38—Vanguard , FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2013
Privatisation: Abakaliki residents expect improved power supply
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BAKALIKI— SOME residents in Abakaliki, yesterday, said they expected that the justconcluded privatisation exercise in the power sector would enhance their economic fortunes. They said this in Abakaliki in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN. They told NAN that they expected the reforms to translate to immediate improvement in power supply and ultimately rub-off on their businesses. Mr. Isaac Ituma, a cold room operator, said he was optimistic that the privatisation exercise would boost commercial activities. He said that he expected the improvement in power supply to translate to more business opportunities for residents. “Many businesses have closed down because of inefficient power supply and we believe that the latest move by the Federal Government will resurrect the comatose power sector,” he said.
Group flays Orubebe’s guber bid BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI
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ORT HARCOURT— TOWARDS 2015 governorship race, a group, Concerned Citizenship Niger Delta Forum, CCNDF, has expressed concern over the aspiration of Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe. At its last monthly meeting in Ahoada, Rivers State, the group made up of youth activists across Niger Delta said it would not support the minister’s governorship ambition. In a statement following the meeting, National Chairman of the group, Matthew Daniel who hails from Buruttu said: “The East West Road under his supervision may not be completed before 2015. “ Others at the Ahoada meeting of CCNDF include Joseph Turu, Vice Chairman, Seaman Ayeson David (Edo, Secretary), Adwie Abelo (Rivers), Adama Temibre (Bayelsa) and Aminugo Williams (Delta ).
Gov Okorocha tasks town planners on Nigeria’s devt CHIDI NKWOPARA
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WERRI—IMO State Gov ernor, Chief Rochas Okorocha has called on town planners in the country to brace up for the challenges of developing the nation. Okorocha spoke while flagging off the 44th annual conference of Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, NITP, in Owerri yesterday. The theme of the conference ‘’land use, planning and national security, is very apt, especially now that our nation is under threat due to criminal insurgencies,” he said: He identified the inability or unwillingness of the nation’s leaders to work and corruption as the bane of development in the country. According to Okorocha, proper urban planning would reduce the cost of governance, as well as solve the problems of establishing acceptable human settlements. Earlier in his opening address, the NITP National President, Chief Steve Onu, said the institute was concerned about poor town planning say-
ing that the ugly development was effecting the corporate existence of Nigeria. Onu however, said that the NITP was committed to finding solutions to the problem
through planning. A guest lecturer on the occasion, Brigadier-General Olatunji Reis, rtd, noted that poor urban planning encouraged crimes which put citi-
zens at risk. Participants from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, attended the conference.
SAFETY WEEK: From left: Mr. Oluropo Owolabi, MD, Skyway Aviation Handling Company Ltd, SAHCOL, Capt. Godwin Akosim, GM, Ramp Operation, NCAA and ACP Chuks Enwonwu, Operations Department, Airport Police Command, during the SAHCOL Safety Week 2013 in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.
CAN counsels Ebonyi pilgrims on good conduct BY PETER OKUTU BAKALIKI—THE Chris tian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Ebonyi State chapter, yesterday, warned the 369 pilgrims from the state to be good ambassadors by avoiding acts capable of embarrassing their faith. Chairman of CAN in the state, Dr. Emmanuel Nshii who gave the advice while briefing newsmen in Abakaliki on members’ level of preparedness for the spiritual exercise said that it was necessary for the pilgrims to comport themselves well during their stay in Israel, so that the essence of the exercise would be achieved. According to him, the pilgrims who have been sched-
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uled to leave for the Holy Land today through the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, will spend 12 days in Israel. He said: “the association will
not condone any acts contrary to Christian norms and standards. “Our pilgrims from the state should comport themselves as
Govts urged to embrace agriculture
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BY CHIDI NKWOPARA
WERRI—Federal and state governments have been advised to embrace agriculture if the nation’s quest for self sufficiency in food production would be realised. An Owerri-based veterinary doctor, Dr. Godwin Offor, who made the plea in an interview with Vanguard, however, lamented over the way successive federal and state governments
had neglected agriculture for decades. “Economic potentials abound in the agricultural sector. Apart from helping to absorb our teeming unemployed youths, it is one sure way of ensuring food sufficiency for our equally large population. “Our teeming unemployed graduates can be gainfully employed in poultry farming. Apart from helping to reduce
Kogi spends N1.186bn to relocate flood victims BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE
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OKOJA—KOGI State Gov ernment said it has spent about N565 million on 272 housing units for relocation of 2012 flood victims. The Commissioner for Land and Housing, Mr. Stephen Mayaki disclosed this, yesterday, while briefing the Good Governance Tour Team in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital. The commissioner explained that the project, which comprised 78 two bedrooms and 81 one bedrooms is in rersponse to the flooding that ravaged some parts of the
good ambassadors of Christ and Ebonyi State so that their actions do not cause any embarrassment to Christianity.“
state last year as a long term measure and accommodation for the victims of the flooding. He also stated that the houses were built at N2.4 million and N1.8 million respectively for the two categories of housing in the estate. He added that additional N621 million had been approved by the governor for infrastructure development in the area. According to him, the project is being funded from the N500 million donation from federal government and donations from corporate and organised civil society groups from within and outside the country.
The project, which he said started in April this year has reached 90 per cent completion and is expected to be handed over to occupiers in three months time. In his remarks, the Minister of Information and Supervising Minister of Defense, Mr. Labaran Maku represented by his Special Assistance on Media, Mr. Kingsley Osadolor commended the initiative and the Federal Government for its intervention on the project. He urged the state government to ensure adequate security on the property.
unemployment, poultry farming can also make the farmers economically self reliant.
Imo to renovate Magistrates’ Courts
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WERRI—GOVERNOR Rochas Okorocha of Imo has directed the immediate renovation of Magistrates’ Courts in the State. Okorocha gave the order when he visited Nwaorieubi Magistrates’ Court in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of the state. He frowned at the level of dilapidation of the office blocks and court buildings. He said the environment was totally unacceptable as it could dampen the morale of the magistrates. The governor said his administration had commenced the reconstruction of Owerri Magistrates’ Court and would extend same to others in the state.