Yuletide: FG Declares Offers Free Ride To Train Passengers

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December 24, 2021

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, in Abia State, Barr. Eze Chikamnayo has reiterated the commitment of the governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu to enhance the security and welfare of Abians and yuletide and all times.

Chikamnayo made this known in a statement obtained by ABN TV on Thursday.

He announced that the state Government has started extensive palliative work on the Aba-Port Harcourt expressway as effort to ensure easy move to of the people.

He said, “This is part of the effort of the People’s Governor, Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu to support easy movement between Abia and Rivers State and create a better life for our people.

“Government wishes to reassure all Abians everywhere that Governor Ikpeazu is leaving no stone unturned in his determination to provide for the security and welfare of Abia Citizens both within this Christmas period and beyond.”

Earlier, he announced that the governor has mobilized contractors on different sites in the state to enable them commence construction immediately as dry season sets it.

He gave names of roads to enjoy a face lift in the state courtesy of the mobilization to include, Port Harcourt Road, Aba, Omuma Road, Aba, Cemetery Road with spur on Cameroun Road and Ehi Road.

Others are Railway Road, Ohanku Road, Obohia Road and the link Road between Ukwa East and Ukwa West Local Governments.

He added, “Work will also soon commence on Faulks Road Aba in furtherance of the avowed determination of the Rebuilder of Abia State, Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, to continually put smiles on the faces of our Dear Citizens.

“Residents of Aba and Commutters are therefore urged to give these contractors maximum co-operation in order for us to achieve the desired accelerated positive result within this Dry Season.”

Dry Season: Work To Commence At Port Harcourt, Omuma, Obohia Roads, Others As Ikpeazu Mobilises Contractors

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December 24, 2021

Abia state government has said in fulfillment of his promise, the governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has mobilized contractors on different sites in the state to enable them commence construction immediately as dry season sets it.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Barr Eze Chikamnayo made this known in a statement on Thursday.

He gave names of roads to enjoy a face lift in the state courtesy of the mobilization to include, Port Harcourt Road, Aba, Omuma Road, Aba, Cemetery Road with spur on Cameroun Road and Ehi Road.

Others are Railway Road, Ohanku Road, Obohia Road and the link Road between Ukwa East and Ukwa West Local Governments.

He added, “Work will also soon commence on Faulks Road Aba in furtherance of the avowed determination of the Rebuilder of Abia State, Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, to continually put smiles on the faces of our Dear Citizens.

“Residents of Aba and Commutters are therefore urged to give these contractors maximum co-operations in order for us to achieve the desired accelerated positive result within this Dry Season.”

Crossover Service May Be Threatened As FG Restricts Religious Gatherings To 50 Percent Over COVID-19 Scare

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December 24, 2021

The annual crossover services held by religious organisations across the country is under threat as the Boss Mustapha-led Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 declared that indoor religious gatherings should be limited to 50 per cent with full compliance to public health measures.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha which was made available to journalists on Thursday in Abuja.

Crossover services are significant events held majorly in churches on the night of December 31 every year to usher in the New Year.

It is a time when religious organisations, especially Christians, gather to pray and worship their Maker for the gift of a New Year. Customarily, the services begin a few hours before midnight and end some minutes after, depending on the denomination.

Due to the number of attendees of such events across the country, the PSC explained that there has been reduced compliance to public health social measures which has led to increased COVID-19 cases in the country.

The committee, however, added that it may be forced to introduce more restrictions should there be an increase in cases.

The statement reads in part, “The Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 recognizes the importance of the Christmas and New Year celebrations for most Nigerians. As we prepare to celebrate with our families and loved ones, it is important that we do so safely by taking the necessary precautionary measures to stop the further spread of COVID-19 in our country.

“The PSC wishes to remind Nigerians that we are now experiencing the 4th wave COVID19 as new cases have continued to rise in the country. This is the result of a mix of very low vaccination coverage, increased travels and movements, reduced compliance to public health social measures and highly transmissible Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant now circulating in the country.

The statement further reads, “Indoor religious congregation should be limited to 50% capacity with full compliance to public health social measures; face masks and hand sanitisers should be used at all times regardless of vaccination status while in public spaces.

“Families are advised to limit the number of visitors to their homes and put in place precautionary safety measures. Any gathering in the excess of 50 people should be done in open spaces with physical distancing.

“Avoid non-essential interstate travel at this period as this increases the risk of spreading infection from one place to another. People who intend to travel are encouraged to take a rapid COVID-19 test to confirm status as many infected persons are asymptomatic.

“Ensure that you have taken the full dose of COVID-19 vaccination including the booster dose to reduce your risk of severe infection and death in case of exposure to COVID-19.”

2023 Presidency: IBB Drums Support For Osinbajo

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December 24, 2021

Former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), has endorsed Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to contest for the office of president come 2023 general elections.

He described Osinbajo as a personality the nation should look up to for leadership.

General Babangida disclosed this yesterday when a pressure group, Osinbajo Grassroots Organisation (OGO), paid him a courtesy visit at his Hilltop Residence in Minna, Niger State.

The elder statesman said that Osinbajo is a man that can mobilise and engineer growth in the country.

General Babangida averred that the vice president is a man who can communicate with the country and inspire the citizens for a better and productive society.

“I know the vice president very well. He is a good man. I have spoken with him a couple of times; he is a good person. We need a good man like Osinbajo at the helm of affairs of this country – someone people can learn from; someone people of goodwill share a common conviction with. He has this great passion for the country and I want other Nigerians to emulate his passion for the good of our country.

“We want other Nigerians to emulate this passion. I am always available to share my experience about the country.”

He also stated that politicians should always have a vision for a united and great Nigeria as a shining example of democracy in the continent. He also hailed the convener of the group for their convictions and belief about the country.

Babangida urged the group not to relent in seeking a prosperous Nigeria, urging other groups to learn from the organisation.

Speaking further, he said politicians had a lot to learn from the organisation.

“I believe you have experience with politicians already and we will follow you based on this conviction that you have about this country.

“I pray you grow this body so that people will speak well of you, and I pray other organisations will learn from you.

“With constant engagement, there are people who can bring about positive change in this country. Please stay on course and I know things will be much better than now.”

He also urged the group to convey his best wishes to the vice president.

On his part, the national convener, OGO, Ojo Sylvanus Folusho, praised Babangida for believing in the dreams of the group. He also hailed him for endorsing Osinbajo as president ahead of the 2023 polls.

He said, “We are here to consult former military president Ibrahim Babangida and you hear him clearly. Babangida described Osinbajo as a passionate leader that can move the country forward to the greater heights we are expecting.

“Babangida is a resolute leader and he has given us his word and we should convey his best wishes to the vice president. He also told us to continue our conviction for a better Nigeria and we will continue to preach the gospel of Osinbajo.

“I am hopeful that the VP will accept to run for 2023 president. We have been in this struggle for two, three years and we are happy about this endorsement.”

Speaking earlier, the leader of the delegation, Chief Emma Ejiofor, said the group started as a small group of like-minds and patriots.

Ejiofor said the group discovered that Nigeria’s problem is poor political leadership which has affected economic leadership.

As 2023 approaches, he said the group decided to build a structure on a solid foundation.

“We defer first to you, the biggest masquerade himself. Even though we have not discussed with Osinbajo to run, we believe if the call is coming from a legend like you, he will get the message clear and be convinced to run for the 2023 election,” he added.

I Will Have No Pity On Bandits Terrorising Nigerians, Buhari Talks Tough

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December 24, 2021

President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed that his administration will use military might to deal with bandits terrorising Nigerians, especially in the North West.

The President stated this Thursday while addressing the people of Borno during his official working visit to the state, where he commissioned projects executed by Borno State Government and a business tycoon, Alhaji Muhammadu Indimi.

The President, who expressed concern, said, “I am adequately aware of successes here and our failure elsewhere especially in my geopolitical zone, the North West, where it is the same people, the same culture who are stealing each other’s properties, killing each other, what for?”

“We have ordered and started receiving military hardwares from United State of America; Aircraft, Helicopters, Armoured vehicles and we are going to be very very hard on them.

“The problem is in the North West as I said, is same people, same culture… we are going to deal with them.

“Nigerians should please judge this administration on what the condition was when we came in and what the condition is now. When we came in, the people of the North East here know better.”

Buhari also spoke on the situation in the South South region.

“In South South, they believe that they have made their case and we told their leadership the truth when they came to visit me. When they sabotaged the oil pipelines or the wells, the land gets polluted; the fish goes further into the ocean and the ordinary people cannot farm and most of their people are farmers and fishermen. They can neither fish nor farm. Are they hurting Nigeria or their own people? it is just common sense. ”

He said, “I asked Nigerians to please tell the less informed that in Africa, we are the biggest country and we are potentially the richest let us utilize this gift from God to empower out people, our region and our continet instead of wasting our time.”

Buhari further disclosed that he will go at end of his tenure, adding, “I know and I swear with the Holy Quran which I believe with that I will uphold the Constitution of the country by that I must go in 17 months time and I will go, God’s willing, and I hope whoever is coming will try to do the three things I tried to do. One, secure the country because unless the country is secure, it cannot be managed.”

Daily Trust

We’ll Keep Doing Our Best For Development Of Nigeria Till End Of Our Tenure, Buhari Assures Nigerians

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December 24, 2021

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said his administration will keep giving its best for the development of the country until May 2023, reiterating that he will hand over as stipulated by the Constitution.

He spoke after the commissioning of Oriental Energies Resource Limited Hanger, Muhammadu Indimi Distance Learning Centre, and an International Conference Centre donated to the University of Maiduguri in Borno State.

“I know I swore by the Constitution, and I will leave in 17 months,” he was quoted as saying in a statement by his media adviser, Femi Adesina.

“I pray that the person that will take over from us will also follow the targets of securing the country and building the economy. Without securing the country, you cannot grow the economy.”

The President also commissioned the Tijjani Bolori Memorial Secondary School and the first fly-over in Borno State, Custom Roundabout (3.5km) with a stretch of 10km Gamboru Ngala Road constructed by the state government.

He asked Nigerians to appraise the performance of the administration based on what the situation was on security, economy, and corruption before he came in, and where it is now.

“We have a great country … and we thank God for giving us so much resources. But we need to develop our resources,” said President Buhari who noted that development would be more sustainable by empowering the people.

On security in the North West, he said it was sad that the people who lived together, sharing same culture and outlook for a long time would start stealing, kidnapping and killing one another.

The President, however, stated that the military would come down hard on the North West to stabilise the situation, having procured more hardware.

He also commended Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, for the work he had done in two years, noting that he was in the state earlier in June to commission developmental projects.

In his remarks, Governor Zulum appreciated the President for honouring the state, adding that Indimi’s contributions to the development of the state showed he loved his people.

“Words cannot convey our gratitude for the statesmanship,“ he said.

She Took Me To A Hotel, Gave Me Drink, I Didn’t Know What I Was Doing, Port Harcourt Pepper Soup Seller Narrates As Female Fraudster Dupes Him

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December 24, 2021

A middle-aged man, Innocent Udeme, has lamented the loss of three phones and money to a lady who he claimed hypnotised him at his shop in GRA, near a nightclub in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

He said the suspect, whose identity had yet to be ascertained, bought pepper soup from him, adding that she, however, did not eat the meal.

Udeme said the lady asked him to follow her and he obeyed without questions.

He explained that he followed the suspect to a hotel on Evo Road, GRA, adding that the incident happened around 3am on Wednesday.

The trader said on getting to the hotel, the lady gave him a drink, which he took and slept off.

Udeme said he was woken up by the hotel staff, who came to check on the room around noon being the checkout time for guests.

The father of two disclosed that he was stripped to his pants, as his N27,000 and three handsets were carted away by the lady, who made attempts to have sex with him before he lost consciousness.

He said, “I usually sell rice and pepper soup and people know me around that area. A girl came and said she liked my food and that I should sell for her.

“After giving her the food, she said I should give her my phone to make a call. I gave her the phone and she asked me to escort her to a hotel.

“From that point, I didn’t know what I was doing again. I just saw myself following her. The hotel she took me to is on Evo Road. She collected everything I had on me.

“The people in the hotel woke me up in the morning the next day. All my belongings were gone. My friend gave me two of his phones to keep for him that night, which I kept in my pocket, plus my own phone. Altogether, three phones and the N27,000 I had made that night, were all gone.”

He said operatives of the Abacha Road Police Division, where he reported the case, drove him back to his house to re-unite with his family.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, said the police did not have a record of the incident.

“He is not certain about the place because I called the DPO and he said nothing like that happened.

“Maybe you should call him to give the exact location for us to be clear,” she added.

Punch

Infrastructure: Buhari Not Biased Against Ndigbo, Sen. Kalu Insists

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December 23, 2021

Infrastructure: Buhari Not Biased Against Ndigbo, Sen. Kalu Insists — Buhari And Orji Uzor Kalu

Former Governor of Abia State and Chief Whip of the Senate, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu again has said President Muhammadu Buhari is not biased against Ndigbo of South East region, maintaining that the infrastructure the President has initiated and completed in the geopolitical zone attests to his love for Igbos.

Sen. Kalu therefore called on Nigerians to sustain their support for President Muhammadu Buhari in his efforts to reposition the country.

Highlighting the achievements of the President, the former Governor stressed that President Buhari is committed to even development across the country, adding that the infrastructural regeneration in the South East couldn’t have been possible if the President was biased against Ndigbo.

Kalu while cautioning the political class against hate speech and campaign of calumny against the President, pointed out that the President Buhari deserves commendation from Nigerians regardless of ethnic, religious and political differences.

The former Governor, who made these assertions when he received a delegation of Isi Ugwu stakeholders who paid him a solidarity visit in Abuja on Wednesday.

Kalu said, “I am elated with the visit of the stakeholders from Isi- Ugwu in Ohafia local government area of Abia state.

“As you mentioned, the road projects and other infrastructure being executed in Abia North Senatorial district couldn’t have been possible without the support of President Buhari.

“I am motivated to facilitate projects to Abia North Senatorial district because of the robust support for Mr President and I by the people of the zone.

“In the 2019 general elections, during the presidential election, our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) polled 68% votes.

“Abia North Senatorial district will continue to witness robust transformation in all ramifications.

“I have continued to build and repair roads, construct and equip schools, installed transformers, build solar power boreholes, grant soft loans, empower women and youths, build and rehabilitate health centres among other projects as I promised during my campaign.

“The giant feat achieved thus far in my capacity as a Senator is attributed to the generosity of the President to the South East.

“Despite the campaign of calumny, the President has been patriotic and selfless.

“The verifiable projects embarked upon by the federal government in the South East are countless including the construction of 2nd Niger bridge, rehabilitation of Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway, rehabilitation of Bende- Arochukwu-Ohafia road and reconstruction of runway of Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu. The Ihechiowa -Arochukwu road, the federal government has set machinery in motion for its completion.

“The APC led federal government under the leadership of President Buhari will not relent in building infrastructure across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

“The President deserves our prayers as he had been destined by God to lead Nigerians and Nigeria.

“The holy books stressed that we should pray for our leaders and as such we must uphold the tenets of the holy Bible and holy Qur’an.

“I have always maintained the fact that President Buhari has been supportive to the cause of Ndigbo and Nigeria in general.

“Judging for the verifiable projects of the federal government in the South East and other parts of Nigeria, it is obvious that the President is committed to building a prosperous nation.

“The President is a highly detrabilized and patriotic Nigerian”.

The former Governor commended the delegation for the visit, noting that he (Kalu) will not relent in making life meaningful for his constituents.

Queen Naomi Quits Marriage To Ooni Of Ife

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December 23, 2021