News

Gov Eno Orders Relocation Of Chinese Firm Over Environmental Infractions

Published

3 years ago

August 25, 2023

Editor

Charges manufacturing investors to move into the State Industrial Park

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom state has ordered the immediate relocation of a Chinese manufacturing firm, Golden Tripod International Limited, located in Ikot Ebido Oku, Itu Local Government Area, in response to increasing public allegations of unhealthy emissions from its factory.

Eno as a fallout of Thursday’s flag-off construction of 2.2Km Tabernacle Road project gave the order to move the Chinese firm which deploys aluminum for production of brake pads for tricycles and motorcycles to the State Industrial Park as befitting location for such ventures.

The governor directed, “The Commissioner for Environment and Commissioner for Internal Security, I want to have a report on what this factory manufactures in the next 48 hours.

“I understand that there is always serious emissions around here. Please, first, find out what they do and immediately relocate them to the Industrial Park. It is not proper to site factories in the middle of a city”

Recall that the immediate past administration in Akwa Ibom had on July 2022 ordered shutdown of the firm’s operations for same violation of environmental standards.

The penultimate directive came after then Commissioner for Environment and Solid Minerals, Charles Udoh led team from his ministry, the State House of Assembly Committee on Environmental Pollution and Akwa Ibom Waste Environmental Protection Management Agency (AKSEPWMA) paid an unscheduled visit to the factory.

Angered by interrogation and demand by the state government fact finding team for necessary documents authorizing the company’s operations in the state , the managers had allegedly ordered their workers to attack the government officials.

The development which created tension in the area, led to arrest and subsequent arraignment of the firm’s Managing Director, Mr. Lin ZI and the Marketing Manager, Mr. Peter Yuan at the time.

Vanguard gathered that the state assembly had earlier invited the management of the company to appear before it following series of petitions from the host community, but the company had ignored the invitation.

Since the July 2022 encounter, the company had assured the State government that they would move out of the location even as they had pleaded for sometime to enable them move their heavy factory machines.

The failure of the firm to meet the relocation promise had increased the agitation by residents in the area who are worried that the delayed exit of the firm portents greater environmental dangers to the public, prompting the latest response from Governor Eno.

Urging investors in manufacturing in the State to utilize the designated lndustral Park, Eno assured, “We are going to fence it round, put police station there. We are going to put a power station there and make water available too. It will be like any industrial park anywhere in the world.

“The park has been partitioned into one 150 plots of between four thousand and five thousand square meters. What we are saying is that those who are ready to establish industries should come and analyse the kind of industry they intend to create.

“They will tell us the time frame and the number of people that will be employed, and we will then allocate lands for them.”

News

Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court

Published

6 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.

Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.

The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.

They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.

The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.

In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.

The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.

The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.

According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.

However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

11 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

12 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.