NUJ Delta Celebrates Chairman, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu On His Birth Anniversary

Today is special for all of us in Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ). It is a day that our Chairman, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu was born.

We are using this medium to glorify God for the birth and progressive life of our Chairman till date. It pleased God to bless the State NUJ with such a unique man, we are glad, and with joy return thanks to Him.

Comrade Michael Ikeogwu is a jolly good fellow and one who has continued to make his mark in the practice of journalism as well as the Union where he today holds sway as the State Chairman.

His natal birth reminds us of how gracious our God has been, having predestined him to be the leader that we all rally around today.

On this note, on behalf of the entire Journalists in Delta, comprising of the 16 chapels that make up the Council, we wish our awesome, amiable, radically dogged and bold Chairman a Happy Birthday celebration.

Chairman, may you live long in sound health and prosperity to fulfill the desires of your heart. May you walk and not stumble. May you find favour in the sight of God and man. May your lip praise the name of our God, because indeed, He has been merciful and gracious to you.

Happy birthday once again, and do enjoy the bliss and splendour of the season.

Congratulations.

Comrade Patrick Ochei,
NUJ Secretary,
Delta State Council.

It was a delightful moment for staff and pupils of Onidjor Primary School, Uwheru in Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State as Hon. Umukoro O. Innocent Support Group for Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, APC Governorship Candidate for Delta State donated exercise books to the pupils.

The donation according to Hon. Umukoro Innocent, a staunch APC member, was part of the his initiative in supporting pupils in primary schools in Ughelli local government especially the indigent ones.

The children numbering over 200 from primary one to six, were gifted several exercise books of 40 leaves each.

Addressing the staff and pupils on his mission to the school, Hon. Umukoro said his desire to embark on donating the books to pupils is borne out of the fact that education is the bedrock of any nation and as such, he felt no child should be denied the opportunity of acquiring sound education just because of his or her parental background. He however urged the pupils to be good children who will better the society in future, noting that education is a light that can drive away ignorance, timidity and poverty.

Earlier in her welcome address, Head Teacher of the school, Mrs. Helen Eshomi, expressed her gratitude to the donor, stating that since resumption of the new academic session, many pupils have not been able to resume school as result of inability of their parents to afford exercise books and other learning materials, but said with the kind gesture of Hon. Umukoro Innocent, many of the parents will now heave a sigh of relief as their children and wards will now have something to write on and learn with.

“I am very glad and excited today because Hon. Innocent Umukoro have done a wonderful thing. The parents of some of these pupils have not been able to afford their books. But now all of them that are present today in school have received several note books, not just one or two, and this will go along way for them”.

She commended the Honourable for also giving her large quantity of notebooks for students who are yet to resume school, adding that it is going to be the talk of the community all through as he has dine noble.

Head Girl of the School, Miss Franca Stephen thanked the donor and prayed God to bless him in all his endeavors and call on pupils who have not resume school to come so that they could as well benefit from the donation.

*As 2022 NUJ Press week committee members visit lawmaker

The member representing Ika North-East Constituency in Delta State House of Assembly and Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts, Hon. Emeka Anthony Elekeokwuri has tipped the Speaker of the State Assembly, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori to emerge as the next Governor of Delta State, affirming he is qualified to step into Senator Ifeanyi Okowa’s shoes.

He made this assertion while playing host to members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council 2022 Press Week Committee who had visited to intimate him of their plans towards working with him to achieve a milestone in hosting a successful Press Week where credible and deserving Deltans would be honoured.

The Honourable Member had used the platform of the visit to give an indepth background on the workings of the Legislature in the State, vis-a-vis their working synergy with the Executive Arm of Government that had given the State the needed mileage in achieving enormous growth and development of the various sectors of the State economy.

Elekeokwuri who described Okowa as a great achiever and performer in virtually all the sectors of Delta society, insisted that anybody who must succeed him must have a grasp of the understanding of the complexity of the State as well as being adequately equipped to manage it to success.

Without mincing words, he tipped the Speaker of the State, Oborevwori as best qualified and possessing of the character and credentials to step into the shoes of Governor Okowa to govern the State after him.

He gave his reasons to the effect that apart from efficiently leading the 28 other lawmakers of the State who are representatives of their various Constituencies, Oborevwori had effectively succeeded in becoming the longest serving Speaker in the history of the State.

He averred that not even the most powerful of Speakers in the past could boast of three years as heads of the parliament in the State, but here is a man in Oborevwori’s stature succeeding almost six years as a sitting Speaker.

Elekeokwuri affirmed that such virtue could only be ascribed to an astute administrator and a focused leader with the best understanding of synergy and cordiality of purpose.

His words, “We make laws for peace, order and good governance; others are oversight functions. As the House Committee Chairman on Public Accounts, I can tell you authoritatively that I have done a lot in public accounts transparency. In my close observation, the State has done monumentally well in the development of the state. And that is because, again, there is synergy and cordiality between us and the Executive. We couldn’t have asked for more when we have a Governor who understands the dynamics of the workings of the Legislature.

“It is my desire to partner with the NUJ by bringing my capacity to bear in your Press Week. The State understands the constitutional role you are playing and that is why we commend the State Government for taking up the initiative to erect your Permanent Secretariat. That building is a legacy project for this administration, and I must tell you that we followed up from the budgetary processes; and we are glad it has come to fruition.

“In your Press Week you are going to be speaking about Delta State. That is why I personally want to support your effort, because you have done well in holding Government accountable and promoting its programmes and policies to the people of the State and beyond. However, there are some of you that haven’t done well in terms of proper investigation and information management. While we will hope to see you talking about the progress that Government has made during your Press Week programme, I will like to say that we have achieved a lot in terms of good governance, human capacity development, financial transparency and accountability.

“We have at the level of the Legislature reduced waste; because when that is done, corruption will be reduced and dividends of democracy will go to the people. We have done well in building over 21 bridges across Delta State. Check out all the roads built across the riverine areas, you can’t achieve that without building bridges. The Okowa we know couldn’t have boasted with those necessary projects because other governments are doing so. Don’t forget that Delta State is not a one city State but a multiplicity of cities, where well over six cities exist in it, and you must ensure to retain their city statuses.

“I wish that the next Governor of Delta State will be able to wear the big shoe that Senator Ifeanyi Okowa will leave behind. The person definitely must be well informed about the deep nature and complexity of Delta State.

“Of course, that is why I am rooting for Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori having witnessed how he has successfully managed 28 members from across the State. He has all it takes to lead Delta progressively and better managed from the point Okowa is going to leave it. This is not the time to begin to play clannish politics, we should be interested in where Delta State is heading from here. Mr. Speaker has the capacity, the character and acumen to administer the State, the same way he has successfully been administering the 29 Constituencies of the State”, Elekeokwuri posited.

Earlier in his speech, the Chairman of NUJ Delta State Council, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu had told Elekeokwuri that the Committee members were in his office to brief him about the forthcoming NUJ Press Week.

While hinting him that the union would use the platform to celebrate and honour credible Deltans for their contributions to societal development since the inception of Delta State, he assured him that the Legislature would be carried along when deciding who merits the honour.

Ikeogwu said the Legislature had performed creditably well in contributing to the peace and good governance Deltans are enjoying and, therefore deserves a mention and honour during the Press Week in November 2022.

As an actor and also a Stakeholder in election matters, the State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Delta State Command Akinsanya Iskilu Abiodun has harped on the needs and factors that will guarantee a free, fair and credible election in the 2023 general election.

The Commandant made these revelations in his office through a press Statement issued by the State Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Delta State Command Dsc Emeka Peters Okwechime.

In the Statement, the Commandant said that the credibility of the 2023 general election will be adjudged by the level of professionalism, operational guide, regiments, standards and conduct of party men, women, youths, stakeholders, politicians, political parties, civil societies, critical stakeholders including Security Agents, exhibited before, during and after the 2023 general elections.

On this premise, I therefore charge officers and men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to be Neutral and Remain Apolitical as the political campaigns of various political parties and their candidates kick start nation wide. I urged my personnel to remain firm, committed, Proffessional and resolute in discharging their constitutional duties.

It will be recalled that the NSCDC mandate is not limited to the protection of all government critical national assets and infrastructure, licensing, monitoring and regulating the activities of private security gaurds but includes protection of electorates and professionals, orientation, early warnings, crisis and disaster Management among others.

We must display our commitment to build public trust and confidence to maintain national peace, security and a determined zeal to advance the tenets of democracy, democratic values and national security

Dsc Emeka Okwechime said that the Commandant ordered all Area Commanders, the 25Divisional Officers to work closely with INEC officials and political party leaders in their various areas and Local Government with a formidable synergy and collaboration with other sister Security Agencies in order to be aware of all political activities in the campaign time tables for the provision of adequate security protection. The idea was to address any form of conflicts in venues, dates and time during campaigns.

The NSCDC Spokes man Dsc Emeka Peters pointed out that his boss warned all private security outfits established in our local communities under different structures and operations, which have no legal roles in the Electoral Act to steer clear and allow the Electoral Security Actors (ESA) to perform their legitimate duties.

Consequent upon this, you are charged to ensure that they are not involved or used by any political or local community actor in any activity during the electioneering campaign and other electoral process. It will amount to gross illegality and also a threat to the nation’s security architecture which can jeopardise National Democratic Process (NDP) Akinsanya posited.

He warned politicians, youths and mischief makers to shun any form of violence, campaigns of calumny, character assassinations, malicious statements, hate speech among others culpable of breeching the peace. They should rather engaged on issue based campaign and proffer more solutions for a better Nigeria. He urge citizens not to take to crime but have a rethink, adding that the NSCDC is committed to deal decisively with such person or persons with the extant laws of the land.

By: Celestine Ukah

The Secretary to Warri North Local Government Council, Comrade Samuel Meyjwa Khalil, SMK has escaped kidnapped attempt on his life this evening Tuesday September 27, 2022.

The terrifying incident according to SMK occurred around 9:30pm at Aziza junction along the Sapele road at the Uvwie end and Okpe LGAs axis of the expressway in Delta state..

The Warri North Council Secretary noted this on his verified Facebook account, he stated thus : “Only about 30Mins ago, I escaped from the hands of suspected Fulani Herdsmen by Aziza junction along Warri Sapele Road, who attempted to Kidnapp me. How I escaped from the arms militia is Still a mystery to me…

“Aside a few body injury and destruction of my car, I have come to Return All glory to God, God is too faithful to fail me”. Comrade Samuel Meyiwa Khalil posited. .

Meanwhile during the day time series of security team are seen lined up on the sapele road including vigilante sometimes slowing vehicular and economic activities on the road leading to lost of time coupled to difficulty in navigating the already failed stretch of the carriage dual expressway.

By: Celestine Ukah

*Residents say state Government remains adamant to flood warning by NEMA, NIHSA

Early morning heavy rain that lasted for about two hours has taken over some part of Jeddo, Ughoton, Ugbokodo and other neighbouring communities in Okpe LGA of Delta state.

The heavy downpour disrupted business activities and students going to school were due to it delayed in going to school while others couldn’t attempt to come out of their homes to swim in the flooded streets in the area.

Some of the streets affected in Oduma layout off new Okpe road, former Cranefield road, ending of Red Beret Police Road in Jeddo lamented about the havoc caused them by the flood the rain brought to the locality as water could not find its way faster through the drains due to much flow pressure from other channels to the shallow drains.

Residents in Jeddo, Ughoton, Ugbokodo and in main Warri city centre accused the Delta state government of being adamant to flood warnings from different relevant federal government agencies including the Nigeria Environmental Management Agency, NEMA, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, NIHSA and Nigeria Meteorological Agency, NiMET.

They are urging the Delta state government to immediately intervene in the flood issue looming in the identified flood LGAs and communities in the state as predicted by the government agencies and as well evacuate those living at flood prone areas in the state.

Flood also ravaged some homes at the Jeddo area , Chairman of the Odume layout, Engr. Osuogu appealed to the Delta state government and other interventionist agencies to come to their aid by constructing the access roads in the adjoining streets to the New Okpe road as well construct more bigger drainage in order to allow easy flow of the water to the drains.

Here is the statement of the government agencies warning of intending flooding: “the Director-General, National Environment Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Mustapha Ahmed, said that the agency had identified 233 local government areas in 32 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) which were predicted to experience flooding this year. Ahmed made this disclosure at a national consultative workshop on 2022 flood preparedness, mitigation and response organised by the agency in Abuja.

“According to him, the workshop was one of the steps outlined by the agency to bring stakeholders together, and was aimed at collectively preparing and providing strategies to strengthen flood risk mitigation and effective response. According to him, this followed the 2022 seasonal climate prediction released by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and the annual flood outlook released by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).

“He said: “Efforts must be made to mitigate and respond effectively to flooding. We have sent advisory letters and maps showing predicted flood risk areas in various states to the respective state governments.” While explaining that NEMA had produced risk maps for vulnerable local government areas as forecast by NIHSA’s annual flood outlook, the NEMA boss urged state emergency management agencies and local emergency management committees to be proactive. This, he said, would ensure effective and efficient flood preparedness, mitigation and response. On her part, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Farouq, called on relevant stakeholders to take proactive measures in addressing flood and its associated impacts”.

By: Celestine Ukah

The gateway to Warri the popular Effurun Rounded in Uvwie LGA , Delta state is currently blocked as at 8pm this evening Friday September 23, 2022.

The cause of the blockade is as a result of the collapsed part of the roundabout suffering from lingering neglect by the Delta State government for the past years .

Committees and other road users were groan over the huge traffic gridlock always occurring at the roundabout daily without solution from the state government.

As at the time of filling this report heavy duty vehicles and other cars plying the route especially those transiting from Warri to Sapele, Benin, Portharcourt in Rivers State , Bayelsa and other parts of the country including entrance to the Warri and Effurun as well as Udu and Osubi in Okpe LGAs of the stare .