Anambra Tackles Erosion Menace
Anambra State Government has continued fight the erosion menace in the state. This it has done by working in conjunction with the World Bank Project called NEWMAP. Despite the work being done, the Federal Government needs to allocate much more resources to Anambra in order to contain the greatest number of erosions sites in Nigeria, which happen to be in Anambra. Below is the schedule of erosion designs.
These four sites have already been approved for funding by the World Bank and currently undergoing procurement process;
1. Ugamuma, Obosi
2. Ikenga Ogidi
3. Enugwu-Ukwu
4. Abidi, Umuoji
These four sites should be ready for approval by late June
1. Nnewi-Ichi, Nnewi
2. Ire, Obosi
3. Nkpor Bridge (by NEW Tarzan), Onitsha
4. Ojoto
The next 4 sites are in final stages of engineering design. Tentatively ready for approval by World Bank in early August;
1. Akanamato, Ifite Nteje
2. Umobi/Ukpomachi, Awkuzu
3. Ideani
4. Nimo
Agulu/Nanka/Oko will be ready for approval around October.These sites are very unique in size and erosive mechanism. It is thought that ground water activity is a significant part of the soil morphology and therefore requires one rainy season of Hydrological studies to fully understand it.
Edeoji-Uruagu (Nnewi) and Okpo-Utuh (Nnewi North) sites will also be ready about the same time.
2: Anambra Broadcasting Service Concludes News Gathering & Dissemination Workshop.
The 3-day Workshop themed 'News Gathering and Dissemination in a Digital World' for staff of the News and Current Affairs Department of the Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) came to an end on Friday, May 20, 2016.
The Workshop which began on Wednesday treated topics such as Reporting government activities, Online Journalism, News editing, ICT application in news gathering and dissemination, modern day newsroom among other topics attracted facilitators and speakers including the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Communication Strategy, Ogbuefi Tony Nnachetta, Mr Taiwo Obe, the Founder of Journalism Clinic, Lagos, Mr Chuka Nnabuife, MD/ Editor -in-Chief of National Light Newspapers and many others.
The MD/CEO of the Anambra Broadcasting Service, Mr Uche Nworah said the workshop was organised to improve the knowledge and skills of staff of the News and Current Affairs department. He said that similar workshops are being planned for staff of the Programmes and other departments in the organisation.
Highlight of the workshop was the presentation of merit certificates to the participants. Mr Raph Okoye, the Managing Director of Anambra Mass Transit who spoke to the participants on the importance of creativity and professionalism in broadcasting joined the ABS MD/CEO, Mr Uche Nworah and the Director of News and Current Affairs, Mr Gab Okpalaeze in presenting the certificates.
3: BUILDING COLLAPSE: OBIANO VISITS SCENE, ORDERS FULL INVESTIGATION
By Kingsley Ezekwelu
The Anambra state Gov Willie Obiano yesterday made an unscheduled visit to the scene of weekend's building collapse at the Federal Polytechnic, (Fedpoly), Oko in Orumba North Local Government Area of the state.
While at the scene for the on-the-spot assessment, he ordered immediate full investigation into the causes of the collapse of the uncompleted 3-storey building.
On arrival he met rescue workers from the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA and their Anambra State Counterpart, (SEMA), the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Police heavily with heavy duty equipment on site making frantic effort to evacuate the debris in search of anyone who might still be trapped under the rubbles.
The structure, according to eyewitnesses caved in at about 2pm Sunday apparently due to soaking from the hours of heavy torrential rainfall that fell in the afternoon.
Gov Obiano at the site, stated that the Building Materials Testing Laboratory will also test the strength and resistance capacity of other two buildings situated near the ill-fated collapsed one to ascertain whether they are still suitable for habitation.
He emphasized that the safety of the students remain a major concern to his government, hence will not hesitate to pull down the structures if they fail the structural resistance test.
The Governor revealed that his administration has set up 3 offices of the Building Materials Testing Lab at Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi, urged Contractors to adhere strictly to the standards set by the Lab so as to avoid a recurrence of such disaster.
The Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Prof. Godwin Onu who explained that the Project was being done by a private developer for students of the Polytechnic, said upon getting the information, he quickly alerted the relevant authorities who immediately responded.
Prof Onu thanked Governor Obiano for his timely visit to the scene, noting that it goes to re-enforce his commitment towards the welfare of citizens and residents of the state.
Although as at the of filing this report, no death has been confirmed as a result of the incident, it was gathered that out of the three persons staying in the building, only one person was able to escape while the building collapsed, fueling suspicion that the two others may be trapped in the building.