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Soludo Can’t Develop Anambra If…– Dep Gov

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Anambra State Deputy Governor, Onyekachukwu Ibezim, has said that no society can attain development in the face of insecurity.

Ibezim said there is need for all Anambra people to support the state Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, in his quest to secure the state, as only then can the state government achieve its developmental plans for the state.

Ibezim made the call during the Third Session of the 12th Synod of Awka Diocese of theAnglican Communion, which is holding at Saint Peter’s Anglican Church, Abagana, Njikoka Local Government Area.

The deputy governor, while addressing the synod delegates, stated that no meaningful development can thrive in any society that is faced with insecurity.

He called on citizens to join the Anambra State Government in tackling the scourge, stating that phone numbers have been unveiled for citizens to report suspected cases that can lead to attacks, or persons that can aggravate the security of the state.

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He said, “The state government has good plans for Anambra people, but we need your support to deal with insecurity.

“We urge the church to keep supporting and praying for Professor Chukwuma Soludo-led administration. No government can stand without the support of the church.

“I promise that the state government will not pull out from supporting the church.”

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Gov Soludo’s Community Allegedly Invaded By Gunmen, One Policeman Killed

Ibezim re-emphasized the government’s desire to make the state a clean, habitable and prosperous homeland.

He described the theme of the conference, ‘Running the Christian Race: The Implication in this Perilous Times’ as thought provoking.

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He also pleaded with the church to continue to promote the work of evangelism, while decrying the high rate of youth engagement in idolatry.

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Epileptic Power Supply: Lekki Residents Protest, Call For EKEDC Removal

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Residents of Lekki Phase 1 in Eti Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, have expressed frustration over the epileptic power supply being witnessed in the area.

Speaking with journalists earlier today, residents stated that this has been their plight for over five years. They noted that the situation worsened since the beginning of the year, attributing it to lack of investment by the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC).

One of the residents, Chief Theodore Oniopaku bemoaned the situation, citing instances where they barely get thirty minutes of electricity per day and sometimes endure up to eighteen days without power in a month.

He said, “The situation is really bad. We’ve been trying to avoid protests because we don’t want a situation where hoodlums will hijack it like what happened during the End SARS protest.

“But it seems no one is paying attention to our plight. Some of us are retirees, we live on pensions. How can we afford a litre of diesel at N1,600 per litre? How much do we earn in a month?”

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READ ALSO: Court Dismisses Suit Seeking To Stop Elections, Examinations On Saturday

A retired Justice, Eniola Oluokun reiterated these sentiments, noting a six-year struggle with poor power supply in the area.

Oluokun called for independent power supply solutions for the area, criticizing EKEDC’s lack of financial capacity and technical expertise to address the issue effectively.

He said, “Lekki phase 1 residents should be on an Independent Power supply. It is Nigeria’s heartbeat and destination for holiday fun seekers. Most visitors and tourists prefer to stay in Lekki Phase 1.

“Unfortunately, I don’t think EKEDC has the financial capacity and technical expertise to provide electricity in the area.

“Some of their equipments are old and obsolete. Whenever their equipment is faulty, it takes them five to six days to fix leaving the estate without light. Our neighbours in Banana Island who use the Independent Power plant have constant light, but we don’t. It’s a very painful situation.”

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READ ALSO: Electricity Subsidy No Longer Sustainable – FG

Another resident, a retired civil servant who preferred anonymity, blamed past governments, for the collapse of the power generation in Nigeria.

He cited corruption and lack of transparency during the power privatization process as contributing factors.

“The corruption in the power sector where trillions of Naira were diverted to private accounts and lack of transparency during the power privatisation contributed immensely to the collapse of our power generation. If the government refuse to address these two monsters, Nigerians must not expect power soon”. He said.

Recall that the residents’ frustration have once led to a legal action against EKEDC, due to failed promises and billing discrepancies.

In April 2022, Lekki residents petitioned the presidency, represented by Ambassador Ibrahim Gambari MFR, seeking intervention to compel EKEDC to provide adequate power supply comparable to other affluent areas like Victoria Island, Ikoyi, and Banana Island.

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READ ALSO: NDLEA Seizes 44,948kg Drugs, Vehicles In Lagos, Edo, Ondo Raids

At the time, Mogaji Wale Arisekola a resident and media consultant for the estate, expressed grievances over high-end user tariff plans.

He estimated potential damages of N10 billion to N15 billion from EKEDC’s shortcomings and also urged affected estates to seek legal recourse.

Arisekola said, “It is a case of accepting money under false pretext, which is in section 419 in the Nigeria penal code. The whole of Lekki Phase 1 estate no longer wants to have anything to do with EKEDC again. They are tired of paying for darkness. The tariff they put us on is for a minimum of eighteen hours in a day and we are getting less than six hours. We have enough grounds to approach the court of law to demand our fundamental rights.

“We are looking at a damage of N10 billion to N15 billion from EKEDC and the court order barring EKEDC from disturbing the Independent Power supply engaged by the estate. EKEDC’s excuses are no longer acceptable to us in the estate.”

However, despite previous attempts by EKEDC to address customer complaints, including the inauguration of a Customers’ Complaint Unit in Lekki, residents remain dissatisfied with the quality of service.

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Meanwhile, residents are set to embark on a peaceful protest against the injustice by EKEDC on Saturday 30th of March 2024 at the Lekki Phase 1 Gate.

This was made known through the “notice of protest” being circulated on WhatsApp and Zonal groups, which reads in part “…We are tired of sleeping in darkness. Please all Lekki residents must endeavour to participate. We have been sleeping without power for about a month now…”

 

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Nine Things To Know About Ship That Collapsed Baltimore Bridge

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The Francis Scott Key Bridge in the US city of Baltimore collapsed after a ship collided with it, the Maryland Transportation Authority said early Tuesday.

“I-695 Key Bridge collapse due to ship strike,” the MTA posted on social media platform X, referring to the interstate highway.

It urged drivers to avoid the route over the Patapsco River, which it called an “active scene”.

Earlier, the MTA had said interstate lanes in both directions were closed due to an “incident” on the bridge, and that traffic was being redirected.

A police spokesperson from the Baltimore Police Department told NBC News that people were possibly in the river.

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However, in this report, The PUNCH  highlights nine key things to know about the ill-fated ship as culled from AFP.

READ ALSO: US Bridge Collapses After Ship Collision

1. The ship that caused the collapse of a key bridge in Baltimore is named Dali container ship and was recently built to sail under Singapore’s flag.

2. It was constructed by the Korean Hyundai shipyard in 2015 and is 300 metres long (985 feet), 48 metres wide and 24.8 metres tall, with gross tonnage of 95,000 tonnes, making it an average-sized container ship.

3. It had left Baltimore port at 1 am local time Tuesday for a roughly month-long voyage to Colombo in Sri Lanka, according to the site Marine Traffic. It hit the bridge at 1:28 am.

4. The ship belongs to Singapore-based Grace Ocean Pte Ltd, which is owned by a Hong Kong group, and was carrying containers on behalf of Danish shipping giant Maersk.

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READ ALSO: 4 Die In Bauchi Auto Crash As FRSC Returns N1.6m To Families Of Victims

5. Synergy Marine, the Singapore company that operates the Dali, said it was being controlled by two Baltimore port pilots at the time of the collision.

6. There were 22 crew members on board, according to the port of Singapore, and none were injured, according to Synergy, which also says no leaking has been detected.

7. The Dali frequently links Asian ports with the East Coast of the United States and passes through the Panama Canal on March 13 before stopping at New York, Norfolk, and finally, Baltimore.

8. In 2016, soon after commissioning, the Dali accidentally hit a dock in the Belgian port of Antwerp, according to the sites Vessel Finder and Shipwrecklog.

9. It can hold up to 8,344 cubic metres (2.2 million gallons) of fuel, according to Marine Traffic. It is insured by UK-based Britannia.

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Fedpoly Bauchi Matriculates 5,507 Students

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The Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, has on Tuesday, matriculated 5,507 new intakes for the 2023/2024 academic session.

Speaking during the Matriculation ceremony, the Rector of the institution, Alhaji Sani Usman, said that the polytechnic received 7,917 applications for both the National Diploma and Higher National Diploma.

Usman said that 6,843 students were admitted into the institution, out of which only 5,507 were registered and matriculating.

READ ALSO: 4 Die In Bauchi Auto Crash As FRSC Returns N1.6m To Families Of Victims

He explained that 2,732 were admitted into the institution for their Higher National Diploma programmes while 2,775 were admitted for their National Diploma programmes.

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He cautioned the matriculants against what he called pitfalls that derail their path to success.

”As you embark on this journey, I must caution you against the pitfalls that might threaten to derail your path to success.

READ ALSO: Court Sentences Chinese To Death For Killing Nigerian Girlfriend

”Corruption, indecent dressing, examination misconduct, drug abuse, and cultism are scourges that have no place within the walls of this Polytechnic.

”I there urge you to uphold the highest standards of integrity, ethics, and moral values. Let honesty be your compass, and let your actions be guided by the principles of righteousness and fairness,” he said.

Earlier, Mallam Abdullahi Garba, Acting Registrar, disclosed that the polytechnic had organised a week-long orientation exercise for the newly admitted students.

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Garba, urged them to be upright and serious with their academic endeavours.

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