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Metro

Second Niger Bridge improves  traffic flow on old Niger Bridge by 40 per cent – FRSC

Traffic

By Chimezie Anaso

Awka, Dec. 24, 2022 (NAN) The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says the temporary opening of the Second Niger Bridge to the motoring public has reduced burden on the old bridge by more than 40 per cent.

Mr Adeoye Irelewuyi, Sector Commander of FRSC in Anambra said this in Awka on Saturday.

Irelewuyi said the decision of the Federal Government to temporarily open the new bridge to traffic was a welcome and timely gesture as it had greatly eased pressure on the old bridge.

He noted that the Niger Bridge at Onitsha had been critical to vehicular traffic, especially during the Christmas and New Year festivities since Anambra is the gateway state to the Southeast and the South-South geopolitical zones.

According to him, when small vehicles are diverted from the old bridge, about 40 per cent of traffic on it would have been diverted, thereby reducing the gridlock.

“The bridge is just 1.1km which should take a motorist moving at 50km per hour to cross it within two to three minutes.

“Before now, motorists spent between 12 hours and 18 hours on that bridge; the maximum time spent on the bridge now is 30 minutes.

“One of the strategies is that vehicles are now compelled to move in one lane in opposite directions, it could be slow but it is steady,’’ he said.

Travellers to the Southeast through the Niger Bridge used to spend between 12 hours and 18 hours to cross from Asaba to Onitsha and vice-versa because of gridlocks.

These were caused by the volume of traffic, checkpoints at both ends of the bridge and activities of touts.

Federal Ministry of Works, Anambra and Delta and security agencies have formed a committee which worked towards decongesting traffic around the Niger Bridge.

Irelewuyi said the committee ensured that all factors which inhibited the free flow of traffic were removed as much as possible.

“Loading of passengers around the bridge is no longer possible; we have three big tow trucks permanently stationed around the bridge to facilitate quick removal of broken down vehicles and clear the road,’’ he said.

Irelewuyi assured of FRSC’s commitment to ensuring that travellers encountered less stress on their journeys in and out of Anambra. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

APC/ALLI

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Edited by Alli Hakeem

 

Defence/Security

Police outlaw sale, use of fireworks in Anambra

Police outlaw sale, use of fireworks in Anambra

Fireworks

By Chimezie Anaso

Awka, Dec. 22, 2022 (NAN) The Police Command in Anambra has banned the sale and use of fireworks, commonly known as knockout.

DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Anambra Command, said this in a statement on Thursday.

Ikenga said the directive was part of proactive measures to sustain public safety and peace in the state.

He said the use of knockouts, apart from constituting nuisance and disturbance to public peace, was also capable of causing unnecessary fear, apprehension and other dangers, especially during this harmattan period.

He said the act had the possibility of providing an escape route for criminals after the committing a crime.

According to him, the Commissioner of Police, CP Echeng Echeng, has banned the sale and use of fireworks, knockouts, and firecrackers in the state.

“This plan shall enhance an already policing strategy put in place to respond to emergencies and security concerns peculiar to Christmas and end-of-the-year festivities.

“The CP equally calls on parents and guardians to impress upon their children and wards to desist from the sale and use of fireworks, firecrackers, knockouts, and others as the ban is in the best interest of all.

“Persons trading in these banned items should seek alternative ventures,” he stated.

The CP assures that the Command would leave no stone unturned to ensure that there is no form of security breach during the yuletide.

“We urge Anambra residents to be vigilant and security conscious and report all suspicious movements,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

APC/VAO

Edited by Vincent Obi

 

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Economy

Fares soar as petrol sells at N270 per litre in Awka

Fares soar as petrol sells at N270 per litre in Awka

Petrol

By Chimezie Anaso

Awka, Dec. 22, 2022 (NAN) Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, is now selling at between N260 and N270 per litre in Awka, the capital of Anambra state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Correspondent, who monitored fuel availability and price situation on Thursday, reports that the cost of transportation has sharply increased in response to the hike.

The NNPC mega and mini retail outlets in Awka were closed to customers as they had no products while only private marketers’ outlets were selling with few vehicles queuing up to buy petrol.

Some motorists in the town expressed concern that the price of petrol had continued to rise without anybody coming to their rescue.

They accused the marketers of arbitrarily hiking prices because Christmas and New Year celebrations are near.

NAN reports that fares for intracity shuttle had increased by 100 per cent as transporters now collect N200 for distances that cost N100 in the last.

Mrs Jane Oranu, a civil servant who lives in Onitsha but works in Awka, said a one-way fare which was N300 now costs between N750 and N800.

Oranu said the increase in transport fare had put an additional burden on household finances.

She called on the Federal Government to intervene in the petrol price issue and save the masses from unbearable hardship.

In a reaction, Mr Chinedu Anyaso, Chairman of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Enugu Depot Community, blamed the price increase on cost of procuring products.

Anyaso, in charge of Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu States, said marketers are now buying PMS at above N240 with N3 loading cost and N15 transportation per litre to their outlets.

“It is not our problem, the price we are selling is reflective of the ex-depot price which is N240, we pay N3 as loading cost and transport to our outlets with N15 that makes landing cost to be between N258 and N260.

“You can see that alternative to what is going on now is to be out of business but we have to remain in business to service our people, especially during this Christmas period.

“It is even affecting our businesses because our sales have dropped by about 50 per cent because customers are not buying, so we are calling on the federal government to supply products massively and directly to marketers and not through these private depot owners,” he said.

Anyaso urged members of the public to appreciate the role of marketers in the Southeast who were making efforts to make fuel available but explained that pricing is not within their control. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

APC/VAO

Edited by Vincent Obi

 

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Metro

Anambra to install 25,000 solar-powered streetlights by June — Commissioner

Anambra to install  25,000 solar-powered streetlights by June — Commissioner 

 

Streetlights

 

By Chimezie Anaso

 

Awka, Dec. 22, 2022(NAN) The Anambra government says it has successfully converted 6,380 poles of streetlights from generator-powered to solar-powered model in the first phase of the switch.

 

Mr Julius Chukuemeka, Commissioner for Power and Water Resources, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Thursday.

 

Chukuemeka said the government targets installation of about 25,000 units in the solar-powered streetlights project across the state by the middle of next year.

 

He said the project, which was going on in the four major cities of Awka, Onitsha, Ekwulobia and Nnewi, would be cascaded to the rural areas.

 

The commissioner said lighting up the streets, especially in the night, would enhance nightlife and security.

 

He said that the goal was to ensure residents moved in well lit environments anywhere in the state at night, noting that the work would continue during the Yuletide.

 

“The solar-powered streetlights project is going on smoothly, so far, we have successfully converted 6,380 streetlights from generator-powered to Solar-powered; we are looking at installing 10,000 in the second phase.

 

“By mid next year, we hope to have installed not less than 25, 000, depending on the availability of funds,” he said.

 

Chukwuemeka said the conversion became necessary in view of the increase in the price of diesel from about N145 per litre when they were installed to N800 which had made the powering of the lights unsustainable.

 

He said government was recovering the generators and cables which had become redundant for other purposes.

 

He said Anambra was discussing with Enugu Electricity Distribution Company on a possible Memorandum of Understanding on how privately generated power could be used to beef up the national grid to increase supply in the state.

 

The Commissioner said the rich gas resource of Anambra would be exploited to ensure improved power supply with little or no disruption.(NAN)(www.nannewsng)

APC/SOA 

Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

 

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General news

Christmas: Foundation gives widows 2,000 bags of rice, wrappers in Anambra

Christmas: Foundation gives widows 2,000 bags of rice, wrappers in Anambra

Empowerment

By Chimezie Anaso

Awka, Dec. 22, 2022 (NAN) The Sir Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF) has  distributed 50kg bags of rice each to about 2,000 indigent widows in Anambra.

The Foundation also distributed about 2,300 six-piece wrappers to the beneficiaries at a ceremony on Wednesday at Oraifite, Ekwusigo Local Government, Anambra.

Chief Emeka Offor, the President of SEOF, who spoke at the event, said the gesture was in line with the founding principles of the Foundation established in 2003.

Offor, who is the Chairman of Chrome Group, said distributing rice  to widows had been a quarterly event, done four times in a year.

He said that the foundation planned to build about 50 houses for poor widows in the town before the end of June 2023.

“Since 2003 we established this Foundation,  we  have been growing higher and stronger, we have never looked back,  it has been over a decade and God has been faithful,” he said.

Mrs Ify Obinabo, Commissioner for Women Affairs, who represented the Anambra Government at the event, urged women to continue to be agents of positive change in the society and endeavour to raise good homes in spite of the loss of their husbands.

Obinabo, who delivered the governor’s message, urged them to train their children to be citizens they would be proud of, and cautioned against pushing their children to become criminals and nuisance to the society.

In appreciation, one of the beneficiaries,  Mrs Chinelo Nweke, thanked her benefactors and prayed for God’s blessing upon them 

Nweke said God had used Offor  to make life worth living for beneficiaries and others through his numerous philanthropic gestures. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

APC/ACA/IA

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Edited by Chidinma Agu/Idris Abdulrahman

 

Sports

IOC congratulates Gumel over reelection as NOC president

IOC President congratulates Gumel over reelection as NOC president

Congratulations

By Chimezie Anaso

Awka, Dec. 21, 2022 (NAN) Dr Thomas Bach, the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has congratulated Habu Gumel over his reelection as NOC boss at the Annual General Meeting and Elective Congress in Jalingo, on Dec. 15.

 

Tony Nezianya, Public Relations Officer of NOC, who said this in a statement, quoted Bach as wishing Gumel a successful term, in his congratulatry letter from Lausanne, dated Dec. 20.

 

“Please allow me to extend my sincerest congratulations to you on your re-election as President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee on 15 Dec. 2022.

 

“My very best wishes for a successful term.

 

‘’The IOC looks forward to pursuing its fruitful collaboration with your NOC and remains fully at your disposal to continue to support and assist your NOC in performing its mission and daily activities.

 

‘’Wishing you and your NOC a happy and successful New Year 2023, I remain Thomas Bach,’’ the statement stated. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

APC/IA

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

 

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Defence/Security

IGP Baba inaugurates new division, staff quarters in Anambra

IGP Baba inaugurates new division, staff quarters in Anambra

Inauguration

By Chimezie Anaso

 

Awka, Dec. 21, 2022(NAN) The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Baba has promised to continue to ensure that morale of personnel of the force is high through the provision of a friendly working environment.

 

Baba said this while inaugurating the newly constructed Amawbia Divisional Police Station and Staff Quarters in Anambra on Wednesday.

 

He said the ultra modern Police station was built to help personnel work in a conducive environment and have a conducive place to retire to after work.

 

“This type of edifice is a drop in the ocean as far as the needs of Police force are concerned because we need about 100 more of this to accommodate our officers and provide them with better working tools.

 

“This Police Station will be open 24 hours of the week and will never be closed, it will be open to serve members of the public and in the spirit of federal character we will replicate this in other parts of the country,” he said.

 

Baba commended Gov. Chukwuma Soludo for his good disposition to security in Anambra while assuring of continued support of the Police force in combating insecurity in Anambra.

 

He said the police would not succumb to elements who were masquerading in the guise of secessionists to perpetuate criminality in Anambra and indeed Southeast.

 

According to him, they will be defeated hands down.

 

“We shall provide a level playing ground for politicians and the electorate to exercise their franchise freely, fairly and credibly,” he said.

 

IGP commended the Commissioner of Police in Anambra, Mr Echeng Echeng for doing a good job in the state while promising to consider his request to send a visiting team to strengthen his manpower.

 

On his part, Echeng thanked the government and people of Anambra as well as sister security agencies for their support in the fight against crime in the state and assured residents and visitors of a peaceful Yuletide celebration.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

APC/IA

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

 

  

 

 

General news

Soludo rejects Commissioner’s nomination for service award, gifts workers cash for Christmas

Soludo rejects Commissioner’s nomination for service award, gifts workers cash for Christmas

Workers

By Chimezie Anaso

Awka, Dec. 21, 2022 (NAN) Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra, on Tuesday rejected the nomination of a serving Commissioner for public service award on the occasion of 2022 Public Servants Day.

Mrs Theodore Igwegbe, the Head of Service (HoS) in Anambra, had during her speech, announced the Commissioner and 32 others as nominees for awards for their sterling performances in service of the state.

But Soludo said, while the HoS could nominate civil servants who are under her direct control, it was not within her powers to nominate a commissioner who is in the same executive council with her.

He congratulated all the public servants in the state, including those nominated for awards, the 21 commissioners and all the managing directors of parastatals and agencies.

“I congratulate the Commissioner for Lands, you know I am not a politician, I say it the way it is, I have told the HoS that it is not within her powers to begin to decide which Commissioner did well or not. No, it is not your remit to do that.

“You can have that for people who are under you, you cannot begin to tell me which Commissioner did what, they are your colleagues and you cannot set examination for your colleagues, it is wrong.

“That will create dysfunctionality within the government, soon, they will soon start running to HoS looking for awards, it is not done,” he said.

Soludo appreciated the public servants in Anambra for voting for the All Progressives Grand Alliance in the 2021 governorship election and for their contributions towards the achievement of his ‘Solution Agenda’ and successes so far.

He said his administration is focused on making Anambra a prosperous and livable homeland with simultaneous attention to policy thrusts of Security, Law and Order, Economic Transformation, Social Agenda, Transformation Governance and Environment.

He announced the suspension of Christmas Rice to public workers in Anambra as used to be under administration of Chief Willie Obiano and its replacement with monetary gift of N15,000 across board, including retirees.

He said the review was informed by the inflationary trend which had increased the price of 25kg rice from about N8,000 to N21,000 as well as the need to make workers have options of what to buy according to their various needs.

Soludo also announced a salary increment of 10 per cent for workers in the state effective next year to cushion the effect of the general inflation which is eroding the value of income.

He said Anambra could no longer afford the loss of 20 per cent of its public life to sit-at-home which, he said, is already becoming part of life in the Southeast.

He said his administration had successfully combated criminality which held eight Local Government Areas of the state under siege at the time he was inaugurated in March this year.

“Eight LGAs were totally taken over at the time we came, they said they were unknown gunmen, no, they are known gunmen born of women and from communities.

“Last week, one mad man living in Finland said he was declaring sit-at-home, it was only in Anambra that it was not observed. By the time you return next year, we shall stop sit-at-home.

“We must get back to work, working five days in a week, we must take back Anambra from the criminals, we can not build a prosperous Anambra when we work four days, when our children go to school four days, that is a 20 per cent loss in productivity,” he said.

The HoS called on Soludo to consider full implementation of the National Minimum Wage in the State and upward review of salaries to mitigate the economic realities of the day.

She urged the governor to approve and provide funds for the Civil Service Commission to conduct 2021 and 2022 promotion interviews in January 2023 and that of 2023 before 1st July, next year.

She decried the over politicisation of the public service in Anambra, excessive government interference and absence of performance measurement standards.

“As a routine, governments constantly interfere in the day to day running of the service through frequent changes of top officials and massive purges such that political factors rather than merit now plays a major role in the civil service.

“The politicisation has weakened the institutions of the civil service and created anomalies such as irregular and arbitrary appointments into the service, which leads to square pegs being forced into round holes.

“The absence of measurable objectives has led to a situation where the activities of civil servants are difficult to assess in a clear, consistent manner, this creates performance management problems,” she said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

APC/VAO

Edited by Vincent Obi

General news

Soludo salutes President Buhari at 80

 

 

Birthday

By Chimezie Anaso

Awka, Dec. 18, 2022 (NAN) Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on the occasion of his 80th birthday.

Soludo in his birthday message signed by Mr Christian Aburime, his Press Secretary,  said Buhari’s attaining of the age of 80 years is a manifestation of God’s blessings and a milestone achievement worthy of celebration

He described the President as a sincere patriot who had done his best for the growth and development of the country.

He lauded the President for his honest and transparent disposition to public office, saying he remained a shining example of one who had risen above the temptation of corruption in discharging his duties.

“Therefore on behalf of my family and the good people of Anambra, I congratulate the President on this auspicious occasion of his 80th birthday and wish him many more glorious years ahead,” he stated.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

APC/CHOM

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Edited by Chioma Ugboma

 

 

Sports

NSF: Soludo welcomes Anambra contingent

NSF: Soludo welcomes Anambra contingent

Festival

By Chimezie Anaso

Awka, De. 16, 2022 (NAN) Gov Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra has welcomed the state contingent at the just concluded 21st National Sports Festival (NSF) held in Asaba, Delta state.

 

Soludo in a statement signed by Mr Christian Aburime, his Press Secretary, commended the team for their performance and exemplary behaviour while at the festival.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the contingent, which departed Awka on Nov. 29, went to the festival with a 249-man team, including 204 athletes and 45 officials.

 

The team participated in 21 events and won 39 medals, including six Gold, nine Silver and 24 Bronze.

 

Soludo congratulated the contingent for lifting the spirit of Anambra high and conducting themselves in a manner expected of true Anambra citizen.

 

According to him, “I want to welcome the Anambra contingent to the National Sports Festival who have arrived in the state after a successful outing in Asaba, Delta State.

 

“The outing did not have any scandal or doping, so I must congratulate them for being well behaved.

 

“The team was able to sustain its record at the last festival held in Edo State, I am proud to welcome them for being exceptional both off and on the field during the games

 

“Under my government, the foundation for all round sports development has been elevated to unprecedented heights and it will continue to grow in the coming years,” he stated.

 

The governor, however, did not announce the date for their reception and rewards for their efforts as is the tradition.

 

The team was led by Patrick-Estate Onyedum, Chairman of Anambra Sports Development Commission, a former athlete and chairman of Anambra State Athletics Association.

(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

APC/IA

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

 

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