High expectations in MOUAU as Iwe now new VC Pg 12, 13 @newsechonigeria @newsechonigeria @newsechonigeria ...Strong voice echoes the truth ISSN: 2736-0512 WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2021 VOL. 2 NO. 14 N150 Police seal Only payment off Ebonyi PDP can stop our strike Pg 10 Pg 3 Secretariat - Abia teachers Iwe Insecurity: At last IPOB, S'East governors agree Pg 8 on open grazing ban Umahi Kanu Orji Kalu’s arraignment Pg 7 Ugwuanyi laments poor Pg 2 adjourned, EFCC seeks transfer turn out to COVID-19 test Court throws out suit seeking Seplat, NGC raise Ugwu’s sack as Imo PDP $260m to complete Imo chairman Pg 7 gas project Pg 6 News Echo Wednesday, February 3, 2021 P a g e 2 NEWS From Uchenna Ezeadigwe, Awka Anambra Govt set to build ultra-modern nambra State Govern- Ament has concluded plans with a Private firm to international market build an Ultra-Modern In- site, adding that with the 10,000 shops on an expanse internet connectivity, access and faster under conducive state government to assist ternational Market at Isiagu presence of a financier, the of land of about 20.8 hec- roads, hospitals, schools, atmosphere. by providing an access road in Awka South Local Gov- Market will be completed tares will be under the Pri- commercial banks, Flyover Amuzie disclosed that to the site to ease movement ernment Area. on schedule. vate Public Partnership ar- Bridge and basement. the Market structure will of machines and equipment. Speaking to Newsmen The Secretary to the State rangement. The Chairman of the be completed in phases, Spokesperson of the part- in Awka, Governor Willie Government, Professor Obiano said on comple- firm, Chief Jude Amuzie, explaining that seventeen nering commercial bank, Mr. Obiano assured that the Solo Chukwulobelu who tion the Market will be first explained that the Market buildings with one hundred Anayo Nwosu, described the State government will play represented the Governor of its kind in the Sub-Saha- was designed to provide and twenty lock-up shops ultra-modern market as a her role by constructing an disclosed that the market, ran Africa with a design to unique features in making each will be ready for use by gateway to other projects that access road to the project which is expected to house have modern facilities like Market transactions easier April, 2021. will promote the economic He commended Gover- prospects of Anambra State nor Willie Obiano for the and assured that the Bank is confidence reposed in the committed to the project. Medical practitioner charges firm and appealed to the Imolites on regular check-ups NIN: FG extends subscriber By Ikenna Orioha qualified doctors, experts rics and gynecology, pae- Oleru noted that the hos- identity integration by eight in various fields of medi- diatrics, kidney treatment pital was one of the best US-based Medical cine with nurses being reg- centre, dialysis centre, eye in the state and beyond C o m m u n i c a t i o n s a n d Doctor, Chima Oleru, istered in tune with profes- clinic, neurosurgery/neu- weeks A with about sixty five expe- Digital Economy, Isa has charged citizens of Imo sional standards in order to rology” among others. h e F e d e r a l rienced staff employed to Pantami. State to ensure that they go render adequate medical The ceremony witnessed Gover nment has work there. He quoted Pantami as for regular medical check- service to the people. the presence of Anglican Textended the ongoing conveying the message Oleru, who is the found- ups to stay healthy in the He maintained that he Bishop of Egbu Diocese, National Identification er and medical director of during the meeting of the face of COVID-19. has rendered humanitar- Most Rev Dr Geoffrey Number and Subscriber the hospital said that the Ministerial Taskforce on Speaking after the official ian service to his people Enyinnaya Okoroafor, Identity Module integration hospital could be meas- NIN-SIM registration which commissioning of Medical through free medical care/ who commissioned the exercise by eight weeks. ured with international held on the 1st of February, City Hospital at Hill Top treatment, award of schol- hospital, former governor The new deadline, according standard with the United 2021. beside Road Safety Junc- arship to students and of Imo State, Rt. Hon. to the Director, Public States facilities, having Federal Government had, on tion, Egbu, Owerri North, youths among others for Emeka Ihedioha, HRH, A f f a i r s , N i g e r i a n December 15, 2020, declared ten years. Eze Michelle Uchenna Eg- C o m m u n i c a t i o n s that after December 30, NHRC records 130 cases Oleru stated that the hos- bukole (the Ochoromma Commission, Ikechukwu 2020, all SIMs that were not pital has “an accident and VI of Egbu Ancient King- Adinde, will now be April 6, registered with valid NINs of sexual and gender-based emergency room, general dom) community, Special 2021. o n t h e n e t w o r k o f medicine and surgery, ma- Adviser to the Governor Adinde, who disclosed to t e l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s violence in Enugu ternity unit, laboratory ser- on Health, Dr. Mrs. Ok- newsmen in Abuja, said the c o m p a n i e s w o u l d b e vice that produces results ereke Macillina. extension was conveyed by blocked. From Chuma Austin, Enugu ments”. within 1hour having obstet- t h e M i n i s t e r o f Ojukwu said that the inci- Special investiga- dent raised an outcry on the tion panel on Sex- SGBV menace in homes, A ual and Gender work places, church places, Governor Ugwuanyi decries poor Based Violence, (SGBV) and other places of worship. inaugurated by the Nation- “The case of little Ochanya issue now, that's why masks al Human Rights Commis- in Benue state can also not turnout to COVID-19 test are very important. We don't sion (NHRC) has said that be overemphasize”, Ojuk- know who will succumb to From Chuma Austin, c o r o n av i r u s p a n d e m i c, ''While appealing to the COVID-19 or who will die; so, it received a total of 130 wu noted. we have to preach to our cases on human rights vio- “Details of the terms of ref- Enugu making rapid testing difficult. residents to submit themselves Obi and his counterpart said for testing and observe all non- people to wear face masks; lation in the country. erence of the panel, include ove r n o r I f e a n y i t a k e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y b y The Executive Secretary of but not limited to review Ugwuanyi of Enugu "Enugu now has a total of pharmaceutical measures, he 1738 cases of COVID-19. Out stressed that “our people must protecting the next person the National Human Rights extant laws and regulations GState has decried the around you. of that number, there are 296 know that COVID-19 is not a Commission, Tony Ojuk- applicable to joint task forc- poor turnout of residents of “The new strain is already active cases, 1421 discharged death sentence; it should not wu, disclosed this while es in all the states and FCT the state for COVID-19 test. appearing in Nigeria and and 21 deaths” carry a stigma. speaking at the commence- in particular, especially Ugwuanyi, who spoke information is that it is On efforts to ramp up testing, “Ramping up testing is very ment of its hearing in Enu- the Abuja Environmental through his Commissioner of transmitted faster and it can the commissioner said though important; it will help in gu last Monday. Protection Board (AEPB) Health, Dr Emmanuel Obi, kill faster sample collection centres were planning and for vaccines and Ojukwu noted that the and the State Information He lauded the health workers and whether such laws and opened in each of the 17 Local other forms of response. Not South East accounted for regulations are compliant Commissioner, Chidi Aroh, in the State, noting that “they said several residents were yet Government Areas, “response carrying out tests will give us a have been doing very well in the highest number of cases with Chapter 4 of the 1999 is not encouraging. Our people wrong sense of relaxation and response to the pandemic. with thirty-five, represent- Constitution and other in- to come to terms with the reality of the second wave of are not coming out for testing''. peace''. ing 30% of the total com- ternational human rights “Community spread is an plaints received. conventions and protocols The NHRC scribe ex- applicable to Nigeria. plained that the panel was “Others are to identify indi- constituted as a result of the viduals directly responsible Focus on Biafra, Bishop tells Ohanaeze complaint received on April for any violations and abus- he apex Igbo socio-cultur- need any distractions from appointments, so far made would continue to teleguide 26, 2019, where armed se- es and make recommen- Tal organization, Ohanaeze any person or group.” by the present administra- him or worst still, cut his ten- curity personnel led by the dations for further actions Ndigbo, has been told to for- “We see such comment as tion, coupled with incessant ure short by ousting him out get the 2023 Presidency and one of such distractions and shootings and killings of Igbo of power prematurely.