Category: News

The Enugu State Government has inaugurated 10 Small Claims Courts to address the challenge of delays in settlement of financial disputes, especially debt recovery and other liquidated money demand.

Performing the inauguration in Enugu, the Chief Judge, Justice Afojulu Ozoemena, said the courts, which will be presided by magistrates, would entertain financial disputes ranging from N5 million to N10 million, and commended Governor Peter Mbah, who also doubles as the Chairman of Enugu State Ease of Doing Business Council “for his commitment to effective justice dispensation in the state,” noting “the milestone is part of the fulfillment of His Excellency’s manifesto.”

This was even as the Managing Director/CEO of the Enugu State Investment Development Authority and Focal Person of State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER), Dr. Sam Ogbu-Nwobodo, said the Small Claims Courts was in keeping with the administration’s determination to grow the state’s economy from $4.4bn to $30bn in the next four to eight years by making the state the best investment destination in Nigeria.

Speaking during the event, the Chief Judge of Enugu State, who was represented by Justice Reuben Odugu, said: “In human interactions and communications, particularly, in the conduct of business, it is almost inevitable that disagreements will occur which usually will require the intervention of the judicial system for their resolution.

“Consequently, the ability to resolve contractual disputes on real time basis is, therefore, fundamental in ensuring that both the markets and economies function properly.

“In order to fulfill this obligation, the adoption of a system of dispute resolution that is fast, informal and inexpensive becomes imperative.

“In line with the foregoing, the Small Claims Court was created with specific duties and powers. It is a specialized court designed to provide judicial determination of disputes involving small amounts of money.

“The Court provides an accessible, inexpensive, speedy forum for dispute resolution of small monetary claims. The claims can be heard with or without legal representation. Small Claims Court, ordinarily, is a court of limited Jurisdiction that hears disputes between litigants in the Magistrates’ Courts.

“The legal framework for the operation of the court in Enugu State has been put in place. The Magistrates’ Court Law (Practice Directions on Small Claims) 2023 (the “Practice Directions”) made pursuant to the Magistrates’ Courts Law of Enugu State, 2004 was issued in the month of July, 2023.

“The Magistrates’ Court Law of Enugu State and the Magistrates’ Court (Civil Procedure) Rules of Enugu State are applicable to the proceedings in the Small Claims Court, particularly, in areas not covered by the Practice Directions, 2023.

“The monetary jurisdiction of the Court is N5,000,000 and a maximum of N10,000,000 in the case of a counter claim.”

He thanked the secretariat of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) for being of immense support in the training of the 10 Learned magistrates and 10 assistant chief registrars towards the establishment and operationalisation of the courts, adding that the courts would start entertaining cases soon after the inauguration.

Also speaking, the MD of the Enugu State Investment Development Authority, Dr. Ogbu-Nwobodo, commended Governor Mbah for his steadfastness in the pursuit of his investment-oriented social contract with the people of the state.

Meanwhile, the event equally witnessed the unveiling of the court’s practice directions and Handbook on Small Claims Courts.

 

Chetanne Chinelo, Enugu

A non-governmental organisation, the Paul Basil Iloegbouba Foundation, PBIF, will hold its 15th Enugu Free Mega Medical Outreach today December 12, 2023.

In a statement jointly signed and made available to Pacesetter in Enugu by the Founder/CEO of the Foundation, Engr. Pastor Paul Basil Iloegbouba and wife, Paul Favour Chinelo, the outreach which will hold at the popular Michael Okpara Square, Independence Layout, Enugu, by 7am is expected to benefit about ten thousand persons from or resident in Enugu.

Iloegbouba who is also the CEO of one of the largest real estate companies, Horizontal City Property Developers Limited stated that “the medical outreach team will comprise of 60 Doctors, 20 Nurses, 20 Pharmacists, 10 Physiotherapists, 10 Dentists, 10 Surgeons, 10 Ophthalmologists and 10 Optometrists”.

Going further, the Assistant Pastor Dunamis International Gospel Center Enugu Central, outlined that “the team of medical experts totaling about 150 persons will examine beneficiaries in the areas of dentistry, optometry, physiotherapy, ophthalmology, health education, surgical operations and different medical laboratory tests”, while further conducting physical fitness/sports.

While emphasizing that the Free Enugu Mega Medical Outreach “is a means of giving back to the society from the little that God has blessed me with and ensuring that people live a healthy life”, he maintained that “no beneficiary will pay a dime for any of the medical services listed above”.

He called on people to seize the opportunity for a general medical examination.

“Even if you do not need it (the free medical examination), you can inform someone in your extended family, church, place of work or neighborhood to be present. Drugs and other medical supplies will be given free of charge”, he added.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) says the national grid experienced a system collapse on Monday.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has halted the processing fees for cash deposits over N500,000 until April 2024.

Enugu State governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has assured investors of the state’s conducive environment for business and high returns on investment, saying with the state’s deliberate policies at derisking investment flow and enhancing ease of doing business, Enugu remains the best and most attractive state to invest.

The governor, who disclosed this, weekend, in Enugu during the 60th anniversary of Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), said his administration was poised to continue to forge workable and progressive partner with the association made up of captains of industry, manufacturers, business moguls and investors.

While congratulating ECCIMA for driving the state’s economic expansion, Mbah attributed the successes recorded in it’s 60 years of existence to the good foundation laid by its founding fathers, adding that his administration recognised the positive impacts of the investors on the economy.

He said, “I would like to acknowledge all businesses, captains of industry, and investors represented here today. We recognize your active participation in fostering the growth of businesses within the State. Permit me to state that you are integral to the building of our state’s economy”.

Governor Mbah, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Chidiebere Onyia, said the State Government is focused on investment, expanding the state’s economic base and creating the right environment for more investors to come in.

“Our vision is to grow Enugu’s economy from a GDP of N4.4bn to N30bn within 4-8 years and to reduce the poverty headcount to zero. These form the policy thrust of our government and underpin our policy development. ECCIMA is pivotal to the achievement of this goal by contributing to economic and business activities while also providing employment to many.

“Our administration is actively engaging with investors and development partners to drive investment within the State. Just a few weeks into our administration, we held an investment roundtable and few days ago, an investors network was held here in Enugu. While we trudge on with these initiatives, we are well aware of the importance of driving domestic investment and local business growth.

“As a result, we have focused on a robust strategy to improve key drivers of growth for our domestic businesses. This covers improvement of infrastructure and enabling the business environment,” he added.

Governor Mbah said they were very focused on the partnership they had seen in ECCIMA. He added that the state government was focused on creating an enabling environment for businesses, through infrastructural development, public private partnership and harmonization of taxes, for businesses to thrive in the state, using e-governance model to block leakages.

“In addressing issues of multiple taxation, the State revenue administration system is evolving to streamline proscesses. A revenue harmonization committee has been established to review and harmonize tax collections. The outcome of this exercise would be sector-based, harmonized demand notices, and published fee schedules. Additionally, collections have been digitized to minimize the occurrence of multiple charges and loss of revenue,” he further disclosed.

He said power supply has been a major concern to Enugu State and that the state was the first state in the country to enact an electricity law, maintaining that Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission would take full control of power regulation in the state to enhance its target generation of 700 megawatts for industrial uses.

He said the state government had taken steps to create a friendly environent to attract investors to the state including the daily provision of 120 millions litres of water, adding that it’s stepping up efforts to make the state one of the top 3 states in Nigeria om ease of doing business.

The governor also enjoined ECCIMA to assist the state government to grow the state’s economy, saying, “If we plan to run a business and grow our economy, it is impossible without the business community. We don’t know everything. We are willing to work with people who had gone that part”.

In his address, the President of ECCIMA, Jasper Nduagwuike said ECCIMA was founded by Dr. Nlogha Okeke of blessed memory with successors sustaining the dreams of the founding fathers. “The Chamber movement is not profit making, but is powered by the selfless commitment of people who want to partner with the government to ensure the ease of doing business so that appropriate economic benefits can accrue to the people and Government of the day”, he said .

Nduagwuike, who was represented by Nnanyelugo Onyemelukwe, commended Enugu State government for its support to ECCIMA, assuring of continuous partnership with the state government

Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Ide J.C. Udeagbala, who was represented by the President, South East Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (SECCIMA), Humphrey Ngonadi, felicitated ECCIMA for its laudable contributions to the growth of the country, even as he commended Enugu State government for its support to ECCIMA.

Chetanne Chinelo, Enugu

The Founder/CEO of a reputable non-governmental organisation, the Paul Basil Iloegbouba Foundation, PBIF, Engr. Pastor Paul Basil Iloegbouba and wife, Paul Favour Chinelo have stated that they began the Foundation to cater for the needs of the avalanche of less privileged people in the society.

Iloegbouba made this known while speaking to Pacesetter during a media tour to kick off the 15th Enugu Free Mega Medical Outreach scheduled to hold tomorrow, Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at the popular Michael Okpara Square, Independence Layout, Enugu, by 7am.

According to Iloegbouba, “We were moved to start the Paul Basil Iloegbouba foundation when we saw many young people who were struggling to make a living.

“We started with empowering the people in different communities through training them and empowering them financially. On the course of doing this and after a while, we noticed the medical needs in our society for many who could not afford to pay hospital bills.

“My wife and I, through the help of God decided to expand the horizon of our philanthropy to cover medical needs and that was how we began the Free Medical Outreach, moving from one community to another and from one state to another”.

When asked how he could fund these charitable projects especially with the current economic realities in the country, the Assistant Pastor Dunamis International Gospel Center Enugu Central, said it was through his Real Estate company, Horizontal City Property Developers Limited and the kind donation of individuals and other corporate bodies.

While asking good spirited Nigerians to support the foundation, he noted that “Our future plan is to train as many as we can and give the people the future they deserve in conjunction with giving free medical treatment to the people who can’t afford hospital bills”.

The 15th Enugu Free Mega Medical Outreach team will comprise of 60 Doctors, 20 Nurses, 20 Pharmacists, 10 Physiotherapists, 10 Dentists, 10 Surgeons, 10 Ophthalmologists and 10 Optometrists.

The team of medical experts totaling about 150 persons will examine beneficiaries in the areas of dentistry, optometry, physiotherapy, ophthalmology, health education, surgical operations and different medical laboratory tests, while further conducting physical fitness/sports.

“Even if you do not need it (the free medical examination), you can inform someone in your extended family, church, place of work or neighborhood to be present. Drugs and other medical supplies will be given free of charge”, Iloegbouba adds.

The Dangote oil refinery in Nigeria on Friday received its first cargo of 1 million barrels of crude oil from Shell International Trading and Shipping Co (STASCO), bringing the start of operations closer after years of delays.

Once fully running, the 650,000 barrel-per-day refinery funded by Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote will turn oil powerhouse Nigeria into a net exporter of fuels, a long-sought goal for the OPEC member that almost totally relies on imports.

Dangote Group said in a statement seen by Reuters on Friday that the cargo of 1 million barrels of crude from Agbami – a deep water field run by Chevron (CVX.N) – was the first of 6 million barrels that would enable an initial run of the refinery.

That will kick-start output of diesel, aviation fuel and Liquefied Petroleum Gas, before the refinery later starts producing Premium Motor Spirit.

A Dangote Group spokesperson said the STASCO cargo arrived on a chartered vessel and was discharged into the refinery’s crude oil tanks.

The next four cargoes will be supplied by state oil firm NNPC in two to three weeks and a final cargo will come from ExxonMobil (XOM.N), Dangote Group’s statement said.

Nigeria’s state oil firm NNPC Ltd signed an agreement in November to supply the Dangote refinery with up to six cargoes of crude starting this month. NNPC has a 20% stake in the refinery.

Despite being Africa’s biggest oil producer, Nigeria experiences repeated fuel shortages. It spent $23.3 billion last year on petroleum product imports and consumes around 33 million litres of petrol a day.

“Our focus over the coming months is to ramp up the refinery to its full capacity,” Dangote was quoted as saying in the statement.

Nigeria commissioned the refinery in May, after it ran years behind schedule. At a cost of $19 billion, the massive petrochemical complex is one of Nigeria’s single largest investments.

Reuters

The Association of Igbo Town Unions (ASETU), has called on the President Bola Tinubu administration to ensure the unconditional release of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has enjoined manufacturers not to think twice in expanding their investments and operations in the state in particular and South East in general, saying whereas many indices favour the South East, his administration has also taken practical steps to improve the business environment.

This was even as the President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Otunba Francis Meshioye, lauded the Mbah administration for effort at improving the ease of doing business, especially the enactment of the Enugu State Electricity Law, saying such would boost manufacturing.

Governor Mbah gave the assurances in a keynote speech he delivered at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the MAN, South East, themed, “South East: A World of Manufacturing Opportunities”, which was held in Enugu on Friday.

The governor, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai, said the high population density and good ranking in per capita income; presence of two of the largest market hubs in Nigeria, namely Onitsha and Aba; homogeneity of market; comparatively high rate of literacy and education penetration; a culture of hard work; access to most zones in the Country and the Central Africa via Cameroun, among others, made the South East an attractive manufacturing hub.

He reiterated his administration’s determination to grow the state’s economy from the current $4.4 billion to $30 billion and achieve a zero percent rate in the poverty headcount index. This he said, could only be possible through private sector investment.

“To achieve this rate of growth and meet our objectives, it was clear to us from the beginning that manufacturing and industrialisation would need to occupy a ‘front seat’.

“As a result of this, we have fashioned out a number of strategic thrusts to drive the growth of manufacturing and other industries within the State.

“We are developing at least one Special Agro Processing Zone (SAPZ) each across the three senatorial zones in the State.

“We will address access to raw materials by boosting large scale farming in the State with the demarcation of up to 300,000 hectares of high-quality arable land for cultivation by large corporate farmers.

“We are in the process of building a vibrant electricity market in the state by operationalizing our Electricity law, which was signed into law not long ago, and establishing a state electricity regulatory agency.

“We are boosting the ease of logistics within the State by developing in collaboration with private sector investors, world class truck terminals, a dry port, an international cargo airport and significantly improved road networks.

“Worthy of particular mention, is the fact that we are opening up a new route to the North from the South south and Cameroun by dualising the Enugu-Abakaliki road to the Ebonyi border and linking it to a new build dual carriage way from Owo to Ikem and Obollo Afor.

“Beyond these more tangible initiatives, we have also made efforts to address other ‘softer’ but no less critical areas by boosting the security structures in the State. For example, we have established the Distress Response Squad to ensure rapid response to cases of crime in the State. We are also in the process of installing a CCTV camera network to provide 24-hour surveillance of the State and facilitate the identification of criminal elements and even deter undesirable elements from engaging in crimes at all”, Mbah stated.

He said the state had stamped out the “ignoble” Monday sit-at-home, and also improved the ease of doing business, including reinvigorating the One Stop Centre Investment Centre.

The governor added that Enugu State was in the process of automating government MDAs and streamlining revenue collection to eliminate multiple taxation and facilitate ease of payment.

“With all of the foregoing, we can make bold to say that Enugu is indeed open for business. We are willing to do everything within our power to make doing business in Enugu a pleasure.

“We enjoin all manufacturers within the state to entertain no fears in expanding their operations within the state and indeed the South East”, he stressed.

Mbah commended the MAN, South East led by Lady Ada Chukwudozie for their “efforts to keep the flag of manufacturing flying in this zone against all odds.”

Meanwhile, the President of MAN has commended the effort of the Mbah administration at improving power and ease of doing business in Enugu State.

“I applaud the Enugu State Government for signing the Enugu State Electricity Bill into law, as this now gives the state the regulatory power to establish an Enugu State Electricity Market.

“We are also aware that the Enugu State Government, in partnership with the African Development Bank, Africa Export Import Bank, and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, among others, is working towards revamping the economy of the state.

“We commend the effort of the government as these initiatives would create a conducive environment for business in the state,” he said.

The AGM witnessed mass turnout of South East captains of industry and notable Nigerian industrialists and dignitaries, including the Oni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

The Vice President, Kashim Shettima has inaugurated the National Council on Privatisation.