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Author: Stanley Nwanosike

  • N180bn debt: EEDC to disconnect Government Houses, CBN, army, others

    N180bn debt: EEDC to disconnect Government Houses, CBN, army, others

    Electricity
    By Stanley Nwanosike
    Enugu, June 7, 2024 (NAN) The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) has threatened to begin to disconnect Government Houses, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) offices, Nigerian Army and others in the South-East allegedly owing the company.

    The company issued the threat in a statement signed by it’s Head of Corporate Communications, Mr Emeka Ezeh, and made avaible on to newsmen in Enugu on Friday.

    Eze stated that the listed organisations were indebted to the company to the tune of over N180 billion for energy consumed.

    He argued that the planned disconnection was part of the company’s strategies to recover its money.

    He listed the affected defaulters to include the Enugu State Government, Ebonyi Government, Anambra Government, Abia Government, Imo Government; Innoson Technical and Industries; University of Nigeria (Enugu and Nsukka Campuses) and Nigerian Bottling Company.

    Others are the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police, Nigerian Air-Force, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Railway Corporation, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency; UNTH Ituku-Ozalla; Ebonyi State University; Coal Corporation Quarters and Federal Secretariat and Establishments.

    “We are also disconnecting GMO Rubber Division; Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; Ebonyi State Government’s Ecumenical Centre One; Nigeria Prisons Training School; CBN offices; M/S Concorde Hotel, Owerri and Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki.

    Also included are Enugu High Court; Reliable Steel and Plastic Industries Ltd; Jilnas Industries; BENGAS Nigeria Ltd; CIFO Petroleum Ltd; STANEL Filling Station, Highlift Pumping Station; FINOC Industries Ltd; Aluminium Extrusion Industries Ltd. and VIN VAL Ltd.

    The rest are Local Government offices; St. Davids Porter Nigeria Ltd; Gees Denver Company Limited; the Federal Ministry of Works, Hospitals Management Board and DONLINK Plastic Industries, among many others,” he said.

    The EEDC spokesman warned that effective from June 10, 2024, the company would commence massive disconnection of supply to the customers and others with outstanding bills.

    “This exercise has become necessary, considering the huge (over N180 billion) unpaid electricity bills and accrued arrears,” he added.

    According to him, the situation has consistently put the company in a precarious revenue deficit position, making it difficult to meet its power purchase obligations.

    “For EEDC to continue to provide services to its esteemed customers, it is pertinent that electricity bills, which are for energy already consumed, are paid in full.

    “If this is not done, it will be difficult for the company to suatain its operations to serve customers and enhance the quality of service,” Eze said.

    He, therefore, appealed to the affected customers to endeavour to clear their arrears on or before June 10, to avoid being disconnected.

    He noted that the notice of disconnection applied to all the categories of customers (Maximum Demand and Non-Maximum Demand) that were indebted to EEDC. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    KSN/USO
    Edited by Sam Oditah

  • Foundation lauds Rangers FC for initiating volunteerism among fans

     

    Volunteerism

    By Stanley Nwanosike

    Enugu, June 7, 2024 (NAN) Ebere Amaraizu, Chairman, Rangers International Football Club Foundation, has hailed the club’s management for instituting an initiative of Rangers’ Stadium Volunteers and Stewards.

    Amaraizu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Enugu that the initiative of the club’s General Manager, Amobi Ezeaku, was one of the best for football development in Nigeria.

    ”This is the first in the country and in line with the international best practices.
    Stadium stewards/volunteers, which is freewill, will help in community services.

    ”They provide convivial services which promote the face of the game especially in the areas of environment (climate action), stadium cleanliness through removal of debris that can cause disaffection and dissatisfaction of fans/spectators.

    ”They also will help to maintain stadium decorum and add spices to the general security, safety and orderliness in the stadium with easy coordination.

    ”This is a huge one and needs to be replicated in all our national clubs and stadiums,” he said.

    On Rangers international FC encounter with Enyimba international FC of Aba on Sunday in Enugu, Amaraizu said the derby would help to promote community cohesion and social responsibility within South-East and Nigeria.

    ”I charge lovers of football to leverage on the passion that comes with this kind of great derby to propagate peace, compassion, build bridges as one body with one goal to foster community cohesion for a greater society,” he said.

    He also said that Rangers International FC Foundation had already fine-tuned its activities and framework with multi-disciplinary approaches and strong coalitions on community driven interventions.

    Amaraizu, who is also a sports administrator, said that the interventions would make positive impact on community impact especially among young people.

    ”Other focus areas of the intervention included: climate change, health and well-being, community engagement that will create life changing experience and opportunities among others,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    KSN/DOE
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    Edited by Dianabasi Effiong

  • Group calls for memorialisation of civil war to honour victims, veterans

     

     

    Honour

    By Stanley Nwanosike

    Enugu, June 6, 2024 (NAN) Nzuko Umunna, a global pan-Igbo socio-cultural group, has called for the memorialisation of the 30-month civil war to honour victims and veterans through erection of monuments in key locations in the country.

    This is contained in a communiqué of the second edition of Nzuko Umunna monthly dialogue issued in Enugu on the topic: “Memorializing the Nigerian–Biafran War – A Catalyst to Better Civic Engagement and Sustainable Development in South-East Nigeria.”

    The communiqué was signed by President of Nzuko Umunna, Prof. Chinedu Nebo and its Executive Secretary, Dr Uju Agomoh, and after a monthly dialogue held worldwide via Webinar meeting on May 30, 2024.

    The stakeholders of the meeting were drawn from academics, traditional, civil society organizations, community leaders and policymakers.

    They reflected on memorialising the civil war and its implications for civic engagement and sustainable development.

    The participants deliberated and reminiscence extensively on the devastating effects of the war on Igbo land.

    They extolled the resilience and determination of the Igbo people in the face of adversity which brought about the significant progress made in rebuilding and reconstructing Igbo land in spite of all socio-economic and political challenges that tried frustrating sustainable development.

    The session called on the government and stakeholders to establish memorial museums, digital archives and online platforms dedicated wholly to the history of the civil war.

    According to the statement, this is to showcase personal stories, artifacts, photographs and historical documents with interactive exhibits and multimedia presentations to engage visitors and educate them on the impacts of war.

    Other recommendations by the session were to “develop school curriculum that includes comprehensive lessons on the civil war with emphasis on the importance of peace and reconciliation.

    “There is a need to organize workshops and seminars with historians, survivors and scholars to facilitate deeper understanding and dialogue.

    “An annual commemorative events in forms of memorial services, peace walks and cultural festivals on significant dates related to the war.

    “Implement policies and programmes that address the lingering effects of the war. Support initiatives that promote civic engagement and sustainable development in the region.

    “Encourage community participation in these events to foster a sense of collective memory and solidarity,” it said.

    The statement called on governments at all levels to collaborate with non-governmental organizations like Nzuko Umunna, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and international bodies to fund and implement memorialisation projects.

    It said: “This will ensure that initiatives reflect the experiences and perspectives of all affected groups to foster inclusivity and ownership.

    “Government should identify and preserve significant sites related to the war, such as battlefields, refugee camps and historical buildings; to support initiatives that will bring solutions to the root causes of conflict and encourage sustainable and remarkable development in Alaigbo.

    “The communique, when implemented, will not only help in memorializing the dead war veterans but also help to promote healing and educate the future generations and bring about sustainable development and peace in the South-East and Nigeria.”

    Continuing, the communique noted the resolve of participants to nurture a culture that enhanced peace, tolerance, and understanding in the midst of the diverse communities in Alaigbo and Nigeria in general.

    Other resolutions taken were to sponsor and encourage a participatory and inclusive governance to ensure that all citizens had a voice.

    “To encourage massive investment in vital areas of the economy like health, infrastructure and education which will lead to massive human capital and economic growth.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    KSN/MNA

    Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

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  • Police recover gun, ammunition from fleeing robbery suspects in Enugu

    Police recover gun, ammunition from fleeing robbery suspects in Enugu

     

    Gun

    By Stanley Nwanosike

    Enugu, June 1, 2024 (NAN) The Police Command in Enugu State has recovered a gun and ammunition from fleeing armed robbery suspects in the metropolis.

    A statement issued on Saturday in Enugu by the command’s spokesman, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, said men from the Awkunanaw Police Division recovered the gun on May 29.

    Ndukwe said that the operatives responded to a distress call of a robbery in a compound at Awkunanaw, Enugu, at 10.00p.m. and foiled the attack.

    According to him, the police team recovered a locally fabricated double barrel gun with two live catridges dropped by one of the fleeing  robbers.

    The statement further said that detectives from the Awkunanaw Police Division on May 30, at 7:30p.m., also arrested three suspects allegedly connected to theft of iron rails.

    “Their arrests led to the recovery of yet-to-be quantified pieces of iron rails vandalised at the pedestrian crossing bridge at Holy Ghost/Ogbete Market, Enugu,” Ndukwe said.

    He said that discreet investigation was ongoing to arrest other members of the gang, adding that the suspects would be prosecuted once investigations were concluded.

    Ndukwe quoted the Commissioner of Police, Mr Kanayo Uzuegbu, as appreciating residents of the state whose information on activities  of criminals made the arrests possible.

    Uzuegbu tasked the residents to continue to support the police by promptly reporting suspected criminals and their activities to the police and other security agencies. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    KSN/AOS

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    Edited by Bayo Sekoni