Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi has said his administration would next month deploy over N600m to empower at least 2,400 women and youths in the state. Umahi, who disclosed this on Friday while assenting to three bills recently passed into law by Ebonyi State House of Assembly, said he would soon send a letter to the lawmakers requesting for approval of part of the sum. He explained that the plan was part of his administration’s effort to ensure that women and youths were made to engage in productive activities to fend for their families and contribute to the development of…
Author: Wale Adebayo
The deplorable state of federal roads in Cross River State is a national disgrace, a shame and an embarrassment. The lack of federal presence in Cross River State makes me weep. There is no part of Cross River State that you can boast of a good federal road. The Calabar- Ikom-Ogoja-Katsina-Ala road is in a terrible condition. The Calabar-Itu road is a serious nightmare. Over the last couple of days, commuters have spent several hours on the road for a journey that is about 45 minutes to Uyo due to the impassable nature of our roads. It is heartbreaking that…
The Government of Ebonyi State has revved up its agricultural programme by mapping and allocating land to the members of the Executive Council (EXCO). The event which took place at Ezillo Government Farm in Ishielu Local Government Area is the first phase of Governor David Umahi’a policy to involve every segment of the society in massive rice production. The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resource, Uchenna Orji, led the team comprising Agric Extension workers and officials of IFAD to carry out the exercise on Saturday. Orji, according to a statement on Monday by Emma Anya, the chief press secretary to the Governor, 140 hectares…
The coalition of human rights groups in Nigeria, under the aegis of Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice(CHRSJ) has disclosed on Monday that the men of Nigeria Armed Forces may have struck again, if the present political leaders in the country failed to play the political game according its laid down rules with the creation of unnecessary and avoidable tension in the polity, describing the ongoing face-off between the Presidency under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the National Assembly under the watch of Dr. Bukola Saraki as bad omen for development and growth of…
… says ‘Your men wrote petitions against us’ Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has denied a claim by his predecessor, Chief Martin Elechi, that he headed the Executive Council Committee on Inspection during his (Elechi) second tenure as governor. Umahi also dismissed allegation that he was the hand behind a number of petitions before the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Elechi and some of his children. The governor was reacting to a letter written to him by Elechi rejecting a V8 Toyota Jeep gift he gave to him. The letter, which was copied the Speaker of the State…
The Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Umahi on Thursday said he received the news of the demise of a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, with shock. Umahi, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Emma Anya, noted the worthy contributions of Maduekwe to the growth of democracy in Nigeria when he served as the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party and after he left very public service. “His contributions to the growth of democracy in the country through our party, the Peoples Democratic Party, cannot be forgotten by history. He was a pillar in…
From the Bank of Industry (BoI) building, Governor David Umahi and his team left for The Infrastructure Bank office also in the CBD where the Managing Director, Adekunle Oyinlola and his team were already waiting to receive them. Governor Umahi sought the assistance of the bank in the completion of the Abakaliki International Market and the 5MW rice husk power plant. He informed the bank management that the state was also planning to set up a shopping mall and asked that a team be sent from the bank to Ebonyi to assess areas that they could get involved to push…
The next day, the train moved back to the Bank of Industry (BoI) building where it was received at the conference room by Olagunju and some management members of the industry bank. “I am happy to meet a young man like you at the helm here. It shows that the future belongs to the youth,” the governor told Olagunju. With his left hand placed on that of the BoI boss, Governor David Umahi said, “I want you to give me definite answers. We are in need. Just yesterday (June 8), we were at UNIDO to discuss the issue of our…
On June 9, Governor David Umahi in company with his team, paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi. Although the meeting was held behind closed doors, it was gathered that issues discussed centered on a quick action by the ministry towards helping Ebonyi State to begin to harness its vast mineral resources. The governor was said to have suggested that the Department of Geological Survey in the MSMD should work with UNIDO for a comprehensive study of the salt deposits in Ebonyi State. He was also said to have informed the minister that…
Thereafter, Governor David Umahi and his team moved to the imposing and magnificent BoI building where he was received first in his office by the Officer in Charge, UNIDO RON, Dr. Chuma Ezedinma. After a private conversation, they moved to the conference room where top officials of UNIDO had assembled to listen to his Excellency. First on Engr. Umahi’s list of requests was how to reinvigorate the 5MW rice husk power plant in the state which UNIDO is a key player. After extensive deliberation on the challenges facing the plant, the UNIDO officials offered to revisit the state with a…
From Ogbeh’s office, the Governor David Umahi headed for the Wadata Plaza national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where he joined his fellow governors, the Board of Trustees and other stakeholders in handing over the affairs of the party to the Makarfi-led caretaker committee. Umahi and other key PDP leaders put politics aside and prayed for the quick recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari, who is in the United Kingdom for an ear infection treatment. The following day, being June 8, the governor led his team that also included the Commissioner for Water Resources, Barrister Uchenna Orji, to the…
It was a three-day action-packed economic and political activities for Governor David Umahi in Abuja last week. The activities began Monday, June 7 with a visit by his Excellency to the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, at the ministry’s office. Thereafter, the governor in company with some of his key aides headed for the Wadata Plaza secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where the Board of Trustees handed over the affairs and assets of the once ruling party to an interim caretaker committee led by a former Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmed Makarfi. Tuesday, June 8, Governor…
On June 22, Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) announced in Lagos, Nigeria its acceptance of a US$150 million 15 year loan facility from KfW [Development Bank] (KfW). The loan agreement was signed today in London by Andrew Alli, CEO of AFC, and Jan Martin Witte, Head of Division for Infrastructure, of KfW. The funds will be used to refinance projects across the corporation’s current and prospective member states in several of AFC’s priority investment sectors: power, telecommunications, transport and heavy industries. KfW conducted a positive due diligence exercise and credit appraisal prior to offering the loan facility to AFC. The team’s…
Prince Thomas Abi Jr., a Cross River born public affairs analyst, has called on Cross Riverians to begin to look beyond party lines if the state must move forward. Prince Abi said the major problem the state has is the problem of party politics. “The major problem we have today in Cross River State is the problem is the problem of party politics. We have refused to look beyond party lines. All we do is fight and have refused to play advanced politics. We see those who are not in our political party as enemies. And those who share a different…
Partnership agreement has been signed between Ebonyi State Government and a Chinese firm, CAMC Engineering Company Ltd, in the area of power, agriculture, mining, manufacturing and health. Governor David Umahi, while receiving a delegation from UNIDO and CAMCE at the Governor’s Lodge in Abakaliki on Wednesday, said “On the issue of power, hospital, mining, agriculture, industry we are very much interested.” He specifically told the officials of the Chinese company led by the Director-General, Yu Tao, that his administration would be highly delighted if they could build a 10MW solar plant in the state. “We will like if we can…
A leading energy conglomerate in Nigeria, Sahara Group, has donated N120 million towards the cause of acquiring Mobile Cancer Centres (MCC) to combat cancer in Nigeria. This donation was announced in Lagos State today, June 22. The MCC is a clinic on wheels with state-of-the-art facilities for screening, follow-up and treatment including surgeries for pre-cancer and early cancer cases. The center also offers screening for ten cancer-related killer diseases, including hepatitis, diabetes, and malaria, among others, ultimately helping to improve life expectancy in Nigeria where at least 100,000 cancer cases occur annually. Sahara Group made the donation when Lagos State Governor,…
I have watched with utmost dismay the way Nigerians talk about our country. Nigerians do not show patriotism to our nation. We do not speak good about our nation which has led to the endless corruption today in the country. Due to the lack of patriotism, government officials steal and loot from our common patrimony. Lack of patriotism has not only destroyed our country but it has made Nigeria to lose her value before the international community. We do not trust ourselves and the globally community do not have an iota of respect for us. We must speak with pride…
The Nigeria International Technology Exhibition & Conference (NITEC 2016) is designed to be one of the largest annual tech gathering in Nigeria and this maiden edition promises to be richly rewarding with 50+ confirmed speakers and panelists and over 500 registered guests. Simply put, NITEC 2016 will be a veritable platform to truly look at various disruptive technologies and how they can help Africa grow. The keynote address at this year’s conference will be delivered by Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, Managing Director, Airtel Nigeria and there are tons of other distinguished speakers. Here are a few of them; Prof. Umar Danbatta,…
Ebonyi State Government has signed a private partnership agreement with the Idams Group of Companies for the revitalization of the Nkaliki Hatchery Farm. The ceremony which took place at the Cabinet office, Abakaliki witnessed the presence of government officials and representatives of the company. The memorandum of understanding was signed in respect of revamping, and expanding the integrated farm which houses the hatchery, fish pond and other ancillary business activities in line with government’s desire to boost Agriculture as an alternative source of revenue generation. Speaking on the occasion, the secretary to the State Government, Professor Bernard Odoh said Ebonyi…
Ebonyi State Government has solicited the assistance of development partners in its efforts to boost rice production. Governor David Nweze Umahi made the appeal when he received the officials of the food and agriculture organization of the United Nations on a courtesy visit to Ebonyi State. Represented by his Deputy Dr. Kelechi Igwe, Governor Umahi said Ebonyi State has enormous potentials to excel in rice production adding that government would partner with organizations and individuals to achieve the desired result. He commended the organization for their willingness to work with Ebonyi State in building capacity of Ebonyi rice farmers. Earlier,…