of the programme would be manifest nationwide.
“You have made me proud as a governor and I must return my thanks to all the youths who have gone through this programme because if you had failed it would have discouraged us from continuing with it.
“I thank the Delta State House of Assembly because the Delta State Job and Wealth Creation Bureau has been legislated on and signed into law.”
The Governor who was flanked by his Deputy, Mr Kingsley Otuaro paid glowing tribute to the people who gave life to the program including Dr Kingsley Emu, Professor Eric Eboh, Dr Kingsley Obiora Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria and Hon. Festus Agas among others.
He announced a cash reward of N500,000 each for 75 outstanding STEPreneurs and YAGEPreneurs adopted into the Job Creation Hall of Fame.
In their valedictory speech, Gure Oghenetejiri, a STEPreneur in POP, Screeding and Painting from Ughelli North and Onakpoya Evuarhere, a Poultry YAGEPreneur from Ethiope East commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and the state government for the life opportunity given to them to acquire skills and become business owners.
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–Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) –From Michael J. EKOKORUWE:
Ederie community in Isoko South local government area of Delta State was agog at the weekend as the Governor of Delta state, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the Majority Leader Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Ferguson Onwo, DESOPADEC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Bashorun Askia Ogieh and others attended the marriage ceremony of High Chief Eta Enahoro’s son and wished the couple a blissful marriage.
Governor Okowa represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Patrick Ukah, Delta State House of Assembly members from Isoko South and North constituencies, Hon. Evivie Ovuakpoye, Hon. Jude Ogbimi and Comrade Ovuozourie Macaulay, Director General Warri/Uvwie Development Agency, congratulated the couple Ewoma and Evezi, just as they wished them a successful marriage.
Speaking to Journalists, the Chairman of Isoko South and North, Hon. Asasa Victor and Hon. Dcn. Iteire Christian, described Eta Enahoro as a “man of the people, industralist and a philantropist” and prayed God to bless the couple, just as they urged them to show commitment and faithfulness as they become one.
Also speaking, Sir Ayodele Othihiwa, urged the couple to love themselves as marriage is a school and lifetime institution and prayed God to bless and give them all they desire in life.
While describing Eta Enahoro as an industralist that has provided employment for Isoko sons and daughters, High Chief Iduh Amadhe, Patron Isoko Development Union, called on other Isoko sons to emulate him towards the development of Isoko land. He wished the couple a happy and fruitful marriage.
Other groups that congratulated Eta Enahoro were the Isoko Positive Agenda (I.P.A) and Emore Grammer School Old Boys Association (EMOGRAM). They commended the parents of the bride and groom just as they prayed God to bless the couple with prosperity and longevity and enjoined the couple to be tolerant and put God first.
Traditional rulers from Isoko South and North at the ceremony also prayed for the couple and described Enahoro as a humble man even as they urged the couple to be humble in order to live a successful life.
For his part, Chief John Oraka, Chairman Editorial Board of the Trumpet National Newspaper, commended High Chief Eta Enahoro for an unimaginable crowd that attended the marriage from all over Nigeria and said, “it is good to be good”. He noted that Eta has touched many lives in Nigeria which according to him was the reason for the celebration and prayed God to bless the couple with good health and other best things in life.
The event was attended by the Chairman, De Wayles Group of Companies, High Chief Emonena Victor Wayles Egukawhore (JP), Engr. Daniel Omoyibo, M. D and C.E.O Dantinajo Gold Resort, Oleh Isoko South local government area of Delta State and Chief Greg Edor, M.D and C.E.O Quest FM and TV, Ughelli Delta State.
Others are Hon. Johnson Erijo, former member Delta State House of Assembly, captains of industries across Delta state and Nigeria, various women groups, friends and well wishers too numerous to mention amongst others.
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The Management of Shebah Exploration & Production Company Ltd (SEPCOL) in RECIEVERSHIP, have provided an update on the explosion and subsequent fire that engulfed the FPSO Trinity Spirit located at the Ukpokiti Terminal, in the early hours of Wednesday, 2nd of February 2022.
The update was contained in a press statement signed by Mr. Ikemefuna Okafor, Chief Executive Officer Shebah Exploration and Production Company Ltd (in RECEIVERSHIP) and made available to journalists today in Delta.
The update stated that the company has been working with the relevant authorities and stakeholders to contain the situation and an investigation has been launched to establish the cause of the explosion.
“We can confirm that the fire burnt out completely as of Thursday afternoon, 3rd Feb. 2022, and this has enabled closer inspection of the vessel. With this development, a Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) has been scheduled for Saturday, 5th February 2022, with the relevant authorities, stakeholders, and expert organisations.
“Currently, there are still no reported fatalities, and we continue prioritising investigations with respect to establishing the whereabouts, safety, and security of the ten crew members who were on board the vessel prior to the incident.
“We appreciate the assistance provided us by the Clean Nigeria Associates, the Chevron team, NOSDRA, NUPRC, SPDC and people in the community, particularly the fishermen, who have been of immense assistance since the incident occurred.
“Members of the public should continue to keep away from the area while our Crisis Management Team monitors developments in the investigations and update all stakeholders with new information accordingly”, it added.
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The Commissioner for Works (Urban and Highways), Mr Noel Omodon has tasked the construction company handling Sector ‘A’ of the Ughelli/Asaba Road Dualization to expedite action on the road before the rains commence.
Mr Omodon who stated this weekend while on inspection of the level of work on the project, explained that his visit was to ascertain the problems causing the slow pace of work on the project.
The commissioner gave an assurance that his ministry would work hand in hand with the contracting firm to ensure that the agents causing the delay of the project were surmounted and the project delivered within stipulated time frame.
Earlier, the project manager, Engr Abdallah Aoude, said the company is aware of the importance of delivering the road project as and when due,o hence has moved machines and equipment to site so as to expedite action on the road project.
According to Engr Aoude, the only problem the company has was getting laterite sand, saying that every effort was being made to buy a place to excavate for laterites.
“We have moved almost 56 equipments to site, mobilised staff but the problem we are facing is getting laterite sand for filling. Our community Liaison Officer has been moving around the communities around here to get a place to buy, but we have not succeeded,” the site engineer added.
He assured that once they were able to get a place to buy, the project would be completed and delivered in May this year.
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The 1970’s/1980’s set of students of St. Malachy’s College, Sapele, Old Boys’ Association (SMOBA), have handed over a renovated school hall to the management of the school in Sapele, Delta State.
The Honourable Commissioner for Primary Education, Hon.Chika Ossai, who was ably represented by the Chief Inspector of Education (CIE), CD Moritay at the ceremony, appreciated the old boys for remembering their Alma-mater and giving back to their foundation School.
The Principal of the school, Rev. Father Godwin Origho, thanked the SMOBA 70’s/80’s set for finding it worthy to embark on such a gigantic project and encouraged them not to relent in giving back to their school and not to forget their little beginning.
Old boys from across the country were present at the occasion and some who spoke, expressed dismay at the total neglect of the institution by the state government and called for the immediate intervention of His Excellency, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa to come to their aid in revamping the citadel of learning, which has almost gone into extinction due to land grabbers.
Almost half of the School compound has been sold to politicians in the state.
The SMOBA 70’s/80’s set led by old boy Daniel Aghedo and Pastor Lucky Oki, thanked the Honourable Commissioner for Primary Education for honouring the invitation to grace the event.
Highlights of the occasion, was the unveiling and the handing over of the refurbished Assembly Hall, which cost the old boys 11.5 Million Naira.
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The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu has felicitated the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Delta State, Olorogun Barrister Kingsley Esiso on the auspicious occasion of his birthday anniversary.
Elumelu in a statement on Friday, February 4, 2022, thanked God for the life of Barrister Esiso and said that he has used a better part of his life for the service of God and humanity.
Elumelu described the State Chairman of the PDP as a quintessential political leader who has demonstrated steadfastness, loyalty and love for the party in Delta State, saying that his Chairmanship of the PDP in the State has been of tremendous value not only to the Party, but the State in general.
While celebrating Olorogun Kingsley Esiso for his maturity and charm, the Minority Leader applauded him for his devotion and incomparable support to the State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa in bringing about peace and unity in the PDP in the State, leading to series of victories in elections and maintaining Delta State as a stronghold of the Party in Nigeria.
“I am highly delighted to celebrate a man who has demonstrated so much energy and love for the peace, unity and progress of our great party in Delta State. Your immeasurable contribution to the stability in our party has impacted immensely to the Stronger Delta agenda of our tenacious and committed Governor, His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa.
“On behalf of my Family, the Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives, the People of Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, and Delta State as a whole, I heartily rejoice and congratulate you on this momentous occasion of your birthday.
“You have been a great source of joy and hope to us in PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) family in Delta State and as you celebrate the mercy of God in your life today, we pray the Lord God Almighty to enrich and bless you with good health and many more exceptional years ahead for service to God and humanity,” Elumelu prayed.
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Wife of Delta State Governor and founder, O5 Initiative, Dame Edith Okowa, has lamented the orgy of moral decadence among Nigerian youths, saying that much is expected from the foundational upbringing of children by mothers.
The First Lady, while hosting the 15th edition of the ‘Mothers Arise’ prayer conference held on Wednesday, February 02, 2002 at the Government House Chapel, Asaba.
She explained that Mothers in the present generation have failed God in their responsibilities in adequately seeking the Divine will of God for their children’s upbringing.
She however, decried the continuous decline in moral values amongst children and youths in the country, enjoining Mothers to urgently arise in prayers to secure the future of their children.
“The evil going on in our nation today is an open secret, we see things that we are too ashamed to talk about.
“As mothers, our hearts bleed at the level of evil our eyes and ears are witnesses to.
“Things have so declined that we are gradually getting to a point where we are not sure of a tomorrow anymore.
“We desire a tomorrow and we desire to see the generations after us take over from us and that is why we have gathered to pray as mothers.
“There is nothing too difficult for God to do”.
In a sermon, with the theme, ‘Breaking the Cycle of Destruction’, Barr. Kesiena Samson, opinened that the family has abandoned it’s responsibilities and God’s primary purposes, emphasized that the future of the Nigerian youth was at serious stake, admonishing that to raise godly children, every Mother must recognize the responsibility God had placed on her shoulder as a help mate to the man, and be firm to ensure the family succeed.
“This is an age marked and loaded with destruction. The children of this generation are addicted to drugs, they are lazy students who prefer to cheat in examinations, they use faked satanic anointing to deceive people.
“The teenagers have become ritualists who use their mothers as sacrificial lambs to make money”.
Earlier in an a welcome charge, Mrs. Ngozi Bama admonished mothers to brace up to the challenge of raising godly children that would stand for God, but blamed Mothers for the evils being perpetrated by youths in Nigeria as some mothers now aid and abet their children.
She stressed that training children entails teaching them the word of God, modeling righteousness and leading by example.
Ministers of the gospel, including Evelyn Okoma, Pastor Chuks Anizor, Rev. Charles Osemenam and Pastor Greg Onyechie led the congregation through intercessory prayers for youths, fathers, pastors and their wives, traditional rulers, the state and the nation to break the cycle of destruction.
The prayer meeting witnessed intercessory prayers of repentance, mercy and restoration on behalf of Nigeria youths, fathers, the clergy and traditional rulers by over 300 women.
The event which attracted dignitaries from different denominations, including wives of clergymen, political office holders and traditional rulers, had the wives of the immediate past Governor of the state, Deaconess Roli Uduaghan, former Deputy Governor, Mrs Esther Elue and Olu of Warri, Olori Ivie Emiko in attendance.
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CHIKE URIAH hails from Oshimili South Local Government Area and is the CEO of Nellsvile Enterprise. He is a round peg in a round hole having studied Agric Economics from the University of Benin. Interacting with him, one could see a young man who understood his passion, who has been able to apply all knowledge acquired, knew how best to source for funds and what he hoped to achieve with it.
got enrolled in YAGEP in the 2017/2018 Cycle and has done exceedingly well after three years. He has increased the number of his ponds from 3 to 14, acquired more equipment through a Central Bank agricultural loan, bought a plot of land for his permanent site and is currently a trainee of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF). He speaks on his success.
“I am three years in Fish Production. I have 5,500 fish and 14 tarpaulin fish tanks. The progress has been slow but steady. I applied for Central Bank agric. loan immediately I got started up by the State Government. Though the process was rigorous, yet I got the approval for equipment as in 3 tarpaulin fish tanks of 10 X 15 feet, a 7.2 KVA generator, 2,000 fingerlings and 160 bags of fish feeds to bring them to table size. I have acquired a land for my permanent site. To crown it all, I am a trainee of the TEF.
“Apart from fish farming, I am in the process of acquiring skill in Website Designing. My interest is in Agricultural Technology with special focus on applications in farming. I want to develop software for record keeping and financial record in agriculture. I can be reached @ nellsvilefarms on Facebook and Instagram.
“YAGEP is an excellent agricultural policy of the State Government that needs to be sustained. To me, it is 90% successful. It is a business and every business needs sustainability, both financially and materially. As start-ups, we need to be nurtured for five years till we are very firm. Government is trying its best, but needs to try more in the area of public private partnership to boost the production of animal feeds because of high cost of feeds.”
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