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A’ Ibom Assembly Wades Into Oron, Academy Face-Off

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The Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Commodore Duja Emmanuel Effedua has stated that his mission and mandate in the Academy is not to meddle into local politics of host communities but to focus on repositioning and restructuring the Maritime training institution for global reckoning and in line with the Federal Government’s expectations.
The Rector stated this when the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Judiciary, Justice, Human Rights and Public Petitions visited the Academy .
According to the Vice Chairman of the Committee and member representing Ukanafun State Constituency, Mr. Ubong Akpan, who represented the Chairman, Barr. Aniefiok Denis, member representing Etinan State Constituency the visit was prompted by a public petition brought to the House of Assembly against the academy on an issue about a closed gate which the host community alleged deprived them access to neighbouring villages.
“We are here on an assignment by the House of Assembly following a petition brought to the floor of the House by member representing Oron/Udunguko State Constituency, Mr. Effiong Bassey.
The issue was that the Rector of Maritime Academy of Nigeria had denied the host community access to a Marina Road that linked it with other communities. Because we could not exhaustively deliberate over the matter in the House without having full details, this committee was mandated to take up the matter, we are therefore, here on a fact finding mission, after which we shall report to the whole Hosue for further deliberations” the vice chairman stated.
It would be recalled that having previously hard the matter, the House committee had written a letter to the rector inviting him to appear before the House of Assembly.
But according to commodore Duja Effedua, he could not honour the invitation because he was in Abuja on an official engagement about that time the invitation came.
Subsequently, the Committee members were led to the site of the closed gate, which was a trekable distance from the rector’s office. The controversial spot has a damaged old iron gate with a newly built block behind it that formed part of the academy’s fence.
Across the fence one could see the roof of houses and hear voices of residents.
In a statement made by one of the residents from the area and Vice Chairman of Oron Local Government, who represented the Chairman, Mr. Anthony Bassey, it was said that the rector denied them access to the other places.
It was however obvious that pulling down that section of the wall or opening the gate would mean having a road traversed through the opposite end also had part of the Academy’s perimeter fence running through an inhabited bush.
In his swift response, the Rector noted that it is ridiculous and shocking that Champions of the controversy could blow up the issue to that dimension, stating that on resumption of office eight months ago, he observed that the gate had remain closed for many years, hence he was not one who closed the gate as alleged
Having take notes of the exact situation, Mr. Otobong Akpan, on behalf of the Committee reiterated on the need to revert the matter to the House. “We shall tender our reports to the House. We have seen the truth and we will report same to the House of Assembly”, the law maker summarily stressed.

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Niger Delta

FG Inaugurates College Of Nursing In Delta

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The College of Nursing Sciences, Onicha-Uku, Delta State, was on Monday inaugurated as a satellite campus of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba.
At the inauguration, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State said the state would partner with the Federal Government (FG) to ensure the growth and development of the health sector in the state.
The Governor, who announced a donation of a 32-seater coaster bus to the college, lauded the former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, NdudiElumelu, for attracting the project.
He said the new college, at Aniocha North Local Government Area, would greatly enhance the tempo and quality of human capital development in the health sector.
“Currently, there are five state-owned colleges of nursing, but their carrying capacity cannot absorb all the qualified applicants.
“Hence, the establishment of this college of nursing sciences, Onicha-Uku, through our illustrious son, Rt. Hon. NdudiElumelu, will provide adequate healthcare for this community and environs.
“I commend him for laying this solid foundation for the take-off of this college of nursing sciences.
“My appreciation goes to the Hon. Minister of Health, as well as the management and staff of the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, for this achievement”, he said.
The Governor added that the presence of the school would, no doubt, boost the retail economy in Onicha-Uku and neighbouring communities.
He, therefore, charged the host communities to reciprocate FG’s kind gesture by taking ownership of the school and protecting the critical asset brought to them.
He assured that his administration would continue to support FG’s institutions in the state for the sustainable overall growth and development of the state.
“On our part, we shall lend adequate support and collaboration to the new College of Nursing Sciences.
“I have listened carefully to the requests of the Medical Director of FMC, Asaba, on various areas of need.
“I assure you of our willingness to assist within the limits of available resources in due course.
“It is my prayer that this college will fulfil its mandates by contributing immensely to the growth of nursing education in Nigeria”, Oborevwori said.
Meanwhile, Elumelu said the institution was one of the many projects he attracted to the Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, pledging to continue to contribute to the development of the area.
He challenged students of the institution to maximise the opportunity to acquire knowledge to bridge the manpower needs in the health sector.
Earlier, the Medical Director, FMC, Asaba, Dr. Victor Osiatuma, thanked Elumelu for attracting the college while in office.
He appealed to the State Government and other stakeholders to sink a borehole to solve water needs in the school, in addition to handling issues of electricity, transportation and security.
He also thanked Oborevwori for his achievements in office in the last 11 months, especially in the health sector, urging him not to relent in recording more successes.
The Tide’s source reports that the representative of Onicha-Uku town, Chief Ephraim Osubor, described the project as an asset in the health sector.

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Niger Delta

Labour Condemns Tariff Hike, Epileptic Power Supply In Bayelsa

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The organised labour unions in Bayelsa State have rejected the recent hike in electricity tariff by the Federal Government (FG) by staging a picketing exercise.
The Nigeria Labour Union (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) had on Monday picketed the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) in Yenagoa to express their resentment toward the hike.
Bayelsa NLC Chairman, Comrade Simon Barnabas, urged the government to immediately look into the matter by reversing the hike and giving Nigerians constant power supply.
He decried the situation where despite the hike in tariff, people were still subjected to epileptic power supply.
He said: “Our action today is a way to inform the government that the hike in tariff is unacceptable by us.
“Of course, the national centres of NLC and TUC gave the directive that we should have a joint action here in Bayelsa State to express our unacceptability of this policy.
“We are calling on the authority to have an immediate reversal and passing information to our people that the labour leadership is concerned about their well-being and welfare.
“We are hoping that there will be a change of mind on the part of the government after this action.
“But where there is none, we have no option than to apply confrontation, as the issue of an epileptic power supply must be addressed”.
Meanwhile, the state TUC Chairman, Comrade Julius Laye, said introducing another form of taxation was not the right way to handle Nigerians at this time.
He said Nigerians were already sacrificing to buy petrol and diesel at exorbitant prices, therefore, the hiked electricity tariff should not be added to their woes.
According to him, the President Bola Tinubu-led administration should consider the feelings of the masses and allow them to breathe.

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Niger Delta

Gunmen Invade Edo Community, Burn Cars, Houses

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Armed bandits, who identified themselves as “Ijaw Freedom Fighters” on Sunday night attacked Imariogha Community, near Okomu oil palm plantation, setting ablaze over eight vehicles, according to The Tide’s source.
Investigation by the source reveals that the bandits invaded the community, formerly known as AT&P, located in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State.
The Commissioner of Police in Edo State, Mr Funsho Adegboye, confirmed the attack to the source in a telephone interview in Benin.
“We are aware of the incident and have visited the community. We are already holding talks in partnership with sister security organisations and Okomu oil palm company to arrest the situation”, he said.
An eye witness told the source that the invaders entered the community from the riverside at midnight, shooting sporadically into the air and setting fire to about eight private vehicles and destruction of many houses.
One of the community leaders, Mr Rex Akpokiniovo, told the source that while one person was killed, a Chief of the community, Pa Gabriel Okorugbe, who sustained injuries from the attack had been hospitalised.
“The corpse of the dead person has been taken away by the police. My house was attacked and my car burnt down by the gunmen who came into the community at midnight and started shooting sporadically into the air.
“One of the Okomu workers, who resides in the community, was killed while the invaders left a warning note on his chest”, he said.
According to the note, addressed to Governor Godwin Obaseki, the attackers, who identified themselves as Ijaw Freedom Fighters, made several demands from management of Okomu Oil Palm Plc.
Some of the demands included directorship position in Okomuoil palm company and 25 per cent of the company’s shares.
The group said : “We are not fighting any security personnel but Okomu oil company”.

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