Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has appointed Dr. Joseph Utumara as Chairman of the board of the newly established Warri/Uvwie and Environs Special Area Development Agency.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Governor Okowa also appointed Comrade Ovuozorie Macaulay as Managing Director (MD) of the Agency.
Recall that the Delta State House of Assembly in May passed the Warri/Uvwie and Environs Special Area Development Agency Bill 2019.
The bill provided the law for the establishment of the Warri/Uvwie and Environs Special Area Development Agency, its administrative structure, functions and powers of the board and other matters connected therewith.
Members appointed into the board by Governor Okowa include Dr Sunny Ezonfade, Mrs Amaka Egboro and Prince Kelly Otuedon.
TNG reports the Governor has forwarded the names to the Delta State House of Assembly for confirmation.
Tag: Delta State
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Breaking: Gov. Okowa appoints Chairman for Warri/Uvwie, environs dev board
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Delta Assembly confirms 7 commissioner-nominees
The Delta House of Assembly on Thursday screened and confirmed seven additional Commissioner-nominees forwarded to it by the State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
The screening of the nominees followed a motion moved by the Majority Leader of the House, Mr Tim Owhefere, during plenary in Asaba.
First to be screened was Mr Martins Okonta, former Speaker of the House and former Special Adviser to the Governor on Legislative Matters.
He was introduced by the member representing Ika South Constituency, Mr Festus Okoh, who described him as a thorough-bred politician.
He said the former lawmaker had contributed to the development of the state and the legislature.
The Speaker of the House, Sheriff Oborevwori and other members of the house corroborated Okoh’s accolades on their former colleague and asked Okonta to take a bow and go.
The other confirmed nominees were Mr Lawrence Ejiofor, Chief Barry Gbe, Mr Julius Egbedi, Sir Fidelis Tilije, Mr Churchill Amagada and Mr Arthur Akpowhowho who were also told to take a bow and leave.
They are all members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State.
Consequently, the Majority Leader moved a motion for the nominees to be confirmed and it was unanimously adopted. -
Delta to set up education endowment fund
Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has disclosed that as part of efforts to move the education sector forward, the state government would soon establish an Education Endowment Fund for schools in the state.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports the governor, represented by the Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Patrick Muoboghare, disclosed this on Wednesday in Asaba at the Annual Conference/General Meeting of the Institute of Strategic Management, Nigeria Delta State Chapter.
While emphasizing the importance of partnership between the state government and the private sector to improve the economy of the state, he explained that since the education sector was the backbone of any society, the state government was to set up an Education Endowment Fund to ensure that Deltans have access to quality education under a conducive learning environment.
“The education sector is very vital to our economy as there is the breeding ground where our doctors, lawyers even future governors are groomed and nurtured and if we are faced with recession again subventions to schools will be reduced and maintenance of our schools and ensuring that our students get the best education will be restricted but if our schools had Endowment funds with or without the allocations the schools will be well taken care of so with that in mind, the state government will soon be establishing the Education Endowment Fund for schools across the state.
“Our economy although recovering from a recession can only improve when investments are brought into our country and policies that will strategically strengthened our economy are implemented. As a government we have been doing our very best to improve our economy and strengthen our infrastructure but we cannot do it alone, we not only need the partnership of the private sector but we have to ensure that policies that have been strategically designed to improve our economy are implemented. We do not just need strategists, we need to make policies that are innovative and is in line with global trends,” he said.
He commended the Institute for organizing the conference saying, “this meeting is timely and it is my belief that at the end we will have more solutions to tackle the challenges facing our economy”.
The National President of ISMN Dr. Emman Oyeka stated that the conference was designed to discuss innovative ways to address the economic challenges facing the country adding “we need outside the box ideas that will radically improve our economy”.
Delivering the lecture on the theme of the Conference: “Unlocking Opportunities For Economic Development in Nigeria In Line With Global Trends: A Strategic Approach”, Mr. Michael Uwaechie explained that growing the economy would not only involve the partnership between the state government and the private sector, human capital development but ensuring that policies that will ensure the development of the economy to be implemented and seen to fruition.
Governor Okowa was conferred with the maiden “Professor Austin Uwandulu Strategic Management Award” in recognition of his strategic and pragmatic leadership qualities at the event. -
JUST IN: Gov. Okowa nominates Auditor General, 7 new commissioners
Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, on Tuesday, forwarded to the State House of Assembly, seven additional nominees for screening and confirmation as Commissioners and members of the state Executive Council.
The names of the nominees were contained in a letter read by the Speaker of the House, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori, during plenary in Asaba.
The nominees are Mr Lawrence Ejiofor, Chief Barry Gbe, Chief Julius Egbedi, Chief Fidelis Tilije, Mr Churchill Amagada, Mr Arthur Akpowhowho and Mr Martins Okonta, former speaker of the house.
The governor, last week, sworn-in eight commissioners, including Chief Patrick, former Commissioner for Information, who had earlier said been cleared by the house.
Okowa said in the letter that the nomination of the would-be commissioners, was in exercise of the powers conferred on him by Section 192 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.
He said that he would appreciate if early action was taken by the house to confirm the nominees to enable him to effect the appointments.
The Majority Leader, Mr Tim Owhefere, moved a motion for the house to receive the letter for further consideration.
The motion which was unanimously adopted when put to a voice vote, was seconded by Mr Charles Emetulu (PDP-Ndokwa West).
Consequently, the speaker directed the nominees to submit 35 copies of their Curriculum Vitae each to the office of the Clerk of the House and appear for screening on Thursday.
Also at plenary on Tuesday, the house screened and confirmed the nominees sent to it by the governor for appointment as members of the Delta State Judicial Service Commission.
The screened and confirmed members of the commission were Mr Joseph Ojobu and Chief James Obeuwou.
The screening of the nominees followed a motion moved by the majority leader, and seconded by Mr Pullah Ekpotuayer, representing Burutu II Constituency.
The nominees were asked to take a bow and go based on their antecedents in their profession as well as contributions to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The house also received another letter from the governor, forwarding a nominee, Mr Paul Aghanenu, for screening and confirmation as the state Auditor General.
The governor said that the nomination became necessary, following the retirement of the former auditor general, who attained the mandatory retirement age of 60. -
CEPEJ charges Okowa, IOCs on education in Delta
A Non-govermental Organization, the Center for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) yesterday charged the state government to pay more attention to the state’s educational sector.
The group also appealed to multinational oil companies operating within the state to channel more of their Corporate Social Responsibility functions to eradicate illiteracy and reduce civil unrest in their operational areas in line with Goal 4 of the SDGs.
National Coordinator of CEPEJ, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, made the plea at the 2019 Comrade Sheriff Mulade Inter-Local Government Quiz and Essay Competitions for Rural Secondary Schools in Warri North, Warri South, and Warri South West local government areas of Delta State held in Warri.
He said; “The importance of Education in the advancement of a nation cannot be overemphasized. Education is the backbone and the live wire of any economy.
“Education is the bedrock of civilization. ‘If you show me any nation that is backward in development, I will show you a nation that has less interest in the educational advancement of the people.’
“If Nigeria, the most populous black race in the world, hopes to meet up with high technological advancement as seen in other civilized countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada, then the country must take education seriously,” the peace ambassador reiterated.
He said the annual competition was aimed at bridging the gap between the riverine rural schools and their urban counterparts so that the coastal schools could have a full taste of what they have been denied over time in terms of academic exposure.
“We want to use this opportunity to promote and sustain the existing peace among the ethnic nationalities in the communities within the three Warri LGAs, particularly Ijaw and Itsekiri people.
“The primary aim of the Center for Peace and Environmental Justice is to promote educational awareness in the riverine rural communities, and to assist the less privileged but highly intelligent students to pursue their education and career in life through scholarship support,” he noted.
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Major crisis in Delta state health sector gathers momentum
A major crisis soon to hit the health sector of Delta state is presently gathering momentum as the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in the State has raised alarm over unwillingness by management of Delta State University (DELSU) to pay its members their entitlement.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports State Chairman of the NMA, Dr Omo Ekeneam while appealing on behalf of affiliate National Association of Doctors in Universities and Health Services (NADUHS) raised the alarm on Tuesday when a delegation of NMA visited Secretary to the Delta State Government (SSG), Chiedu Ebie in Asaba.
Omo stressed NMA’s members in NADUHS were yet to earn the new call duty allowance as contained in the 2014 circular from the National Incomes and Wages Commission.
He stressed that though the circular has since been adopted and domesticated in the state since 2016, “the state NMA is aware that several entries were made by NADUHS leadership to the university authorities and the Ministry of Health with no success”.
“From our interactions, we however gathered that the University is not willing to pay our members their entitlement. This is a matter that is gradually gathering momentum and will soon snowball into a major crisis in the health sector of Delta State.
“It is on record that in the last four years of this administration, NMA has not gone on strike. It will be very unfortunate if the peace currently being enjoyed in the health sector is breached because of the action of the Vice Chancellor (DELSU)” he said.
The Delta State NMA Chairman also complained that the salaries of doctors in the State have been devalued due to prevalent economic realities, and appealed for their allowances to be exempted from the State tax.
“This request is not out of place considering that before the introduction of the current Tax Law, our allowances were not part of the income being taxed and currently in some States like Edo, which is far less endowed like ours, there is an executive order from the State government exempting allowances of all categories of health workers from being taxed” he said.
He also recommended that the allowances of doctors be exempted from the percentage deduction for the State contributory health scheme, and also for the scheme to be expanded to cater for enrolees who require tertiary medical services.
Reacting, SSG Ebie reiterated the State government’s commitment to provide enabling environment for medical practitioners to render qualitative healthcare services to Deltans.
While assuring the doctors that their challenges as presented before him will be examined and considered accordingly, Ebie disclosed that the state contributory health scheme will be developed to cater for tertiary health cases in the future.
He promised to discuss with relevant stakeholders on how to accommodate the interest of doctors under the scheme, even as he promised to interface with the Vice Chancellor of the state university on how to address the challenges of doctors within the institution.
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Flooding: Okowa issues directive for dredging of ‘all existing drainage channels’
Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has directed that all existing drainage channels along Okpanam road be dredged as part of measures to mitigate flooding in Asaba, the State Capital.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Governor Okowa on Tuesday gave the directive to dredge all existing drainage channels along Okpanam road, prior to the completion of the new storm drainage projects in the State capital.
Recall that the Governor had inspected the storm drainage sites in Asaba and surrounding areas, as well as their discharge points at the Anwai River; Government House; and Cornerstone Area at Okpanam.
“Currently, we have 3 critical drainages that are being worked [on], however, there is a need to construct at least 5 more in order to control the flow of flood water in the State Capital. It is my firm belief that the completion of these ongoing drainage projects will remarkably reduce the water overflow in Asaba,” the Governor had said.
The Governor urged all Deltans to utilize the services of private waste disposal operators across the state to properly dispose refuse, to add to the effort to ensure perennial flooding across the State is well managed.
“Moving forward, we call on the people of our great state to join us in putting an end to the practice of dumping refuse in drainages. We urge you all to utilize the services of the private waste disposal operators across the state as you properly dispose your refuse,” Okowa stated.
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![DISTURBING VIDEO: Fire kills woman, daughter in Delta; 2 badly burned [Photos]](https://thenewsguru.ng/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Eku-fire-incident3.jpg)
DISTURBING VIDEO: Fire kills woman, daughter in Delta; 2 badly burned [Photos]
Two persons, a woman and her daughter, have been confirmed dead, while another of her child and another woman were badly burned in a gory fire incident caused by kerosene on Saturday morning.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports the fire that claimed the life of the woman known as Carol and the daughter known as Favour, was said to have occurred at about 6 am in Eku, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.
According to Nyerhovwo Akusu, an eyewitness who spoke with TNG, the fire started after the kerosene Carol was selling to the yet to be identified woman was torched by an exposed flame and, it escalated after other kegs of kerosene kept in her store exploded, affecting a stretch of three stores and a caravan in the vicinity.
Another eyewitness, Efe Ikoyo revealed that while Carol died in the fire, Favour died while being taken to the hospital for treatment. He said by the time men of the Delta State University fire service arrived at the scene, the damage had already been done.
There was no information about the woman Carol was selling the kerosene to and no information about the surviving child as at the time of filing this report. However, the eyewitnesses confirmed the woman and the child who survived the fire were badly burned and that they were transported to the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara for treatment.
See video (warning: video might be disturbing) and photos below:
Woman, identified only as Carol burned beyond recognition 
Three stores within the vicinity badly damaged by the fire 
Another photo of the woman that was burned beyond recognition -
Gov. Okowa denies being contractor of N2.2bn new secretariat
Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has denied allegations that he is the contractor of the N2.2 billion new Central Secretariat Complex.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports this follows approval by the Delta State House of Assembly of an upward review of the contract fund for the construction of the new secretariat.
“I must be a good contractor because the contractor handling that project is doing well,” the Governor said, adding “I keep telling people I’m not the contractor but wish I’m the one”.
The House had approved the request of Okowa for the upward review of the contract of the construction of the new central secretariat complex by N2.2 Billion on Tuesday.
The Governor’s request was contained in a letter sent to the House and read by the Speaker, Sheriff Oborevwori.
According to the letter, Governor Okowa said the State Executive Council had approved an upward review of the contract for the construction of the new central secretariat complex undertaken by North China Construction Nigeria Limited by N2.2 Billion.
He said due to the urgency in bringing all Ministries, Departments and Agencies under one roof to reduce the cost of governance, it became necessary to complete the project in record time by ensuring adequate funding bearing in mind it’s importance as one of the flagship projects of the present administration.
The Governor noted that the Council at it’s meeting held on May 21, 2019 considered and approved the term loan financing of the upward review to the sum of N2.2 Billion.
He said the purpose of the letter was to seek a resolution of the House in support of the term loan financing of the upward review in respect of the new secretariat complex project .
The Deputy Speaker, Ochor Ochor moved separate motions for the House to receive the letter for further consideration and approve it and was seconded by Emeka Nwaobi and Reuben Izeze.
Similarly the House approved another request from the State Governor for discount of the Federal Government Promissory Note Issued by the Debt Management Office to settle debts for works executed on Federal roads in the State.
The request of the Governor was contained in a letter to the House read by the Speaker Oborevwori.
According to the letter, Governor Okowa said the executive council at the same meeting of May 21, 2019 approved the discount of the federal government promissory note of N34,430,396,876 only by the Central Bank of Nigeria at a discount rate of nine percent per annum.
He said the executive council also approved the payment of consultancy fee of N1,128,807,251.28 to the Nigeria Governor’s Forum Consultant GSCL Consulting.
Governor Okowa said the purpose of the letter was to seek a resolution of the House in support of the discount and payment of consultancy fee.
Thereafter, Deputy Speaker Ochor moved separate motions for the House to receive and approve the request and was seconded by Oboro Preyor and Tim Owhefere.
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Former Chief of Army Staff set for burial in hometown
Major General David Ejoor (rtd), who was former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), and who once served as Governor of Mid-Western State of Nigeria, has been slated for burial.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Ejoor whose death occurred in February has been slated for burial in his hometown.
According to the funeral arrangements made available to TNG, two services of songs would hold in Lagos and Delta before body of the deceased is laid to rest.
Until his death, Major General Ejoor was the oldest and most senior Nigerian Military Officer alive.
He played significant roles in the era of military rule in Nigeria, and rose to the enviable height of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) between January 1971 and July 1975.
He was Governor of the former Mid-Western Region between January 1966 and August 1967, and the first Nigerian Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) between January 1969 and January 1971.
Born January 10th 1932 in Ovu, now in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, Ejoor would be buried at his residence in Ovwor-Olomu, Ughelli South LGA of the State.
The burial will take place on Friday, the 3rd day of May, 2019 by 9:00 a.m. after a service of songs on Thursday, 2nd May at Sacred Heart Catholic Cathedral, Warri/Sapele Road, Warri, Delta State at 4:00 p.m.
TNG reports the service of songs that would hold in Lagos, would take place on Monday, 29th April, 2019 at Havillah Events Centre, Plot 6, Chief Yesufu Abiodun Oniru Road, Dideolu Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos by 5:00 p.m.
Ejoor, who died February 10 at the age of 87, is a distinguished son of Urhobo, who attended Government College, Ughelli (GCU).
He is the first Urhobo man to join the Army, and was commissioned in 1953 as a Second-Lieutenant, with his army number as NA17, after Lieutenant-Colonel Victor Banjo (NA16).
He made history as one of the first Nigerian officer cadets to get Regular Commission into the Nigerian Army in the process of Nigerianising the officer corps in the early 1950s.
Ejoor graduated from the prestigious Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, UK, in 1956.
By the time Nigeria gained independence from Britain on October 1, 1960, Ejoor had become a Captain and “had the historic fortune of commanding the Army Guard at the dawn of independence.”
This background perhaps explains Ejoor’s commitment to the unity of Nigeria.
Following his performance as a member of the United Nations Peace Keeping Force in the Congo from December 1960 to July 1961, he was promoted to the rank of Major.
He was credited with “designing the Nigerian Army cap, badge and rank insignias.”
Nigeria’s first military coup on January 15, 1966, was a defining juncture in Ejoor’s career.
He became an accidental political administrator.
He was a Lieutenant-Colonel and Commander of the Army Battalion in Enugu at the time and helped to foil the coup.
Ejoor was appointed Military Governor of the then Midwest Region, following the failure of the coup and the collapse of the civilian government.
His position made him a member of the Supreme Military Council (SMC), the country’s highest ruling body.
The counter-coup of July 1966, which culminated in the Nigerian Civil War, 1967 – 1970, highlighted Ejoor’s vulnerability as a member of an ethnic minority.
The July coup was a retaliatory rebellion led by Northern soldiers, mainly of Hausa/Fulani origin, largely against Igbo officers from the then Eastern Region.
The Midwest Region, governed by Ejoor, had a substantial Igbo population, and was targeted by Igbo separatists in the crisis.
Ejoor reportedly survived three assassination attempts by Igbo officers.
Ejoor, a fervent federalist, fled from his base in Benin, the capital of the Midwest Region, following an invasion by the secessionist army.
Ejoor’s escape from Benin spawned various narratives.
He is said to have rode a bicycle to Ebor-Orogun and eventually appeared in Lagos, the then federal capital – some accounts say he disguised as a woman.
His escape illustrated the dangerous situation as well as his own ingenuity.
In wartime, Ejoor became a director at the Army Headquarters.
He was involved in getting France, America and India to support the Federal Government during the war.
He became a general in 1971, and attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in the UK.
His rise to the position of COAS was testimony to his professional orientation.
Reorganising the army after a divisive war required a sense of professionalism, and Ejoor is believed to have done well in restructuring the Nigerian Army.
It is striking that Ejoor’s military career came to an abrupt end when he was just 43, following the ouster of the then Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, by a coup in 1975.
Interestingly, Gowon had been his junior at Sandhurst but became his boss as a result of ethnic politics.
Ejoor subsequently became President-General of the Urhobo Progress Union, which showed his cultural side.
In 1982, President Shehu Shagari invited Ejoor to draft a defence policy for Nigeria, an indication of the respect he enjoyed as a retired top military man.
He earned two Nigerian national honours, Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) and Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).
He was retired compulsorily by General Murtala Mohammed, after the latter had become Head-of-State, with the rank of Major General on July 29, 1975.
The interment of Ejoor would hold immediately after the burial service at his residence in Ovwor-Olomu, Ughelli South LGA, and reception, after burial at his residence in Ovwor-Olomu, Ughelli South LGA.