Author: Ihechinyere Abaribe

Otti visits families of slain policemen in Aba
Killing
By Ihechinyere Chigemeri-Uwom
Aba, June 29,2024 (NAN) Gov. Alex Otti of Abia has commiserated with the families of the two policemen killed in Aba by yet-to-be identified gunmen.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on Friday, four policemen were attacked by hoodlums at Opobo Road in Aba, leading to the death of the two operatives, while two others were wounded.
Speaking with newsmen on Saturday, shortly after visiting the bereaved families as well as the wounded policemen in their hospital beds, Otti described the incident as unfortunate.
He vowed to smoke out the perpetrators of the heinous crime and gave assurance that they would be apprehended.
He expressed dismay that the attack took place a few weeks after five soldiers were shot and killed in Obikabia Junction, Aba.
The governor said that the State Government would change its strategy in dealing with the issue.
He said: “We thought that with all what we have done, including rounding up some of the people that were involved in that last attack, that this would not happen again.
“We have decided to change strategy.
“We are not going to let this go away without identifying and bringing to book all those who were directly or remotely involved.”
Otti expressed the confidence that by the time investigations would be over, the State Government would be able to identify the sources of the attacks and address the security threats effectively.
He assured the people that his administration remained focused on rebuilding the state and would not succumb to any form of blackmail.
“We believe that something is wrong and our government is not going to succumb to this kind of blackmail and we are going to fish them out wherever they run to.
“It is still early in the day but as I said, we’ve started picking up some of the people that were suspected to be involved in the last attack on soldiers and this one we are not going to allow it to die.
“We are going to follow it through,” Otti said.
He further said that the government would work with security agencies to unravel the matter as well as secure lives and property in the state.
He urged the residents to go about their lawful businesses, as security agencies would continue to intensify their efforts to ensure that the state remains safe and secured.
“The people know that this government will not rest on its oars.
“We don’t want people to panic, we don’t want people to be discouraged, government is equal to the task,” Otti said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
INA/BEKl/USO
Edited by AbdulFatai Beki/Sam Oditah
June 29, 2024
ASUU urges measures to avert nationwide strike over unmet demands
ASUU urges measures to avert nationwide strike over unmet demands
Strike
By Ihechinyere Chigemeri-Uwom
Uturu (Abia), June 28, 2024 (NAN) The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has urged Nigerians to prevail on the Federal Government (FG) to grant its demands for better welfare and administrative conditions in public universities.
The union made the request on Friday at a news conference held at the Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu.
The Zonal Coordinator, ASUU Calabar Zone, Mrs Happiness Uduk, said that the only way to avert the imminent nationwide strike was for the State and Federal Governments to meet the union’s demands.
Uduk said that the body had given a two-week ultimatum for its demands to be met, warning that failure to do so would result in an industrial action.
She regretted that the FG had yet to fulfill its commitments under the FG-ASUU agreement in 2009, leading to stagnation in salary scales and overall welfare improvements.
She said: “Government had an agreement with ASUU in 2009, which tells us that for 15 years running, ASUU members have been on the same salary scale, nothing has changed.
“We are requesting that government should complete negotiations it started with us more than 13 years ago, first with the Babalakin-led team, then the Munzali-led team, finally the Briggs-led team.
“These people had completed the negotiations and, if the negotiations had been completed and Mr President has the document, we don’t know why for a year now he has not called us to talk to us about it.
“So, government should as a matter of urgency address our renegotiation and take into account current realities, including inflation rate, exchange rate and whatever needs to go into that,” Uduk said.
She called on the Federal and State Governments to address issues bordering on revitalisation fund for public universities, payment of earned academic allowances and withheld salaries, high taxation and victimisation of ASUU members
She also said that ASUU strongly insisted on the removal of its members in federal universities from the Integrated Personnel Payroll System (IPPIS).
Uduk further said that the high rate of taxation experienced by ASUU members was a result of “the introduction of an obnoxious platform” for salary payment.
“Whatever government has in mind with regards to that, it should use our University Transparency and Accountability Solution or any other platform that would originate from universities rather than the IPPIS,” she said.
She advised that the FG’s students loan scheme be replaced with grants which, she said, would alleviate financial stress on students and improve their academic pursuit.
Uduk called on the FG to stop the proliferation of universities and focus on better funding for the existing ones to improve overall standards within the existing institutions.
She also advocated for the quick resolution of the minimum wage debacle and introduction of a living wage that obtains in saner climes.
On Abia, the ASUU zonal coordinator called on the Abia Government to pay the 11 months salary arrears owed to lecturers in ABSU.
“We are not negotiating any part of that salary for anything because we have worked, taught students and examined them and some of them have graduated,” Uduk said.
She urged the Abia Government to discontinue the use of Treasury Single Account in the payment of ABSU lecturers’ salaries and address the recent inconsistency in the payment of salaries.
According to her, Government is owing April, May and June.
“Let the Abia Government leave payment in the hands of the university administrators and a platform that is consistent with the institution’s operations.
“But it can do its oversight as far as ABSU is concerned,” she said.
Uduk said that some ASUU members at the Ebonyi State University had been suspended for more than two years without salary.
“We call on the Ebonyi governor to look into the peculiarities of the problems in the state university and ensure that our members are reinstated forthwith,” she said.
Uduk said that the ongoing interface with stakeholders was to encourage Nigerians to appeal to the government to do the needful, “otherwise, in two weeks time ASUU will go on strike”.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the union had earlier held an interactive session with critical stakeholders, parents, children and traditional rulers, amongst others. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
INA/USO
Edited by Sam Oditah

June 28, 2024
Education key to combating drug, substance abuse – Otti
Drugs
By Ihechinyere Chigemeri-Uwom
Umuahia, June 26, 2024 (NAN) Gov. Alex Otti of Abia has said that mass education is critical in empowering the people with the relevant information they need to resist drugs and substance abuse.
Otti said this on Wednesday during the celebration of this year’s United Nations Day Against Illicit Trafficking and Drug Abuse in Umuahia.
The theme of the celebration, organised by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), is
“The evidence is clear: Invest in prevention”.
The governor, represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr Caleb Ajagba, described the theme of the event as apt.
According to him, understanding the effects, risks and consequences of drug use helps individuals make informed decisions and seek appropriate help when needed.
He said that the journey of life must be approached with the intention to excel.
Otti said that any youth that desired to succeed should set goals for themselves and be focused on their goals.
He, therefore, advised Abia youths to avoid drugs and bad influences to secure their future success and contribute to societal development.
In a speech, the Governor’s Wife, Priscilla, said that prevention remains the most effective strategy for tackling the challenge of drug abuse.
Represented by the Wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs Adaeze Emetu, Priscilla said that drug abuse and illicit trafficking could be defeated through initiatives that cut off illicit drugs supply channels.
She commended NDLEA for its commitment in the fight against illicit drug trafficking and consumption.
“You have led the fight with great courage, admirable professionalism and a genuine sense of service to the community,” she said.
Earlier, the State Commander of NDLEA, Mr Amos Adelanwa, said that drug abuse had become a global problem, which requires concerted effort from stakeholders to tackle.
“We have a problem of substance abuse in Abia going by the seizures recorded during our mop up in the communities.
“We receive a minimum of five applications from people seeking to bring their wards to our rehabilitation facility.
“The investment needed in this fight should come from society, supporting the agency to achieve a drug-free society,” Adelanwa said.
He urged parents to create time for their children and perform their parental duties with diligence.
He also called on all the stakeholders to support the agency, adding that patent medicine dealers should desist from selling psychotropic substances.
Speaking in an interview with NAN, a secondary school student, Daniel Ogbonna, said that the celebration had given him the opportunity to learn about the dangers of drug and substance abuse.
Ogbonna also said that he had become better informed about the guidelines to follow in living a healthy and drug-free life as a youth. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
INA/OIF/USO
Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo
June 26, 2024
Abia Govt. restricts operational hour of tricycles, motorcycles
Abia Govt. restricts operational hours of tricycles, motorcycles
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Uzor Nwachukwu
Restriction
By Ihechinyere Chigemeri-Uwom
Umuahia, June 25, 2024(NAN) The Abia Government on Tuesday announced the prohibition of the operation of tricycles and motorcycle in Aba and Umuahia between 7 pm and 6 am, with effect from July 1.
The Commissioner for Local Goverment and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Uzor Nwachukwu, made this known at a press conference at the end of a meeting between the government and stakeholders in the transport sector, in Umuahia.
Nwachukwu said that the decision to restrict the operating hours of tricycles and motorcycles was informed by the need to secure lives and property in Abia.
He said:”The information available to security agencies reveal that most of these robbery attacks happen in the evening hours, late night hours and very early morning hours in these cities.
“The restriction does not stop Keke and Okada operators from operating from 6am in the day to 6pm in the evening.
“So they are still doing their business; it’s just that the state government has decided to curb the operations of these criminals who use these means of transport to perpetrate their criminal activities.”
According to him, the government had met with leadership of the relevant unions of the operators and urged all residents to comply accordingly.
He said that government would equally attempt to review the restriction when it becomes necessary and said security agents have been alerted on the development.
Nwachukwu said that the government would implement the policy with human face assuring the people that there would be no victimisation of any innocent individual.
He said that as part of measures to enhance security in the state, the government would commence a compulsory enumeration and registration of all commercial vehicles in the state.
Nwachukwu also said that the exercise would enable the government and security agencies to identify the real owners and operators of commercial vehicles for security purposes.
The commissioner said that a committee had been set up to that effect, with the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security , Navy Commander MacDonald Ubah (Rtd) as the Chairman.
He also said that the government set up the committee to ensure effective compliance by all commercial vehicle operators in the state.
“Security is everyone’s business and we want everybody to please take this message home because to develop as a state, we must ensure that there is safety and security of lives and property in Abia,” he said.
In his remark, the Technical Adviser to the Governor, Mr Charles Egeonu, said that the present administration evolved policies focused on improving the welfare of the people.
Egeonu said that the government had engaged with the tricycle and motorcycle operators and believed that their deliberation would be very fruitful.
He said :”Please bear in mind that it is a decision that we would undertake and would attempt to review as we go along.”
In their separate speeches, Mr Victor Azubuike, the Chairman of Abia State Tricycle Operators Union(ASTOU), Aba Zone, the Chairman of ASTOU, Umuahia zone, Mr Godson Chinwotito, and the Chairman of Abia State Motorcycle Operators Union, Mr Chiemela Ugboaja , described the restriction as a “welcome development”.
They commended the government for getting them involved in the process of formulating the new policy and assured that their members would comply accordingly.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
INA/MNA
Edited by Maureen Atuonwu
June 26, 2024
We’ll pay salary arrears in tranches—Abia Govt.
We’ll pay salary arrears in tranches – Abia Govt.
Salaries
By Ihechinyere Chigemeri-Uwom
Umuahia, June 25, 2024 (NAN) The Abia Government has said it would pay salary arrears owed workers in the state civil service, in tranches.
The Commissioner for Finance, Mr Mike Akpara, made this known on Tuesday during a press conference in Umuahia.
Akpara expressed the determination of the present administration to completely change the narrative of owing workers salaries because “a worker deserves his wages”.
According to him, the present administration inherited a debt of N16.5 billion of salary arrears owed workers in state-owned institutions of learning.
He said that the government had resolved to clear the arrears, and ensured that the advancement it recorded in other sectors of the economy would be sustained.
“We need to jump start the economy of the state and for the velocity of money to improve in Abia, we need to stop going to bed by 7pm.
“For salary arrears,the governor has set up machinery in motion to ensure that salary arrears would become a thing of the past.
“One thing I will promise is that it will be paid but it is not going to be in one sweep.
“We will do it in instalments, so that it does not hamper the progress other sector of the economy,” he said..
Akpara said that the government would commence payment of the salary arrears owed workers of state-owned institutions of learning by “July or August”, with the hope of completing payments by the end of the year.
He said that the total amount of salaries owed to all the institutions, was N16.5billion and the government was expected to pay those arrears and do something in other sectors.
Akpara said that the state-owned institutions of higher learning include Abia State University (ABSU) College of Education, Arochukwu, College of Health Sciences, Abia state Polytechnic, Aba and Abia State University Teaching Hospital.
The commissioner said that the government had paid the salary arrears for April and May owed workers in ABSU.
“We decide to run away from situations where subventions are being given to them, yet the are unable to pay salaries.
“In the past, there was something called generate and use and we noticed that things were not being done properly, a situation where salaries are being owed for 11 months, 33 months, 22 months respectively, in most of those institutions .
“As a matter of fact the past government owed Abia Polytechnic -33 months, College of Education Arochukwu -22 months, Abia state University -11months.
“Hospital Management Board was owed for several months. Theirs was humongous that they down trod.
“We also have ASUBEB and SEMB , the total amounts being owed to them is over N4billion.”
He said that it was unfair for people to begin to call names and refer to Gov. Alex Otti of Abia as a liar, and urged the people to support the policies and programmes of the government.
Akpara said that the present administration had not applied for any loan facility since its assumed office and had been managing its finances well enough to fulfill its obligations on time.
He said that the previous administration began the process for requesting loan from Africa Development Bank and Islamic Development Bank.
He said they were completing what the past administration started, since ”government is a continuum”.
Akpara added that the loans had not been released to the government and we have been managed our resources.
He said that the government had resolved to continue to conduct verification exercises whenever the need arises to restore sanity in the civil service.
“We will continue to apply ourselves to the good works that the state requires to ensure that the people get the dividend of democracy,” Akpara said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
INA/ACA/MNA
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Edited by Chidinma Agu/Maureen Atuonwu
June 26, 2024
We’ve completed rehabilitation of 90 roads in Abia – Otti
Gov. Alex Otti of Abia
Roads
By Ihechinyere Chigemeri-Uwom
Umuahia, June 22, 2024 (NAN) Gov. Alex Otti of Abia says his administration has completed the reconstruction of 90 roads that were at different stages of dilapidation, when he assumed office.
Otti said this during his interaction with newsmen for the month of June at the Government House, Umuahia on Friday night.
He said: “All the 90 roads were done by our Ministry of Works by direct labour, and some of them fit into our Zero Pothole Policy.
“We have reconstructed and rebuilt and inaugurated 16 roads.
“We have also worked on another 16 roads at the moment and the total length of the 16 roads is about 165 kilometers running through the different senatorial districts of the state.”
The governor said that the State Government had awarded the “long abandoned and very difficult Ohanku Road”.
He described the road as very strategic, leading to various settlements in Aba.
He further said that the rigid pavement technology would be applied in fixing it.
“For those who have visited the area, I am sure that you would confirm that work has started on the road, so also a few other roads in Aba.
“We are very strategic about roads because we believe very strongly that access is key to a thriving economy.
“We have a plan to touch every road in every Local Government in the next 12 months.
“At the moment, we are compiling a list of the strategic roads that we will take on as we go into our second year,” he said.
Otti said that plans were underway to secure virement from the 2024 budget for road construction, because “it appears that we are running faster than our budget on roads”.
He said that this would enable the government to have enough money to work on more roads and give access to different communities in the state.
On healthcare, he expressed the determination of the government to evolve programmes and policies that would transform the health sector of the state.
Otti said that as part of its efforts, the government had commenced the rehabilitation of general hospitals across the state.
He also said that the government was determined to rehabilitate the primary healthcare centers and it would be in batches in order to make the centers operational.
“Of course, the state University Teaching Hospital is on course, a lot of work needs to be done both in terms of infrastructure and the skills.
“i understand that 19 disciplines or areas have already received accreditation, we will continue to build on that,” he said.
The governor also spoke on what the government was doing on education, particularly the huge dilapidation of the public schools.
He said that his administration had started remodelling public schools in its resolve to improve educational standard to provide a conducive learning environment.
“We are not discouraged. We are just taking them in phases.
“We are not complaining but it is important that we remind ourselves where we are coming from and know that Rome was not built in a day.
“The most important thing is that we are moving in the right direction,” he said.
Also on agriculture, Otti said that the government had been paying a lot of attention to agriculture because of its desire to achieve food security in the state.
He said: “In the last one week, we had dispatched 300 persons of Abia origin to Nassarawa to do sophisticated mechanised agricultural training by CSS Farms, one of the leading farms in the country
“These 300 people were drawn from the 124 political wards, as the whole idea is that they would be able to train others as they come back.
“So, all these are geared toward achieving food security.”
Otti also said that the government was desirous to partner reputable organisations to boost the production of palm oil, rubber, cocoa, plantain and rice, amongst others.
On security, he said that the government takes security seriously and remains committed to ensuring the security of lives and property in the state.
He expressed regrets over the killing of five soldiers in Aba on May 30, describing the incident as dastardly and a breach in security.
He gave assurance that the government would leave no stone unturned to ensure that everyone connected with the killing was apprehended.
He said that the government had issued enough warnings and now resolved more than ever before to deal decisively with hoodlums, who refused to relocate out of the state.
Otti said that his administration had prioritised workers’ welfare, hence salaries were now paid on the 28th of every month.
According to him, other pending issues inherited from the previous administration, such as promotion and arrears of leave allowances, were being looked into. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
INA/USO
Edited by Sam Oditah

June 22, 2024
We’ll rebuild ABSU into a citadel of excellence — Otti
ABSU
By Ihechinyere Chigemeri-Uwom
Nvosi(Abia), June 20, 2024 (NAN) Gov. Alex Otti of Abia has expressed his determination to rebuild Abia State University(ABSU) into a citadel of excellence in learning, research and administration.
Otti made this known when he received a report on the institution by the Full Visitation Panel to Abia State University Uturu, in Nvosi , Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area on Thursday.
The governor said that the panel was set up to identify and address any threat to the vision of turning the university into a world class institution.
“We had set up this full visitation panel to undertake a robust study of the systems and structures at ABSU, and evaluate how they align with international best practices.
“Also the panel would return to us with a comprehensive report that would direct what we do next, in terms of investments and policy formulation in collaboration with the relevant agencies and partners.
“What we ultimately seek to achieve is to rebuild ABSU into a citadel of excellence in learning, research and administration.
“We want to frontally confront and eliminate whatever constitutes a threat to our vision of turning the University into a world class institution.
“An institution that can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with its peers across the world on all the indices that matter in University education,” he said.
Otti said that he would painstakingly go through the findings and recommendations of the panel.
He expressed optimism that the excellent work done by the panel would be of great help in the plan to transform ABSU.
Otti said: “My promise is that ABSU shall witness a great rebirth under our watch.
“The staff of the university shall be availed the right support to improve themselves and become better equipped for the very important assignment of shaping the future of our young ones.”
He commended the chairman and members of the panel for the timely completion of the assignment given to them.
Earlier, the Chairman of the panel, Prof. Steve Okodudu, thanked the governor for the opportunity to serve the people of Abia.
Okodudu said that the efforts of the panel would yield results only if the report would be thoroughly examined and put into action.
“The report we are presenting is the result of thorough research, extensive interviews, and diligent peer review sessions, thereby ensuring its factual accuracy and verifiability.
“We hope that the contents of this Full Visitation Panel Report will justify your expectations.
“Your excellency, this report is a prima facie document that will require your further executive evaluation.
“For this reason, I am not authorised to discuss specific observations, findings, or recommendations at this juncture.”(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
INA/OJI/MNA
Edited by Maureen Ojinaka/Maureen Atuonwu
June 20, 2024
Abia Govt. approves bursary for 271 students in law schools
Abia Govt. approves bursary for 271 students in law schools
Students
By Ihechinyere Chigemeri-Uwom
Umuahia, June 20, 2024(NAN) The Abia Government has approved the payment of bursary to 271 state-sponsored students in the various law schools across the country.
The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Mr Okey Kanu, made this known on Wednesday during a press briefing on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting, at the Government House, Umuahia.
Kanu said that the students remained ever grateful to the state government for its support.
He said that the government, through its untiring efforts had secured accreditation for 18 courses for Abia University, Ututu.
“It was a very rigorous process and this speaks to all the efforts that he has been making to ensuring that our education sector turns out to be the best,” he said.
According to Kanu, there was a recent case of Abia students who were abandoned in India by the previous administration.
He said that the government in response to the matter had approved the payment of the school fees for the students to enable them to continue with their education in India.
On Sports, Kanu said that, Mr Frank Onyeka, a son of Abia, who hails from Umunneochi Local Government Area and a footballer had proposed to build a football academy in the state.
He said that Onyeka plied his trade in the United Kingdom, where he played for Brentford FC and he was equally regular for the Super Eagles.
Kanu said that the Vice Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Dr Ahmed Datti was on the other hand to lend support and promised to give adequate support, to ensure that the project succeeds.
He said that the Governor had directed the Commissioner for Lands and Housing to quickly process a Certificate of Occupancy for the project within 48 hours.
“This is a way to encourage Mr Onyeka as a son of Abia and to let others know that if they have such viable projects that the state government will always be willing and ready to support them,”Kanu said.
He said that the project would be sited between Umuahia and Aba for ease of accessibility.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
INA/OJI/BRM
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Edited by Maureen Ojinaka/Bashir Rabe Mani
June 20, 2024
Gov. Otti appoints new Chief Press Secretary
Appointment
By Ihechinyere Chigemeri-Uwom
Umuahia, June 19, 2024(NAN) Gov. Alex Otti of Abia has appointed Mr Ukoha Ukoha as his new Chief Press Secretary.
The Commissioner for Information and Culture ,Mr Okey Kanu, stated this on Wednesday during a press briefing on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting in Umuahia.
Kanu said: ”Gov. Alex Otti in a bid to rejig the media ecosystem of his administration has approved the appointment of a new Chief Press Secretary and his name is Mr Ukoha Njoku Ukoha.
”Mr Ukoha brings a lot of experience in advocacy and media management and of course his flair for writing to his new job.
”Gentlemen of the press you will be working with the new Chief Press Secretary in the days ahead.”
(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
INA/MAM/DOE
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Edited by Modupe Adeloye/Dianabasi Effiong
June 19, 2024
We’re proactive about preventing cholera outbreak -Abia Govt.
Cholera
By Ihechinyere Chigemeri-Uwom
Umuahia, June 19, 2024 (NAN) The Abia Government says it is taking proactive measures to prevent the outbreak of cholera in the state.
Dr Kalu Kalu, Executive Secretary, Abia State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ASPHDA) disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Umuahia, on Wednesday.
Kalu said that part of measures was the agency’s insistence on the promotion of public hygiene and environmental sanitation across the state.
According to him, the agency is also working with relevant stakeholders to strengthen the campaign on the prevention of cholera outbreak in the state.
He said that cholera as a fecal-oral disease could be spread through the contamination of water or food with the feces of an infected person.
The ASPHDA official also said that cholera could be considered a waterborne disease because contaminated water remained a common vector for its transmission.
Kalu urged residents of the state to only drink water from safe sources, and cautioned food vendors against selling contaminated food to members of the public.
“I can tell you that as a state, we are on top of the situation, our target is not to record any single case of cholera.
“This is the reason we have kick-started a robust sensitisation campaign. Our health workers are taking advantage of every opportunity to educate people on how to prevent the disease.
“Our jingles are already running, fliers and posters are out. Health talks are ongoing at health facilities across the state.
“We shall use town announcers to reach out to the hinterlands. We must imbibe the habit of personal hygiene, we must avoid eating foods that are not well-washed,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
INA/DCO/AZU
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Edited by Deborah Coker and Azubuike Okeh

June 19, 2024