Celplus Media

By Celestine Okeh Residents and road users in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State Capital have expressed excitement  over the ongoing installation of traffic lights at strategic junctions in the metropolis. Speaking to our correspondent in Abakaliki, a cross - section of residents, commercial bus drivers, tricycle Riders, commercial motorcycle operators and government officials bear their minds on the new development in the state. A commercial bus driver, Mr John Ucha who was vissibly excited, thanked Governor David Umahi for bringing such innovation to the state, which he said, will help ease the perennial traffic gridlock in the area. He called on all his colleagues to adhere to the traffic light for the good of all. On his part, Mr Sunday Akochi, a motorcycle operator, purpularly known as"OKADA"  said that he is happy with what the governor is doing. "the installation of traffic lights in some of the busy junctions in Abakaliki is a welcome development, the

The Federal Government has indicated its interest to develop salt deposits in Ebonyi state by turning the deposits into commercial quantity for the growth of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and also generate thousands of jobs. Minister of state for Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Uchechukwu Ogah disclosed this during courtesy call on Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state during an inspection of some salt lakes in the state. He described Ebonyi state as one of the fore -runners in terms of solid minerals with great potentials which the federal government would benefit from to diversify the nation’s economy. Ogah disclosed that there is a federal government project called Presidential Initiative on Development of Salts and that consultants have been brought into Ebonyi state to look at how salt can be developed. He described the initiative as the first in the history of the country driven by Governor Umahi which according to him confirms the love President Muhammadu Buhari has for th

 In a bid to resolve the age long land dispute between Amana village of Ezza South and Ohankwu village of Ikwo local government Areas of the state, the Hon. Commissioner for internal security and border peace, Hon. Stanley Okoro Emegha this Thursday mediated in a land dispute between them. He charged the two affected communities to stay away from the disputed land pending final resolution of the matter. He warned that any of the party that breached the order will face severe wraught of Government. Hon. Emegha therefore,  urge the leaders of sides to caution their youths not to take to violence as  any form of violence from any side will met with stiff resistance from Government. "Go home and preach peace to your people, nobody should enter the disputed land anymore, caution your youths not to farment troubles as 'you' their leaders will be held responsible" he added. Commissioner Emegha however asked the two parties to nominate Four representative each, who

A Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa on Thursday nullified the governorship primaries that produced Chief David Lyon as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In her ruling, Justice Jane Inyang held that the primaries were conducted arbitrarily outside the rules of the party. “It has been established by judicial authorities and several judgments that political parties are bound by their own rules, the committee that conducted the primaries threw caution to the winds and it is my ruling that the primaries stand nullified,” the judge ruled. “The result announced by Senator Emmanuel Ochega is not valid, as he is not the returning officer for the election. “And I make an order restraining INEC from recognising any of the aspirants that participated in the said primaries.” The suit filed by Senator Heineken Lokpobiri challenged the conduct of the governorship primaries of APC which held on September 4. She, therefore, restrained the Independent Electoral Com

Ebonyi State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ has Lauded the Ebonyi State Governor, Engr. David  Umahi on his award as Best Performing Governor in Nigeria by the Business Day Newspapers. In a statement signed in Abakaliki by the chairman of the union, Comrade Tony Nwizi, Ebonyi state council of NUJ noted that the award was very apt and well deserved owing to the fact that Umahi's administration has brought uncommon transformation and leadership prowess since he assumed office. The Union therefore commend Governor Umahi for his track records maintain that Ebonyi State Council of NUJ will continue to identify and contribute its quota on the realization of the Noble vision and agenda of the Umahi's administration. The Council expressed satisfaction that the award from a reputable media outfit like Business Day Newspapers, was an indication that the governor has performed admirably. NUJ also noted that the award is an eloquent testimony that Governor Umahi

The Central bank of Nigeria has commended the governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Nweze Umahi, FNSE, FNATE on the way his administration has morphed Abakaliki as the fastest growing state in Nigeria. An effort they described as 'an unparallel achievement that the Governor has refused to make any noise about'. In a statement made available to newsmen by the Special assistant to the governor on Media, Mr Francis Nwaze said that the Abakaliki Branch controller of the CBN, Adayi, Chris Onah made the declaration during a courtesy call on the governor at EXCO Chambers, Government House, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State as they came to inform the governor of their account opening week which is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 3rd December, 2019 at Onueke. The controller also congratulated the Governor on his well deserved award by Business Day Media as the best performing Governor of the year and his excellent infrastructural developments going on in the state and prayed to the gov

By Celestine Okeh Ebonyi state Government have indicated her readiness to revamp the ailing Abakaliki Rice Mill Industry to international standard. Deputy Chief of staff, Government House, Mr Okechukwu Nwakpu disclosed this during a meeting with the mill owners and the landlords in the area. Nwakpu, posited that the state government under the watch of Engr David Umahi is not interested in running or acquiring the rice Mill but has concluded plans to change the dilapidated infrastructural facelift of the industry, face off the analogue Mills and replace them with digital Rice milling machine to meet the 21st century standard. He stated further that government has awarded the contract for the fencing of the industry's complex to avoid unnecessary encroachment and to reconstruct the building to improve and enhance their business. He enjoined them to form cooperatives and register with government to enable government access loans for them to boost their business. He gave t

Former Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress in Niger State, Comrade Jonathan Vatsa, has lambasted the 9th Assembly of the Nigerian Senate for the proposed bill seeking death penalty for anyone convicted for hate speech. While addressing selected journalists in Minna, the former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism in the state described the move as not only laughable but a direct invitation for anarchy. The APC chieftain advised the 9th Assembly to also propose a bill that will apply for lands in the 36 states, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja as did for Ruga to be used as cemetery for hate speech offenders that will be killed. According to Vatsa: “I call on Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi to also propose a bill that will ensure we have separate cemetery for offenders so that we can have it as tourist’s sites with inscriptions ‘Hate Speech’ cemetery because the offenders may also include those of us who have benefitted from hate speech. “Wh

From Victor Nwegede, Sokoto Non-Governmental organizations comprising Mothers Association, School Management Board Committee and Girls for Girls (G4G) education foundations have begun a campaign to promote girl child education in Sokoto State in collaboration with United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, UNICEF, and Sokoto Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB. The organizations on Wednesday, jointly donated free items including exercise books, pencils, pens, chalk, detergents, bathing soap, among others to over 200 pupils of Abaskori Primary School in Goronyo, Sokoto State so as to encourage them picking up interest in schooling in the area. The Chairman of the School Management Board Committee, Ibrahim Mohammed Ruma, said, the organizations were spurred to begin the campaign,  donating stationery, other school items to pupils and students in order  to promote a girl child education due to the way female folk declines interest in schooling in the area, &q

The Nigerian Senate may amend the proposed death penalty clause in the Hate Speech Bill before it. Sen. Sabi Abdullahi, who is the sponsor of the bill, made this known in a statement on Sunday in Abuja. Abdullahi, who is the Deputy Chief Whip in the Senate, assured that the death penalty proposed in the bill would be amended by the Senate “when it is subjected to legislative input at the National Assembly.” News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the controversial bill had, on Nov. 12, passed first reading. Abdullahi, who represents Niger North Senatorial District, said that the bill would undergo some fine-tunings to ensure that the clauses contained in its provisions to be passed into law reflected Nigerians’ views. He added that the Senate welcomed contributions and inputs by critics and supporters of the bill, as these would go a long way towards giving Nigerians the much awaited law that would address the disturbing trend of hate speech. According to him, hate

The assessment tour of the pilot schools of Ebonyi State school Agricultural program have been a huge success. The Special assistant to the governor on school Agriculture Program, Hon. Aga Uchenna has so far visited over twenty pilot schools across the state to ascertain the progress, challenges and prospects of the program in the area. In his recent visit to Government Technical College, Agba in Ishielu Local Government Area of the state. The School Principal, Rev Fr. Matthew Orie and all the members of Agriculture Committee in the school which includes, Nwokora Simon, Nkeiru Omena, Johnson Erishi and Okeh Anthony welcomed the SA to the governor and thereafter, conducted him round their school major farm project, which includes, Fishry, Poultry, Piggary and other crops such as cassava and Rice. The SA expressed satisfaction in their performance on Piggary, Fishry, Rice and Cassava and encourage them improve on other areas of their projects that they have not fully hearnesed.

From Victor Nwegede, Sokoto Following the campaign to have a nation without such narrations revolving on insufficient rice for consumption, but to have its surplus, refined and lucrative finished products, the  management and the farmers of the Middle Rima Valley Irrigation Scheme, MRVIS, Goronyo in Sokoto State have started championing the course of the African-Rice programmes against the 2019/2020 cropping calander. In this view, the scheme management under the tutulage of  the Project Manager, Lawal Moh'd Mafara, in collaboration with the Water Users Association led by Ibrahim Abubakar, have on Wednesday 20th November, 2019 concluded plan to form an African-Rice Association which would focus on how to make the dreams of agency a reality. This initiative according to them, is to be able to compete with  their counterparts in various localities of the country, since the idea will as well earn them more democratic dividends and supports from government and non-governmenta

Some aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Executive Council (NEC) have called on the party’s National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, to resign his position. The Chairman of Zamfara chapter of the party, Mr Lawal Liman, who led the aggrieved NEC members, made the call on Friday, while speaking with journalists in Abuja. Liman said Oshiomhole’s resignation would help in stemming the slide and provide an enabling environment for genuine healing, reconciliation and the practice of true democracy within the party across the country. Liman, who is also the spokesman of APC State Chairmen’s Forum, said Oshiomhole had usurped the powers of the party’s NEC due to his dictatorial and despotic tendencies. “Most of the goodwill acquired by the party, by reasons of its religious adherence to the provisions of its constitution and the tenets of internal democratic practice, has taken a downturn principally due to the dictatorial and despotic tendencies of Adams O

Ebonyi political leaders has been advised to toe the leadership footprints of the state Governor, Chief Engr David Nweze Umahi. The advice was handed down by the state Commissioner for internal security, border peace and conflict resolution, Hon. Stanley Okoro Emegha, in his office Government House Abakaliki, while reacting to the recent award conffered on Governor Umahi by Business Day Newspaper, as the Best Governor of the year 2019, Which took place at Transcop Hilton Hotels, Abuja within the week. Emegha reaveled that the resounding achievements of the governor in the state not only quality him for the award, but has also positioned him for higher leadership responsibilities in the country. He said that the state has experienced a quantum leaps, developmental wise, in all facets of the state economy under his watch. Emegha expressed further that the governor's leadership ingenuity has made the state to be adjudged most peaceful in the country. He called on all Ebonyians

The special assistant to the governor on school Agriculture Program, Hon. Aga Uchenna has the determination of his office in ensuring the actualization of aims and objectives of school Agricultural Program established by the state Governor, Chief Engr David Umahi in the state. Hon. Aga made the disclosure during his assessment tour of Model Secondary School, Umuhuali and Girls High school, Ezilo all in Ishielu Local Government area of the state. At Model Secondary School Umuhuali, the SA was received by the principal, Mr Ogbuabor Emmanuel, Agric Master, Mr Fred Ogbu, Ani Stella, Igwe Uchenna and Eze Ega John who are members of the School Agricultural Committee in the school. The school owns and manages Cassava and Rice Farms and the farm is doing well. In Girls High school Ezilo, the principal Mrs Omeri Roseline, the Agric Master, Mr Eche Kelechi, and other school Agric Committee members, Ani Herientha, Umoke Raphael and Umoke Ada. The school has Cassava and Rice Farms.