NEWS
Insecurity: Enugu Assembly Expresses Worry, Calls for Joint Patrol Team
The Enugu State House of Assembly has urged the state executive arm of government to set up a joint military, police and forest guard patrol team to tackle insecurity.
It also called for establishment of permanent check points in boundary communities and other security flash spots across the state.
This is contained in a motion of urgent public importance moved on Tuesday by the Member representing Oji River Constituency, Mr Jeff Mba, during a plenary session.
Mba described the murder of a former Commissioner for Rural Development in the state, Chief Gab Onuzurike, and his elder brother, as well as the killings in Igbo-Eze North and Isi-Uzo Local Government Areas as worrisome.
According to him, tackling the multiple criminal activities requires joint efforts of security agencies.
He urged the house and local councils to organise stakeholders’ meetings to educate the citizens on the need to volunteer necessary information as well as give moral and financial support for security operatives in communities.
“Stakeholders’ involvement should also include appealing to the conscience of our youths to stay out of crimes and criminalities and reject rascality as a way of life.
“There is need to give our relatives and friends, who are looking forward to spending Christmas and New Year holidays in Enugu State, the confidence to do so without fear of harassment from criminal elements.
“It has become imperative that the intervention of the state and federal authorities in expanding the dragnet are necessary to avoid escalation,” Mba said.
Contributing, the Member representing Igbo-Eze South Constituency, Mr Emeka Madu, said the level of insecurity in Enugu State was alarming, adding that residents of the state were living in fear.
Madu said that he had fallen victim of insecurity.
According to him, an attempt to kidnap him failed as he escaped, but his driver was captured.
He said that the chief security officer of Igbo-Eze South LGA was stilling missing.
Mr Iloabuchi Aniagu, representing Nkanu West Constituency, called for adequate equipment of the police to enable them to discharge their responsibilities more effectively.
Contributing, Mr Innocent Ugwu said that many prominent people in his constituency, including politicians, could not travel home for fear of being kidnapped.
Ugwu added that his constituents had to take permission from a group called Umuchineke before being allowed to conduct marriage or burial ceremonies.
He also said that many markets in the area had closed because of insecurity.
In his remarks, the Speaker of the House, Chief Edward Ubosi, praised the initiator of the motion, describing the motion as timely and well-articulated.
The speaker condemned the sit-at-home order ‘by someone who sits at the comfort of his home’.
He said that the order was contributing to the loss of lives and property in the state.
In another development, the state Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi will present the state’s 2023 Budget to the Assembly on Thursday.
The speaker made the disclosure on Tuesday at the Assembly’s plenary session during which a letter sent to the Assembly by the governor to that effect was read.
According to the speaker, the budget presentation will give the lawmakers an opportunity to scrutinise and pass the budget bill to enable the state government to complete ongoing projects. (NAN)
By David Torough, Abuja
The remains of elder statesman and President General of the pan-Igbo group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, have been slated for burial on November 1.
Chairman of the burial committee, Senator Ben Obi, disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday.
Alongside with the Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Amb Okey Emuchay and burial sub-committee chairmen, Senator Osita Izunaso, Gen.
Azubuike Ihejirika (retd) and others, Obi unveiled a series of activities culminating into the actual burial ceremony.“Our message today is to convey the dates for the burial of the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
“Lagos day of tributes, Wednesday 16th October 2024 at Eko Hotels and Convention Centre.
“Abuja Day of Tributes Friday 18th October, 2024 at the National Ecumenical Centre.
“Enugu Day of tributes, Saturday 26th October with a brief stop at Ohanaeze headquarters, 7 Parkland GRA Enugu while the main event will be held at the Okpara Square.
“Owerri Service of Songs Tuesday 29th October 2024. Commendation Service on 1st November in Owerri and Imo day of burial on Friday, 1st November 2024,” he said.
He added that further details will be communicated in due course.
On whether the Federal Government would participate in the burial, Senator Obi said the committee will visit President Bola Tinubu to intimate him about the transition of the statesman and details of his burial.
“We will be visiting President Tinubu to formally announce to him details of this transition and I am sure the President knows all that Chief Iwuanyanwu had done and he will do the needful,” he said.
Asked whether the late newspaper publisher had regrets about his inability to secure the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and ensure the realization of a restructure federation, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo scribe said Chief Iwuanyanwu died a fulfilled man because he never shies away from doing his best in the circumstance.
“Chief Iwuanyanwu and I visited Kanu in jail and I think that was his last official assignment before his demise.
“Prior to that, he had never missed any opportunity to call for the release of Kanu.
“On restructuring, he never minced his words on equity, fairness and justice and he knew that he couldn’t do it alone.
“So he operated with the South-South PANDEF, Middle Belt Forum and Afenifere. He asked for parity in the number of states in each geopolitical zone.
“We in Ohanaeze will continue to pursue these issues that were very dear to his heart and we want to give the assurances that we will not fail,” Obi said.
President Bola Tinubu will not attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly session in New York this year.The President has thus directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation, Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser, Information and Strategy, said in a statement on Thursday.“President Tinubu, who returned to the country last Sunday after his trip to China and the UK, wants to focus on domestic issues and address some of the country’s challenges, especially after the recent devastating flooding.
“At UNGA 79, Vice President Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement to the General Assembly, attend important sideline events, and hold bilateral meetings,” said the statement.The high-level General Debate, with the theme, “Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations,”will run from Sept. 24, to Sept. 28. (NAN)
The National Examinations Council, (NECO) has released the June/July 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination results (SSCE), with 60.55 per cent of candidates securing five credits and above in English Language and Mathematics.
The Registrar of NECO, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, disclosed this while addressing newsmen at the NECO headquarters on Thursday in Minna, Niger.
Wushishi said that a total of 1,376,423 candidates, representing 706,950 males and 669,473 females, registered for the exam.
The registrar said that 1,367,736 candidates sat for the examination, representing 702,112 Males and 665,624 females.
He said that 828, 284 candidates had five credits and above, including English and Mathematics, representing 60.
55 per cent.Wushishi said that the number of candidates with five credits and above, irrespective of English and Mathematics, were 1,147,597, representing 83.90 per cent.
He said that there was a great reduction in the number of examination malpractices this year compared to 2023.
“The number of candidates involved in various forms of malpractice in 2024 is 8,437 as against 12,030 in 2023, which shows a reduction of 30. 1 per cent,” he said.
The registrar, however, said that 40 schools were found to be involved in mass cheating during the examination.
” During the conduct of the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), 40 schools were found to have been involved in whole school (mass) cheating in 17 states.
” They will be invited to the Council for discussion, after which appropriate sanctions will be applied.
“A school in Ekiti was recommended for de-recognition for mass cheating in two core subjects and 01 Science subject.
” Similarly, 21 Supervisors were recommended for blacklisting due to poor supervision, aiding and abetting, abscondment, extortion, drunkenness and negligence in 12 states,”said.
He urged candidates that sat for the examination to visit NECO website to access their results.
Wushishi said candidates can access their results on NECO website: www.neco.gov.ng using their examination registration number,” he said.(NAN)
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