Messiah Edet, a blind student of Sociology Department, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, says his aim in life is to touch lives notwithstanding his perceived disabilities. Mr Edet made this known last Thursday at Uzondu Microfinance Bank, Arthur Eze Avenue, Awka in a chat with Fides.

Fides gathered that despite his disabilities, Edet is a known motivational writer who is currently working on his book titled, ''Hope for the Blind”. The book, which according to him, was a six-chapter story about himself, came from an inspiration he got from his first year in school, when a lecturer asked them to write about themselves.

According to Edet, he at first thought there was nothing interesting to write about himself but after much contemplation he decided to write something which he realized could inspire others.

'I never knew I could write that well, but now I am convinced that the world needs to read my story and be inspired,' he said.

While admitting that as individuals, challenge was inevitable, he said his major challenge was sourcing for funds to publish his book in order to reignite his passion, which, he said, seemed to be growing cold.

He hoped that in the next five years, he would be one of the world's best writers.

Speaking on the effort of the government in assisting the physically challenged, Edet expressed disappointment at what he described as the lukewarm attitude of the government towards people with disability.

Edet urged government to provide typewriters in schools, as it could be expensive for an average student to acquire.

He also noted that this would ease the burden of carrying personal heavy typewriters about and risking misplacing them in public transport as he once did, causing him to miss an examination because he forgot his typewriter after alighting from a bus that took him to school.

Edet advised persons living with disability to always believe in themselves, never give up and never let anyone write them off, noting that there was ability in disability.

He finally urged the general public to always care for disabled people, noting that such people needed help as they carried out their engagements.

[url]https://fidesnigeria.org/news/1580142129/i-want-to-touch-lives-%E2%80%93-blind-unizik-student[/url]



Lalasticlala
Seun

Anambra State born billionaire and owner of Fireman Generators, Chief Ignatius Odunukwe, who went missing since first week of December 2019, has been found dead.

He hailed from Oraukwu in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
According to reports, the billionaire was killed, cut into pieces and his body packed into a ''Ghana Must Go'' bag which his murderers took to the expressway and dumped inside a forest.

Some criminals who pretended to be land buyers called him on the phone because they heard he had a property for sale.

They agreed on a price and the agreement for the purchase was drafted by his lawyer.

Both parties agreed to meet on an agreed date for the exchange and that was when the whole drama started.

Chief Odunukwe's lawyer suggested going with him for the signing but he declined and told him he needed to see someone at Ikoyi Club and that was the last time they saw him.

When the billionaire did not come back home, his family reported the incident to the police and they started investigations.

They eventually arrested one of them. On searching his house, they saw the original land documents already signed.

The man claimed he already finalized the deal and paid the billionaire but when the police asked him to provide the bank account where he paid, he claimed that he paid with gold.

That was when the police knew he was telling a lie. He was further investigated and remanded in prison custody.

Few days later, there was a breakthrough in the case and the police arrested two more men.

They were reportedly tortured and they confessed that they picked up the billionaire and forced him to sign the documents. They killed him, cut his body into pieces and packed the parts into a Ghana Must Go bag and dumped it inside a forest on the Badagry Expressway.

On January 16, 2020, the police took the man's family and the criminals to the forest where they retrieved the bag.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Anambra Police Command, SP Haruna Mohammed, said that it was the Lagos State Police Command that carried out the investigation, noting that it was their jurisdiction to do so since the crime was committed in Lagos State.



https://fidesnigeria.org/news/1580143666/how-owner-of-sumec-fireman-generator-was-killed

Lalasticlala
Seun

. . . Want Govt to Relocate Market

The Chief of Staff, Awka Main Market, Mr. C.I.D. Anierobi, has attributed the persistent traffic congestion around the market to the agents of the Anambra Traffic Management Agency, ATMA, allowing themselves to be compromised by the traders and commercial vehicle operators; a development, he says, that has made it difficult for the agents to tackle the traffic situation there report Precious Ukeje and Alexander Adejoh

'Men of the agency collect bribes from roadside traders and vehicle operators and therefore allow them to stay at wrong places which in turn, results in heavy traffic congestion,' Anierobi said.

But the Anambra Traffic Management Agency, ATMA, in their reaction, described Anierobi's claim as unfounded, and rather blamed the traffic congestion on interference from indigenes of the community, paucity of manpower and security backup.

Anieriobi made this known last Monday in his office in an interview with Fides reporters on a mission to ascertain the cause of the heavy traffic, despite the presence of traffic lights and traffic management agents.

He also blamed the traffic situation on traders who sold goods on the roads, thus obstructing free traffic flow.

'They cause problems in the market because they are not members of the market. It was not easy to bring them together for meetings because they were not identifiable; they had no shops in the market and came from interior places to the town to sell their wares and go back at night,' Anierobi explained.

Noting that the traffic lights were installed for good purposes, he also blamed the heavy congestion on the recklessness of tricycle operators, describing them as people without patience and discipline.

'Another factor is keke operators; you find them driving anyhow, without caution. At times, even when the traffic is showing red light, the keke operators won't care,' Anieriobi said.

Speaking on the tickets issued roadside traders by some individuals and how such encouraged their continuous stay on the road, the Chief of Staff who apportioned blame to government, its agencies and Eke Awka traders, admitted that they were aware of such and explained that the money paid was for obstruction and payment of people who cleaned the environment littered by the traders before they left the market.

Speaking on the challenges they faced in the market, the Chief of Staff said their customers did not have parking spaces, leading to their vehicles being towed by government agencies.
'Also, the government has not tarred any area in the market, despite the heavy revenue paid to them. The German floors seen around the market are the initiative of market men and women,' he said.

For his part, the Acting State Provost, Anambra Traffic Management Agency, Mr. Emeter Ifeatu, and the Awka Operations Officer of the agency, Mr. Olisa Arinze, denied that their men collected bribes from roadside traders and vehicle operators.

In their Agu-Awka office last Wednesday, the duo told Fides that the community members who collected tolls from the traders were a threat and stumbling block to the effective delivery of their job.

They said the youths and other members of the community, especially in the evenings, revolted against ATMA, telling them that civil service time was over.

Ifeatu and Arinze also complained of paucity of manpower and said the agency needed about 20-25 men to combat the congestion in Eke Awka as the area was large. They added that the traders when driven out and their wares seized, would promise never to repeat it, only to return to the roads soon after.

Commenting on the obstruction of roads by individuals having private ceremonies, Ifeatu said it was within their jurisdiction to dismantle such and urged the Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSAA) to liaise with their agency before approving individual usage of roads to ensure that the celebrants would not cause congestion.

They however agreed with Anieriobi's view that several government agencies such as the Ministries of Transport, Trade and Commerce, as well as Information, had roles to play in the fight against street trading and persistent congestion in the market area. They said the solution was for the market to be moved to the permanent site mapped out by the government at Isiagu.

[url]https://fidesnigeria.org/news/1579970509/congestion-at-eke-awka-%3A-traders%2C-atma%2C-disagree-on-cause[/url]




Lalasticlala
Seun

This is patriotism at its best.

GOD Bless America!
GOD Bless Nigeria!
GOD Bless The Whole Human Race!