Celplus Media

Uburu nursing school now affiliate of Ebonyi varsity The School of Nursing in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area  has been affiliated with Ebonyi State university of science and Technology. Governor David Umahi,who   announced this during  the 2016 Uburu  Cultural in  Uburu, also promised that his administration would harness the the Uburu Salt Lake  to serve the nation. Umahi, who called on indigines  of the community to give his administration  full support,   assured them  that the nursing school would expand and completed  to make it one of the best in the country.   He said, " We are going to complete and expand the School of Nursing in Uburu. We have affiliated the school of Nursing  with the Ebonyi State University. And we are going to develop Uburu salt to serve our country," "Any town union that does not support the governor of Ebonyi state,I will dissolve the town union,and nothing will happen. The era of dicotomy in uburu land is over." Umahi,

Ezzama- Onicha road to be completed in 3 months time The Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. Chief David Nweze has directed that  the Ezzama-Onicha Highway  be completed within three months. He gave the directive when workers of the state Ministry of Works and Transport paid him homage in  his country home   at Umanaga Uburu in Ohaoazara Local Government Area. . The governor who frowned at the shoddy job done on the road by the contractor  maintained that every project embarked upon by the present administration must be done according to specifications. He was particularly miffed by the quality of asphalt used by the contractor handling the project and directed that 60 per cent of the asphalted portions of the road be scraped. The road links Onicha and Ohaozara Local Government Areas. Umahi however  commended the Commissioner for Works and Transport, Engr. Fidelis Nweze, for the mature way he has piloted the affairs of the ministry, stressing that he had worked assiduously to ensur

The Ebonyi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has adopted  Governor David Umahi  as  its  sole candidate for  the 2019 polls. The   state PDP chairman,Chief Onyekachi Nwebonyi, announced this   on Tuesday when he led  the working committee of  the party to pay  Christmas homage to the governor   in Uburu,Ohaozara Local Government Area.  Nwebonyi, who said they were in Uburu to felicitate  with  and thank the governor for his  achievements  within a short period of time, pledged their total support and loyalty to   Umahi whom, he said, was the best in the country.  "On behalf of the state EXCO of our great party,we hereby adopt you as our sole candidate for governorship position,come 2019," the party chairman said in a statement on Wednesday by the governor's spokesman, Emma Anya.  Nwebonyi thanked  Umahi for increasing the monthly stipend of party executives and those at  the ward level. In his response,the governor  thanked the PDP working committee but c

The Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr.  David Nweze Umahi, has told  traditional rulers in the state that they are the chief security officers and chief farmers of their various communities. Umahi, while donating    18 brand new IVM  jeeps to  some  monarchs in the state     at Government House, Abakaliki, said they were expected to use the vehicles to drive agriculture and ensure adequate security in the areas. The governor, according a statement on Sunday by his spokesman, Emma Anya, informed the traditional rulers  that they were not expected to pay for the jeeps. He however     solicited their support for massive food production in the state. Umahi said, "We are naming you our chief security officers of each of your community and we are naming you the number one farmers. This is principally for you to use for agricultural programme and that's why this vehicle will not attract any VAT or tax or education levy because it is for agriculture and you're all farmers and so w

Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi has endorsed the candidacy of all  the 24 members of the state House   for the next  legislative  election in the state. Umahi made this known  when the  legislators and their spouses led by the speaker,Francis  Nwifuru, paid him a Christmas homage at his country home in Uburu.  The governor ,  who expressed delight over the cordial relationship that exists between the House and the Executive which has translated into speedy passage of people-oriented bills, said he would  fight for the legislators  to retain their positions. He was quoted in  a statement on Tuesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Emma Anya,  as saying: "It is very difficult to start a journey with people,like what one of the past leaders did sometime. You started journey with people and at the time of transition, you  shift  position and drop some, and when you are dropping them,you didn't tell them their next destination. ''That is not a team work. And so,you see 2

The Imo state police command has confirmed the killing of an Indonesia based man, Mr Friday Eto Nduka who is from Oguta local government area of the state, by one police inspector identified as Mike Edem. It was gathered that Mr Nduka had an argument with inspector Mike Edem who was attached to a gass station in owerri, the Imo state capital, which subsequently led to his death. Mr Nduka, who is now late was said to have returned from Indonesia for Christmas and his wedding, which was supposed to take place on Tuesday, 27th December 2016. But he was killed by a trigger happy inspector Mike Edem in the presence of his fiancée and his brother on the 22nd of December, just five days before his wedding. Meanwhile, the Imo state P.P.R.O, Mr Andrew Enwerem who confirmed the killing maintained the killer cop is on the run, but efforts are on to apprehend the suspect and subsequently investigate the crime and bring the killer cop to book.

By Obasi Nweze During the 2015 electioneering campaign, one of the promises made by the then governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief David Umahi, which was visibly embedded in the party’s manifesto, was his plan to lift the status of the Abakaliki capital. Much as it drew cheers from party supporters, many had also wondered if it was just a mere campaign gimmick from a candidate in desperate need of votes. But it didn’t take too long after his swearing-in that residents began to see that they were not being taken for a ride. The people's leader, indeed, wasted no time in matching words with actions. Therefore, the period between July till date, according to observers, is seen as a significant milestone in Ebonyi. Within this period, several streets and locations across the state were agog with activities. For most of the residents, it was a historic moment they had long been waiting for. Surely, residents of Abakaliki metropolis will not forget in

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has advised the Ebonyi State Government to introduce annual national yam exhibition  as means of encouraging  farmers  to put in more effort in agriculture. Obasanjo , who noted that Ebonyi was one of the four pilot states selected for the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal number two, an international    zero hunger project,  suggested that the best yam farmer  should be given accolades as means of motivating others. He spoke during a one-day  South-East  Economic  and Security Summit in Enugu  where Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State advocated the  resolution of boundary disputes to foster peace and development in the South-East geo-political  zone. Obasanjo, in a statement on Sunday by  Umahi’s Chief Press Secretary,Emma Anya, said, "Last year leaders met in New York, United States at the end of millennium development goal. They came with sustainable development goal and had 17 goals. Item No.2 is zero hunger by the year 2030.

The Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Nweze Umahi, has signed the 2017 appropriation bill of  N127,233,074,799 and the   state Public Procurement and Related Matters AmendmentBill into law.   While performing the ceremony  at  the  Government House, Abakaliki,   Umahi said that much was expected to come from  his administration's  agricultural programme. He consequently directed  key officers in  agriculture    to structure the sector  in such a way that it would generate  very high revenue for the state. Umahi stressed that hardwork was  needed in addition to prayers and faith  to achieve the best result.  The governor  said, "If you check, you will  find out that we have a lot of budget coming from our agricultural programme and that's why I said to the   Commissioner for Agriculture and the Secretary to the State Government  and    Senior Special Adviser , Rice Production that we must have to structure our agricultural sector  so as to make money.  "Fasti

Ebonyi State Government Thursday announced that it has taken over the transport cost  of all Ebonyians living in other parts of the country who would be returning for this year's Christmas celebration. The Special Assistant(SA) to Governor David Umahi on Transportation, Mr.Eworo Philip Igwe, who dropped the good news in Abakaliki  while speaking  to newsmen, said that luxury  and  normal buses had already been despatched to cities with high Ebonyi residents. He disclosed  that the first batch of returnees  would be picked up from  Onitsha, Nnewi,Aba,Benin ,Calabar and Asaba while the second batch would be those in  Kaduna,Kano,Lafia,Lagos ,Abuja,   Port Harcourt  and other cities.    Eworo, who  said that  the purpose was to cushion the effect of  recession on the people of the state, disclosed  that the state Executive Council had approved N12 million  for the exercise.   He commended the governor for extending his magnanimity to Ebonyians in diaspora and  urged those interes

The Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr.  David Nweze Umahi,  has extended his administration's empowerment programme  to   police officer's wives in the state. He announced this during Christmas party organized for the  officers and men of the state command in , Abakaliki.   Engr. Umahi, who noted that government would not ask police officers on duty to join in his rice cultivation programme, said  their wives should key into his women empowerment scheme in order to reduce over dependence on the salaries of their husbands. ."There is no way we can ask   police officers on duty to come and cultivate rice or go and do training for empowerment  but we offer to partner  their wives," the governor said in a statement issued by his spokesman, Emma Anya, on Tuesday. He added, "Your wives can actually hold your homes. They can make up for  the differences in your wages  if they   engage in our empowerment programme.  We  can agree on what and what your wives can   be doi

President Muhammadu Buhari is to declare open the South-East Economic and Security Summit, SEESS, scheduled to hold in Enugu on December 22. Tony Usidamen, the media consultant, via a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria in Enugu, said other eminent Nigerians would attend the event. He said the president’s desire to attend the summit was in demonstration of his interest in maintaining peace and fostering economic growth and development in the South-East and other regions. Mr. Usidamen said that the summit was aimed at addressing the real development issues in the region as well as proffer lasting solutions to them. “Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and all governors in the region as well as several eminent personalities and delegates will be in attendance to discuss issues of common interest,” he said. He stated that such issues as security, agriculture, infrastructure, health, tourism, as well as financing the region’s economic programmes would be in th

Ebonyi State Governor has called on ministers of God to  have other means of livelihood by engaging in productive activities.    Umahi, who  also   enjoined  them   to remain a symbol of peace and unity in the state, said it was not ideal for any minister of God to be idle since   God does not encourage idleness. He spoke during a Christmas  dinner party he organised for  Divine Mandate Pastors, a group that served as his prayer band during his electioneering.   The governor, in a statement on Saturday by his Spokesman, Emma Anya,   said,"If you look at the Bible, when Christ came, he never called the man that was idle. I don't believe that for you to be a pastor, you must not be doing something. "The greatest of the evangelism is not even when you are in the house of God. I believe in young men and women that combine evangelism with doing something with their hands."  He assured the ministers that his administration would empower them through  the  Welfare and

Ebonyi State  Governor  David Umahi has assured  that the  challenges confronting  the Peoples Democratic Party at the national  level  will not lead to its death.  Umahi gave the assurance during a Christmas dinner  he organised  for the  state Working Committee of the PDP  as well as the  local and  zonal committee  members   at the Government  House, Abakaliki on Friday. Umahi, who challenged the leadership of the PDP  in the state to be transparent and accountable to the party members and the public, said anybody   believing  he(Umahi) would leave  the PDP  for the All Progressives Congress   was sleeping.   "If anybody tells you that this man (Umahi) is going to APC, tell the person that he should wake up from sleep,” he said in a statement on Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary, Emma Anya. Stressing that  the “APC does not win election in this state," he added  that since  his PDP-led administration had   “done very  well in the state” , it cannot be arm- twist

1. Rholavision Engineering Ltd is owned by President Buhari’s Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal. 2. Rholavision got N200m kickback from a contract the SGF awarded for the clearing of “invasive plant species” (GRASS) in Yobe state. 3. JOSMON TECHNOLOGIES LTD got the contract from Lawal’s Presidential Initiative on Northeast (PINE) to clear grass for N248, 939, 231. 4. PINE, which was under SGF Lawal, could not account for N2.5bn allocated to it for the alleviation of the suffering of IDPs in the northeast. 5. JOSMON TECHNOLOGIES LTD made cash deposits of N10 million into Lawal’s company’s (Rholavision Engineering Ltd) account 20 times from March 29, making N200m. 6. Lawal awarded the contract to Josmon Technologies on March 8. And the company made the cash deposits until September when he resigned from Rholavision. 7. The SGF claimed that he resigned from his company on August 15, 2015, and as a result was not a party to whatever business it cont

The Senate on Thursday afternoon announced the rejection of the nomination of Ibrahim Magu as the substantive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over security report at its disposal. Spokesman of the Senate, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, told members of the Senate Press Corps that the Senate cannot proceed with the confirmation hearing of Magu and other nominees into the commission based on the security report sent to the Upper Chamber by the Department of State Service (DSS). He added that the Senate consequently returning the nominations back to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi has charged Senior Technical Assistants and Technical Assistants  to participate fully in governance. Umahi gave the  advice during an end  of the year dinner  he organised for them  at International Conference Center in Abakaliki in Monday. Umahi, who was full of gratitude  to some STAs and TAs    assigned to monitor the cleanliness of Abakaliki ,however ,expressed  dissatisfaction with some STAs and TAs that had not    integrated themselves  into the vision and mission of his government. He said,  " A lot of  you are not participating in any government activities. Like,those in agriculture, they  are not participating and that is very dangerous.  if   you are  just earning the  allowances we pay to you, then it is of no use; our mission is not fulfilled." The governor  called on all the appointees, particularly those assigned to the  agricultural sector to fully participate in the agricultural policies of his government, including

The Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr.(Dr.) David   Umahi, has announced his administration's  intention to dualise the  Abakaliki-Afikpo and complete  a section of the Abakaliki-Enugu   Expressway   in order to attract trade and investment  to the state. He also  said  that bridges would  be constructed across  Ndibe Beach in Afikpo  and Oferekpe River in Ikwo Local Government Area  to link the state with Cross River State as a way  of  further  opening up  Ebonyi for commerce and industry. . Umahi made these known   during the  ground breaking ceremony of an ultra-modern regional market in Afikpo, Afikpo  North Local Government Area on Monday. The governor directed that the regional market should be  named after one of the  illustrious sons of Afikpo and the Catholic Bishop of Abakaliki Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Michael Okoro, for his humility and service . . He  said,  "  I will dualise the  Abakaliki- Afikpo road and complete the dualisation  of  the Abakaliki- Enugu Highw

 Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Nweze Umahi, has inaugurated the Ebonyi State University new governing council recently appointed to pilot the affairs of the institution . He charged the council members during their inauguration in  Abakaliki on Tuesday to improve the quality of education in the ivory tower  by engaging those with high intellectual capacity to impact the right knowledge on students. Umahi, who recalled that professors were flowing with wisdom in his university days, called for concerted efforts to boost the standard of education  in the institution. The governor, according a statement on Thursday by his spokesman, Emma Anya  said,  "In my days in the university,   the quality of education was very high and  the quality of the staff was very high. I therefore urge that   the quality of those that   giving education to our children should  improve. It is  very important. when we say that somebody is a professor that  his mouth should be leaking with knowl

The Senate has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend and ensure prosecution of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, over alleged breach of Nigeria’s law in handling contracts awarded by the Presidential Initiative for the North East, PINE The Senate’s resolution on Wednesday followed presentation of the report on mounting humanitarian crisis in the north-east by the Shehu Sani-led ad hoc committee. Mr. Lawal’s company, Global Vision Ltd., is one of the companies indicted by the committee for allegedly benefiting from inflated and phantom contracts – or ones not executed at all – awarded by the PINE. Mr. Lawal’s firm was said to have been awarded over N200 million contract to clear ‘invasive plant specie’ in Yobe State. The committee found that as of the time the contract was awarded in March 2016, Mr. Lawal was still the director of Global Vision and that he just resigned in September. Yet, currently, Mr. Lawal is the signatory to the company’s

The Ebonyi State Governor, Engr. Chief David   Umahi, has said that his policies and programmes aimed at promoting locally produced goods have led to no capital flight in the state. He stated this during a dinner  organised for retired permanent secretaries,  chairmen and members of boards, commissions, parastatals,   Local Government Advisory Committee,  former accountants- general as well as ex-  auditors-general   at  the Governor's Lodge, Abakaliki on Sunday.  Umahi, in a statement on Tuesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Emma Anya, said that  most of the constructions jobs in the state were being carried out by the state Ministry of Work, the state's construction  frims and indigenous contractors. The governor, who  added that he was elated that most of the jobs conformed to  all the  required standards, called for optimal performance of indigenous contractors to enable them continue to enjoy his  government's  patronage. He said, "We are determined that any

Ebonyi State Government has inaugurated  a seven- man committee on sensitization and monitoring of the enrollment and registration of Ebonyians and legal residents into the Data Base of National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). The Kenneth Uhuo-led committee  has a   mandate to assist and collaborate with the NIMC to ensure that  every resident of  the state   got registered. The Principal Secretary to the Governor,Chief Clement Nweke while inuagurating the committee in the Government House,   Abakaliki on Friday, explained that the committee became necessary  following   recent revelation by  the NIMC that only  five per cent of Ebonyi residents  had registered since 2012  when the exercise  commenced  . Nweke added that  going by  the  five  percent  figure given by the commission,  Ebonyi is so far the least in the 36 states of the federation. This, according to the PS, showed that the state had  the lowest apathy in identifying with the  exercise. He attributed to the d

Ebonyi State Government has been lauded by the House of Representatives Committee on Works for complying with quality standard in the construction of federal roads in the state.  The committee made the commendation when its members led by Tobe  Okechukwu inspected the Nkalagu-Ehamufu Road, Abakaliki-Afikpo Road and the Amasiri-Okposi-Uburu Road  which are currently being reconstrcuted by the Governor David Umahi-led administration. The inspection on Tuesday by the committee  is a part of the overseight function of  Federal Government roads in the states of the federation. Okechukwu told journalists that what they had seen was a clear manifestation that the Ebonyi State Government had enormous capacity to improve road infrastructure. "Seeing is believing. I think the efforts of Ebonyi State Government is manifestingly clear. The quality of work and strategic nature of the investment on infrastructure  is very good. I believe what they are doing is futuristic. And that is expec

The Ebonyi State Governor, Engr.  David  Umahi, has said that his agricultural policy which resulted in massive rice production this year  was an inspiration from God. He stated this while interacting with journalists shortly after inspectiing the  Akanu Ibiam flyover in  Abakaliki.  " Many things we do in Ebonyi State, we don't do by our power nor by our might. They are inspirations from God,"he was quoted as saying in a statement on Friday by his Chief Press Secretary, Emma Anya. Engr. Umahi, who identified corruption as the cause of economic challenges facing the nation, noted that leaders would not do much if their followers  were  not prepared to make positive changes.  He said, "I pity our country. You can see that  foreign rice is no longer  safe .  It's plastic rice. The corn beef we eat is no longer safe too.   " I know that we  can feed ourselves. There is no day in Ebonyi State that rice was sold and you hear that it is not safe. There is al

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State   has called on residents to protect their permanent voter cards  against the activities of   unscrupulous elements moving  from house to house in the state to collect PVCs in the name of registering them as  political party members. Umahi gave the advice during a special church and thanksgiving service organised for him and his wife,Rachel Umahi,by the Abakaliki Diocese of the  Anglican Church  on Sunday. The governor, according to a statement on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Emma Anya, described the activities of the  "unscrupulous elements " as a desperate move to clone the PVCs ahead of   2019 general elections. He warned that a time would come when any body that did  not  show his or her PVC would start paying school fees for their children and  wards in the state. He said, "Some people are into desperation again. They are trying to distract us by  going from house to house to collect   PVCs from people  in the name o

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has said he would pay one month salary bonus  as part of his Christmas package to workers.  Umahi, who was on a visit to the Ebonyi State University   permanent site in  Ezzamgbo,  said in spite of the recession in the country and the fact that the state is one of the lowest  recepients of federal allocations, his administration was determined to improve the lot of its workers. Explaining that   junior workers would receive 100 per cent bonus  and  senior  workers   50 percent , he challenged the university authorities to emulate his administration by paying salaries on or before 20th of every month. To  the university workers and students, he said his adminstration would also put smile on their faces during the Christmas period. To this end, he   announced the donation of a bag of  rice each to all staff of the university  and  N5m to be shared by them .  He also gave  3,000 bags of rice and N10 million to  the students   as their Christmas gi

Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi has reduced the fees of the state university students by  N10,000  thereby bringing to an end the intractable agitation by students  for tuition slashing.   Recall that tuition was increased by former Governor Martin Elechi,  a development that led to  protests  by the students.   Umahi had during his    campaign assured he would reduce the fees if supported to win 2015 governorship election. The governor, who announced the reduction on Friday during an interactive forum with the management and staff of the  niversity at the permanent site, Ezzamgbo, explained that the reduction which would take effect from next year was for both students of Ebonyi origin and non-Ebonyians.   The non-indigenes were  paying   N128,000  while indigenes  pay  N87,000   prior to the reduction by the governor. Umahi, who had while making his remarks noted that the reduction was necessary because students of the university paid almost the highest fees in the South- Eas

The Federal Government has given its backing to Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi's    ban on the sale of foreign rice in the state. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development,Chief Audi Ogbe,stated gave the  no when he visited Ettem Amagu Rice Farm in Ikwo Local Government Area  as part of his assessment of agricultural potential of   the state. Ogbeh, who was in company with    the Chairman, Presidential Committee on Rice  production, Abubakar  Bagudu and  Central Bank  of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele,commended  Umahi for his agricultural policy,   particularly in ensuring massive rice production in the state. The minister said," Governor,I hear you banned  the sale of foreign rice in your  state, God bless you for it. I also hear you invited young men to come back from Lagos and work here,God bless you also  for it. They will be  happier here in this state than living under the bridge or substandard accommodation in Lagos,Abuja or elsewhere."   Ogbeh, i

A car bomb exploded near a busy market in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu on Saturday killing at least eight people, police said, as medical sources warned the toll could be far higher. “We have counted about eight civilians so far who were killed in the blast and more than 10 others wounded but the death toll could be higher because the area is a market and it was so densely populated when the blast occurred, most people who were wounded have serious injuries,” said police official Ibrahim Mohamed. Medical sources suggested nearly 30 people had been killed, but this was not confirmed by authorities. “Our ambulances have collected 13 wounded civilians and 28 dead bodies, the toll could be higher because of the density of the location where the blast occurred,” Dr Abdukadir Abdirahman Adem, director of the AMIN ambulance service told AFP. The blast took place in the densely populated Afisiyone area in southern Mogadishu. “There was chaos and severed dead bodies strewn around the street