[dropcap]I[/dropcap]t was a black wednesday in Onitsha as several persons were reportedly trapped and many dead as a petroleum tanker gut fire in Onitsha, the commercial nerve centre of Anambra state.

SP Haruna Mohammed, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state confirmed the death in a statement issued to journalists in Awka. Mohammed said that the bodies of the unidentified woman and her baby, who were burnt beyond recognition by the inferno, had been deposited at the Toronto Hospital, Onitsha.

He said that the fire, which started at about 12:59 pm, occurred when a tanker carrying petroleum product lost control and fell around Upper Iweka area of Onitsha.

“The petroleum product later caught fire and affected many shops and houses,” he said.

The police spokesperson said that the Commissioner of Police in Anambra, Mr John Abang, had visited the scene for on the spot assessment.

Haruna appealed to residents of Onitsha to remain calm while men of the Fire Service department combat the fire.

The PPRO said that consequent upon the unruly conduct of some street boys, the police patrol teams had cordoned off the area to prevent hoodlums from taking advantage to loot while efforts were still ongoing to put out the fire.

An eye witness had told Grassroots Publishers Online that no fewer than four persons have so far died in the incident as the fire later spread to Ochanga Market, Onitsha.

“The fire started in front of Toronto Hospital Onitsha, before it spread to Ochanga Market area.

“I saw four lifeless persons, while a number of persons are still trapped in a building still burning,” he said.

Several persons were reportedly trapped and many dead as a petroleum tanker gut fire in Onitsha, the commercial nerve centre of Anambra state on Wednesday.

By: Emeji Noble

[dropcap] H[/dropcap]on. Princess Pat Ajudua, the Chief Whip of the Delta  State House of Assembly has reappointed Chief Austin Ndinwa(Okemili) as her Special Assistant on legislative Matters.

Chief Ndinwa was presented with the appointment letter which was signed by the Secretary to the Delta State Government, Barr Chiedu Ebie, by the Chief Whip of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Princess Pat Ajudua on Tuesday 15th October 2019 in her office at the Assembly Complex, Asaba.

Chief Austin Ndinwa a businessman and renowned grassroots politician  from Ibusa in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State has contributed immensely to the community development of his town Ibusa and Anioma nation. He is one of the distinguished patron of Team SMART for Okowa, a socio political group geared towards showcasing the policies and actions of the Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa led administration in Delta State and also served as the Delta North Coordinator of Team SMART for Okowa where he helped to coordinate the activities of the group in the Delta North senatorial district of the State.

His  appointments which took immediate effect was based on merit and hard work.

[dropcap]S[/dropcap]enator Ifeanyi Okowa, the Executive governor of Delta State has approved the appointment of eleven new permanent secretaries for the Delta State Civil Service and the Post Primary Education Board.

The Director of Information, Mr Paul Osahor JP of the Ministry of Information was among the new appointees.

According to a statement signed by a Deputy Director of Information, Mr Lucky Omokri, the eleven permanent secretaries comprised of seven (7) from the State Civil Service and four (4) from the Post Primary Education Board.

Those who made the list from the civil service, the statement said, include Dr Francis Onojeta, Mr Paul Osahor, Mr Joseph Uwalogho and Mrs Anastasia Nwanze,

Other are Mr Nzefili Obiegba, Mrs Charity Ehimen-Babigha and Mrs Oghenekevwe Agas.

The appointees for the Post Primary Education Board include Mrs Felicia Aghwadoma, Mrs Alero Tonwe, Mrs Judith Bamah and Mr Ekababanichionye Chukwuma.

The statement said a date for the swearing-in ceremony will be announced later.

By :  Emej Kelechi Noble

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Management of Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku has unveiled a programme of events for the second combined convocation ceremony of the Institution.

In a pre-convocation press briefing on Wednesday 9th October, 2019, at the academic board building of the Institution, the Rector of the Polytechnic, Professor Mrs. Stella Chiemeke said that the Convocation event has been scheduled over a three day period between Thursdays 10th – Saturday 12th October, 2019.

According to the Rector, the activities slated for the ceremony will commence with an interdenominational Church Service on Thursday 10th October 2019, at the Polytechnic Event centre located within the Polytechnic premises, by 10am, while the Convocation lecture, development appeal fund and the award of excellence to distinguished personalities, has been fixed for Friday, 10th October, 2019 also beginning at 10am in the same Event Centre.

Prof. Chiemeke revealed that the Convocation proper comes up on Saturday, 12th October 2019; at the Institution’s convocation ground located at the Permanent Site, noting that the ceremony, which will commence by 10am, will have the State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa who is the Visitor of the Polytechnic, in attendance.

“This is going to be the second combined convocation ceremony for 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18 and 2018/19 academic sessions.

“We have six years of graduands and on the 12th of October, we have the presentation of prizes, award of National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and conferment of honours and fellowship awards, to some prominent Nigerians.

“We want to put it on record that the 2018/2019 academic session ended successfully and all results are out. We want to also let the graduands know that all certificates for these sessions are ready for collection. We hope on that day, by the grace of God, that these certificates will be distributed to the graduands,” Professor Chiemeke said.

The Rector, who was with some of the principal officers of the Polytechnic at the press briefing, noted that the Institution has improved tremendously since her assumption in office, saying that the critical achievements were in line with her vision of elevating the Polytechnic to a 21st century institution in terms of computerization.

She said,”We have computerized all the systems and operations, particularly the registration. We have a working portal where we have all our students’ records intact. We have also computerized the bursary processes which are being completed. Training is ongoing to be able to enhance productivity and professionalism of both the staff and student.”

Prof Chiemeke further stated that current programs of the Polytechnic are being offered in five schools to include; the school of business studies, school of fine and applied arts, school of engineering, school of general studies and school of applied sciences, adding that the five schools are with twenty six departments.

“Some of Our programmes are fully accredited and some are about to face real visitation after accreditation. Emphasis has equally been placed on Staff training and development through TETFUND sponsorship and also through our internally generated revenue, IGR,” she said, even as she noted some of the major achievements from students of the Institution recently.

“One of our graduands was given a Federal National Award for good performances during the NYSC in 2019 and also out of the 27 Federal scholarship Awardees given to Delta State, 23 are from Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku,” the Rector revealed.

As regards infrastructural development in the Polytechnic, Prof. Stella Chiemeke at the press briefing, said that her administration has established a Staff School geared towards assisting the staff in terms of training of their children within the Polytechnic environment, saying that the action has helped in no small measure to reducing the risk of moving their children to Asaba for schooling.

She equally noted that the establishment of the Staff School has helped in staff welfare as well as in the creation of Job opportunities for some Deltans and while confirming that the Polytechnic in the period under review, has been able to put up a male and female hostels that are fully equipped and functional, added that the hostels have been able to alleviate the accommodation problems being faced by students of the Institution.

“We have the ongoing construction of the staff building that is currently being sponsored from our internally generated revenue, IGR and we also have the introduction of the six months certificate programme in Hospitality and Tourism, to be able to assist those that are around the community.

“Efforts are also being made in improving the security on campus, maintaining good working relationship between staff and students and law enforcement agents in the community. The security personnel are fully equipped and they also maintain law and order in the Polytechnic,” the Rector stated, even as she used the opportunity of the briefing to invite parents of graduating students, Staff, Students and Deltans to the 2nd Combined Convocation Ceremony of the Delta State Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku.

“We hope to see most especially our Royal Fathers, our entire invited guest and the community at large,” she concluded.

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he fire, which started around 10.32am, destroyed two warehouses where provisions were kept and another shop said to be housing books. Grassroots Publishers gathered that the fire was caused by a power surge in one of the shops when the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, suddenly brought power.

One of the women who claim to be at the scene when the fire broke out told Grassroots Publishers “the inferno then gradually spread to other part of the shops before fire fighters came in.

She stated, “I was inside the market when the fire started around 10.32am. We suddenly heard people shouting fire fire when we got to the scene of the incident, we found out that the fire was as a result of a power surge when BEDC brought light. We had to reach the market management committee to call the fighters.

“At first, it was just one warehouse that was burning then it spread to other ones before firefighters came”

One of the affected traders, Mrs FejIro Onosiagbe, pleaded with the government to come to his aid, adding that her business meant tgd whole life to her.

“I am one of the owners of the affected warehouse. I was away when my girls called me that the warehouse was burning so I ran down, only to discover that my things were on fire. All my life is here, the government should come to our aid o ” she cried.

Comrade Benson Okorodudu, a member of the market committee who also spoke on the incident narrated how at first the terrain were not accessible for fire trucks and the role traders played to evacuate some wares “before the fire service trucks came, some of them tried to do the best they can and with the arrival of fire trucks from Seplat and the state fire service, the inferno was brought under control”

He said, though, the cost of the goods destroyed cannot be immediately ascertain, a committee will be put in place to do that and prevent a future occurrence.

Commenting on the issue, the chairman of Sapele Local Government area, Hon Eugene Inoaghan commended the prompt response of the fire service, adding traders should be safety conscious when they handle electrical appliances, he however promised to provide assistance to the affected shop owners to cushion the effect of the loss.