Nigerian officials like to tell a story about the telecoms revolution that began in Nigeria in 2001. It involves how Vodafone, the British telecoms giant, had been offered the
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FG moves to tackle deadly gases from exposed coal seam in Nnewi
THE Federal Government yesterday said officers from the Federal Ministry of Mines and Development have been dispatched to tackle deadly gases from the exposed coal seam in Umuozu community, Otolo in Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
This was made known by the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Abubakar Bwari, in a statement signed by the Personal Assistant on Media to the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, lshaku Kigbu.
This was as the community reported that 15 people have been killed by the deadly gases being emitted from the exposed coal seam.
Bwari said the dispatched officers from the ministry will visit the scene for preliminary inspection and to hold discussion with the affected community that would enable them carry out full scale investigation and how to stop the emission.
According to him, no mining activity goes on in the affected community and therefore, the pollution does not connect with mining operations.
“Coal deposits are known to contain several gases that are highly toxic and injurious to human health and environment. In this case, the deaths could be as a result of the coal releasing carbon dioxide and other gases that if inhaled, could cause harm to human beings.
“The Ministry of Mines and Steel Development’s attention was drawn to a gas emission from exposed coal seam in Umuozu community in Otolo, Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
“We have dispatched a team of officers from the ministry to visit the scene for preliminary inspection and to hold discussion with the affected community. This is to ascertain the type of gas as well as proffer adequate solution so as to curb the situation.
“In order to ascertain the effect on the ecosystem, samples of the coal and water were taken from the affected community for further investigations.”
Meanwhile, the community reported that 15 people have been killed by the deadly gases being emitted from the exposed coal seam, which the Minister said was part of the report the ministry got.
“The team observed that as a result of gully erosion around the community some coal seams were exposed with some emitting gases that resulted in the death of 15 persons as reported by the community”, he stated.
The Minister further said that, “Intermittent fire flares from the exposed coal seams and this commenced around December 2017 according to what the community told the ministry’s team.
“Coal deposits are known to contain several gases that are highly toxic and injurious to human health and environment. In this case, the deaths could be as a result of the coal releasing carbon dioxide and other gases that if inhaled could cause harm to human beings”, he said.
In this light, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development has ordered further investigation on the effect of this on humans and the environment.
SMART OKAFOR PICKS UP APGA NOMINATION FORM
A frontline aspirant for the seat of Nnewi North Constituency at the Anambra State House of Assembly, Honourable Nonso Okafor Popularly known as Smart, this afternoon picked up his nomination and expression of interest forms at the Anambra state headquarters of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Awka Anambra state.
Honourable Smart who made this known through a press statement also solicited for more support from the people.
Press Statement:
I HAVE PICKED MY NOMINATION FORM
Umunne m Ndi Nnewi,
Ever since I presented myself to be your servant at the Anambra State House of Assembly, I have remained energised by your amazing support and prayers.
A legislator never goes into the office for himself, I know this fact. As I pick this Nomination Form to contest the primary election of our great party, APGA and represent you at the Anambra State House of Assembly, I promise to always hold this truth to my heart; the legislator never goes into the office for himself.
Inspired by your support, I pledge to represent our collective interest and defend your cause. I will promote those things that unite us rather than those that divide us.
Together, we can make Nnewi better.
Daalu nu!
IPOB condemns fresh invasion of Nnamdi Kanu’s home
The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on weekend condemned the Federal Government for allegedly invading the country home of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu again through security agencies that have been parading Afaraukwu Village Square, Umuahia, Abia State.
According to a statement signed by IPOB’s media and publicity secretary, Emma Powerful, “the second invasion of Afaraukwu is tantamount to a siege on the entire South East.”
The group pointed out that the siege at Afaraukwu showed that Nnamdi Kanu is the only person the Sokoto Caliphate fears and detests more especially now that IPOB has called for a sit-at-home on September 14, 2018 in commemoration of the first invasion of the village last year.
“It also points out that they are being pushed to resort to arms confrontation with the military, whereas they are a peaceful organisation bent on actualising Biafra sovereignty without violence.”
The terse statement read: “the global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, condemns in its entirety, the second invasion of our leader’s village at Afaraukwu, Umuahia, Abia State. What a combined team of Navy, Army, Police, Immigration and Civil Defence Corps are doing, parading intimidatingly at Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s village square, nobody can tell. We know this is another military over-reach by the Fulani controlled hierarchy of the Nigerian defence establishment.
“This is a clear confirmation that the entire east is under siege for no apparent reason other than the need for Fulani caliphate to prove their dominance over the rest of Nigeria.
“Isiama Afaraukwu, it seems, is now the favorite exercise range of the Nigerian military. What this confirms is that Nnamdi Kanu is the one person the Fulani caliphate is most terrified of. It is a shame the corrupt political class, blinded by their own selfishness and petty jealousy cannot see it.
“We are alerting the world that this blatant provocation is one of the many reasons why we have called for a nationwide strike on the 14th of September 2018, to protest this Arewa Islamic military occupation of Biafraland. Biafrans are peaceful people but this unfortunate invasion of our villages and the home of our leader in this 2018 may result in unintended consequences.”
“Innocent Biafrans abducted and murdered in cold blood during September 2017 Operation Python Dance 2 are yet to be buried and here we are in 2018, suffering the same fate. The very quiet Afaraukwu Ibeku community in Umuahia, Abia State now has more military presence and activity than Sambisa forest.”
Vanguard
Anambra APC announces consensus primary, as Ngige moves to pick Senatorial nomination form
The Anambra State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced that it would use consensus method of primary election for all elective positions in the state.
Barr Emeka Ibe, state chairman of the party who briefed journalists on the outcome of a stakeholders’ meeting held on Saturday night said the party favoured the consensus method as a way of avoiding rancour in the party.
Though he did not explain how the method would be deployed in the primary elections of the party, he said its leaders and aspirants all agreed to use the method for the forthcoming primary election.
He said, “We have adopted consensus mode of primary election, we will use it in all our elections in the state, except presidential election, which would be direct primary.
“The party has already set up a seven-man committee that will go and conduct further meetings with diverse stakeholders and come up with recommendations as to how we can use this consensus method.
“The committee is led by Engr Ifeanyi Osegbo, and Barr Cyprian Udenwa is the secretary. By Wednesday, it is expected that the committee should have done the job.”
Ibe addded that the method was a democratic mode of primary election, and was also covered by the party’s guideline.
He said that because of the diversity in states of the federation, the National executive committee of the party met and resolved that each state was free to choose what method of primary election to adopt, in other to beat post primary election complaints.
Meanwhile, Ibe said labour minister, Senator Chris Ngige has resolved to join the senatorial race. He would be vying to represent Anambra Central zone in the Senate.
Ibe told journalists that, “So far, Ngige has not picked his nomination form, but he still has time.
“The sale of forms would close by Tuesday, and he will pick his form before close of deadline. What I can tell you is that he would contest the election.”
16-year-old student invents bitter leaf processing machine in Anambra
A Sixteen year old SS3 student of Community Secondary School, Okpuno, Awka South LGA of Anambra State, Dikanna Onuigbo, has invented the machine that processes bitter leaves (Onugbu).
Onuigbo of Uru-Orji village, Ogidi, Idemili North LGA of Anambra State demonstrated his invention for the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr Nkem Okeke, on Wednesday, September 5, 2018.
Accompanied by his father, Peter Onuigbo, Dikanna said his dream is to patent the invention and secure funding to commercialise it. He also said that the machine will relieve people from using the time-wasting hand processing method they have traditionally used over the years.
The Deputy Governor, Dr Okeke praised Dikanna for his resourcefulness and said that Anambra State is blessed with rich talented people. He assured him that the state government will sponsor him to study Mechanical Engineering at the university and will also help him to patent his invention.
Present at the demonstration are the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon Afam Mbanefo, Commissioner for Lands, Hon Nnamdi Onukwuba, Managing Director of Awka Capital Territory Development Authority, Rev Amaechi Okwuosa, the Executive Director of Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA), Dr Amobi Ifediora, Emenike Ezinando, Permanent Secretary Anambra State Ministry of Agriculture.
Others are Chuma Aduba, Chinedu Okoye-Oyibo and Captain John Okakpu of ABX World, the company that exports vegetables from Anambra State to Europe and other parts of the world.
The opportunity cost of an Ubah vs Bianca contest
By Major Oseloka
Elementary economics left me with some sing-songs, amongst them are, inflation, the scale of preference, and the sweetest of them all to me – opportunity cost. Opportunity cost which simply means the loss of other alternatives when one alternative is chosen is what characterizes the polity of Nnewi at the moment.
The Anambra south senatorial contest which has been reduced to an online dogfight between the online minions of Dr Ifeanyi Ubah and the less sophisticated media neophytes of Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, the two major aspirants of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has polluted the ideological space of the town, reducing what could have been an intellectual and strategic battle to a puerile contest between sycophants who have solemnly pledged to the loyalty of their daily bread.
Dr Ubah who carries around an uncommon burden of reputational damages, ranging from his alleged record of more successfully completed slaps than completed projects to the reports of betrayal of business associates, is a populist whose fan base remains a political fortress for willing negotiators. On the other hand, Mrs Ojukwu a political neophyte whose backbone is strengthened by the heroic acts of her late husband, General Dim Emeka Ojukwu, is buoyed by accusations of elitism and lack of connection with the people she seeks to represent.
A few days ago, accusations arose from Mrs Ojukwu filarial relationship with some of her supposed ‘billionaire sponsors’ – an accusation magically conjured by the electronic henchmen released into the media space unconsciously by their indebtedness to Dr Ubah’s philanthropy. Although the accusation has been denied by the management of a hotel through an unprofessionally written memo, supposedly denying it as the work of mischief makers.
Just more damaging also was the outcry by the immediate family of the Late Ojukwu, distancing themselves from her ambition. This outcry dumbfounds the reality of parliamentary politics: parliamentary politics exemplifies the locality of politics, hence, the charity must begin at home.
However, amidst the elitist leanings of Ambassador Ojukwu and the populist displays of Dr Ubah, is lost the opportunity of intellectual understanding of the responsibilities of a parliamentarian. The present dilemma of having a Senator Ubah or Ojukwu presents a terrible impasse where a subject that should have been debated is now a market square debate with character assassination taking the place of logical interrogation.
The opportunity cost of a having a senator who as an aspirant, fails to appear in public meetings that should connect her with her people, and that which embarks on projects only to obtain casualties as outcomes – casualties who are affected either by leaving them unpaid for services rendered or betrayed by the projects unexecuted – for a well scrutinized selection process is lost on a citizenry saturated with some persons who have refused to grow beyond patriarchal sentiments of the gender of a candidate.
The contest for the Anambra South Senatorial District is beyond the dirty fights between the unleashed e-rats of both parties. There must be a logical process of scrutiny, which a society made up of a huge population above the middle class – as Nnewi is known – should follow.
Dr Ubah’s antecedent of speaking out and intervening in critical sectors that have helped in saving the lives of his people is a key ingredient that makes him the man to beat irrespective of the party he is in. However, his penchant for picking up fights with opponents should also be a cause for concern, as the Senate is made up of lobbyists, whose interest cannot be bought over by mere belligerence. Ambassador Bianca on her own, whose unnecessary meekness and aloofness betray the energy.
Nigeria in Seychelles for serious business, not vacation’ – Gernot Rohr
Only a win would do for the Super Eagles in the archipelago nation, according to the German handler
Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr has highlighted the importance of a win against Seychelles in Saturday’s 2019 African Cup of Nations encounter.
A 2-0 loss to South Africa in June 2017 saw the three-time African champions, who have failed to qualify for the last two continental tournaments, place third in Group E, with Libya and South Africa leading the way in that order.
Victory over bottom-placed Seychelles would put the Super Eagles back on track; a result the German handler insists his side must get.
“Everyone realizes the importance of this match. We are currently number three in our group and that position does not befit Super Eagles of Nigeria,” Rohr told thenff.com.
“It is not good for us because it is outside the qualification range.
“The players know this. They know that on Saturday they have to show character to put our campaign back on track with a good result.”
“We are not here on vacation. We are here for serious business,” he stated.
“We have a young, ambitious team and Nigeria has a better pedigree in the game of football than Seychelles. But we must not underrate them in any way or take things for granted.
“The World Cup is behind us now, but we must allow the lessons we learnt in Russia to make us better and more efficient in our approach.
“The Cup of Nations is the focus now and we must get a good result on Saturday to get our campaign back, and then we can now look ahead with determination to win the remaining matches in our group to qualify easily for the championship.”
Police declare reported shooting of Anambra pastor David Elijah as mischief
The police in Anambra on Friday declared as high mischief, the reported shooting of David Elijah, the pastor in charge of Grace and Power Prophetic Ministry in Awka. The Anambra Command in a statement signed by DCP Chris Owolabi, wondered why the pastor refused to report the incident to the police station closest to the scene of the incident. The command wondered why the pastor instead went to his church in Aromma, Awka, to make a public announcement of his miraculous escape.
“The attention of the Anambra State Police Command has been drawn to mischievous publications in some national dailies and the social media that one Pastor (Prophet) David Elijah of Grace and Power Prophetic Ministry, Awka was attacked by unknown gunmen in his church close to Aroma junction.
“It is indisputable that on Sept. 6th between 9am to 10am, the Pastor said that he was attacked by unknown gunmen along Enugu-Udi road in Enugu state and his vehicle was riddled with bullets, but he escaped unhurt.
“However, instead of reporting the incident at the nearest police station where the incident took place, the pastor drove to his church in Awka and attracted the attention of his congregation who were waiting for him at the church premises for a church event,” he said.
However, the command urged members of the public to disregard the report as misleading and assured that Anambra is safe.
“Following the incident, the commissioner of police directed the DPO ‘B’ Division to immediately proceed to the church and ascertain the true situation.
“The DPO visited the pastor at his church and even took photographs with him to clear the ambiguity.
“In view of the foregoing, the command implores members of the public to disregard such misleading reports from mischievous elements who are bent on portraying the state in bad light in order to achieve their selfish goals,” he said.
The social media buzzed with stories of how Pastor David miraculously escaped unhurt following attack on him by unidentified gunmen.
Source: Vanguard