Secretary to Delta State Government,  Mr Ovuozourie Macaulay, has described a governorship aspirant in the state, Mr. Tony  Obuh, as a near perfect gentleman, who served the state diligently and qualified to be governor, adding that he has all it takes to manage a complex state as  Delta.
Macaulay also the Supervisory Coordinator, Isoko Federal Constituency, Project Obuh 2015, said Obuh “always discharged his responsibilities with smiles on his face. He is someone you can trust with great responsibilities while you sleep, never tired and one without complaints.”
He spoke at Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church, Agbor, during a thanksgiving mass for Obuh, who voluntarily retired as Permanent Secretary from the state civil service after 32 years of meritorious service.
Macaulay, who was Obuh’s immediate boss until his retirement, described him as a dependable man, intelligent and full of initiatives and prayed to God to lead him aright.
Obuh, in his remarks said that what appeared to be an impossible mission was ending graciously after 32 years, adding that he started in the civil service in the then Bendel State as an administrative officer.
The civil service work he emphasized, gave him a new attitude to life and people, shaped and moulded him and challenged him with responsibilities that made him strong.
He commended Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of the state for the opportunity given him to serve which had made him finish strong, adding that he was grateful to various Heads of Service he served under as they impacted positively on his life.
Rev. Fr. Joseph Ugboh in his sermon said that there was dignity in labour and fulfillment for those that worked actively in building the kingdom of God on earth.

Chairman Caretaker Committee, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, Hon Sylvester Vidin (right), in a hand shake, with Justice Peter Akete (rtd), while other personalities watch, during the thanksgiving service to mark the 75th Birthday Anniversary chairman, Rivers State council of Traditional Rulers, King G.N.K Giniwa at Dr. Obi Wali International Convention Centre, Port Harcourt, recently. Photo: Chris Monyanaga.

Operatives of Peace on
Campus Initiative (PCI), University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has uncovered two improvised explosive devices in male hostel of the institution.
The operatives also arrested a diploma student of the institution, Mr Kufre Anwana, following the discovery.
Our source gathered that two improvised explosive devices, widely speculated as hand grenades, were found in a bag belonging to the suspect by some students, who alerted the operatives of the PCI.
National Coordinator, PCI, Mr Oliver Cromwell, told newsmen that his men in the UNIUYO chapter got information that the suspect was keeping explosive devices in his bag, while they trailed him to his room in the hostel.
According to Cromwell, on discovering the devices, which was well packaged in a bag, the operatives apprehended the suspect and invited anti-bomb squad formation of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command, Ikot Akpan Abia, to the scene for verification and possible diffusion.
He stated that the squad detonated the two improved explosive devices, while it also conducted a search round the other hostel rooms.
“Anti-Bomb Squad was invited to come and ascertain if the explosives were real. When they came, they confirmed that those things were hand grenades and were locally made,” an eyewitness and student of the institution, who gave his name as Inyang, told newsmen.
Inyang stated that Anwana was not in the hostel at the time the explosives were uncovered, but was apprehended and interrogated when he returned.
It was, however, gathered that during interrogation, the suspect confessed to keeping the explosives, but dismissed that he actually bought or made them with intent to disrupting academic activities.
According to him, he stumbled on the explosive devices on the school premises, saying he was planning to hand them over to the security.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Etim Dickson, confirmed the incident, saying that the explosives were home-made devices, which could have been invented by any of the science students in the university.
He added that the police would get to the root of the matter.

Edo State Gover
nor, Adams Oshiomhole has sworn-in Mr. Dennis Idahosa as the Commissioner for Investment, Public and Private Partnership with a charge to use his wealth of experience to attract investors to the state.
Speaking shortly after administering the oath of office on the commissioner at the Government House, Benin City recently, Oshiomhole said, “Everyday we receive all kinds of enquiries about people who want to invest in our state. Quite a number  of investors have already decided to come but I believe we can attract even more if we have someone that understands the thinking, the feelings of international investors and what we need to do as a government is to attract them to locate to our state so that they can create jobs, increase the economy and the GDP of the state”.  Responding, the new Commissioner Mr. Dennis Idahosa assured that he would do all in his capacity to attract investors to the state and boost the state’s economy.

Executive Secretary of
the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius Okojie, has raised alarm over cult activities and other violent criminal acts in universities.
He said as a result of the increase in crimes in tertiary institutions, students and lecturers now live in fear.
Professor Okojie, who was represented by Alhaji Abdullahi Hamza, a senior official of the commission, said this at a workshop on security challenges in Calabar, Cross River State.
Declaring open the workshop which was attended by vice chancellors, academics and student groups, the NUC boss said: “Cultism is now a major concern in the country because of the kind of weapons the members use to perpetuate their nefarious acts against fellow students and lecturers.  The students who belong to these nocturnal groups on campus take hard drugs and carry out very unthinkable and wicked acts.”
Lamenting that Nigerian universities are no longer safe, he said there are now rampant reports of theft, rape and illegal movements, despite internal security networks within campuses and called for proactive measures by security agencies.
He said campus security systems must be upgraded and security personnel well motivated and equipped to curtail the crimes.
Also speaking, Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Professor James Epoke, lamented that most campuses are porous, because they did not take the issue of perimeter fencing into consideration when they were established.
Citing a recent case where a student walked into a lecturer’s office and shot him dead, Epoke said security gadgets assisted the university to identify the culprits, urging all universities to acquire modern security devices.

Governor Adams
Oshiomhole of Edo State has challenged lawyers in the country to speak up against disobedience to court orders, saying that it portends danger for the rule of law.
Speaking at the opening of the 2014/2015 Legal Year in Benin City, Oshiomhole said: “Every lawyer must endeavour to uphold the law as it is dangerous for either the Bar or the Bench to encourage trade unions to become the enforcers of court orders.
“Those who live by the court must not be seen to aid and abet disobedience to court orders. If Senior Advocates of Nigeria advice people to disobey court orders, it is a sad thing for the rule of law and if the Bar keeps quite in the face of disobedience to court order, it is a terrible thing for the rule of law.
“If court bailiffs are assaulted in  public view, Senior Advocates and other members of the community keep quiet, it is not the best for the rule of law because those who may not be affected today may be affected tomorrow, particularly where the rule of law operates on the basis of precedent.
“It can be concluded from the number of cases that the Edo State judiciary was able to hear and dispense justice on the number of cases that are pending suggests that the Edo State judiciary has so much work to do. This suggests that the judiciary, executive and legislative must find resources to create more courts, appoint more judges so that our people can have quicker access to justice.”

The Akwa Ibom
State Government yesterday denied being broke as recently reported in the media, saying such insinuations were baseless and outrageous.
The Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Akan Okon, who refuted the claim in Uyo during a chat with journalists said the government  expressed serious concern about such misinformation.
He said the report was capable of undermining the efforts of the present administration which had demonstrated transparency, accountability and due process in the management of the state’s resources to actualise its uncommon transformation initiative.
Okon said it was wrong to peddle such news as the state government had not failed to  live up to its financial responsibilities  to the people like, paying salaries and other entitlements to  its workers promptly, and also settling  its contractual liabilities.
On the purported N135 billion from federal allocation between January to June, the commissioner explained that it was a far cry from the over N400billion that was appropriated in the 2014 budget.
The 2014 budget, he said, was for the actualisation of key projects dotting the landscape of the state which were capital intensive and gulping billions of naira.
He said government’s desire was to do much more than it had done for the people, but regretted that the consistent shortfall in its expected revenue had made it expedient for it to realign its priorities by deploying available funds into specific competing areas of needs to add value to the life of the people.
He also disclosed that in view of the need to look inward, government had put in place a framework to improve its internal revenue generation capacity to cushion the effect of the drop in its statutory allocation from federation account.
According to him, the state Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, is a man that believes so much in his people, and has done his best to reposition the state in the last seven years by ensuring that certain parameters in development are met.
He added that the governor deserves commendation, calling on the media to be objective in their reportage so as to avoid heating the polity.

Gbenemene of Tai Kingdom, President Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers and Chairman Rivers State Council of Traditional Ruters, King Godwin N.K. Gininwa (left), with his Chief of Staff and Gbenemene Mene, Samuel Nnee (right) during the thanksgiving service to mark the 75 years Birthday of King Giniwa in Port Harcourt, recently.

The immediate past Edo
State representative in the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mr. Henry Okhuarobo, has appealed to the leadership of the All Progressives  Congress, APC in the state to ensure a level playing field for all aspirants of the party ahead the forthcoming general elections.
He stated this while declaring his intension to vie for the House of Assembly seat in Ikpoba Okhai constituency, weekend, in Benin City. While addressing his supporters, Okhuarobo noted that one of the “major problems facing our democracy is the inability of some political leaders to make the processes that lead to emergence of candidates transparent.
“And that is why I always appreciate the APC leaders for always allowing every aspirant to test his or her popularity unlike other parties where you have godfathers. We need credible candidates that will assist the Comrade Governor in the development of the state and the only way we can achieve it is when the leadership ensures that credible people emerge as candidates of our party and I am glad we have been assured of that,” he stated.
He said after his journey in the NDDC, “I have decided to make myself available in the law making process of our state. Ikpoba Okhai people have been denied of good representation in the House and that is affecting our people negatively. Also, as a member of the House, I will join effort with the state government in ensuring that the development that has started in the state continues.
“The Comrade Adams Oshiomhole-led government has tried in its developmental projects across the nook and cranny of the state and it is now left for us to assist him in consolidating democracy in Nigeria.”

About 200 primary
school teachers of Akwa Ibom State origin sacked from the employ of Cross River State government in the wake of the disputed 76 oil wells, yesterday, protested the alleged refusal of Governor Godswill Akpabio to re-absorb them.
Armed with placards of sundry inscriptions, the teachers recalled how the former governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke, sacked them over the alleged ceded oil wells from Cross River State to Akwa Ibom State.
The protesters, who marched along Wellington Bassey Way, leading to Government House, later took their grievances to the stadium where Governor Akpabio was expected to address Akwa Ibom people on Nigeria’s 54th independence anniversary.
Speaking with journalists, their leader, Mr. Elijah James Ekanem, said they had taken the matter up with the state government, since they were sacked from Cross River in 2006 in the middle of the oil wells politics, to no avail.
He recalled that key government functionaries, including the deputy governor, Noble Lady Valerie Ebe, Head of Service, Mrs. Cecilia Udoessien, and managers of the State Universal Basic Education, SUBEB, were notified of the matter but with no commensurate action to address their plights.
He said: “They have interviewed us for more than 20 times on this matter and each time, they will tell us that the case was on the governor’s table, that we should go and wait for directives.
“We have been waiting since 2006 and many of us have died while waiting for the government to make good its promise to absorb us.”

Governor  Adams
Oshiomhole of Edo State has commissioned two 500-seating capacity lecture theatres and a block of lecturers’ offices at the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.
The governor, meanwhile, threatened to revoke the contract for the completion of the Administration block of the university if the contractor failed to complete the project on schedule.
Speaking while commissioning the projects, Oshiomhole said that the management of the university justified the initial N250 million provided by the government to develop infrastructure in the university, which, he said made the government to review it upwards by 100 percent to N500 million, promising to further review the fund by another 100 per cent if the N500m was judiciously expended.
He said: “The management of the University under Professor Agbebaku is the best of all time. When I told the Commissioner for Works how much this project cost, I am not sure he believed me until he heard from the VC herself.”
“Let me say that listening to you and having inspected the three facilities you spent the money on, Prof, I can say you have done extremely well.”
Oshiomhole added: “Let me also share with you my frustration at the pace of work on the administration block. I thought by now, the project would have been completed and commissioned so that senior management and other academic and non-academic staff can have a very conducive environment to work. The time allowed for the contract has lapsed and the contractor is competing with snail in terms of speed.”

The Director General,
Cross River State Border Communities Development Commission, Elder Ogban Ebock, has reiterated State Government’s resolve on standard projects execution.
Elder  Ebock stated this while inspecting Border Commission’s projects spread across border communities in the Northern Senatorial District of the State.
Ebock who was accompanied by his Departmental Heads and some Technical Staff of the Commission, said the inspection was to give them first hand information on the level of work done by each contractor and quality in terms of standard as approved by the State.
He advised contractors who were yet to complete their projects to do so, adding that the present administration would not leave any uncompleted project as provisions had been made to ensure all standard completed jobs were paid and handed over to benefiting border communities.
According to Elder Ebock, the State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, has the interest of border communities at heart and is doing everything possible to give them a sense of belonging, considering the long neglect and abandonment they had suffered from previous administrations in the State.
Inspecting a completed Police Staff Quarters and a  Solar Power Driven Borehole at Ipuole, the Director General advised the Contractor handling the borehole to ensure the replacement of the pumping machine which had been removed, to enable the Commission hand over completed project to the community.
At Busil Obanliku Local Government Area, Elder Ebock also urged the borehole contractor to work on the surface of the area for water collection, by removing   the wood and re-enforcing it with a small gutter for easy drainage in order to avoid flooding
The Director of Projects, State Border Communities Development Commission, Hon Sunday Achinekang who represented the Director General at Obudu, remarked that contractors had done good jobs, adding, that the inspection had accorded the Commission an opportunity to meet with the contractors in the field and hoped that areas that needed to be improved upon would be worked on to meet approval standard.
In a chat, the contractor handling a borehole project at Busi II, in Obanliku Local Government Area, Ada Peters Nig Ltd, explained that he   had worked according to the approved design and that to ensure quality work is delivered, he had to liaise with Water and Sanitation Agency and promised that his project will stand the test of time.
One of the Chiefs at Obanliku, Chief Ijah James, expressed joy at the provision made for them and thanked Governor Imoke for his effort in making life meaningful to the people at the grassroots.

Friday Nwagbara, Calabar

L-R: Chief Medical Director, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Prof. Etete Peters; Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom, Lady Valerie Ebe, Health Director, Imabridge Africa, Christine Charington, Pdp National Vice Chairman, South East, Retired Col. Austin Akobundu and Minister of Niger Delta, Mr Steve Oru, at the Inauguration of Community Health Centre Donated By Imabridge Africa to Owot Uta, Ibesikpo Lga, Akwa Ibom, recently.

A group of female pro
testers from Watt Market in Calabar, have called on the Cross River State Government to wade into issues of multiple taxation experienced by them in the course of doing legitimate business at Watt Market.
The spokeswoman of the group, Mrs. Eno Ekpenyong, who led a peaceful match to the premises of the Cross River State House of Assembly, informed members of the House after plenary that extra taxes have been imposed by the market union under the name CATU which were overbearing on them.
Ekpenyong maintained that they hitherto were paying N80.00 and N50. as for toll and sanitation monthly levies respectively, and therefore, would not pay the new taxes imposed on them by the market union.
The protesters whose Placards read “Don’t double tax us.” “CATU – enough of your exploitation.” “Don’t Use Union to Oppress Us” We say No to another tax.” “Please Help! We are dying in the hands of Oppressors,” We are Paying N1, 120.00 as tax every month.” “We are Women. Don’t tax us too much and Government should come to our Aid.”
They however Called on the Speaker and members of the  Cross River State  House of Assembly to Prevail on the Market Union,  to stop any further harassment as they had been barred from selling in the Market.
Earlier, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Larry Odey represented by the Majority Leader and Member, representing Obubra I State Constituency, Hon. Alex Sunny Irek, in company of Hon. Jacob Otu Enya, Adviser to the Speaker and Member representing Boki II State Constituency and Hon. Wilson Ekpenyong, commended the women for the peaceful manner in which they conducted themselves to make their grievances known to the government.
According to him, the House members are representatives of the people and understand  their plight.
Also speaking in the local dialect, Hon. Wilson Ekpenyong, informed the protesters that Government was aware and had already sent a bill to the House on the issue and appealed to them not to make many trouble as their interest would be protected.
On his part, Hon. Jacob Otu Enyia assured the women that Government was interested in development and not exploitation and would therefore, look into their complaint.
 

Friday Nwagbara, Calabar

The Coordinator,
World Bank’s State Employment and Expenditure for  Results (SEEFOR) in Delta, Mr Benson Ojoko, said the project would employ 2,000 youths in the state.
The coordinator said in an interview with newsmen yesterday in Asaba that the youths would be engaged in refuse disposal techniques in different parts of the state.
Ojoko, nonetheless, stressed that the project was being executed in conjunction with the state government.
He said the local government areas in the state were grouped into 160 zones, consisting of 800 households each.
According to him, 320 graduates of tertiary institutions would also be engaged to supervise the youths.
He said the youths would be deployed to work in Oshimili South, Uvwie, Udu, Sapele and Warri South local government areas.
Ojoko said the beneficiaries would be engaged for 12 months while SEEFOR project would continue for five years.
Besides the current programme, he said SEEFOR had earlier engaged 2,000 youths in the state, who would be soon enroled in skill acquisition centres.
He said the project was aimed at creating jobs for the youth and make them employers of labour.

Governor Adams
Oshiomhole of Edo State, has urged Muslims community in the state to imbibe the lessons of sacrifice as they joined their counterparts all over the world to celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir.
This is contained in a goodwill Sallah message signed by Mr Peter Okhiria, his Chief Press Secretary and made available to the newsmen in Benin on Saturday.
Oshiomhole urged them to imbibe the lessons because that was what the festival signified, adding that obedience to Allah and uprightness were some of the virtues of a true worshipper.
“On this occasion, I urge the Muslim faithful to remember that obedience to Allah and uprightness are some of the virtues of a true worshipper.
“We should never forget that even in trials and temptations, our love for our neighbours must never diminish and our obedience to the will of Allah must be unwavering.
“The faithful should use the opportunity of this Eid-el-Kabir to deepen their faith in Allah and renew the spirit of obeisance to the will of the Almighty.’’
He urged them to pray for the country to enable it surmount the present challenges to unite and resolve to collectively  forge ahead in spite of the seeming intractable problems.
“Even as we celebrate, we should not forget to spare a moment for our country and pray to surmount its present challenges.
“We should unite in our collective resolve to forge ahead despite our seemingly intractable problems and we should remember that all nations of the world have their peculiar challenges,’’ he said.

Prof Jasper Jumbo (right), chairman, Jumbo Major House of Bonny explaining a point during a meeting of the house in Port Harcourt flanked by purity Jumbo and Fedelis Jumbo. Photo: Ibioye Diama

After the one week ex
tension of resumption date of schools in Akwa Ibom State due to Ebola virus, teachers in public schools have refused to go back to classes, even as they have issued a ‘no pay, no work’ threat to the state government.
A visit to some public schools in Uyo, the state capital, revealed that students were denied access to some schools as the gates were still under lock and keys.
Some parents of boarders who took their wards back to schools were denied access.
The face-off between teachers and the state government and the consequent strike, our correspondent gathered, resulted from non-payment of salaries to teachers who were not captured during the biometric exercise, promotion arrears of 2009, 2011 and 2012, leave grant of 2013/2014 and 7.5 per cent refund of housing scheme from 2005 to 2012.
One of the teachers who pleaded anonymity explained that even teachers who were captured during the biometric exercise also decided to embark on a sympathy strike in support of their colleagues.
Although primary school teachers are basically affected by the non-payment, the secondary school teachers, our source said, considered such treatment on the part of the state government as a deliberate measure to inflict hardship on families of the teachers.
“We had to wait for about three months for the biometric protocols to be over, before we could get our salaries; that was so much hardship already.
“Now, these teachers may have been omitted for reasons not really their faults; some may not have got the needed awareness during the exercise; some may have been hospitalised or however, and for that reason you deny them of the salaries they had worked for.
“Have they thought of families where both couples are teachers and both may have been affected? It’s not right at all,” she stated.
At CCC, Uyo, some students were seen hanging around the gate and waiting for some hours without teachers.
One of the students who spoke with our correspondent said, “Yesterday we were here and there was no teacher and we waited till 12 noon. Our greatest worry is that no one is here to talk to us”.
An anonymous teacher who spoke to our correspondent by the gate house said she was only in school because she stays within the school compound.
She explained that secondary school teachers were in solidarity strike with their primary school counterparts as injury to one is injury to all.
When contacted on phone, the Chairman, NUT, Akwa Ibom State chapter, Comrade Etim Ukpong, said, “My sister, I can’t say much on that issue for now, there is no clarification yet”.

A  clash between two ri
val cult groups in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State has left one person dead.
The Public Relations Officer of the state police command, DSP Alex Aihegbe, who confirmed this the death to newsmen said  that investigations were on to unravel the circumstances that led to the clash.
“It is true; we are on top of the situation; our men are on ground to bring the culprit, who is on the run, to book.
“People in Bayelsa should go about their lawful duties without fear of molestation,” he said.
Our Correspondent  gathered that the clash started at Akaba in the state capital between two youths believed to be members of rival cult groups.
Our Correspondent  learnt that the clash was triggered off by an argument that led to one of them invading his rival’s residence with a machete.
An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, said that the assailant, armed with a machete, inflicted injuries on his rival, leaving him dead in a pool of his own blood.
“The body of the deceased was discovered by his neighbours, who then contacted the police.
“The police took the corpse to an undisclosed morgue in Yenagoa for investigation,’’ he said.
Meanwhile,  Unidentified gunmen have abducted 64-year-old Mozilla Agara, younger brother of King Mozi Agara, the Paramount Ruler of Kolokuma Kingdom in Koklokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
Mozilla is a former employee of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).
A family member, Mr Amaran Suoyo, said that five armed men stormed the victim’s residence in Olobiri in Bayelsa, and whisked him away to an unknown location.
Suoyo said that the gunmen later abandoned the victim’s vehicle at Odi in the same local government area.
The Public Relations Officer of the state police command, Mr Alex Akhigbe, said that the police command was making efforts to apprehend the kidnappers.
Akhigbe said that the abductors fled to the Odi Waterside, and escaped in a waiting speedboat.
He said the police had recovered vehicles used by the gunmen, and gave the assurance that the police would rescue the victim and bring the abductors to book.

The Chairman of Delta
State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC), Mr. Moses Ogbe has advised the media to be objective in their reportage to enhance fairness and justice in the country.
The chairman of the commission gave the advice during a one-day workshop on: “Reporting Local Government Elections in Delta’’ organised for the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ)  in Asaba.
Ogbe said that the role of the media was “very vital’’ and urged media practitioners to ensure self-regulation.
He said this was the only way the media could effectively play its role as the watchdog of the society.
The chairman said the workshop was aimed at sensitising the public on the upcoming local government election which was slated for Oct. 25 in Delta.
Ogbe said that the workshop would also serve as an avenue to disseminating of information to the people ahead of the election.
He assured that the commission would ensure free and credible local government elections.
The chairman said that the commission had completed the production of all the materials needed for the elections.
According to him, production of the voting materials has reached advance stage.
“We have also received all ballot boxes to be used in the elections,” he said.
The state Chairman of NAWOJ, Mrs Ogorchukwu Onah, commended DSIEC for organising the workshop.
Onah said that the role of women was vital in nation building.
She therefore appealed to the women journalists to be committed to the training programme.
Our Correspondents reports that a total of 150 journalists in Delta attended the workshop.

The Minister of Niger
Delta Affairs, Dr. Stephen Oru, in Abuja yesterday reiterated the ministry’s commitment to empower youths in the Niger Delta region.
Oru spoke in an interview with newsmen explained that the training of the youth was a continuous exercise designed to create employment for non-militant young persons.
He said that the ministry had evolved a system, called iTrens, to fully empower youths,
Oru said: “itrems involves five steps, namely Identify, Train and Engage Scheme, Agricultural Youth Empowerment Programme.’’
Others are: “Training of Seafarers in South Africa (International Component), Training in Watch keep and Sea time for former Marine trainees and Peace building activities in six states.’’
The minister said that iTrens would focus on the identification and selection of youth interested in taking a career in the Information Communication Technology ( ICT) sector.
He said such youth would be trained in the basic processes of assembling tablet computers and mobile phones.
“On completion of the trainings, the trainees who demonstrate proficiency will be engaged and employed by the company.
“Each trainee will be trained in health and safety in the workplace, manual handling and lift operations, time management and teamwork/team building.
“They will also receive training in short introduction to business and entrepreneurship as well as the working and mechanics of computers.
“The trainees will also be exposed to overview of the assembly processes and, for most part of the training, practical demonstrations on how to assemble tablet computers and mobile phones, “he said
Oru said that periodic evaluations would be conducted to assess the value of iTrens on helping the trainees to become effective tablet computer and mobile phone assembly technicians.
The minister said the programme would also contribute to job creation in the region.
“The programme has a potential to create up to one million jobs through the engagement of 500 trainees and the demand of supplies of accessories.
“Packaging of software components will further create business for suppliers and the products would be sold to schools and colleges at subsidised rates.

No fewer than 6,127 road
traffic offenders were arrested in September  and 766 drivers convicted by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Edo, Delta and Anambra.
The FRSC Zonal Commander, Mr Nseobong Akpabio, told newsmen in Onitsha, Anambra last Monday that the statistics covered operations in the three states under FRSC Zone 5 for the month of September.
Akpabio gave the statistics after briefing FRSC officers and men while monitoring the ongoing Eid-el-Kabir Special Operations code-named “Operation Push’’ on Benin–Onitsha Expressway.
“Our patrol team covered 63,072 Kilometers collectively by patrol vehicles in Edo, Delta and Anambra on all strategic road crash prone routes to reduce traffic crashes in September.
“Within the same month, 827 road traffic offenders were arraigned before the mobile courts in Edo, Delta and Anambra, 766 drivers were convicted.
According to him, these include commercial, private and government drivers that commit various offences.
He said that 61 drivers were discharged and acquitted.
Akpabio assured that more sustained enforcement would be carried out during the month with particular reference to the ongoing Eid-el-Kabir Special Patrol Operations to further reduce violation of traffic laws.
Akpabio advised motorists and other road users to be conscious of the hazards of the rainy season by being extra cautious while using the roads.
The zonal commander also enjoined officers and men of the FRSC to redouble their efforts in ensuring safer environment during Eid-el-Kabir celebrations and beyond.
He said that regular and special marshals had been strategically deployed to effectively monitor all critical road corridors of the zone.
According to him, such road corridors include Asaba-Benin, Onitsha-Owerri, Benin-Auchi-Okene, Benin-Ore, Benin-Warri, Ontisha-Awka-Enugu to ensure free flow of traffic and arrest traffic offenders.
“The operatives of the corps would focus its searchlights on offences such as over-speeding, dangerous driving, dangerous overtaking, over-loading, use of cell phone while driving, lane discipline among others.
“Any driver caught driving dangerously, under the influence of alcohol or drugs, driving above speed limit prescribed for a particular road and other offences will be arrested and prosecuted,’’ Akpabio said.

Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (5th right), with his Deputy, Engr Tele Ikuru and other cleagy men at the 54th Independence Day Church Service held at St Cyprian’s Anglican Church in Port Harcourt

The Chairman, Commu
nity Development Committee (CDC) of Opokuma Community in Bayelsa State, Mr Samuel Boleigha,  has urged the state government to rehabilitate the community’s health centre.
Boleigha, who made the call in an interview with newsmen in Yenagoa, said that seven communities relied on the facility for their healthcare.
The chairman listed the seven communities as Orubiri, Gbaranwa, Ayakoroama, Ofonibiri, Abuwari, Igbainwari and Ekpuwari.
He said the dilapidated state of the health centre and its poor and inadequate facilities were compelling the inhabitants of the communities to go to other distant places to seek for medical attention.
“Our people have been travelling to cities like Yenagoa and other neighbouring cities for health services; the reason is that the health centre in Opokuma is not serving us,” he said.
Our correspondent reports that the Bayelsa Government had recently embarked on an assessment and audit of health facilities in the eight local government areas of the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Ayibatonye Owei, explained that the audit of the facilities was aimed at improving the healthcare delivery system in the communities.
Owei said the plan was also aimed at achieving global standards in healthcare delivery.
He said: “We have started audit of the health facilities and that is the first step in the campaign against poor health facilities in the state.

The Joint Task Force
in the Niger Delta, Operation Pulo Shield says it has adopted strategies to reduce oil theft in the region.
Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Atewe, Commander, JTF, made this known when the Air Officer Commanding, (AOC) Mobility Command of Nigerian Airforce, visited him at the JTF headquarters in Yenagoa.
He assured Nigerians that the task force was winning the war, saying that it had intensified its fight against illegal oil and gas activities in the creeks of the region.
Atewe said that the JTF had successfully carried out routine operations in the creeks of the oil-rich region.
He explained that the operations had resulted in the recent arrests and seizures of over 22 illegal oil vessels in Eleme area of Rivers.
The JTF helmsman also said the operations led to the destruction of many oil tankers belonging to unauthorised oil dealers on the waterways.
Atewe pledged to work in synergy with the Mobility Command to rid the region of oil theft, sea piracy and kidnapping.
In his remarks, the AOC, Air Vice Marshal Umar Omeiza, who was just posted to the command, said his visit was to familiarise himself with the JTF.
On the 2015 general elections, Omeiza said the Mobility Command was fully prepared to assist the Independent National Electoral Commission in transporting men and materials to riverine communities in the region.
He also promised that the command would work in collaboration with the JTF and other security agencies to provide adequate security during the elections.