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Author: Stanley Nwanosike

  • Enugu CP congratulates Rangers FC for winning NPFL, qualifying for CAF

    Enugu CP congratulates Rangers FC for winning NPFL, qualifying for CAF

     

     

    Congratulations

    By Stanley Nwanosike
    Enugu, June 17, 2024 (NAN) The Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Mr Kanayo Uzuegbu, on Monday, congratulated the players, management, staff and fans of Rangers International FC, Enugu, for winning the 2023–2024 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Rangers FC emerged winners of 2023–2024 NPFL league after beating Bendel Insurance FC, Benin, 2 – 0, on Sunday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.

    Their closest rivals, Remo Stars and Enyimba Football Club, lost their respective match day 37 fixtures 1-2 each against Sunshine Stars and Sporting Lagos.

    This left Rangers FC, also known as Flying Antelopes, with 67 points with a game to go and five points ahead of its nearest rivals.

    The commissioner, who described the victory as a product of dedication, resilience and hard work; commended the players and management of the club for not taking their feet off the pedal until the victory was attained.

    The state police boss gave the commendation in a congratulatory message issued on his behalf by the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, in Enugu.

    The commissioner said that he took particular delight in how the General Manager of the club, Mr Amobi Ezeaku, had so far piloted the affairs of the club.

    He noted that his unmistakable leadership style and prowess contributed so much to the victory.

    “I, therefore, urge him to keep the flag flying,” he said.

    The state police boss expressed delight at the peaceful conduct of the fans, especially during the club’s home games at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu (a.k.a. the Cathedral).

    He stressed that their positive conduct had again shown that sports, particularly football, remained a vital tool for the enhancement of public security and safety and the social re-engineering of society.

    The commissioner also reassured a closer and more robust working relationship especially in the area of providing adequate security during the club’s home games.

    “This has become more expedient given the victory and qualification of the club to participate in the Confederation of Africa (CAF) Champions League next season,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    KSN/VIV

    ====

    Edited by Vivian Ihechu

  • Police arrest 3, recover firearms, ammunition, motor batteries in Enugu

    Arrest
    By Stanley Nwanosike
    Enugu, June 17, 2024 (NAN) The Police Command in Enugu State has arrested three suspected criminals and recovered firearms, ammunition and 15 motor batteries within Enugu metropolis.
    The command’s Spokesman, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, made the disclosure in a statement on Monday in Enugu.
    Ndukwe said that police operatives serving in Emene Division, in concert with law-abiding citizens recovered a Beretta pistol with 36 rounds of 0.9mm calibre ammunition on June 16, around 7 p.m.
    Ndukwe said that the firearms and ammunition were recovered from a small bush where they had been abandoned around Airport Corner, by Old Abakaliki Road, Emene in Enugu.
    “The exhibits were suspected to have been abandoned by criminal elements on the hot trail of the police operatives for allegations of armed robberies,” he said.
    The spokesman said that in another operation, three suspects were arrested by police operatives serving in the Awkunanaw Division in Enugu on June 7, around 2 p.m.
    He said that their arrest followed the conduct of a covert operation by the operatives upon the receipt of complaints about the theft of several motor vehicle batteries at a construction site in Awkunanaw axis of Enugu.
    Ndukwe said that the suspects, who were initially arrested during the act, had confessed, upon interrogation, to having stolen many batteries and sold them to another suspect who was later arrested.
    “15 batteries, including those of articulated and other motor vehicles and tricycles, were recovered from them,” he said.
    Ndukwe said that the suspects would be arraigned and prosecuted upon conclusion of investigations. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
    KSN/OJI/WAS
    Edited by Maureen Ojinaka and ‘Wale Sadeeq

  • Eid-el Kabir: GOC urges Nigerians to make sacrifices for peace, security

     

     

    Sacrifice
    By Stanley Nwanosike
    Enugu, June 16, 2024 (NAN) Maj.-Gen. Hassan Dada, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, has urged Nigerians to continue to make sacrifices for peace, security and development of the nation.

    Dada gave the charge on Sunday after the Eid-el Kabir prayer at Eid prayer ground of Abakpa Military Cantonment, Enugu.

    He noted that Nigerians must learn from the exemplary lifestyle of Prophet Ibrahim, who have to give his only son for sacrifice but Almighty Allah instructed him to use a ram instead.

    According to him, for things to go right and for peace and security to prevail, we must as individuals and collectively as organisations, make due sacrifices.

    The GOC advised that people must always abide and respect constituted authorities enshrined by God and the nation’s authorities.

    “If all of us submit to the will of the Almighty Allah and constituted authorities that is ordained by Almighty Allah, there is so much to benefit because Almighty Allah will also reward us bountifully.

    “And for the government, what they are asking from us is to be law abiding and when we are law abiding, definitely there will be progress in the land and peace as well.

    “The insecurity in the land is because people are not ready to make sacrifices,” he said.

    Dada noted that the South-East Zone and the Cross River were  abundantly blessed with natural endowments and human resources, but noted that insecurity caused by very few had hindered their great potentials.

    “We are appealing to all those living in South-East and Cross River State to continue to partner and assist the Division with prompt and actionable information to check all forms of criminal activities.

    “I sincerely believe that with security and peace in the entire South-East and Cross River State, progress and development will blossom in the areas,” Dada said.

    In a sermon after the prayer, Chief Imam of 82 Division, Lt.-Col. Husein Eleje, urged all to live in peace with their neighbours as instructed by the Almighty Allah.

    He said that one way to ensure that peace reigned was through sacrifice and commitment to the welfare of others.

    “I will want Muslim faithful and Nigerians to look out for ways to sacrifice and invest in the welfare, well-being and progress of others to build a peaceful and prosperous neighourhood, community and society,” he said.

    The chief imam prayed for the peace and progress of the nation as well as for the success of the President Bola Tinubu led administration.

    Highlight of the special sallah prayer was the symbolic slaughtering of ram done by the chief imam. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    KSN/MNA

    Edited by Maureen Atuonwu
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  • Police raid IPOB/ESN camp, neutralise 2 in Enugu

    Raid
    By Stanley Nwanosike
    Enugu, June 12, 2024 (NAN) Police operatives in Enugu have raided the camp of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) in a forest in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of the state.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that two members of the outlawed group were neutralised during the raid.
    The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, said in a statement on Wednesday that the feat was achieved by the police, in collaboration with the Neighborhood Watch Group, around 2 a.m. on Wednesday.
    Ndukwe said that the raid was conducted following intelligence report on the activities of the group in the forest and its general area.
    He stated that the criminal elements opened fire on the operatives upon sighting them.
    “However, the police operatives returned fire at a superior level, forcing the criminals to escape with varying degrees of gunshot wounds.
    “Thereafter, two of the fleeing suspects’ lifeless bodies were discovered and recovered in the forest.
    “Police also recovered one AK-47 rifle, four magazines loaded with a total of 75 live 7.62 mm calibre ammunition and one Beretta pistol loaded with eight live 0.9 mm calibre ammunition.
    “Further recovered were: one KC Sanya and Honda Today, lady’s motorcycles, one GTB ATM card, a cash sum of N2,600 and several raw food items. The manhunt for others on the run is ongoing,” he said.
    Ndukwe said that preliminary investigations suggested that the group was responsible for numerous heinous crimes in Nsukka area of the state, including the recent attack and murder of police and other security personnel.
    He said that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Kanayo Uzuegbu, commended the team for the success of the operation.
    The spokesman said that the commissioner called on owners of medical outfits and the public to quickly report individuals sighted with gunshot wounds to the police.
    “The commissioner further directs Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and Heads of Tactical Squads to remain steadfast and ensure that they further identify hideouts and hunt down die-hard criminal elements in their respective operational jurisdictions,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
    KSN/OJI/WAS
    Edited by Maureen Ojinaka and ‘Wale Sadeeq

  • 4 dead in auto crash on Enugu-Onitsha Expressway

    Accident

    By Stanley Nwanosike

    Enugu, June 12, 2024 (NAN) The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says no fewer than four persons lost their lives in a ghastly auto accident on Ugwu Onyeama axis of the Enugu-Onitsha Federal  Highway.

    The Sector Commander of the FRSC Enugu State Command, Mr Adeyemi Sokunbi, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Enugu.

    Sokunbi said that the accident happened between 6:45p.m. and 7p.m. on June 11 when a trailer ladened with kerosene lost control and rammed into six other vehicles.

    He said that two persons died instantly among the 29 persons involved in the ghastly accident while two others died at the hospital.

    Sokunbi said that the FRSC used the corps’ Intensive Care Unit (ICU) ambulance and other vehicles to rush the 10 persons, who were injured to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu.

    He also said that the deceased were taken to the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUT) Park Lane, Enugu where they were deposited at the morgue.

    The commander said that some items belonging to the victims were also recovered at the scene of the accident.

    According to him, the kerosene-laden truck lost its his break and rammed into six other vehicles, which included cars and a bus on the reconstructed section of the Enugu-Onitsha Federal Highway.

    He said: “We are thanking God that the truck that failed break was not conveying petrol, which is extremely inflammable.

    “Motorists and all road users in general, have to be very careful on the road.

    “We advise that all should put their vehicle in order and at an optimal condition before setting out on journeys.

    “You cannot afford to put a mechanically deficient vehicle on the road to cause harm to many others using the same road,” he added. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    KSN/MNA

    Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

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  • Indebtedness: EEDC decries disruption of its operations by Enugu Govt agency

    Disruption

    By Stanley Nwanosike
    Enugu, June 11, 2024 (NAN) The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) has decried disruption of its operations by an Enugu State Government agency after it announced a massive disconnection of heavily indebted state governments offices in the South-East.

    This is contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the EEDC Head of Corporate Communication, Mr Emeka Ezeh, in Enugu.

    Ezeh noted that on arriving for work this morning, the entire staff were surprised to meet the EEDC Corporate Head Office sealed by the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA).

    According to him, this development is strange because there was no notice of any sort by the agency to our organisation.

    “We were informed by the security men on duty that in the early hours of Tuesday at about 1:53a.m., a group of men came and locked up the gates, claiming that the state government directed the action.

    “Our Abakpa, Awkunanaw, and Ogui District offices were not spared as their gates were equally sealed and locked.

    “As at now, there has not been any clear information/communication from ECTDA explaining their action.

    “We, however, suspect that this action might not be unconnected to the notice of disconnection published by EEDC informing indebted customers of intention to commence disconnection today, Tuesday, June 11, 2024,” he said.

    The EEDC spokesman said that the Enugu State Government happened to be one of the indebted customers with over N1 Billion owed to EEDC.

    “It is important to state that majority of the state government’s facilities are metered, so, it is not a case of estimated billing.

    “EEDC has about N180 Billion as debt owed the company in the entire South-East and has concluded plans to commence disconnection of indebted customers,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    KSN/MNA

    Edited by Maureen Atuonwu
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  • ATASP trains 50 Anambra, Enugu youths on agribusiness

     

     

     

    Agribusiness

    By Stanley Nwanosike

    Enugu, June 10, 2024 (NAN) The Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Program Phase-1 (ATASP-1) on Monday began a 10-day training of 50 youths from Anambra and Enugu States on agribusiness incubation in Enugu to enhance food sufficiency.

    The incubatees were selected from eight participating local governments in ATASP-1 Adani-Omor Zone coverage area of Anambra and Enugu states.

    The National Programme Coordinator ATASP-1, Dr Ibrahim Arabi, informed participants that the Federal Government launched the programme to attract private sector investment in agriculture and ensure food and nutritional sufficiency.

    “The ATASP-1 is also transforming agricultural landscape through reduction in post-harvest losses, value addition to local agricultural produce and development of rural infrastructure,” he said.

    Arabi, represented by ATASP-1 National Agribusiness Specialist, Dr Kunle Alege, said the programme would also enhance access of farmers and other value chain actors to financial services and markets.

    “The objective is to enhance food and nutrition security, poverty alleviation, employment generation, wealth creation, rural access and accessibility and facilitation of financial services and markets for the benefiting communities of the Programme.”

    Arabi said that the project had developed strategies that would attract, train and retain these youths in the agribusiness sector.

    He said that the youths would be provided with on-the-job training and mentoring to improve their practical skills and knowledge in agribusiness.

    Declaring the training open, Dr Patrick Ubru, Enugu State Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation, said the Gov Peter Mbah administration in conjunction with ATASP-1 and other donor funded agencies, empowered the youths with agricultural innovations.

    According to him, there are endless opportunities in modern agriculture for youths that have the energy and drive.

    The commissioner explained that all the value-chains were open, which included digital agricultural marketing if one did not want to go to the farm.

    “As you are already aware of Enugu State Government’s core vision, led by His Excellency, Dr Peter Mbah is to grow the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from $4.4 billion to $30 billion by 2031”.

    “While between 40 per cent and 50 per cent of this target is expected to be generated from the agricultural sector.

    “It should be noted that no country develops without sustainably huge investments in agriculture.

    “Being mindful of the above, His Excellency, Gov. Mbah had paid seven years of counterpart funds for ATASP-1 and many other donor agencies’ funds within the first few months into his administration,” he said.

    Earlier in his welcome address, the Zonal Programme Coordinator ATASP-1 Adani-Omor Zone, Dr Romanus Egba, lauded the support and smooth working relationship of the Enugu State Government.

    Egba said: “I commend the agriculture-loving Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah, for paying a huge backlog of 7-year arrears of ATASP-1 counterpart fund at once.

    “This shows the outright commitment and seriousness of the government towards agriculture.

    He noted that the incubatees that performed exceptionally well during the training and with a practical business plan/proposal would get seed fund as a start-up grant.

    The coordinator said that ATASP would also link the incubatees with lawmakers, offices and organizations willing to support youth agribusinesses.

    One of the incubatees, Miss Amarachi Ezemaduekwe, appreciated the Federal Government and ATASP-1 for providing the opportunity for the intensive and extensive training which had made an impact on her agribusiness outlook.

    “I am grateful to all, especially ATASP-1 that made the training possible. I will appeal for a sort of support for us to practically engage in what we have learnt here,” Ezemaduekwe appealed.

    Another incubatee, Mr Kingsley Chukwuebuka, said that the training had made a huge impact in his life as he would be going back home after the training to start his own business. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    KSN/MNA

    Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

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  • Stop ‘demonising’ governors over LG autonomy – Elderstateman begs Nigerians

    Stop ‘demonising ‘ governors over LG autonomy – Elderstateman begs Nigerians

     

    Autonomy

    By Stanley Nwanosike

    Enugu, June 10, 2024 (NAN) Elder statesman, Chief Nduka Eya, has urged Nigerians to stop ‘demonising governors’ over Local Government Area administrative and financial autonomy.

    Eya made the call while addressing newsmen in Enugu on Sunday on issues bordering ton he nation and its people.

    He said that the current negative perception of Nigerians looking at the governors as the problem rocking the council areas; which is not, as the problem stems from the military’s unitary system of rule as well as the constitution.

    ”I was once a permanent secretary to council areas in the old Anambra and I know how the council areas administration and financial system work,” he said.

    Eya, a former INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, said: “To be fair to the governors, especially present governors, the present conditions of council areas are not their making.

    “It started with the military unitary system of government which made council areas of no consequence and no value for decades.

    “The military stopped the smooth running of council areas and dissolved it whereas the regional government of the 1960s made active use of the council or municipal area authorities to drive development to the grassroots.

    “The constitution is not also helping matters. The constitution fully recognized and apportioned clear powers and responsibility to the Federal (Central); regional government (where available) and state components.

    “Nowhere did the constitution make clear cut power and responsibility for the council areas. This means that the constitution leaves room for the council areas to be used at the mercy of the state or federal governments.”

    NAN reports that former President Muhammadu Buhari had in May 2020 signed an Executive Order to grant financial autonomy to the judiciary, legislature, and local government councils.

    NAN reports that Buhari attributed the stunted development at the third tier of government to the governors’ questionable actions on LGA funds.

    Besides Buhari’s remarks, a former minister of Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba had said that the high poverty rate in the country was due to the governors’ inability to complement the efforts of the Federal government in its fight against poverty.

    On the upcoming secession plan of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Eya called on the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, to follow a laid-down process in its constitution to rotate its leadership as spelt out.

    He cautioned the present Ohanaeze leadership, led by Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, to ensure a smooth transition of power to Rivers candidate, which is the state to produce the next Ohanaeze President-General.

    “It remains about six months to the end of the current leadership of Ohanaeze’s tenure. We urge the leadership to ensure a seamless and smooth handover following Ohanaeze’s laid-down constitution and not to plunge the respected body into any session of secession crisis,” he said.

    The elder statesman explained that Ohanaeze Ndigbo is made up of seven Igbo speaking states, namely: Abia, Anambra, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and Rivers States.

    He said that the leadership rotation turn is taken according to the alphabetic mentioning of the Igbo speaking states and now Imo State is currently occupying the President-General position.

    On the lingering controversies in the ongoing reconciliatory talks/moves by Ohanaeze and the North due to the 1966 military coup, Eya said that the move was real and those denying its reality are not telling the truth.

    Eya, a Commissioner for Education in the old Anambra State, said that for some years now, the move for true reconciliation between Ndi Igbo and the North had been in the open; adding that “it has been around for some time now”.

    “However, we are concerned on how leadership of Ohanaeze should concern itself and concentrate on settling the misunderstanding with Ndi Igbo internally in the Igbo speaking states as well as the ones within Ohanaeze as an organisation.

    “To me, I am not opposed to reconciliation and ways to build bridges and peace across the Niger with other parts of Nigeria; just as most of our leaders have continued to work towards,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    KSN/SH

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    edited by Sadiya Hamza

     

  • Why we postponed Enugu State constituency rerun election – INEC

     

    Re-run

    By Stanley Nwanosike

    Enugu, June 9, 2024 (NAN) The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says that the rescheduled rerun election for the Enugu South 1 State Constituency was postponed due to security reason.

    The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Dr Chukwuemeka Chukwu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Sunday that the postponed election was cancelled earlier last week due to security consideration.

    Chukwu disclosed that the rerun election, which was fixed after stakeholders’ engagements to hold on June 8, would hold on a further date to be communicated by the commission.

    “Last week, the scheduled rerun election was postponed and duly communicated to all stakeholders with a clear reason for the postponement.

    “But I am surprised some misguided people are taking up all sorts of unfounded falsehood and rumours against the commission that it seems the election had been held in secret even as I am speaking to you,” he said.

    NAN reports that Mr Bright Ngene, the Labour Party (LP) candidate for the State House of Assembly was declared winner of the March 18, 2023 election and was sworn in but the election was nullified by the tribunal for being inconclusive.

    This is the third attempt by the INEC to hold the election.

    As early as 7am on Saturday, voters had converged in the affected polling units but no official of the INEC was seen at the venue.

    The LP candidate for the election, Mr Ngene, who was at the polling centre expressed dismay over the development.

    He told journalists that there was no information available to him and his party that the election would not hold.

    On his part, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mr Sam Ngene, however, said the postponement was duly communicated to his party. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    KSN/MNA

    Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

  • EEDC begins metering of “Band A” customers in S/East June 11

     

     

     

    Metering
    By Stanley Nwanosike
    Enugu, June 7, 2024 (NAN) The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) says it will begin the metering of  its Band A customers across its network in the South-East through its Meter Asset Providers (MAP) initiative.

    The Head, Corporate Communications, EEDC, Mr Emeka Ezeh, made the disclosure in a statement on Friday in Enugu.

    The exercise, which would kick-off in Enugu on June 11, would focus on EEDC customers served by Band A feeders under its Ogui, Awkunanaw, and Abakpa districts within Enugu metropolis.

    Eze said the Mobile MAP metering approach was part of efforts by the EEDC to ensure that customers under service “Band A” across its network were metered within 48 hours.

    According to him, the company adopted this approach to ensure that the affected customers who enjoy minimum daily availability of 20 hours can begin to manage their energy consumption and pay for what they consume.

    “EEDC customers under Awkunanaw district, served by Topland 11KV, Gariki 11KV, Amaechi 33KV, and UNEC 11KV feeders are to visit the EEDC Service Center at Mayor Bus Stop, Agbani Road.

    “In the same vein, customers under Ogui District, served by New Haven 11KV, Abakaliki Road, 11KV, Power House 11KV, Chime Avenue 11KV, Onitsha Road 11KV, and Golf 11KV feeders, are to visit EEDC Ogui District office at Station Road, Enugu.

    “While customers under Abakpa District served by Abakpa 3 11KV, Dhamija 11KV, Nowas 11KV, and Ugwuogo 33KV feeders are to visit Trans Ekulu Service Center.

    “Customers are expected to visit the mentioned locations with a valid form of identification (either Drivers License, Voters Card, NIN or International Passport) and a copy of their bills.

    “Officials of EEDC will assist them with the MAP application process and installation of the meter will be made once payment is confirmed,” he said.

    The EEDC spokesman said that the MAP metering programme allowed customers to pay and get metered and reimbursed with the value of the cost of meter through energy over a period.

    Ezeh noted that gradually, the exercise would be extended to other “Band A” feeders across EEDC franchise area.

    “Unmetered customers, especially those under service “Band A” are urged to take advantage of this programme and get metered, bearing in mind that they will be reimbursed with the value of the cost of the meter through energy over a period.

    “This exercise is carried out by EEDC in conjunction with its MAPs (Meter Asset Providers) – MOJEC International Limited and Advanced Energy Management Services (AEMS),” he said.

    MAP is a metering intervention designed and approved by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to close the existing metering gap in the power sector. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    KSN/MNA

    Edited by Maureen Atuonwu
    ==========