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Gov. Ikpeazu Vows To Make Ntigha Dry Port A Reality Before 2023
The Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has reassured the people of Abia that the proposed Ntigha dry port will become a reality before the end of his tenure in 2023, Grassroots.ng understands.
He urged the people to disregard rumours that he intends to abandon the project and others
The Governor noted that he is desperate to actualize the establishment of the dry port, adding that there could be no better gift to Abia people than a dry port of final destination, where people would clear their goods in the State.
The Governor spoke on Thursday at the commissioning of the first phase of the newly constructed AMAOJI JUNCTION-ABAYI- ISI COURT ROAD in Isiala Ngwa North LGA where he also flagged off the construction of the second and final phase of the road.
At the event which is in continuation of his ‘Kinetic Abia‘ Project Inspection and Commissioning Programme, Dr. Ikpeazu said he would deploy every resource to ensure the project is fully delivered and the second phase commissioned soon, assuring Abians he would continue to serve the people and deliver democracy dividends to them.
In a statement made available to newsmen by his chief press secretary, Mr. Onyebuchi Ememanka, the governor called on the benefiting communities to nurture the road as it would be a disservice for the people to burn tires or erect illegal speed breaks on the road.
The statement read in part, “Speaking also, the Member representing Arochukwu /Ohafia Federal Constituency, Hon. Uko Nkole commended the Governor for constructing the road, adding that rural roads add value to the economy of the people in addition to reducing rural-urban migration. He said PDP under Governor Ikpeazu is making progress and urged the Governor to continue.
“Contributing, the Member representing Isiala Ngwa North State Constituency at the State House of Assembly and Chairman, House Committee on Works and Projects Monitoring, Hon. Ginger Onwusibe thanked the Governor for the initiative to start the road and completing the first phase and pleaded with him to use the same speed to complete the second phase. He appreciated the infrastructural developmental works the Governor has done in Aba and other parts of the State.
“In his remarks, the Commissioner for Works, Elder Bob Ogu disclosed that the Governor has developed a template with which roads are flagged off and commissioned. He said the roads built in the State have at least 20 years guarantee and asked the benefiting communities to protect the road and ensure that no bonfires are set on the road as they degrade the asphalt.
“Also, the PDP State Chairman, Rt. Hon. Asiforo Okere thanked Isiala Ngwa North people for the support given to PDP and urged them to enroll in the ongoing voters’ registration exercise while thanking the Governor for making the party proud consistently.
“The Chairman of the State Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Chief Ceekey Igara affirmed Governor Ikpeazu has changed the lifestyle of people of the area and introduced a new way to survive as well as retain people in the village. He said if the Governor does the same in all parts of the State, Abia would develop faster.
“Earlier in an address the Executive Chairman, Isialangwa North, Mr. Chinwendu Ochulor thanked the Governor for all he has been doing in Isiala Ngwa North especially opening up of rural roads. He mentioned projects like the Umuogele Umuakwu Erosion remediation project, the Umuakwu – Azuiyi – Mbubo Road, the Umuene Omoba – Obikabia Road, the Mbawsi Ikputu Road, the Eziama Ntigha – Nsirimo Road, and the Amapu Ntigha – Abam Road, which had either been completed or are presently ongoing, and also appealed to him to fix the Okpuala Ngwá- Mbawsi Road and expedite action on the commencement of the Ntigha Dry Port project.
“In her speech, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government & Chieftaincy Affairs, Mrs. Joy Nwanju informed that the road project is an intervention project initiated in 2019 and expressed happiness that its first phase is being commissioned by the Governor, who equally is the initiator. She said that the road is one of the three joint intervention projects done with the Local Governments in the State.
“Speaking on behalf of Isiala Ngwa North Stakeholders, a former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Christopher Enweremadu said the road has been a nightmare and remained unaccessible for the past 25 years. They said the people of Isiala Ngwa are grateful to the Governor for constructing the road as well as his other numerous projects which has created multiple chains of employment for the people. They requested that the proposed Dry Port project needs to be operational as it would open the economy of the State and increase revenue generation among others.
“Speaking on behalf of the youth of Ngwa Ukwu La Nwaoha, Mr. Chima Nwosu saluted Governor Ikpeazu for remembering the people and fixing their roads. He assured of the continuous support of the people to the administration of Governor Ikpeazu.
“Secretary to Government, Barrister Chris Ezem, the Chairman of the Abia State Traditional Rulers Council, Hrm Eze Joseph Nwabeke and a Commissioner in the Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, Chief Uzo Ihuka were amongst other top dignitaries who witnessed the event.”
The Enugu State government has inaugurated a steering committee to eliminate Gender-Based Violence, GBV, in the state, declaring zero tolerance for the social malaise.
The inauguration took place at the Government House Enugu.
The panel, which is chaired by the Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, draws its membership from the Nigeria Police Force, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro Industrialisation, Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ministry of Human Development and Poverty Reduction, Ministry of Trade, Investment and Industry, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education as well as the Civil Society.
Inaugurating the panel known as the Steering Committee for Strengthening Institutional and Community Responses to End Gender-Based Violence/Domestication of Enugu State Gender Policy using the Oputa Panel approach, Governor Peter Mbah restated his administration’s commitment to not bringing perpetrators of GBV to book, but also putting in place proactive measures – activities, infrastructure, and systems in place to prevent them.
Mbah, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said, “We take gender-based violence seriously. We have zero tolerance for it, and in Enugu State, we are ready to go the extra mile to deal with it.
“If you notice, the government has selected people that are very committed to this goal. This is not an activity where we just want to check-off the list. We will track this. We will monitor this, and we will have quarterly engagements on the successes that this particular committee has achieved in terms of reference that we are going to send.
“We will tighten those terms of reference indicators, so that we monitor what we are doing both in terms of cost input and the value added. It’s very important to us. Many people will be involved – civil society, the police and various ministries.”
He however, said that the effort was to protect everyone, men and women alike, as GBV was not restricted to any gender.
“The whole idea is to hold people responsible that are involved in matters relating to gender violence and deter people that by culture or by association get involved in that, protect women, protect our children, and in the case of violence against men, protect our men because most times we misconstrue gender violence to mean women, but it can also be men too.
“We encourage our men to speak out and to make sure they understand that the policy that Enugu State is soon going to domesticate is for everyone, and not only for the female gender,” he stated.
In her remark, Mrs. Enih, explained that the Oputa Panel approach was inspired by the need to cover all local peculiarities in domesticating the policy on GBV, restarting government’s confidence in the members of the panel.
“The approach we are going to use is the Oputa Panel approach, and in the Oputa Panel approach, we are going to tour the 17 Local Government Areas to get firsthand information about what our people are going through because policy is meant for the people, and a policy should suit the people.
“Again, every community has its peculiar problems, so that’s why the government decided that if we have to domesticate the gender policy, we have to hear from the people who own the policy and know the changes that they desire to see. That is the reason we are using this approach.
“The committee members are to also serve as judges. As we gather this information from our people, we will come back to tailor it in a way to suit the people of Enugu State, and then our policy is ready.
“We want the people to know that there is a gender policy for them. I can assure you that when the people are aware that there is such a policy, they will seek for the enforcement of that policy. So, this is not going to be one of those policies that will just lie on the shelf,” she said.
Digital solutions provider, Globacom, has congratulated Christians in Nigeria on this year’s Easter celebration, and urged them to emulate the noble qualities of Jesus Christ.
The company, in a goodwill message to the Christian faithful in the country, lauded their perseverance through the Lenten period which preceded Easter. It enjoined them to always promote the ideals of selflessness, love and peace among all as a way of demonstrating the virtues of the exemplary life of Jesus Christ.
“Peace, love and sacrifice are the central message of Easter. Christ offered himself in atonement for the sins of the world and he lived a life which made Him an eternal symbol of peace and goodwill for mankind”, Globacom added.
The company enjoined all Nigerians to share in the lessons of promoting selflessness, a necessary ingredient in the growth and development of every society. It also enjoined all Nigerians to join hands to make Nigeria a better place for all.
Easter is celebrated yearly at the end of the Lenten season of fasting and prayer considered as a ritual of purification for the Christian faithful. It also precedes the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ on Good Friday and His eventual resurrection on Easter Sunday.
The company assured its customers of seamless voice, data and Short Messaging Service (SMS) during and after the Easter celebrations, while urging them to avail themselves of the various data and voice offerings on the network.
The Guild of Private Broadcast Managers has extended its heartfelt congratulations to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) as it celebrates its 70th Anniversary.
In a congratulatory message signed by the Guild’s National President, Ambassador Patrick Uzoyi-Peters, JP MNGRM, the guild described the milestone as a testament to the NUJ’s unwavering commitment to upholding press freedom, journalistic integrity, and the advancement of democracy in Nigeria.
“For seven decades, the NUJ has played a pivotal role in shaping the media landscape, advocating for the rights and welfare of journalists, and ensuring that the voice of the people remains strong and unyielding. Your resilience, professionalism, and dedication to ethical journalism have been instrumental in fostering transparency, accountability, and national development”.
Celebrating this historic achievement, the Guild’s President, Uzoyi-Peters recognized the sacrifices and contributions of journalists across the nation who work tirelessly to inform, educate, and empower society.
The Guild reiterated it commitment towards collaborating with the NUJ in promoting responsible journalism and strengthening the media industry for the greater good.
While wishing the NUJ continued success, growth, and greater impact in the years ahead, President Uzoyi-Peters prayed that the anniversary serve as a renewed call to uphold the principles of truth, fairness, and press freedom in our collective pursuit of a more informed and just society.
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