NEWS
Akume Inaugurate 30-yr Abandoned Multi Million Naira Water Works Project in Niger
From Daniel Amasingha, Minna
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Dr George Akume has inaugurated the multi-million Naira water works project at New Bussa Local Government Area of Niger State which has been stalled for over 30 years.
The SGF inaugurated the rehabilitated and expanded water scheme at the project site at the headquarters of Borgu local government area.
The SGF said that it was an important milestone in the journey of the present administration, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, towards improving living standards and attaining sustainable development.
Akume was represented by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Alhaji Aliyu Sabi-Abdullahi.
The project was executed by the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC).
He said that the improved water supply would boost public health and reduce the incidence of water-borne diseases. It would support local businesses, attract investment and contribute to the overall development of New Bussa town and environs.
Akume said, “The Federal Government recognises that New Bussa, as a resettled town, has unique challenges.
”In spite of the presence of several federal parastatals and military outfits in the town, basic amenities have been lacking.
”This water project is a step towards rectifying that imbalance. It is an open testament to our belief that every Nigerian, regardless of location, deserves access to clean and safe water.
”This project aligns with the government’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 6, which aims at ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
”The newly rehabilitated water station now supplies water that meets global standards for quality water supply. This project, ladies and gentlemen, is about quenching thirst as much as it is about preventing water-borne diseases, improving public health and enhancing overall quality of life.”
Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago in his remark, said that the project would bring to an end to the perennial water problem experienced in New Bussa and environs over the years.
Represented by his Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Alhaji Suleiman Umaru, Bago said, “The provision of sustainable potable water at people’s disposal remains the driving force of socioeconomic development in every society.
The governor appreciated that the water sector was capital intensive and required huge investment to address the existing deficit in the sector.
The Managing Director of the commission, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq-Yelwa, said the rehabilitated water works targets not only as an infrastructure upgrade, but also a transformation in the quality of life for the people of this historic town and its environs.
According to the managing director, the rehabilitation of the New Bussa water works was not just another item on the list of their completed projects.
Also, the Emir of Borgu, Dr Sani Halitu-Dantoro, said the epochal event was a half century-old promise kept by the Nigerian State, as well as a dream come true for the people of Borgu.
Rev. Fr. Polycarp Lubo, the Chairman of the Plateau Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), is dead.Lubo, a priest of the Catholic Archdiocese of Jos, died in the early hours of Sunday at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).Report says that two weeks ago Lubo was involved an accident, where he sustained a head injury.
Rev. Fr. Daniel Gyang, the Chancellor of the archdiocese, confirmed the incident to newsmen on Sunday in Jos. “On a sad note, but with total submission to the will of God, we announce the passing unto eternal glory of Very Rev. Fr. Polycarp Lubo.“He passed on to eternal glory in the early hours of Sunday, June 15.“The Archbishop condoles with his immediate family, CAN in Plateau, the presbyterium of Jos and the parishioners of St. William’s Parish, Zawan, where he was the Parish Priest.“The archbishop equally commiserates with all the Religious and lay faithful of the archdiocese over this loss,”he Gyang said.The chancellor said that burial arrangements for the deceased would be announced in due course.(NAN)
The Police Command in Anambra say its operatives have arrested two suspects who are parts of a criminal syndicate that defrauded a victim of two trucks load of cement, worth N17 million in the state.The command’s Spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement, issued in Onitsha and made available to newsmen on Sunday.
Ikenga said the incident occured on May 17. According to him, following a complaint, received by police operatives, attached to the 3-3 police station on how one Edwin Emeka of unknown address, defrauded an unsuspecting member of the public. He added that the victim was defrauded of two trucks load of cement, worth N17 million.He revealed that the police arrested one Charles Nnanna and Chukwunonso Okoye in possession of the goods.He explained that the victim met Edwin online, and had been in communication with him.“Immediately the cement was supplied, all attempts to get to Edwin proved abortive, before the police operatives traced the goods to different shops in the state,” he said.The police PRO said the two suspects are currently undergoing interrogations, to provide more information on how to arrest Edwin and other syndicate members.He further stressed that the case highlighted the importance of vigilance, especially those people who meet online for business transactions, and other personal engagements, to prevent harm or loss of life and property.He promised that the suspects would be charged to court on the conclusion of the investigations. (NAN)
The Umumba Ndiagu Community in Ezeagu Council Area of Enugu State, on Sunday, held a church service to cleanse the sacrilege committed by alleged ritualist, Levi Obieze.The special Holy Mass was organised to cleanse their land allegedly defiled by Obieze with human blood and to seek God’s forgiveness.
Report says that Obieze’s crimes were exposed recently when his men allegedly kidnapped a 13-year-old girl, Miss Ukamaka Okonkwo, who was later rescued from the dungeon. Further search by law enforcement agents revealed that he buried several people in a soak-away inside his compound including a pregnant woman, apparently for ritual purposes.Obieze fled from the community to evade arrest but was later arrested by the Nigerian Immigration Service personnel at the Badagry-Seme Border in LagosSpeaking at the event, the President-General of Umumba Ndiagu, Prince Ositadimma Ofuanyaegbunam, said Obieze hailed from Umuojo Isiagu Umumba not Ndiagu Umumba as reported in the media.According to him, the two communities are brothers and share the same market and church together.“Today we are doing a kind of reparation because we want to pray to God to forgive us the sins of our brother who killed many people here,” he said.He appealed to the Enugu State Government to construct access road leading to the community, noting that it was the first time such crime was happening in the community.In his homily, Rev. Fr. Rueben Okofia, the Parish Priest of St. Peter’s Parish, Umumba Ndiagu, Okofia said Obieze once warned and threatened him to stop spreading the gospel and exposing the blessed sacrament, claiming that they were disturbing him.The priest said he did not take any action when he threatened him so as to avoid having loggerheads with him, but rather decided to fight him spiritually.He disclosed that the prayer and cleansing was significant as a way of cleansing the community of the blood of innocent victims killed by the ritualist.“We mourn them and pray Almighty God to have mercy on their souls.We also pray to God to cleanse our land from any defilement by Obieze and others,” Fr Okofia prayed.Narrating the true picture of the incident, the Chief Security Officer of the community, Mr John Okeke, said he was inside the forest beside Obieze’s house checking his firewood.According to him, at about 7pm he saw a motorcycle with two men and a little girl in their middle.“I hid and began to watch the motorcycle and I suspected that they might be kidnappers; so, I quickly went to the community and informed some people of what I saw.“We went to Obieze’s house to inform him what we saw beside his compound but he said it could not be true,” he said.Okeke said he insisted that there was kidnapping at the back of his house.“At that juncture, he offered me N10 million to close my mouth but I refused.“I went to inform others and as we started beating one of his boys, we heard someone crying and we moved towards the direction and it was this little girl tied inside a pit,” CSO said.The girl’s father, Mr Peter Okonkwo, thanked God for giving his daughter a second chance to live, and commended the Enugu State government for rehabilitating and offering scholarship to her.The highlights of the event was rewarding of Okeke, the CSO with a brand new phone by the Aneke Foundation. (NAN)
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