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Blame Police, Natives for the overwhelming activities of kidnappers in Sapele, says Ex-Delta Assembly Speaker

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Blame Police, Natives for the overwhelming activities of kidnappers in Sapele, says Ex-Delta Assembly Speaker

By: Oby Edward

Rt Hon Monday Igbuya, former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly,  has given two major reasons why Sapele community and environs are presently under siege by kidnappers.

Igbuya who recalled the harrowing experience he experienced in the hands of kidnappers in 2009, said that one of the reasons is due to the fact that Police and other sister security agencies have been caught off guard because they shifted from pure security duties to chasing of Yahoo and the second reason is the collusion by some natives with kidnappers.

Igbuya, who is Delta State Representative, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya stated this in a Media chat some Journalists.

His words, “the worsening cases of insecurity in Sapele and its environs is becoming very worrisome and it is getting out of hand and if urgent steps are not taken to arrest the development, it will affect the social economic development of the town.

“So, I am calling on the Nigerian Police and other sister security agencies to up their games and stop this dangerous drift, because no one or nowhere is safe as it is today in Sapele, people are being kidnapped at will in their homes, along the streets and even public places unchallenged.

“You can imagine, a young man who came for the preparation of his father-in-law’s burial was kidnapped in front of the inlaw’s house in the Ghana-Ogberekoko area, and in the past four days, nothing has been heard about his whereabouts.

“Yesterday I also heard that they almost kidnapped someone in front of Foodland in Okpe road in broad daylight, but he was lucky to have escaped, it’s now everyday thing in Sapele and its environs.

“The situation”, he emphasized, “is getting out of hand, the security agencies should rather focus their attention on more critical issues than chasing Yahoo boys in town, they should up their games and change the dynamics.

“In past one, or two years, the town has been relatively peaceful and there was a huge improvement in terms of security, but the situation is becoming very alarming now. You know I was a victim of kidnapping in 2009 and the experience is horrifying.

“No community can experience meaningful development without a peaceful environment. So, I also appealed to our youths to shun crime and take up lawful means of livelihood, crime doesn’t pay.

“I also called on residents of Sapele to be more vigilant, this is not about herdsmen, this is the case of our people being involved in the kidnapping scheme, so we have to be very careful now”, he stated.

Source: The Nation

Planned Nationwide Demonstration: Protesters Makes Demand

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Planned Nationwide Demonstration: Protesters Makes Demand

As the planned nationwide protest against bad governance and economic hardship gathers momentum, protesters have listed out their demands.

Newsmirror reports that the protest has been scheduled to be held across all states of the Federation as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, in August.

Food and basic commodities prices have skyrocketed recently. Nigerians are facing one of the worst inflation and economic crises due to the government’s removal of petrol subsidies and the unification of foreign exchange rates.

As a result of this, Nigerians have decided to hit the streets to make their voices heard.

Protesters have vowed to continue their demonstrations until major changes are made.

The protesters have also declared that if any protester is killed, maimed, or arrested during the protest, they will not back down until Tinubu and his entire cabinet resign.

Below are the Protesters’ Demands:

Fuel Price Reduction: Revert petrol pump price to N100 per litre.

Address Insecurity and Hunger: Combat insecurity and hunger by closing all IDP camps and resettling the campers.

Electoral Reform: Implement total electoral reform and conduct an independent probe into the electoral budget of N355 billion.

Release #EndSARS Detainees: Immediate release of all #EndSARS protesters still in detention.

Living Wage: Implement a living wage with a minimum of N300,000.

Free Education: Compulsory free education from primary to secondary school, and an education grant at the tertiary level.

Public School Mandate: Ensure that children of all public office holders attend public schools in the country.

Support Local Products: The government must patronize made-in-Nigeria goods.

Unicameral Legislature: Transition to a unicameral legislature.

Judicial and Constitutional Reforms: Implement thorough judicial and constitutional reforms.

Additional Demands are, New Constitution: Scrap the 1999 Constitution and replace it with a people-made constitution through a Sovereign National Conference, followed by a National Referendum.

Abolish Senate: Eliminate the Senate, retain the House of Representatives, and make lawmaking a part-time endeavor.

Higher Minimum Wage: Set a minimum wage of at least N250,000 monthly for Nigerian workers.

Education Investment: Invest heavily in education, ensuring free and compulsory education across Nigeria.

Release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu: Unconditionally release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and demilitarize the South East.

Renationalize Enterprises: Renationalize publicly owned enterprises sold to government officials and cronies.

Subsidy Regime: Reinstate a corruption-free subsidy regime to reduce hunger, starvation, and poverty.

Corruption Probe: Probe past and present Nigerian leaders who have looted the treasury, recover their loot, and reinvest it.

Restructuring for Diversity: Restructure Nigeria to accommodate its diversity, resource control, decentralization, and regional development.

Security Reforms: Reform security agencies to stop human rights violations and enhance citizens’ physical security.

Energy Fund: Establish a Special Energy Fund for power sector development.

Electoral Body Reconstitution: Reconstitute INEC to remove corrupt and partisan officials.

Public Works Investment: Invest in public works and industrialization to employ Nigerian youths.

Judiciary Overhaul: Shake up the judiciary to remove corrupt judges and officers, ensuring real justice for citizens.

Diaspora Voting: Introduce diaspora voting to allow Nigerians abroad to vote.

Smoking and drinking have been prohibited on the protest ground

Read more at Town Crier https://towncriernews.com.ng/planned-nationwide-demonstration-protesters-makes-demand/

Communuity Publishers raise alarm over deplorable condition of federal Roads in Asaba (Asaba/ Benin express Road)

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Communuity Publishers raise alarm over deplorable condition of federal Roads in Asaba (Asaba/ Benin express Road)

By: Ike Philip Abiagom

Asaba/ Benin Express Road inside the state capital Asaba

The Association of Community Newspaper Publishers of Nigeria(ACNPN) has lamented the deplorable state of federal roads in the Delta state capital, Asaba and across the three senatorial districts of the state and appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene.
Deltans and people plying on the federal road spoke during the the Association of Community Newspaper Publishers of Nigeria(ACNPN) inspection tour of some of the deplorable federal roads in Delta State and to alleviate the current nightmare been experienced by the commuters on the roads.

After seeing the deplorable nature of the Asaba/ Benin express Road, Asaba/ Onitsha Express Road, and the pain of the commuters, it is beyond maintenance. It needs total rehabilitation. The Federal roads in Delta State capital Asaba connect major cities and states in the South-East geopolitical zone of the country. In Nigeria, statistics have shown that the roads as strategic routes carry 70 per cent of road traffic in the country and they represent about 17 per cent of the national road network of the 200,000 kilometres.

“The Community Publisher is pained by what Nigerians are passing through on these roads and we are disturbed because what is happening here is affecting the economy of the state and that of the nation,’’ he said.

Community Newspaper Publisher appealed to the Federal Ministry of Works ( Federal Controller) in Delta State to prevail on the contractors to fix the roads urgently owing to their importance to the nation’s socio-economic activities.

Akpoveta Flags-Off DSCHC Indigent Enrollee Adoption Initiative In Isoko

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Akpoveta Flags-Off DSCHC Indigent Enrollee Adoption Initiative In Isoko

The Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the Delta State Contributory Health Commission, Olorogun Dr. Isaac O. Akpoveta, on Sunday flagged-off the
DSCHC Indigent Enrollee Adoption Initiative (IEAI) of DSCHS (informal Sector) in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State.

The 150 beneficiaries were sponsored by the Late Elder Joseph Ubuavame Erebe family

While flagging-off the exercise that was held at Owheologbo Town Hall, the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer Of the Delta State Contributory Health Commission, Olorogun Dr. Isaac O. Akpoveta, said, “the cost of providing this critical support is just 7,000 Naira per individual.”

Adding: “A modest sum for many, but for those who benefit, it is a lifeline. It is the difference between hope and despair, between health and illness, and, in many cases, between life and death.”

He continued: “Philanthropy in health insurance transcends the act of giving. It is a statement of our values and our commitment to equity and justice. It is an acknowledgment that we are all interconnected and that the well-being of one impacts the well-being of all.The vulnerable and indigent populations often face insurmountable barriers to obtaining the medical care they need. This is a reality that we, as a compassionate and progressive society, must address.”

According to him, “philanthropy in its essence is the desire to promote the welfare of others, expressed through the generous donation of resources,” saying “when this generosity is directed towards providing health insurance for the vulnerable, it becomes the ultimate act of compassion and solidarity.”

“It is an investment in humanity that yields immeasurable returns,” he opined.

Furthermore, he said: “Health insurance for the vulnerable is not just about providing financial protection against medical expenses. It is about ensuring that every individual, regardless of their socio-economic status, has the opportunity to lead a healthy, productive life. It is about giving parents the peace of mind that their children can receive the care they need when they fall ill. It is about enabling individuals to seek preventive care and avoid the escalation of minor health issues into life-threatening conditions.

“Today, I call upon each of you to embrace this initiative with the generosity and compassion that define our humanity. Let us not wait for others to act. Let us lead by example and demonstrate that philanthropy in health insurance for the vulnerable is indeed the ultimate. Your support will not only change lives, it will set a precedence for others to follow. It will inspire a movement where the fortunate extend a helping hand to those in need, creating a ripple effect of positive change throughout our society.Together, we can ensure that no one is left behind.”

Meanwhile, he said that “since its inception, the DSCHC has made remarkable progress in fulfilling its mandate.”

“We have implemented various programs aimed at improving healthcare access and quality across the state. These programs include the Equity Health Plan; Formal Health Planand the Informal Health Plan; in addition we are implementing the Access To Finance Initiative for the hard to reach areas of the state; the Tertiary Institution Social Health Insurance Program (TISHIP) for Students, The Artisans Enrollee Inducement Initiative and of course the Indigent Enrolee Adoption Initiative, in furtherance of which we are here today,” adding: “Through these initiatives, we have been able to significantly increase healthcare coverage and improve health outcomes for our people.”

He said further: “As at the end of June 2024, our enrolment statistics stands close to 2.3 million insured. This figure is a testament to the trust and confidence that the people of delta state have placed in our commission and its programs. However, we recognize that there is still much work to be done, and we remain committed to expanding our reach and impact across the state.

“As we gather here today, we embark on a journey towards ensuring that the most vulnerable members of our society have access to quality healthcare services. This Indigent Enrolee Adoption Initiative is a testament to our unwavering commitment to leaving no one behind in our pursuit of universal healthcare coverage in Delta State.

“I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori who has continued to give strong political will and financial support to the commission.

“As you have seen today the indigent enrollee adoption initiative underscores the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing healthcare disparities. Through this initiative, we aim to provide comprehensive healthcare coverage to indigent individuals, thereby improving their health outcomes and promoting social equity within our communities.”

Speaking further,  Olorogun Dr Akpoveta said: “I therefore urge all stakeholders present here today, and beyond, especially those in the diaspora, to continue supporting initiatives aimed at expanding healthcare access for all residents of Delta State. Together, we can build a healthier, more prosperous future for our state where every individual has the opportunity to thrive.

“In closing, let us celebrate this momentous occasion as we embark on this noble endeavor. With our collective efforts and unwavering commitment, I am confident that we will achieve our shared goal of ensuring health for all in Delta State by the year 2030 as stipulated in SDG 3 of United Nation.”

In an interview with newsmen, the representative of the sponsor, Dr James Ighoroje, appreciated the Governor of Delta State, Rt.Hon Sheriff Oborevwori for the scheme, and commended the sponsor,  Mr Gabriel Erebe for his kind gesture, urging the people of Owhelogbo community to take advantage of the opportunity and ensure that they register for the scheme.

He said: “Health is something that is very important to humans. For the State Government and the Delta State Contributory Health Insurance Scheme to bring this project to Owhelogbo our community, it is something that we must appreciate them for and we are going to take advantage of this opportunity. If we can have more of this assistance to the downtrodden, most of the complaints will not be there. You can see the ovation and how happy the people are even when today is Sunday, you can see how they are so excited to be actively involved. So if we can have more of this, you will see that we add value to our people on health wise. I want to also thank the facilitator of this program Mr Gabriel Erebe, the Director-General of the Scheme, Olorogun Dr Isaac O Akpoveta, State Governor and all others who are involved in this programme.  On behalf of the community, we so grateful and pray God to bless them.”

Appreciating the State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori and the facilitator of the programme, Mr Gabriel Erebe, some of the  beneficiaries who spoke with newsmen are, Mrs Happy Ovuete, Mr Reuben Ajokaezi, Mrs Ruth Erigwe and Mr Michael Ojaidhe.They all commended the State Governor for the programme and the facilitator for the gesture.

Highlights of the programme was the presentation of an award to the facilitator, Mr Gabriel Erebe by the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the Delta State Contributory Health Commission, Olorogun Dr. Isaac O. Akpoveta as the Health Insurance Ambassador of Delta state and registration of the beneficiaries.

Truth Foundation Healing Temple Donates One Million Naria Cash,Food,Other Items to Orphanages home in Ibusa

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Truth Foundation Healing Temple Donates One Million Naria Cash,Food,Other Items to Orphanages home in Ibusa

By: Ike Philip Abiagom

The Truth Foundation Healing Temple on Sunday 21st of July, 2024 donated the sum of One Million Naira(N1,000,000,00) food items, Drinks, office chairs and among others to Shalom Foundation Orphanage in Ibusa, Delta State.

In a short speech at the ceremony, Elder Chika Onyeije, who represented the General Overseer of Truth Foundation Healing Temple, Prophet,Bishop(Dr) Godswill Umunna was accompanied by Madam Regina Onyeije, Mrs Ruth Onyeiye, Evangelist Kate Onwordi, Pastor Ifeoma ,Pastor Victor Onyeabor, Elder Freeborn Asingu, Kelvin Onyeije and Jennifer Usman. He said as a church, “we feel very Happy whenever God uses us to touch the life of others positively especially orphans, Prison inmates, the sick and less privileged in the society”
Elder Onyeije, said the Truth Foundation Healing Temple had a list of orphanages to pick from which God chose the benefiting Home.

According to him “Evangelism is not only to preach the word of God to people but also to change the story of their lives with things that will cushion their Sufferings, though we often travel to villages across the country for evangelism most especially those that are yet to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior, this is also part of it”he noted.

Elder Onyeije appealed to wealthy individuals and churches to emulate their General Overseer, Prophet,Bishop(Dr) Godswill Umunna and to always strech a hand of love to people in need and put smiles in their faces, this he said will attract God’s Blessings. He urged the management of the orphanage to ensure that the Cash and items were effectively used for the children.
Responding, the Manager of the Orphanage, thanked their General Overseer Prophet,Bishop(Dr) Godswill Umunna and revealed that the support was timely coming in when the orphanage was in dire need of support for feeding and upkeep. The lively atmosphere at Shalom Foundation Orphanage, Umuehea,Ibusa, was further enhanced by prayer for Mama Regina Onyeije by the children.

Mother General of the home, expressed their heartfelt joy and gratitude. She emphasized the Home’s reliance on goodwill donations, highlighting the scarcity of recent contributions and commending Truth Foundation Healing Temple for their generosity, particularly in providing much needed cash and other items for the home. “Recently donations have come sparingly, but Truth Foundation Healing Temple( Prophet,Bishop(Dr) Godswill Umunna) has brought a lot to us today. Truth Foundation Healing Temple is a giver and not a ‘beggar’. May the Lord continue to bless your church, General Overseer and members and help your to grow from strength to strength,” said Mother General of the home.

Anioma people should not be annexed to the South East in the name of creating State- EMMA EJIOFOR

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Anioma people should not be annexed to the South East in the name of creating State- EMMA EJIOFOR

 Chief Emma Ejiofor PhD, a well known Political Leader/Strategist, has cautioned that on no account should the people of Delta North Senatorial District of Delta State, Nigeria otherwise referred to, as Anioma be annexed to the South East region in the quest to get Anioma State created.

Ejiofor, a prominent Deltan from Anioma equally noted the issue of leadership has been the bane of the Anioma nation in actualizing common goal as there is no clear cut leader who can chest out to say I am the leader of the people and the followers would concur, coupled with the fact that the traditional institution within the Anioma dormain is also sharply divided.

Speaking to The Townhall in an exclusive interview, Ejiofor recalled that many years back when the Anioma creation issue was in the front burner, that the Ndokwa people came to Asaba Ladies Club in Asaba where discussions were going on to say they were not part of it; while the Ika people which, you know, are singing different tune about the issue.

Said he, “the issue is that State creation is not a one man show. Before you start agitating for State creation you have to consult, then you have to go with the people’s opinion.

“But the vexed issue there is speculating to carve us into South East. There is an abarretion to natural law and moral concern. We are not from the South East. To the people there (South East) most of them have identity crisis. I am an Anioma man. You can imagine in Nigeria, we had Northern region, Eastern region and Western region.

What I am saying is that we should not be pushed into the South East because we want State creation
And at a stage we belonged to what was called Midwestern region so how can you now take part of the Midwestern region to join Eastern region on what historical perspective?

“And it is not just something you ring a bell and say I am sponsoring, you have to come down let us talk and we know is a collective thing not a an individual thing. So I am not against the creation of Anioma State if it is feasible but what I am saying is that it cannot be pushed into South East because we want creation.

“Okay, what part of the East, are you going to take besides Onitsha. Are you going to cancel Awka that is Anambra because if you carve now you carve only….These people they want Wawa State so you have to go historical when you are talking about creation of State”, he added.

He concluded by asking that if Anioma State is eventually created what would happen to Asaba the capital of Delta State, would it be carried or annexed to the East, he asked.

 

 

Asaba High Court sentenced two to death for robbing a ‘keke’ passenger

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Asaba High Court sentenced two to death for robbing a ‘keke’ passenger

Asaba high court  has sentenced two persons, namely Abdulrasheed Mohammed and Aliyu Bawa  to death, having been found guilty of robbing a commercial tricycle popularly known as ‘keke’ passenger of telephone handsets.

Prosecution led by Mrs. Esther Azomani of the Asaba Zonal Office of the State Ministry of Justice had told the court the two defendants, Abdulrasheed Mohammed (m) and Aliyu Bawa (m), were alleged to have committed the offences on 29th May, 2020 at Oni Edozien Street, off Ezenei Avenue, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria.

It stated that on the fateful day, “the two Defendants alongside two others now at large, while riding in a tricycle (Keke) robbed one Ifeanyi Okafor of his mobile phone handsets.
In the process of the armed robbery, the victim was stabbed on his chest and he later died”.

According to the Prosecution who called witnesses to prove the case told the court that the 1st and 2nd Defendants (convicted to death) made away with the phones, which they later sold to the 3rd Defendant, one Daniel Joseph for N6,000.
Although the number of the phone handsets weren’t stated but Police detectives tracked the phones to the 3rd defendant, who led them (Police) to arrest the 1st and 2nd Defendants.

The Court presided over by Honourable Justice Onome Marshall-Umukoro in the judgment, sentenced two to death for Armed Robbery and Murder by holding that the prosecution proved the case against the 1st and 2nd Defendants beyond reasonable doubt.

The Judge found them guilty of the offences as charged and convicted them accordingly.

On the case against the 3rd defendant who bought the phone, the court discharged and acquitted him of the offence of receiving robbed property, stating that it was not proved beyond reasonable doubt.

A Special Birthday Tribute to Hon. Leo Nkeaka: An Enigma Like No Other

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A Special Birthday Tribute to Hon. Leo Nkeaka: An Enigma Like No Other

By: Ike Philip Abiagom

Age may be a number but life is certainly a battle. And if the life is that of the urbane and personable the Chairman of LION-XTY Ltd, Hon. Leo Nkeaka, then life is not only a battle–it is a full blown war. Ever since he adorned himself as a soldier for good, he has had no reprieve from the unrelenting forces of evil. He is caught in the vortex of the eternal battle between good and evil.

Indeed, to those who know him up close and personal, Leo is an enigma: humble, self-effacing, industrious, practical, efficient by nature, diligent, always thinking about things he needs to accomplish or how to get ahead on his next assignment, a complete Cancer, if you care to assess him by his Zodiac sign. But in plain terms, he is a case of a man who set out to always make a difference wherever he found himself. Not the kind of difference other men pursue to grandstand, but the type that impacts humanity and makes life easier for people. And of this, his track record is unassailable. A look back at his trajectory gives a chronicle of exemplary service to his community and a profile of pure patriotism from an individual.

Greatness is a property for which no man can receive credit too soon; it must be possessed long before it is acknowledged. ”When one of the world’s greatest thinkers, Ralph Waldo Emerson handed down the above words of wisdom, those he had in mind were certainly the likes of Hon. Leo Nkeaka (Ohamadike 1)! .

For the trail-blazing Business mogul from Umueze-Ibusa, it is certainly impossible to gloss over his attributes for greatness. He is the embodiment of cerebral articulation, the essence of unparalleled philanthropy, the epitome of intellection and breathtaking simplicity, the personification of undiluted humanness, the perfect example of business leadership symbolism, the paragon of idealism, the soul of humanity, the heart of warrior, a perfect gentleman.In the gallery of great leaders and great men, he is without doubt, a rare masterpiece. Anyone who encounters him would love to associate with him for his candour, courage and forthrightness. As a human being, his humility and modesty is second to none. As an Businessman, he is sound and engaging.

Hon. Leo Nkeaka,he means different things to different people; to his wife and children, he is a loving husband and a kind daddy, while to us his admirers,he is known as the Digital Business Strategist, social media influencer, a real estate guru but his detractors always erroneously see him as an obstacle because of his rising profile in business, Politics and acceptance by the grassroots.

Leo is not only the Pride of Nkeaka’s but also the Pride of the People of Oshimili North Local Government Area for whom he had waged countless business and political wars for and won virtually all,just like the Greek mythological Odyssey who fought and won difficult battles in History. Indeed the birthday celebration of this social media influencer of our time had been useful and Resourceful for his service to humanity. Therefore today let me on behalf of Most Distinguished Senator Peter Onyelukachukwu Nwaoboshi (SPON) Political Family join the rest of my beloved Ibusa kingdom in Oshimili North Local government Area of Deltans and Nigerians at large to celebrate our Business and Political iconoclastic OHAMADIKE 1 to thank Almighty God for adding another year to his life and to pray that God continues to bless him with robust health, protection ,and enduring provision. Your business reign shall bring prosperity and peace to Ibusa, Oshimili, Delta State and Nigeria in general.
Your legendary generosity and willingness to do good at all times is documented in the hearts of millions. That is why on your birthday, You deserves a toast and song, “Happy birthday to you…” Above all, You deserves a prayer from everyone who is on the side of truth in the eternal battle between truth and falsehood.
Happy birthday to the regent,aka Ohamadike 1 of Ibusa,a great lover of our tradition.

Nwannem and my great inlaw !!!

Local Government Autonomy: The Truth, The Fallacies And The Dangers Ahead

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Local Government Autonomy: The Truth, The Fallacies And The Dangers Ahead
President Bola Tinubu

Somehow, our national conversation shifted from the inflationary cost of living occasioned by surely needed but poorly managed petroleum subsidy removal and untutored foreign exchange management policy, to a new-old national anthem and, more recently, to a charade about local government autonomy.

There has been an interesting propaganda that the reason why the local governments are unable to function effectively in the delivery of infrastructure is because state governors “steal” their money through the Joint Account.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari painted a sordid picture of this when, in December 2022, he told the members of the Senior Executive Course of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, that “if the money from the Federation Account to the state (joint account) is about N100m, N50m will be sent to the chairman, but he will sign that he received N100m. The governor will pocket the balance and share it with whoever he wants to share it with. And then, the chairman of the local government must see how much he must pay in salaries and to hell with development. When he pays the salaries of the big men, the balance he will put in his pocket.”

Buhari merely re-echoed former President Olusegun Obasanjo who earlier in October 2012, at the maiden International Conference on Politics, Security and Development held at Babcock University, similarly raised the same accusation against state governors.

As far back as in April 2004, Jude Ajani, writing in the Allafrica.com, had detected the allegation as a dummy which the FG had constructed to counter the request for true federalism and resource control on which the majority of the Southern governors, especially, were challenging the federal government.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has now made a dance of it by suing the state governments at the Supreme Court, praying for the financial autonomy, by way of direct transfer of federal allocations, to the local governments, which was granted.

Surely, the independence of local governments as the third tier of our governance structure is very desirable, and the ruling of the Supreme Court, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 162 which says there should be a joint account, and especially on the non-acceptability of Caretaker Committees for LGAs administration, leads us in that direction.

However, in search of the truth about the failure of our local governments and, by extension, our national development, the big questions are: Do the state governors truly steal the allocations of local governments? How common or widespread is this practice across the states? How many and which state governors have been indicated for the practice? Could the allegation be a case of one finger touching oil and then staining the rest? Is the alleged stealing really what has constrained the capacity of local governments to deliver on infrastructural development and social services? Is the financial autonomy of the local governments, now merely to be expressed by direct transfer of federal allocations to them, the recipe for the effectiveness of local governments in delivering development through our local communities?

Replying to President Obasanjo at the Babcock University conference, then Governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun, disclosed that, contrary to the accusation, his government had been augmenting funding for local government administration and projects in Ogun State.

When the government of Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State approved the recruitment of over 2000 teaching and non-teaching staff across the local government councils, the Chairman of the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Comrade Titus Okotie, was happy but he expressed caution about rapidly increasing the number in view of the ability of the local governments to match employment with payment of salary.

“It is one thing to employ and another thing to be able to pay. Up till today, the state government is still augmenting the minimum wage of primary school teachers with N113m every month. The approval for more teachers means more cost in the augmentation which otherwise should have been the sole responsibility of the local governments,” he informed.

Also reacting to the Supreme Court ruling, a former Chairman of Sapele Local Government Council, Okakuro Godwin Atose, corroborated that in Delta, it is rather the state government that is sustaining the local governments.

“They say they (governors) finger local government funds. I served when Uduaghan was Governor of Delta State and I make bold to say that he was augmenting teachers salary with the sum of N200m every month (to support the local governments whose responsibility it is). If their money was enough why are they augmenting it?

“When we go to JAC, the tables are displayed there – federal allocation, VAT, Excess Crude, IGR. From the total internally generated revenue by the state, 10% goes to the local governments. If we generate N10 billion, 10% of the N10 billion will be shared across the 25 local government areas.

“Some local governments are urban and the teachers clamour to stay in the urban areas. As a Council Chairman then, when I was paying teachers’ salary with N65m monthly, Warri North was paying just N19m because it is a riverine, rural area, with a lower number of teachers. In the face of that, Uduaghan had to be giving the LGAs about N200m monthly to augment, to enable us pay teachers’ salary.

“So, if as claimed that government is fingering local government funds, why will somebody finger and then augment?

“Thank God the autonomy is now there but with this clamour for increase in wages of workers, in no distant time, we may hear that some local governments cannot pay teachers’ salary any longer, even with the direct allocation.”

With these revelations, and while not ruling out the possibility of corrupt practices in some states, it is obvious that the talk of governors stealing local government allocations is not completely and generally true.

I worry that in seeking solutions to the stagnation, sometimes retrogression, in our national development, our conversations and policy actions often tend to be more driven by the need to pass the buck rather than sincerely examining and proffering honest panaceas.

The problem with local governments in Nigeria is simply that the nation has put a burden on them that they cannot bear and then also effectively and adequately deliver on the needed provision of infrastructure.

The heaviest of the burden is in the responsibility of paying primary school teachers salary, as well as other supply and maintenance costs for primary education, alongside payment of primary health care and council workers salaries, allowances, pension and gratuity, albeit with very poor federal allocation.

Whereas the federal, states and local governments share concurrent responsibilities in managing basic and primary education through UBEC, the SUBEBs and the LGEAs, the allocation to local governments is often completely eroded after deductions of these salaries and other obligations, such that they are no longer able to carry out any projects. It is as simple as that.

A 2003 World Bank report estimated that local governments contribute about 80% of the cost of funding primary education in Nigeria, while the states do about 20% and the federal government does just 2% from the consolidated revenue.

The funds for primary education are deducted from the LGAs federal allocations and channeled through UBEC to SUBEBs, then to the Local Education Authority (LGEAs).

Incapacitated after the deductions, they can no longer venture into building classrooms, talk less of constructing roads and bridges in local communities. The states have had to assume these responsibilities across all their LGAs.

The poverty of the local governments can be seen in the fact that in Nigeria’s 2023 budget of about N21.8 trillion, only about N2.5 trillion went to all the 774 local government councils across the 36 states and the FCT.

That gives us an average of about N3.2 billion per LGA per annum, though far lower before now, and of course with differences in the actual figures to particular local governments, some more, some far less.

For some urban local governments, the cumulative wage bill for primary school teachers, primary health care and council workers can consume over N2 billion or more. Then there would be further deductions for maintenance of school buildings, procurement and distribution of furniture, supply of chalks, teaching boards, dusters and sundry educational materials.

We should also factor in the overhead for running the councils – provision for local security, working with the police and vigilantes, the chairman’s office, the councils’ legislative arms with the numbers of councillors, their salaries and allowances.

There is also the issue of payment of pension and gratuity to retired teachers, primary health and local council workers.

In Delta State, for instance, knowing that the local governments which have the responsibility cannot pay, the pensioners smartly put the task to the state government which for some years tried to support the councils by providing monthly allocations to help them in defraying pensions arrears. That was until the Sheriff administration made them aggregate the total arrears of pensions and guaranteed a five-year term bond of N40 billion to clear the outstanding, so as to give life to our senior citizens.

Let us even assume that at the end of fulfilling those obligations each council is left with about N1 billion, even though most unlikely, what can that meaningfully amount to, for the construction of roads, bridges, housing and even reasonable support for agriculture, talk less of such things as provision for human capital development, electricity, irrigation dams, reasonably equipped and staffed primary health care centres and further payment of pensions and gratuity?

A World Bank report of 2012 suggested that it would cost between N400m and N1b to construct a 1km road, that is minding differences in terrain, and excluding bridges and drainages which are costed separately. It is over a decade of galloping inflation after that report. Some global industry institutions estimate the cost of a standard 1km road at $2m, about N3.2b, going by our current exchange rate.

Also, the construction of roads in the Niger Delta, for instance, is well known to be costlier than in the North, sometimes four times over. As we have heard, the cost of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is being discussed at about N4b per km.

How can local governments approach those costs to construct roads, bridges and other meaningful infrastructure with about N3b yearly allocation of which huge wage bills are first deducted?

Therefore, the issue of making our local governments more effective goes beyond the propagandist accusation against state governors and the mere direct transfer of paltry federal allocations to them which we now describe as financial autonomy.

The question is: How much is being allocated to the local governments? What is the rationalisation for their share of federal allocation? How much of their allocation goes for salaries and overheads and how much is left for them to venture into meaningful infrastructure development and other social services? Do we still wonder why local governments report the construction of three or four-room public toilets as achievements in three years?

In the pursuit of development, we need to be true with and hard on ourselves, because the truth sets us free. If we are sincere about making our local governments work, we have to reconsider that, being the closer government to the people, the 774 LGAs have to enjoy greater allocation from the national revenue than the federal government.

As we speak, the national revenue allocation formula is about 52% in favour of the federal government, about 26% to the states and about 20% to the 774 LGAs which definitely have more roads, more schools, more health centres, more drainages, more refuse, more markets, in fact, have all the people and communities to take care of than the federal government does.

If the revenue sharing formula is not reversed in favour of the local governments we would remain merely deceiving ourselves with direct transfer. It remain like demanding potency from castrated lambs.

Asagba of Asaba: Prof. Azinge Walking the Walk for the Throne

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Asagba of Asaba: Prof. Azinge Walking the Walk for the Throne

By: Ike Philip Abiagom

Prof. Epiphany Azinge, OON,SAN

The popular saying that a golden fish has no hiding place has been proven right with the identification of the sterling qualities of Professor Epiphany Azinge, SAN,OON and his benevolent activities towards the advancement of human development. It has also been said that hidden treasures are always found deep down and those who intend to bring them to the fore need to dig deep to bring forth the precious stones that are always coated in dirt.

Prof. Azinge  a completely self-made man of substance and one who parades a distinguished, intimidating and robust profile which has been gained within a space of 44 years of his venturing into Law profession could be described as a man who has washed his hands well and deserves to eat with not only his elders but also his fathers.

Prof. Epiphany Azinge,, is ever ready to dedicate his life for the betterment of his beloved Community Asaba. Prof. Azinge who is a Judge at the Commonwealth Arbitral Tribunal sitting in London, where he represents Nigeria and Africa. He is the founder and senior partner at Azinge & Azinge, a law firm in Abuja, the 5th Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies from 2009 and 2014. He is a true son of Asaba who is willing and capable of working with Asaba people to overcome challenges facing the community from lack of adequate infrastructure, youth unemployment, healthcare deficiency, to educational shortcomings.
He stood before Asaba people at various quarters during his official declaration with a humble heart and bold vision, not as a mere individual but as a servant leader who is ready to dedicate his life to the betterment of our beloved community, Asaba.

He is aware of the challenges that is faced by his people but he believe that together they will overcome these obstacles and build a stronger and more prosperous Asaba Community as Delta State capital. He is not seeking the throne out of desire for power or personal glory but because he believed that he have the skills, dedication and the passion to lead Asaba community toward a brighter future.”

According to him, he has lived among them, worked with them and listened to their voices. He understand their hopes and fears and he’s committed to serving his people with integrity, honesty and compassion if given the opportunity to become the next Asagba of Asaba (traditional ruler). He promised to prioritize the needs of his community above all, work tirelessly to improve the infrastructure, create job opportunity for youths and ensure that every member of the community have access to quality healthcare and education.
He will listen to his people. He will be accessible, a king committed to listening and addressing his peoples concerns to the best of his ability.

Prof. Azinge humbly ask for this support and trust as he embark on this journey to become the Asagba of our great Community ASABA. Together we can build a community that is bright, which thrives and prospers for us today and for the future generations to come,” Azinge said.

This is the case of the founder and senior partner at Azinge & Azinge, a conglomerate that has through the  years of its establishment made a name for itself . He has been conferred with prestigious traditional title as Okilolo Ahaba. He has also been decorated with numerous national and international awards. The most treasured is Exemplary Performance award of OON by former Nigeria President, Goodluck Jonathan.

Now that he is walking the walk for the throne as the next Asagba of Asaba, it was revealed that the emergence of Professor Epiphany Azinge, the Okilolo Ahaba as Regent was not accidental because the entire Anioma Nation sees the next Asagba of Asaba as the traditional eagle head of Anioma, we no longer see Asagba stool as Asaba affairs only, we need a man with international influential status and a superlative iconic personality like Professor Epiphany Azinge, the Okilolo Ahaba as the next Asagba of Asaba,not a mediocre.

Asaba will never reduce their height of quality representation again, Asaba need somebody like Prof.  Azinge who will continue the quality leadership of our late Asagba of Asaba Prof. Chike Edozien.

Professor Epiphany Azinge no doubt deserves the title of Asagba of Asaba as he is without much ado the person the cap fits, let him wear it. Let all hands be on deck to support his good intentions.

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