NAN Archive

Loading

NAN Archive

All posts by 00803-3312507

Environment

Stakeholders call for completion of Obehie-Ukanafun road

Road
By Ijendu Iheaka
Aba (Abia), July 13, 2020 (NAN) Stakeholders from Abia and Akwa Ibom have called for completion of the Obehie-Akwete-Azumini- Ukanafun road to ease movement of farm produce and  business activities in the areas.

The stakeholders spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews on Monday in Aba.

NAN reports that the Federal Government awarded the contract for dualisation of the 50-km highway linking Abia to Akwa Ibom with a diversionary link to Rivers at the cost of N34 billion.

The contract was awarded to Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) Nigeria in 2010, by the Ministry of Niger-Delta Affairs.

Mr Uzoma Abonta, the member representing Ukwa Federal Constituency at the National Assembly said the road was a regional one, which should be taken over and completed by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

“That road, initiated by me was awarded many years ago through Federal Executive Council to CCECC.

“And the Chinese company is waiting payment of compensations on the road.

“I have written to the Ministry of Niger Delta to please pay the Chinese company who claimed they are owed to continue and complete the road.

“The federal constituency is an Oil Producing Area. But till now, the people have been subjected to unbearable hardship because of the nature of that road which is difficult to drive through during the rainy seasons,” Abonta said.

The lawmaker said he had also written letters to NDDC to take over and complete it, noting that the road was important to the people of the area who contribute to national wealth.

He said that he and Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe had written to the ministry which promised to add the road to it budget.

”But when the was completed, the Niger Delta ministry budgeted very little amount for the road,'” he said.

Abonta said that the last budget of the ministry for the road was only N200 million which could not accomplishe  much.

He noted that they (senators) asked for budget upgrade to N1billion but it was not honoured.

Mr Mao Azunna, the Chairman, Grand Council of Niger-Delta Youth Leaders, Abia State chapter said that the Chinese company did only 500 meters of construction at Okeikpe area in Ukwa West, since 2012 till date and had yet to complete it.

Azunna stressed that the road had subjected Ukwa people, neighbouring Annang and Ogoni to economic hardship.

He said it was regrettable that property worth millions of naira were destroyed by the company in the course of executing the project, but less than seven per cent of the people affected received compensation.

However, commuters decried the deteriorating state of the road and pleaded with the government to complete it.

Mr John Uko, a retired teacher and native of Ukanafun, said his car broke down midway at Ohambele, while going to Akwete due to deteriorating state of the road.

According to him, the bad road is detrimental to peace and security in the area.

“I don’t know why we love doing things wrongly in this country while ignoring the right ways.

“A motorable Obehie-Akwete-Azumini-Ukanafun road will change people’s lives and create  new commercial centre in the middle of Rivers, Akwa-Ibom and Abia.

“There is something very significant about this road; our leaders always talk about economic diversification, especially toward agriculture.

“If there’s any road in Nigeria that can improve agriculture in terms of moving farm produce to cities, improve trade and commerce between rural and urban areas it is this road,” Uko said.

Recall that the road contract was awarded in two separate sections to the same company.

The first section being the stretch from Obehie junction beginning from Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway to Akwete town spanning 20 km was awarded in March 2010 for about N12.3 billion.

The second section stretching from Azumini to Ukanafun in Akwa-Ibom spans 30 km was awarded in November 2010 for about N21 billion

Although part of the Azumini – Ukanafun road was done to an extent, the Akwete – Obehie road project, which was abandoned has failed badly and turned into a death trap. (NAN)
IEI/CHIN/GY
==========

Edited by Chinyere Bassey/Grace Yussuf

 

Environment

Mixed reactions greet NOSDRA’s plan to extend mandate to downstream

Mixed reactions greet NOSDRA’s plan to extend mandate to downstream

Downstream
By Nathan Nwakamma
Yenagoa, June 11,2020 (NAN) Some environmentalists in Niger Delta on Thursday expressed mixed reactions on the announcement by National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to extend its regulatory mandate to the downstream sector.

Mr Idris Musa, the NOSDRA Director-General, had said that the agency would be focusing on the downstream sector to ensure compliance with environmental legislation to prevent increase in cases of pollution.

According to Musa, the agency is responsible for ensuring compliance with environmental legislation in the petroleum industry which covers the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors.

He said that the upstream sector consisted of the exploration and production companies, which deal with crude oil essentially; the midstream were for refineries and depots, while the downstream was the filling stations.

However, environment stakeholders, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the development applauded the emphasis on downstream sector.

While others said that it might lead to neglect of oilfield spills regulation.

Mr Nnimmo Bassey, a renowned environmentalist commended the move but noted that there was need for clarity between NOSDRA and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) roles in the downstream sector to avoid overlapping.

“The statements by NOSDRA are interesting. It is essential that the agency detects and responds to infringements in terms of release of hydrocarbons into the environment.

”It is, however, not clear who between NOSDRA and DPR actually regulates the sector.

“While we welcome NOSDRA’s focus on the downstream, we are concerned that the agency thinks that they have mastered the upstream territory.

“To be able to do so, the agency will require massive supply of equipment including those for overflights of oil fields and crafts for deep sea monitoring,” Bassey said.

He noted that the agency needed serious political support to penetrate the intricate web of beneficiaries from nefarious activities in the oil fields.

”This include big time oil thieves and recalcitrant and imperial oil companies,” he said.

Mr Alagoa Morris, a Bayelsa based environmental and human rights activist said that the extension of regulatory functions by NOSDRA was good but might lead to conflict with DPR.

“As good as the idea may be, some think that DPR is better saddled with facilities such as petrol stations and approval of site.

“Now that NOSDRA is showing interest, it is an opportunity to say that some stakeholders are not comfortable with the indiscriminate citing of petrol stations, especially around crowded residential areas like Yenagoa.

“Apart from residents complaining of leaks, which is dangerous there should be areas forbidden to locate petrol stations.

“Even where they ordinarily ought to be, there should be reasonable safe distances from the road and any other building. This is important to avoid stories that hurts.

“If such regulations as per acceptable distances are not there, there is need to ensure the regulations captures it in the common interest of all,” Morris said.

He said that stakeholders were not yet satisfied with NOSDRA’s role in the upstream and the intention of coming downstream was received with mixed feelings.

“Otherwise, how can Agip leave a spill point spewing crude oil since July 30, 2019 only to mobilise to site and stop it in June as it is in Kalaba community in Bayelsa state.

“The oil and gas industry is suffering regulatory capture; pure and simple,” Morris said.

Mr Inuruo Wills, an environmental lawyer and former commissioner for environment in Bayelsa said that NOSDRA needed to be well funded and equipped to deal with spills in the upstream sector.

“Downstream pollution is a tea cup compared to the ocean of oil pollution flooding petroleum host communities in the Niger Delta on a daily basis.

“NOSDRA needs to be funded and empowered on equal footing as DPR to combat Nigeria’s world record pollution from operational failures and artisanal refining.

“It is also urgent to amend the NOSDRA Act to define it as the full and superior environmental regulatory agency for the petroleum industry rather than leaving it as a mere response or reaction agency,” Wills said.

He said that the present Act had suffered from too many conceptual defects and operational gaps, frustrating the body.

He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to take steps to relocate NOSDRA to the Niger Delta.

”Having its head office in Abuja renders it a virtual response agency instead of an actual one. It is like leaving NIMASA head office in Abuja, which will be senseless,” the former commissioner said.

However, Mr Furoebi Akene, a Surveyor and Environmental Impact Assesment expert said the move was outside the mandate of NOSDRA Act of 2006.

“It is disheartening and disappointing to hear from the helmsman of NOSDRA to leave the major responsibilities of the agency as outlined in sections 5, 6, 7 and 19 of the establishment Act 2006 and to monitor filling stations in the country.

“What then is the positions and responsibilities of National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and Directorate of Petroleum Resources.

“There are incessant crude oil spills in the Niger Delta region almost on daily basis overwhelming the agency and leaving all these to shift focus on filling stations is unfortunate,” Akene said. (NAN)
NN/CHIN/GY
==========

Edited by Chinyere Bassey/Grace Yussuf

Health

Runaway coronavirus positive case in Aba surrenders self, family to hospital

Runaway coronavirus positive case in Aba surrenders self, family to hospital

COVID-19

By Ijendu Iheaka

Aba (Abia), May 30, 2020 (NAN) A runaway coronavirus positive case in Aba, Abia, has surrendered himself and members of his family to the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH), Aba, for management of his sickness.

The Commissioner for Information in the state, Okeiyi Kalu, made the disclosure in a statement made available to newsmen in Aba on Saturday.

The positive case was declared wanted on Thursday by the Abia Government, after he disappeared from a holding facility in Aba, having heard that he tested positive for coronavirus.

Kalu said that the patient reported at the IDH by 8.05 a.m. on Saturday with his wife and other family members.

He said that the state rapid response team ambulance had taken them to the State Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Center, Amachara, Umuahia, for isolation and management.

According to him, having taken the patient and the family into custody at the specialist hospital, the family members would be tested for the virus.

The commissioner said that the tracing of other contacts of the runaway patient had already begun.

He said that three patients currently being treated at the isolation center, including a 19-year-old man from Afugiri, Umuahia, and a 30-year-old man from Ofeme, Umuahia, would be discharged on Saturday.

Kalu further disclosed that the third person to be discharged was a Lagos-based indigene of Olokoro, Umuahia, who returned to plan the burial of his relative, a COVID-19 patient who died in Kano.

The commissioner said that the trio were fit for discharge after testing negative twice consecutively. (NAN)

IEI/ESAN/EMO
============

Edited by Abiodun Esan/Ejike Obeta

Defence/Security

Lockdown: Gov’t intercepts truck bringing 26 people into Abia

Interception

By Ijendu Iheaka

Aba (Abia) April 7, 2020 (NAN) Abia Government says it intercepted 26 people hidden in two trucks coming into the state.

Chief Dan Okoli, Abia Commissioner for Homeland Security, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Aba on Thursday.

He said the 26 persons were concealed in two trucks that belonged to a Nigerian multi-industry company.

Okoli said the interception took place at Ariam Community, a boundary town between Akwa-Ibom and Abia, in Ikwuano Local Government Area of the state.

According to him, the 26 people were later moved into another vehicle and sent back to where they were coming from.

He debunked stories making the rounds that Abia boundaries were porous and that people were freely coming in and going out.

Okoli said that it took the painstaking surveillance by security personnel to intercept the 26 persons.

He explained that they were deliberately made to lie flat inside the truck to prevent being seen by security agencies.

The commissioner said that after the trucks had successfully manoeuvred through some checkpoints, security men at Ariam flagged them down for proper checks and discovered the 26 persons hidden inside.

“This morning we caught two Dangote’s Trucks carrying 26 people at Ariam.

“The boundaries are not as free as people make it to appear.

“I don’t want people to panic in Abia,’’ he said.

Okoli said the government would not stop anyone in Abia from doing his business, including those at Lokpanta cattle market as long as the person is within the state.

He said that nobody was exempted from all the safety measures put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19, a respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus. (NAN)

IEI/CHOM/AIB

============

Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Abdulfatah Babatunde

Judiciary

Mixed reactions trail payment of 10% lawyers bar practising fees by NBA

Reaction

By Sandra Umeh

Lagos, April 17, 2020 (NAN) Mixed reactions on Friday trailed payment of  10 per cent of the Bar Practice Fees (BPF)of members to ameliorate the economic hardship brought by the lockdown to contain the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the NBA President, Paul Usoro,  in a statement issued on April 15 titled “COVID-19 Pandemic– Release III” announced release of the 10 per cent fees.

He also announced the setting up of a “blue ribbon” welfare committee with mandate to raise funds for the benefit of vulnerable members and worst hit by the economic situation.

The President had added that entitlement to the funds would be based on member’s up-to-date payment of financial dues, as the 10 per cent remittance was made possible by diligence in living up to financial obligations to the association.

Reacting to the remittance, Chairman of the Lagos Branch of the NBA, Mr Yemi Akangbe, expressed joy that the remittance came at the right time.

“The NBA remits 10 per cent of Bar Practicing fees paid by members of the Branch to the Branch annually. This is provided for by the constitution of the NBA.

“It is a good thing that the money has been released early this year. However, I believe each Branch Chairman has the discretion to determine how best to use the funds remitted.

“I am however, grateful to our ever responsive President for the timeous remittance,” he said

Meanwhile, a Lagos rights campaigner, Chief Malcolm Omirhobo, who commended the move, believed that the remittance was meagre.

He said:”It is welcoming but a far cry from what is needed considering all the dues collected from lawyers over the years, and I dare say that 70 per cent would have been ideal.

“I have been practicing law for over two decades now and have been religiously paying my dues without default, so the remittance is insufficient,” he said

On his part, Chairman of the Ikorodu Branch of the NBA, Mr Bayo Akinlade, also commended the remittance, indicating that the Ikorudu branch had received its share.

He, however, queried the setting up of a welfare account.

“As the letter stated, the national body is setting up a special welfare account for Lawyers affected by COVID-19 and asking lawyers to contribute to it.

“My opinion is that the national should have just focused on the most vulnerable branches in this regard and encourage the bigger branches to spread their resources statewide.

“This would be a most effective way of reaching to the grassroot lawyers using the branches and forums as an identifying and distribution mechanism,” he said

On his part, a member of the Lagos branch of the NBA, Mr Micheal Dugeri, described the remittance as belated and low.

“Not only is the remittance belated, it is also too meagre in this very trying moment of our lives.

“It must be noted that the statement did not make clear whether the 10 per cent being released to the NBA branches is in addition to the 10 per cent that the branches are originally entitled to.

“In the absence of such clarity, one is inclined to ask, where then lies the “assistance?

“It is also discouraging to hear the NBA’s view of setting up a blue ribbon welfare committee, nearly two full months into a pandemic that has already taken a crushing toll on the livelihood of countless lawyers,” he said

In the same vein, a former Ikorodu branch Chairman of the NBA, Mr Dotun Adetunji, said:”There has been widespread condemnation of the remittance.

“I can tell you as a matter of confirmation that this remittance is originally what is due to the branches; the only difference is that it came earlier than before.

“It is painful because a lot of lawyers are not working presently and just this 10 per cent is not good enough; we urge the president to come up with better measure of pallative,” he said.(NAN)

UNS/AMM/SH

===========

Edited by Abiemwense Moru/Sadiya Hamza

General news

COVID-19: Kwara residents restock homes as transport fare soar

COVID-19: Kwara residents restock homes as transport fare soar

By Olayinka Owolewa

Restocking

Ilorin, April 13, 2020 (NAN) Residents of Ilorin, the Kwara capital, on Monday trooped out in large numbers to restock their homes as they enjoy a four-hour freedom allowed by the State Government.

The measure is part of the total lockdown arrangement ordered by government to contain Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the state.

A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent monitoring the development reports that people were already out as early as 9.30 a.m as against the 10 a.m declared by the state government.

NAN recalls that the state government had on Thursday announced a total lockdown of vehicular, movement of people and all businesses from April 10 by 6 p.m till further notice.

The restriction order however allowed banks, pharmacies and foodstuff traders to open for business only on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays between the hours of 10 a.m and 2 p.m.

The report said there was a little bit of gridlock as the road block mounted by the security operatives were still in place thereby narrowing the right of ways for vehicular movement.

However, the resident face a hike in transport fares as the usual journey which originally cost N50 now goes for N100 or more, depending on destination. (NAN)

OOH/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Economy

Covid-19:Abia commences production of masks, protective medical kits – Hart

Covid-19:Abia commences production of masks, protective medical kits – Hart

Kits

By Ijendu Iheaka

Aba (Abia) April 4, 2020 (NAN) Abia Government said it has started production of certified quality standard protective medical kits and masks to carter for the needs of Nigerians and bridge the scarcity of imported ones.

Mr Sam Hart,  the Director-General, Abia State Marketing and Quality Management Agency, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)  in Aba on Saturday.

He said that Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu initiated the project to ensure Abia people were not exploited during this period but were protected from the ravaging COVID-19 infections.

“The governor does not want Abia people to be exploited and that was part of the reason he gave this challenge to Aba tailors to start producing these kits.

“Apart from meeting national demand, he is also interested in meeting local demand so that the people of Abia can have these masks and kits available.

“That is why he provided support for the tailors, held a meeting with them, and released initial funds for them to start production even before orders started coming.

“That is the foresight that moved us to where we are today that everybody is now coming to pick them up; we have more than enough and they are available everywhere”, Hart said.

The DG said that buyers could get the products at pharmacies, chemist shops, supermarkets and other places.

He said that his agency was handling the distribution of the products on wholesale basis by buying up available products from the producers to ensure they get money to continue production.

Hart said that the state sourced the raw materials used locally and abroad, stressing that the state has the capacity to meet any quantity demanded across Nigeria.

“On the specifications required, we have also gotten medical practitioners to look at what we do.

“They have looked at it, told us what to do which we also implemented and they have certified it.

“Orders are coming from Kaduna, Lagos and Enugu and other states and for our production capacity, it depends on the orders we get.

“As we get more orders, we upscale production through involvement of more hands,” he said.(NAN)

IEI/AMM/OU

========

Edited by Abiemwense Moru/Obike Ukoh

General news

Aba residents begin preparation for lockdown Wednesday

Aba residents begin preparation for lock down Wednesday

Compliance

By Ijendu Iheaka

Aba (Abia) March 30, 2020 (NAN) Aba residents have started gradual lock down of the city following the state government’s plan for a lock down from Wednesday, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports.

NAN reports that Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu on March 24, endorsed a set of directives meant to check spread of Corona virus (COVID-19) in Abia.

The directives included buses taking fewer passengers and traders procuring hand washing materials for customers at their shops and stalls.

Some shops in the city along Faulks, Azikiwe and St. Michael’s roads, have been shut in compliance with the directive that residents stayed at home to guard against contracting the disease.

Ekele Nwannennaya, a trader who deals on foreign furniture on St. Michael’s road, said he had closed his shop because he had to keep safe adding that it was better to be alive and poor, than to die in wealth.

Our Correspondent who went round some parts of the city on Monday, reports that the tricycles and vehicles operating within Aba have started complying with government’s directives to take few passengers.

Livinus Okezie, a commuter who spoke to NAN said; “the transporters are now taking double the fare they used to collect from us before now.

“As you can see, very few persons are now on the roads and like myself, I am going to buy what my family will eat from Wednesday when Abia goes on lock down. I will be indoors with my family”, he said.

Blessed Investment motors limited and Eagle Motors limited staff, were seen selling tickets to travelers to Lagos state on Monday morning after reports said that Anambra and Delta had shut the Niger Bridge gates.

Andrew Iheanyi, a worker at Eagle Motors bus park, Milverton Street, Aba, said; “we are selling ticketS hoping that if the security agencies at Onitsha will allow us to pass, we will pass, but if they do not, we know what to do.”

Iheanyi said however, they were recording low number of travelers, but the company was offering its services to ensure those wishing to travel did so.

NAN reports that banks in the city were recording large numbers of customers rushing to withdraw money to buy foodstuff for their families prior to Wednesday’s lock down.

First Bank and Union Bank, on Azikiwe road, Ecobank on St. Michael’s road and First Bank, Asa road, were all crowded with customers observing the social distancing directive. (NAN)

IEI/DE/DOR

=========

Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Nyisom Fiyigon Dore