Southeast Govs, Leaders Want Buhari To Declare State-Of-Emergency On Federal Roads In The Region

October 17, 2019

President Buhari receives in audience South East Governors and Selected Leaders from the Zone in State House on 17th Oct 2019 | State house

A delegation of governors and leaders of the Southeast have pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state-of-emergecy on federal roads across the nooks and corners of the region.

Speaking today, October 17, on behalf of the governors and leaders who visited the president at the presidential Villa, Abuja, Governor David Umahi described the condition of inter-state Federal roads in the region as deplorable.

“Please, kindly declare a State-of-Emergency on those roads and issue appropriate directives.”

The leaders, who decried the challenging security situation in the region, also appealed to President Buhari to approve special funding for the rehabilitation of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu.

The Southeast leaders however, expressed gratitude to the President over some infrastructural development in the region and that people in the region are delighted with the speed and quality of work at the second Niger Bridge.

They also commended the President for other ongoing Federal projects in the region, including Enyimba Industrial City, Aba.

President Buhari responded by instantly approving the release of the sum of N10 billion Special Intervention Fund for immediate repairs and upgrade of the Akanu Ibiam International airport, Enugu.

The President said that he is aware of the central nature of the airport, which was closed for repairs since August 24, to the socio-economic development of the Southeast.

He acknowledged said the infrastructure deficits all over the country, occasioned by lack of judicious use of available resources in the past and declared that his administration is working on remedying the situation.

“We’re trying our best to make sure that infrastructure rehabilitation is carried out very quickly.

“I personally firmly believe that if we get infrastructure correct, the roads , rail, power, most Nigerians will mind their businesses, they would not even care who is in government. But when you deny them infrastructure, it will be difficult for them to compete and move across the country and regions.”

He appealed to the governors to explain this position to their people.

“Please, have the courage to continue explain to your constituencies whenever they feel that there is laxity in government effort to rehabilitate infrastructure.

“We are doing our best within the resources available to the government. The Federal Government is working to fix infrastructure deficit in the country. The challenges are there. It is our responsibility to fix things, we are doing it and we will continue to do our best in this regard.”

Calabar King Cries To Buhari To Restore Historical Significance Of The City

Editorial staff

October 17, 2019

The Obong of Calabar, Edidem Expo Okon Abasi, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to restore the historical significance of the city

This was even the President, who received in audience today, October 17, the royal father at the presidential Villa, Abuja , acknowledged that the City had lost its preeminent status as the first capital city of Southern Nigeria to Lagos.

The Obong of Calabar expressed worry over what he called “disregard and neglect of the Calabar Kingdom in spite of its national historical significance.”

He appealed for the reversal of the “demotion” of the Kingdom with the government executing projects such as roads, power, maritime access, security and border issues.

He also wanted the government to address the plights of displaced persons from the Bakassi Islands.

The royal father congratulated President Buhari on what he described his “overwhelming victory” in the February election and at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

Obong emphasized the need for the Buhari’s government to restore Calabar to what it lost to Lagos and Abuja.

Responding, President promised to look into the request for the restoration of Calabar to its glorious historic point, assuring that his government will not lessen ongoing efforts to open the City to the rest of Nigeria.

He said that his government will increase the efforts to ensure happiness and betterment of the people of the City in particular and Cross River State in general.

“We will open up that part of Nigeria to the rest of the country,” President Buhari assured, adding that a number of projects are being executed by the Federal Government in the State.

According to him, “three road projects –Calabar-Ugep-Ikom-Ogoja; Calabar-Itu-Ikot Ekpene and Sapele-Ewu – are at various stages of completion.”

The President noted that in order to speed up work on the Calabar-Ugep-Ikom-Ogoja road, plans are underway to incorporate it in the Sukuk Bond to increase the level of funding of the construction work.

He assured that dredging of the Calabar harbour will be undertaken as soon as some legal issues are settled by the Ministry of Transportation and the Nigerian Ports Authority with the contractor.

President Buhari pledged full support to the Calabar Deep Sea Port project of the State, adding that a number of electricity projects would soon follow after a visit to the State by the Ministers of Power in the upcoming two weeks.

The President enumerated other projects in the State being undertaken by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs such as the Industrial Park which is one of the three set up through the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board.

Buhari noted the construction of roads and water projects by the Niger Delta Development Commission; the development of a Skills Acquisition Centre for youths; and the construction of houses among others.

Access Bank’s Women Empowerment Programme, W Initiative, Kicks Off

Editorial staff

October 17, 2019

The W Initiative, a flagship women empowerment programme from Access Bank Plc, has began its 2019 W Health Month.

The programme, which has been scheduled to run through the month of October, according to a statement from the bank, is aimed at improving community awareness on health issues that affect women and their families by bridging knowledge gap, providing access to health checks and encouraging healthy lifestyle habits.

The statement said that the programme will focus on key areas such as infertility, endometriosis, vesicovaginal fistula (VVF), cancer, maternal and neo-natal mortality.

The statement quoted the Coordinator of ‘W’ initiative, Access Bank Plc, Ayona Trimnell, as saying: “globally, the month of October is dedicated to raising awareness for Breast Cancer, a major health issue affecting mainly women.

“However, as an Institution with focus on women, we are expanding the scope to shine the spotlight on 5 salient health issues affecting women and their families.

“The 2017 African Research and Population Centers, estimated 40,000 maternal deaths in Nigeria, making the country the second largest contributor to maternal mortality worldwide.

“There is need for us to change the story one woman at a time and we at Access Bank have been moving the needle in our own way through our flagship product, the Maternal Health Service Support (MHSS).

The statement said that activities planned during the period include free health screening, health talk by specialists, fitness classes, fund raising to support these causes and other activities.

It said that the Health Month will wrap up with an advocacy walk tagged: “Walk for Women’s Health’ on Saturday 26 October 2019.”

Established in 2014, the W Initiative is home to everything Access Bank has to offer women. This includes both financial and lifestyle needs. Under the Initiative, participating women and their families have access to a wide range of privileges including access to credit facilities to meet business and healthcare needs, the ‘W’ community which provides insights on family matters, health, career, lifestyle and finance. This is in addition to special offerings for the home such as discounts and freebies on health, beauty and fitness.

Health screenings will hold every Tuesday at October designed partner locations across the country.

Buhari Queries Slow Pace Of Development In Niger Delta, Orders Probe

Editorial staff

October 17, 2019

President Buhari receives in audience Governors of 9 States comprising the Niger Delta Development Commission Board in State House on 17th Oct 2019 | State House

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered a forensic audit of the operations of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) from 2001 to 2019, complaining of slow pace of development in the Niger Delta region despite the huge funds allocated.

The President who received in audience today, October 17, governors of the states that make up the Commission, led by Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, emphasized that what is presently on the ground in the South south region does not justify the huge resources that have been made available to the organisation.

“I try to follow the Act setting up these institutions, especially the NDDC. With the amount of money that the Federal Government has religiously allocated to the NDDC, we will like to see the results on the ground; those that are responsible for that have to explain certain issues.

“The projects said to have been done must be verifiable. You just cannot say you spent so much billions and when the place is visited, one cannot see the structures that have been done. The consultants must also prove that they are competent.”

President Buhari admitted that developing the Niger Delta area required enormous resources compared to other parts of the country with firmer lands.

“I am acutely aware, with my experience, that projects in your area are very expensive; that is why if any job is given, we must make sure that the company is competent and has the capacity to do it well with experienced consultants.”

The President said that he would wait for the report of the audit before deciding on the next line of action regarding the organisation.

Governor Dickson had earlier expressed the disappointment of other governors with the operations of the NDDC, which they said was characterised by poor choice of projects, shoddy handling, uncompleted jobs and lack of the required support for the efforts of the states and local government administration in the region covered by the organisation.

He, therefore, called for the repositioning of the NDDC in order to achieve the objectives for which it was set up.

Crisis In Kuje General Hospital: Director Intervenes

Editorial staff

October 17, 2019

Director of Nursing in the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Mrs Grace Eleri has appealed to nurses in Kuje general hospital to shield their sword and have a meeting with the Medical Director (MD) of the hospital over the division of the office of the Head Of Unit (HOU) thereby reducing the office space.

The Director, following our story yesterday about the plan by the nurses to down tools in protest over the action of the MD, invited the executive officers of the nurses union to her office where after briefing on the happening in the hospital, asked the nurses to resolve the issue with the MD.

Details later…

Edo Gov Asks Aides To Ignore Oshiomhole’s Hostile, Malicious Information

Editorial staff

October 16, 2019

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has directed all his aides to continue to ignore what he called Adams Oshiomhole’s hostile, malicious and incorrect information about the relationship between the two of them.

In a statement jointly signed by the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Paul Ohonbamu and Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie in Benin today, October 16, the governor however warned those intent on disrupting public peace that he is determined to maintain law and order and protect lives and property as the Chief Security Officer of the state.

The statement reads: “The Edo State Government has again taken notice of extremely hostile, malicious and incorrect statements attributed to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, by his media aides in various newspapers and media outfits.

“This continuous spewing of invective and purposely distorted accounts is aimed at creating a sense of tension and crisis in and around the state and the country when none actually exists. “Governor Godwin Obaseki has therefore restated that on no account should any government official in Edo State join issues on the continuous unwarranted vitriolic comments on the person of the governor and the government by Oshiomhole’s media aides purportedly acting at his behest.

“The position of government is to pursue the path of peace in dealing with ensuing issues for the good of all Edo people. “As Governor and leader, Governor Obaseki is in firm control of the APC in Edo State and there is no reason whatsoever to even moot the idea of leaving the party where he enjoys tremendous support and goodwill both at the state and the national levels.

“The governor, however, warned those intent on disrupting public peace that he is determined in his resolve to continuously carry out his primary responsibility of maintaining order and protecting lives and property as the Chief Security Officer of the state.”

Source: Vanguard

All Is Not Well At Kuje General Hospital: Nurses, MD Set For Showdown

Editorial staff

October 16, 2019

Kuje general hospital is in the news again as the nurses and Medical Director D) of the hospital are getting ready to clash over what the nurses said was a downgrading of the office of their Head Of Unit (HOU).

Information reaching us indicated that the MD has just embarked on dividing the office of HOU with a view to allocating the other half to account department, thereby reducing HOU’s office space.

It was gathered that though the current occupant of HOU office, who will vacate it next month, November, at the end of her tenure, did not oppose the move by the MD to reduce the office space, but that other nurses, including their union kicked against such move.

It was learnt that efforts made by members of the National Association of Midwives and Nurses, Kuje branch to secure a meeting with the MD to iron out the issue was rebuffed by the MD, thereby attracting the anger of the even the Federal Capital Territory branch of the association.

We gathered that members of the FCT branch of the association and that of Kuje branch have scheduled a meeting tomorrow, October 17, to decide the next line of action, which may not be far from stay-out-of-work protest to force the MD to shelve the idea of reducing the office space of their HOU.

Efforts made by our reporter earlier today, October 16 to speak to MD through his cellphone or direct contact were unsuccessful as he could not be reached.

None of the aggrieved nurses or their leaders was ready to speak on the issue, but asked our reporter to wait till tomorrow when decisions will be taken on what action they will take after the meeting.

Onoja, Chief Of Staff To Kogi Governor, Resigns

Editorial staff

October 16, 2019

Chief of Staff to Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, Chief Edward Onoja has resigned.

Onoja resigned today, October 16 to face the campaign for the November 16 gubernatorial election as running mate to Governor Yahaya Bello.

A statement today, October 16 by Secretary to the Government of Kogi State, Mrs. Folashade Ayoade-Arike, said that the governor has approved the appointment of Abdulkareem Jamiu, who has been the governor’s Director General of Protocol to take over as new Chief of Staff.

The statement said that the governor also approved the appointment of Dr. Gabriel Ottah as the new Director General, Protocol to the governor, adding that both appointments take effective from October 14.

I Won’t Allow Families Of Soldiers Killed In Boko Haram War To Suffer Deprivation – Buhari

Editorial staff

October 16, 2019

President Muhammadu Buhari has made it clear that he will not allow the families of soldiers who lost their lives in the battle with Boko Haram insurgents to suffer want and deprivation.

“The unfortunate cost of the war against insurgency and other Internal Security Operations, is the loss of lives of some of our officers and men in the Armed Forces. These very sad occurrences create deep wounds to loved ones. It is, therefore, our duty to ensure that the loss of these bread winners does not relegate the spouses and dependents to a life of want and deprivation. Government will do all in its powers to look after the bereaved.”

President Buhari, who spoke today, October 16, at the launching of the 2020 Armed Forces remembrance Day emblem in Abuja, Nigeria called on the Service leaders to steps to settle the entitlements of these affected citizens as well as the welfare packages designed for their dependants.

“It is the responsibility of government to ensure that the families of our fallen heroes do not suffer the loss of their loved ones and at the same time be deprived of their due benefits.

“To ensure that our veterans continue to share the comradeship that existed while in Service and adequately cater for their welfare at exit, the Federal Government established the Nigerian Legion. It is delightful to note that the Legion is carrying out initiatives in transportation, agriculture, housing and other ventures in partnership with the private sector.”

The President expressed happiness that the Legion has continued to be a rallying point of veterans and has done its part in catering for the welfare of their ailing members.

“I enjoin the leadership of the Legion to continue in this spirit. I also urge Nigerians to accord them the needed support, friendship and patronage.

“As the Grand Patron of the Nigerian Legion, I wish to pledge my continued support and that of the Federal Government to the organisation. My appreciation goes to the State Governors who are patrons in their respective States for the support they are providing to the Legion.”

Buhari appealed to government agencies at the Federal and State levels to continue to patronise services of Nigerian Legion Corps of Commissionaires in the provision of security services, adding that the potentials of the ex-servicemen are enormous and the economy can tap into this for national development.

“As I launch the emblem shortly, I wish to call on all Nigerians and others resident in Nigeria to procure and wear the emblems with pride to identify with those who laid down their lives for the peace and security of our fatherland. I encourage all to donate generously in support of our veterans and dependants of fallen heroes.

I’m Determined To Construct Regional Secretariat Of Peace Mission In Nigeria -Aisha Buhari

Editorial staff

October 16, 2019

Nigeria’s First Lady , Aisha Buhari has vowed to construct a regional secretariat for the African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM).

The Mission, which was established after the Beijing Conference of 1995, has been in the custody of Nigeria, with leadership rotating among African First Ladies.

Speaking today, October 16 when she received in audience, First Ladies from the states at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Aisha Buhari said: “I have successfully secured 2.7 hectares of land in Abuja for this purpose and the foundation laying will soon be conducted in the presence of African First Ladies.”

She spoke on the advocacy project for the improvement of maternal and child health, which is supported by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and implemented by Future Assured Programme in partnership with the states First Ladies and assured that it will come to an end in December 2019.

She used the opportunity to commend the first ladies for the good work they have been doing in their various states, and the successful collaboration they did with Future Assured, even as she called on them not to succumb to distractions by social media.

Aisha Buhari also spoke on the videos circulating on social networks and apologised to her children, her immediate family members and all well-meaning Nigerians over the embarrassment that the videos had caused.

She expressed appreciation to the President for approving a new set of aides to assist her in carrying out her various responsibilities.

Earlier, First Lady of Borno state, Mrs. Falmata Umara Zulum representing Northern First Ladies Forum and Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, representing Southern First Ladies Forum spoke during the occasion.

Mrs. Zulum said that they were at the Villa to welcome her back after a long absence, and expressed their unalloyed loyalty and support to her initiatives especially through the Future Assured Programme, which she said has made her a role model even to other African women.

Mrs. Obaseki on her part, said that they received news of the First Lady’s return with great excitement, praying God to continue to protect her. She used the opportunity to thank the President for approving additional special assistants for her, saying this is an indication of the regard he has for her work.

1...949950951...2,501 Page 950 of 2,501