Tinubu promises Renewed Hope Housing Estate for states yet to get

 By Ijendu Iheaka 

Umuahia, June 27, 2024.

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday assured states yet to get Renewed Hope Housing Estate that they would get theirs in 2024 after providing free land.

He promised that such states not covered under the 2023 Supplementary Budget for the project will be included in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development's 2024 Budget.

The president made the promise while performing the groundbreaking ceremony of the 250,000 Units Renewed Hope Housing Estate at Umuoche in Bende LGA of Abia.

Tinubu charged the developers of the Estate, Messrs Camp David Global Synergy Ltd, and Messrs Finuch Investment Ltd, to build according to specifications to ensure durability.

Tinubu was represented at the event by the Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Mr Ahmed Dangiwa.

He said the government will not tolerate substandard work hence the need for the developers to be committed to delivering quality work according to contractual terms.

He further tasked them to ensure the project would be ready within three months, to enable indigenes begin purchasing and occupying them.

"We have created different options to enable everyone who has a source of income and livelihood to own these homes when they are completed.

"These include single-digit mortgage loans that beneficiaries can repay over 30 years.

There is also the rent-to-own schemes provided by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, and outright purchase options for people  who pay upfront", he said.

The president said that according to statistics, the construction of one housing unit would create an average of 25 direct and indirect jobs. 

He said that these 250, 000 housing units would hopefully create jobs for over 6,500 people in various trades.

"The value chain effect of construction work on this site is significant and creates a positive economic impact", he said.

He appreciated Gov. Alex Otti, for promptly granting the request for the provision of land at no cost.

He said that this singular action had reduced as much as 30 percent of the cost of the units in the estate for the benefit of potential homeowners.

Tinubu also later commissioned the construction of a Fnederal Secretariat at Ekeoba, Ohuhu in Umuahia North LGA in Abia.

He said the initial preparatory work for the construction of the secretariat is ongoing, adding that the actual construction work would begin soonest at the site.

He said the contract for the Secretariat was awarded in line with plans of the government to have a strong presence in each state of the country. 

The State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti in his speech applauded the project stressing that the state policy on housing was in agreement with that of the federal government for the country.

"We thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for this laudable project; this project will create jobs for Abia people and keep our youths busy. 

"We are trying our best to create the ease of doing business in Abia State. 

"We assure you as a government that everybody working in this very project would be secured to enable its timely delivery and that our people take possession of this estate", he said.

Otti thanked the president for seeking to give Nigerians roofs over their heads and promised his administration would continue to promote the importance of shelter.

The Abia Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Mr. Chaka Chukwumerije said the government's housing sector strides aligned with President Tinubu’s vision of provision of affordable housing to Nigerians.

 Mr Ugochukwu Otti, an architect, while speaking on behalf of the contractors said the Estate comprised 50 units of 1-bedroom semi-detached bungalows.

He also said that it has 150 units of 2-bedroom semi-detached bungalows, and 50 units of 3-bedroom semi-detached bungalows.

He said that project was designed to them affordable by using organic designs to allow for future expansion as the income of beneficiaries increased.

According to him, the estate would be well serviced with network of roads, articulated water system and electricity.

Eze Anthony Chukwu, the Ohuga IV of Bende, who spoke on behalf of Bende Community expressed delight that the project will stimulate the economy of the area.

Abia NLC urges Otti to pay workers allowances as proof of goodwill me

 By Ijendu Iheaka

Umuahia, June 27, 2024.

The Chairman, Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) Abia chapter, Mr Okoro Ogbonnaya has urged Abia government to consider paying workers their outstanding allowances also to prove its avowed goodwill towards them.

Ogbonnaya disclosed this in an interview with our Correspondent in Umuahia on Thursday.

The labour leader in Abia was reacting to the state government's promise to begin paying Abia workers backlog of salary arrears owed them in tranches from July.

The state's Finance Commissioner, Mr Mike Akpara said during a briefing in Umuahia on Tuesday that government would start paying the arrears begining with tertiary Institutions from July.

Ogbonnaya said that Abia government under Gov. Alex Otti has not been taking proper care of civil servants in the state.

He said that from the time of Gov. Theodore Orji, the state government stopped paying workers their leave and promotion allowances.

He said NLC had written to Otti's administration notifying it of the need to resume and clear those arrears but has not received any response since then.

"For Abia government to confirm its avowed goodwill towards Abia workers, it should consider paying them the backlog of arrears of leave and promotion allowances owed them.

"These allowances were stopped by the Theodore Orji's administration. 

"Although this government is paying workers on or before 28th day of the month, it has not started paying us those allowances", he said.

Ogbonnaya said Abia was yet to begin paying its workers the N30, 000 old minimum wage and also N35, 000 wage award approved by the federal government to cushion inflation effects.

He also urged the state government to urgently resolve the problem of verified workers who are yet to get their salaries since eight months now.

He said that Abia NLC was not opposed to government verifying true civil service workers but opposed to online verification which could work against the aim of verification.

He said that labour wanted the government to also use civil servants and heads of departments and ministry of finance to conduct a credible verification.

Ogbonnaya said that government should not use consultants to conduct verification of workers because the consultants could work against government's purpose of the project.

Academic staff of ABSU disagree with Otti over salary payment claims

  By Ijendu Iheaka 

Umuahia, June 23, 2024.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Abia University chapter has disagreed with Gov. Alex Otti over his comment that the university staff are not owed salaries.

The disagreement which was contained in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday and signed by Dr Chidi Mbah and Dr Victor Obisike, the Chairman and secretary respectively.

The governor had on Friday night told the media at his monthly media briefing that he has cleared all outstanding salaries of Abia University staff.

However, the Union said that the state government was playing politics with its members welfare and their families.

"Following the recent Abia government statement that all ABSU staff have received April and May salaries, we, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, ABSU Chapter, wish to clarify and state the actual situation regarding salary payments at the University.

"Contrary to the government's announcement and news circulating on social media, the reality is starkly different. 

"Only a handful of staff with salary accounts at commercial banks have received their April salary, and even fewer have received their May salary.

 "Alarmingly, there are instances where some staff who received their May salary did not receive their April salary, despite using the same bank", it said.

The Union said many of their staff who received either their April or May salary had unexplained deductions ranging from N8,000 to N53,000 from their salary at source.

It also stated that a higher number of staff members whose salary accounts are with the ABSU Microfinance Bank have yet to receive their April and May salaries.

The union said the issue of ABSU MFB payment challenge also affected the teaching staff of Abia State University Teaching Hospital in Aba.

"This situation has caused significant financial strain, panic, and uncertainty among the staff.

"Due to this staggered payment system, the unions in the University cannot ascertain the status of members' check-off dues, which are typically deducted at the source of payment.

"Furthermore, it is worthy to note that our eleven months of outstanding salary arrears remained unpaid and despite repeated assurances, not a single month of these arrears has been settled", the Union said.

It therefore urged Abia government to refrain from politicizing the issue of salary payments at ABSU, as people's health, family needs, and critical issues such as workers' productivity are at stake.

The union said government should acknowledge the financial hardships university staff faced and take immediate action to ensure all outstanding salaries and arrears were paid promptly and in full.

"We seek transparency and accountability from the government in handling this matter and hope for a swift resolution to alleviate the financial distress faced by the staff of ABSU", it said.

It said the Governor and Visitor to the University, Alex Otti, meant well for the state university and left instructions to pay government workers on or before 28 of every month.

The union further urged him to quickly attend to their need by making the concerned officials to act accordingly and not to truncate his good intentions for the state's workforce. 

Parents of children with Sickle cell disease plead for govt assistance

By Ijendu Iheaka 

Aba (Abia) June 22, 2024 

Parents of children with Sickle Cell Disease have pleaded with governments to assist them as costs of drugs and treatment have skyrocketed to avoid losing their children to the disease.

The parents spoke to our Correspondent at the sidelines of Vicar Hope Foundation's event to commemorate 2024 World Sickle Cell Day in Aba, Abia on Friday evening.

They pleaded for urgent help to save their children's lives because they can no longer keep them alive through their low income.

Mrs Ngozi Ogbonna said a false laboratory test result caused her to marry her husband who has AS gene like herself which has produced four children with two being SS.

She said managing two children with the sickle cell gene has become very expensive with the cost of things in Nigeria hence their need for government assistance.

Ogbonna said government should not leave the medical care of children with SCD to the parents of patients if they want such children to survive and be useful.

Another parent to a patient, Apostle Okechukwu Joseph said his second daughter who has SCD has been a source of huge expenses to the family.

"My experience with the doctors is that they are not doing the best that is required but the much they know so they need more specialized training.

"At FMC Umuahia, my child was left to student doctors who were using her for experiments, hospitals should do better.

"And government should consider the lives of these poor children with SCD and save them by assisting in their health care which cost has become unaffordable to many parents now", he said.

Ogechi Onyekachi whose twin boys have SCD said it has not been easy caring for them especially in this season of high cost of drugs and treatment.

She begged government to come to her aid and that of other poor families because taking care of SCD children has become a herculean task.

Dr Emeka Nwakamma, a Medical Consultant to VHF Hospital, earlier in his speech said that Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) patients could prolong their lives by avoiding painful crisis and infections.

He counseled Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) patients to drink plenty water, avoid getting too hot or too cold, hard exercises and exposure to low oxygen levels to escape painful crisis.

"Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a group of blood disorders inherited from a person’s parents the same way people get the color of their eyes, skin, and hair. 

"A person with SCD is born with it and it occurs when a person inherits 2 abnormal copies of hemoglobin gene, one from each parent. 

"The abnormal genes with sickle cell traits include hemoglobin SS, also called sickle cell anemia which is the most severe form of the disease, hemoglobin SC; S-beta thalassemia; hemoglobin SD and SE.

"Sickle Cell Trait (SCT), also called “carrier state” occurs when only 1 abnormal copy of the Hemoglobin gene is inherited, such as Hemoglobin AS", he said.

He said the persons with AS genes do not usually have the symptoms and signs of SCD but can transmit the gene to their children thereby propagating the disease condition.

Nwakamma said there is no single best treatment for all people with SCD as treatment options are different for each person depending on their symptoms.

He said SCD treatments include blood transfusions, drinking much water, intravenous fluid therapy and medications to reduce pain, prompt malaria and other infection treatments. 

The consultant said for severe SCD, a medicine called hydroxyurea might be recommended to reduce painful crisis and hospital stays.

He said another recommended treatment modality in the horizon is Gene therapy which is not everywhere now. 

DSS, others warn Abia youth of dangers of drug abuse

 By Ijendu Iheaka 

Umuahia. June 21, 2024

The Abia Director, Directorate of State Services (DSS), Salami Ajege has warned youths to desist from drug abuse as claims of committing crimes under drug influences will not set them free.

He gave the warning in Umuahia on Thursday evening during a seminar meant to fight against drug abuse among youths in Abia. 

The seminar had its theme as "Prevalence of Drug Abuse and its Consequential Threat to the Society" was organized by Mr Chimezirim Nnubia, a concerned resident.

The DSS state director represented by a DSS Officer, Ikechukwu Obasi, said that drugs lead people to different crimes.

He noted that although most crimes by youths are done under drug influence, such claims would not set them free from blame and punishment.

He urged the youths to run from drug abuse to save the future of Nigeria whose future work force they are.

He regretted that few ladies were at the war against drug abuse seminar and called for more female participation at such seminars because women also do drugs.

The organizer, Mr Chimezirim Nnubia (Fisher), stressed the need to urgently stop rampant drug abuse tendencies of Nigerian youths of today.

He said that most of the drugs they abuse are not just dangerous to their health but could result in their death hence the need to stop them before it is late.

He also said that the dire social consequences of drug abuse which is abhorrent, should make everyone to join the fight against drug abuse.

The Deputy State Commander, Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Binta Anomoris told the participants to avoid drug abuse at all cost.

"It is alarming that youths sent to school can no longer go to school and many become useless and some even die from drug abuse.

"Curiosity, peer pressure and other reasons make youths to take drugs but there is no excuse for any youth to take to drug abuse.

"Drugs drag you down in life; it makes everyone in the house and community to be afraid of the drug abuser", she said.

She warned that they can never control drugs but that drugs will always control them hence the need to avoid drugs at all cost.

The Deputy Director, Programmes, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Abia Office, Ndubuisi Anozie told the participants that drugs had ruined many lives of prospective successful people.

He said that avoiding drugs would mean preserving their lives and their future and urged them to think of handing over to their children a drug-free society.

Police says defendant paid N80, 000 for murder of two brothers in Aba

By Ijendu Iheaka 

Aba (Abia ) March 1, 2024.

The Nigeria Police on Thursday told an Osisioma High Court that it got reliable information that Godwin Chimezie paid Chukwuebuka Nnamani N80, 000 to kill two brothers, Bright and Victor Osuagwu.

Bright (9), and his brother Victor (7) were strangled to death in their father’s house at Abayi-Ogbuligba in Osisioma LGA, Abia on April 2, 2021 when their parents were away from the house.

Police Inspector Peter Nwankwo, the sixth Prosecution Witness in the murder case disclosed this in his testimony before Justice Teddy Eruba of Osisioma High Court III on Thursday.

Nwankwo said Chigozie Ikeokwu, the first defendant, upon his arrest, repeatedly stated that Chukwuebuka Nnamani (second) said that Godwin Chimezie (third) paid him N80, 000 to kill the brothers.

The Policeman said he verified the information when he visited a hard drug bunk called "Mmiri bunk" where he confirmed that the defendants patronized the bunk and shared drugs.

He also said he visited and interviewed traders at the Patent Medicine Dealers line where Chima Osuagwu, the father of the children and Godwin Chimezie, third defendant, do business.

Nwankwo said that at the market, traders he interviewed confirmed that Godwin Chimezie threatened the father of the two children two weeks before they were killed horrendously.

He further said he visited the mother of Chigozie Ikeokwu, first defendant to inquire of his character and to inform her of how he is being held in custody for a crime.

He said that the defendant's mother told him openly that she would not be coming to see him because he is a bad child.

While cross-examining the witness, the first defence lawyer,  Chima Abali, argued that Chigozie Ikeokwu and Chukwuebuka Nnamani did not know each other before the case started but Nwankwo said it was not true.

Chidi Esom, second defense lawyer alleged that the investigation by the police officer did not take place before he concluded on the release of the two suspects given bail.

"No, that is not what I mean. It is after I had investigated that I concurred that a prima facie case had been made out. I still investigated", Nwankwo responded.

He said he suggested the discharge of the two suspects earlier freed on bail because there was no link between them, the suspects and the criminal act.

The third defense lawyer, Ndubuisi Ojukwu who handled the brief of Chidi Nwachukwu asked if the investigator recovered any of the said money but he said no.

While leading Nwankwo in evidence, the Director, Legal Services, Vincent Chukwu, the State Counsel, asked him where the exhibits gathered in the case were.

He said that they were stored in the exhibit storage room of the State Criminal Investigation Department's headquarters in Umuahia but were burnt by hoodlums who attacked the office on May 29, 2021.

The Prosecution closed its case with the appearance of Nwankwo and the judge urged the lawyers to take two dates for the defence to open and close its case.

Justice Eruba thereafter adjourned the matter to April 16 and 26 for the opening and closing of the case of the defence. 

Abia expands farming activities to stem food shortage

By Ijendu Iheaka

Umuahia May 29, 2024.

 The Abia Government says it has begun expansion of farming activities to stem shortage of food in the state.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Prof Monica Irokwe, disclosed this on Wednesday in an interview with our Correspondent in Umuahia.

Ironkwe explained that the state had already prepared some hectares of land for farming and was also encouraging residents of the state to return to farming to increase food production.

She also said that the state was making efforts to procure farm inputs to ensure farmers improved their agricultural productions.

“At the beginning of the year, we went round the senatorial zones to encourage people to return to farming because that is the only answer to food shortage.

“Even if you don’t do mechanised farming, you can farm what you and your family will eat, and that will help you conquer hunger,” she said.

She also said that the state was working to ease the acquisition of farm inputs by farmers through creating a database for them in Abia.

The Commissioner noted that the government was aware of three major issues discouraging Abia farmers.

According to her, these include stealing of products, poor yield and political farmers.

Irokwe however, said that the state had engaged different stakeholders to ensure that these deterrents were removed.

She added that to stop the stealing of farm produce as a result of hunger, required the concerted efforts of communities where such was happening.

She therefore called on communities where hunger had resulted in stealing of farm produce to take steps to stop it.

She noted that the state was committed to fighting food shortage as it was already phasing out political farmers from the sector.

She said that farmers have been subjected to huge losses in the state through the machinations of political farmers who scammed and stole from them.

The commissioner also advised the farmers to allow their farm lands to regain lost nutrients through fallowing for about three years to avoid low yield.

Irokwe further urged farmers in the state to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers which would have health implications on consumers of products.

She reiterated Gov Alex Otti’s commitment to ensuring that agriculture regained its pride of place in the state. 

Aba transport project to be replicated in Umuahia, says Otti

By Ijendu Iheaka 

Aba (Abia) May 28, 2024. 

Gov. Alex Otti of Abia has said that the Abia Urban Renewal and Public Transport Project in Aba will be replicated in Umuahia in its second phase.

Otti disclosed this in Aba on Tuesday, while commissioning the construction of Aba Bus Terminal at Osisioma Bus Park.

He said that the critical components of the project included modeling and construction of central bus terminals for commuter buses at strategic locations in each of the two cities.

He further said that it would incorporate bus shelters and lay byes along the intracity routes and improvement works on major road intersections.

“As you are aware, the Nigerian railway corporation recently resumed services from Port Harcourt to Aba and efforts are in top gear to extend it to Umuahia city,” he said.

The governor said the project was structured to bring holistic improvement to the general inter and intra city transport ecosystem in Abia’s urban centres.

He said it would also ease traffic congestion and improve the aesthetics of the cities in Abia and ease travellers’ hassles.

The Chief Executive Officer, Planet Projects, which is handling the bus terminal project, Mr Biodun Otunola, said his company had solution to Abia’s chaotic transportation system.

“We discovered that there are 70 motor parks in Aba and I don’t know how a city can cope with such number of motor parks.

“Every junction is a motor park, hence the high level of crime and criminality, drug abuse, stealing you have in the city and all kinds of things that are not befitting,” Otunola said.

He said that the project would consist of a bus terminal at Osisioma and the Traffic Oriented Development, which would integrate trailer parks.

He said that when completed, the project would enable residents to use modern facilities comparable to those found in other parts of the world.

Tinubu's government has not abandoned any road Project in Abia - Works Controller

By Ijendu Iheaka

Umuahia. May 28, 2024

 The Federal Controller of Works, for Abia, Mr Tony Onwubiko, says the federal government under President Bola Tinubu has not abandoned any road project in the state.

The controller disclosed this in an interview with our Correspondent in Umuahia on Monday.

Onwubiko said that both road maintenance and construction had been sustained by the current federal government for the good of Abia people.

“We have two sets of projects; the main contracts and the maintenance works embarked upon by the Ministry.

“The main projects we have now are the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Enugu – Port Harcourt Dual Carriage Way, section two, being handled by Arab Contractors.

“The rehabilitation and dualization of Aba – Ikot Ekpene road in Abia and Akwa Ibom State by the CGGC Global Projects.

“The rehabilitation of Uturu – Isiukwuato – Akara road by Eighteenth Engineering Company International,” he said.

He named other roads handled by the federal government to include the Construction of Umuuchichi – Umueze – GZ Industries road by GZ Industries.

According to him, there is also the rehabilitation of Osisioma – Owerri road wherre the NNPC Depot is located by Rodo Nigeria Limited.

Onwubiko said the Umuahia – Bende – Ohafia road, section two and Umuahia – Ikwuano – Ikot Ekpene Road by Heartland Nigeria Limited are part of the federal projects in Abia.

He also said that Bende – Arochukwu road by Heartland Nigeria Limited was one of the major ongoing contracts of the federal government in Abia.

The controller said that the federal government’s decision to make states pay compensation for right of way was one of its challenges hindering some jobs in the state.

He said although Gov. Alex Otti’s administration had shown interest in paying compensations unlike the past administration, Abia is yet to acquire right of way for any federal government construction.

The controller said that the federal government used three types of funding patterns to provide for its projects.

Onwubiko said the funding patterns include budget allocation, the Tax Credit Scheme and the Islamic Bank loan called Sukuk.

He however, said that budget allocation and Sukuk were yet to pay for projects they funded while only tax credit scheme through NNPC provided for its supported projects.

“Abia has three roads under NNPC funding which is part of the Tax Credit Scheme.

“They are Osisioma – Owerri road by Rodo Nigeria Limited, Aba – Ikot Ekpene road by CGGC and Umuahia – Ikot Ekpene road by Heartland Nigeria Limited.

He said that apart from the challenge of rainy season, when budget allocation and Sukuk provide funds, projects they were funding in Abia would be fast-paced.

Abia residents urge Otti to stop touting in the state

 By Ijendu Iheaka 

Umuahia. May 21, 2024.

 Abia residents have called on Gov. Alex Otti to take strategic and decisive moves to stop the menace of touts on Abia roads and markets.

The residents spoke to our Correspondent in separate interviews on Tuesday.

They said they were tired of the menace of touts who reap where they did not sow in Abia and discomfort innocent residents.

They said unless the government went beyond radio announcements banning touting, it would still continue in Abia.

Mr Abel Asomugha, a resident of Umuahia said that the government can only stop touting in Abia with action and not just words.

“We thank Governor Alex Otti for radio announcements saying he does not want touts in the state which we believed made them to go away some months ago.

“But they have come out again and are ruthless in menacing people.

“What government should do is to make a law banning touting and such activities in the state.

“Then government should set up a strong task force supported by armed security agencies who should be roving 24 hours around the areas touts operate to ensure they are cleared”, he said

Mrs Ndidiamaka Uzodimma said that the reappearance of touts in Abia meant that the state governor had omitted something he needed to have done.

She said “the desire to stop touting in the state was a welcome development which could only succeed when words match right actions.

“The last administration made noise about taking out touts in Abia but could not do so because the leaders of the touts were in that government”.

Uzodimma therefore urged the governor to ensure that he deals with anybody in his government sponsoring touts anywhere in the state.

“I also support the idea of making a law through the Abia House of Assembly and enforcing it with a task force that would operate alongside armed security to stop touting at all cost”, she said.

Mr John Aguiyi called on Otti to meet with motor unions leaders, market unions leaders and traditional rulers to discuss the need to remove touts from Abia.

“A good number of touts in Abia are sponsored by these people and to solve a problem, you must get to the root and the root of touting in Abia are these people.

“If in deed governor Alex Otti wants to stop touting in Abia, he should quickly go and warn these people to desist from sponsoring touts.

“He should also through a legislation ban touting and create a strong task force assisted by armed personnel to stop touting in Abia”, he said.