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Tag: Anambra

  • Anambra to wear new look as Soludo awards contracts for flyover, more roads

    Anambra to wear new look as Soludo awards contracts for flyover, more roads

    Anambra state to wear new look as Governor Charles Soludo endorses contracts for flyover and more roads.

    On assuming office, the Anambra governor who is barely one year in office had promised to change the road map of one of the oldest states in Nigeria.

    To bring this to reality, the State Executive Council (ANSEC) recently approved and awarded contracts for the construction of a flyover at Ekwulobia to decongest the hellish traffic jam often experienced at the roundabout. Other adjoining roads around the area to be constructed include the Nanka –Ekwulobia – Aguata local government headquarters road (2.0km); Ekwulobia – Oko road (0.825km) and Ekwulobia – Isuofia road (1.125km). Other ancillary structures and facilities to be built around the Ekwulobia hub are, a bus terminal building, fuel station, security office building, fire station and other external works such as sewage treatment facilities, drainage, landscaping, etc. All the construction work will be handled by A.V. Vision Construction Nig Ltd at the cost of N10,100,000, 000.00 (ten billion, one hundred million) and the work is to be completed in 18 months.

    Also to be constructed by A.V. Vision Construction Nig Ltd are the Isuofia to Nanka Road with spur to Nanka/Obi Adimorah Road (2.2km and 10.3m wide) at the cost of N748,000,085.05k (seven hundred and forty eight million, eighty five naira, fifty kobo).

    Six vital roads in Awka, the capital city of the state that were also among the set of contracts just awarded include, the Club (Abakaliki) Road (2.078km); Regina Caeli to Y Junction (1.173km); Millenium Industry – INEC – Ekwueme Square (1.762km) and Unizik Temp Site – Okpuno – Isuaniocha Junction (6.847km). Others are, Chukwudifu Street (0.297km) and PPSSC – NECO office Road (0.473km). The construction of these roads have been awarded to Niger Construction Company Ltd (Nigercat) at the cost of N6,665,960,804.70k (six billion, six hundred and sixty five million, nine hundred and sixty thousand, eight hundred and four naira, seventy kobo and the company has a target of 10 months to complete the job.

    The construction of Oye Agu Abagana to Nimo Road with spur at Nimo road (5.12km and 10.3m wide) was equally awarded Triconstruct Nig Ltd at the cost of N1,600,013,018.72k (0ne billion, six hundred million, thirteen thousand, eighteen naira, seventy two kobo). The company has 8 months to finish the work.

  • FG releases relief materials for flood victims in Anambra

    FG releases relief materials for flood victims in Anambra

    The Federal Government has released relief materials mainly food and non food items to flood victims in Anambra.

    Mr. Walson Ibarakumo, an Assistant Director in charge of Response and Rehabilitation, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said this after a closed-door meeting with officials of Anambra Government in Awka on Thursday.

    Ibarakumo said the non food items had arrived but the food items were yet to arrive in Anambra due to the traffic challenges caused by flooding in the confluence town of Lokoja, Kogi State.

    The NEMA official and his team were received by Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, Deputy Governor of Anambra, and Chief Paul Odenigbo, the Executive Secretary of Anambra State Emergency Management Agency.

    He said the food consignment had been trapped on the Lokoja axis where flood had rendered the road impassable to vehicular traffic.

    He said the food items meant to Anambra were 1,400 (10kg) bags of rice, 1,400 (10kg) bags of beans, 1,400 (10kg) maize, 75 (20kg) of salt, 75 (20 ltr) vegetable oil, 1,000 cartons of seasoning and 75 cartons of tin tomatoes.

    The non food items included 7,350 nylon mats, 1,000 treated mosquito nets, 600 cartons of bath soap, 2,500 Guinea brocades (5yrds) and 1,000 units of each of children, women and men’s wear.

    Ibarakumo commended the Anambra government for their efforts so far in the response, rescue and intervention operations while expressing hope that the trapped materials would reach the state soon.

    On his part, Ibezim thanked the Federal Government for the support but expressed regrets over the devastating impact of the flood on Anambra.

    Ibezim said the number of affected local government areas had increased from five to seven with addition of Ihiala and Ekwusigo.

    He said new challenges were emerging each new day due to rising water levels and that the government was still busy with containing the disaster which overstretched their preparations.

    The deputy governor said efforts were being made to provide minimal comfort to victims and that every item meant to cushion their pains would be diligently distributed.

  • Anambra roads ranked 15th in death trap roads in Nigeria

    Anambra roads ranked 15th in death trap roads in Nigeria

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), says the National Bureau of Statistics has ranked roads in Anambra 15th on the list of roads that constitute death traps in Nigeria.

    The Sector Commander in Anambra, Mr Adeoye Irelewuyi, said this on Thursday at the flag-off of the 2022 Ember Months Safety Campaign, in Awka.

    The campaign has the theme: “Avoid Speeding, Overloading and Unsafe Tyres to Arrive Alive”.

    He said: “The task of road traffic and safety management is a daunting challenge to both the government and the citizens.

    “Data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows that Anambra roads occupy 15th position on the list of death trap roads in Nigeria. We should not allow the trend to continue.

    “This campaign is however apt, as it covers casualty factors which include speeding, overloading, use of unsafe tyres, drunk driving, non-use of seat belt and so on.”

    Irelewuyi said that the Corps would step up public enlightenment in motor parks, Churches, Mosques and the media on safe driving culture.

    “The Corps has also trained about 1,500 Neighbourhood Rescue Team across the state to assist in rescue efforts.

    “We urge residents and road users to cooperate with FRSC, especially at this Ember months period to reduce the rate of fatalities on our roads,” the sector commander said.

    He appreciated the Special Marshals in the state for the ongoing construction of a clinic at Nteje, on Awka-Onitsha expressway.

    Irelewuyi said that, when completed, the clinic will reduce response time to crashes along the axis.

    Also speaking, the Zonal Commanding Officer, Mr Chukwuma Njoku urged drivers to be focused while driving, ensure their vehicles were in good condition and always obey traffic laws.

    “High travel rate, overloading, speeding and drunk driving are some the characteristics of the Ember months.

    “Speeding is a critical offence in FRSC, because it poses serious challenge to other road users.

    “We are setting up 24 hours traffic surveillance on the highways to ensure drivers comply with the maximum speed limit,” he added.

    In his remarks, Gov. Chukwuma Soludo said the government had declared a state of emergency on roads in the state.

    Soludo, who was represented by Mrs Patricia Igwebuike, Commissioner for Transportation, said the government had commenced the construction and rehabilitation of 10,000 kilometres of roads across the state.

    “This administration values the lives of residents and decided to commence massive road projects.

    “The tragedies on our roads are avoidable, so we urge road users to take responsibility for their lives by obeying all traffic rules.

    “The state government will continue to work with the FRSC to educate motorists on how to drive safely and ensure safety on our roads,” the governor said.

  • SAD! Tragic family of six die in Anambra flood

    SAD! Tragic family of six die in Anambra flood

     

    Six members of a family have drowned in Nzam community in Anambra West Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    The deceased were getting ready to leave their home for a safer place when the floodwater surged into their house and they all drowned.

    A video shared online shows youths in the community bringing out dead bodies and lining them up in an upland area of the town.

  • Water mermaid cause of Anambra boat mishap – Chief priest says ‘mammy water’ very angry with govt

    Water mermaid cause of Anambra boat mishap – Chief priest says ‘mammy water’ very angry with govt

     

    As the entire Anambra State battle to come to terms with last Friday’s ghastly boat accident, another twist emerged with the self-acclaimed Chief Priest to the marine spirit, Ezendu Onyesom, claiming that the accident was caused by mammy water (mermaid).

    The priest, who spoke to journalists, said that the mermaid, who told him during consultation that she was not happy with the dilapidated state of the roads in the area.

    According to him, the mermaid said the increased traffic on the river following the bad state of the road was disturbing her peace.

    His words: “After the incident, we did some consultations with the queen (mammy water) and she told us that she was angry with government.

    “We asked her why she was angry with government? She said the state government has refused to do a major road in the area that got spoilt recently. She said the bad road has made most people in the locality to travel by river to disturb her peace.

    “She said before the road got spoilt majority of the people in the area travelled by road. She said the river is meant to be quiet for aquatic life to thrive.

    We are looking for ways to appease the queen to avoid more mishaps because she threatened that more harm would occur on that route of the river if the government refused to do the road.”

    Onyesom said that traditional worshippers in the Ogbaru area would want to relate with both the local and state governments to pass across their message.

  • NEMA, military begin SAR operation to airlift trapped flood victims in Anambra

    NEMA, military begin SAR operation to airlift trapped flood victims in Anambra

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the Disaster Response Unit (DRU) of the Military has commenced Aerial view operation to ascertain persons displaced or trapped by the rising floods in Anambra.

    Mr Thickman Tanimu, Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, South-East, told newsmen on Monday in Awka, that it would aid the airlifting of trapped persons in the affected communities.

    “Search and Rescue (SAR Operations) has commenced today. The Military DRU have engaged and have started ‘Air Recce’ or Aerial view to collect imagery intelligence of the affected communities.

    “This will help to accertain displaced and trapped persons who need to be evacuated to pave the way for air lifting,” he said.

    Tanimu said that the Presidency and the Director-General NEMA, Mustapha Ahmed-Habib, while commiserating with the state government and flood victims including the bereaved, approved the relief materials.

    He said that the relief materials would be presented directly to flood victims on Tuesday.

    “The delay in arrival of the relief materials is due to the flood disaster that cut off Abuja – Lokoja road and also the security situation due to the Monday sit-at-home in the South East.

    “The relief material will hopefully arrive on Tuesday and be ready for delivery directly to victims.

    “These items are meant to complement the efforts of Anambra State Government in providing immediate succour to victims and aid their speedy rehabilitation,” he said.

  • AGF Malami to produce 10 witnesses against Anambra varsity professor

    AGF Malami to produce 10 witnesses against Anambra varsity professor

    The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, has said that about 10 witnesses would testify in a suit filed against Prof. Obiajulu Obikeze and four others over allegations bordering on forgery of chieftaincy documents.

    Counsel for the AGF, Ewere Aliemeke, made this known on Friday before Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja.

    Upon resumed hearing, Aliemeke, who held the brief of Joe Agi, SAN, informed that the matter was scheduled for the report.

    “We are pleased to inform the court that we have been able to retrieve the file of the case from the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation,” he said.

    “How many witnesses are you calling?” the judge asked.

    “We are going to call about 10 witnesses,” he responded.

    But Chief Okey Obike, who appeared for the defendants, said an application seeking an order dismissing the charge had been filed.

    “It was filed on the 19th day of April, 2022. We are saying that this charge is a complete abuse of court processes,” he said.

    Aliemeke, who acknowledged the receipt of the application, said the prosecution had responded to the process.

    “But we intend to add one or more things to the process filed by the previous counsel,” he said.

    Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter until Dec. 14 to hear the preliminary objection of the defence.

    On June 10, reported that the AGF took over the case from the Nigerian police, the former prosecutor.

    Prof. Obikeze, Dr Raymond Ofor, Chief Israel Ezue, Sir Amobi Nwafor and Okafor Bethram IK, who are 1st to 5th defendants respectively, are being prosecuted over allegations bordering on forgery of chieftaincy documents.

    Obikeze, who works with the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, formerly known as Anambra State University Igbariam in Anambra, was arraigned on Feb. 22 alongside others on 11 counts.

    Offor is current President-General of Awa Community in Orumba North LGA and a retired director with Anambra Ministry of Education; Chief Ezue, a tyre merchant in the northern states of the country; Sir Nwafor, an architect by training and Bethram was a retired headmaster at a primary school in Agulu in Aniocha LGA of the state.

    In the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/184/2021 dated and filed on July 6, 2021, the defendants were alleged to have committed the offence around Jan.15, 2019, at Awa, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra.

    In count one, the five defendants, and others now at large, were alleged to have conspired to commit forgery offence contrary to Section 3(6) and punishable under Section 1(2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17 Laws of Nigeria, 2010.

    While count two accused them of uttering forged documents, count three accused them of making “a forged letter to the Special Adviser to the Governor of Anambra on Chieftaincy and Towns Union Matters.

    The document is titled, “Submission of Awa Chieftaincy Constitution,” knowing it to be false, with intent that it may be acted upon as genuine at the Government House, Awka, Anambra State.”

    NAN

  • Soludo in Aso Villa, reveals master plan to turn Anambra into massive construction yard

    Soludo in Aso Villa, reveals master plan to turn Anambra into massive construction yard

     

    …to prioritize security, power, roads, health and education sectors

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has commended Gov Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State, “for the transformational agenda he is bringing to bear in Anambra State…”

    Prof Osinbajo paid the compliment when the Governor visited him in Aso Rock Villa on Wednesday.

    Shortly after the meeting with the Vice President, Soludo during interview with the State House Correspondents revealed plans by his administration to embark on massive action in some very critical sectors of life in the state soon.

    He listed the sectors to include Security, Roads, Health, Power and Education amongst others.

    Though he did not give details of his discussion with the Vice President, but he was able to admit that it was “private”.

    According to the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Christian Aburime, the Governor confirmed to the journalists that the hitherto disturbing level of insecurity in Anambra was now being tamed by the reorganized, reinvigorated and restructured security architecture he has put in place.

    Prof Soludo, according to the statement from Mr Aburime noted that, “… the State is now comparatively safer and peaceful with the security architecture
    being put in place”

    The Governor used the opportunity also to commend the various security agencies in Anambra State and the citizens for their cooperation and partnership in the fight against insecurity in the State.

    Commenting on his six months in office and the massive programmes especially in the areas of road, health, education, power and other critical sectors, that are presently being aggressively executed, the Soludo assured that in few months time Anambra will be, one big construction site for massive development!

  • Insecurity: Anambra people now know unknown gunmen – Soludo

    Insecurity: Anambra people now know unknown gunmen – Soludo

     

    Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, announced on Sunday night that his people had summoned up courage and helping security agents with the identities of the ‘unknown gunmen’ ravaging the state.

    Soludo made the revelation when he appeared on a popular programme on a national television.

    While giving an update on last week’s attack on the convoy of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, the former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria declared that the state cannot be a haven for gunmen who he is convinced have relatives in the communities.

    Recall that Ubah’s convoy was attacked around Nkwo Enugwu Ukwu Market area of Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State on his way to Nnewi, his country home on Sunday night.

    The gunmen opened fire on the convoy and left five members of the convoy dead and two policemen injured.

    Soludo said, “No space in Anambra will accommodate these criminals. Of course, they are known criminals. They come from homes, have parents, relatives and have people from the villages and so on.

    But thank goodness, people are now coming forward with information about their identities. And that’s how we have been picking them

    “We are pursuing them vigorously. We have this lead whether this was an orchestrated or pinpoint attack and all kinds of theories as to why this happened. I can bet you, it won’t be too long before we get them. We are not relenting one minute.”

    While taking stock of his six months in government, the governor said eight of the state and local government that were once held hostage have also been raided and taken over with the help of security forces.

    While commending the security agents, Soludo expressed confidence that Anambra has now been relatively quiet and peaceful.

    “We came into turbulence in the area of security with about eight local governments taken over by the criminals in more than 15 camps and held the state hostage. Even during political electioneering, most of us couldn’t campaign freely in all the senatorial zones.

    “As I said, the 15 camps have been decimated, degraded their infrastructure. I don’t think they have the capacity again to come with the kind of ferocity in the past.

    “The operations are ongoing. Even yesterday, many operations went on in parks and many communities now have their New Yam Festival which wasn’t possible in the past, especially in eight of the earlier affected local governments.”

    “I must commend the people of Anambra State including the stakeholders, security forces, police, navy, army, civil defence and the vigilantes for their massive cooperation in dealing with it.

    “Compare to many other places in Nigeria, I dare to say, going by the statistics of the last three months, Anambra is one of the safest places comparatively.”

    This is even as he disclosed that the security agencies have secured about four leads and are hot on the chase of the attackers.

    He said, “I told you there are many leads and we don’t want to be presumptuous. There are three or four leads. One of them, as you said, could be the targeting of senators.

    Another lead is that the attack could have been targeted at somebody else and he ran into them and they opened fire. The security agents are on top of the situation.”

  • Anambra bans use of miniskirts as school uniform

    Anambra bans use of miniskirts as school uniform

    Anambra has banned the wearing of miniskirts as a school uniform in all schools in the state.

    Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, stated in Awka on Sunday that the announcement of the ban became necessary as schools resume on Monday.

    She said the ban had been communicated to Education Secretaries of public and private schools in the state.

    The commissioner condemned the growing trend of wearing miniskirts as school uniform and said it was morally wrong and unacceptable in children of school age.

    “A student should look smart, well groomed, project positive vibes and not be indecently dressed for school.

    “The acceptable length for uniforms in the state remains knee length and not above the knee, which is fast becoming the fashion trend in schools,’’ she noted.

    The commissioner said Education Secretaries had been charged to ensure that schools complied with the directive to salvage the future of students in the state.

    Chuma-Udeh also urged the secretaries to instil the right morals and discipline in students so that they would be well-behaved and grow to become responsible adults.