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Ikpeazu Issues 14-day Ultimatum To Contractors Handling Federal Roads In Abia

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Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia on Friday gave contractors handling the rehabilitation of federal roads in the state up until Nov. 28 to return to site or the state government would takeover the projects.

Ikpeazu issued the ultimatum during an interactive session with newsmen at the Government House, Umuahia, saying that the measure was to ensure the timely completion of the projects.

He said that his administration would no longer fold its arms and watch the people suffer untold hardship as a result of the complete dilapidation of the roads.

The governor listed the roads to include Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway (awarded during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan), Aba-Ikot Ekpene Road and Umuahia Ikot Ekpene Road, awarded in 2018 and 2013 respectively.

Others are the Umuahia-Uzuakoli-Ohafia Road and Ohafia-Bende-Umuahia Road which were both awarded about four years ago.

The rehabilitation of the Ohafia-Arochukwu Road, which commenced about two years ago, and Port Harcout Road in Aba had reportedly suffered a setback.

Ikpeazu said: “We are calling on all the contractors handling federal roads in Abia to redouble their efforts.

“They should return to site on or before Nov. 28 otherwise we will be forced to takeover the projects because we cannot continue to watch our people suffer,” he said.

He noted that many lives and valuable property had also been lost due to the deplorable conditions of the roads.

The governor expressed concern that trade and commerce in Aba had suffered a major drawback because traders from other parts of the country could no longer access the commercial town.

Ikpeazu said that his administration would take over the rehabilitation of the roads, “with or without a refund from the Federal Government”.

He said that the government’s recent experience with the Federal Ministry of Works over the construction of the road leading to Osisioma depot did not suggest Abia would get a refund.

He said that government had also initiated measures to ensure the speedy completion of state roads, adding that only contractors with proven performance would be paid.

The governor announced plans by the government to provide bailout “for the last time” to Abia Polytechnic, Aba to offset the backlog of unpaid salaries to its workers between now and January 30, 2021.

He said that similar gesture would also be extended to Abia State University, Uturu, Health Management Board, College of Health Technology, Aba, and others with arrears of unpaid salaries.

Ikpeazu also spoke on the devastation caused by the EndSARS protesters in the state, which included the destruction of lives and property.

He blamed the protest on the rising unemployment rate and the non-conducive environment for creativity among the nation’s youth.

He described the proposed Enyimba Economic City, which would provide 6,500 jobs and government’s focus on the development of the small and medium enterprise in Aba, as some of his administration’s job creation initiatives.

The governor also spoke on the health and socio-economic challenges thrown up by COVID-19, the state government’s response in tackling the pandemic and positive fallout from it.

According to him, the pandemic exposed the huge deficit in the nation’s health facilities and challenged the government “to step up its game in the provision of medical facilities”.

He said that the state government, in collaboration with Abia indigenes in the diaspora, was at the final stage of establishing a Mother and Child Hospital in Umuahia.

He said that already three containers of modern medical equipment had been shipped by them for the proposed facility.

Ikpeazu also said that government had purchased additional dialysis machines to support the ones at the Me Cure Dialysis Centre in Umuahia, with plans for another facility in Aba for all kinds of ailments.

He said that part of the steps taken to combat COVID-19 in the state was the setting up of isolation centres in Aba and Umuahia.

He said that Abia has isolation centres with more than 150 beds and state-of-the-art equipment.

The governor also said that the state had two functional molecular labs with additional facilities for testing across the 17 local government areas of the state.

He expressed satisfaction with the commitment of the frontline medical personnel in the fight against the spread of the pandemic, “which made fatality rate very low”.

“Abia recorded 92 per cent success in the management of COVID-19 patients, one of the best records in the country,” he said.

The governor, who is a survivor of the pandemic, said, “with early diagnosis and proper clinical management, COVID-19 is not a death sentence.” (NAN)

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Chief Asaga commissions house for staff in Abakaliki

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As the 2024, yuletide approaches, popular Abuja-based hotelier, philanthropist and CEO/MD of C-Sagas Group, Architect Chief Christian Asaga Nwali, PhD, has once again commissioned a house for one of his staff in Ebonyi State, in appreciation of his contributions to the successes of the company over the years.

 

Chief, who holds the chieftaincy title of Ide Ji Ulo 1 of Izzi Nnodo, Uzochukwuwara 1 of Ekpelu Kingdom, Odozie-Obodo 1 of Ameka, Ikwo, gifted the building, a 4-bedroom bungalow with boy’s quarters, properly fenced with gate, to Engr Donatus Azunku, aka MTN who hails from Abakaliki LGA of Ebonyi State, on Tuesday, November 19, 2024.

Speaking to our reporter on what prompted the magnanimity, Architect Asaga said, for over a decade, Engr. Donatus Azunku served as the dedicated Project Engineer of C-Sagas Group, “exemplifying unwavering commitment, humility and a willingness to learn.”

He said: “For me, the purpose of living is to make a profound and lasting impact on the people and environment surrounding me. Therefore, I strive to ensure that this impact is decidedly positive, transformative and continuous, leaving a ripple effect of goodness that resonates beyond my lifetime and creating a legacy of goodness that endures.

“To the glory, on behalf of C. Sagas Group, today being Tuesday, November 19, 2024, I am honoured to dedicate this magnificent home to Engr. & Mrs. Donatus Azunku and family. The truth is that, for over a decade, Engr. Donatus Azunku has served as our dedicated Project Engineer, exemplifying unwavering commitment, humility and a willingness to learn.

 

“Therefore, as I officially commission this beautiful house today, I pray that Almighty God will continue to bless his family abundantly. May this home be filled with love, joy, and prosperity and may your family be blessed beyond measure in Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

 

Architect Chief Christian Asaga Nwali is particularly popular for having the interest of his staff, family and those around him at heart, whether in Enugu, Abakaliki or Abuja, apart from also lifting numerous people from poverty by establishing businesses for them or building houses for them.

 

Following his philanthropic activities and humanitarian interventions, Dr. Christian Asaga Nwali, has in his employment over 1000 Nigerians in his establishments like Cirenes Hotels in Kpiri-Kpiri, Abakaliki, Exclusive Serene Hotel and Suites in New Haven, Enugu and Exclusive Serene Hotel and Suites in Wuye, Abuja, C.Sagas Luxury Homes Ltd, taking in his stride scholarship programs and marriage sponsorship of his employees, among others.

 

It is an annual culture for the hotelier to distribute cars to his staff and those around him. In 2019, be bought and distributed 8 cars to members of his staff.

 

Again, in December, 2023, Architect Asaga Nwali also distributed exotic cars to his staff in Ebonyi State, in appreciation of their contributions to the successes of the C-Sagas Group.

 

In March, this year, the C-Sagas Group built and donated a church building to Deeper Life Bible Church (DLBC), Ameka, Ikwo, Ebonyi State.

 

Many beneficiaries of his magnanimity are presently thanking the hotelier for lifting them from poverty in different ways.

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Metro

Man attempts crippling wife with pestle in Anambra 

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Delight Chinedum

 

A middle-aged man identified as Tochukwu Obumneme from Obosi has allegedly attempted crippling the wife Chizoba Obumneme with a pestle over a minor misunderstanding.

 

Our Correspondent gathered that the incident which took place in their house in Asaba, Delta State reportedly escalated after the suspect abandoned the victim at her parent’s house in Onitsha for delaying him without remorse.

 

According to Chizoba, “It initially started as a threat before he dashed to the kitchen, brought the pestle and hit me on my leg.

 

“This is not the first time he has raised his hands on me.”

 

The suspect who was invited for a peaceful mediation at the office of the Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare was said to have turned down the invitation.

 

He was said to have rather threatened his wife and the Social Welfare Officer for inviting him.

 

Reacting, Commissioner for Women Affairs, Ify Obinabo promised to get justice for the victim.

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NDLEA arraigns man for illegal hemp transaction

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Adesokan Olalekan, 56, has been charged with drug trafficking by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and brought before a Federal High Court in Lagos.

The defendant faces a single count of illegally dealing in cannabis sativa, commonly referred to as hemp, and is currently on trial before Justice Ayokunle Faji.

He entered a guilty plea to the revised accusation.

Following his plea, Mr. Peter Ereche, an NDLEA agent, testified for the prosecutor, Mr. Aondofa Korinjo, who went over the case’s facts.

The witness told the court how a group of NDLEA agents brought the defendant in while hiding packaged cannabis sativa in a black nylon bag.

He informed the judge that once samples were extracted from the drug, an analysis revealed that it contained cannabis sativa.

The prosecutor then used the witness to present some evidence, including the drug analysis report, a request for scientific assistance form, and the certificate of test analysis.

The bulk of the material, the substance package form, the defendant’s confessional statement dated September 28, and the remaining material that was analyzed were among the additional pieces of evidence that were presented.

Mrs. Vivian Ekwegh, the defense attorney, raised no objections to the evidence being presented.

As a result, the court acknowledged them and noted them as exhibits.

Considering the defendant’s plea and the facts presented to the court, the prosecution then urged the court to convict him appropriately.

As a result, Justice Faji found the defendant guilty of the charges.

Defense attorney Ekwegh pleaded with the court to give the convicted person pity in order to temper justice.

According to her, the convicted individual was a first-time offender who promptly entered a guilty plea to the charge, saving the court’s time.

She claimed that the 56-year-old defendant had five dependent children and that the convicted felon was now regretting his actions after realizing his mistake.

The court postponed sentencing until November 18 after hearing the allocutus.

The offender was remanded to the detention facility for sentencing, the court ordered.

The accusation states that the act was committed on September 28 at the Ajara axis of Badagry, Lagos State.

He allegedly dealt in 120g of cannabis without the required legal license.

 

 

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