Nigerian allegedly involved in drug peddling killed in Jakarta

April 27, 2017

source (thejakartapost.com)

A Nigerian alleged to have smuggled drug into Indonesia was shot dead after resisting arrest in Tanah Tinggi, Central Jakarta on Monday.

Jakarta Police Chief Insp. Gen. M. Iriawan said the police shot Douglas Hope Onyebuchi, aka Kabaka, who was resident of Apartment Gading Nias, Kelapa Gading in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta.

The police also said that Douglas, who is a Nigerian citizen from Amapu Igbengwo in Umuakpara, Osisioma Ngwa local government area of Abia State, was a suspect in a drug smuggling case.

Iriawan said the police,  in collaboration with the Directorate General of Customs and Excise tracked Onyebuchi and his Indonesian wife Yani Andriani, after they were suspected of smuggling a package containing two kilograms of methamphetamine from Guangzhou, China.

“Some drugs were shipped from Guangzhou, disguised in pairs of sandals. We later followed the shipment to Jl. Cengkir Raya in Kelapa Gading,” said Iriawan.

The police said Andriani was seen watching the package placed inside one of the rooms in the dorm house.

"We watched her for two days until we concluded that she was a suspect.” the Police chief said.

The police then went on to arrest Andriani whose investigation led the police to another location on Jl. Maladewa in Tanah Tinggi, where Douglas was hiding.

“During his arrest, he fought back and tried to grab one of the officers’ guns. Therefore, we had no choice but to take him down,” Iriawan said.

Stakeholders urge INEC to take continuous voter registration to hinterlands

April 27, 2017

By Ijendu Iheaka

Stakeholders in Aba have called on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to move the continuous voter registration exercise which began on Thursday to the polling units to ensure effectiveness.

They said that it would not be easy for people in the hinterlands especially young people who just came off age to pay their way to the local government headquarters to do the voter registration.

The stakeholders made the call on Thursday at stakeholders' fora organised by INEC at different local government councils in Aba to sensitize people about the ongoing exercise.

Chief White Ibe, Acting Chairman, APC, Aba North said he appreciated the forum and promised to do his best to make the exercise a success.

“As we are leaving this place, I am going to inform the party leaders, ward chairmen and others so that everybody will come out especially those who have not reach age 18 during the last registration to register.

“I believe it is going to be fruitful if we do all that we need to do but I am appealing to INEC to take this exercise to the polling units instead of calling people to come to the local government headquarters, it will be more effective that way. That is my appeal,” he said.

Ibe urged INEC to reduce the suffering most registered voters in Aba undergo by arranging the Permanent Voters Card (PVC) according to the polling units and wards to ease collection. 

Elder Israel Aguwa, PDP Chairman for Aba North promised to help ensure the success of the continuous registration but added that it should also be made to reach the grassroots to succeed.

 The Aba North INEC Electoral Officer, Mrs Nnennaya Ama said the continuous registration was needed to enable registration of people below 18 in 2015 and those who had problems with their registration.

She said that many people have registered and INEC knows what to do with regards to the stakeholders' request to take the exercise to the hinterlands.

She said her office has PVCs not yet collected but added that people were coming to collect their PVCs from the INEC office.

 The Aba South INEC Electoral Officer, Mrs Chiebonam Ojembe urged registered voters in Aba South to come and collect their PVCs.

She said that Aba South has the largest volume of cards lying at the Abia state INEC office and wondered how people voted in the 2015 elections adding that 2019 elections would not be business as usual. 

She said that the PVC collection had started on 27 March 2017 while the continuous registration was beginning today to enable people be ready for 2019 elections. 

INEC's Continuous Voter registration records difficulties on first day in Aba

April 27, 2017

By Ijendu Iheaka
 
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s continuous registration exercise in Abia state which commenced Thursday morning in Aba has run into hitches.
 

Our reporter who visited Aba South local government council reports that the turnout of prospective voters was impressive for the first day.

However, the response of the staff to the prospective voters who came to register was not encouraging as the INEC staff complained that their generating sets were dysfunctional.

The staff were seen trying to start two generating sets which effort seemed to fail because the sets were not responding.

Mr Bara Ogbonna, 60, said his earlier registration efforts failed because the machine had problem registering his finger prints properly and so he could not vote at the last election.

He expressed disappointment at the way the exercise was starting saying that before he came to for registration he had scanty information on it.

He however complained that on reaching the INEC office, he was told that people seeking fresh registration should come with a passport photograph which he did not have.

He said that he wanted to register and vote hence he was leaving to go collect his passport to enable him complete the process.

Wilson Ndukwe said that he came with no prior information on the passport requirement but learnt of it at the INEC office and wondered if it was a new system the government was introducing.

The Electoral Officer, Aba South, Mrs Chiebonam Ojembe told this reporter that they were ready to start registration adding that she was leaving for the stakeholders meeting to sensitize the community.

At Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Council, a young man was seen pasting posters announcing the registration process on the wall outside INEC office premises.

The man who did not give his name however was heard telling a Youth Corps member who wanted to register to return on Tuesday when “everything will be ready for the registration”.

When this reporter entered the Osisioma INEC office, there was no single staff at the place but only a seat with a table in front of it with a marking pen on it was seen at the corridor.

At the Aba North local government council, few people were seen waiting to register while INEC staff were bringing out generating sets and other items to work with.

Although a staff who asked for anonymity said they would start fully on Tuesday, the Electoral Officer, Mrs Nnennaya Ama said they were ready for the exercise.

She however noted that she was going to attend a stakeholders meeting to sensitize the community more on the exercise before they would start registration.

Nigerian Navy to source uniform items from Abia state producers

April 27, 2017


By Ijendu Iheaka


The Chief of Naval Staff, Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas  on Wednesday promised to partner Abia state in production of navy uniform items and shoes for its rank and file.

Ibas disclosed the navy’s willingness to source its uniform items from Abia state manufacturers through the Team Leader, CNS’ delegation to Abia state, Commodore Chris Obenta during their visit to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu in Aba.

He said that the navy chief received Abia government’s letter requesting a partnership in the production of its uniform items and had sent the team to access the possibility of the partnership.

“A while ago the Abia state government wrote a letter to the Naval authorities saying there is a need to partner with them in the production of Naval uniform items.

“The CNS was very happy with the gesture and he constituted a team and sent its members to come and see the facilities available in the state to access the feasibility of the partnership. That is why we are here.

“Yes, from what the governor has said and from the few samples of the materials we have seen, they are of fine quality. I believe that we are going to have a partnership eventually from the little I have seen so far”, he said.

The CNS said that the partnership achieve optimum operational capacity for the navy and also align the navy's focus on the direction of Nigerian government's policy on local content.

In his response, Gov. Ikpeazu welcome the CNS’ team and thanked the Naval authorities for their prompt response to the letter sent them for the partnership.

Ikpeazu said that the made in Aba campaign by his administration was a philosophy meant to engrain in Nigerians the desire to buy Nigeria, live Nigeria and enjoy Nigeria.

The governor said that the campaign was yielding results as made in Aba products are now bearing "Made in Nigeria" and noted that effort was a commendable one on the part of his government.

He said that the navy being a strategic partner in protection of the country's territorial integrity and in economic development, its patronage of made-in-Aba products would boost the confidence of the producers and result in better quality goods.

Ikpeazu said that the local production of the uniform items of the navy and other agencies provided the local manufacturers opportunity to showcase their creativity and ingenuity adding that Abia will not miss such opportunity.

He commended the Nigerian military for their effort at securing the country around the Creeks of the delta and the North East zone.

The governor also urged Nigerians to show appreciation for the military's efforts and sacrifices noting that with little assistance its performance will turn out to be the best in Africa.

Abia needs legislation-backed development strategy to succeed - former Commissioner

April 25, 2017

By Ijendu Iheaka

Mr Precious Nwakodo, Former Commissioner for Special Duties, Abia, says the state  government ought to take a cue from Lagos state in designing a sustainable development strategy.

Nwakodo disclosed this in an interview with our reporter in Aba on Tuesday.

He urged the state government to produce a strategic development blueprint for the development of the state which must be supported by law and followed by coming administrations to ensure Abia’s development.

Nwakodo noted that the state would make no progress if administrations come and go with their own plans and projects adding that the result would only be backwardness in the state.

The former commissioner thanked Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for his foresightedness shown in his five pillars of development work plan which includes education, agriculture, oil and gas, trade and commerce.

He said that the governor’s decision would go a long way in bringing the much needed progress Abia had lacked into the state.

He however asked for a legislation supported plan that would help future administrations key into the development plans of the current administration to advance the state on the path of progress.

“Abia as a state needs to have set goals which is what I think the present government is trying to do.

“And the people as a corporate entity need to understand, this is the direction we want to go as a people and a state.

“Let us give the government the support so that it will achieve its goals. We should not see a government as a PDP or APC governor or government”, he said.

He also urged Ikpeazu’s administration to ensure its plans were enfolded in the vision and blue-print of Abia’s founding fathers at its creation in 1990 to entrench the spirit of equity.

Nwakodo further counseled the government to follow the initial blue-print for the state’s development at inception and amend some parts if needed to sustain progress in Abia.

Abia CP reads riot act for new crime-fighting outfit

April 24, 2017


By Ijendu Iheaka


The Abia State Police Commissioner, Mr Leye Oyebade has charged policemen in its new outfit Tactical Response Squad to desist from using it to extort motorists stressing that such acts are unacceptable.

Oyebade gave the charge on Monday in Aba while addressing the squad tagged Operation Combat Ready set up to upgrade the security architecture of Aba metropolis.

“Our operational stop and search points are not points to be used to extort money. They are points to be used to do the work with all the professional ethics that the police calling demands.

“I expect you to be above board as Caesar’s wife. Don’t use this to extort money from Keke NAPEP, and other people who are supposed to enjoy the benefit of our service.

“You are here to serve and ensure you serve with integrity. Extortion will not be accepted.

“Please do not let there be any incidence of accidental discharge. You are supposed to control the arms you have not the arms controlling you. You should know when to use and not to use your arms”, he said.

Oyebade said that with the new outfit, the command had increased its stop and search points in Aba to 25 stressing that they are not road blocks and will only be used as the need arises.

He said that the new outfit was set up specifically to confront heinous crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, child stealing and other vices headlong.

The CP said that although there were police units already working to reduce crime rate in Aba, the new outfit was not set up to duplicate effort but to compliment and improve their operations.

Oyebade said that Aba needed the strengthening of its security of lives and property because of its fast growing capacity as the commercial hub for Abia state and Nigeria.

He said that as an upcoming commercial hub, Aba required an enabling environment for businesses to thrive which could only be made available with adequate security.

Oyebade therefore called on the public and all stakeholders in Aba to support their effort to “make Aba relatively crime free” by giving the police reliable information on suspected criminals.

He urged the public to always contact them through 07069441296 (Aba Control room line) and 07061866080 (CP’s SMS-only line or 08035415405, and 08079210003-5 (Umuahia control room ).

Abia Polytechnic matriculates 2,949 students for 2017 academic session

 March 21, 2017 

By Ijendu Iheaka

The Abia state Polytechnic, Aba on Friday matriculated 2,949 registered students to study in various departments of the institution.

The number comprises 1,995 National Diploma and 954 High National Diploma students with 34 students on Evening Programmes and 2, 915 on Morning or regular programmes.  

The School of Business and Management Technology matriculated 2,035 students, School of Environmental Design and Technology 76, School of Engineering Technology 217 and School of Science and Industrial Technology 621.

Speaking at the 23rd Matriculation ceremony of the Polytechnic, the Acting Rector, Prof Ezionye Eboh said that the institution had added new innovations to improve quality standards in the school.

He said that the institution now has a new portal which would enable the students register their courses and access their results online.

He, however urged them to pay their school fees on time stressing that only students who comply with this directive will enjoy the benefits such as is provided by the portal.

Eboh said that the school would not tolerate any form of indiscipline by staff or students adding that it has instituted an Ethics and Quality Assurance Committee to check indiscipline.

He said that the committee would investigate all cases of sorting and other forms of intimidation by staff and report such to his office for action.

He also said that he had made available his phone number to all students to call or send text messages when they want to report any form of irregularity by lecturers or staff.

Eboh assured staff that the problem of salary arrears the school is currently suffering would be a thing of the past soon and enjoined them to work hard to restore the lost glory of the Polytechnic.

He thanked Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for his commitment to ensuring that “Abia state Polytechnic gets out of the slippery slope”.

“As we deliver on our promises, especially in our thrive towards excellence in technology, we will be guided by global best practices such that graduates of this Polytechnic can raise their heads with pride anywhere in the world”, he said.

He thanked Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for his commitment to ensuring that "Abia state Polytechnic gets out of the slippery slope". 

Mr Golden Egbuchulam, Mrs Amarachi Umah, Public Administration students and Miss Fenibo Ibitenibo-Ofori, Science Laboratory Technology student said they were very happy to be among those admitted to study at the polytechnic.

They promised to work hard to fulfill their dreams and justify the sacrifices of their parents and sponsors adding that they would not be part of cultism or payment for marks on campus.

Abia polytechnic sacks eight more staff for various offenses

 

April 20, 2017

By Ijendu Iheaka

The Acting Rector, Abia state Polytechnic, Prof Ezionye Eboh has said that he the institution had relieved eight workers of their jobs for various offenses. 
 

He said that the eight persons committed offenses ranging from forgery of results, stealing of money or books of the institution, doctoring grades and others.

Although Eboh said he had no intention to sack workers, he swore that any found wanting in any area must leave adding that the polytechnic would support committed staff to do better.

Eboh disclosed this during an interactive session with newsmen in his office in Aba on Thursday to update them on his activities in his “two months in office to avoid misinterpretation of facts”.

 “There are a number of panel reports before us which we are working on but realize that we did not come here to sack anybody yet it is important to note that this hallowed chamber has not hiding place for people who should not be here.

“We are looking at all corners to help us improve standards but we are not here to sack anybody. Yet we know that God will give us the grace to let those who have done wrong things know they have done wrong things and to apply appropriate disciplinary measures. 

Eboh said that the institution had earlier relieved about 16 staff of their offices for failing certificate West African Examination Council Certificate verification exercise.

Eboh said that his administration would not condone lecturers' molesting and abusing students of the institution for any reason adding that "it would no longer be business as usual in the Polytechnic.

He said he had given the students his phone numbers to call to report any issue of molestation and intimidation or abuse to curtail the menace by lecturers in Abia Polytechnic.

The professor said that the polytechnic was not the only obligation of the government adding that while the governor was fulfilling his obligations to it, its management should work harder to ensure its survival.

He said that at a time when government revenue sources were running dry, the Polytechnic’s managers should take steps to increase its internal revenue by improving its services to society.

Eboh said that the institution had ensured blockage of all fund leakages through mandating students to pay all their fees at the banks.

He further said that his administration was working hard to ensure its revenue sources yielded the expected revenue without the funds going into individual’s pockets.

“We are here to institute a system that works. We are not looking at anybody’s face. We are encouraging our staff and students to do the right thing.

“The children here are ours and we must ensure delivery of the products for which they have come here”, he said.

He said the polytechnic instituted a taskforce to ensure results of graduating students in Ordinary National Diploma (OND) and High National Diploma (HND) were reconciled on time to enable them go for national service.

He said a committee had also been created to make lecturers release the student’s results on time.

He said that institute would no longer condone selling books in the class but through the bookshop which in turn pays the lecturers’ whose books were sold.

My husband engages in sex with a man on our matrimonial bed – Woman tells court

April 19, 2017

By Ijendu Iheaka

Anulika Onyemaechi has told an Aba-la-Ohazu Customary Court that her husband threw her out of their home to enable him continue committing sodomy with his homosexual friend.

Anulika, respondent to Benjamin Onyemaechi, her husband’s petition against her said that her husband’s adultery, practice of sodomy with one Samuel Ndube and his wickedness led him to seeking to dissolve their marriage.

She said she met Benjamin for the first time in April 2009 at Divine Faith Ministry, Enugu and through the false prophesy of Pastor Emmanuel Apata, the marriage between them was contracted based on  religious manipulation.

She stressed that although Benjamin had been waking her up with slap most mornings and contributed to the cause of death of her father and 29 year-old younger brother, she still loved him.

“Our marriage has not broken down irretrievably because I have never at anytime had any boy or man friend and has not committed any adultery but has maintained a high level of morality, integrity and holiness.

“I still love him despite his wickedness towards me and have never meted wickedness nor reciprocated his cruelty.

“It was my husband who has committed adultery since our marriage with his former concubine, Miss Stella.

“He is also reasonably suspected of engaging in Sodomy by sleeping on our matrimonial bed with his man friend, one Mr Samuel Ndube regularly,” she told the court.

According to Anulika, on February 27, 2014 her husband pushed her away from their matrimonial home and forced her to relocate to her village after collecting her belongings.

She however said she was opposed to Benjamin’s petition asking court to dissolve their marriage adding that their marriage had not broken down irretrievably as her husband claimed.

Benjamin had asked the court to dissolve their marriage alleging that Anulika’s adulterousness, cruelty and penchant for falsehood had broken the marriage irretrievably hence she could no longer be his wife.

He further asked court to grant him custody of their two children.

Both parties were present in court with their lawyers.

While ruling, Senior Magistrate Diamond Olewengwa said that Benjamin could not put through sufficient evidence to prove his claims against his wife Anulika.

He said that following the lack of love between the man and his wife, visible through the failed effort of relations to reconcile the parties, the marriage had broken down irretrievably.

He noted that following Anulika’s averments that their marriage was contracted based on religious manipulation of Emmanuel Apata, the union cannot be allowed to continue.

“It is clear that the centre can no longer hold. This court will do a great service by severing this union and allowing them to be alive rather not doing so and one party would become history.

“This court must not condone irrationality. The marriage has broken down irretrievably and hereby stands dissolved”, he said.

He ordered Anulika to return the N10, 000 paid on her head through the court and revert to her maiden or any other name she wished.

Olewengwa also granted her custody of their son until he clocks 8 years and continued custody of the girl until she clocks 18 years while giving Benjamin the freedom to visit them.

He ordered the man to pay into Anulika’s account N50,000 for severing their union, another N30, 000 for her properties and N60, 000 monthly for the children’s upkeep.

Olewengwa enjoined them not to constitute threats to each other adding that they were free to remarry anyone they wanted from then onwards.

Military board of inquiry to welcome witnesses from Pro - Biafra groups

April 13, 2017

By Ijendu Iheaka

The board of inquiry set up by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Turkur Buratai to investigate human rights violations has said it would welcome witnesses from Movement for Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Aba.

The Chairman, Mjr Gen. Ahmed Jubril stated this in Aba on Thursday when his team visited the Forward Operation Base (FOB) of 144 Battalion at Ngwa High School, Aba to speak with soldiers.

He however said that his team would not go looking for the MASSOB and IPOB members because they were not the complainants in the petition which warranted the setting up of the board of inquiry.

“Well if they are ready to see us we will hear them but we are not going to look for them because they did not complain. They were not the ones that complained.

“They are not the complainant in this case. It is the Human Rights Groups that wrote these allegations that was the reason this board was set up,” he said.

He said that the board would guarantee their security when they appear before it noting that it was not set up to carry out any hidden agenda.

The General said they were in Abia state to principally to confer with the government of Abia state and hear its view of the killings of IPOB members on February 9, 2016.

“We are here to hear from them their view of what happened on February 9, 2016 at the National High School, Aba where it was alleged that some IPOB members were gathering.

“And when it turned violent, the police left the place and when the soldiers came they opened fire and killed 10 people and they were carried out of Aba and buried in shallow graves along the Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway,” he said.

He said his team had discussed with Abia government and were on their way to speak with the National High School, Aba Principal to speak and others who witnessed the killings including soldiers who conducted the operation.

He said that the team had two days, Wednesday and Thursday, to stay in Aba adding that they gave Governor Ikpeazu’s Security Adviser their phone number and email with which people can contact them.

Jubril said that they had been to Anambra state where they visited Onitsha and Mkpor to speak with witnesses.

He said the board comprises 9 members including the secretary, Lt. Col. Chukwuemeka Akaniro, two lawyers, Olawale Faponda and Tony Ojukwu of the Human Rights Commission and Brig Gen Tunji Olayinka.

Others were Brig. Gen. Dada Garba rtd, Col. Paul Izukanne rtd, Col. Lawal Gwambai and, Col Lawal Mohammed.

Jubril told reporters that although they were in Abia to cover the killings allegedly committed by the army, their brief included investigating all allegations of human rights violation by the army.

Jubril is the chairman, Special Board of Inquiry investigating all cases of Human Rights Violation by the personnel of the Nigerian Army from their Operations against Insurgents in the North East and the Internal Security Operations in the South East.

The board was set up by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai on March 8, 2017 to verify the authenticity or otherwise of the Amnesty International’s claims.

The setting up of the board followed the 2016 report of Amnesty International which accused the Nigerian Army and other security agencies of human rights violation in parts of the Country including Aba which the army said was a lie.

Two 2 residents of Aba had been killed on 18 January 2016 and at least 6 others on 9 February 2016 by the Nigerian Army personnel in Aba which resulted in the outcry Amnesty International followed up in their report.

NARICT's new adhesive, solution to local manufacturers' problem - Acting Director

By Ijendu Iheaka

April 13, 2017

The National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT) says the institute has developed a strong adhesives that will solve a major bonding challenge facing local manufacturers.

The Acting Director, NARICT, South East /South South zones, Mr Vincent Oriah made this known in an interview with our reporter in Aba on Thursday.

He said that the strong adhesive known as “multi-purpose adhesives” would save Nigeria some dollars in foreign exchange by reducing the rate local producers import adhesives for use.

“The leather products producers have been complaining of the quality of adhesives they receive from importers who adulterate and sell to them.

“They say the adulterated adhesives have affected the quality of their final products and that is very true.

“But now we have developed an adhesive called the multi-purpose adhesive because the garment industry, the furniture industry, the leather products industry can also use it.

“Today, we are planning to launch the adhesive we have produced that is very suitable for these industries using local raw materials at the national level,” Oriah said.

Oriah said that the raw materials used in the production of the adhesives were sourced locally from agro-based and petro-chemical-based materials available in the country.

According to him, the production of the adhesives will be a sustainable commercial venture because of the availability of local raw materials for it, if the government supports its up scaling.

He said that the research work on it was still on course, adding that from its present stage, his office was seeking the support of the Federal Government to scale it up.

“I have written and by the grace of God, the minister will respond. The next step will be to take it up to pilot scale level as we have completed the bench work, gotten the product and have tested it and seen that it is okay.

“After government might have responded, then we will build the pilot scale plant with which we will be manufacturing maybe 500 litres a day or more.

“At that point the investors can come in and say let me invest on this or the government can still take it up again and increase it at a higher commercial level,” he said.

Abia State farmers to access fertilizers from Wednesday - Commissioner

April 11, 2017

By Ijendu Iheaka

The Abia state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Uzo Azubuike, has said that the fertilizers the state acquired for its farmers would be available to them from Wednesday, April 12.

The Commissioner disclosed this in Aba on Tuesday while speaking with our reporter.

Azubuike said that the fertilizers would be sold to every Abia farmer who wants to buy and at the rate of N6000 per bag.

He noted that unlike in 2016, there would be no allocation of fertilizers to farmers in 2017 but farmers would be free to get as much as they needed and on first come, first served basis.

He further explained that the ministry was working hard to encourage youths to go into farming through the introduction of various aspects of farming such as mushroom farming to them.

“The mushroom production is our own creation. We have brought experts who have established a mushroom farm right on the premises of the ministry of Agriculture in Umuahia.

“And what we have done there is to create another avenue so that our people would not think that Agriculture is limited to growing of yam, cassava, plantain and all that.

“We are creating new areas that would absorb our graduates. The mushroom farm is a very technical and highly sophisticated aspect of farming where you do not need to dig any hole.

“The farm grows under an air-conditioned environment. You can put on your white clothe and go to the farm without going under the sun. It uses an in-house technique. And you know today people are looking away from animal protein to things like this”, he said.

Azubuike said that the ministry had scheduled training for 340 farmers before the end of April on mushroom farming to boost its production to meet a very high demand for mushroom.

“So we are training 40 youths per local government. That is how we want to start so that many people will now go into that,” he said.

The commissioner said that Abia was committed to raising a new breed of farmers who would work with improved seedlings to boost the state’s Internally Generated Income to solve its problems.

He said that the state was raising improved cassava breeds at a pilot farm at Omuma Uzo, Ukwa West LGA to give farmers high-yielding breeds that are resistant to pests.

He also said that the state under its oil palm revolution aimed at driving Abia state’s economy in the next six years, planned to raise about 10 million palm seedlings between 2016 and 2018.

“We have a target of raising 10.5 million seedlings from 2016 to 2018 within our regime. We have started a nursery sitting at Ahiaba- Umueze in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area of Abia state.

“For now people have over-subscribed the 2 million that we have raised. This year we are going to raise another 3 million and next year we are going to do 2.5 million and that will hit our target of 7.5 million seedlings.

“We hope that  in the next 5 to 6 years, Abia state would not need to attend the Federation Allocation Committee meeting in Abuja before it can pay workers salaries or build its roads. We want to wholly depend on our agricultural products,” he asserted.