INNOSON: Lending support to Nigeria’s first automaker

Founder and chairman of Nigeria’s automobile company, Innoson Motors, Innocent Chukwuma

FOR  many decades, manufacturing of automobiles seemed to many Africans  a mystery which only the Whiteman could understand. The excitement that usually accompanies the sight of a new car imported from overseas was in most cases exhilarating and wondrous. With the arrival of INNOSON Vehicles Manufacturing plant on the scene, all the myth surrounding the invisibility of automobile manufacturing was shattered.

The credit goes to Chief Innocent Chukwuma whose ingenuity, hard work and enterprise have placed Nigeria on the global map of vehicles manufacturing countries. Today, Nigeria ranks among the countries that can boast as a manufacturer of full-range of locally -made vehicles at the INNOSON vehicles manufacturing plant in Nnewi, Anambra State. The company was able to achieve the rare feat following the single – minded resolve of Chief Chukwuma to  brace the challenge and prove that a black man can indeed achieve, if not surpass the white man in the area of automobile manufacturing. Since the company was established, thousands of vehicles ranging from cars, sport utility vehicles, garbage trucks and military vehicles have been rolled out from the factory in Nnewi, Anambra state. This has also resulted in the creation of about ten thousand jobs for Nigerians. Additionally, the INNOSON Kiara Academy, a subsidiary of the INNOSON GROUP has been serving as a centre for capacity – building, skills acquisition and on-the job training for many Nigerians, including the ex-militants from the Niger Delta. In fact, it can be said that INNOSON has been in the forefront of answering the clarion call of the federal government on the private sector to play their part in solving the perennial unemployment problem in the country. It is therefore mind-boggling that despite the efforts of the INNOSON group to lift Nigeria to an enviable height as an automobile manufacturing country, as well as alleviate the problem of unemployment in Nigeria, some detractors are bent on thwarting their noble efforts. The deliberate attempt by some vested interests and importers of foreign made vehicles to sabotage INNOSON’s patriotic efforts must never be allowed to succeed. Government must rise to the occasion and ensure that the INNOSON brand is supported to enable the company continue to fly the Nigeria flag among the automobile manufacturing countries in the world. The shenanigans of a few vested interests to smear the image of the company and its founder Chief Innocent Chukwuma must be condemned. As a country in dire need of industrialisation and economic growth, entrepreneurs like Chief Chukwuma remain an invaluable asset that ought to be the focal point of different federal and states governments’ incentives, as this would encourage other enterprising Nigerians to help grow the country’s economy by investing their money locally. A situation where local manufacturers are victimised or hounded by security agents at the behest of some vested interests will only result to capital flight as investors usually factor the inherent risks prevailing in any given economy before setting up their multi-billion naira investments. It is therefore worthy of commendation that INNOSON was able to brave it, and repose confidence in the Nigerian economy, hence his multi-billion dollars investment in automobile manufacturing and other sectors of the Nigerian economy. The point must be made that countries that are notable in automobile manufacturing such USA, Germany, Great Britain, France, Sweden had at one time or the other formulated investment-friendly policies which enabled the automobile manufacturers to thrive. Without such policies the tendency is that the companies can outsource their production to other countries that provide an enabling environment for their businesses. For example, in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorists attack on America, the George W. Bush administration offered financial grants to companies like FORD and General Motors, GM, to encourage them to remain in business and provide more job opportunities for Americans. It is therefore expected that the federal government in its desire to support Nigerian businesses to create jobs that deliberate efforts are made to encourage companies like INNOSON to continue in their patriotic endeavours of promoting Nigeria as an investment-friendly country. Government ought to put in place investment-friendly measures like tax relief, duty-free importation of raw materials and other protectionist measures to guarantee their expansion and unhindered production.

Smuggling: Customs, Police Disagree Over Killing Of Man, 25, In Katsina

Katsina – Unidentified officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), yesterday ‘shot dead’ one Amiru Abdul’aziz, 25, of Daddara Village of Jibia Local Government Area of the State, while pursuing suspected rice smugglers in the village.

But, Theophilus Duniya, spokesman for Katsina Customs Command told our correspondent that he has no official report on the incident.

However, Gambo Isah, Katsina police spokesman said the Customs officers that allegedly shot dead Amire were said to be from the Federal Operations Unit of the Nigeria Customs

His words: “The officers allegedly impounded the vehicle that conveyed the smuggled bags of rice and took it to Kaduna and the police have written to Customs office in Katsina, asking it to produce the officers that killed the deceased”.

However, Mallam Bello, a relative of the deceased told our correspondent that their brother was ‘shot’ around 6: 20 pm, on Tuesday while coming out of his shop by some Customs officers and, who were on the trail of rice smugglers and he was confirmed dead when rushed to Katsina General Hospital.

“I was shocked when I received the news of his dead. He has a wife with two children who will take care of his family now”, he said.

Bello, who spoke with our correspondent amidst tears lamented that the tragedy has taken away the bread winner of the family and called on the relevant authorities to investigate the incident and ensure justice is done, alleging that some trigger happy Customs officers have been killing innocent persons in the village in the past.

Thunderstorm Destroys 200 Houses In Udu Community

Destroyed Buildings

Warri – Thunderstorm accompanied by heavy downpour has destroyed over 200 buildings in two communities of Udu Local Government Area of Delta State. Building that were affected cut across residential buildings, churches and schools thereby rendering hundreds of people homeless. The communities are Ogbe-Udu and Oghior. At Ogbe-Udu, after stock-taking, over 190 buildings were identified to have been destroyed while in Oghior about 15 buildings were affected.

 The rainstorm blew through the villages in the afternoon of Friday February 16, 2018 leaving a most devastating sight with farmlands harbouring crops worth millions of naira in total ruins. When the team of government officials led by Hon. Peter Okagbare Uviejitobor, the member representing Udu in the Delta State House of Assembly, Chief Onajite Brown,  Executive Chairman of Udu Local Government Area, Chief Amos Itiwhe, Commissioner on the Board of the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission, and others led newsmen on a visit to Ogbe-Udu community, ruins of buildings, pieces of corrugated iron sheets and shattered pieces of woods littered everywhere.

 The tornado-like windstorm with its characteristic violent cyclone movement, known in local parlance as ‘Aziza wind’, carried whole roof off some buildings, took them into the sky, danced angrily with the affected roofs before coming down heavily on other buildings many distance away, creating more devastation at the landing points. The angry hurricane with its tempestuous, wild and violent mood pulled down walls of buildings, uprooted pillars of a building in unbelievable manners and in some instances brought down palm trees, which landed heavily on buildings as in the instance of the Ogbe-Udu Secondary Schools, where a palm tree tore off the roof and part of the wall of the building.

At God’s Power Mission, an entire stretch of the wall of the Church building, already taken to lintel level was brought down by the whirlwind, leaving twisted rods, and shattered blocks in its trails. God’s Favour Schools, a private school in the town was a total wreck when the team visited. The entire buildings housing the various classrooms were reduced to rubbles by the uncontrollable anger of the winds with the proprietress crying for help so she could stand to her feet again. Even the most elderly man of the community, Pa. Otakoha Oluku was not spared of the wrath of the evil wind as part of the roof of his building was also brown off.

At the government-owned Ogbe-Udu Primary School, the roof of an adjoining building outside the school compound was tossed completely into the air, carried into the school compound and crushed one of the school building before rising up like a wicked deity on a vindictive mission, danced furiously in the air again before landing on another building about half a kilometer away. A section of the roof of St. Thomas’ Anglican Church, Ogbe-Udu was also affected.

Eye witness account says that the tornado tossed roofs of several buildings in the air like the hat of an inebriated drunk, which in some instances clashed midway in a violent manner before landing, leaving the affected roofs in wreckages of mangled metals and woods. However,  no life was lost.

 Addressing the team of government officials who visited Ogbe-Udu community on Monday, President General of the community, Deacon Godwin Okomitete says that the devastation and experience of the people since the unfortunate incident happened was overwhelming, adding that it was the first of its kind in the annals of the community. He disclosed that many people slept in the cold that night while hundreds of others, particularly the indigent ones who have been suffering of untold hardship since the visit of the malevolent hurricane. He appealed to the local government, state and federal governments to come to the aid of the affected villagers so they could have succour and be restored to their normal life.

 Bishop Ebrubakijesu Sele, whose Church building was brought down by the hurricane also appealed to government to intervene so as to help give his congregation a befitting place of worship.

 Hon. Peter Uviejitobor of the Delta State House of Assembly, responding to the appeal, assured that he was going to do everything within his powers to give the people all the support government could muster, nothing that the relevant agencies in Delta State would step in to help the people.

 On his part, Chief Amos Itiwhe promised to report to the management of

Delta  State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, (DESOPADEC), so that the commission could intervene and alleviate the suffering of the people. He assured that with the concern demonstrated by the board in response to the plight of the people, DESOPADEC would definitely do something to mitigate the effect of the stormy wind in the community.

On his part, Chairman of Udu Local Government Council, Hon. Chief Jite Brown expressed deep concern with the travails of the Ogbe-Udu and Oghior people, particularly the affected families promising to work with the various government agencies to ensure they are not abandoned at their trying moment.  

 Many of those whose buildings were affected, who converged at the town hall to receive the government officials cried to government for assistance to help rebuild the residential apartments. Some of those who spoke to DAILY INDEPENDENT including Mr. Sam Gbalugo, Mr. Enoch Oluku (the son of the most elderly man of Ogbe-Udu), Banky Solomon, Lakpa Okotete and others all agreed that without intervention from government, many of those affected may not be able to survive the effect of the devastating storm.  

Host Communities Decry Media Reports Against EXXONMOBIL’s Manager

Mrs. Regina Udobong

Uyo – The host communities of Eket, Ibeno, Esit Eket and Onna have risen in unison against the recent misleading media report peddled against the character of the “For now, the scholarship is not meant for fishermen, bus conductors, okada riders, truck pushers or boat riders. We implore those in that category to be patient as they will be accommodated when it gets to their turn.” The Host Communities Youth Movement stated.

Being in active service for 28 years, they opined that Mrs. Regina Udobong has shown great and unprecedented character with outstanding and managerial leadership ability. They further stressed that Mrs. Udobong believes in excellence and is clearly decided on the path of effective service delivery adding that she is a woman of proven integrity.

The communiqué appealed to ExxonMobil and indeed the general public to disregard the misleading information as the handwork of those who were trying to sabotage their effort at building an image of good community relations as well as encouraging capacity growth and development.

“We strongly disagree with and dissociate ourselves from these workers of iniquity. The letter is a cooked roadside fable with insider culpability either in ExxonMobil or from certain disgruntled elements who have decided to cause chaos and heat the polity unnecessarily. We react against being incorporated into an affair we are unaware of and we will resist such misrepresentation. 

“We call on all well meaning citizens of Ekid  Nation to rise to responsibility of advancing the progressive cause of our people. Let us rise above biases and embrace the spirit of oneness” they urged.

The communities have stated strongly that the ill-conceived ranting and delusive suggestions of the story are clear indications of the authors hallucinatory inclinations.

A communiqué issued by the Host Community Youth Movement, signed by the Joint Chairman, Snr. Comr. Stanley Udoakagha, Comr Inyang Atabop-Coordinator Ibeno, Comr. Iniobong Ibok  – Coordinator Esit Eket, Comr. Emmanuel Ekwere – Coordinator Onna, Rt Comr. Ubong Assam Assistant Secretary, and made available to newsmen in Uyo on Tuesday condemned the report, describing it as the handwork of the workers of iniquity.

The communities described Mrs. Regina Udobong as a woman of proven integrity who has endeavoured at all times to positively take into consideration the yearnings of the youth of the host communities.

The communiqué reads in part “The Host Community Youth Movement comprising Eket, Ibeno, Esit Eket and Onna is the only government recognized pressure group in Eket axis and by ExxonMobil. We endeavour as much as is within our capacity to see how we can liaise with ExxonMobil to integrate the youths of the four LGAs. We are therefore strongly against any act capable of stirring acrimony and animosity”.

According to them, the issues raised in the communiqué are not true and are unsubstantiated.  “Mrs. Regina Udobong is the only woman that knows the plight and feels the pains of the people in the four LGAs. In direct contradiction to the deliberately misconstrued report she has been selfless in her policies and she has tried to make such policies highly participatory and inclusive.

“Those giving this information are either non-existent or mere roadside oafs who are bent on tarnishing the image of Mrs. Regina Udobong. We challenge them to come out if they exist  and defend the falsehood they have peddled .Even the names and signatures appended to the so–called communiqué shows that the whole gamble is a mere hoax”.

The pressure group argued that “at no point did Mrs. Regina Udobong instigate either covertly or overtly the removal of Ekid sons in the Public Affairs Department. The information should be disregarded as invalid and inconsequential. She cannot decide who to employ or who to sack. All she does is get the quota belonging to the youth and deliver it appropriately to them. So far, she has performed effectively, efficiently and superlatively.”

Reflecting on the character of the Public Affairs Manager of ExxonMobil, the host communities insisted  that “as a woman from a good background with inbuilt culture of respect for traditional authority she has shown great reverence for the custodians of our Ekid heritage and culture. The presupposed disrespect exists only in the imagination of the writers of the deceitful article”.

They stressed that the news report in circulation and its concomitant communiqué is the height of falsehood purveyance and that such actions could only emanate from unscrupulous elements hiding under the guise of the host communities to slander and malign the reputation of Mrs. Regina Udobong.

They emphasized that Mrs. Udobong cannot determine who should be awarded a scholarship or not, maintaining that there are certain prerequisites that must be adhered to in order to qualify for a scholarship. “The scholarship scheme is ongoing and those that deserve the awards are getting it. We seriously frown at attempts to coerce ExxonMobil into giving scholarship to those who cannot even write their names.

Ibori, Uduaghan Excited By Okowa’s Independent Award

Ismaila Isa Funtua, Chairman of occasion (left): James Ibori, former Governor, Delta State (second left); Edith Okowa, wife of Governor, Delta State (middle); Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor, Delta State and INDEPENDENT Man of The Year 2017 (second right), and Emmanuel Uduaghan, former Governor, during the awards ceremony at Eko Hotel in Lagos on Saturday.

Asaba – Deltans have described the “Man of The Year, 2017” Award conferred on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as recognition of the good governance which the governor h“I will like to appeal to the media to do her utmost to promote the unity of this country. The media should try and unite Nigerians and stop fanning the embers of disunity.”

Chief Benjamin Elue, former deputy governor of Delta State, said, “It was a well deserved honour, it shows that the beautiful work that he is doing is appreciated by all, we are happy that our Governor is carrying on with legacy of project delivery.”

Chief Godwill Obielum, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, in a media parley, asserted that “Governor Okowa is working, adding that the award will spur him to do more, we know that he has the stamina, sound state of mind to do what we are witnessing in our state, we congratulate him and commend the Independent Newspapers for the recognition.”

Chief Ndudi Elumelu, erstwhile member of the house of representative, described Okowa as “very humble, focused and a man full of strategies to make Delta State better.”

He added: “He deserves the award, he has done very well for Deltans no matter your location and I am sure that more awards are coming, his programmes in the area of empowering the jobless youths are already yielding results and the delivery of physical infrastructure is evident across the state, he is a man of peace and our state is very peaceful today,” 

Elumelu who also congratulated his elder brother, Mr Tony Elumelu for clinching an award at the event said “Tony Elumelu is a gift from Delta State to humanity, we thank God that his contributions to the development of mankind were recognised at the award ceremony, we are proud of him.”

The Chairman, Governing Council, Delta State College of Health Technology, Ofuoma, Dr. Pharm. Nelson Ejakpovi in his reaction said, “Governor Okowa is a gift to Deltans, the way he restored peace in the creeks which made Nigeria to come out of recession, the manner he has checked herdsmen menace, the manner with which he turned jobless people to job and wealth creators, the way he has equipped health institutions and floated compulsory health insurance scheme for affordable healthcare to be available to all Deltans has distinguished him as a man and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka recognised his efforts through ‘the Dignity of Man award’ which was followed up by the Independent Newspapers’ ‘Man of The Year Award’; we thank God for giving us Dr Okowa as our Governor, he is a man, he is the Ekwueme (the man who stick to his words).”

Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo who represented Delta Central Senatorial District in the 7th Senate said, “The award shows that when you work hard, you will be recognised, it was a well deserved award and we are proud to be part of the team, we are proud to be Deltans.”

Chief Ifeanyi Obi, Chairman of the Delta State Council of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW),  said, “thank God for this award, Dr Okowa has done very well in the area of road construction, he deserves more awards.”

The member representing Delta North in the Direct Labour Agency, Mr Smart Meka said, “It was an excellent recognition of the good work our Governor is doing, it was a statement to all that he is hard working and apart from all that he has done across the state, by the time he is through with the storm drainage project, there will be nothing like flood in Asaba again because, he is tackling drainage problems like no other government did, we are happy with the award.”

To Chief Fred Majemite, a PDP Chieftain, “the Governor deserved the award considering the way he managed to sustain the peace we are enjoying in the state, the role he played in PDP during its crisis, especially, during her elective and non-elective conventions and of course, his management of the affairs of the state. One thing you cannot take away from the governor is politics, he understands politics and lives it, and of course, you know he is our bottom up man.  I honestly, congratulate him.”

Chief Kennedy Kanma, a Delta-born property developer, said, “When a man of action positively impact the citizens, and his works address the issue of concern to his people, when his development strides touches so many critical areas and so many people in so many ways, there is no other choice but, to celebrate such a person.  Governor Okowa has done and is still doing a lot of good deeds in Delta State, the award is a well deserved honour.”

Okpanam Youths Organisations, Okpanam, Oshimili North local government area of Delta State in a statement signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Comrades FridayOkonkwo and James Omunizua respectively, stated, “the bold statement Governor Okowa is making through the provision of infrastructure and empowerment of youths have been recognised and we are happy and proud to identify with him.  He is opening up Okpanam as part of the capital territory, we are happy with the award, it will encourage him to do more.”

Mr. Ade Ogidan, the Managing  Director/Editor-in-Chief of Independent Newspapers Limited, said the management of the medium will continue to honour Nigerians who have contributed to the growth of Nigeria.

Apart from Governor Okowa, Governor Ambode of Lagos State, bagged Governor of the Year,  Governor Samuel Ortom, Governor of the Year, Security; and Governor Nyesom Wike, Political Icon of the Year: Governor David Umahi, Governor of the Year, Agriculture and HRM Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ooni of Ife who was honoured as the Bridge Builder of the Year. 

Others are Mrs Titi Laoye- Tomori, Deputy Governor of Osun state, the immediate past PDP Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Caretaker Committee, Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi, Mr Tony Elumelu, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Dr Wale Babalakin, among others, were also, honoured at the event which attracted players in the Nigerian socio-economic cum political space.

been exhibiting through the execution of the SMART agenda.

Management of Independent Newspapers had honoured the Governor with Man of The Year Award in an impressive ceremony that took place in Lagos.

Immediate past Governors of Delta state, Chief James Ibori and Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan at the weekend also stood firm behind Senator Ifeanyi Okowa as he received the Independent Newspapers’ ‘Man of The Year, 2017’ award.

The Governor who was accompanied by his wife, Dame Edith, had his predecessors, Ibori and Uduaghan and other top political office holders on stage in mutual support while receiving the award at a colourful ceremony held at Eko Hotels and Suites in Lagos on Saturday evening.

In his acceptance speech, where he spoke on diverse issues, Governor Okowa attributed the high rate of insecurity in the country to surging population of unemployed youths.

education and the polytechnics in the country, so that the youths will be equipped with relevant skills to become self reliant rather than going about and According to him, “government at all levels should begin to pay more attention to our youths, we must make consistent efforts to empower them, we need to strengthen technical seeking jobs that are not available.

“Until we do that, we may not have a great country that we seek today. We must also look at family planning because, the level of insecurity that we have in the country is borne out of the joblessness of our youths.  We must find a way to control our population growth.”

The Governor commended the publisher and management of Independent Newspapers for the award , thanked his predecessors for working with him to ensure that dividends of democracy gets to all Deltans. He used the occasion to emphasise that most of the challenges facing the country will be a thing of the past if the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), conducts credible elections.

“Once we conduct elections that are credible, it will be good for this country,” he reiterated amidst thunderous applause from the excited audience.

The Governor dedicated the award to Deltans for the supports they have been extending to his administration and their commitment to a peaceful state that has remained an investment destination for all.

Alhaji Ismaila Isa Funtua, who was the chairman of the occasion, in his opening remark, said the list of people the management of the newspaper is honouring are Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in various fields of human endeavour.