Straight Talk with Chukwudi Obi

Chukwudi Obi Barring any last-minute changes, members of Imo state University Alumni Association, Abia Distinctive Chapter have concluded arrangements to host their monthly general meeting in Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the state.  In a statement signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Uchenna Ugochukwu, and made available to newsmen in Umuahia, the state capital, the meeting is scheduled to take place at Tiger Bar, Opposite Abia Poly Aba while time is 3pm.  The meeting, he said, which is the first of its kind in the history of the Chapter is geared towards giving graduates of Imo state university who reside in Aba a sense of belonging and ensure that they are carried along in the scheme of things.  In his own words, the Chairman of the chapter, Mr. John Ogbuji while encouraging recent and old graduates to avail themselves of the opportunity to meet with other professionals, network and drive development at the grassroot level, noted that the historic meeting...

At a site in the Western Desert, some 650 km south of Cairo, one of the world’s largest and most ambitious solar energy projects is underway. The Benban Solar Park will produce enough electricity to power one million homes. But more than that, it is part of a whole new strategy for infrastructure projects that will see the Egyptian government start to work closely with private enterprise. It is expected to go live in 2019, at which point it will house 32 power stations across a 37km2 site, and will be capable of generating 1,650 megawatts of electricity. This will go a long way toward Egypt hitting its goal of having 20% of its energy needs met by renewables. But the effect it will have on the economic fabric and policy-making strategies of the country are equally significant. Egypt is heavily reliant on fossil fuels and almost all the country’s power facilities have been built and owned by the government. The government also runs a series of costly fuel subsidy schemes, whic...

Four Vietnamese men were charged yesterday with obstructing the work of police officers and threatening to beat them in anger over the closure of their fish-farming operation on a state lake. Captain Mao Leang, Prek Pnov district penal police officer, said those charged were Ho Yainghong, 52; Nguven Yaingdang, 34; Choeung Voeunglin, 29; and Yor Taing Toeung, 28. All were fish-farmers in Prek Pnov commune, in Phnom Penh’s Prek Phnov district. Cap Leang said that they were charged by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court prosecutor with obstruction of public officials. They face up to a year in jail each and a fine up to about $500 (N180,425)each if convicted. He said that at about 3.30pm on Friday, police inspected the accused’s fish-farming areas which had been constructed in Samrong lake in Prek Phnov district and which were on prohibited public land. He said after the inspection, police tried to confiscate their farming materials. But the accused did not allow police to sei...

Environmentalists are fighting in the United States of America are fighting a solar farm project that would help Georgetown University dramatically reduce its Greenhouse Gas emissions. These environmentalists argue that the project, which involves razing about 210 acres of trees in rural Charles County,  could endanger the area’s birds and lead to runoff that would put tributaries to the Chesapeake Bay at risk. Officials at Origis Energy, the solar company hired by Georgetown insist that they are prioritizing the safety of the Bay adding that “trade-offs are necessary” in renewable energy projects. Reductions in greenhouse emissions from the solar panels, they maintain, would be equivalent to planting hundreds of thousands of trees. “Green projects do not destroy green resources. If you destroy what is saving our climate in the name of fighting climate change, the effort is hollow.” said Linda Redding, an accountant from La Plata who is part of a determined group of environme...

Google has recently signed its first green deal in Asia, a solar project to be built above fishing ponds in Taiwan.  Building solar projects over water is becoming more common in Asia due to population density and competition for available land. Worldwide, the floating solar market is expected to reach 400 gigawatts, according to World bank.  The Google project development team has not yet decided how the solar panels will be situated above the water, according to a company spokeswoman, but the company is currently focused on poles that would have solar panels hoisted on top of them, a concept known as a "canopy" system.  Google's fishing pond project may differ from many water-based solar efforts that use structures like pontoons to float the solar panels directly on the water. While it is possible to float solar panels directly on the surface of fish farms — it has been done on projects overseas.  Shade has been presented as a key benefit of floating pho...

Obi Chukwudi The Imo State chapter of National Fish Association Of Nigeria has concluded arrangements to hold her meeting in Owerri,  the IMO state capital. A statement jointly signed by the chairman of the chapter,  Mr. Samuel Nwokocha,  the secretary Mr. Oscar Alaneme and the facilitator, Dr Chukwunyere Ekeledo puts the day at Wednesday October 25, venue at 170 Douglas road by Emmanuel College roundabout, Aba road, Owerri while time is 1pm. Some of the areas where fish farmers will be trained in include but not limited to introduction into opportunities in Nigerian Fish Industry and introduction into Loans/Grants available for National Fish Association of Nigeria Members. While the training of IMO fish farmers on aquaculture value chain is continuous,  the statement adds that members will also be guided in to benefit from grants and opportunities in the industry.

The Kaduna State Government has imposed a 24 hour curfew on the Kasuwan Magani community. Security forces have been deployed to contain an outbreak of violence in the community which is located in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state. The 24-hour curfew takes immediate effect from today, a statement by Samuel Aruwan , Senior Special Assistant to the Governor (Media and Publicity) said. 

RELEASE: As part of efforts to ensure a hitch-free Lagos City Marathon scheduled to take place on Saturday, February 10, 2018, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has announced traffic diversion on the affected routes during the race. A statement issued on Wednesday by the Authority, said that the event will kick-off at 6am from the National Stadium, Surulere and terminate at Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island, thus necessitating traffic diversion. The statement advised motorists and commercial vehicles to use alternative routes as listed below: •        From Eko Bridge, motorists shall be diverted through Costain to connect Ebute-Metta, Orile, Nigerian Breweries and Bode Thomas through Apapa Road (now Moshood Abiola Way). •        From Alaka Estate, motorists shall be diverted through Iponri or Iponri Estate. •        Motorists from Masha inward journey to Stadium shall be diverted to ...

The rejection of the bill for the establishment of the South East Development Commission by the House of Representatives does not demonstrate the desired spirit of national accommodation and sensitivity towards the people and problems of the South East Zone. The South East caucus of the National Assembly must however be commended for bringing the issues of the needs of the region to the front burner. It is also heartwarming to note that a good number of lawmakers from other geo-political zones supported the bill. This is laudable act, shiwing shows that other regions are beginning to appreciate the issues related to the developmental predicaments of the South East. The current momentary hitch in the bid to establish a South East Development Commission must not be seen as the end of the road, or a badge of defeat. It should become a rallying stimulus for all men of good conscience across our nation to strive towards restrategizing appropriately in order to redress the shameful neglec...

Where do I keep the booty Prof Niyi Osundare "My Lord, please tell me where to keep your bribe? Do I drop it in your venerable chambers Or carry the heavy booty to your immaculate mansion Shall I bury it in the capacious water tank In your well laundered backyard Or will it breathe better in the septic tank Since money can deodorize the smelliest crime Shall I haul it up the attic Between the ceiling and your lofty roof Or shall I conjure the walls to open up And swallow this sudden bounty from your honest labour Shall I give a billion to each of your paramours The black, the light, the Fanta-yellow They will surely know how to keep the loot In places too remote for the sniffing dog Or shall I use the particulars Of your anonymous maidservants and manservants With their names on overflowing bank accounts While they famish like ownerless dogs Shall I haul it all to your village In the valley behind seven mountains Where potholes swallow up the hugest jeep An...

MEMORY AND NATION BUILDING: BIAFRA 50 YEARS AFTER:   A SOBER REFLECTION. Introduction. Before I thank the organisers of this Conference and pay my tribute to the Memory of my friend, late Major-General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, in whose Foundation Center this historic event is being organised, let me quickly dismiss certain lingering pernicious fallacies that have dominated all discussion about the coup of January 15, 1966 and the Biafra War. First, the Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Ahmed Joda, has alluded to the January 15, 1966 coup as an Igbo coup that, according to him, was replied by a Northern coup of July 29 1966. Let it be said loud and clear that that coup, namely January 15, 1966 coup, was not an Igbo coup. It was a coup led by certain Igbo and Yoruba Officers, involving the active participation of soldiers from the North. The aim, as has been stated again and again, by the leaders of the coup was to release Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who was in detention at the tim...

Dear Nigerians, I bring you good wishes from President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, who as we all know is away from the country on medical vacation. Today marks the second anniversary of our assumption of office. We must thank the Almighty God not only for preserving our lives to celebrate this second anniversary, but for giving us hope, strength and confidence as we faced the challenges of the past two years. Our administration outlined three specific areas for our immediate intervention on assumption of office: these were Security, Corruption and the Economy. In the Northeast of our country, the terrorist group Boko Haram openly challenged the sovereignty and continued existence of the state, killing, maiming, and abducting, causing the displacement of the largest number of our citizens in recent history. Beyond the North East they extended their mindless killings, as far away as Abuja, Kano And Kaduna. But with new leadership and renewed confidence our gallant military immediately b...

Never in my entire stay in Umuahia, not even when the Acting President Prof Yemi Osinbajo paid a visit to Umuahia, the Abia State capital have I seen and witnessed the show of force as exhibited by the Nigerian Police Force,  The Army,  even the Nigerian Prisons service and the FRSC! Like in the movies as if the FBI was hunting a terrorist, the surveillance helicopter hovered around the Isi gate axis first, at about 11.30 am. The distance from the helicopter to the ground was quite close, enough not only for one to read the large inscription of "Police" in blue paint,  but also the terrifying breeze that came with it scared street traders who took their heels. Their wares well balanced on their head, they took to their heels in fear that the large bird was about to crash.  But I got the hint when not quite far off I could hear a siren blaring.  I knew quite well that the Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu did not go around with sirens. That was part of his routine a...

FULL TEXT OF PRESIDENT GENERAL OHANEZE NDIGBO, DR NNIA NWODO'S SPEECH AT BIAFRA @ 50 COMMEMORATION ON MAY 25, 2017. 50 YEARS AFTER BIAFRA: REFLECTIONS AND HOPES PROTOCOLS: 1. I am grateful to Shehu Musa Yar Adua Foundation, Ford Foundation and OSIWA - the co-sponsors of this event for your kind invitation. I commend your foresight in convening this conference, the first major conference discussing Biafra outside of Igboland. Nigeria. In hosting this conference the Yar’Adua Centre, which is best known for promoting national cohesion, honours the legacy of a great patriot: Shehu Musa Yar Adua. He died building bridges of understanding across our nation. I salute his family and associates for sustaining the legacy of Shehu through the works of this Foundation. 2.  It is significant that you have chosen to harvest sober memories of Biafra. By so doing, you help us to wisely situate today’s talks of Biafra in the proper context: namely, as an opportunity for nation build...

{Nigerians are trained not to think and talk} I was discussing with a group of friends yesterday and as you can rightly guess it was about Nigeria. We were trying to find out were we went wrong as a country and what we need to do to return to the path of progress. It was a heated but revealing argument and many of us seemed to believe that Nigeria will eventually become great and I asked how? And the response is that God will intervene. I have listened to such lazy and inconsequential submission for long that I want to say something about it now. One of the main problems we have as a nation is our culture. We developed a culture of indifference and non engagement on critical issues at family level. At family level young people are not allowed to ask questions especially when adults have taken decision even when the decision may not be right. We were told that the decision of elders are final so young people are not allowed to interrogate or question these decisions because our cult...

Former Vice President of Nigeria and All People Congress APC, chieftain, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has advocated for legislations and incentives to promote girl child education in Nigeria. This is as the Turaki Adamawa called for the abolition of practices which jeopardize the educational interest of the girl child in the country. Atiku, who made these comments on his Facebook page to mark International Day of the Girl Child yesterday, said promotion of equal socioeconomic opportunities will spur the girl child to maximize her full potentials. “Let us talk solutions for improving education access for girls in Nigeria. #DayoftheGirl. 1. Legislation to promote girl child education. Compulsory enrollment is critical. 2. Abolition of practices which jeopardize the educational interests of the girl child and enforcing these laws. 3. Providing incentives for enrollment of girls, to ensure girls are kept in school. 4. Promotion of equal socio economic opportunities to spur girls into ma...

Atita's corner Guest Columnist Chidiebere Collins Today, marks a watershed in the annals of the history of the National Assembly  under the mantra of fight against or for corruption. Today, the number one law maker will be arraigned before a court of law for allegedly breaching the code of conduct for public officers. There is the additional charge of willful absence from attending court for which there is a bench warrant. These are mere allegations but they are weighty. It is important to underscore that a fundamental principle of law is that every accused person is presumed innocent until found guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction. Our law is predicated on the principle that he who alleges must prove. Today, Senator Bukola Saraki will go and have that proverbial handshake with the law for which it is a popular aphorism that nobody is above the law. Nobody is indeed above the law. The matter is for all intents and purposes a criminal trial and the accused will be requ...