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Ikpeazu to release N30m for Asa Electricity Project

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Ikpeazu to release N30m for Asa Electricity Project
Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia on Wednesday said he would immediately release N30 million to Ukwa West Local Government Area for Asa Electricity Project he earlier promised.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this was contained in a statement signed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Onyebuchi Ememanka, issued in Aba.
The governor disclosed this during a meeting with leaders of Ukwa West LGA who paid him a solidarity visit in Aba
Ikpeazu said the money would hit their bank account immediately the meeting ended on Wednesday.
He challenged them to ensure the project’s delivery before the end of September, to ensure Ukwa West LGA residents have their own dedicated source of electricity.
Ikpeazu also announced that he had released funds to the contractor handling the Uratta – Umuozuo – Umuekechi – Obokwe – Ugwati road.
The governor told them that the first phase of the project, which covered Uratta to Umuekechi, had been completed.
He said the second phase of the project from Umuekechi to Ugwati would commence from Aug. 22, promising that the work would not stop until completion.
He, therefore, tasked the people of the area to own the project and cooperate with the contractor.
Ikpeazu also assured the LGA that government would soon announce the appointment of its indigene as the substantive Chairman of Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ASOPADEC).
He told the delegation that he delayed the appointment to ensure that all issues surrounding the matter were properly addressed before the announcement.
He reiterated that Asa sons and daughters must be the only ones to be appointed Chairman of ASOPADEC and tasked them to support whoever is eventually appointed.
Ikpeazu told them that Enyimba Economic City Project remained the most audacious economic development project in the entire South East of Nigeria.
He said that Afrexim Bank had invested $150 million into the project while the Federal Government handed the management of its 20 per cent equity holding in the project through the Sovereign Wealth Fund.
 The governor said another crucial meeting on the project would hold in Barbados soon where he would require an indigene of Ukwa West to accompany him.
He urged the leaders and people of Ukwa West to remain steadfast in their support for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and vote for the it in 2023 elections.
The leader of the delegation, Chief Don Ubani, told the governor that the people of Ukwa West LGA were fully behind the PDP in the 2023 elections.
He thanked Ikpeazu for the release of the funds for the Asa Electricity Project and assured him that the funds would be judiciously used for quick completion of the project.
He told the governor that Asa people had adopted him as their sole candidate for the Senatorial seat in 2023.
He also said a motion for that was moved by the member representing Ukwa West State Constituency at the State Assembly, Mr Goddy Adiele.
Those present at the meeting were the Executive Chairman of Ukwa West LGA, Chief Okey Kanu, Commissioner for Environment, Mr Sam Nwogu, and Mr Chinedum Elechi.
Others who were part of the delegation includes Mr Ralph Egbu, Mr Tony Mezie – Nwaubani and Mr Henry Chilaka.
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NCDMB’s Exec Sec, Ogbe Bags NSE’s Fellowship

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The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe was on Wednesday inducted into the Fellowship of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).

Biztellers reports that the investiture was performed by the President/Chair-in-Council of the NSE, Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntala, FNSE at a ceremony in Abuja.

Oguntala congratulated the 63 new inductees and urged them to uphold the values of their new position in their field of engineering. She highlighted that engineers have been at the forefront of driving progress and development across various sectors of the economy, notably in the oil and gas industry.

She particularly lauded the ES of NCDMB for his excellent leadership and expertise through the strategic development of local content and in-country value retention, which is a testament to his brilliance in the field of engineering.

Oguntala also applauded the strategic partnership between the NSE, the NCDMB and other stakeholders in the oil and gas industry.

Similarly, the chairman Board of Fellows/College of Fellows, Engr. Kamila Maliki, FNSE, commended the new inductees for their resilience, dedication, and contribution to the field of engineering.

He added that it was not a small feat to be chosen for the investiture due to the rigorous and thorough nature of the selection process.

The ES later was joined by the Managing Director of Setraco Nigeria Limited, Engr. Ziad Mouannes and Senator Patrick Ndubueze for the unveiling of the very first edition of the 2024 NSE Quarterly Magazine.

Some senior officials of the Board who accompanied the ES to the event included the Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, Abdulmalik Halilu, Director, Project Certification and Authorization, Engr. Abayomi Bamidele, and the General Manager, Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination, Esueme Dan Kikile, Esq.

Before he was appointed the ES of NCDMB, Engr. Ogbe had nearly 30 years top-level career in the field of engineering in the employment of Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), before retiring voluntarily to set up his private firm.

His last position at Chevron Nigeria was Construction Services Group Superintendent, and he oversaw 200 personnel, including Nigerian nationals and expatriates.

Other notable positions he held at the company included Offshore Projects Manager, Construction Manager (Lagos, Escravos -Warri), Construction Engineer (San Ramon) in California, United States of America.

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Soldiers Shut Down Banex Plaza After Clash With Traders [Video]

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On Saturday evening, armed soldiers shut down the popular Banex Plaza in the Wuse 2 district of Abuja after a clash between traders and three soldiers over a phone sale dispute.

According to eyewitness Okechukwu Daniel, the incident began on Saturday afternoon when a young military man returned to a phone shop, claiming a phone he bought about a month ago was faulty.

Daniel, also a trader at Banex Plaza, stated that the seller refused to accept the phone back due to the lengthy period that had passed since the sale.

He said “When the phone seller refused to collect the phone back, the young guy threatened him that he will shut down his shop for refusing to collect the phone, and the seller told him to do his worse.

“That was when he got angry and went to one of the barracks close by and brought two soldiers to come and harass the phone seller for him to collect the phone back.

“When the two soldiers got to the phone shop to threaten the seller, he still refused to collect the phone. The soldiers got angry and wanted to use force on him, that was when other traders came to the rescue of the phone seller and beat up the two soldiers.”

Daniel added that after the soldiers were assaulted, they went back to the barracks to gather reinforcements.

When they returned to Banex Plaza to confront the phone seller and other traders, the traders had already fled from their shops.

He added “When over 50 soldiers who were visibly angry got to the plaza, they could not find the traders that beat up their colleagues, so they decided to shut down the plaza by asking everyone to leave. Anyone found around the plaza was asked to do frog jump and other punishment,”

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EFCC Returns $22k Recovered From Fraudster To FBI

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed the transfer of $22,000, recovered from a convicted internet fraudster, Hakeem Olanrewaju, to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).

Dele Oyewale, the commission’s spokesperson disclosed on Saturday that the handover took place in Lagos State on Friday.

Acting Director of EFCC Lagos Zonal Command, Michael Wetkas, expressed appreciation for the collaboration and assured of EFCC’s continued efforts in combating financial crimes.

During the event, FBI’s Legal Attaché Charles Smith praised the EFCC for its action.

He said “The EFCC and FBI work collaboratively together, and it is thanks to the EFCC that we can recover funds of this nature, especially from Business email Compromise, BEC.

“This type of crime cripples businesses in the US, and for them to recover the money within one to two years gives hope to the affected companies and brings some level of justice, even if not all subjects have been identified.

“We hope our relationship continues and fosters a more cohesive partnership between the two agencies. If there’s anything the FBI can do to support this investigation, we will do so. We appreciate this on behalf of the FBI and thank the EFCC.”

On August 15, 2023, Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, mandated that the funds retrieved from Olanrewaju, serving a two-year prison term for identity theft and impersonation, be returned to his victim in the US.

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