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Tag: Enugu State

  • Enugu Governor is pacesetter in education – Dakuku Peterside

    Enugu Governor is pacesetter in education – Dakuku Peterside

    Turnaround expert and former member of the House of Representatives, Dr Dakuku Peterside says the Governor of Enugu, Dr Peter Mbah deserves being honoured for his commitment and contributions to education  sector development.

    Peterside stated this against the backdrop of conferment of honorary doctorate degree (PhD-Honoris Causa) on the Enugu State  governor by Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science, and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

    The former director general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) stressed that the honorary doctorate degree is a testament to the remarkable contributions and achievements Governor Peter Mbah in the education sector.

    He disclosed that the governor has invested heavily in about 260 smart schools, in addition to massive interventions in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), the transformation of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUST) and Institute of Management Technology (IMT), among others.

    According to him, Governor Mbah’s dedication, leadership, and impact have inspired several individuals.

    “Dr Peter Mbah’s commitment to excellence and tireless efforts have elevated Enugu State to the status of a model state. This honorary degree is a celebration of his legacy and a reflection of the profound respect and admiration he has earned from the academic community and beyond.

    “He introduced a paradigm shift by emphasizing experiential learning and constructing 260 Smart Green Schools across the state. These schools integrate modern technology and provide a seamless transition from primary to secondary education, aiming to enhance vocational and tertiary education.

    “Smart schools where  pupils and students are utilizing digital tools and resources, which enhances learning experiences and accommodates various learning styles.

    “Additionally, Enugu allocates a significant portion of its budget to education, further solidifying its commitment to educational excellence.

    “In a few short periods of less than two years, Governor Peter Mbah has effected a revolution in education, agriculture, road construction, local economy, and tourism in the state,” he stated.

  • Enugu tanker explosion: Death toll rises to 23 as 2 more victims die – FRSC

    Enugu tanker explosion: Death toll rises to 23 as 2 more victims die – FRSC

    Death toll from the tanker explosion on Ugwu-Onyeama axis of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway has risen from 21 to 23 as confirmed by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

    The Sector Commander of the FRSC, Enugu State Command, Mr Franklin Agbakoba, told the NAN in Enugu on Tuesday that an additional two female victims died recently while in hospital admission.

    Recall that the incident, which happened on Jan. 25, at about 11:30 a.m. when a fuel-laden tanker had a brake failure, fell and exploded, left 11 road users dead before emergency responders came to the scene.

    The deceased were evacuated by the FRSC officers after officials of the Enugu State Fire Service extinguished the inferno while the injured were taken to hospitals within Enugu for treatment.

    The death toll rose to 18 person after a day of the accident and 21 after four days and now 23 persons.

    Agbakoba said that the additional two victims – one being admitted at the UNTH Ituku-Ozalla and another being admitted at the National Orthopedic Hospital, Enugu – could not make it after battling to live for about a week.

    According to him, out of the five admitted in UNTH six days ago, one died at the end of the month and one female still admitted now.

    “The remaining three patients in UNTH who are of the same family, secured discharge even against medical advice, relocated from the teaching hospital to seek traditional medical treatment for their injuries at home,” he said.

    For the five victims of the accident admitted in ESUTH Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu, six days ago, Agbakoba said that three of the female victims are still on admission at the hospital.

    “Two of the admitted patients in ESUTH Teaching Hospital have been referred to the National Orthopedic Hospital, Enugu due to fire burn wounds,” he said.

    He said that for the three victims admitted at the National Orthopedic Hospital, Enugu six days ago, one died recently and the remaining two surviving had been joined by one victim on referral from ESUTH Teaching Hospital.

    “However, one of the two patients involved in the accident referred to the National Orthopedic Hospital, Enugu from ESUTH Teaching Hospital, left and did not report to where he was recently refered to,” he said.

    Agbakoba, who is also a Corps Commander, had earlier disclosed that the incident involved 44 people as well as 16 vehicles, both commercial and private and a commercial tricycle.

    He said that 23 persons, which included eight males and 15 females, were injured in the accident and rushed to three major government hospitals in Enugu namely: UNTH Ituku-Ozalla; ESUTH Teaching Hospital and National Orthopedic Hospital.

  • Angry tenant smashes landlord’s head with pestle in Enugu

    Angry tenant smashes landlord’s head with pestle in Enugu

    A Nigerian woman and her two children have been arrested by the operatives of Enugu police command for allegedly breaking her landlord’s head with a pestle in Umugbabe Ovoko community in Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area of the state.
    Enugu media personality, Chijinkem Ugwuanyi, who disclosed this in a Facebook post on Friday, January 31, 2025, said the woman attacked the orphaned young man after he asked her to pack out.
    “His Tenant scattered his head with pestle because he asked her to pack out of the house at Umugbabe ovoko Igbo-Eze South LGA Enugu State. The woman and her two kids are currently enjoying the weather at Ibagwa aka police station. This boy is an orphan and he only allowed the woman to leave with him because he was the only one in the big house,” he wrote
  • Police react over viral WhatsApp message on kidnapping in Enugu

    Police react over viral WhatsApp message on kidnapping in Enugu

    Police Command in Enugu State, on Friday, debunked fake and fear-inducing viral WhatsApp post of kidnapping along Enugu-Opi-Nsukka Road recently.

    The Command’s Spokesman, SP Daniel Ndukwe, said in a statement in Enugu that the viral WhatsApp post of kidnapping along Enugu-Opi-Nsukka Road on Jan. 28 remained untrue and with no verifiable evidence after preliminary investigation.

    “The Command informs the public that the viral WhatsApp post alleging that “four persons were kidnapped and taken into the bush on Tuesday evening at Api-Opi, along Enugu-Opi-Nsukka Road  is false and clearly intended to incite fear and panic.

    “There was no such incident recorded on the said day and time along the road.

    “Furthermore, the claim that the alleged kidnappers operated for over 30 minutes unchallenged on a well-patrolled road is not only baseless but also a product of misinformation.

    “For the avoidance of doubts, the road is heavily monitored by security forces, making such an occurrence as peddled, highly improbable,” he said.

    The spokesman said that “the Commissioner of Police, Mr Kanayo Uzuegbu, is challenging the individual(s) behind the post to provide verifiable proof of their claims or be prepared to face the full consequences of spreading false information.

    “Consequently, the commissioner has directed the Command’s intelligence and tactical units to trace and apprehend those responsible for originating and circulating the misleading report, ensuring they are prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others,” he added.

  • ‘How my husband used knife to cut off my hands’ — Nigerian woman opens up

    ‘How my husband used knife to cut off my hands’ — Nigerian woman opens up

    An Enugu-based woman, Chinonso Echegi, whose left hand was allegedly cut off by her husband, has narrated about the domestic violence she endured at his hands.

    Chinonso, during a recent interview with BBC Pidgin alleged that her husband started beating her, when she is a nursing mother.

    The lady further disclosed that her husband’s violent behaviour forced her to flee to her father house with her baby for two years, during which time her husband burned all her belongings and clothes.

    Chinonso said he, however, later apologized and promised to change, prompting her to return to him in September 2024.

    “There was a time my husband beat me while I was still a nursing mother. I carried my baby and ran to my father’s house, where I stayed for two years,” she said.

    “My husband burned all my belongings, including the clothes I used to sleep in. He came to beg and my people told him what he needed to do, and he did everything. Then they told me to go back to him. So, in September 2024, I returned to his house.”

    She alleged that the beatings continued, after she came back to his house, with her husband selling their crops and breaking her phone.

    Chinonso’s husband threatened to kill and cut off her hand if she goes out to buy another phone. However, she bought another new phone but kept it hidden in her village.

    She said the situation escalated and she ran to her in-laws’ house, only to be cornered by her husband when she returned home to prepare for church.

    According to Chinonso, her husband initially aimed for her head but missed when she defended herself with her hands, resulting to the loss of her hands.

    She said she escaped and sought help from a relative’s house. She also said her husband, who had fled into a bush, was later caught and handed over to the police.

    “So I ran to my in-laws house. When I came back home to prepare for church, he held me and used the knife to cut my hand. He tried to cut off my head, but I used my hand to defend myself and he cut it off,” she said.

  • Death toll rises in Enugu tanker explosion

    Death toll rises in Enugu tanker explosion

    The death toll from the tanker explosion on Ugwu-Onyeama axis of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway has risen from 18 to 21 as recently confirmed by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

    The Sector Commander of the FRSC, Enugu State Command, Mr Franklin Agbakoba, told newsmen in Enugu on Tuesday that additional two males and one female died in the hospital.

    Recall that the incident, which happened on Saturday, Januaru 25, at about 11:30 a.m. when a fuel-laden tanker had a brake failure, fell and exploded, left 11 road users dead before emergency responders came to the scene.

    The deceased were evacuated by the FRSC officers after officials of the Enugu State Fire Service extinguished the inferno while the injured were taken to hospitals in Enugu for treatment.

    The sector commander said the additional three people could not make it due to the severe body injuries and burns they sustained.

    Agbakoba disclosed that recent harmonised statistics revealed that the incident involved 44 people as well as 16 vehicles, both commercial and private and a commercial tricycle.

    He said that 23 persons, which included eight males and 15 females, were injured.

    The sector commander further said that the injured persons were taken to ESUTH Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu, National Orthopedic Hospital, Enugu and the UNTH, Ituku-Ozalla in the outskirts of Enugu metropolis.

    He said that nine admitted victims, including three males and six females, had been discharged, while 11, which included three males and eight females, are still on admission.

    Agbakoba, who is also a Corps Commander, said: “For now, traffic have been diverted to the inward Enugu-bound lane of the ever busy Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.

    “We have continued evacuation of burnt vehicles in the scene of the accident in anticipation of re-opening the section of the road soon,” he said.

  • Enugu tanker explosion: I lost my constituents – Lawmaker laments

    Enugu tanker explosion: I lost my constituents – Lawmaker laments

    Mr Chima Obieze, the member representing Ezeagu constituency in the Enugu House of Assembly, has expressed sadness over the tragic tanker explosion at the Ugwu-Onyeama axis of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway that claimed 18 lives.

    The lawmaker, who made the disclosure in Enugu on Sunday, said that the accident claimed the lives of innocent people, including those from his constituency.

    Obieze expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims adding that the incident was a reminder of the need to enhance safety measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.

    “Upon receiving the news, I drove to the scene of the incident, where I met with the Commissioner for Transportation, Enugu State, Dr. Obi Ozor and the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command.

    “I also saw the Enugu State fire-Fighting trucks and fire-fighters who had just succeeded in putting out the inferno.

    “I further met with a devastated lady who was identified to be from Awha-Imezi in Ezeagu Constituency who happened to have lost about three of her family members in the ugly incident.

    “I want to assure the general public that we have prepared a motion to urge the relevant authorities to implement additional safety measures, including stricter regulations on the movement of fuel tankers and heavy-duty vehicles.

    “We will work tirelessly to ensure that justice is served and that measures are put in place to prevent such incidents from occurring again” he said.

    The lawmaker prayed that the good Lord may grant their souls eternal rest in his kingdom.

    A fuel laden tanker on Saturday, lost control and rammed into vehicles on the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway killing 18 people while 11 vehicles were burnt.

  • Gov Mbah reacts after visiting fatal tanker explosion scene

    Gov Mbah reacts after visiting fatal tanker explosion scene

    Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has expressed sadness over the petrol tanker explosion on the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, which claimed 11 lives on Saturday.

    Mbah, who was at the Ugwu-Onyeama scene of the accident for on-the-spot assessment, said the government had already swung into action to ensure that the victims received full medical attention.

    The governor also revealed that the government was taking steps to forestall future occurrences, including enforcement of road rules and fixing the part of the Federal road that was in disrepair.

    Mbah commiserated with the families of the victims, describing the accident as “unfortunate”.

    He directed the Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Enugu, Franklin Agbakoba, and the state’s Commissioner for Transport, Obi Ozor, to ensure that tankers conveying inflammable substances have anti-spill locks that would prevent spill in case of an accident.

    “This is an accident involving a tanker that preliminary investigation shows may have had a brake failure, fell down, had its product, premium motor spirit, spilled from the tank and ignited.

    “So, this is for us a tragedy where we have some casualties.

    “But as I said, the investigation is still at preliminary stages. The police and other law enforcement agencies are on it.

    “We want to get to the root of this for us to understand the true cause of the accident,” he said.

    The governor noted that in the meantime, he had moved those that were in need of treatment to hospitals for full medical attention.

    According to him, my Health Commissioner and my Special Adviser on Health, the Chief Medical Director of Enugu State University of Science and Technology Teaching Hospital, the police and FRSC are all involved in taking care of the hospitalised.

    “They have my instructions to ensure that maximum medical attention is given to the survivors,” the governor said.

    He said that government would deploy some traffic rules to ensure forestall a recurrence of this.

    “We are obviously not going to wait for the Federal Government to fix the other section of the road.

    “We, as government, are going to take steps to ensure that whatever needs to be done on that section of the Federal road is done immediately so we would never want a reoccurrence of this.”

    Briefing the governor on the incident, the FRSC sector commander, that  that the tanker spill was as a result of a brake failure by the fuel tanker.

    He added that 11 people lost their lives at the scene, while lots of unidentified injured road users were rushed to hospitals for treatment.

    The sector commander thanked the governor for showing leadership by rushing to the scene and equally undertaking to foot the medical bills.

  • Enugu govt expands tax net to capture all tax payers

    Enugu govt expands tax net to capture all tax payers

    Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State says his administration is working to expand its tax net to include residents who have not been paying taxes.

    Mbah, represented by his Deputy, Mr Ifeanyi Ossai, stated this at the 51st Annual General Meeting of the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mine and Agriculture (ECCIMA) on Thursday in Enugu.

    While acknowledging marginal increase of tax by the state government, the governor said, “Part of what we are trying to do is to expand the tax net so that those who have not been paying can start paying something.

    “Why we are trying to expand the tax net is to enable everyone to contribute, no matter how little, to create a system that is structured and put everybody in same platform so that investors and investments can come into the state.

    “I agree there has been a marginal increase of tax but part of the people we have are those that have benefited from the system when we have lapses.”

    Mbah explained that what his administration did was simply to block the loopholes and leakages from those people who had benefitted from the process that had some lacuna.

    He added that from what they did, payment of taxes were now seamless and technology driven whereby multiple taxation were eliminated.

    The governor said that it had removed those who had no business with revenue collection from taking advantage of the system.

    According to him, part of the indices that form decision of the multilateral institutions and businesses to invest in a state is about their tax system.

    “So a state where most of the people are not making contributions as tax, showed that their economy is not structured.

    “With what we did, partners and investment are now coming in to invest in places like Nike Lake Hotel, palm oil, the president coming to inaugurate some of our projects and we have interested parties in almost all the sectors.

    “I sympathize with those who complain about our tax system and as a government, we are willing to listen to those complaints,” he said.

    He urged the ECCIMA President, Mr Odeiga Jideonwo, to dialogue with the state government not just about taxation but about all things affecting businesses in the state.

    “We need a lot of advice from them to sharpen and having input in our policies and administration efforts to make Enugu a better place for investment and expand their own opportunities to grow and thrive”.

    He explained that as business people faced challenges due to subsidy removal that resulted in hike in pump price, government also faced same but prioritised theirs by investing in critical infrastructure to make Enugu business friendly.

    Earlier, the ECCIMA President, Jideonwo, praised the consolidated efforts of Enugu State Government to improve the state business environment.

    He commended the tax policy of the state government that had brought more people into the tax net of the government, appealing that effort should be made to launch a one stop shop, unified tax payment system for the state.

    This, he said, would prevent multiple payment of same tax to the state and Local government at the same time.

    He urged Mbah to facilitate the opening of the new International Terminal building at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, stressing that the 36th Enugu International Trade Fair would hold on April 4.

    The ECCIMA Board of Trustee member, Mr Rob Anwatu, decried increase in taxes by the state government, and appealed to it to spread its tax net to accommodate those who had not been paying taxes than overburden those paying theirs.

    “Last year, daily E-ticket per truck was N1,700 but this year, it has increased to N4,000. I want government to involve us in certain decisions,” he appealed.

  • Police clarify reported hacking of Enugu govt account

    Police clarify reported hacking of Enugu govt account

    The Nigeria Police Force says the Enugu State Government account is not hacked as being circulated in the social media.

    The Force Public Relations Officer,  ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi disclosed this in a  statement on Friday in Abuja.

    “The Nigeria police force dismiss  the false narrative of an alleged hack of the Enugu state government’s official account, resulting in the theft of N1.09 billion.

    “This assertion is completely unfounded as the case had been investigated by the NPF-National Cyber Crime Centre (NCCC).

    “It was a case of procurement fraud, not a cyber-breach, the suspect was  arrested and the funds, recovered,” he said.

    Adejobi said the Enugu state government and other Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government and corporate firms were in partnership with the NPF-NCCC in the investigation.

    The police spokesperson said the partnership had established comprehensive and fortified security protocols to safeguard the state’s  financial systems.

    He urged the public to refrain from engaging in misinformation and always verify the credibility of news sources.