NAN Archive

Loading

NAN Archive

Tag Enugu

  • Mar, Thu, 2020
Metro

Enugu airport will be reopened before Easter, Sirika reiterates

Enugu airport will be reopened before Easter, Sirika reiterates

Enugu

By Gabriel Agbeja

Abuja, March 12, 2020 (NAN) Sen. Hadi Sirika, Minister of Aviation has reiterated that Akanu Ibiam International airport, Enugu closed down in August, 2019 for runway rehabilitation will be reopened for use before Easter.

A statement issued in Abuja and signed by Mr James Odaudu, Director of Public Affairs in the ministry, said Sirika gave the assurance after an inspection visit to the airport on Thursday.

According to him, the Federal Government recognizes the importance of the airport to the whole of the South East region and the hardship occasioned by the closure.

Sirika however, maintained that closing of the airport was done in the interest of safety and comfort of air travelers from the region.

He commended the handlers of the project on the quality of job done, adding that the airport, when delivered, would be one of the best in the country.

On the reported shortage of some materials needed by the contractor, the minister said it was being addressed noting that it would not be an impediment to the completion of the project.

“Work on the new terminal building at the airport will resume in earnest, regarding the budgetary provision for it in the 2020 budget.

“The present administration met the terminal project at about 20 per cent but had taken it to about 60 per cent completion stage.

The representatives of the Enugu State Government and the South East Governors Forum, who joined the minister expressed appreciation to the federal government for brave action in shutting down the airport for rehabilitation.

Others on the visit with the Minister were officials of the Ministry of Aviation, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and consultants to the project. (NAN)
FGA/MNA

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

  • Feb, Wed, 2020
Politics

Group wants Enugu State Govt to make courts accessible

 

 

Courts

By Diana Omueza

Abuja, Feb. 12, 2020 (NAN) The Association of Lawyers with Disabilities in Nigeria (ALDIN) on Wednesday appealed to the Enugu State Government to make courts across the state accessible to both lawyers and litigants with disabilities.

Mr Daniel Onwe, President of the association, said in a statement that the ongoing renovation of courts in the state was an opportunity to make them accessible to Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), who may be approaching the courts either as counsel or litigants to seek justice.

According to him, the accessibility could be achieved through installation of ramps, lift and other assisting devices, to ease the movements of PWDs.

“We all know how natural it could be for the peculiar interest of PWDs to be overlooked in such circumstance, and especially in major projects.

“But in line with the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Prohibition Act, we appeal that the court buildings and the environment be made accessible to PWDs, as they currently are undergoing renovation.

“We see this as a golden opportunity for the people and government of Enugu State to demonstrate their level of sensitivity to our peculiarities, which is in line with the extant Nigerian Law and global best practices,’’ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ALDIN is the umbrella body of Nigerian lawyers both at home and in the Diaspora, who have one type of disability or the other.

Its objective is to champion the cause of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) generally, and in particular lawyers with disabilities in the practice of their profession.

The group strives for the actualisation of level playing field for lawyers and other PWDs within Nigeria, and especially in courts rooms and its environs. (NAN)

DOM/FLP/WOJ

=========

Edited by Folorunso Poroye/Wale Ojetimi

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

Uncategorized

NGO trains 49 persons on constituency project tracking in Enugu

NGO trains 49 persons on constituency project tracking in Enugu

By Emmanuel Acha
Tracking
Enugu, Sept. 6, 2019 (NAN) Divine Era Development and Social Rights Initiatives (DEDSRI), an NGO, has trained 49 focal persons to track the implementation of constituency projects in Enugu State.

begun the process of tracking constituency projects attracted to six local government areas of the state.

The Executive Director of the organisation, Ms Ogechukwu Enwelum, disclosed this on Friday while addressing the trainees in Enugu.

She said the beneficiaries were trained to monitor the status of constituency projects attracted to the affected areas in the last four years.

Enwelum said that the training was done in collaboration with ActionAid Nigeria under a project called ‘Strengthening Citizens’ Resistance Against Prevalence of Corruption (SCRAP-C)’.

She said that the project currently implemented in six states of the federation would empower the citizenry to hold their political representatives accountable.

Enwelum said that the project tracking would cover those attracted by national and state legislators.

She said that it was sad that much money had been expended on constituency projects across the country without commensurate result.

The executive director said the trainees would monitor projects attracted to Awgu, Enugu North, Enugu East and Igboetiti Local Government Areas of the state.

Others are Oji River and Uzo Uwani Local Government Areas.

She said that the field verification would cover no fewer than 1000 projects awarded in 2016, 2017, 2018 and part of 2019.

“Part of the process will involve physical verification of the projects and interface with the beneficiaries and service providers.

“We have to find out if the various projects as quoted are actually in existence at their various locations,” she said.

Enwelum said that the status of the projects and other relevant information would be extracted from the service providers and executing government institutions, among others.

“According to statistics, about N21 billion have been expended on constituency projects in the last three years but we are yet to feel the impact.

“The NGO trains 49 persons on constituency project tracking in Enugu are to reduce poverty at the grassroots which is majorly caused by corruption.

“When these deprivations are dealt with, many Nigerians will be liberated from poverty,” Enwelum said.

One of the trainees, Mr Nelson Oko, said that they were getting disappointed by the actions of some of their political representatives whom he said had not justified their positions.

Oko said that it had become necessary to hold such people accountable for their stewardship.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ActionAid Nigeria is a member of ActionAid global federation.

It is a global movement of people working together to further human rights for all and defeat poverty. (NAN)
EOA/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Enugu Govt distributes 90,000 treated nets

Enugu Govt distributes 90,000 treated nets
By Maureen Ojinaka
Nets
Enugu, Aug. 29, 2019 (NAN) The Enugu State Government has distributed 90,000 long lasting insecticidal treated nets to residents across the state from January 2019 to date.
Mrs Obigeli Agbo, the state Malaria Elimination Programme Manager, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Enugu.
Agbo said that the nets were made available to only pregnant women and children under the age of five for mosquito bite and malaria prevention.
She explained that the distribution was made through the help of volunteers in the 17 local government areas of the state.
The manager added that 450 volunteers were trained by the state government for the exercise.
She said that 20 volunteers were sent to each local government to monitor the usage of the nets as some might try to use them for something else.
“The purpose of using the volunteers was to make sure that the nets get to the targeted population which are pregnant women and children under the age of five.
“Volunteers were used to see that the distributed nets were collected and used for the purpose of which they were procured.
“The state government with support of Save One Million Lives project, a World Bank assisted project, planned to procure more of the treated nets as the 90,000 distributed earlier is not enough,’’ she said. (NAN)
OJI/OIF/MST
Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Truancy: Enugu Govt warns health workers

Truancy: Enugu Govt warns health workers
By Maureen Ojinaka
Warning
Enugu, Aug. 23, 2019 (NAN) The Enugu State Government has warned health workers in the state against truancy, including absenteeism and lack of commitment to duty.
Dr Okechukwu Ossai, the Administrator, Enugu State Hospital Management Board, issued the warning in an interview with the News Agency (NAN) on Friday in Enugu.
Ossai said that truancy, lousiness, laziness, absenteeism and lack of dedication to work would henceforth attract severe disciplinary actions.
He noted that the major challenge observed in most of the state government hospitals is the absenteeism of health workers.
According to him, laziness, truancy, lousiness and absence from duty by the medical and health workers in the hospitals was eroding the confidence of communities and patient in healthcare service delivery.
The administrator explained that he was mandated by the state government to bring health personnel back on their feet and to work towards re-building citizens confidence in them.
“As the hospital administrator of Enugu State, Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has given me the mandate to get the staff back to work and carry out their duties effectively.
“The state government has spent so much resources in providing medical equipments and free maternal and child care treatment as well as training of the health workers in the state,” he said.
Ossai therefore advised the health workers to make good use of the knowledge acquired during their training because acquiring knowledge without making use of it is a waste of time and government resources.
“Try and give back to the society whatever knowledge you acquired in the course of your job and training so as to be relevant to yourselves, the society and to the government that employed and trained you,” he said. (NAN)
OJI/ZGA/MST
Edited by Zainab G. Adamu/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Defence/Security

NIS moves to register irregular immigrants in Enugu

By Emmanuel Acha
Immigration
Enugu, July 22, 2019 (NAN) The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) says it will meet with Chairmen of Local Goverment Areas of Enugu State towards a hitch-free E-registration of irregular migrants in the state.

The NIS Comptroller in the state, Mr Ayodele Arogundade, disclosed this on Monday in Enugu during a courtesy visit to Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

He said the exercise, which would be done at both the state and local government levels, would ensure internal security of lives and property of such areas.

He appealed to the governor to facilitate a crucial meeting of all the council chairmen in the state whom he described as critical stakeholders in the project.

Arogundade said such meeting would enable the command to adequately enlighten the council chairmen and other stakeholders on the importance of the registration exercise.

“The exercise will enable officers make extensive efforts to identify and document every non-Nigerian residing in Enugu State,”  he said.

He said the desire of the NIS was to strengthen the internal security of the component units of the country.

“We will continue to operate within the realms of our extant laws to check, control and monitor the presence and activities of non-Nigerians in Enugu state,” he said.

The comptroller commended the governor for his foresight and proactive measures in constituting a sectoral ad-hoc committee on security to enhance the peace and safety of lives and property of residents of the state.

Arogundade said the service was pleased with the cordial relationship between the NIS and the state government.

Responding, Ugwuanyi said his administration will continue to provide enabling environment for all agencies of government to thrive in the state.

He said the request made by the comptroller would be addressed and assured him of greater collaboration. (NAN)
EOA/CHOM/MST
Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Economy

TCN lift suspension order on Enugu Disco

TCN lift suspension order on Enugu Disco

By Constance Imasuen
Suspension
Abuja, July 4, 2019 (NAN) The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) says it has lifted the suspension and disconnection orders issued Enugu Distribution Company (DisCo).

The suspension order, which was posted on TCN’s twitter handle @TCN_Nigeria on Thursday, said the suspension was lifted after the DisCo complied with the market conditions/participation agreement.

Eko and Ikeja Discos suspension had earlier been lifted by TCN.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Government had ordered that three electricity distribution companies, Eko, Enugu and Ikeja, be disconnected from the national grid.

The DisCos were said to have failed to renew their security cover and were allegedly owing the TCN energy service debt to the tune of N231 billion. (NAN)
COA/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Minimum wage: Gov. Ugwuanyi urge workers to pray for financial windfall

By Emmanuel Acha
Salary
Enugu, May 1, 2019 (NAN) Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has urged workers to pray for financial windfall to enable his administration implement the new national wage.

Ugwuanyi made the call on Wednesday in Enugu during the 2019 May Day celebration held in the state.

The governor said that his administration was committed to the welfare of workers and had prioritised payment of salary and pension.

He said that his administration would do everything to ensure continuous harmonious working relationship between government and workers.

Ugwuanyi said that he had noted the new national minimum wage approved by President Muhammadu Buhari effective from April 2019.

“We will ensure that these issues are comprehensively and satisfactorily addressed in concert with other relevant government agencies and departments,” he said.

Ugwuanyi therefore charged workers in the state to pray for financial breakthrough while remaining true to their obligations.

Earlier in an address, the Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the state, Mr Chukwuma Igbokwe, said that the good relationship between government and workers had translated to improved workers’ welfare.

Igbokwe commended the state government for setting aside N100 million monthly for the payment of backlog of gratuities.

He noted that the latest release would pay up to September 2010 gratuities.

The chairman, however, said that it had become imperative to increase the money to N200 million as there were a lot of outstanding gratuities.

Igbokwe also said that pensioners in government parastatals were owed up to 32 months.

He appealed to the state government to centralise the system of salary payment to enable workers in government parastatals get salaries same time with their peers in the ministries.

Also speaking, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Virginus Nwobodo, said that the governor had within his first tenure given workers hope.

Nwobodo said that the state government had paid over six years of gratuities in batches.

He therefore appealed for increase of the monthly release to N300 million to enable prompt payment.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the highlight of the celebration was march-past by the various trade unions. (NAN)
EOA/MAM/MST
Edited by Modupe Adeloye/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Harmattan: Enugu residents rush for 2nd-hand sweaters

Harmattan: Enugu residents rush for 2nd-hand sweaters
By Maureen Ojinaka
Cold
Enugu, Jan. 10, 2019 (NAN) Some residents of Enugu, particularly women, have increased their patronage for second-hand sweaters as the harmattan cold intensifies.
A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who visited the popular markets in the metropolis on Thursday reports that buyers swamped the sellers in markets for such sweaters.
Some buyers told NAN that it was necessary to buy sweaters at this period of harmattan at an affordable cost to save them and the children from the biting cold.
Mrs Regina Ozor, a buyer at Ogbette market, said that the harmattan was severe and that she had to buy the sweaters affordable in the second-hand clothes market so as to safeguard her and the children from cold which could lead to cough or asthma.
“This year’s harmattan is too harsh, especially for children and if they are not well protected, they can easily be affected with cold which can definitely lead them to having cough and as well as developing asthma at tender age.
“Prevention is better than cure because it can only cause someone a little to prevent a sickness than treating it.
“That is why many women are coming to market just to buy cold protective wears mainly for their kids,” Ozor said.
Another buyer, Mrs Ekwy Ilodibe, at the new market said that the high cost of new sweaters drove mothers to the second-hand market which was a bit cheaper.
Ilodibe explained that children needed to be protected from harmattan with thick sweaters due to harsh cold associated with the season.
Mr Solomon Egbuna, another buyer at the market, said that it was necessary for him to buy sweater in this period because of his health challenge.
“Since the harmattan set in, I have been experiencing severe cough as well as chest pain which are associated to the harsh cold of harmattan,’’ according to Egbuna.
Mr Emmanuel Orji, a dealer in second-hand sweaters at the Ogbette main market, said that the severity of the cold associated with the harmattan had made many, especially women, to rush for sweaters.
Orji added that the cold could not be overlooked or ignored no matter how poor a person may be, thereby forcing many residents to patronise them.
According to him, a good quality children’s sweater goes for between N700 and N1,500, while that of adults go for between N1,000 and N1,900.
Mrs Chibuzor Nnamani, a dealer, said that despite the difficulties in bringing in the sweaters, including payment of import duties and harassment from the Custom officials, she had not quit the business because of its high patronage.
“Since I import directly from the source, I pay heavily to Customs and sometimes the officials harass me on my way to Enugu from Lagos, though, it is a business that is patronised by everyone,” she said. (NAN)
MO/ECN/MST
Edited by Emmanuel Nwoye/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Yuletide: Prices of tomatoes, pepper drops in Enugu

Yuletide: Prices of tomatoes, pepper drops in Enugu
By Maureen Ojinaka
Vegetables
Enugu, Dec. 22, 2018 (NAN) The Prices of tomatoes and pepper have dropped considerably in major markets in Enugu metropolis, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
A market survey conducted by NAN on Saturday revealed that prices of both tomatoes and pepper had reduced when compared to what their prices were some months ago.
The price of a big basket of tomatoes sell between N12,000 and N14,500, depending on the specie of tomatoes as there are presently two species in the market.
The price of small baskets of tomatoes cost between N7,000 and N8,000.
A tomatoes seller at Akwata Market, Mrs Uju Ogbu, attributed the drop in price of tomatoes to harvesting season.
Ogbu says the UTC specie that comes from Jos are gradually coming into the market because this is its harvest period.
According to her, some months back, the UTC was sold between N17,000 and N18,500 while the other species from Benue was between N14,000 and N15,000.
Mrs Ijema Ewulu, another tomatoe trader at Garki market, said that the price of tomatoes would further crash as the season was gradually setting in.
Mrs Oluchi Eze, a customer, who came to buy tomatoes at Mayor Market, added that towards the end of every year, price of tomatoes tend to fall compared to the price in second quarter of the year.
Eze called on governments to build silos for traders who sell perishable items such as tomatoes, pepper and vegetables to preserve these perishable food items in order to make them available to customers every time.
Meanwhile, NAN observed that the price of red pepper had slightly dropped as a bag of medium size pepper was sold between N14,000 and N15,000.
“But now it is sold for N13,000 and N11,000 due to availability of Nsukka specie of both yellow and red pepper in Enugu’’.
Another specie of red pepper called ‘Tattashe’ is also available in the markets and a five litre paint container which is used for measurement is sold for N1,000 as against N1,200. (NAN)
OJI/GOM/MST
Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Muhammad Suleiman Tola