Delta Governor, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, has said that his administration is providing necessary infrastructure and support to the private sector to make the state Nigeria’s tourism destination.

Okowa stated this on Friday at the unveiling of Park Vegas Water Park at Ewuru-Agbor in Ika South Local Government Area of the state.

Represented by Mr Charles Aniagwu, the Commissioner for Information, Okowa said that his administration was investing in the leisure sub-sector to make Delta a tourism destination.

He commended the proprietor of the Park for considering Agbor for the project and urged other investors to emulate the efforts of those who are contributing to the development of their communities.

“This project falls in line with the SMART Agenda of this administration; by investing in this environment, they have assisted us in creating wealth for our people.

“By creating a facility for people to unwind, they have created a veritable means of peace-building and relevant health for the people who will come here to relax.

“This park has also helped in the transformation of this environment and has opened it up for further investments,” he said.

He called on the people to patronise the Park to sustain the investment, adding that the investors had made sacrifices by bringing the park to Agbor.

“Oftentimes, individuals invest in different directions, and because they have taken the pains to take this back home, it deserves our support.

“They would have made more money if they had taken this to other climes, but they have chosen to bring this back to their origin.

“The success of this Park can only be guaranteed if we take out time to patronise this Park. Let’s make it a point of duty at regular intervals to make use of this opportunity that this park offers.

“The people who will work and operate in this Water Park will no longer be classified as unemployed because they have been offered employment here,” he stated.

Earlier, Managing Director of the Park, Dr Nancy Orji, had said that the Park Vega Water Park, was a world-class Water Park and Nigeria’s and West Africa’s first international standard water park.

According to her, the water park is a tourist’s attraction and a core element of the tourism value chain because of it’s a great motivation for tourism trips and expenditures.

“This water park will revitalise Agbor’s local economy and by extension, the economy of Delta State by pulling tourists across Nigeria and West Africa, thus increasing revenue for government, local businesses and residents, in addition to providing direct and indirect jobs.

“This Park is designed for families, friends, couples and individuals, and provides facilities for wave pool, adult slides, swim-up bar and a colourful Aqua tower and splash pad for children,” she stated.

The unveiling ceremony was attended by the Dein of Agbor Kingdom, Obi Benjamin Ikenchuku, Keagborekuzi I and top government functionaries.

The Conference Of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has strongly condemned a publication by an online news portal, Sahara Reporters which alleged that reappointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu paid N3 billion bribe to get reappointed.

The CNPP in a statement signed by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu described the allegation as frivolous, maliciously conceived and too speculative to be true.

“We have painstakingly gone through the publication and found it to be nothing but handiwork of mischievous people who believe that the reappointment Prof Yakubu is standing against their bribing their way to desired political office in the country.

“The entire story was based on an interview with an “Insider”, which the very watery allegation prove that he exists only in the imagination of the malicious writer of the fake story.

According to the so called “top insider”, Prof Yakubu “paid at least N3bn in bribes to have his tenure as INEC Chairman extended by another five years.

“He paid a princely sum of N2bn to a group led by Senate President Ahmed Lawan and another N1bn to another group”, the publication alleged.

The second part of the allegation, which is most laughable reads that “These huge funds were deployed and mobilised by a civil servant and director in INEC, who is described as wealthy and in charge of a strategic department.”

“So, what is the interest of the so-called civivants and the director to warrant the sacrifice of raising a whooping N3 billion?

“For the fact that the writer was was not even certain about the bribe sum; to allege that he “paid at least N3bn in bribes” is nothing but wicked imagination aimed at tarnishing the image of the INEC Chairman.

“At least, implies uncertainty, just as the allegation does not add up. How can the “Insider” not be certain about something he witnessed?

“We can point fingers at some individuals who are using Sahara Reporters to get back at the INEC Chairman.

“The conduct of Edo and Ondo Governorship elections and the introduction of new measures that frustrated election riggers are more than enough to trigger the allegation after the surprise reappointment.

“They just needed to raise an allegation that will involve the reappointed INEC Chairman and the Senate President that will naturally preside over his screening for confirmation. The idea is to tie the hands of the Principal officers of the Senate, make them believe that the Senate President has taken bride.

“But who can believe such tale by moonlight, an old wife tale that is more confusing than convincing?

“Nigerian online media should learn to publish facts, not speculations like we have since in this instance.

“For us, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu has done well and that’s why CNPP never raised any objection against his reappointment”, the CNPP said.

…Asks Victims to Submit Complaints on or before November 19

The Administrative Panel of Inquiry constituted by the Enugu State government to look into the recent loss of lives and other grievous bodily injuries to private citizens and security personnel, resulting from the hijack by miscreants of the otherwise peaceful #ENDSARS protests, and recommend compensation that may be paid to them, has reminded the general public that the submission of letters of complaint and memoranda by victims is still ongoing and closes on November 19, 2020.

The panel gave the reminder when its members led by their Chairman, Justice Fredrick Obieze (Rtd.), paid advocacy visits to leaders of various religious groups in the state, on the genuine intention of the state government to ensure that victims are compensated appropriately as well as the need to engage them for adequate and timely information dissemination through all their places of worship to enable people access the panel for submissions.

According to the panel, “the letters and memoranda which should be in two (2) copies and/or a soft copy should be submitted on or before November 19, 2020 at the Conference Room, Office of the Head of Service, State Secretariat Enugu. Email: endsarspanel@gmail.com”.

It requested interested members of the public to call the following numbers: 0806 846 7334, 08126270512, for further inquires.

The religious leaders visited include the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. C.V.C Onaga, Archbishop Emmanuel O. Chukwuma of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province (Anglican Communion), Archbishop Christopher Edeh of the Methodist Church Nigeria and the Sarki Hausa in Enugu, among others.

Members of the panel, who are also mandated to look into the related destruction of properties of private citizens and security infrastructure in Enugu State, were Professor Frank Ezugwu (Provost, ESUTH College of Medicine) – Member; Professor Agozie Ogbodo (Dean, Faculty of Law, Godfrey Okoye University) – Member; H.R.H. Igwe Emmanuel Ugwu(Traditional Ruler of Ibagwa Nike) – Member; Professor Ngozi Ejionueme (Head, Department of Marketing, ESUT) – Member.

Others are Rev. Emmanuel Edeh (CAN Chairman in Enugu State) –Member; Chief Frank Maluze (Chartered Estate Surveyor and Valuer) – Member; Comrade Modester Onwuha (Vice-President, SUG, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus) – Member; Barrister Ben. Chinedu Oloko (Private Legal Practitioner representing the Youths) – Member and Mr. Charles Abugu (Permanent Secretary, Office of the Head of Service) – Secretary.

 

The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs Disaster Management and Social Development is spearheading the advocacy for putting in place disaster risk reduction measures in public and private spaces.

The Minister Sadiya Umar Farouq made the call today while marking the 2020 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction which is celebrated all over the world on October 13.

According to Umar Farouq, the advocacy is to raise awareness among public and private organizations as well as the general public on how to prepare for and mitigate the risks of fire incidents in high rise buildings, high occupancy public and private buildings as well as workplaces and ensure that they have fire and emergency evacuation plans in place while practicing fire exit drills periodically.

“To demonstrate this, the Ministry, in collaboration with other first responders in disaster management, is organizing the first ever fire evacuation drill in the Federal Secretariat Building.

The drill will take place on Friday October 23, 2020. This is because, in 2020 alone, Nigeria has witnessed over 20 fire incidents in both public and private buildings. Fire hazard is thus, one of the major disaster risks in Nigeria.

“The purpose of the fire exit drill slated for next week, is to ensure the efficient and safe use of the exit facilities available at the Federal Secretariat Buildings in case of an emergency.

Such drills ensure orderly exit under control and prevent the panic that has been responsible for loss of lives in major fire disasters.

“While we are focusing on fire hazards today, the Ministry will continue to evolve strategies which address not just single hazards like fire and floods but also those that respond to systemic risks generated by industrial accidents like pipeline explosions and gas leakages”.

The Minister called on individuals to pass on to their various homes and offices, lessons that will be learnt from next week’s fire exit drill, to make Nigeria disaster risk free.

The theme for this year’s celebration is ‘Disaster risk governance’ .

The Ministry, since its establishment on August 21, 2019, has been initiating policies and programs that will build resilience towards disaster risk reduction in Nigeria.

Fire drills can also expedite the institutionalization of disaster risk governance.

The International Day of the Girl Child celebration has continued here in Imo State. On Tuesday, the 13th of October 2020 saw an absolutely successful girls event held by Albertiqs Foundation at Graceland Event Centre, Egbada, Owerri.

Speakers ranged from Hon. Uju Onwudiwe (Igolo), Member representing Njaba, Hon. Ijeoma Nwafor, Josephine Orji  Paralympics Gold Medalist and several other formidable women.

The event was full of formidable women who all have successful careers especially in male dominated fields. They all spoke strongly on the current expectation from the society in terms of gender parity.

The Chair of the Board of Albertiqs Foundation who happens to also be, The Special Adviser on Diaspora to the Governor of Imo State Hon. Cllr. Celia Osakwe-Hibbert admonished the young girls represented from different secondary schools, that the women emancipation ”we all have been calling for is finally here under the current Government and all that needs to be done is for all women in Imo to grab this change with both hands.”

She further stated during a panel session on how proud she is to see a sign Language Interpreter, women on wheel chairs and several other women from the Disability community.

“When I took over a few months ago as the Chairperson of Albertiqs Board, I introduced inclusion and diversity today we stand proud to showcase to the world that indeed change is possible!

The SA Diaspora, continued to explain to our reporter that she is not surprised to see that a Diasporan owned Foundation is raising the bar very high!”

Albertiqs Extra Helping Hands Foundation is one of the leading foundations in the South East on Women’s Empowerment. Albertiqs now also focuses on Women living with Disabilities.

Hon. Chidi Olujie, current and youngest ever National President of Deaf in Nigeria was present at this event, he applauded Albertiqs Foundation for putting ‘inclusion’ high up in their practices.