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Ondo, Edo Leads In Lassa Fever Cases, With 190 Deaths Recorded This Year

December 23, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) recorded 1,154 confirmed cases of Lassa fever out of the 9,492 suspected cases, and 190 deaths so far in 2024.

The Director General of the NCDC, Jide Idris, who disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, noted that the Emergency Operations Centre has been activated for Lassa fever, and the risk assessment categorised it as high.

Idris said the agency continues to address the current Lassa Fever outbreak during this peak season.

Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus, and the natural reservoir for the virus is the multimammate rat (also known as the African rat). Other rodents can also act as carriers of the virus.

The virus spreads through direct contact with droppings from the urine, faeces, saliva, or blood of infected rats; contact with objects, household items, and surfaces contaminated with infected rats’ urine, faeces, saliva, or blood.

Consuming food or water contaminated with these droppings; and person-to-person transmission can also occur through direct contact with the blood, urine, faeces, vomit, and other body fluids of an infected person.

According to him, Lassa fever remains endemic in Nigeria, posing a significant public health risk across all states.

He added that the disease occurs throughout the year, with peak transmission typically recorded between October and May, while outbreaks typically occur during the dry season, when human exposure to rodents is highest.

“Cumulatively this year, we have recorded 9,492 suspected cases, 1,154 confirmed with 190 deaths.

“Six states make up 89 per cent of the confirmed cases, namely: Ondo (29.7 per cent), Edo (22.7 per cent), Bauchi (17.9 per cent), Taraba (8.8 per cent), Benue (5.6 per cent), and Ebonyi (four per cent). 10 LGAs (Owo, Etsako West, Esan West, Kirfi, Ardo-Kola, Toro, Ose, Akure South, Jalingo and Idah) accounted for almost 59 per cent of the confirmed cases.

“There has been an alarming increase in Lassa fever cases and deaths in the last four weeks, signalling the outbreak’s severity.”

He stated that the case fatality rate has consistently remained high at over 13 per cent, and there is a rise in the number of suspected cases compared to a similar timeline in 2023.

He, however, said it could be attributed to increased and enhanced surveillance.

He said most cases continue to emerge from endemic areas, like Bauchi, Ondo, Edo, Taraba Ebonyi and Enugu, underscoring the need for targeted interventions in these states.

“These trends therefore demand a coordinated effort to strengthen our response and protect our vulnerable populations. Our goal is to reduce the number of cases and importantly, deaths

In addressing this situation, it is important to highlight the proactive measures taken by the NCDC so far.

“These efforts demonstrate our commitment to preparedness, coordination, and response at all levels.

We conducted a dynamic risk assessment to determine the appropriate emergency activation level.

“The EOC was activated to ensure seamless coordination of Lassa fever control and management activities using a One Health approach.”

He highlighted that in preparation for the outbreak season, critical medical supplies, infection prevention and control materials, and laboratory diagnostic tools and materials have been distributed to various states, nationwide.

Idris added that Lassa Fever testing laboratories have also been expanded from about nine to 13, and more will still be upgraded.

He also disclosed that rodent control exercises have been conducted in high-burden states like Edo, Ebonyi, Ondo, and Benue, targeting communities with high case counts by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.

The NCDC boss advised the public to keep their environment clean, store foods safely, avoid drying food stuff outside on the ground or roadside, discourage bush burning and deforestation, and practice good and personal hygiene.

He also advised healthcare workers to always practice standard infection prevention and control practices.

“Healthcare workers should maintain a high index of suspicion for Lassa fever, i.e., be vigilant and consider a diagnosis of Lassa fever when seeing patients presenting with febrile illness.

“Healthcare providers should report all suspected cases of Lassa fever to their local government Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers to ensure prompt diagnosis, referral, and early commencement of public health actions.

“The NCDC remains committed to protecting public health through proactive measures, coordinated responses, and collaboration with stakeholders. By implementing these strategies and adhering to public health advisories, we can reduce the impact of Lassa Fever and safeguard communities nationwide.”

OPINION: Stampedes Of Poverty, Palliatives And Deaths

James Orji

December 23, 2024

By Junaid Shamsideen Kolapo

The former wife of Ooni of Ife, Naomi Shikenuola and Oriyomi Hamzat, an Ibadan, Oyo state-based radio entrepreneur including the principal of the Islamic High School, Orita Bashorun Ibadan-where many children were stampeded to death last week- are currently cooling of in police custody, after the party organized, apparently to put a smile on the faces of indigent children led to a tragedy, where over 35 children reportedly lost their lives.

72 hours after, there was a re-occurrence of the sad incident in Okija, Anambra State in which 22 people were confirmed dead while an event organized at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church by a philanthropist, Ernest Obiejesi in Maitama, Abuja, the federal capital territory, FCT, according to the police has left over 10 persons dead in its wake. .

Meanwhile, the Nexus in the three unfortunate incidents is that they were organized by charity organizations to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians who are facing hardship, as a result of several reasons ranging from government harsh economic policies, alleged corruption and greed of the political class, failing societal norms, and inconducive environment for business to thrive.

The harsh economic reality has pushed many into serious poverty, resulting in over reliance on palliatives and freebies from some well meaning Nigerians, as the desperate search for survival persists among the citizens.

Reacting to the ugly incident, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who’s currently in Lagos to mark the Christmas holiday has canceled all his social events for the yuletide, to honour the victims of the incidents, while Vice President Kassim Shetima said the country is in mourning mood.

The federal government has also frozen all public palliatives distribution events, for now, to avert further crisis.

What’s however surprising to Nigerians, is the sanctimonious manner in which Police seemed to be handling the three incidents. For instance, less than 24 hours after the Ibadan incident, there was a presidential directive for full investigations to be conducted, which prompted the Inspector General of Police, IGP to take over the case. But 72 hours after the Anambra and Abuja incidents, the same energy has been lacking on the part of the authorities.

The question is whether the organizers of the Abuja and Anambra events are immune to arrest, so much so that no report of their arrest by the police. May be the lives of the victims in Anambra and Abuja are not as important as those whose lives were claimed during the Ibadan incident. There are other posers begging for answers, including why the organisers were allowed to hold such events without adequate crowd-control measures.

Amidst all the controversies sorrunding the stampedes, there is an urgent need to stop encouraging the devilish manipulation of the masses in the guise of palliative distribution by the well-to-do in the society. The masses should also deal with greed and covetousness because the two vices do not conform to the norms of our African traditional society.

Apa lara igunpa ni yekan, atelewo eni kitan ni je (Arm is the relative, shoulder is the sibling and ones palm do not disappoint), according to a Yoruba adage promoting dignity of labour as a better means for survival instead of resorting to begging which is now the new normal in our society.

We should go back to the good old days when the ethos of nobility is non-negotiable, rather than surrendering to the wrong culture of begging.

Many able-body Nigerians have traded hard work and industry for laziness thereby inflicting poverty on themselves and their families, sending the ethos of work-before-you-eat into the trash bin of history. Have we also forgotten the scriptural admonition that any man who does not work, must not eat, or the mantra of no-food for lazy man?

If our wicked leaders have failed us must we fail ourselves? Is it not about time that we take our destinies in our own hands by saying no to those who whimsically enslave us, using bread and butter palliatives which barely last for a day.

For instance, why is it that the only barometer with which we measure a lawmaker’s performance is the number of bags of rice and Garri he can distribute to his constituents, and not the quality of bills and motion -capable of changing our country- he sponsors in the hallowed chamber?

Why is it that freebies, as low as recharge cards and a loaf of bread are now being used by radio and television presenters to attract listeners to their programmes, rather than meaningful and life-changing contents as it used to be in the past? Why is it that a simple measure of rice, beans and garri is what manipulative politicians now use to deceive us to surrender our mandate to them, instead of the contents and the quality of their manifestos?

As the saying goes, no one is capable of giving you an inferiority complex without your consent. We made ourselves readily available for their deceit and manipulation because we have completely lost our rights, while greed and covetousness now drive us like a pilot.

We made them believe that our survival rests on their deceitful and manipulative magnanimity, rather than hard work and enterprise. That’s why they have the effrontery to throw at us egg shells after devouring the omelette.

They have converted our collective patrimony to their inheritance, only to send ordinary rice and Garri as dividends of democracy to us, knowing that we will still stampede ourselves to death to have a share of the crumbs.

Junaid, a social critic writes in from Ibadan

Port Harcourt Refinery: CSOs Set Up 50-Man Investigative Cmte

James Orji

December 23, 2024

Civil society groups in the country under the aegis of the National Civil Society Coalition, NCSC, has tasked a 50-man committee to investigate operations at the Port Harcourt refinery.

The development comes amidst recent reports to the effect that the refinery has broken down again after a whopping $1.5 billion was spent on turn-around maintenance by the federal government.

Some marketers who spoke on the issue last week said they have not been able to load petrol from the refinery, barely a month after the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL said operations have resumed.

Amidst the controversy surrounding the Port Harcourt refinery , the Dangote Petrochemical Refinery and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL have been locked in a petrol price war, following the decisions of the two companies to slash the the price of PMS also known as petrol to N899 per litre.

On November 26, the NNPCL claimed that the 60,000 barrel per day refinery has bounced back to life after years of inactivity amidts serious scepticism among not a few Nigerians about the claim.

The NNPCL, has however, issued a rebuttal saying the refinery is operational.

In its quest to ascertain what is actually going on at the refinery, NCSC said in a statement on Monday that the committee will visit the facility by next month to have an independent assessment.

The group applauded the efforts of the NNPCL at revamping the nation’s refineries, acknowledging its quest to achieve availability of petroleum products during the yultide in the country and beyond.

Part of the statement reads, “It would be recalled that NNPC Ltd, just a few days ago in a historic achievement, announced having exceeded its set profit projection for the year 2024. The firm declared a whooping N3.29 Trillion, the highest in its history so far.

“Nigerians desired functional Refineries to alleviate sufferings of the People occasioned by incessant scarcity of Petroleum Products, especially during the festive season, to which NNPCL and the PHRC have contributed immensely.

“It can be seen that across the country within this yuletide season, there is remarkable stability in supplies and distribution of Petroleum Products at stipulated prices, unlike previous years. This is a good testament to the leadership competence at the NNPCL, coupled with the functionality of the PHRC.

“Furthermore, NCSCN has perfected arrangements to lead a 50-man Strategic Stakeholders/Head of Civil Society Organizations on an Independent Assessment Visit to the PH Refinery in January 2025 to interact with the Management with a view to furnish the Citizenry with first-hand facts and figures concerning Production Capacity and Operational Records of the Refinery. The findings at this strategic Working Visit shall be made public globally for the avoidance of doubts by Nigerians and interest groups.”

Meanwhile, keen analysts in the energy sector insist that the decision to lower the price of petrol by Dangote and NNPLC is a welcome development as it will drive healthy competition in the sector, while the products will be readily available instead of the scarcity usually experienced by consumers during the festive period, to the benefit of the entire public.

Troops Kill 12 IPOB Militants

James Orji

December 23, 2024

The Joint Task Force South-East, “Operation UDO KA,” says soldiers have killed 13 armed members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NANS also reports that troops have arrested some kidnappers in the course of the operations in the region, according to a statement issued by the spokesman of the Taskforce, Lt. Col. Jonah Unuakhalu.

In the statement released by Col. Unakhalu on Monday in Enugu, he explained that the operations were aimed at clearing the region of criminals ahead the yuletide, and enabling peaceful environment during the period.

He however urged members of the public to cooperate with security agencies by exposing the criminals and their hideouts, because “security is everybody’s” business.

Residents, he said should “Remember, security is everybody’s business. It is not in the hands of security agencies alone.

“When you see something, say something by calling the JTF Operation UDO KA’s toll-free line -193 and press Option 2—to speak directly to Headquarters Operation UDO KA.”

The magazine reports that the south east has experienced relative peace recently following the arrest, in Finland, of Simon Ekpa a pro-IPOB agitator by the country’s police.

The Finnish authority has also announced that Ekpa’s assets have been frozen as part of his alleged involvement in terrorism.

His trial, the Finnish police said will commence in May 2025.

Two-Day NAFDAC Raid, Abia Goes Tough On Merchants Of Counterfeit Products

Suleiman Anyalewechi

December 23, 2024

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Abia State Government-appointed Interim Management Committee of the Eziukwu Road Market Aba ,has taken tough measures to stem the tide of mass manufacturing and distribution of fake and counterfeit products at the market.

Over the years, the ever busy and strategic outlet for the sales and distribution of essential commodities South East of the Niger has, unfortunately, acquired a notoriety for the mass production and distribution of adulterated and poisonous items ranging from beverages, drinks, food items and other essential commodities.

The National Agency for Food ,Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC had, on Monday December 16, 2024, raided the market ,with no fewer than 150 shops and business premises discovered to be producing and selling large consignments of counterfeit items .

The raid which stretched to Tuesday ,December 17, also led to the seizure of adulterated products which the regulatory body valued at over N 5 billion .

Martins Iluyomade ,the Director, NAFDAC South East, who led the operation, described the market as the hub for the mass production of poisonous and fake products.

He lamented that despite past concerted efforts at halting the development, the market has continued to serve as a haven for manufacturers and distributors of fake and substandard products in the country.

The NAFDAC Director expressed concern that several past crackdowns have so far failed to check the nefarious activities of fake product producers and distributors at the market.

However, the Market authorities, blamed the lackadaisical attitude of NAFDAC for the unfortunate situation.

According to the market leadership, the regulatory agency has not been able to apply the needed political will in handling the matter.

Particularly, the market authorities ,blamed the failure of NAFDAC to wield the big stick ,against arrested suspects as the biggest challenge militating against the efforts at halting the trend .

But rising from an emergency meeting on Saturday December 21, 2024 , the market authorities ,announced the constitution of a taskforce to take the battle to the den of the merchants of fake and counterfeit products.

In a Communique jointly signed by the Chairman ,Sir Alphonsus Udeigbo, Secretary Hon Darlington Achonu ,Sir Jonathan Ogujiofor Chairman Stakeholders Forum and Nnamdi Adimonyemma ,the Chief Security Officer, the Market leadership informed that the Taskforce has been mandated to carry out regular monitoring of items being sold at the market.

The measure, it said, is aimed at promptly unraveling those engaged in the manufacturing and distribution of fake products for immediate action .

The Chief Security Officer, and zonal market leaders are to populate the taskforce.

Similarly, defaulters will henceforth cough out N500,000 fine, before being handed over to NAFDAC, through its Abia State Coordinator.

Part of the new stern measures also include the seizure of defaulters’ shops or business premises and their subsequent forfeiture to the Government.

According to the Communique, traders and all business owners at the Eziukwu Road ( formally Cementry Market) are to acquire mandatory identification Cards.

The issuance of the ID cards will commence from Tuesday December 24, 2024 ,and end on January 31, 2025

The market authorities noted that the ID policy ,will assist in identifying those who are engaged in lawful business transactions .

All those who fail to comply with the ID acquisition ,will have their shops and business premises sealed ,as well as face prosecution .

To ensure a seamless process, Zonal leaders of the market have been mandated to distribute the ID to applicants.

The market leadership emphasized the imperativeness of the new measures in restoring sanity in the activities of the market .

It noted that ,there is the urgent need to protect innocent consumers and. law abiding traders and business actors from the dastardly acts of a few greedy and heartless persons .

While strongly condemning the attitude of some unscrupulous characters, the market leadership expressed the confidence that the measures will significantly curb the ugly situation.

Atiku Slams 2025 Budget, Says It Lacks Fiscal Discipline, Structural Reforms

Akinwale Kasali

December 23, 2024

By Akinwale Kasali

Days after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented the 2025 Budget to the National Assembly, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has openly criticised the Budget for lacking Structural Reforms and bereft of Fiscal Policies.

The 2023 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Presidential Candidate, queried the President Tinubu led All Progressives Congress, APC, government on its insatiable appetite for external borrowing.

This, Atiku says has a consistently increased public debt with budget deficits breaking existing records with each budget cycle.

Expressing his views in a tweet on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Atiku titled it: “Assessment of the 2025 Federal Budget: Inadequate to Address Nigeria’s Structural Challenges. “

The former Head of Nigeria’s economic team from 1999-2007, when he was Vice President under President Olusegun Obasanjo, said, “The 2025 budget lacks the structural reforms and fiscal discipline required to address Nigeria’s multifaceted economic challenges.”

Before arriving at his conclusions, Atiku said, “The 2025 federal budget, amounting to N48 trillion with a revenue forecast of N35 trillion, resulting in a deficit exceeding N13 trillion or 4% of GDP, reflects a continuation of business-as-usual fiscal practices.

“This represents a persistent trend under the APC-led administration since 2016, wherein budget deficits have been consistently presented, accompanied by an increasing reliance on external borrowing.

“To bridge this fiscal gap, the administration plans to secure over N13 trillion in new borrowings, including N9 trillion in direct borrowings and N4 trillion in project-specific loans.

“This borrowing strategy mirrors the approach of previous administrations, resulting in rising public debt and exacerbating the attendant risks related to interest payments and foreign exchange exposure.

“The 2025 budget’s capacity to foster sustainable economic growth and tackle Nigeria’s deep-rooted challenges is questionable.

“Weak Budgetary Foundations: The 2024 budget’s underperformance signals poor budgetary execution.

“This imbalance will likely crowd out essential investments and perpetuate a cycle of increasing borrowing and debt accumulation, undermining fiscal stability.

“Unsustainable Government Expenditure: The government’s recurrent expenditure remains disproportionately high, with over N14 trillion (30% of the budget) allocated to operating an oversized bureaucracy and supporting inefficient public enterprises.

“The lack of concrete steps to curb wastage and enhance the efficiency of public spending exacerbates the fiscal challenges, leaving limited resources for development.

“Insufficient Capital Investment: After accounting for debt servicing and recurrent expenditure, the remaining allocation for capital spending, ranging from 25% to 34% of the total budget, is insufficient to address Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit and stimulate growth.

“This equates to an average capital allocation of approximately N80,000 (US$45) per capita, insufficient to meet the demands of a nation grappling with slow growth and infrastructural underdevelopment.

“Regressive Taxation and Economic Strain: The administration’s decision to increase the VAT rate from 7.5% to 10% is a retrogressive measure that will exacerbate the cost-of-living crisis and impede economic growth.

“By imposing additional tax burdens on an already struggling populace while failing to address governance inefficiencies, the government risks stifling domestic consumption and further deepening economic hardship.”

As a possible way out of the identified pitfalls, Atiku said, “To enhance the budget’s credibility, the administration must prioritize the reduction of inefficiencies in government operations, tackle contract inflation, and focus on long-term fiscal sustainability rather than perpetuating unsustainable borrowing and recurrent spending patterns.

“A shift towards a more disciplined and growth-oriented fiscal policy is essential for the nation’s economic recovery.”

“By Q3 of the fiscal year, less than 35% of the allocated capital expenditure for MDAs had been disbursed, despite claims of 85% budget execution.

“This underperformance in capital spending, crucial for fostering economic transformation, raises concerns about the execution of the 2025 budget.

“Disproportionate Debt Servicing: Debt servicing, which accounts for N15.8 trillion (33% of the total expenditure), is nearly equal to planned capital expenditure (N16 trillion, or 34%).

“Moreover, debt servicing surpasses spending on key priority sectors such as defence (N4.91 trillion), infrastructure (N4.06 trillion), education (N3.52 trillion), and health (N2.4 trillion).

Governor Diri Declares A Week Holiday For Civil Servants

Akinwale Kasali

December 23, 2024

By Akinwale Kasali

In giving its Workers a sense of belonging and to enjoy the yuletide season, Governor Duoye Diri of Bayelsa State has approved a one Week Christmas Break for all Civil Servants in the State.

Disclosing the One Week Break approval in a statement, the State Commissioner for Information, Orientation & Strategy, Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai said:

“The break is to commence on December 24th and end on December 30th, 2024.

“However, essential Service workers are exempted from this recess and are expected to report to work as usual.”

“The governor expresses his heartfelt appreciation to all residents for their continued support and wishes everyone a joyous Christmas and a prosperous New Year”, the statement reads.

Fraudsters Move To Defraud Home-bound Imo Residents In Lagos

The Source

December 23, 2024

A group of persons believed to be fraudsters, and poised to take advantage of the massive return of Imo indigenes resident in Lagos for the Yuletide, has devised devious means to defraud the unsuspected ones among them in the guise of providing them with free transportation from Lagos to Owerri, Okigwe and Orlu.

To make their devilish intention look real, they have raised a press statement they purport was issued from my office for such a project.

In their warped imagination, they have deliberately fixed December 24, 2024 and January 4, 2025, as the days their prey and unsuspecting home-bound Lagos residents should approach them for a trip back home and return trip back to Lagos respectively.

Below is part of their poorly written press statement:

“The buses are free for Imolites from Lagos to Imo State on *24th December and back to Lagos on 4th January .

“Interested persons should please call (ISTDAL) 08033255565, 08092362966 or 07089303866 for seats reservation.

“Please the buses are free and is on first come accreditation bases, once the seats are fully booked, the registration closes, ( PLS DO NOT PAY ANYBODY ONE KOBO)

“Please the buses are NOT LUXURY BUSES , so only passengers with a small sizable luggages will be allowed. (no big boxes or load is allowed).

“The buses will leave on Tuesday 24th December at exactly 7.15am to Owerri, Okigwe and Orlu.

“The departure point will be made available after your registration, (if you are not captured on accreditation, pls don’t bother coming as only accreditated passengers are allowed) and please indicate your direction.

“Note: the bus will not stop or drop any passenger until it passes Ihiala unto Imo State.

“Thanks and best regards.”

For the avoidance of doubt, the Office of the Chief Press Secretary/Special Adviser Media to the Governor did not issue any statement on the trending fraudulent travel plan.

The statement is both false and deceptive, and could not have emanated from the government.

Therefore, the general public, and particularly Imolites who live in Lagos and any other part of the country and who intend to be home for the Yuletide should not take the statement and the authors seriously as they will be doing so at their own peril.

Please, be properly guided.

Uzodimma Mourns Abuja, Anambra Stampede Victims

The Source

December 23, 2024

Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of lives during recent palliative distribution events in Abuja and Anambra State.

He described it as a cruel irony of fate that philanthropic gestures intended to assist underprivileged Nigerians turned into sorrow and agony.

In a personally signed statement, the governor expressed regret over the loss of lives at Holy Trinity Catholic Parish, Maitama, and Okija in Anambra State.

He noted that the deaths at Maitama were particularly poignant for him as he is the Grand Patron of St. Vincent de Paul, the organization that provided the palliatives. Moreover, he pointed out that the victims were his fellow parishioners, while those who perished in Okija were also fellow Nigerians.

While commiserating with the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, and the entire Okija community, Uzodimma extended his condolences to the bereaved families.

He pledged that the Imo State government would assist wherever possible to ensure that the injured receive adequate medical attention for a speedy recovery.

The governor commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his empathy and compassion towards the victims of the twin disaster. He noted that Tinubu’s decision to cancel his official engagements in honour of the victims demonstrated exceptional leadership and empathy.

He advised organizers of such events to implement additional security and protocol measures to safeguard the safety of beneficiaries.

Uzodimma Gifts Buses To Heartland Football Club, Heartland Queens of Owerri

The Source

December 23, 2024

Uzodimma Gifts Buses To Heartland Football Club

The Heartland Football Club of Owerri and their female counterpart, the Heartland Queens, on Saturday got their rare Christmas gifts from Governor Hope Uzodimma as they drove home two brand new 32- seater Coaster buses and one brand new 18- seater Executive Bus.

Presenting the buses to the officials of the Clubs at Government House Owerri, the Governor said the Heartland Football Club owns one 32- Seater Coaster bus and the 18- Seater Executive Bus, while the Heartland Queens will take one 32-Seater Coaster bus.

He commended and appreciated the footballers and their handlers for performing well so far with minimal support and urged them to do better as more encouragement will be inevitable.

Governor Uzodimma enjoined the supervising Ministry (Ministry of Sports Development) to reduce bureaucracy and allow the football Clubs managers, particularly the technical manager of Heartland Football Club, Emmanuel Amuneke, who is tested and trusted, and possesses the technical competence, the freehand to take responsibility for his actions.

He reiterated his earlier directive that Amuneke should have unfettered access to his office as regards his activities as technical manager.

Governor Uzodimma remarked that the vehicles are to enable the Clubs bring laurels to the State and advised them, especially the drivers, to be careful about how they manage road traffic, bearing in mind that they are conveying Imo Ambassadors.

He assured of government continuous support to the male and female Clubs and urged Amuneke to show more commitment that will result in success at all times.

In his appreciation remarks, the Imo State Commissioner for Sports Development, Mr Obinna Onyeocha thanked God for the day and particularly the Governor, for his fatherly support to the Ministry and the Football Clubs, noting that the donation of the buses “is just one out of many of such supports.”

He assured that the buses will be put to proper use and for the purpose they are meant for, even as he promised that they will be properly maintained.

Present at the ceremony were the Speaker Imo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Chike Olemgbe and some of his colleagues, the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Cosmos Iwu, the Chief of Staff, Barr Nnamdi Anyaehie and some members of the State expanded Executive Council.

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