Analysis of Benue – the state that has been hit hard

No fewer than 15,000 persons have been rendered homeless as flood wreaked havoc in Benue communities last weekend. Then, on Wednesday, 30 August, Makurdi, the state capital, was again flooded after a five-hour downpour. The downpour, which started around 12.24am, lasted till 5am, rendered thousands of residents homeless, and destroyed lots of properties. The areas mostly hit are are Zone 4, Wurukum, Gebade, Nyinma, Ghana, Naka Road, Wadatta Gboko Road and Media village in Achusa, and this caused panic among residents of neighbouring Nasarawa state. In reaction to the latest incident, the state governor, Samuel Ortom, called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene in the problem of flooding in the state. Ortom had inspected the flooded areas on Wednesday and described the problem as overwhelming, serving as salt in the injury of a state currently faced with challenges of paying workers’ salaries. He then directed the State Emergency Management Agency to liaise with the National Emergency Management Agency for the purpose of assisting displaced persons. The governor also ordered that excavators should be used to create emergency water channels, pending Federal Government’s intervention, as he specifically requested the Federal Government to consider the release of ecological funds to Benue State, maintaining that if urgent steps were not taken, the sad experience of 2012 might repeat itself. Benue floods over the last two years 21 Aug 2015 – About 200 houses and huts were swept away on Friday in Makurdi, the Benue state capital, following more than four hours of torrential downpour. 31 Aug 2016 – At least nine people were reported missing in Benue state as a result of flooding from Kereke stream in the state, which overflowed its bound. 10 Sept 2016 – No fewer than ten persons have been reportedly swept away by flood in Guma local government area of Benue state, following days of torrential rains in the state. 4 Aug 2017 – Floods destroyed many property and rendered thousands homeless in Makurdi, capital of Benue state Friday, 4 Aug, as five local governments were badly affected. 27 Aug 2017 – No fewer than 15,000 people were sacked from their homes by an early morning rainstorm, Saturday, and a resultant flood that submerged over 2,000 houses in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, and its environs. The blame game begins A radio station, Wurukum Market, and seven communities were submerged following Saturday night’s heavy downpour in Makurdi. Other communities, according to the report, affected were Welfare Quarters, Benue State University community, New Kanshio village, and Rice Mill Wadata as well as Idye and Achusa villages. Joseph Ustev, the state’s commissioner of Water Resources and Environment, who alongside Commissioner for Land, Survey and Solid Minerals, Bernard Unenge went round the town for an assessment on Sunday explained that the ministry needed adequate funds to mitigate the situation, adding, as the disaster was caused by blocked drainages in some areas. Utsev also said that federal help was needed. “Benue Government is looking for ways in which River Benue can be dredged. This is because by dredging the river, majority of the water can be accommodated to prevent future overflow. “The ongoing research so far, showed that the preliminary study will cost about N8 billion while the main project will gulp about N300 billion. “This is where we need federal government financial intervention to execute the project, since the funds are much.” However, a state Emergency Agency official who refused to give his name said that cause of the problem may be closer to home. He alleged that the previous administration of Gabriel Suswam had created many new residential layouts in Makurdi without a proper drainage control system. He however added that the Ortom government had thus far chosen to ignore the problem, which has led to the same issues recurring year after year. During the inspection of the affected areas, the Executive Secretary, Benue State Emergency Management Agency, Boniface Ortese, said that proactive measures will be put in place to address the situation, including clearing of buildings that had sprung up along drainage channels. Ortese said that more than 110,000 persons in 24 communities, including Makurdi, were displaced by the flooding, and more than 2,769 households were affected, including houses in Achusa, Idye, Wurukum Market, Genabe, Industrial Layout, Demekpe, Wadata Market, Katungu, behind the Civil Service Commission, Agboughul-Wadata among others. Paul Abuku, a Makurdi resident who spoke to Daily Times said that a lot of buildings have been submerged. He also said that there was an economic impact as many farms had been lost in this agricultural region. “Fish farmers have also had their fish swim away, and incidences of snake bite are rife as the snakes enter buildings with the water,” Abuku said. “Properties have been lost, and hundreds have been rendered homeless, living like refugees wherever they can find shelter right now.” Benue opens camps for refugees In one of his reactions, the state governor, Sam Ortom, announced the official opening of two camps for Internally Displaced Persons. Mr Ortom made the announcement after inspecting flooded areas within Makurdi and its environs, saying that the empty International Market and the Presidential Building at Agan Toll Gate would become camps for IDPs, pending when water level would subside, with a resounding assurance that his administration would do everything possible to provide minimum comfort to all displaced persons while in camps.

2019: I’m not interested in politics, Dangote tells PDP

…Says his passion is to create jobs for Nigerians …’No think thank committee has contacted me’ …Warns politicians to stop dropping his name Africa richest man and billionaire businessman, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has declared that he has no interest in politics, advising that politicians and political parties should leave him alone and stop dropping his name. Dangote, who is the President/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dangote Group of Companies, specifically warned that nobody should set him on a collision course with President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The business mogul stated this while reacting to The Daily Times exclusive report that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its leaders are mounting pressures on him to come and contest for the 2019 presidential election on its platform. Dangote spoke during a telephone interview with The Daily Times in Abuja on Thursday. Members of a think tank committee of the PDP put in place by former President Goodluck Jonathan were said to be wooing Dangote on the issue. But Dangote has made it clear that his primary interest, which he had always made known to everybody, is business with the goal of providing jobs for millions of people in addition to wealth creation. He said: “I am an entrepreneur. My passion is to create jobs for Nigerians and not otherwise.” He also disclosed that those who are jealous of successes so far recorded by him in business are the ones desperately trying to link him with the 2019 presidential election. Dangote said: “I am not interested in politics and this is authoritative. No member of any think tank committee has contacted me. People should stop dropping my name for the 2019 presidency. “This whole thing is an attempt by people who do not like me. They are doing all these with a view to putting me on a collision course with President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling party. They are people who are jealous of the successes I have so far recorded in business. “My passion is for business development, provision of jobs and wealth creation, not politics. “I have never shown interest in politics. Am not interested in politics. I am not a politician. My passion has always been business and business. “Buhari is like a father to me. Nobody should try to set me on a collision course with President Buhari. That will not work. I have high regard and respect for the President. “For emphasis once again, I am not a politician. I can’t and won’t confront President Buhari. They should leave him out of any high wire politics and horse trading. I also seize this opportunity to warn name droppers to desist from their infamous act. They should stop using my name for politics. They should not set me on collision course with President Buhari and the government in power”. Continuing, Dangote said: “By the time the ongoing Dangote refinery in Lagos and the sugar projects come on stream fully, there will be a great positive development and thousands of jobs created that will change the narrative in the country. That is my passion”. Ahead of 2019 general elections, high wire politics has begun while politicians have started endless meeting in order to position themselves for different elective posts. But the sudden return of Buhari from medical vacation in London has changed the permutations as the President’s body language and the rousing welcome for him by the ordinary people are now causing some ripples in the political circles.

Read more at: https://dailytimes.ng/news/2019-im-not-interested-politics-dangote-tells-pdp/

…Says his passion is to create jobs for Nigerians …’No think thank committee has contacted me’ …Warns politicians to stop dropping his name Africa richest man and billionaire businessman, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has declared that he has no interest in politics, advising that politicians and political parties should leave him alone and stop dropping his name. Dangote, who is the President/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dangote Group of Companies, specifically warned that nobody should set him on a collision course with President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The business mogul stated this while reacting to The Daily Times exclusive report that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its leaders are mounting pressures on him to come and contest for the 2019 presidential election on its platform. Dangote spoke during a telephone interview with The Daily Times in Abuja on Thursday. Members of a think tank committee of the PDP put in place by former President Goodluck Jonathan were said to be wooing Dangote on the issue. But Dangote has made it clear that his primary interest, which he had always made known to everybody, is business with the goal of providing jobs for millions of people in addition to wealth creation. He said: “I am an entrepreneur. My passion is to create jobs for Nigerians and not otherwise.” He also disclosed that those who are jealous of successes so far recorded by him in business are the ones desperately trying to link him with the 2019 presidential election. Dangote said: “I am not interested in politics and this is authoritative. No member of any think tank committee has contacted me. People should stop dropping my name for the 2019 presidency. “This whole thing is an attempt by people who do not like me. They are doing all these with a view to putting me on a collision course with President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling party. They are people who are jealous of the successes I have so far recorded in business. “My passion is for business development, provision of jobs and wealth creation, not politics. “I have never shown interest in politics. Am not interested in politics. I am not a politician. My passion has always been business and business. “Buhari is like a father to me. Nobody should try to set me on a collision course with President Buhari. That will not work. I have high regard and respect for the President. “For emphasis once again, I am not a politician. I can’t and won’t confront President Buhari. They should leave him out of any high wire politics and horse trading. I also seize this opportunity to warn name droppers to desist from their infamous act. They should stop using my name for politics. They should not set me on collision course with President Buhari and the government in power”. Continuing, Dangote said: “By the time the ongoing Dangote refinery in Lagos and the sugar projects come on stream fully, there will be a great positive development and thousands of jobs created that will change the narrative in the country. That is my passion”. Ahead of 2019 general elections, high wire politics has begun while politicians have started endless meeting in order to position themselves for different elective posts. But the sudden return of Buhari from medical vacation in London has changed the permutations as the President’s body language and the rousing welcome for him by the ordinary people are now causing some ripples in the political circles.

EU water project: Wike releases N100million counterpart funding

Six oil bearing communities in Rivers State will now heave a sigh of relief following the approval for immediate release of N100million as the second tranche counterpart fund for the Rivers State Government/European Union Niger Delta Support Programme (RSG/EU NSDP) for water and sanitation projects in their areas. The State Government had earlier released the first tranche of counterpart fund of N100million to the EU Development Partners. The two benefiting local government areas are Akuku-Toru and Opobo-Nkoro covering Opobo/Nkoro LGA: Opobo,Nkoro and Kalaibiama (2) Akuku-Toru LGA : Abonnema, Kula and Abissa. Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Minister Counsellor of the European Union to Nigeria, Mr Kurt Cornelis to the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Thursday, Governor Nyesom Wike noted that the fact that the State Government paid the first tranche of 50 per cent, proved its commitment to the project. He said: “I have given the authority that by tomorrow the second tranche of N100million be paid. Be rest assured that whatever needs to be done, would be done. I commend the EU for this programme. We will never be a state that will be backwards in water and sanitation projects.” The governor urged the implementers of the Niger Delta Support Programme component 3 to be transparent as when awarding contracts for the projects. “Water and sanitation remain key because they are close to the health of our communities. After this project, we expect the EU to give the state more grants, so that we can extend this to more local government areas,” Governor Wike said. Earlier, the Minister Counselor of the European Union to Nigeria, Mr. Kurt Cornelis called for firm commitment from the State Government on the payment of the remaining 50 per cent counterpart fund for the RSG/EU NDSP Water and sanitation projects in Two LGAs. According to him, the payment is required to determine the scope of the programme. He said that contracts for the programme would be signed on October 26, 2017. He stated: “In principle, we need confirmation of that payment, if we are to carry out 100 per cent of the works. We need to take a decision today about the final scope of projects in Rivers State.” Earlier in June, this year, the leaders of the six benefitting communities had expressed fears that the Rivers State government mmight be dropped out of the N1billion European Union, EU, water projec, if the government failed to pay the balance of N100million, being part of its commitment to the scheme by the end of that month. In a press conference addressed then by the Chairman of the Federation of Water Consumers Association, Chief Iwarimie Diri, on behalf of the beneficiaries said that the project was an EU sponsored water scheme the heavily impacted by pollution areas which were seriously in dire need of drinkable water. He explained that the project estimated at about N1billion was to be carried out by the EU, the Rivers State Government, and the communities which had their own individual commitments. According to him, the EU was expected to provide 70 per cent; Rivers state government, 25 per cent; and the communities 5 per cent and added that all the six communities as well as the EU had paid their counterpart funds into an account dedicated to the project, leaving the state government to complete the balance of its 50 per cent

Six oil bearing communities in Rivers State will now heave a sigh of relief following the approval for immediate release of N100million as the second tranche counterpart fund for the Rivers State Government/European Union Niger Delta Support Programme (RSG/EU NSDP) for water and sanitation projects in their areas. The State Government had earlier released the first tranche of counterpart fund of N100million to the EU Development Partners. The two benefiting local government areas are Akuku-Toru and Opobo-Nkoro covering Opobo/Nkoro LGA: Opobo,Nkoro and Kalaibiama (2) Akuku-Toru LGA : Abonnema, Kula and Abissa. Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Minister Counsellor of the European Union to Nigeria, Mr Kurt Cornelis to the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Thursday, Governor Nyesom Wike noted that the fact that the State Government paid the first tranche of 50 per cent, proved its commitment to the project. He said: “I have given the authority that by tomorrow the second tranche of N100million be paid. Be rest assured that whatever needs to be done, would be done. I commend the EU for this programme. We will never be a state that will be backwards in water and sanitation projects.” The governor urged the implementers of the Niger Delta Support Programme component 3 to be transparent as when awarding contracts for the projects. “Water and sanitation remain key because they are close to the health of our communities. After this project, we expect the EU to give the state more grants, so that we can extend this to more local government areas,” Governor Wike said. Earlier, the Minister Counselor of the European Union to Nigeria, Mr. Kurt Cornelis called for firm commitment from the State Government on the payment of the remaining 50 per cent counterpart fund for the RSG/EU NDSP Water and sanitation projects in Two LGAs. According to him, the payment is required to determine the scope of the programme. He said that contracts for the programme would be signed on October 26, 2017. He stated: “In principle, we need confirmation of that payment, if we are to carry out 100 per cent of the works. We need to take a decision today about the final scope of projects in Rivers State.” Earlier in June, this year, the leaders of the six benefitting communities had expressed fears that the Rivers State government mmight be dropped out of the N1billion European Union, EU, water projec, if the government failed to pay the balance of N100million, being part of its commitment to the scheme by the end of that month. In a press conference addressed then by the Chairman of the Federation of Water Consumers Association, Chief Iwarimie Diri, on behalf of the beneficiaries said that the project was an EU sponsored water scheme the heavily impacted by pollution areas which were seriously in dire need of drinkable water. He explained that the project estimated at about N1billion was to be carried out by the EU, the Rivers State Government, and the communities which had their own individual commitments. According to him, the EU was expected to provide 70 per cent; Rivers state government, 25 per cent; and the communities 5 per cent and added that all the six communities as well as the EU had paid their counterpart funds into an account dedicated to the project, leaving the state government to complete the balance of its 50 per cent

Read more at: https://dailytimes.ng/news/eu-water-project-wike-releases-n100million-counterpart-funding-2/

I Want To Wipe Away The Sorrows Of The Masses – Yul Edochie

Yul Edochie is extremely serious about running for the Anambra state governor’s seat. The Nollywood actor shared a video of himself picking up his nomination form in Abuja. He wrote, “I cannot thank God enough. Join me in thanking Jehovah Almighty as I picked my nomination form yesterday in Abuja to run for Governor of Anambra State 2017, under the platform of the DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S CONGRESS. DPC. I cannot do it alone. I need the support of every well meaning Nigerian who is tired of the old ways. Its a wake-up call for the youths, for the masses. I provide myself as a humble servant to wipe away the sorrows of the masses. The revolution has begun. The problems of the people have come to THE LAST BUS STOP!!!

Yul Edochie is extremely serious about running for the Anambra state governor’s seat. The Nollywood actor shared a video of himself picking up his nomination form in Abuja. He wrote, “I cannot thank God enough. Join me in thanking Jehovah Almighty as I picked my nomination form yesterday in Abuja to run for Governor of Anambra State 2017, under the platform of the DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S CONGRESS. DPC. I cannot do it alone. I need the support of every well meaning Nigerian who is tired of the old ways. Its a wake-up call for the youths, for the masses. I provide myself as a humble servant to wipe away the sorrows of the masses. The revolution has begun. The problems of the people have come to THE LAST BUS STOP!!!”

Read more at: https://dailytimes.ng/entertainment/i-want-wipe-away-sorrows-masses-yul-edochie/