Business
Flood: Council Boss, Victims Disagree Over Relief Materials
The chairman of Abua/Odual Local Government Council of Rivers State, Hon Udi Odum has denied allegations levelled against his administration on mismanagement of relief materials allocated to the council soon after the floods and closing of the camps.
Chief Ogbaghama Dighobo Edum from Emilaghan Abua Central alleged that among other things that his community had so far not benefited from the relief materials after the camps were shut down.
He further alleged that the entire LGA was not aware of what was going on in the distribution of the relief materials, claiming that apart from the chairman’s personal aides and his immediate community, nobody was benefiting from the materials.
According to him, efforts made to reach the chairman on the issue proved abortive even as he said his correspondence to the office of the chairman has so far not been acknowledged.
Although attempts to reach the chairman was not successful, our correspondent eventually spoke with him on phone. He denied the allegation, saying it was an attempt to tarnish his image. According to Hon Odum, the only relief material he received were cassava stems which he promptly distributed.
Investigations carried out by our correspondent showed that most communities in the LGA have been given the cassava stems.
For instance, the Uwema of Emughan clan, HRH Thankyou Warigboko Obagana iv confirmed the itiems were shared among the four families which make up the Aminigboko community.
Corroborating Emughan’s statement, chief of Atian family, Chief Mellamby Osila acknowledged that it was only cassava stems that were shared.
At Iyak in Okpeden clan, the story was the same as a renowned farmer and religious leader, Pastor Johnbull confirmed that cassava stems were brought to the community.
He said even though it was a welcome development, he had expected edibles like rice beans among food items to accompany the cassava cuttings.
Also, a cross section of the farming population which comprises mostly rural women who spoke to our correspondent said that they expected more relief materials, adding that they had decided to take their fate in their hands.
Meanwhile, victims of the recent flood disaster in parts of Ahoada East Local Government Area in Rivers State are in for a hard time following the alleged discovery of the remains of human and dead animals in some of the communities’ wells.
The Tide learnt that dead animals were in wells in Edeoha, Ikata Ombo, Odiereke, Awunugboko and Ubarama communities while the remains of human beings who died as a result of the incident were discovered in Ubio, Owube and Ula Ikata.
The leader of an Ahoada- based non-governmental organisation, Peoples Encourages Initiative, Mr Chukwuma Abraham, who disclosed this in an interview with The Tide at the St Paul’s Primary School, one of the campus in Ahoada, said that this situation had made the affected communities to source for drinking water from neighbouring communities.
Mr Abraham said that the timely intervention of the government had become necessary to save the communities from epidemic.
While commenting on the need by government to distribute farm imputes to farmers in the area, he noted that the distribution was not enough to address the plight of the people as a number of the victims needed shelter.
John Bibor
“Payment of tuition fees for undergraduate/postgraduate studies shall be subject to a maximum limit of $25,000.00 per semester,” the Manual states.
The expansion of international card limits also reflects growing confidence among lenders that foreign exchange liquidity has improved enough to support retail dollar transactions.
Speaking recently at the BusinessDay 14th Annual CEO Forum in Lagos, CBN Olayemi Cardoso, governor of the CBN said buying and selling activities now increasingly determine outcomes in the foreign exchange market, unlike in the past when market participants relied heavily on routine Central Bank interventions.
According to Cardoso, Nigeria’s net foreign exchange reserves have risen from just over $3 billion at the start of the reform programme to more than $40 billion, while gross reserves have climbed to about $52 billion, providing stronger confidence for investors and enabling the Central Bank to reserve interventions for periods of market stress rather than day-to-day liquidity management.
The restoration and expansion of international naira card spending limits are increasingly being seen as one of the clearest signs that the benefits of the CBN’s foreign exchange reforms are beginning to reach households, students and businesses making legitimate cross-border payments.
The Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer, WEC, Dr Angela Wilkinson, disclosed this in a statement, last Thursday.
“Nigeria’s participation comes at a pivotal time as the country seeks to expand energy access, strengthen energy security, accelerate gas development and mobilise the capital required for industrialisation and sustainable economic growth.
“WEC Nigeria will convene leaders from across the energy ecosystem, apply the WEC’s globally recognised Energy Trilemma framework to Nigeria’s unique context, and promote evidence-based dialogue, practical collaboration and informed policymaking.
“It will also ensure that Nigerian and broader African perspectives contribute meaningfully to global energy conversations,” she said.
Wilkinson expressed confidence that Nigeria would play a significant leadership role at the World Energy Congress scheduled for Riyadh in April 2027 and beyond.
The statement also quoted the Chairman of WEC Nigeria, Isa, as describing the country’s participation as an opportunity to deepen national and African leadership within the global energy community through practical solutions tailored to regional development priorities.
He said the platform would promote collaboration across sectors and attract sustainable investments into Nigeria’s energy sector.
The Chief Executive Officer of WEC Nigeria, Wunti, was quoted in the statement as saying that the council would connect leadership, evidence and investment to build a secure, affordable and sustainable energy system.
“This system will be capable of driving economic growth and shared prosperity.”
According to him, the platform will also connect Nigerian institutions and businesses with international knowledge, technology, partnerships and investment opportunities through the World Energy Council’s global network.
Recall that WEC, founded in 1923, is the world’s oldest independent and impartial community of energy leaders and practitioners, advancing informed, collaborative and practical action across the global energy system.