₦airaland Forum

Yea !!! Umuahia is neat. Their roads are not overtaken by sand or red dust.

tabletman1:
I will jump Bca road and continue with ikpot ekpene road...





The road is neat sha....

Tosin7:
i don think so, with this horrible broken state am seeing you guys must be living in river.

IMO STATE IS BLESSED BY GOD AND LUCKY !!! YOUR THOUGHTS ARE IRRELEVANT.

Tosin7:
i dont think so. at least 98% of them are from owerre. do you know this place in owerre? is it also elsewhere?

to think that this is city center is heartbreaking

imo state is so so unlucky.

You are the unlucky one. Imo State is VERY BLESSED AND LUCKY

Chime budgets N96.7b for 2015

aaa

By Emmanuel Nzomiwu

Correspondent



Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State has presented a budget estimate of over N97.6 billion for 2015 to the State House of Assembly.

This represents over N2.9 billion, or three per cent increase from the 2014 budget of over N93.7 billion.

Making his budget speech at the State House of Assembly chambers on Tuesday, Chime explained that over N54.9 billion was set aside in the new budget for capital expenditure, while over N41. 7 billion is for recurrent expenditure.

According to him, Works and Infrastructure received the lion share of N14.9 billion to be deployed mainly for the completion of on-going projects in both the urban areas and payment of liabilities to contractors.

Chime disclosed that the Education sector got the sum of N6.1 billion, while Health and Agriculture received N4.9 billion and N4.3 billion respectively.

He said, the sum of N2.9 billion went to the Water sub-sector with Commerce and Industry, Tourism, Sports, Security, Environment, Housing, Transportation, also receiving substantial allocations.

Reviewing last year’s budget, Governor Chime said the government recorded remarkable successes in all sectors, noting that the 332 kilometres of rural roads constructed by the Government have enhanced inter-connectivity and drastically reduced travel times from the 17 Council headquarters to Enugu, because they can all now be easily accessed by road.

“With 295 kilometres of roads completed in Enugu and Nsukka urban cities, not many of our people, today, remember the pains of moving around some seven years back. We were voted in to bring about good times and we have done our best to do just that,” he said.

Noting that the budget presentation was the last he would make as Governor of the State, Chime recalled that when he took office in 2007, he visited all the 472 communities in the State and identified the key development needs of the people as chosen by them.

According to the Governor, the good news is that all the communities have had some or all of their chosen projects executed for them by the Government, adding that his administration was committed to completing and handing over the various on-going urban and inter-Local Government roads which are currently at various stages of completion.

http://dailyindependentnig.com/2014/12/chime-budgets-n96-7b-2015/

MASSOB takes over Owerri for Ojukwu memorial day, rekindles Biafra hope
1
By Our Reporter on December 17, 2014 Oriental News

From CHIDI NNADI, Enugu and GEORGE ONYEJIUWA, Owerri

For those who thought the crisis that rocked the headquarters of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) in Okwe, Onuimo Local Government Area of Imo State has broken and weakened the organisation, they may after all be wrong as proved on December 10.

Many had thought that MASSOB had been hit so hard by the crisis and its members disintegrated and dispersed, which raised fear that the Ojukwu Memorial Day observed by the group would be greeted with low turnout.

But on December 10, the rescheduled memorial day for the late Igbo leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, members of the group took over Owerri by storm, especially the New Owerri axis where the Ojukwu Memorial International Library and Convention Centre is located.

Most of the members of the group in Biafran camouflage and T-shirts were in high spirits as they took positions, sector by sector, in canopies mounted outside the Ojukwu Library regaling and dancing to tunes from the musical groups that came with them.

They were waiting for the arrival of Ojukwu’s widow and Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain, Iyom Bianca Ojukwu on whose instance Ojukwu’s memorial date of this year was shifted from November 26 to December 10 to enable her attend.

By 2:15p.m; Bianca arrived at the venue and was received by the leader of MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, who took her round the library to greet thousands of MASSOB members who sat state by state, zone by zone, making them to erupt in thunderous cheers as some of them surged forward to greet Ojukwu’s widow.

Soon, the event began with Archbishop Chukwuereka Iheanacho who came from Lagos leading in the opening prayers laced with words of advice for the Igbo.

He thanked the MASSOB members, their leader Uwazuruike, Eze Nri, Obidiegwu Onyesoh, Iyom Bianca for keeping alive the Ojukwu memories.

The archbishop noted that the day was significant to the Igbo man, praying that

God should bless Ndigbo, Biafra, Nigeria and Africa in general.

He lamented that Nigeria is now in a precarious condition like when the Israelites left Egypt and got to the Red Sea, saying that the country only requires prayers.

“In the 60s Nigeria was pregnant and it delivered the civil war, Nigeria is now pregnant with corruption and may deliver crisis; therefore, we need to pray for God to deliver our people,” he said.

The archbishop said that he had come to Owerri to celebrate the great man of valour Ojukwu, saying that he has two mentors, God and Ojukwu, who, he said, “was consistent with the aspiration of our people.”

The cleric said that Ojukwu showed the Igbo man that a man could be consistent with his dreams.

Also speaking, Ambassador Bianca expressed happiness that the Ojukwu Memorial Library was also completed.

She thanked the MASSOB leader and the Biafran war veterans who have sacrificed to ensure that the project is completed for their tenacity of purpose.

She, however, frowned at the way some politicians have been using the name of her late husband to enrich themselves while the same people have not done anything to immortalise him except what Uwazuruike, his adopted son was doing.

Her words: “I want to thank Chief Uwazuruike and the war veterans who have continued to remember Ojukwu every year by organizing a memorial anniversary for him. But those who have used the name of Ojukwu to win political offices and even those who have set up companies using his name have done nothing to remember him”.

Bianca also enjoined the MASSOB members not to allow external forces to cause them to disintegrate or break their ranks for the selfish interest of those people.

When Biance arrived at the home of Uwazuruike, she was amazed by the main door of the MASSOB leader which had a large picture of Ojukwu on the door, making her to tarry awhile at the door in order to raise praises for her late husband.

Also speaking, the Eze Nri, His Royal Majesty Obidiegwu Onyesoh, who led other traditional rulers to the event, said he had attended the anniversary because of the respect and honour he has always accorded to Dim Ojukwu while he was alive.

He commended Chief Uwazuruike for keeping the memorial of Ojukwu in the consciousness of Ndigbo by organizing the anniversary of his passage every year.

The traditional ruler of the Nri Ancient Kingdom pointed out that Uwazuruike has not only deemed it necessary to continue to celebrate the late revered Igbo leader but has gone a step further by erecting a befitting Library and Convention Centre in his name.

The royal father also lamented the continued marginalization of the South-East in the scheme of things in the country and insisted that the South-East must be given an additional state at least to assuage the region’s structural marginalization.

Hear him: “We South-East is marginalized today because of the injustice in the land and I am saying that the South-East must be given another state at least to redress the structural marginalization. Our people in government must see to it that it is done.

“I want our people to emulate the life Dim Ojukwu who scarified all he had for Ndigbo and that is why we are here today to honour his memorial as a great son of Ndigbo whose only thought and action was how to liberate the people from oppression and marginalization”.

Similarly, Dr Dozie Ikedife, erstwhile President -General of the apex Igbo cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, said that the late Ojukwu remained the spirit of the Biafran struggle and as long as the spirit of Ojukwu was with the Igbo people the Biafra state would come to fruition one day.

“The state of Biafra will come to fruition because the spirit of Ojukwu is with the people. But this time we are not going to fight another war, what we are going to use now is wisdom because the case of Biafra in still in the court and we are going to be victorious, but Ndigbo should love one another as Ojukwu had loved Ndigbo,” he advised.

Also, Reverend Samuel Aniebo who came from Lagos to attend the memorial ceremony said that though the Ikemba Nnewi had left the physical world, he is still alive because his spirit has continued to live among the Igbo people.

“Even though our revered and beloved leader has departed this physical world he is still alive because his spirit still lives among the people that is the reason you see this mammoth crowd of people who have abandoned their various businesses just to come to in order to honour the memory of the man who had sacrificed his father’s wealth, personal comfort to fight their cause,” he said.

He maintained that Ndigbo would be free in no distant future, pointing out that “if East Timor with a population of just 150,000 and Montenegro which has a population of 800,000 is free then Ndigbo with a population of about 70 million will definitely be free.”

One of the Biafra war veterans, Chijioke Nnam, a 67-year-old man from Abakiliki, Ebonyi State, said that he has continued to attend the memorial of Ojukwu, saying that if not for him Ndigbo would have been wiped out during the civil war which was imposed on the East by Nigeria.

The war veteran maintained that he would ever remain grateful to the late Dim Ojukwu for his sacrifice to Ndigbo, pointing out that other veterans who attended the event did so to honour his memory.

He also thanked Chief Uwazuruike for keeping the flag of Biafra flying.

In his speech, the leader of MASSOB, Chief Uwazuruike said that “Ojukwu brought Biafra,” promising that “Biafra would never die.”

He pointed out that before this time when Biafra was mentioned “the Nigerian security agents would clamp down on us but today that era has passed.”

Uwazuruike said: “Today, the Federal Government has come to the reality that Biafra has come to stay because of the sacrifice that we have made towards the realization of the state of Biafra.”

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=95837

Imo, Abia FRSC brace up for Xmas, launch Operation Octopus
0
By Our Reporter on December 10, 2014 Oriental News

The Christmas season is here again. Indeed, it is a season when there is sharp increase in human and vehicular movement, particularly in the Eastern part of the country.

This is so because it is the period those who had travelled out in the past one year or so in search of the greener pasture, visit home to see their kith and kin. As a result, major cities in the East usually witness debilitating traffic gridlock and increased road crashes.

It was against this backdrop and the desire to forestall the ugly incidents that the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC), Imo and Abia States commands, embarked on a joint patrol of the two states in what they tagged ‘Operation Octopus’.

Speaking during the launch of the exercise which involved checking of motorists for offences ranging from over speeding (speed limit violation), dangerous driving, seat belt violation, driving under the influence of alcohol, using of phones while driving, worn out and expired tyres, among other road traffic offences, the Imo State Commander of the FRSC, Y.K Salami, said the operation was part of activities to create awareness for the Xmas period.

“What we are doing is part of the activities to create awareness for the Xmas period which is always crucial in our work. As it has become traditional in the FRSC, as from the month of September, we start to create awareness by going to motor parks, visiting important personalities in a locality, like the traditional rulers and also having the special patrol as we are doing today.

“The exercise we are having today, we’ve had similar exercise last month with Anambra State, and we are extending it to other states because it is a form of creating awareness to the general public and the road users so that level of road crashes will be down.

“This special joint patrol for the Xmas period is tagged ‘Operation Octopus’ which is a two-legged exercise, having it in Imo State and in Abia State. With this, the level of awareness will go up. There will be increased awareness amongst the drivers, passengers and the general public so that since safety is everybody’s responsibility, everybody will be able to contribute one way or the other to it positively from the pedestrian to the driver, that is the essence of what we are doing”, he said.

Salami used the occasion to advise motorists to always ensure that they do not use expired tyres while driving.

He gave them tit bits on how to know when their tyres had expired.

“Motorists should check by the sides of their tyres, they will see the manufacturing date, the month and the year. Once you see the year the tyre was manufactured, you add another four years and at the end of which the tyre has expired.

“It doesn’t matter whether the tyre is having a firm grip on the road, they may have produced the tyre for a long time, packed it in the warehouse, it may have expired there before they started selling it and when you look at it facially, you will say it is a very fine tyre because the grip is still there, but the quality of the tyre is gone which means it could burst anytime. You observe that these days we are having tyre bursts leading to road accidents and that is why we are laying emphasis on worn tyres or tyre violation generally,” he said.

Salami said that the awareness was not limited to the enlightened persons in society as his men also go from one motor park to another to enlighten people, adding that “they also visit traditional rulers and Church leaders as well as market men and women.”

Also speaking, R.T. Kumven, Abia State Commander of FRSC, said that apart from the enlightenment programmes and regular patrols and checks, the Corp was deeply involved in the training of drivers.

He said this was so because it is the driver that moves people on the road. According to him, “there is some pro-activity that we have taken in terms of correcting the anomaly which we have observed in the training of drivers. And that is why the FRSC established standard driving schools all over the federation in that a new applicant who wants to obtain a new driver’s license must pass through these schools and must be certificated by the schools.

“It is after they might have been certificated that they then apply for drivers’ licence. For commercial drivers, they will in addition pass through a medical check up to know about his medical condition so that we will not go and issue drivers licence to persons with serious health challenges as not to create problems to passengers. Outside that, every driver that is arrested for any offence receives at least one hour training from us”, Kumven said.

As a way of ensuring that accidents were reduced to the barest minimum during this Xmas period, Kumven said FRSC of the two sister states commands were having a high level stakeholders relationship such as with the transport unions, RTEAN, NURTW, among others whereby their men interact with them on weekly basis.

“There is what we call road transport safety standardization scheme where we partner with the transport fleet – those that have five vehicles and above – we relate with them on daily basis.

As men of the Corp checkmate activities of motorists, so are their activities being checked.

According to the Abia State sector commander, “the Corp is in forefront of checking those officers that are corruptive in nature and they are removing them. Those who are found to be corrupt, their appointments had been terminated and others will follow because we have no room for corrupt officers just as we do not take it kindly with motorists who bribe our officials.”

He said that they are prepared for the Xmas period as apart from equipping the patrol vehicles with first aid materials, the clinic inside the unit at Kilometre 78, Enugu Port Harcourt Expressway has been stocked for the treatment of accident victims.

“If any road crash happens within that area, the accident victims will be quickly moved to the clinic and treated there by our para-medics. So, we are prepared to render first aid treatment to accident victims. We train our men on how to detect the condition of accident victims and the type of treatment to give them before taking those who are serious to hospital,” he disclosed.

The Unit Commander, RS 9.44, Augustine Anya Kalu, advised motorists to always obey road signs law, stating that most of the accidents recorded in the past were due to reckless driving.

He promised increased surveillance on roads within the area particularly now that Christmas was approaching.

On the day of the launch of the exercise, a Mobile Court which was part of the operation convicted 26 motorists for various road traffic offences.

The Mobile Court, which sat at the base of RS. 9.44 Unit along the Aba/Owerri High Court, Ngor Okpuala, Imo State and presided over by Magistrate Akunna C. Opara convicted the motorists for offences ranging from over speeding (speed limit violation), dangerous driving, seat belt violation, driving under the influence of alcohol, using of phone while driving, worn out and expired tyres, among other road traffic offences.

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=94792

POVERTY IN Y0R0BA LAND

OSOGBO—Justice Jide Falola of an Osun State High Court sitting in Okuku has sentenced two robbers
to death for stealing fowls.

The convicts, Olowookere Segun and Morakinyo
Sunday, were found guilty of forcefully breaking
into the house of one Mr. Balogun Tope, a police
officer attached to Divisional Police headquarters,
Okuku, in April 2010 and carting away some of his
belongings. The convicts were charged with conspiracy,
robbery and stealing contrary to Section 6(b) and
1(2)(a) of Robbery and Firearm (Special Provisions)
Act, cap R 11 Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004
and Section (390)(1) Criminal Code Law, Cap 34,
Laws of Osun State, 2002. The prosecution team, led by the state Solicitor-
General, Mrs Abiola Adewemimo, called six
witnesses and tendered several exhibits during the
prosecution. The prosecution told the court that on November
13, 2010, men were sighted around Balogun’s
home armed with cutlass and a dane gun, and that
while two of them were arrested, others escaped. The convicts were said to have confessed that they
stole the complainant’s fowls, adding that they had
been in his house before to steal. Adewemimo said: “They also stated that they had
earlier robbed Alhaja Umani Oyewo in her house
and stole broilers, eggs and kegs of vegetable oil
from the house.” In his judgment, Justice Falola convicted them on
only three counts: to death for conspiracy; life
sentence for robbery, and three years
imprisonment for stealing. Justice Falola recommended that the governor can
decide to commute the death sentence to 10 years
imprisonment, considering the convicts’ ages.


#Source: vanguard

9jacrip:
Una nor fit do without southwest.
So your Ondo despite being 'poor' contributed to your itinerant life?

Ungrateful bastard.

BELOW ARE PICTURES OF Y0ROBA LAND WHICH HAS THE BIGGEST SLUM IN NIGERIA

Schematics:
This is the Upper Iweka the envious and bitter who are frustrated that we have since left them behind are blind to see..

Onitsha obodo oyibo..

DON'T BE SILY !!! WE NON ANAMBRA IGBOS ARE NOT AND CAN NEVER BE ENVIOUS OF ANAMBRA STATE !!! WE ARE TOO EDUCATED TO BE INVOLVED IN INTRA ETHNIC COMPARISON. BASELESS IDIO.TIC COMPARISON ARE USUALLY DONE BY YOU AND YOUR FELLOW M0RONIC TRAVELERS. YOU SHOULD BE BOTHERED BY NORTHERN AND WESTERN HEGEMONIC BIGOTS WHO ARE TRYING TO NO AVAIL TO DENY ANAMBRA STATE ITS DUE RECOGNITION AS AN OIL PRODUCING STATE, PLANNING FRUITLESSLY TO DENY ANAMBRA STATE ACCESS TO GAS VIA MANIPULATION OF THE GAS MASTER PLAN, DENY ANAMBRA STATE USAGE OF ONITSHA PORT, ONITSHA - ENUGU ROAD, POWER SUPPLY TO INDUSTRIAL CLUSTERS IN ANAMBRA ETC. THESE BIGOTS ARE YOUR REAL ENEMIES, SO DON'T GET IT TWISTED.

AM STILL WAITING FOR THE PICTURES OF THE GREENWOOD ESTATE AWKA, YOU PROMISED.

oneeast:
yes I agree with you because there are so many abandoned projects in Owerre and its environ.

The environment is dirty and disorganized.

What is wrong with you this boy

Come and Invest in Abia – Orji woo Entrepreneurs
Posted by Admin in News Oct, 09 2014 No Comments

Abia State Governor Theodore Orji ABUJA – Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia State on Thursday called on stakeholders in the industrial sector to invest in the state, assuring them of adequate incentives.

Orji made the call in Abuja while speaking at the 2nd edition of made-in-Aba Trade Fair.

The trade fair is being promoted by Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe.

He said that his administration had made necessary facilities available to ensure that investors doing business in the state had returns for their investments.

He listed micro credit facilities from banks as well as partnership with Bank of Industry (BOI) to ensure that traders and investors get soft loans to carry on their business as part of the initiatives.

Other efforts, he said, were the provision of adequate security in the state.

Orji advised Aba traders and investors to stop branding goods produced in the state as having been manufactured overseas.

“You should brand goods you made as made in Aba goods rather than labelling them made in China or South Korea’’, he said.

Besides, he urged all citizens to patronise products made in Aba.

Earlier, Alhaji Bature Masari, the Director-General of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN), called on politicians to emulate Abaribe’s efforts to encourage SMEs.

“If any person or government has anything which the agency can help in terms of creating jobs, SMEDAN is ready to assist,’’ he promised.

http://sundiatapost.com/2014/10/come-and-invest-in-abia-orji-woo-entrepreneurs/

Aba the Great Enyimba City

Harnessing the Rich Economic Potentials of South Eastern Nigeria as Oil Price Drops
November 26, 2014 - 1 Comment - News and Articles

Contributed by Onyebuchi Ogbaegbe

South Eastern Nigeria is made up of an ethnic nationality known as the Igbo’s; with a total land area of about 15,800 square miles (about 41,000 square kilometers). The region currently has 5 states – Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States with a population of over 20 million. Their common language is Igbo language with majority of them Christians. Their kiths and kin could be found in Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, Edo, Akwa- Ibom and Cross Rivers States.

A people known for their enterprise, resilience and a great deal of intelligence. The average Igbo man is entrepreneurial, dogged and very industrious. These qualities give the Igbo man an edge over his peers from other regions in Nigeria as he can survive under any condition. His creative abilities are unequalled and unimaginably breathe taking. It is usually said that Igbo’s are great travelers; they find it very easy to integrate with their host communities which could be alluded to their great sense of hard work.
The civil war that occurred in Nigeria was fought on the grounds of Eastern Nigeria between 1967-1970, an Igbo enclave. This made many young Igbo’s leave the region in droves immediately after the war in search of greener pastures.

However, 44 years after a traumatic civil war, South Eastern Region is yet to maximize her full economic potentials, a trend that needs total overhaul to make Igbo land the Dubai of Africa- it is very possible! I did a little research and I confidently discovered that all the resources we need as a people to turn around the fortunes of the economy of South Eastern Nigeria are very much within reach.

So, again, I want to take you on a journey, a journey of possibilities with boundless opportunities. A South Eastern economy that can keep our youths off the streets and crimes reduced to its barest minimum through job creation. An economy that can put smiles on the faces of great Ndigbo and help them forget the disillusionment of a lost war.
South East has the best arable land for farming in the country- It is often said that everything grows in Igbo land. The region also has comparative advantage in the production of subsistence crops like Yams, Maize, Rice, Plantain and Cassava. Cash crops like Palm Oil, Rubber, Cocoa etc are all grown in Igbo land. In this era of rising food prices, the region could potentially offer food security to Nigeria and generate export revenues. Nigeria’s food imports cost more than N684 billion as at December 2013 and South East can tap into this opportunity.

Fellow Ndigbo, Indonesia has a well balanced economy in which all major sectors play an important role. Agriculture (including animal husbandry, fishing and forestry) has historically been the dominant activity in terms of both employment and output. We can feed our people, create jobs and export even beyond the shores of Africa in large quantities.
Every state in Igbo land has the ability to produce different agricultural produce and place the region as an agro-based regional economy. To solve some of the problems bedeviling the agricultural sector, governments of the 5 South Eastern States should consider the following options;

Provision of irrigation facilities to encourage all year farming.

Well monitored distribution of fertilizers to all farmers in the region
Adopting appropriate farming techniques which can help reduce erosion problems
The distribution of insecticides and pesticides that can help control pests and diseases
Provision of interest-free Agric-loans to encourage young school leavers
Provision of machineries for hire to encourage youth’s involvement and mechanization.
The provision of modern storage facility like silos and refrigerated vehicles can help reduce the problem of storage.

Land tenure system should be reformed to allow for easy access to land
Rural areas should be provided with facilities such as water, electricity, banks etc to reduce rural-urban migration.

The use of agric extension workers to educate farmers on modern farming techniques and the use of improved seed varieties.

If all roads in the villages are tarred in South East, the agro –economy sector of the region would have been given an accelerated boost.

South East Nigeria has a large deposit of limestone, coal, zinc-ores, lignite, coke salts, columbites, tantalite etc, proper harnessing of these bountiful resources will automatically raise the bar in economic terms for South East. Coal could be used to generate electricity, we have the best limestone for cement production, our columbites and tantalite are valuable rare elements used in electronics manufacturing.

Now that crude oil price is nose diving without control, the states and federal government should collaborate to grant titles to organizations to explore, mine and sell our rich mineral resources which will generate foreign exchange for infrastructural development.
Many local and foreign investors should be encouraged to take up this challenge as leaving it untapped could be detrimental just as shale gas is creating less demand for our crude oil.

You will agree with me that the significance of micro, small and medium scale enterprises for the growth , productivity and competitiveness of the economies of a developing region like South Eastern Nigeria is universally recognized. Not only do they provide employment and income for the bulk of the population as well as the primary source of new jobs, they have been acknowledged as critical breeding and nurturing grounds for domestic entrepreneurial capacities, technical skills, technological innovativeness and managerial competencies for private sector development. The promotion and development of small and medium enterprises is therefore central to the progress of the region’s economic development.

It may also interest you to note that growth in the Brazilian economy has been fuelled by manufacturing which provide massive employment for her people.
China, a major industrial power has turned the manufacturing sector so huge to the admiration of many nations. Their human capacities come in handy to provide the necessary support and manpower needs.

In support of the development of the strategic domestic economic growth, South East Governors should appoint training institutions to which SME’s can send their employees for training with 80% government subsidy. All the 5 South East States should partner with Bank of Industry (BOI) to provide low interest loans to vibrant young entrepreneurs with realizable business proposals.

Investors do not invest out of charity; they invest where there are grounds for growth. Provision of guaranteed security and improving social infrastructure will position the region as the best bride for investors.

The manufacturing and industrial activities in Onitsha, Aba, Nnewi, Enugu, Akwete etc should be strengthened. Power is their major challenge, they need adequate capital to increase their production capacity and they equally lack adequate manpower. Basic accounting training could be provided to enable them keep proper records of their activities. Government should provide tax holidays and banish double taxation especially for new industries in the region.

Other areas of concern include building and construction sector, government should partner with private sectors to develop estates that could be affordable by both civil servants and business men and women in the region. Helping every South Easterner own a home in major cities of the region will accelerate healthy living.

Our people are generally traders, the construction of Enugu-Portharcourt Road, Enugu-Onitsha Road, Owerri –Portharcourt Road, Umuahia-Ikot-Ekpene Road, Aba-Ikot-Ekpene Road, Second Niger Bridge, Rail links from Portharcourt through Enugu to the North and the opening up of Onitsha Port by the Federal Government of Nigeria will surely unlock the economic fortunes of the region and encourage inter-regional trade. This will increase both distributions of goods within and outside the region to foster increased trade relations.
The emergence of Information and Communication Technology should be well utilized by our business community. We can now advertise and sell our goods online. Aba shoe producers now have a website as a union. This is very encouraging as other cluster groups should toe same line. We must showcase our legendry and creative excellence for the world to see.
The hospitality industry is still growing in the South East as notable Igbo sons and daughters have taught it wise to invest in this sector. A lot need to be done; the standard should be increased so that people can fly down to East to spend their vacations and holidays.

Igbo land has produced notable great sports men and women that made fortunes through sports. The youths are looking for avenues to express their youthfulness and sports provide the platform. Sporting facilities should be built in each state of the region to encourage our youths to participate fully in various national and international sporting competitions.
With the sharp decline in the prices of crude oil around the globe, occasioned mainly by U.S Shale gas production which has grown rapidly in recent months , thereby reducing market demand, It becomes obvious that diversifying the region’s economy has become paramount.

We must come back home and develop Igbo land, we must improve our local economy to attract foreign investors.

As a people, it is very pertinent to note that achieving greatness is very possible with the’ I CAN’ spirit of every Onye Igbo. It shall be well with Ndi be anyi, Igbo Amaka, anyi bu ofu. Ndewo nuoooooo!

http://www.southeast-investmentsummit.com/news-and-articles/

Ihedioha Promises Imo Free Education

By Our Reporter on December 15, 2014 Trending

FROM GEORGE ONYEJIUWA,OWERRI

Deputy Speaker of the House of Rep­resentatives and the Peoples Demo­cratic Party, PDP governor­ship candidate in Imo State, Hon Emeka Ihedioha, has promised Imo citizens free and qualitative education if elected next year.

Delivering a lecture titled, “The legislature as an instru­ment of a social change” at the Champion Better Society lecture series held in Owerri, the state capital, Ihedioha said that he would not only make education free but the poor performance of the students in examinations would be re­versed.

According to him, “If I am elected Governor of Imo State, education will be quali­tative. We will reverse the recent poor result of Imo in­digenes in WAEC and NECO Examinations.

“In the 2013 WAEC exami­nation, Imo State scored an average of 46%, “whereas our neighboring states of Anam­bra and Abia scored 67% and 65% respectively.

This is unacceptable and must be reversed for the sake of the future of our children” he said.

He disclosed that the pro­posed constitution amend­ment makes basic education not just free and compulsory but a constitutional right We believe that free education should not be a political gim­mick”.

As part of achievements of the current legislature, he said amendments of section 25 of the 1999 Constitution, which addresses the indigene/settler conflict which has continued to plague Nigeria because of its heterogeneous com­position, would foster unity among Nigerians.

“This amendment will foster cooperation and unity among Nigerians to a point where Nigerians are consid­ered based on who they are and their contribution to the society, rather than where they come from,” he noted.

Ihedioha said that the transfer of two items: Right to free Primary and Mater­nal Health Care Services and Right to free Basic Education from Chapter 2 of the Con­stitution on the Fundamen­tal Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy to Chapter 4 on Fundamental Human Rights was a land­mark achievement, which when eventually enacted, would bolster the Human De­velopment Index of Nigeria by ensuring that citizens are granted access to basic Health and Education facilities.

On security, he said in re­sponding to security which has remained a major challenge in the country, the National As­sembly, had passed numerous resolutions and initiated many bills to address the security challenges in the country, cit­ing the Terrorism (Prevention) Act Amendment Bill 2012, the State of Emergency Proclama­tion and its 3 extensions.

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=95458

oneeast:
Keep regurgitating the same shabby building over and over..hehehe

HONESTLY, YOU NEED JESUS CHRIST TO SAVE YOU FROM SINS

oneeast:
U dont get d point. Besides I know d town there nothing there to talk about except u know..... What we are saying why is Imo state economically under developed? I dont care about d shabby roads and ugly old houses.

Mr Man. IMO STATE BOAST OF MANY BEAUTIFUL ROADS,LUXURY APARTMENTS AND BUILDINGS.

When you get to Owerri, go to the eccumenical center and ask God to forgive you for all your numerous sins.

Below are pictures of Imo Eccumenical Center, Owerri, Imo State.

oneeast:
Nothing dey happen.

Meanwhile make una brace up because am touring Imo state next week to bring real time pictures. hehehehe

Onye agba kwa na oso..hehehe

As you tour Owerri next week you can make use of the Imo Tour bus in order to get clearer view. Don't be surprised by the "2 level seater bus" that is how far Imo State have upgraded. These kind of tour bus are mainly used in European cities.

oneeast:
Stop deceiving yourself. Owerre airport is not different from any motor park. So you do not expect any extra plane to land in a state that is economically under-developed.

I can see you are still dreaming. Let me know when you wake up from lala land

oneeast:
Rarediamon those report will remain only on the pages of newspaper, it can never see the light of the day because there is absolutely nothing on the ground to support such. Owerre is still a dull and economically undeveloped town, so what you are saying cannot work but remain on the pages of newspaper. Take my word.

TOO LATE !!! THEY HAVE ALREADY STARTED OPERATION WHILE MAKING RIGHT PROFIT FROM HIGH PASSENGER DEMAND. SINCE YOU WOULD BE GOING TO OWERRI SOON, GO TO THE SAM MBAKWE AIRPORT AND SEE THINGS FOR YOURSELF MY BROTHER.

Arik Air To Schedule More Flights On Key Destinations

Arik Air will increase the frequency of its flights on the Lagos-Owerri route from twice to thrice daily while Abuja-Owerri will increase from once to twice daily.

“Similarly, the frequency of flights on the Abuja-Enugu route will increase to twice daily, Abuja-Calabar to twice daily and Lagos-Asaba to twice daily,’’ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the airline had in the previous month, increased the frequency of its flight on some other key domestic routes.

These routes are the Lagos-Calabar, Lagos-Enugu, Lagos-Benin, Abuja-Benin, Lagos-Kano, Abuja-Kano, Abuja-Asaba and Abuja-Ibadan. (NAN)

http://leadership.ng/business/394662/arik-air-schedule-flights-key-destinations-ahead-festive-season

oneeast:
It is not because I know and you know that there is nothing on the ground to justify such wild claim. That was an error made by NBS.

HOW COME ALL THE AIRLINES IN NIGERIA ARE EXPANDING TO OWERRI TO MAKE PROFIT FROM HIGH PASSENGER VOLUMES ? THESE ARE UNDISPUTED FACTS THAT CORRESPOND WITH THE NBS STATISTIC.

‘Low Fares Will Increase Number of Air Travellers’

07 Nov 2014

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More Nigerians will prefer air travel to other means of transport if airlines bring down their fares. This was the opinion of the Managing Director of Discovery Air, Captain Mohammed Adbulsalami, when he spoke at the airline’s commencement of its Port Harcourt, Uyo routes from Lagos recently.

Presently about eight million Nigerians travel by air on domestic routes, which is less than one per cent of the nation’s population. This indicates that air travel is underdeveloped in the country.


According to Abdulsalami, Discovery Air is operating low fares to encourage more people to fly, noting that competition in the industry is not stiff.


He said Nigeria needs more airlines because existing airlines cannot meet the demand of travellers if more Nigerians chose to travel by air.


World Bank released a report in January this year, recommending 25 airlines for Nigeria which has about 170 million people.
The World Bank estimated that potential air travellers in the country would rise continuously and that existing airlines may not be able to meet the highly passenger movement within a short period of time.


The Discovery Air MD said: “We believe that if you make the flight affordable, more people will be encouraged to fly. It does not necessarily mean that you will not be getting enough revenue. We are trying to bring air travel closer to the people, to make it cheaper and affordable. The more the merrier. Nigeria is more than 170 million. I do not think we are too many. World Bank recommends about 25 airlines for this country.”


Abdulsalami, who spoke to newsmen before the official commencement of Lagos-Port Harcourt flights said top on the airline’s plan was also the start operations on Lagos-Owerri and Lagos-Yola routes, with both expected to commence early next year when the airline would have taken delivery of two additional aircraft to strengthen its existing fleet.


According to him, the airline will as part of its expansion strategy, also extend its operations to some select West African countries such as Dakar, Duala and Libreville by first quarter of 2015.


"Our Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) is for domestic operations and the regulators will have to watch us for a certain period before certifying us to commence regional operation and once we get the approval we will commence regional operations," Abdulsalami explained.


Recounting the major hurdles still confronted by airlines in Nigeria, Abdulsalami maintained that the high cost of aviation fuel which gulps as much as 40 per cent of operation cost still haunts the sector's growth.


He pointed out that multiple taxes imposed on airlines by government agencies was also another major challenge.
“As you know most operators have been complaining about fuel which takes about 40 per cent of the operating cost. We have also complained about taxes. Even Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has officially complained this to the new Minister of Aviation. Even at the international level, IATA the International Air Transport Association (IATA) recognised that the industry is heavily over taxed here.


“That is some of the challenges we are facing plus the cost of getting money. As an appeal, may be government can intervene and give us soft loan to make it easier for us. It is very difficult for a Nigerian company to start an airline because nobody is willing to lease an aircraft for you. You will end up buying,” the MD said.


Abdulsalami said that government ought to give the domestic airlines financial support and monitor them to ensure they spend the funds on their operations.


“Alternatively, government should facilitate it that financial houses give airlines long term loans on single digit interest rate as airlines all over the world operate on very low margins,” he said.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/-low-fares-will-increase-number-of-air-travellers-/193379/

oneeast:
Rarediamond keep posting fairytales which will only remain on the pages of newspaper because there is nothing on the ground to support such wild claim. heheheh

.

THESE ARE NOT FAIRY TALES !!! IMO AIRPORT IS THE 4TH BUSIEST AIRPORT IN NIGERIA AFTER LAGOS, ABUJA AND PORT HARCOURT AND YOUR FALLACIOUS OPINION DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT. ALA IGBO IS ON THE MOVE !!!

oneeast:
Story for the gods. who will they be carrying.

Another media hype..hehehe

See gobe !!! The sooner you wake up to the realty the better for you. Ala Imo State wu Oke Mba !!!

Medview Airlines Is In Talks To List On The Nigerian Stock Exchange
November 14, 2014 BUSINESS NEWS No comments

1. Medview Airline has announced that it is in talks with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) for its listing and offer significant part of its shares to the Nigerian public.

2. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the airline, Alhaji Muneer Bankole disclosed this at a briefing to mark the two years anniversary of the airline in Lagos.

3. Alhaji Bankoke also said the airline has started discussions with some foreign carriers in the Middle East on how to secure codeshare and other operational agreements ahead of its planned flight operations into Dubai, and Jeddah, two out of the four international destinations it has been designated to by the federal government.

4. The Medview CEO, after a review of its two years of operation, said it has provided scheduled commercial service in the domestic operations and has airlifted over 756, 437 passengers. It also disclosed plans to extend flights into Kano, Owerri, Calabar and Uyo as it increases its fleet size from four aircraft to six.

5. The CEO said the airline has also flown over 250, 000 Muslim pilgrims to Saudi Arabia since 2007 and explained that the airline decided to go to the Stock Exchange to make it the people’s airline.

Source: Thisday

Air Peace Commences Operations On Five Domestic Routes
Posted by: Newsdiaryonline Posted date: October 21, 2014 In: Business

inShare


Air peace launched
By Chuks Okoh

New entrant in the domestic airline industry : Air Peace disclosed Tuesday that it would commence scheduled flights on the Lagos – Abuja, Enugu, Port Harcourt , and Owerri route this week, just as it unveiled seven aircraft for the operations.

This is the first time a domestic carrier would be starting operations with a combined fleet of seven aircraft .

The Chief Executive Officer of the Air Peace, Barrister Allen Onyema, disclosed this while speaking at the unveiling ceremony of its seven airplanes at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 1(MMA), Lagos.

He stated that Air Peace has come to change the face of airline operations in the industry with the arrival of seven airplanes, adding this is the first time a new entrant into the business will commence operations with such large number of aircraft.

Onyema listed the aircraft in its fleet to include three Dornier 328 jets and four Boeing 737-500.

The Chief Executive Officer also disclosed that the airline intends to expand its network to Asaba, Kano, Yola, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Ibadan Bauchi, Gombe and Katsina.

Other areas which the expansion will cover are Makurdi, Minna, Zaria, Akwa Ibom, Ilorin, Akure, Benin, Calabar, Warri and Jos.

On why he decided to set up airline, Onyema said that the idea behind Air Peace is not only to create employment for Nigeria but to put food on their tables and also put smiles on their faces.

The Air Peace boss said that the arrival of the airline should not de-market other airlines in the country, appealing to passengers other airlines in the country as according to him “they are safe”

The other airlines, he said have learnt from their past mistakes and have made corrections in accordance with the standard recommended practice.

According to him, “Air Peace has come to lay the foundation for the entrenchment of peace and development in the aviation sector .S find absurd and bizarre the level of animosity among airline operators with the industry .The era of devilish competition and devilish envy in the aviation should remain in the past”

He continued, “It is our beliefs that our arrival in the aviation industry in Nigeria will spell a new dawn .We are ready to collaborate and cooperate with other airline operators to develop the industry.

Onyema said that with Air Peace, he has succeeded in given jobs to 250 Nigerians that are qualified to work in the airline.

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer has directed that all military men both serving and retired with genuine document signed by their s superiors should not pay more than N10,000 on any of its flight.

He said the rebate is in recognition of the contributions of the military men to keep the country together.

He said in the next few years, the airline would expand its fleet to cater for air transport need in the country

http://newsdiaryonline.com/air-peace-commences-operations-five-domestic-routes/

oneeast:
I am fully awake and I know that there is nothing happening in that state. Next week will be for my tour of Imo state. I will bring the good, the bad and ugly. Just be on the look out..

Discovery Air to expand to new routes
October 29, 2014 by Rasheed Bisiriyu



[print]


Discovery Air says it is ready to expand its flight operations to new routes, a few months after it commenced air travel business.

The Managing Director of the airline, Captain Abdulsalami Mohammed, stated this, in a statement obtained on Tuesday.

He added that the new routes would help to consolidate its market share on key routes such as Lagos — Uyo, Calabar, Pot Harcourt, Owerri and Yola.

The Discovery Air boss said the airline would commence operation on the new routes next month.

He explained that the expansion was part of the airline’s plans to register itself as a leading carrier on the domestic route.

He also said the firm’s Boeing aircraft that went for major maintenance checks was back in the country.

According to Mohammed, the aircraft went for a C-check in ATC Lawshan, the United Kingdom.

He said, “The return of this additional aircraft is in line with our vision to commence operations soon in the Nigeria aviation market.

“We are excited that our dream of providing quality service to our prospective guest is becoming a reality.”

Mohammed also said that timely departure of flights and quality onboard experience would be given priority.

Discovery presently has two Boeing 737-300 aircraft with a plan to increase the fleet before the end of the last quarter, according to him.

Mohammed recalled that Discovery Air was set up about a year ago with the aim of offering Nigerian travellers good customer service, and to also fill the gap of shortage of commercial aircraft in the country.

http://www.punchng.com/business/transport/discovery-air-to-expand-to-new-routes/

Discovery Air spreads local market footprint, eyes regional ...
businessdayonline.com/.../discovery-air-spreads-local-market-footprint-e...
Nov 6, 2014 - Also top on the airline's consideration list are Lagos-Owerri and Lagos-Yola ... managing director, Discovery Air, described the expansion as a ...

asha80:
Anyone that believes that owerri does not have the 4th busiest airport when it comes to domestic flights needs his head examined
.

Only a M0ron doubts fact without providing a counter-fact !!!

oneeast:
Nwokem there is nothing on the ground to prove anything. Have you been to Owerre? It is one economically stagnant and dull place. There is nothing happening in that town. Even the indigenes of the state are running to the nearby state to live and survive economically.

LOL !!! Nwannem you better wake up to the reality on ground

OdenigboAroli:
You should be comparing Owerri to Enugu city because that was our former capital which was created same time as Owerri. Owerri has some beautiful places but is that all you have to show?
What about your collapsed education system,healthcare,industries,agriculture,youth and sports,intra-state roads ?
I didnt come here to compare Imo Anambra because there is no basis for that but it seems like thats what yall are itching for.

My brother there is no need for comparism. Imo and Enugu States have their strong areas same with Abia, Anambra and Ebonyi States.

oneeast:
You are talking of Owerre of Mbakwe time. Owerre is presently a very dirty place with bad roads and its ugly houses.

Owerri is very neat with lots of beautiful luxury apartment as shown below.