NEWS
Two Men Drown While Swimming In Ogun River
While attending a program at a Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Onikoko located in Ogun State, two young men from Lagos tragically lost their lives by drowning in a river at Itori.
The tragedy reportedly happened on Monday.
Ogun State Police Command Public Relations Officer in Ogun, Omolola Odutola, disclosed that a member of the church, Adebayo Adeosun, had reported at the station at about 6:30 pm, “that some boys numbering seven who came from Lagos on the 27th of August for his church inauguration, left the church premises to swim, and got drowned in the process.”According to Odutola, the two victims were Femi Akinola, 32, of Odo Eran, Itire, and Tunde Falade, 35, of Kola Alagbado, both in Lagos.Their bodies were recovered from the tides and rushed to the health centre in Itori, Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State, “where they were unfortunately confirmed dead by a medical doctor on duty.”The Divisional Police Officer, CSP Olayemi Jacob, had detailed his team to visit the scene upon receipt of the report and ascertained that there were no signs of violence or foul play suspected.“Their remains have since been evacuated to Ifo General Hospital for autopsy reports and later deposited in the same mortuary,” she explained.NEWS
Otti Commissions Reconstruction of 5.95-km Umuahia-Onuimo Bridge Road
Gov. Alex Otti of Abia, on Wednesday, commissioned the reconstruction of the 5.95-Kilometer Umuahia-Onuimo Bridge Road.
The project begins from the Abia Tower of Peace on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway and terminates at the Onuimo Bridge (the boundary between Abia and Imo).
In a speech at the ceremony, Otti said that the project was initiated to fulfill his administration’s promise to transform the entry points to the state.
“At the beginning of this administration, we made a commitment that we shall rebuild, remodel and improve the aesthetics of all the entrance points to Abia from our neighbouring states.
“Our goal is to change the old, unpleasant narrative, which gave the state a certain notoriety as a destination that announces itself through bad roads, heaps of garbage, foul air and other fatal signs of governance failure.
“We announced that in our time that whoever is coming to our state will have an inviting experience.
“We promised that expansive and well maintained road networks, good air quality and a good and tidy environment shall be the hallmark of every entry point to Abia,” he said.
Otti also expressed his administration’s resolve to institute a new governance philosophy that prioritises the people and social status of Abia at the core of its undertakings.
He said that the road is a federal road and thanked the Federal Government for giving the neccessary approvals for the State Government to fix it.
“I want to thank the Federal Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, and his team for cooperating with our Commissioner for Works and our team to work out the technical details of this project.
“It is important to underscore this because this road continues into Imo, so there were issues about alignment whenever the Federal Government takes off its own part.
“So, we have to work together so that whenever the Federal Government takes it’s part from Onuimo all the way into Owerri, there will be alignment.
“This is a federal road as I have said but in the new Abia, our major concern is to keep roads within the boundaries of Abia in good condition, whether such roads are designated as federal, state or local government roads.
“We consider such roads critical economic enablers, supporting our domestic economy as well as improving the social condition of the citizens,” Otti said.
He urged Abia people to fulfill their civic obligations through payment of taxes and statutory fees to enable the government to carry out more developmental projects in the state.
Otti also affirmed the government’s commitment to effectively deploy state funds in investment channels that yield huge social return for the people.
The lawmaker representing Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency, Chief Obi Aguocha, described the road as a landmark project that would boost economic development of the area.
Aguocha commended the government for its sustained efforts in delivering the dividend of democracy to the citizens.
He urged Abia residents to continue to support the present administration’s rebuilding agenda.
Also, the Commissioner for Works, Mr Otumchere Oti, said that the project would rebrand the state’s identity by creating an all inspiring, first impression for commuters entering the state from Onuimo.
Oti said that the project had a contract period of 18 months and would be an asphaltic concrete dual carriageway.
He said: “Each carriageway has a width of 7.6 meters with 1.5 meter wide shoulders, both carriageways are separated by a concrete median 60-centimeter wide.
“The pavement consists of 200-milimeter approved laterite softbase, 200-milimeter broad stonebase,16-milimeter asphaltic binder course, and 40-millimeter asphaltic wearing course.
“It will also have 30-milimeter thick asphaltic concrete wearing course on the shoulders, culverts, drains and drainage outfalls will be provided at some critical locations.
Oti said that erosion protection works would be carried out in areas with high flood intensity.
He also said that access slabs would be provided, where neccessary and solar street lights would line the entire stretch of the road.
In separate speeches, the lawmaker representing Umuahia South State Constituency, Mr Jacob Obioma, and the Chairman, Umuahia South Local Government Area, Mr Chinedu Enweruzo, described the project as commendable.
They said that the government had further strengthened the confidence of the people in its rebuilding agenda, focused on transforming the state.
Earlier, the President-General of Umuopara Development Union, Chief Emenike Onuoha, expressed joy over governor’s decision to rehabilitate the road.
Onuoha said that the project, which would help to alleviate the sufferings of motorists and commuters, had given his community a sense of belonging.
NAN further reports that the governor also commissioned the 6.92-km Umuopara Ring Road for construction. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
NEWS
Niger Delta Youth Urged to Take Advantage of Opportunities Abound in Oil & Gas
From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
Nigerian Youths especially from the Niger Delta Region have been asked to take advantage of opportunities that abound in the Oil and Gas industry to become self-reliant and entrepreneurial.
The youths were giving this advice during the Practical Nigerian Content Forum (PNC) 2024 Youth Forum at the Harold Dappa Biriye Hall, government House Annex in Yenagoa the Bayelsa state capital.
This year’s theme: “Empowering the Future: Unlocking the Opportunities in the Niger Delta Oil and Gas Sector” was the 13th edition of Practical Nigerian Content Forum.
Addressing the Youths, the Executive Secretary of Nigeria Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB) Felix Ogbe who was represented by the General Manager Capacity Building NCDMB, Segun Olugbenga said, the idea of the forum was to mentor youths to make use of the opportunities that abound in the Oil and Gas industry.
In his remark, the governor of Bayelsa state, Sen. Douye Diri who was represented by the commissioner for Youth Development, Alfred Kemepado Nimizigha said, they believe that what comes out from the conversation will open up an Opportunity in the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board.
Delivering the first lecture titled, Sustainable Peace in the Niger Delta and the Development of Nigeria, Zik Gbemre, an advocate on social justice and campaign for good governance, said it’s only good governance that can guarantee peace and sustainable development.
He said we cannot talk about peace without justice; they need to build an engagement system for the government and its agencies to begin to interact with the people at the community level.
The second lecture which was presented by the commissioner for Youth Development in Bayelsa, Alfred Kemepado Nimizigha said the people lack access to information and that is why they cannot take full advantage of the local content.
Kemepado who spoke on the topic, Skills Development and Capacity Building for Young Professionals, believed that the youth needs to participate in the marine industry that has so many opportunities.
He described the youth as the future of local content in Nigeria. Saying the system needs to equip young people with alternative skills. “More investment in skill training, education and vocational training. Foster private and public partnership”.
While the third lecture was delivered by Daere Akobo on the topic, Entrepreneurial Opportunities for Youths in the Niger Delta, said discipline is what makes a good entrepreneur to succeed.
Akobo, who was represented by Chukwuemeka, advised the youth to discipline themselves in order to pursue their dreams. “Control your mind and your body will follow. There is risk and uncertainty in entrepreneurship. But you must define your purpose,” he said.
NEWS
Enugu NBA Decries Spate of Exorbitant Service Charges by Police
From Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Enugu branch has decried alleged spate of exorbitant service charges by police to carry out some of their duties.
The association made this known on Wednesday during the opening of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Enugu Branch 2024 Law Week.
They were reacting after a lecture delivered by a human rights lawyer, Daniel Ogbe, on the title: “Commercialisation of Policing in Enugu State: Implications on Human Rights”.
Ogbe said that the alleged commercialisation of policing in Enugu State had led to infringement on fundamental human rights of residents, who at times pay exorbitantly to get police services.
“The commercialisation of the Nigeria Police Force in Enugu State represents a significant threat to societal stability and poses a detrimental impact on the welfare of the police themselves.
“It is imperative that legal professionals collaborate to initiate Public Interest Suits.
“These suits should aim to persuade the judiciary, through compelling legal arguments, to adopt a proactive stance in interpreting pertinent laws.
“This approach should ensure that police officers are neither permitted nor incentivised to act as agents of injustice and regression within the Criminal Justice System.
“Such actions have negative implications for the protection of fundamental rights of Nigerian citizens in Enugu State,” he said.
Ogbe noted that notwithstanding the difficulties and inadequacies in police operations, the police should work with some leave of dedication and commitment to serve the public.
Reacting, another legal luminary, Chief Uche Maduemesi, noted that the cost of getting police to make an arrest had gone beyond the normal and police officers do not consider that “ordinary citizens might not access protection and emergency response services due to that”.
“There is a need to have a change and for Nigerians to easily access the services of the Nigeria police to ensure that people get needed help from distresses,” Maduemesi said.
Corroborating, the Chairman of NBA, Enugu Branch, Chief Venatus Odo, said that the bar would take necessary action to ensure that the negative action of some police officers should be checked, and fundamental human rights of residents restored.
Odo noted that the recent alleged extortion activities at their various offices in the state also infringe on activities of lawyers and the general judicial process in the state.
Earlier, Justice Peter Obiora, Justice of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, delivered a keynote paper on the theme: “Bar Practice: The Lawyer at the Centre of Judicial Corruption – Nagging Need for Practice Reforms”, noted that lawyers must live upright.
Obiora, represented by Justice Harold Eya of Enugu State High Court, noted that there are two types of lawyers, “those who know the law and those who know the judge”.
He called on lawyers to desist from encouraging bribery and corruption in the judicial system, adding that lawyers should shun double standards but maintain only the rule of law and truth.
Speaking, Justice Elvis Ngene, the Chief Judge of Ebonyi State, lauded the NBA Enugu Branch for organising the week and standing out among other bar associations in the country.
“I have been enriched today by this lecture by Justice Peter Obiora and I am leaving here happy and fulfilled. This shows that there is still much hope for reform in the judicial system in the country,” Ngene said.
In his remarks, Justice Raymond Ozoemena, Chief Judge of Enugu State, lauded NBA Enugu Branch for upholding the tenets of the legal profession and having due mentoring initiatives to bring up young lawyers.
“I want to commend the NBA Enugu Branch for setting the pace and being outstanding in all it set out to achieve within the state and nationally,” Ozoemena said.