Paradise News

Tag: Anambra State

  • One Feared Dead, Five Injured In Anambra Lone Accident

    One Feared Dead, Five Injured In Anambra Lone Accident

    By Ovat Abeng

    One person has been confirmed dead and five others terribly injured when a celebrity town crier, Mr Aiza Nwosu got involved in a fatal lone accident at the popular Aroma junction Awka, the capital of Anambra State.

    Eyes witness account had it that the celebrity town crier was driving in his SUV vehicle passing through the ever busy Aroma junction when the vehicle allegedly lost control and ran into pedestrians waiting to catch a bus towards the Government House Awka.

    It was confirmed that out of six persons including a keke tricycle operator were hit by the vehicle which allegedly ran through the by standers before crashing into the road embankment along the Onitsha – Awka- Enugu express way.

    The accident victims were taken to the Chukwuemaka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital along with Mr Aiza Nwosu the town crier who was also injured in the accident.

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    At the Teaching Hospital members of the public were not allowed to enter the Emergency Department of the facility as security operatives urged them to leave the compound in order not to distract the medical personnel that were battling to save the lives of the victims.

    Few hours later some members of the public who witness the accident started crying on hearing that one of the victims had died.

    So far the names of the victims and their home addresses are not yet known as the management of the Teaching Hospital has promised to contact their relatives through the last phone calls they received or made before the accident occured while members of the Anambra Capital Territory Development Agency ACTDA were seen clearing the vehicle from the road.

  • Anambra govt names street after CP Adeoye as honour for improved security

    Anambra govt names street after CP Adeoye as honour for improved security

    By Ovat Abeng

    The authorities of Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, have named a street after the State commissioner of Police, CP Aderemi Adeoye.

    The Paradise News gathered that the gesture is a reward to the commissioner for the improved security in the state.

    The street which was named after the commissioner is located in the heart of Awka.

    The state police command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga revealed this to journalists, with pictures and videos of the signpost showing the name of the street, with the approval from the Awka South Local Government authorities.

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    Adeoye would be retiring sometime in June, and the idea may be to immortalize him as a sign of remembrance when he leaves Anambra.

    He has recently been honoured with several awards from groups for his gallantry, and ability to stem crime in the state.

  • Soludo’s Wife Takes Easter Celebration To Welfare Homes In Anambra

    Soludo’s Wife Takes Easter Celebration To Welfare Homes In Anambra

    By Ovat Abeng

    In her bid to ensure that people in special homes also get a share of the Easter season, Anambra governor’s wife, Mrs Nonye Soludo, took her own celebration to a welfare homes and orphanage in the state.

    The visits which were undertaken by members of Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo’s team, led by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, is in line with the governor’s wife’s long time culture of visiting such homes during important periods.

    The homes visited were Priests’ Welfare Home, Awka, and Saint Martin’s Community Children/Welfare Home, Igboukwu, Aguata Local Government Areas of the State.

    Items presented to each of the homes were cartons of multivitamin supplements, bags of rice, and cash.

    Read Also: MAN Urges Govt To Provide Investment Incentives For Manufacturers In South East

    Speaking while presenting the gifts, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Obidike, who stood in for the governor’s wife, explained that the visit meant so much to her because of her belief that people in such places deserve all the love they could get especially during special occasions.

    Dr Obidike noted that the governor’s wife remains passionate about such cause and is always on the lookout for avenues to ensure that people in the homes are remembered at all times.

    He sent the governor’s wife Easter felicitations and assured the homes that she would continue to keep in touch with them.

    Recall that Mrs Soludo had also visited the same homes in her Christmas tour across over forty orphanages and welfare homes in the State.

  • MAN Urges Govt To Provide Investment Incentives For Manufacturers In South East

    MAN Urges Govt To Provide Investment Incentives For Manufacturers In South East

    By Ovat Abeng

    In a bid to reposition businesses to the next level in Nigeria, the South East Chairman of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Lady Ada Chukwudozie, has called on the Federal and State Governments to provide investment incentives for manufacturers to produce more and boost the country’s economy, particularly, in South East Region.

    Speaking at the MAN South East stakeholders engagement forum with manufacturers on how to access funds to enhance their businesses and also solve issues common to business communities, held last weekend, at MAN Laison Office in Onitsha, Anambra State, Lady Chukwudozie urged government to subsidize cost of material for the manufacturers and proffer solutions to their problems.
    She also stressed the need for the government to empower Manufacturers to enhance the nation’s economic growth.

    “Nigerians need hope.Having listened to DG SMEDAN, Charles Odii, I am lifted in the spirit and very hopeful that there is hope for Nigeria.It is always difficult to start good things but with time,it will take its roots and become very fruitful.They have signed several MoU’s with Anambra and Enugu State governments to dole out N1bn to support businesses to expand their capital base but that is just a pilot scheme.The money will be given to organized private sector trying to formalize the informal sectors to register with either the chambers of commerce,trade and investment or register with MAN to be able to access the funds,” Lady Chukwudozie said.

    The MAN chairman lauded the Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Soludo who she said has the interest of Manufacturers at heart, saying that the Governor dolled out one million seedlings to different household instead of giving them cash.

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    “So, instead of the Governor giving cash, he gave out one million seedlings to each household. Automatically, they are empowered for life. Therefore, manufacturers should as well receive incentives so that they would produce more goods and if they produce more, they create wealth, jobs and the economy would be abundant and induce Naira to appreciate against the dollar.”

    She further urged Nigerians to prioritize agriculture and grow a garden of food crops rather than flowers.

    Speaking at the event, Governor Chukwuma Soludo, represented by the state commissioner for Industry, Mr. Christian Udehchukwu said the state government has made funds available to support Small and Medium Scale Enterprises. He added that the major aim of the meeting was for manufacturers to know where and how to access these funds.

    He called on both the manufacturers and traders to live by example and follow the footsteps of governor Soludo since the Governor is committed to building access roads to enhance their establishments.

    Earlier in the keynote address, themed: “Access to Finance and Cheaper Funding for SMEs in Nigeria”, the Director General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Mr. Charles Odii, said they intend to partner with MAN on their “one product, one local government initiative” where each local government will be trained on at least “one product” manufacturing.
    He assured that the agency will roll out interventions to aid access to finance.

    On her part, the former Director of Compliance, Head of ATG MANSA Digital Initiative of Afreximbank, Mrs. Maureen Mba said that the objective of MANSA platform is to facilitate smooth boarding of customers and business relationship, to reduce operational workload and cost of compliance, to enable African financial institutions to cooperate and SMEs to meet customers and business partners’ expectations while ensuring regulatory compliance, to ensure consistency and effectiveness of compliance process amongst other.

    According to her, Afreximbank will leverage on partnerships with Central Bank, regulatory bodies and financial intelligence units to ensure success of the repository as well as regular audit and review of the MANSA platform for quality assurance purposes.

    She further noted that MANSA platform provides a single source of primary data required for performing customers due diligence checks on counterparts in Africa.

    Delivering his vote of thanks, the former President of Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Pharmacist Uche Apakama, appreciated the participants, he specifically lauded the leader of MAN South East ,Lady Ada Chukwudozie for getting things right for manufacturers.

    Meanwhile, MANSA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), which would grant them access to funds for increased production.

  • Cult killings claim six lives in Anambra

    Cult killings claim six lives in Anambra

    By Ovat Abeng

    At least six people were killed in Awka, the capital of Anambra State on Easter Monday.

    A source told journalists that not fewer that six persons were gunned down in the city, during the Easter celebration.

    It was gathered that while some were felled at Okpuno area, behind Juhel, some happened around Eke Awka area and Obinagu.

    One of the incident was said to have happened at Opposite Dike Park, around the Eke Awka Market, in Awka, the State capital, where the rampaging cultists reportedly stormed the area in their numbers.

    Read Also: Easter: Police intercept gunman in Anambra, recovers AK-47 rifle

    According to sources, the incident happened in the noon hours of Sunday, and also escalated to the Obinagu area, where some more persons were also gunned down by the cultists.

    It was gathered that one of the persons hit by bullet was a staff of the Anambra State Judiciary, simply identified as Mr. Nwofor, who was said to be innocently going about his normal business before the cultists struck.

    This was corroborated by a video currently trending on the social media, showing bodies of two of the persons gunned down in the Eke Awka environ. While one of the victims was seen still struggling in pains for his dear life in the pool of his blood beside his motorcycle where he fell, passersby were seen scampering for their safety.

    A resident of Awka who did not want his name mentioned said: “I suspected that there will be cult killings this period.

    “You know that most wanted cultists have left town, but during festive periods, they always come home to celebrate, and their rivals use the opportunity to pay them back for their past atrocities, which may include that they have killed their members.”

    Awka which is notorious for cult activities have for sometime been peaceful, following threats by police authorities to deal with cultists.

    Police has in the wake of cult threats arrested some cultists. There have also been reports of sponsors of cultists being arrested in the past.

    Meanwhile, Police Public Relations Officer for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Ikenga Tochukwu, said there was no such report of Easter day cult killings before him.

  • Easter: Police intercept gunman in Anambra, recovers AK-47 rifle

    Easter: Police intercept gunman in Anambra, recovers AK-47 rifle

    By Ovat Abeng

    Police Officers in Anambra State over the Easter weekend arrested an adult male holding a bag in Awada, Idemili North Local Government Area of the State.

    The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, who disclosed this in a statement said the man, on sighting the Police, took to his heels and was chased until he was caught and overpowered.

    When the bag was searched it was found to contain an AK-47 Rifle with breech No. 25008266. Search of database has shown that it was not among firearms on charge  to Anambra State Command.

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    On interrogation, suspect disclosed that the weapon was procured for a showdown with a rival cult group.

    The State Commissioner of Police, CP Aderemi Adeoye, while commending Police Officers who made the recovery  for their vigilance and tenacity of purpose has directed that the investigation be widened and deepened to bring to book all those connected with the arms trafficking including an alleged financier abroad who provided funds for the purchase.

    “He has directed all personnel in the Command to re-dedicate themselves to crime prevention and detection in service of the people in the State,” the PPRO stated.

  • NGO organises business leadership bootcamp in Onitsha, proffers solution to Nigeria’s economic challenges

    NGO organises business leadership bootcamp in Onitsha, proffers solution to Nigeria’s economic challenges

    By Ovat Abeng

    A Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO, the Ultimate Destiny Uplifters Foundation (UDUF Africa) has organized a two-day business leadership bootcamp at Dolly Hills Hotel, Onitsha, Anambra State, to guide entrepreneurs on how to remain afloat in their endeavors following the challenges faced by businesses in the country.

    The programme which held on the 15th and 16th March, 2024 aimed to enhance leadership and business management skills and encourage networking among participants.

    The event was attended by more than over 40 participants drawn from various sectors of the economy.

    In his opening remarks, founder of UDUF Africa, Dr. Ezuma Smart Chinedu, emphasized the importance of perseverance and acquiring necessary skills to achieve business goals.

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    During the bootcamp, participants discussed extensively on the impact of exchange rate fluctuations on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. They identified poor government policies, devaluation of the Naira, low social values, international debts, and corruption as the causes of this impact. The effects of these issues were also discussed, including increased transportation costs, higher food prices, high crime rates, shortage of cash, and low productivity.

    To address these challenges, the group proposed various control measures. These included encouraging local production, implementing good financial policies, reducing the cost of governance, decreasing interest rates on loans for SMEs, promoting an export-driven economy, and establishing refineries. These measures aim to improve the performance and survival rate of SMEs in Nigeria, as well as contribute to the country’s GDP.

    The bootcamp breakout sessions were  facilitated by professionals such as Prof. Olusegun Oludapo Sogbesan, Director General of Onitsha Business School, Lady Chinwe Nebolisa, a business consultant and Barr Emmanuel Ikenna, a professional business leadership coach. The panel discussions further mainstreamed on self-leadership, effective time management, goal setting, and maintaining motivation for leaders and entrepreneurs as requisite for success in business endeavors.

    They also covered the fundamentals of starting, growing, and sustaining a business, wealth creation, and smart investments.

    The Bootcamp concluded with the presentation of certificates to participants and a Tea and Suya night hangout with the facilitators. The Ultimate Destiny Uplifters Foundation aims to provide capacity-building opportunities to young people, entrepreneurs, and leaders who have a passion for serving humanity and transforming African communities.

  • Hoodlums burn Anambra Police divisional headquarters, say DPO has overstayed

    Hoodlums burn Anambra Police divisional headquarters, say DPO has overstayed

    By Ovat Abeng

    Hoodlums numbering about 30 have reportedly set ablaze the Neni Police station in Anaocha LGA of Anambra state.

    The gangsters who were said to be armed to the teeth also torched Anaocha Local Government Headquarters at Neni.

    Sources said that the dare -devils attacked the area between 3am and 4am today (Thursday), shouting: “DPO must go. He has overstayed. He has stayed in Anaocha for over 15 years.”

    Another source said gangsters also whisked away some police operatives, including female police personnel at the police station.

    Read Also: Our roads are still intact, very solid, Anambra residents reply Soludo’s critics

    The source said the hoodlums alleged that Anaocha Police Station had become another SARS station.

    When contacted the Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Anambra state police command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga
    confirmed the incident.

    He stated that though the hoodlums attacked the police station with IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices), they however, did not take away any arms, and did not whisk away any police personnel.

    He said the hoodlums were successfully repelled by the superior fire-power of the police operatives who engaged them and forced them to flee.

    He further said the police operations were still ongoing in the area as of the time he was reacting to the development.

    He promised to communicate further development on the incident later.

  • Our roads are still intact, very solid, Anambra residents reply Soludo’s critics

    Our roads are still intact, very solid, Anambra residents reply Soludo’s critics

    By Ovat Abeng

    Residents of Anambra State, on Thursday, held protests in various parts of the state against politicians and other individuals spreading false narratives about the roads constructed by Governor Chukwuma Soludo.

    They said that the “ill-conceived stories” trending on social media that the roads constructed by the governor had failed were not true and should be thrown into the trash bin where they belong.

    In Awka North, residents of the Local Government Area trooped out in their numbers on the 26km Amansea – Ebenebe – Ugbenu – Ugbene – Awba Ofemmili Road to tell the world that the very long stretch of road constructed by Soludo was still intact and very solid.

    The people carried placards with various inscriptions such as ‘Ndi asili 2025 keep off, Solution is here to stay’, ‘Amansea to Awba Ofemmili Road is solid’, ‘Qaulity road, quality governor’, ‘Roads constructed in Awka North LGA are 100% perfect’, ‘Awka North is for solution governor 100%’ among others.

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    A community leader in Ugbenu, Hon. James Onwuka, made it very clear that he used the road everyday and that he had not seen any portion that failed.

    “This road you’re seeing is 100 per cent perfect. In fact, this road is of European standard. In Anambra State we have not seen this kind of road before.

    “The other time, somebody visited this area from Ebonyi State and he confessed that this road constructed by Soludo is of higher standard than the ones they have in Ebonyi State.

    “We’re saying that based on what Governor Soludo has done for us, we are supporting him 100 per cent. And in the next year’s elections, we’ll give him our votes”, Onwuka declared.

    Another community leader from Urum, Chief Amaechi Obiesili, said that he found the statement credited to some politicians that the road in Awka North had started collapsing as puerile and very laughable.

    “We are standing on the 26km Amansea – Ebenebe – Ugbenu – Ugbene – Awba Ofemmili Road as you can see. Which part of it has collapsed?

    “Can the political opponents of Soludo who’re spreading these false narratives step forward and show us which portion of the road had gone bad? They’re just lying against the good works of Mr Governor and it is not good”, he said.

    Obiesili, popularly known as Chiefoo, commended Soludo for his good works and urged him not to relent in his efforts to develop the state for the good of the people.

    In Awka, the state capital, commercial tricycle operators popularly known as Keke NAPEP, held a solidarity walk in support of the administration of Governor Soludo.

    The Keke riders said that they no longer frequented mechanics workshop as before ever since Governor Soludo reconstructed the roads in Awka and its environs.

    Coordinator of Anambra Keke Drivers Forum (AKDF), Comrade Osita Obi, while addressing newsmen on the newly tarred road near Prof. Kenneth Dike Library, said that commercial tricycle operators in the state were happy with Soludo’s road work.

    “We were here when this road was under construction. This is one of the wonders of Governor Chukwuma Soludo. From here to Roban Store road through the back of the CBN to Club Road down to Ngozika Housing Estate, Soludo is working.

    “So, we are here to see where our taxes are going. And we can see that Soludo is using them well. We can see the results.

    “Again, there is a trending video about what happened in Ochanja area of Onitsha where a small portion of the road which is still under construction had small issue after the it had rained.

    “The road was still under construction and it’s not fair to criticize the governor or the contractor on that incident because they had no control over the rain or the weather generally”, Obi stated.

  • Two convicted, four in police net for vandalizing EEDC property in Anambra, Imo

    Two convicted, four in police net for vandalizing EEDC property in Anambra, Imo

    By Ovat Abeng

    The duo of Chinonso Chinaemelu, 27-year-old and Okoye Chisom Christian, 20-year-old has been sentenced to one year imprisonment respectively for vandalizing a distribution substation belonging to the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC), by the Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State

    This development was made known by the Head, Corporate Communications, EEDC, Mr. Emeka Ezeh in a statement on Thursday.

    According to Ezeh, they were arrested on the 29th of November 2023 by Abatete local vigilante group while attempting to vandalize the distribution substation within the locality.

    Ezeh also confirmed that in the same week, a couple identified as Mr & Mrs Ebuka Umeh were arrested by some members of Isuorji community neighborhood security in Orlu, Imo State, when Ebuka’s wife was attempting to pick the vandalized items from a distribution substation belonging to EEDC with their motorcycle.  It was gathered that the couple attacked the substation for three days.

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    In his confessional statement, Ebuka testified that the vandalized items were sold to scrap dealers. The suspects were handed over to Orlu Police Division for proper investigation while effort is on to arrest the scrap dealers.

    In a related development, a vandal suspect identified as Chukwuebuka Ezike who hails from Umunachi in Orsu Local Government Area, Imo State was arrested by Umuezinachi community neighborhood watch while he was cutting aluminum conductor around Orie Uguiri Market.

    At Amachi-Izhia, Ebonyi State, Amara Joseph Ajagbo was arrested by members of the Electricity Committee for vandalizing nine spans of aluminum conductors in their community, while two of his gang members escaped.

    The suspects have been handed over to the respective Police formations for proper investigation and possible prosecution.

    Ezeh lamented the spate of vandalism in the EEDC network stating that it is a major challenge negatively impacting the smooth operations of the company.

    According to him, between January 2022 to date the company has recorded over 170 cases of vandalism in its network, with about 135 suspected vandals arrested, out of which over 100 have been charged to court.

    He stressed that the company will not relent in its resolve to prosecute these arrested suspects and go all out to fish out receivers of these vandalized items as they remain the motivation for the vandals.

    Ezeh lamented that it has become difficult for the organization to fund the restoration of vandalized infrastructure, and that the development is affecting service delivery to customers.

    “We commend the judiciary for the judgement, and hope that this will serve as a deterrent to many others out there, engaging in such criminal acts.”

    Ezeh appreciated the various communities that have committed to joining hands with EEDC to contain activities of vandals and called on others to do the same because once these electricity infrastructures are attacked customers will be subjected to blackout for a while.

    “Customers are therefore advised to be vigilant and not allow these installations within their neighborhood to be vandalized, as they will be inconvenienced once this happens,” Ezeh urged.