Nation

ICPC Hands Over Hospital Worth N150m To Varsity

Published

4 years ago

March 30, 2022

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says its has recovered and handed over a hospital worth N150 million to the Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu Alike Ikwo (FUNAI), Ebonyi.
Mrs Azuka Ogugua, ICPC spokesperson in a statement on Monday, said the recovery of the hospital was part of the commission’s Constituency Tracking Initiative launched in 2019.
She said that the Constituency and Executive Project Tracking Group (CEPTG) of ICPC had in the course of the Phase Two of its tracking exercise traced the hospital project to Ebunwana Community in Afikpo-South Local Government Area of Ebonyi.
She added that the hospital, fully equipped with state-of-the-art medical facilities, was conceived as a medical outpost of FUNAI and meant to serve as a teaching hospital for its medical students.
“The project, which was appropriated in 2019 and completed in March 2020 at the cost of N150 million, was facilitated by the then Senator representing Ebonyi-South Senatorial District, Sen. Sonni Ogbuoji.
“However, after the completion of the project the local community unofficially took over the hospital even though it was not meant for it and went ahead to rename the facility.
“The community also appointed a consultant to manage the hospital on a profit-sharing arrangement between the community and the consultant.
“Following the illegality that enshrouded the constituency project, the commission stepped in to ensure that the hospital was handed over to the institution for which it was appropriated and executed, “ she said.
ICPC’s spokesperson added that the project has been recovered by its team and handed over to the university community on March 25.
According to her, investigation is ongoing to unravel how the local community got access and took control of the hospital without any official ceremony.
The Tide souurce reports that the Constituency Project Tracking Initiative was launched by ICPC in 2019 and focuses on determining how well money allocated to critical sectors by the government is spent.
The initiative, according to the commission, has led to multiple recoveries of items, hospital equipment, vehicles, and funds worth billions, as well as the return of assets and equipment to communities for whom they were meant.
The initiative has also forced many contractors who hitherto had abandoned projects to return to the site to complete them.
The first phase of the exercise was held in 2019 across 12 states and the FCT and saw the tracking of 524 projects.
The second phase in 2020 had about 822 projects tracked in 16 states.
The commission in August 2021 announced the commencement of its third phase with the tracking of a total of 1,251 projects, including 1,024 constituency projects, appropriated for in 2019 and 2020.
The tracking is currently taking place in 17 states, including the FCT.

Nation

Rivers Deputy Governor Hails PH City One Love For Humanitarian Gesture

Published

2 days ago

May 13, 2026

The Tide

Rivers state Deputy Governor Professor Ngozi Nma Odu has commended “The Port Harcourt City One Love,”a Port Harcourt based humanitarian orgnisation For it’s commitment towards alleviating the sufferings of the poor and vulnerable in the society.

Professor Ngozi Nma Odu said this while speaking at this year’s edition of “operation feed the needy” a yearly outreach program of “The Port Harcourt City One Love ” in Port Harcourt.
The Deputy Governor said by feeding more than sixty thousands hungry people within the past six years, the Port Harcourt City One Love Movement has distinguished itself as a club that cares for the less privilege in the society.

She commended the , organization for listing eleven thousand persons to be fed in the current exercise.

Meanwhile The Port Harcourt City One Love has planned a permanent solution to the problem of feeding the poor in the state.

The leader of the group Mr Idaere Gogo Ogan who said this in an interview with newsmen during the distribution of food items to the poor and vulnerables in Port Harcourt said the organization is planning a permanent food kitchen where poor and vulnerable persons can work in anytime and get fed.

Idaere Gogo Ogan said more than sixty thousands poor and vulnerable persons across Port Harcourt City and environs have been fed since the inception of “The operation feed the needy” program six years ago,adding that so far sixty thousands poor and vulnerable persons have beneffited.

He described the group as a platform to promote friendship, brotherhood, community development empathy and feeding the less privilege and hungry people
“That’s what we are doing today here,so we started the exercise six years ago”.he said.

Ogan said the effort was a private sector driven initiative but added “it also involves people in Government because the platform does not recognize any division,we bring everybody together in unity , friendship and brotherhood”he said.

He said the effort will go along way in alleviating hunger especially following the prevailing hunger in the country.

According to him “you know the country is very tough, people are hungry people are starving, there is a whole lot of economic hardship,so for us, this is just our own way of reaching out, our own social contribution to what is very difficult”he said.

Over eleven thousand persons were fed in the just concluded exercise.
Areas of coverage include, Isaac Boro park, Port Harcourt prison/Macoba, Borokiri/Enugu waterside Bundu areas Waterlines and others.

Some of the beneficiaries including an 80 years old widow commended the movement for the annual programm and urged other organizations to emulate them

John Bibor,/Esuuk Oyet/Suotor Memoye /Jeremiah Hannah

Nation

We’ll Partner Private Sector to Industrialize Rivers State – Fubara …Hints Revitalization of Ahoada, Trans Amadi Industrial layout

Published

2 days ago

May 13, 2026

The Tide

Rivers State Governor , Sir Siminialayi Fubara says the industrialization of the state remains a key drive of his administration.

Speaking through Director General of the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency, Dr. Chamberlain Peterside at the Shell Gas Limited and Manufacturers Association of Nigeria(MAN) Investors Forum held in Port Harcourt, Fubara stressed that public /private partnership is key to revive production in the state.

“We are ready to partner Shell Gas Limited to revive manufacturing in Rivers State at Ahoada Industrial Park, and the new Port City project, including the proposed Bonny Industrial Park which will grow industries along the Bonny corridor” he declared.

Part of the scheme, he further stated is to collaborate with Shell Gas Limited and the private sector to transform Rivers State into a major manufacturing hub in the South of Nigeria.

Commending Shell and MAN for leading the frontline, Sir. Fubara said,” the time to act is now and thank God Shell is taking the lead to prioritize gas.”

The governor opined that the gas sector provides huge investment opportunities to drive the state economy as the world is gradually shifting towards gas and other environment friendly energy, while urging stakeholders to evolve an actionable gas policy for the state.

Earlier in his remarks, Shell Gas Limited Head of Gas Distribution, Mr. Chukwuka Amos-Ejesi said it is high time the state utilized its huge gas resource.

“Today gas offers investors opportunities and raises the value chain as it boosts production for industry users,” Amos-Ejesi said.

The Shell Gas Distribution executive said the company seeks to support manufacturing by adopting a user friendly approach that allows manufacturers to grow profitably with affordable cheaper energy.

He explained that natural gas provides huge potentials and aligns with federal government policy of gas utilization.

Chairman of MAN Rivers and Bayelsa Branch, Elder Vincent Okugu described gas as the backbone of manufacturing.

He said the forum has become timely and key to address the pressing energy provision to boost production in the sector, as he lamented the high costs borne by manufacturers in sourcing energy alternatives.

In her remarks, Chairperson of the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture, Dr. Chinyere Ngozi Nwoga commended Shell for the forum which she described as a bridge to reduce gap of energy provision for manufacturers.

Ngozi Nwoga said the transition to natural gas has become imperative, stressing that pipeline gas offers cheaper and smooth energy provision for industries.

Former MAN chairperson for Rivers and Bayelsa States, Mrs Emilia Akpan was of the view that the quest to provide cheap energy should be driven with technical manpower, as she emphasized need for Rivers State to recreate its economy.

By Kevin Nengia

Nation

SheVentures Open Zero-interest Loan Applications for Women Entrepreneurs

Published

2 days ago

May 13, 2026

The Tide

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has opened a new round of applications for its SheVentures proposition, offering zero-interest loans of up to N10 million to women entrepreneurs to ease access to working capital and support business growth.

The facility provides loans ranging from N500,000 to N5 million under a general category, and N5 million to N10 million for sector-specific businesses, with funding capped at up to 50% of an applicant’s average monthly turnover.

Managing Director and Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Yemisi Edun, said the initiative reflects a deliberate approach to inclusive growth.

“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively. Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.

“This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs”, Edun said.

Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo said access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs.