Delta Lawmaker Demands Water Resources Bill Rejection.

A federal lawmaker and member representing Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Rev Francis Waive, says Nigeria is not developed enough to enact the controversial Water Resources Bill.

The lawmaker said the bill, if passed by the National Assembly, would further polarise the country and as well expose the Nigeria to enormous security risk.


Waive stated this on Saturday, in a statement made available to journalists following ‘protest’ against the bill by his constituents.

According to Waive, a lawmaker on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from Delta state, stressed that “Water is the least of our problems as a country.”

Several socio-cultural organisations and some notable Nigerians, including the governor of Benue state, Samuel Ortom, and Prof Wole Soyinka, have all kicked against the passage of the controversial Water Resources Bill, which is currently before federal lawmakers.



Those against the bill had argued that it is another ‘Cattle Colony’ in disguise, which Nigerians also protested against.

However, the cleric cum politician, while reacting to concerns raised by his constituents, said the bill was not of immediate benefit to the Nigerian populace, considering how poorly the federal government has managed River Basin under her authority.

The statement titled: “My Position on the Water Resources Bill, (This is in response to numerous questions by my constituents)”, he posited that while the bill has some provisions, which are welcoming, the country was too naïve and undeveloped for the implementation of the bill, if eventually passed by the National Assembly.

Citing relevant portions of the bill, the lawmaker explained that if passed, it would contradict the Nigeria Constitution, which already vested the land use act under the control of the state governments.

Waive said: “Primarily, the bill seeks, among other things, to vest the rights of ownership, management and control and distribution of water on the federal government, including rivers and underground water, and by extension, the river banks and river bed will become the property of the federal government.

“It has some provisions that are welcoming and warm; but because of the nature of governance and the tendencies to misuse powers in this country, we cannot at this point in time properly handle this kind of a law without causing more harm than good.

“In my opinion, the bill is of no immediate benefit to the generality of the populace at this point in time. We have not developed enough as a country to be able to properly manage all the resources we have to now begin to look at water. Water is the least of our

problems as a country,” he added

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COVID-19: Rivers Govt Okays Schools Reopening, October 5

The Rivers state government has set Monday, October 5, 2020, date for the re-opening of secondary and tertiary schools in the state. The state executive council which took the decision at an emergency session presided over by the state governor, Nyesom Wike last weekend, however said primary schools remain shut based on expert medical advice.

The Commissioner for Education, Professor Kaniye Ebeku announced government plans while briefing journalists at the end of the meeting.


According to him, all secondary schools, vocational schools, universities and other tertiary institutions are affected by the directive.

Prof. Ebeku added that council also approved the setting up of a seven-man taskforce to monitor and enforce the compliance of COVID-19 protocols in the various schools.

The Taskforce, according to him, has the Administrator of Greater Port Harcourt, Ambassador Desmond Akawor as chairman while Mr. Rufus Godwins, Head of the State Civil Service, Commissioner for Health, Professor Princewill Chike, Commissioner for Social Welfare, Mrs. Inime Aguma, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nwankpa and Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim are to serve as members.

The Commissioner for Education, Professor Kaniye Ebeku is to serve as Secretary.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim also announced the reopening of public places such as parks, cinemas and restaurants that would operate within the hours of 6am to 9pm daily.

Nsirim stated that night clubs and bars as well as the Oil Mill Market and Slaughter Market, Oginigba remained close adding that all the re-opened public places must adhere strictly to the Covid-19 protocols or face severe sanctions.

The Commissioner for Social Welfare, Mrs. Inime Aguma said Government reviewed the compliance of citizens as it relates to Executive Order 16 on the conduct of marriages in the State.

Mrs Aguma stated that henceforth, applications for marriages must be accompanied with an affidavit stating that there would be no reception stating that a fine of One Hundred Million Naira (N100-million) awaits defaulters of the extant regulations.

She added that Local Government Chairmen are to be held responsible if they fail to monitor compliance in their various areas.

The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Princewill Chike alao said that Council also reviewed issues regarding public burials during the Covid-19 period with a decision that all public burials in the state are to be conducted in line with the Official Gazette of the wtate which stipulates that not more 50 persons are allowed at such ceremonies.

Prof. Chike stated that going forward, families applying for burials must provide death certificates and an affidavit that they must adhere strictly with all Covid-19 protocols.

He said defaulters would be liable to a fine of One Hundred Million Naira while Local Government Chairmen are to ensure that the directives are complied with in their various areas.

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9-Year-Old Boy, Aged Man Killed In Renewed Ebonyi/C’River Boundary War


Two persons have been confirmed dead in the renewed boundary war between the people of Izzi in Ebonyi state, and Obubara people of Cross River state.

Three persons also from Obeagu Ibom, Amachi, Izzi community were also declared missing during the attack. It was gathered that the suspected war lords from the three Cross River communities having boundary with the Izzi, including Eja village, Apiampkum and Ijaga Oruenya, all in Obubara local government area of Cross River state, invaded the people shooting and destroyed many houses belonging to the Izzi community.


Source said: “The warlords from Cross River took over the Ebonyi community on Wednesday and was shooting sporadically at them. The police retreated to avoid return fire, because, if they didn’t retreat, the Cross River people will continue to shoot gun. Three houses were burnt down.

“The war lords from the cross river took over the village and the villagers relocated to the neighboring communities. But police succeeded in entering the village under attack at Obeagu Ibom village.



“Many houses were damaged, three persons declared missing and two reportedly killed, their bodies were seen on the road but no one could identify them because the village is deserted. At Zaki Ibam village, 1 story building was burnt downa, a bus, bicycle inside the compound were also burnt down. So many other houses were damaged. Source said.

Contacted, the police public relations officer in the state, DSP Loveth Odah, confirmed the attack and said the situation is now under control.

She said that Ebonyi CP, Philip Sule Maku, has beefed up security in the community. “The renewed crisis between Obeagu Ibom village, the DPO Izzi Division said he lead a team to the Obeagu Ibom village in Amachi community, attacked by Ijega, Apiamkpum, Orinya village All in Obubara in Cross River state.

“Adequate security have been beefed up in the place and the Commissioner of Police, Sule Maku, has called on his Cross River counterpart to do the same in their side so that peace will rain while the national boundary commission have also been contacted for demarcation to avoid further destruction of properties and loose of life.

“It was difficult earlier to enter the Warring communities as the men of cross river state were seen aggressively around there but yesterday the police in Ebonyi succeeded in entering into Obeagu Ibom village.

“Some houses were burnt, some were also damaged, two persons were killed among them is a 9 years old boy and one male corps too was seen there yet to be identified as the villagers have deserted the area to a nearby community. Adequate police have been placed in the area to avoid another attack on our people. The armed men took over the community open sizzles fire on police.

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Insecurity: FCTA Lights Up 19 schools with Solar Energy

Given the level of insecurity in the country, coupled with the need to illuminate the environment for academic purposes, the FCT Administration has decided to illuminate 18 boarding schools and one day school.
Taking a tour of some of the schools with journalists, it was noticed that students, who are in school for their WAEC examinations are already enjoying the facility.
The executive chairmen, FCT Secondary Education Board, SEB, Hon. Yahaya Musa Mohammed, said the schools’ solar project was necessitated by the times, given the epileptic nature of public power supply.
He reiterated that the level of insecurity in the nation calls for proactive measures to illuminate the schools to discourage banditry and other forms of insecurity and criminality in FCT schools.
“A stitch in time saves nine; the stand alone solar power project in our schools is a deterrent measure to keep kidnappers and bandits away from our schools. The issue of Chibok school girls and Dapchi remain fresh in our minds. We don’t want anything that will hurt our children or embarrass the government. It is a thing of joy to light up FCT schools,” he said.
He said the project would enhance the academic performance of students as students can now read at night with ease and that students will not be left in the dark. He urged private secondary schools to emulate Secondary Education Board.
Earlier, Mrs. Nanre Emeje, Director/Secretary FCT Secondary Education Board commended the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello for approving the project.
She said the project has satisfied the yearning of boarding schools in the FCT and reduced drastically the cost of fueling to provide power during prep.
She said the next phase of the project is to go beyond street lights to illuminate the hostels.
She said the board has put in place strategies to build capacity towards maintaining the facility by setting up committees in various schools for maintenance.
Each of the 19 schools have 45 units, while in the next level, all the 77 FCT public schools would be illuminated.
The benefitting schools are: Government Secondary School, Kuje; Government Secondary School, GSS. Bwari; GSS Karshi; GSS Shere; Government Girls Secondary School, Dukpa; GSS Gwagwalada. Others are GSS Kwali; GSS Dangara; Government Science Secondary School, Tunga Maje; Government Girls Secondary School, Abaji, GSS Robochi, among others.
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Four Suspected Yahoo Boys Found Dead In A Hotel Room In Delta


Following the alleged curses rained on evil activities in Abraka community, Ethiope East local government area of Delta state, by elders in the area, four suspected Yahoo Boys have been reportedly dead in their sleep at their hotel room.



Although the situation and bizarre death of the suspects are reportedly treated with a pinch of salt, as nothing seemed to have happened, but it was gathered that the suspects had slept in the hotel room together, and four of them died in their sleep on Thursday night, while two others are presently in unconscious states, and are admitted into a private hospital in the area.


Commissioner of police in the state, Hafiz Muhammed Inuwah, who confirmed the incident to journalists in Asaba, on Friday, said that the incident occurred at Sunrose Hotel on Ogboru road in Abraka community; adding that the only survivor was said to have raised the alarm in the early hours of Friday after he discovered that some of his roommates were unconscious.

Eyewitness, Richard Omorogho, said that the bodies of the deceased surprisingly had their heads swollen and their bodies peeling off, which might be an indication of poisonous substances that they inhaled, while others blamed their deaths on generator fumes.
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Community Wants Anambra Poly Named After Justice Okeke


Nkpor town in Idemili North local government area of Anambra state, has called on Governor Willie Obiano to immortalise its illustrious son, late Justice Jude Obunike Okeke, by naming the state-owned polytechnic, the Anambra State Polytechnic, Mgbakwu, after him.

Making the call during Okeke’s funeral ceremony at his Umusiome-Nkpor country home, at the weekend, the president general of the community, Ogbueshi Emeka Inno Mbagha, said the deceased paid his dues through his immense contributions to the development of Anambra state and Nigeria in general, and the legal profession, in particular.




According to the PG, “Late Justice Jude Okeke, (Ochudo), is an icon in all ramifications. At the home front, he was a former supervisory councillor for works in the old Idemili local government area, a position that gave him the opportunity to serve his community diligently through even road construction. He was a former chairman of Nkpor Development Union, Abuja branch. As a result of his contribution to peace-building and being worthy ambassador of Nkpor, he was honoured with a chieftaincy title as Ochudo Nkpor.

“In the legal profession, he served Nigeria meritoriously as an erudite jurist. His commitment to the bar was very absolute. As a judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, he served on the bench with honour, integrity and was known for his great erudition. So, it will not be out of place for the Anambra state government to immortalise him by naming a state owned polytechnic after him.”

Also speaking, chairman of Umusiome-Nkpor village where the deceased hailed from, Barr Uche Darlington Okeke, described the deceased as an icon, whose patrimony could hardly be overlooked. “Every progressive thinker will always believe that Late Justice Okeke should be immortalised. His contributions to humanity should not be allowed to disappear in the annals of history. It is painful that the Eke Nkpor-Umusiome Road, which leads to his house, has not been given any form of palliative. The local and state governments should consider fixing the road and naming it after him; or name any other institution like the state polytechnic after him,” he opined.

Earlier in his tribute, the deceased’s eldest son, Barr Divine Chiemelie Jude-Okeke, described his late father as “the epitome of what a dad should be; a noble man, who gave his family his heart and his love, which manifested in the many thing he did in the family.”

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Innoson Seeks Import Duty Waiver For South East Industries


The general manager, Innoson Technical Company Ltd, Enugu, Mr. C.O. Ubah, has appealed to the federal government to grant manufacturing companies in the South East waivers on import and custom duties on relevant raw materials and machinery.

Ubah made the appeal, when a delegation from the federal ministry of industry, trade and investment, which was in Enugu on assessment visit to the Enugu International Trade Fair Centre came calling on Innoson Plastic Industry in Enugu.




He said that the high cost of clearing and handling of imported raw materials remained one of the biggest challenges manufacturing industries encountered in Nigeria, saying that the appeal became imperative since importers that cut corners to import finished goods sold cheaper than the local manufacturers.

According to him, plastic industries in the South East were suffering due to the inability of the Eleme Petrochemical Company to meet the demand for its product, which, he said, was the raw material for plastic industries. He also called on the federal government to give license to more petrochemical companies and allow more modular refineries into the industry so as to break the monopoly of Eleme Petrochemical Industry in the supply of plastic raw materials.

“It takes about two weeks to receive 20 per cent of an order from Eleme Petrochemical Industry. This is not good for manufacturing companies because it affects the market value chain and the entire business cycle. The federal government should break the monopoly of Eleme Petrochemical Industry to create multiple and steady sources of raw materials and to save the plastic industries in Nigeria,” he said.

Ubah lamented that the Innoson Tyre Factory that was built with the support of Bank of Industry which, according to him, has the capacity for producing tyres for cars and lorries, had not been able to go into full production due to high environmental impact assessment costs by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, as well as other bureaucratic bottlenecks associated with NESREA approvals. He stated that the delay in getting the necessary approvals made Chinese expatriates to leave the country in the heat of the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that the exit of the experts had left the factory idle since approvals were finally received.

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Tipper Drivers Inaugurate New Officers In Anambra

A 13-man executive committee has been inaugurated for the Anambra Tippers Association (ATA). The election, which was born out of an amalgamation of 19 different groups that make up the association, was monitored by the state ministry of transport at the conference hall of the ministry, at the Jerome Udoji Secretariat, Awka.



Inaugurating the committee, the commissioner for transport, Afam Mbanefo, said there was need for synergy between government and the association to preserve the welfare of members.


In his inaugural speech, the newly elected president general, Augustine Akaigwe, commended the state government for creating the enabling environment for the election to hold. He added that, with the cooperation of his executive members, the association would be a shining example. He further pledged the commitment of members of the association in moving the state forward.

Present at the event were the managing director, Anambra Road Maintenance Agency (ARTMA), Patrick Obiefuna, director of accounts in the ministry of transport.

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Navy Alerts On Job Portal Hacking, Insists Recruitment Free

The Nigerian naval headquarters in Abuja has decried the activities of internet fraudsters, who have allegedly taken over its online recruitment portal, collecting money from unsuspecting, innocent Nigerians to purportedly help them join the Nigerian Navy.

In a warning notice signed by Commodore Suleman Dahun, head, public affairs, it said: “For the avoidance of doubt, the Nigerian Navy does not charge money for enlistment and recruitment processes.


“Furthermore, the Navy has not delegated or directed anyone/organisation to collect money on its behalf for any enlistment/recruitment exercises. Members of the public are strongly warned to desist from patronising fraudsters.”

Dahun also disclosed that history was made recently in Les Sables d’Olonne, France with the launch of the first-ever purpose-built hydrographic survey vessel by the Nigerian Navy.



The chief of the naval staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, who spoke at the event, through a representative, Rear Admiral Abraham Adaji, said the new vessel was conceived as a replacement for the Nigerian Navy survey vessel, NNS LANA which was decommissioned 10 years ago.

According to the CNS, the launch was of great significance as it marked a giant stride in the efforts towards actualising the dreams of restoring and enhancing the Nigerian Navy’s survey capability.

He also emphasised that surveying and charting plays crucial role in ensuring safe navigation as well as delivery of maritime security, hence the new vessel will not only enhance the safety of Nigeria’s maritime environment but also serve as a critical component of deployment of naval power for enhanced maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.

Earlier, Mr. Fabrice Weinbach, representing Mr. Roland Joassard, the CEO of OCEA, said the “LANA” was the result of the excellent cooperation between the Nigerian Navy and OCEA teams. He remarked that the new ship demonstrates the willingness of Nigeria to improve the knowledge of the country’s waters with a sea worthy platform and up-to-date equipment.

Weinbach also added that the OCEA and Nigerian Navy relations will be strengthened through the supply of integrated logistic support services, including training, to maintain the operational readiness of the crew, the ship “LANA” and her equipment and systems, and the on-site technical assistance.

Also speaking at the occasion, Nigeria’s ambassador to France, Mrs. Modupe Enitan Irele, highlighted the significance of the ceremony saying it was a manifestation of good Nigeria-French relations. Construction of the new vessel started in 2018 and it is scheduled to join the NN fleet in 2021.

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Group Enrols 70 Children Into Anambra Health Insurance Scheme.

A coalition of Soludo Support Groups says it has enrolled 60 children from a destitute home, Rehabilitation Centre for the Disabled, Old and Tramps (RECDOT), in Ozubulu, Ekwusigo local government area of Anambra state, into the Anambra State Health Insurance Agency’s (ASHIA’s) scheme.

Secretary of the coalition, Dr. Nelson Omenugha, revealed this, weekend, during the group’s visit to the home. He explained that the gesture was part of activities lined up for the 60th birthday anniversary of Anambra politician and former Central Bank of Nigeria governor Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, who turned 60 on July 28, 2020.

Omenugha said that the idea was to help the less privileged in the society, to have access to quality healthcare through the state’s health insurance scheme that would ensure quality care that would be affordable to enrollees.

“We, the coalition of Soludo Support Groups, paid for the premium of the 60 children from RECDOT on behalf of Prof. Soludo. We will also be making an endowment to critical sectors of the economy that Prof. Soludo is passionate about,” he explained.

He further informed that in support of the activities of the support groups, the executive secretary state health insurance scheme, Dr. Simeon Onyemaechi, also paid the premium of 10 more children, bringing it to a total of 70 children from home enrolled into the scheme.

Proprietress of RECDOT, Mrs Rosemary Odukwe, expressed gratitude to the organisation for the support, commended Prof. Soludo for remembering the poor children and wished him more fruitful years ahead.

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