South East integration around the corner…Nigeria teaches the world male fashion…Anambra invites consultants for Master plan… Nwadinobi to represent Nigeria…plus South East Digest…

S T O P   P R E S S

Key highlights of President Tinubu’s address today

(Pardon!  Our sincere apologies to you not seeing us yesterday due to technology glitches.  Glad to be with you today) 

In his maiden Democracy Day address to Nigerians, President Tinubu acknowledged the hardship being faced by Nigerians in the aftermath of the fuel subsidy removal.  He, however, promised to reward the citizens for their sacrifices by investing in education, regular power supply, healthcare, transportation infrastructure, and other public utilities that will improve their quality of life. 

See other key highlights below: 

1.0  Democracy must not be taken for granted

President Buhari called on Nigerians not to take the country’s democracy for granted. He also asked the citizens to forever jealously guard and protect the independence struggle like a precious jewel. Tinubu said the country has traversed the dark, thorny path of dictatorship before and those who experienced it can readily testify to the unbridgeable gap between the dignity of freedom and the humiliation and degradation of tyranny.

2.0  2023 Elections

President Tinubu noted that the 2023 general election was intensely contested which shows that democracy is well and alive in the country.  He said it is only natural that even as those who won and experienced victory in the various elections are elated and fulfilled, those who lost are disenchanted and disappointed. President Tinubu added that the beauty of democracy is that those who win today can lose tomorrow and those who lose today will have an opportunity to compete and win in the next round of elections. 

3.0  Fuel Subsidy Removal

President Tinubu acknowledged the hardship and pain being faced by Nigerians in the aftermath of the fuel subsidy removal, stating that the temporal discomfort was necessary to save the country from going under.

Tinubu said his administration will “reward” their sacrifices with “massive investment” in transportation infrastructure, education, regular power supply, healthcare, and other public utilities that will improve their quality of life.

Pictures of the Week

Former Governor Nyesom Wike leading Nigeria’s charge to change male fashion 

South East integration around the corner

It has taken a long time coming, from individual discontents, to positions taken by key South East Stakeholder organisations.  But indications are that it won’t be long now. 

Mr Mark Okoye II, Managing Director/CEO of Anambra State Investments Promotion and Protection Council (ANSIPPA) gave further verve to the South East integration drive last week in a major article syndicated to several key news organs as well as during the discussions at the 3^rd edition of ANSIPPA’s monthly Twitter Spaces last Friday.

Mr Okoye stated that “With new leaders at the helm, we have a unique opportunity to learn from past experiences. The South-East region is currently home to the largest concentration of markets in West Africa and possesses a River Port that could significantly boost trade and commerce. The region attracted about 37 million USD in Foreign Direct Investment as of 2022 despite its N22 trillion economy! There is enormous room for significant investment upside if we come together.

“It is time for the South-East region to seize the moment and embrace the imperative of regional integration; we urgently need to chart a new course that will deliver socio-economic stability and economic prosperity. With a new era dawning and fresh leadership, we have a unique opportunity to unite and unlock our true potential.

For starters, we should push for the passage of the South East Development Commission bill (passed its 2nd reading at the Senate) and the constitution of its leadership. Beyond that, we should focus on maximizing the powers recently devolved to States - a Regional Rail project, gas pipeline infrastructure and an independent power project are good starting points. A coordinated approach will surely unlock the South East and spur our collective prosperity. 

“By implementing a new regional industrial plan that highlights the agro-economy of Ebonyi, the rich natural resources and tourist attractions of Enugu, the vibrant commerce of Abia, the oil and gas potential of Imo, and the trade expertise of Anambra, the region can once again become a thriving economic powerhouse.” 

Anambra Student to represent Nigeria at Global Chemistry event

Nwadinobi, A student of Premium Breed Secondary School, Nnewichi Nnewi, Anambra State has emerged as the overall best in Chemistry in Anambra.  As a result, he has become one of the six finalists to represent Nigeria at the 2023 International Chemistry Olympiad holding in Switzerland.

Nwadinobi competed with students from over 600 schools in Anambra to emerge as one of the finalists to represent the country. 

Anambra State to engage Consultant to develop Rail Master plan

Last week, Anambra Insights reported the State’s intention to engage a consultant in developing a State-wide rail master plan. In line with this, the State has put out a Request for Proposals.  (See RFP below)

Okpoko going from worst to Best

The journey of a thousand miles, they say, begins with the first step.  Okpoko had taken five steps already towards moving from the worst urban slum in the South East to one of the best urban centres in Nigeria.  The latest step by Governor Chukwuma Soludo would most certainly take Okpoko to the destination.  This is one of the major highlights of the ANSIPPA Twitter Spaces held last Friday evening, with Architect Mike Okonkwo, Chairman, Anambra Urban Regeneration Council, as key note speaker.

Architect Okonkwo disclosed that the earlier five steps went thus:

“In the past 10 years, the Government has done the following in a view to upgrading Okpoko:

1. Identifying and mapping out of areas of informal settlements –slums 

2. Development of Structure Plan for select cities, in partnership with UN-HABITAT

3. Preliminary steps towards production of Action Plans for Slum Upgrading in select cities in Anambra State, including Okpoko

4. Production of Stormwater Mater Plan for Onitsha, in partnership with World Bank, through NEWMAP 

5. In November 2018, Anambra State Government presented the Okpoko case at the 2018 3RD African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) Secretariat, the European Commission (EC), ACP-EC-UN-HABITAT International Tripartite Conference. In making the case for Okpoko upgrade, stressed that there is serious need for the UN Habitat, UN City, UN Urban, WHO, World Bank other stakeholders and world communities, to intervene and urgently help Anambra State” 

Architect Okonkwo added that “Following his promise to Ndi-Anambra, Mr. Governor, Prof, Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, embarked on rebuilding Okpoko.And, in so doing, begins the processes of re-imagining it’s interconnected infrastructure systems to make them more efficient, environmentally safe, and resilient, thus, more sustainable in this age of global urbanization.”

The ANSIPPA MD/CEO disclosed that projects like the Anambra Mixed-use Industrial City, Anambra Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Hub, AUU Automotive Industrial Park, Integrated Argo-Industrial Park, Anambra Export Emporium, Anambra Intra-City Rail Project, and the Solution Innovation District, were some of the key projects the State Government is addressing in relation to the environment.

 

(A digest of latest reports on the Economy, Industry, Politics, Sports, and developments around the South East of Nigeria)

ABIA STATE

Doctors suspend six months strike in Abia

Resident medical doctors in Abia State have called off their six-month-old strike after some consideration.  In a statement jointly signed on Friday by the Chairman of the Abia Chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr Isaiah Abali, and Secretary, Daniel Ekeleme, the doctors noted that they suspended the lingering strike to enable the present administration to offset the backlog of unpaid salaries.

During a press briefing in Umuahia, the medical doctors said they decided to extend an olive branch to the current government to look for a way of resolving the crisis.

“It is our expectation that the government would expedite action on the payment of the salaries as promised to avert the ugly trend of the recent.

“The present state government led by Dr Alex Otti, at different fora, has promised to offset all salary arrears owed doctors in Abia by Dec. 31.

“The promise to pay off these salaries was also emphasised by his Special Adviser on Health in a meeting with NMA Abia State Executive on Friday, June 2,” the doctors noted, recalling that the present governor, in his inaugural speech through his Special Adviser on Health, appealed to them to suspend the strike and return to their work, while assuring them to pay off the owed salaries.

ANAMBRA STATE

ANSIPPA engages Stakeholders in ADIC Law Review

Last week, as part of the process to finalize the repositioning of ANSIPPA into the Anambra Development and Investment Corporation, ANSIPPA’s Executive Management joined other Government officials in the review of the ADIC draft law.

The draft law extends ANSIPPA’s mandate to allow the new Agency undertake key phases of project development including but not limited to project conceptualization, design, bankability, structuring, and financing.

The exercise was conducted by Secretary to the State Government, the Attorney-General, and the Special Advisers to the Governor on Legal Matters and Political Affairs.

With the conclusion of this crucial step, the draft law is expected to be passed in the coming weeks by the 8th State House Assembly following their inauguration on Tuesday, June 13, 2023. (Source :  Anambra Insights)

ANSIPPA to receive Forensic Audit Report

Anambra Insights had previously reported the engagement of PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC), as forensic auditors to assess the viability of existing joint venture partnerships and the effectiveness of current operations, following the directive of Mr. Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo.

The audit is to assess all the Agency’s transactions from inception till September 2022 and also evaluate the progress of the Agency in achieving its set objectives, and its socio-economic impact and provide recommendations on better PPP practices.

Following the extensive work conducted by PwC, the final report is expected to be submitted to the Agency and the State this week. The report will provide a roadmap for how the Agency will interact with existing partners on inherited investment projects. (Source:  Anambra Insights) 

Soludo Commissions Milton Steel Manufacturing Company, First of its kind in the South-East

The Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, has commissioned the first manufacturing steel industry in the South-East region.  The ceremony was performed at the company, located along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway in Awkuzu, Oyi Local Government Council.

Milton Steel Manufacturing Company is founded by the CEO, Hon. Innocent Ojike (Ojicam), who is also as the company's majority shareholder, among other partners.

In his address, Governor Soludo hailed the team of partners who helped build the magnificent edifice, saying that it sends a message about the importance of partnership. 

Governor Soludo maintained that he has come to celebrate three things including the company, industry, and homeland consciousness.

He emphasized that the company, which is the first steel facility in the south-east of Nigeria, will manufacture rods of all sizes, saying that steel is an important requirement for industrialization. 

The Governor explained that his administration's objective is to transit from a primarily informal commercial sector to one that is industrialized, a technology hub, and a source of leisure and entertainment.

EBONYI STATE

Governor Nwifuru vows to hold aides responsible for security breaches in Ebonyi

The Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, on Friday, threatened to arrest and prosecute his security aides for security breaches in the state.  He gave the warning during the swearing-in of new senior special assistants and special assistants on security and other sectors in the state.

The governor, who said the aides would be treated as accomplices to security breaches, expressed hope that the warning would make them be alert and diligent in their duties.

Ebonyi is one of the five states in the South-East worst hit by insecurity in the last three years with hundreds of people killed and property worth billions of naira destroyed by non-state agents in the region during the period.

Nwifuru said: “We are not giving them guns or sending them to confront hoodlums but you should provide information to us and security agencies.

“The task is therefore non-profitable but challenging as the person in charge of security would be held responsible for any breach.”

The governor, however, congratulated the new appointees, noting that they were selected for being the first to “start the journey.”

He urged the people of Ebonyi to be patient with his administration and promised to touch every part of the state in his developmental programmes.

He added: “Every change in government experiences lapses, challenges and unforeseen circumstances, as people will try to frustrate you but we are greater than our enemies.

“Security and other challenges confronting us would be checked, considering the calibre of persons that would work for us.”

ENUGU STATE

Enugu Governor meets Tinubu, makes 1 strong demand

Governor Peter Mbah, on Thursday, June 8, appealed to President Bola Tinubu for the release of the embattled leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu Mbah, during his meeting with the president at the State House in Abuja, said Kanu’s release if considered, would be part of the national healing process, which he, Tinubu has already begun The PDP governor is the latest chieftain of south-east extraction to appeal for the release of Kanu.

IMO STATE

June 12:  Why Democracy must be sustained, Gov Uzodimma reveals

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has urged Imolites to rededicate themselves to the good course of sustaining democracy Governor Uzodimma made this on Monday, June 12, in his Democracy Day message to Nigerians and Imolites He also acknowledged that sustaining democracy has been challenging but has done more good than harm to Nigeria.

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