Category: News

Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has decried the rising cases of fake news in the country, saying it poses great danger to the nation’s unity if not checked .

According to a release by Dr. Monday Uzor, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Nwifuru, the governor spoke during the courtesy visit of the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC in his office, Abakaliki.

Governor Nwifuru said Ebonyi State is a unique and united state and he is working hard to sustain it.

“I thank you for coming to Ebonyi State. But I want you to know many broadcasters have gone out of the rules. Many have gone beyond interviewing people to attack their character and their privacies.

“I also want to remind you there’s a lot of fake news and the way some Broadcasters do their reports in this country, it is important as the regulatory body to eliminate fake news if this country must progress.

“The NBC has a responsibility to regulate how media reportage should go. Fake news should be seriously monitored. I  charge NBC to be hard on purveyors of fake news”.

While pledging sustained collaboration and synergy, the Director- General of NBC, Mr Charles Ebuebu explained that he had signed the provisional license of the state’s Broadcasting Corporation EBBC paving the way for digital transmission.

“I also look forward to further collaboration especially in training the youth because this is a digital era”.

Earlier, the Chairman of Glorious FM, Architect Edward Nkwegu, pledged intentional reputation management through his Radio station in the state.

Architect Nkwegu said ” Through the glorious FM Radio, we will partner to develop this state together.”

The recently concluded Enugu 042 NBC Trade Fair recorded transaction volume in excess of N500m, it has emerged.

The fair, which was organised by the Enugu SME Agency and NaijaBrandChick (NBC) at Okpara Square, Enugu, also attracted over 120 vendors, mainly from the fashion, food, electronics, and across various other sectors, a development that reflects Enugu State’s increasing economic vibrancy and grow into a commercial hub.

These were disclosed by the CEO of the Enugu SME Agency and Special Adviser to the Governor on MSMEs & Digital Economy, Arinze Chilo-Offiah, who noted that the Enugu O42 NBC Trade Fair aligned with Governor Peter Mbah’s vision to grow Enugu State’s economy from $4.4bn to $30bn and make the state one of Nigeria’s top three states by GDP.

Briefing newsmen on Tuesday, Chilo-Offiah said, “The fair, which held on 2nd and 3rd November, attracted over 120 vendors from various sectors, including fashion, food, electronics, and more. More than 30,000 shoppers from within and outside Enugu attended, showcasing the state’s ability to draw significant foot traffic. This large turnout demonstrated Enugu’s appeal as a destination for trade and commerce, with the added assurance of security, allowing businesses to flourish without concern.

“This collaboration between the Enugu SME Agency and NaijaBrandChick founded by Mrs. Nelly Abogu reflects the Enugu State Government’s active role in supporting small businesses and fostering local economic growth. Under the leadership of Governor Dr. Peter Mbah, the state continues to emphasize its commitment to empowering MSMEs as a cornerstone of its development strategy.

“One of the standout features of the trade fair was the introduction of the ‘Peter Naira’, a special shopping voucher initiated by the Enugu State Government and distributed via social media channels. Over 2 million ‘Peter Naira’ were distributed to shoppers, enabling them to purchase goods for free.

“This initiative demonstrated the state’s dedication to making shopping more accessible while promoting local businesses. It also reflects the government’s outreach to engage the public and create excitement around local trade.”

He added that government awarded 10 booths worth N2.5 million free to outstanding business owners in line with its commitment to supporting MSMEs.

“These business owners were provided with an invaluable platform to display their products and services to a large audience. This initiative not only helped businesses gain exposure, but also highlighted the state’s efforts to encourage entrepreneurship and foster business growth.

“Many vendors at the fair reported exceptional sales, with some even selling out their products on the first day. The fair served as an excellent platform for local businesses to showcase their goods and connect with a large customer base. Positive feedback from vendors included comments about the overwhelming number of customers and the business opportunities generated through the event, indicating the fair’s effectiveness in boosting sales and fostering business relationships.

“The success of the fair highlighted Enugu as a business-friendly environment, making it an attractive destination for local and international investors. With over 120 vendors and a significant number of shoppers, the state’s capacity to host large-scale commercial events and provide an environment conducive to business growth is not in doubt,” the CEO of the Enugu SME Agency said.

Meanwhile, touring the fair, the Secretary of the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, described the fair as remarkable.

“It was good that I came to see and understand fully the level of engagements going on here between Ndi Enugu and all the people that came to showcase their brands. We are so grateful as a government for the partnership with the NaijaBrandChick and for the way they were able to organise Nigerian women, largely, to be economically independent. This aligns with His Excellency’s vision in Enugu to grow our GDP. This is quite remarkable and indeed our tomorrow is here,” the SSG stated.

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has described asset recovery as pivotal in the fight against economic and financial crimes and a major disincentive against corrupt practices.

He stated this in Abuja on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 while addressing members of the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes who visited the corporate headquarters of the EFCC on oversight duties.

According to him, “If you understand the intricacies involved in financial crimes investigation and prosecution, you will discover that to recover one billion naira is war. So I told my people that the moment we start investigation, we must also start asset tracing because asset recovery is pivotal in the anti-corruption fight.

“If you allow the corrupt or those that you are investigating to have access to the proceeds of their crime, they will fight you with it. So one of the ways to weaken them is to deprive them of the proceeds of their crime. So, our modus operandi has changed tremendously. The moment we begin investigation, we begin asset tracing. That was what helped us to make our recoveries.”

Speaking further, he pointed out that no fight against corruption, economic and financial crimes could be effective if it did not energize the economy. “As I made it known on the floor of the Senate in the course of my confirmation last year, the essence of the EFCC mandate is to move Nigeria forward. And I made known my three policy objectives. So, we have embarked on these since October last year with the help of my management team and the entire EFCC staff, and I am happy to announce to you that between October last year and October this year we were able to recover about N250billion in cash, tens of millions of dollars, tens of millions of pounds sterling and other currencies.”

He explained that the Commission equally put up a command performance in the area of convictions, amassing about 3500 convictions in the period spanning from October 18, 2023 to October 18, 2024. “In the area of convictions we have done over 3000 and we also want to re-orientate your minds that it is not only yahoo yahoo.  We have evidence, we have many high profile cases in which we secured convictions. I wish to remind everyone that this issue of yahoo yahoo thing that some people are treating with kid gloves is a crime that cost the nation over $500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) in one year and that is what some people are joking about. We expect all these because it is obvious that when you fight corruption, corruption will fight back. But we are not really perturbed. We will continue to work  irrespective of what people say about us, what we know within ourselves is that we will continue to do this work within the limit of our resources and be committed to it.”

In the aspects of the corruption and fraud prevention mandate of the EFCC, Olukoyede disclosed to the Committee that the Commission within the last one year had emphasized prevention more than ever before and it is set to achieve better and more cost efficient results with it. “I believe that the best way of fighting corruption is to prevent it.  In the past one year, we have had cause to establish a new Directorate called Fraud Risk Assessment and Control (FRAC). The mandate of this Directorate is to work with the Office of the Accountant General to look at the financial releases and go into the MDAs and monitor the implementation of projects because in the last 20 years we discovered that we have not done up to 20 per cent of our capital project implementation and execution. So,  our focus this year is to work with the new Directorate and the National Assembly to see if we can meet up to 50 per cent execution of our capital projects. If we do 50 per cent we will be fine as a nation.”

…orders investigation, arrest and prosecution of culprits

The Enugu State Government has condemned in strong terms the bullying and physical assault on a student of the Federal Government College, Enugu, by a group of students at the school hostel.

While describing the incident as deeply troubling and emotionally distressing, the state government ordered for the swift investigation, arrest and prosecution of the culprits involved in the physical abuse.

In a public service announcement issued by the State Commissioner for Education, Prof Ndubueze Mbah, Monday evening, government underscored its displeasure over the incident and zero tolerance for bullying, abuse and any form of dehumanizing treatment in the learning environments across the state, warning that there would always be consequences for such acts.

Noting that the incident occurred in a Federal Government College in the state, the statement assured that the state government was in communication with the Federal Ministry of Education to ensure that appropriate sanctions are applied to both the errant students and any school managers who failed in their duties.

The statement reassured parents, students and members of the public that the state government would always prioritize the safety and welfare of students, citing the record and massive investment the Governor Peter Mbah Administration had made in the education sector as a commitment to ensuring a safe and conducive learning atmosphere.

“The Enugu State Government has zero tolerance for bullying and abuse in our schools. The safety and welfare of our students are paramount. Government is resolved to prosecute culprits who engage in the criminal behavior of physical assault against students. Such immoral behavior has no place in our academic environments and those who tread that part must be ready to face the consequences,” the state reads in part.

The state government also reminded all the educational institutions in the state of their role in ensuring that the safety and well-being of students are given preference, warning of dire consequences against harassment, intimidation and violence which violate the core values of respect, equality and freedom of students.

Earlier on Monday, a short video clip circulating in the social media showed some students of the Federal Government College, Enugu, engaging in a physical assault of another student in the school hostel which immediately elicited condemnation from both the state government and members of the public.

Amid concerns over the delay in the submission of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP), the templates for the 2025 Budget, the Senate has stated that the expeditious passage lies with the diligence, or otherwise, of the Executive arm of government.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Sani Musa, made the clarification on Friday night while speaking with newsmen shortly after his committee’s closed-door meeting with the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari; and the representative of the Central Bank Governor, Yemi Cardoso.

Checks revealed that before the presentation of the annual budget by the President before the joint sitting of both Chambers of the National Assembly, the MTEF/FSP, which contains the oil price benchmark, projected oil production per day, exchange rate of the Naira to the US dollar, inflation rate, among other fiscal templates, must have been submitted to both Chambers of the National Assembly for the lawmakers’ dissection.

Further checks revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented the 2024 budget to a joint session of the National Assembly on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, almost threatening the January-December budget cycle. The 2024 Budget was passed by the National Assembly on Saturday, December 30, 2023, and signed into law on January 1, 2024, by President Tinubu.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee maintained that the success of the January-December cycle, which was the practice for eight years under President Muhammadu Buhari in the 8th and 9th National Assembly, depends on the economic team of the Tinubu administration.

He said, “The executive should be able to answer that question because I know they are doing their work; they are working.

“As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, along with members of the committee, we have just interacted with the Minister of Finance, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPCL), and other top managers of the nation’s economy on the performance of the 2024 budget.

“They are definitely working on the 2025 budget and will forward it to us when work on it has been completed. The decision on that lies with the executive and not us at the National Assembly.”

Senator Musa, however, told journalists that his team had a frank discussion with Honourable Wale Edun and his colleagues, expressing hope in the government’s economic reforms.

“I believe in the assurance given by the Finance Minister that our economy is taking good shape through results from the reforms.

“For example, our debt-to-GDP ratio is decreasing and not increasing. The positive indices are already showing, and within the next 16 to 18 months, Nigerians themselves will see the gains in practical terms.” Tribune

…Students tasked on dedication to studies

Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has explained his administration’s huge investments and numerous interventions leading to the upgrade and accreditation of the Enugu State College of Nursing Sciences.

This was even as the College organised an orientation course for its 2024 intakes numbering a record 283, the highest in the history of the institution.

Speaking at the grand finale of the 2024 set orientation programme held at ESUT Auditorium, Park Lane, Enugu at the weekend, Governor Mbah, who was represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health Matters, Dr. Yomi Jaye, said that the upgrade of the institute to a collegial status would add massively to his vision to transform the health sector of the state and make Enugu State a health tourism hub.

According to Mbah, the institute, under his watch, was already witnessing unprecedented transformations both in terms of infrastructure and manpower as well as the hitherto elusive accreditation by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, NMCN, in the bid to produce the best health practitioners both for the state and the world in general.

“We have put many things up to ensure that this school attains a collegial status. We have our National Board for Technical Education accreditation, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board accreditation, Federal Ministry of Health accreditation, and of course the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria acreditation.

“What this means is that we can play at a very big level, giving each student here a degree that fully covers Nursing, Midwifery, Public Health and Higher National Diploma once they graduate.

“We are working hard to ensure that this college is unique because we rely on you for our numerous healthcare facilities in the state. Therefore, you need to put in your best so that you can represent your school in any environment you may find yourselves tomorrow,” Mbah said.

Speaking earlier, the Acting Provost of the college, Dr. Peace Ani, commended the governor for the enormous work he is doing in the college, noting that many structures were currently ongoing both in the Enugu and Awgu campus simultaneously.

According to her, the orientation would expose the new students to the task ahead of them, urging them to work hard and be good health practitioners.

“Today, I am so happy because this is an epochmaking event where we welcomed the new set of 2024 students that will start their programmes in Nursing. This journey started in August when we received accreditation from the NBTE and Nursing Council.

“We started this orientation where the students were given an overview of the courses they would undertake for the next four years. They were taught by different kinds of people whom we invited to come and integrate them on what it takes to be a nurse,” the provost said.

A leadership teacher and founder of GOTNI Leadership Center, Dr. Linus Okorie, charged the students to be the best for themselves and the nursing profession, urging them to imbibe good behavioural patterns in order to make a difference and succeed in their career.

He further commended Governor Mbah for his massive infrastructural strides in Enugu State, insisting that a good environment plays a crucial role in learning.