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Tag: Enugu

  • Coal City United beat Rangers 1-0 in soccer friendly

    Coal City United beat Rangers 1-0 in soccer friendly

    An amateur club in Enugu, Coal City, on Tuesday defeated Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) club, Rangers International FC, 1-0 to show thier readiness for the forthcoming Nigeria National League (NNL).

    Williams Ogba’s goal in the 68th minute was all that Coal City United needed to humble the more experienced Rangers players in the match played in the Rangers Training pitch, Liberty Estate, Enugu.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Rangers are sitting on top of the log in the ongoing NPFL while Coal City are waiting for the commencement of the country lower league.

    Coal City coach, Anistar Izuikem, said that the match was part of the arrangement to put his players in good shape for the forthcoming NNL season.

    Izuikem said after the match, “I felt so great and positive with the win just before the commencement of the NNL season next weekend.

  • BREAKING: Enugu gov, Mbah wins in court over alleged NYSC certificate forgery

    BREAKING: Enugu gov, Mbah wins in court over alleged NYSC certificate forgery

    A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday dismissed the allegations of forgery of a discharge certificate brought against the Enugu State Governor, Barrister Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

    Justice Inyang Eden Ekwo threw away the allegations following the inability of the Corps to prove and defend the allegations as required by law.

    The judge, in a judgment in a suit by the governor against the NYSC, imposed a fine of N5 million on the Corps to be paid jointly to the plaintiff for suppressing facts and conspiring against him in the heinous allegations.

    The court held that with the unchallenged evidence of the plaintiff on how the discharge certificate was issued to him in 2003 by NYSC after serving in a law firm in Lagos and the inability of the Corps to come up with counter-evidence, it was crystal clear that the plaintiff served the mandatory one-year service.

    Among others, Justice Ekwo held that while the onus to prove forgery allegations lies heavily on the NYSC, it failed, leaving Mbah’s evidence heavier and more believable.

    Mbah had sued the NYSC and its Director, Corps Certification, Ibrahim Muhammad, for publishing a disclaimer, denying the issuance of a discharge certificate issued to him on January 6, 2003.

    The NYSC had, on February. 1, written a letter signed by Ibrahim Muhammed saying that the Corps did not issue the NYSC certificate in Mbah’s possession.

  • Enugu Govt gives courier operators deadline to register, obtain licences

    Enugu Govt gives courier operators deadline to register, obtain licences

    The Enugu Government has given logistics services providers a Dec. 1 deadline  to register with the state government.

    Mr Emeka Ajogwu, the State Commissioner for Special Duties, made this known during a stakeholders’ meeting with the association of courier operators in the state in Enugu.

    He observed that a dialogue with the operators had become necessary, following increas in reports of the constant breach of security due to the lack of coordination and chaotic nature of logistic service operations in the state.

    ”The state government discovered that the courier service providers are not organised. People simply purchase motorcycles and put them on the roads without any registration with the government.

    ”It is also worrisome that courier service providers operated by midnight without any means of identification showing they were genuine business operators.

    “We have also heard that some of the bad eggs among you are hiding under the cover of this business to peddle drugs and move around small arms and light weapons within the metropolis.

    “This is unacceptable and a concern to the government”, he said

    Ajogwu said the administration of Gov. Peter Mbah was taking the issue of security very seriously.

    “We called this meeting so that we will all agree on the measures to put in place going forward, so that we will begin to separate the wheat from the chaff, so that genuine business owners will not be affected by the unscrupulous activities of those who are not genuine.

    “Your operations must be organised and regulated so that the logistics industry can play its rightful role in our economy and, henceforth, all operators of logistics companies in Enugu State state must be licensed by the Ministry of Transport.

    “All unbranded and unnumbered motorcycles should not ply our roads. Every company must brand their motorcycles and every bike will have a number,” he said.

    The commissioner also said every rider myst be dressed in their company uniform and must carry a valid identity card issued by the company.

    ”Operators are to keep records of delivery pick-ups, their locations and phone numbers, while a waybill for all items in the delivery box must be readily available on demand by the authorities.

    Ajogwu said genuine dispatch riders should not be on the road by 8 p.m. except he or she has been verified, certified, and authenticated by the relevant authorities.

    Also speaking, the Commissioner of Police, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu who was represented by the Area Commander, Enugu Police Area Command, ACP S.D West said the meeting was informed by the need to check non-state actors who were exploiting the porous space created by the logistics industry in the state.

    “We need to buy into the vision of the state government. Get your bikes properly identifiable so that we can know those who are not part of you and will help us to fish them out.

    “I want you all to look at it objectively. You will see that the whole vision is for the state to be secured for everyone,” he said

    Reacting, the interim chairperson of the Courier Operators Association, Adaora Okoye said the association will comply with the state government’s demands.

    She also noted that licensing of operators would bring sanity to the logistics industry in the state.

  • FG to reconstruct collapsed Enugu/Port Harcourt expressway bridge – Umahi

    FG to reconstruct collapsed Enugu/Port Harcourt expressway bridge – Umahi

    The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, said the Federal Government would begin immediate reconstruction of the collapsed Enugu/Port Harcourt expressway.

    Umahi said this when he and Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State visited the scene of the collapsed bridge for an on-the-spot assessment as part of his working visit to the state.

    He said that the reconstruction of the bridge would end the plight of commuters plying the road, adding that the collapse of the bridge was unfortunate, and the government would in the meantime, provide alternative road for the people.

    According to him, “We are going to look at the second bridge and see how far the remedial work will be done on it. We are going to scale up the reconstruction of the two bridges alongside with the road construction.

    “I want to assure you that I have directed the contractor to do everything possible to provide an alternative road.

    “We are going to work on the second bridge to ascertain the integrity of the bridge and see if we can use it while we demolish the collapsed one and start the reconstruction.

    “I believe the contractor is hearing us and the process will start immediately. I want to have a memo which I will send to Mr President.”

    The minister added that the report and pictures of the collapsed bridge sent to him were the same with what he was seeing.

    He explained that the collapse occurred because the pipes were exposed, adding that the bridge was constructed in 1968.

    He assured the Enugu Government of his support, and thanked him for his initiative in dualising the Enugu to Abakaliki town road.

    “We have gotten your letter on that and I will be sending my men to come and evaluate it. I can assure you that within the next 7 days you must hear from us; we are doing the drains, and will give you our standard and bills of quantities.

    “It is difficult for me to assure any governor that wants a refund, I cannot say, because we came into office and inherited an economy that has more than 90 per cent of its income being used to service debts.

    Mbah thanked Umahi and the FG for the prompt response to the bridge collapse, saying that it underscored the president’s commitment when he took the oath of office.

    “He is committed to lead with compassion and run an inclusive government, and that is what we are seeing here today.”

    He explained that when the incident happened, he reached out to the FG immediately and within 48 hours the minister was in the state for inspection to find solution on how they can get at least one section of the road done to accommodate the people.

    “This is a major gateway road so we cried out to the FG for expeditious action,” Mbah said.

     

  • A victory for ban on Monday sit-at-home – Mbah reacts to Tribunal verdict

    A victory for ban on Monday sit-at-home – Mbah reacts to Tribunal verdict

    Gov. Peter Mbah has hailed the decision of the Enugu State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal to dismiss the petitions of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Labour Party (LP) candidates, challenging his election.

    “It is a victory for the ban on Monday sit-at-home” Mbah said in a reaction to the tribunal’s verdict on Thursday.

    He said that the task of rebuilding Enugu was a collective one and extended his hand of fellowship to the opposition.

    The governor said that he was committed to working with all, irrespective of political persuasions.

    Earlier, the tribunal, chaired by Justice Kudirat Akano, had dismissed the petitions of the PRP and LP governorship candidates, Mr Chris Agu and Chief Chijioke Edeoga, respectively, challenging Mbah’s victory in the March 18 poll.

    Mbah, who addressed a crowd of his supporters at the Government House, said: “This is another memorable day in the anals of our dear state, as the tribunal affirmed the mandate, which you freely gave to us on March 18.

    “This landmark judgment of the tribunal is a victory for democracy and the people of Enugu State,”

    “This is victory for the people of Enugu State. It is also a victory for democracy.

    “It is a victory for massive development for Enugu people.

    “It is a victory for exponential growth for Enugu people.

    “It is a victory for Enugu’s greatness.

    “It is also a victory for our determination to restore water in all your homes in the next 68 days.”

    While thanking God for making the victory possible, Mbah also commended the tribunal for painstakingly dissecting the petitions and “coming out with fair and just decision that resonates with Enugu people”.

    According to him, the verdict has further strengthened our confidence in the judiciary as the temple of justice and last hope of the common man.

    Extending hands of fellowship to the opposition, the governor said: “There is time for everything under the sun.

    “There is time to strive and time to unite.

    “We all put ourselves forward to serve Enugu people.

    “The people have spoken and the tribunal has also affirmed.

    “If service was the motivation, then it is time to rise above partisanship and come together because there is so much work to be done.

    “Our arms are wide open and I beckon to my brothers, who ran this race with us, to join us in the onerous task of building a new Enugu State of our dream.

    “In the same vein, I enjoin all our supporters to be magnanimous in victory.

    “Politics is over. Governance began on 29th May, when we were inaugurated. It is time to unite”.

    Mbah, who reaffirmed his resolve to deliver on his campaign promises, further described the tribunal’s decision as “an elixir to do more” and urged the people to hold him to account on the promises.

    “Once more, I immensely thank the good people of Enugu State, who not only believed in us, but also vested their mandate in us.

    “Above all, they have stood by us every step of the way.

    “I want to assure them that I will work for them with every fibre of my being.

    “I stand by every campaign promise I made as espoused in our Statement of Purpose.

    “I also stand by the Citizens Charter that I executed on my first day in office.

    “The Enugu people should hold me to account. I will not let them down,” Mbah further said.

  • Tribunal upholds Mbah’s victory as duly elected governor of Enugu State

    Tribunal upholds Mbah’s victory as duly elected governor of Enugu State

    The Enugu Governorship Election Petitions Triunal, on Thursday, upheld  Gov. Peter Mbah’s victory as  the duly elected governor of Enugu State in March 18 governorship election.

    The tribunal, chaired by Justice Kudirat Akano, struck out the Labour Party (LP) ’s allegations of over-voting and bypassing Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) as well as the Peoples Redemption Party’s petition against Mbah.

    It ruled that Mbah, who contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was duly elected by the majority of lawful and valid votes cast at the election.

    After thoroughly examining the evidence presented, the tribunal found no substantial grounds to support the LP and PRP’s claims, ultimately affirming the legitimacy of Mbah’s victory.

    Mbah polled a total of 160,895 votes to defeat the closest contender, Chijioke Edeoga of the Labour Party, who polled a total of 157,552 votes.

    Edeoga and PRP Governorship candidates in Enugu, Chijoke Edeoga and Chris Agu had approached the  tribunal to disqualify Mbah over an alleged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate forgery and electoral malpractice that characterized the election.

    The LP candidate closed his case after he tendered documentary evidence and called 30 witnesses that testified before the Enugu State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Enugu.

    Among the exhibits he tendered before the court were polling unit results (form EC8A) in all the areas in contention; ward collation results (form EC8B) in the affected areas and summary of the results as well as the declaration of the results.

    The tribunal however, dismissed the petitions by Edeoga and Agu on the alleged NYSC certificate forgery as there was no evidence before it to support their claims.

  • Asset Declaration: CCB threatens to prosecute political appointees in Enugu

    Asset Declaration: CCB threatens to prosecute political appointees in Enugu

    The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has threatened to prosecute political appointees in Enugu State that failed to return their Asset Declaration forms to the bureau before Sept. 30.

    Mrs Lucy Ijetta, the Director, Code of Conduct Bureau in Enugu State, made the threat in an interview with NAN on Thursday in Enugu.

    She said that out of the 58 Assets Declaration Forms issued to the political appointees, only 23 public officers had returned their completed CCB-1 form to her office.

    The director, however, urged the newly appointed Commissioners, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants, Special Assistants and all appointed Heads of Corporate Institutions, who were yet to submit their beginning of Tenure Assets Declaration Forms to its office to do so without further delay.

    “Failure to adhere to this will tantamount to the breach of the Code and I shall be constrained to submit their names to the Code of Conduct Tribunal for prosecution.

    “Please note that you have from now till the end of this month of September to comply to this directive.

    “For those yet to collect Assets Declaration Form, you can go to the SSG’s office to collect it from Prof Obiamaka Egbo, Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Financial Management or Code of Conduct Bureau Office, Room 201, Federal Secretariat, Independence Layout, Enugu,” she said.

    According to her,  in pursuant to section 11(i), (a) and (b) of the third schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, every public officer shall immediately after taking office, submit to the Code of Conduct Bureau, a written declaration of all his property.

    Other assets, she listed, were assets and liabilities and that of his spouse and unmarried children under the age of 18 years.

  • Enugu State Govt. begins sealing of illegal mining sites

    Enugu State Govt. begins sealing of illegal mining sites

    Enugu State Government on Monday, said it had begun sealing of illegal mining sites and those without environmental impact certifications and mitigation plans in the state.
    Prof. Sam Ugwu, the Chairman, Enugu State Committee on Mining Activities, stated this when the committee visited a site, owned by Milhouse Ltd. in Awhum, Udi Local Government Area.
    Gov. Peter Mbah had in June, banned illegal mining in the state and also set up the Enugu State Committee on Mining Activities on Sept. 15 to checkmate the menace.
    Addressing newsmen after a firsthand inspection of mining activities at the site, Ugwu who is the state  Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, said there were more various infringements
    ranging from environmental degradation to blasting without approval and due regulations.
    According to him, the miners are suspected to be involved in non-remittance of staff tax and pension contributions to the state government in spite of deducting them from the staff.
    He said that the government would not fold its hands and watch the environment destroyed and lives endangered.
     “Our mission is basically to seal, on behalf of the state government, mining activities that do not have any recourse to the state government.
    “We are also here to look at what is going on and you have all seen a lot of environmental degradation going on.
    “We equally want to see the veracity of the licence, which they claim they have and to find out how they have been remitting their environmental fees to Enugu State Government.
    “Importantly, want to find out the mitigating plans they have in place. We are very much interested in what happens to these host communities and their environs many years after these miners have closed shop.
    He added that, “If you take a look at the Niger Delta, the people are still suffering greatly from environmental degradation caused by oil exploration activities of many decades ago.
    “Enugu powered the industries of Europe and beyond at some point through this same coal. Today, our environment is still bearing the scars and brunt of those mining activities. So, we will not fold our hands and watch that happen all over again.”
    He faulted the claim by the operators of the site  that they started mining activities  in 2022, saying “from all indications, this site has been in operation for more than five years”.
    He stressed that the  government was very much aware of other mining sites in different parts of the state operating illegally and without licence or running foul of environmental protection laws and regulations, assuring that government would go after them.
    The commissioner also served a notice on African Pits and Quarries Ltd to stop operations immediately and report to the Government House on Sept. 21.
    “Sequel to the directive of the Governor of Enugu State banning illegal mining activities in the state, you are hereby warned to desist and stop all mining activities in this environment.
    “Your failure to comply strictly as directed may lead to your arrest and prosecution in the state Environmental Protection Court,” Ugwu said.
    He also ordered them as a matter of urgency, to furnish the office with comprehensive list including approval licence from the Nigeria Mining Cadastral Office and evidence of notification letter to Enugu State Ministry of Environment before commencement of operations, among others.
    Meanwhile, the General Manager in charge of Operations at the site, Akintola Oluwafemi, while assuring that the company would comply with government directives, said the firm obtained all necessary licences from the Federal Government.
  • Ohanaeze lauds UK for establishing visa application submission centre in Enugu

    Ohanaeze lauds UK for establishing visa application submission centre in Enugu

    Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, the socio-cultural umbrella of the people of the Southeast geopolitical zone on Monday lauded the British government for establishing a UK visa application form submission centre in Enugu.

    It also expressed gratitude to the British High Commissioner in Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery for granting the request of its President-General, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, for the establishment of the centre in the Southeast.

    Its spokesman, Dr Alex Ogbonnia stated on Monday in Enugu that Iwuanyanwu requested the establishment of a visa office in Enugu on June 27 when Montgomery paid him a courtesy visit.

    He recalled that during the visit, the Igbo Leader told Montgomery that Nigerians of Southeast extraction accounted for more than 70 per cent of Nigerians traveling to the United Kingdom on daily basis.

    Ogbonnia stated also that Iwuanyanwu argued that it was unfair to subject that sizeable number of visa applicants to travels to Lagos and Abuja to submit their applications.

    Iwuanyanwu, he added, seized the opportunity of the visit to highlight the longstanding relationship between the Southeast of Nigeria and the United Kingdom in the areas of religion, education and culture.

    He stated that Iwuanyanwu cited the role of the Church Missionary Society, a Scottish religious body that arrived Onitsha, Anambra for evangelism in 1857.

    “Iwuanyanwu reminded the envoy that there used to be a British Council office in Enugu and expressed surprise that the office was shut without sufficient reason.

    “He assured Montgomery that a visa office in Enugu would promote bilateral collaborations that would enhance the growth and sustainable development of the southeast region’s economy,’’ Ogbonnia added.

    He stressed that Iwuanyanwu was excited when he learnt that the British High Commission had announced the opening of a temporary visa application submission centre in Enugu State beginning from Sept. 13.

    “The UK diplomatic office disclosed in a statement on Monday that the facility will operate at Independence Layout, Enugu and offer twice-a-week services in the interim,’’ he stated.

    Ogbonnia added that Iwuanyanwu urged the people of the Southeast to avail themselves of the opportunity the visa application submission centre offers.

  • Newly-appointed Enugu Commissioners gets portfolios

    Newly-appointed Enugu Commissioners gets portfolios

    The newly-appointed commissioners in Enugu State were on Friday given different portfolios during the first Executive Council meeting.

    Following their confirmation by State House of Assembly, the 20 commissioners were sworn-in on Thursday by the state governor, Mr Peter Mbah to constitute the State Executive Council.

    The governor had charged them to get down to work immediately as the administration was in a hurry to deliver on its campaign promises.

    Prof. Ndubueze Mbah, gets Commissioner for Education, Mrs Ngozi Enih; Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Prince Lawrence Ezeh; Lands and Urban Development, while Mr Patrick Ubro; Agriculture and Agro-Industrialization and Mr Chika Ugwoke, Labour and Employment.

    Dr Kingsley Udeh was appointed the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof Emmanuel Obi, retained the Health Ministry, Chief Okey Ogbodo, Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, and Dame Ugochi Madueke is in charge of the  Culture and Tourism Ministry.

    Others were Mr. Lloyd Ekweremadu, Youth and Sports and Mr Gerald Otiji, Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Nathaniel Uramah, Finance and Economic Development, and Dr. Malachy Agbo, Human Development and Poverty Eradication.

    A former broadcaster with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Mr. Aka Eze Aka is the new Information Commissioner, Mrs. Adaora Chukwu, Trade Investment and Industry, Dr Martin Chukwunwike, Housing and Mr Obi Ozor, Transport.

    Prof. Sam Ugwu, Environment and Climate Change, Mr Emeka Ajogwu gets Special Duties and Dr Felix Nnamani heads the Water Resources.