Delta State Governor, Dr.Emmanuel Uduaghan has called for the prosecution of all those arrested for illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalisation so as to act as deterrent to others and enhance the work of the security agencies.
Governor Uduaghan who stated this at the weekend in Asaba when he hosted a State Reception in honour of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Joseph Ezeoba said that the twin evils of illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalisation have become a drain on the economy of the nation and there was the need to tackle the problem headlong.
According to him “ Pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering are the major challenges facing the Naval Service in the Niger-Delta and it is of great concern to all of us as the economy is going down the drain” stating that “ there is need to prosecute all those that have been arrested for illegal bunkering to act as deterrent to others and enhance the work of our Security Services”
He explained that the “Delta Beyond Oil” vision was borne out of the fact that with these illegal activities in the Oil sector the state needed to look beyond the oil revenues and diversify its economy to other sectors and utilise its other economic potentials.
He said “ Delta State is working on its vision of Delta Beyond Oil to attract major investments to the state, create jobs for its teeming youths and empower the needy, widows, youths and women through its small and medium scale micro-credit scheme.”
While commending the unity and cordial relationship among the Heads of the various Security agencies in the country, Governor Uduaghan appealed for synergy among the various Security Agencies at the state level to meet the security challenges in the state and for the betterment of the country.
He acknowledged the patriotic zeal of Nigerians and called on the leaders to tap into this zeal to carry out development in the society and make the country a better place.
Governor Uduaghan commended President GoodluckEbele Jonathan for the appointment of Vice Admiral Dele Joseph Ezeoba as Chief of Naval Staff and sought for the appointment of more Deltans into positions of prominence.
In a brief remark, the chairman of the occasion and former Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Dan Preston Omatsola called for ethical re-orientation in the country especially among the youths.
He admonished the leaders in the country to always put national interest above personal or tribal interest.
He said “God would not come down to build a nation, human beings who are attuned with God will build the nation. Leadership calls for honest people with philosophical bend to lead the nation aright” adding that “Leaders should put the national interest above their personal or premordial interest for development to take place in the country. “.
Responding, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Joseph Ezeoba thanked the President Goodluck Jonathan for appointing him to the position and urged officers and men of the Service to continue to meet the challenges and goals posed by their work and ensure the maintenance of the present achievements attained by the Service.
He commended the leadership qualities and developmental strides of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan describing him as “ a man of dexterity, uncommon character, largely misunderstood who has brought his leadership acumen to bear in the development of the state”.
While expressing his support for the success of the “ Delta Beyond Oil” vison, he called on all deltans to support the initiative to enable the state develop its other revenue potentials.
…Says Malaria Can Be Eliminated
DELTA State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has said malaria can be eliminated through clean environment and consistent use of Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLIN).
Speaking while flagging off the distribution of LLIN at the weekend in Asaba, the state capital, the Governor said that environmental cleanliness was critical to the success of the campaign.
He said that “malaria is one disease that can be eliminated” and called on Deltans to ensure that their surroundings were kept clean to eradicate all mosquito breeding grounds.
The Governor said that the state government understood the socio-economic effects of the scourge of malaria on the nation and expressed his administration’s resolve to ensure the eradication of malaria especially in the rural and riverine areas of the state.
While noting that malaria does not respect class or status, the Governor stressed the need for Deltans to ensure that they have clean environment devoid of filth, especially containers that contains water.
He assured that Delta State will embark on aggressive sensitization of the people on how to use the net and why they should use the net at all times adding that before the net is put into use, it should be spread under shed for 24 hours.
Dr Uduaghan reiterated that the state will beat other states in the fight against malaria and commended the Federal Government and donor agencies for their commitment towards eradicating malaria in Nigeria.
He congratulated his wife, Roli who was conferred the Net Ambassador of the state, saying “as the NET Ambassador for Delta State, I want to say that you have a onerous task to reach the nooks and crannies of the state and ensure that the nets get to the people especially in the
rural and riverine areas.”
“It is a big task but we will assist you and ensure that in conjunction with Ministry of Health this campaign is a success. Whatever operational gaps that was witnessed during the distribution
of the net, we will correct as a state”, he added.
Mrs Uduaghan while responding to the conferment of Ambassador Award by the National Malaria Control programme urged all Nigerians especially mothers to make use of the treated nets to ensure a malaria free nation.
The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu who was represented at the occasion by Dr Steve Uzodimma observed that usage of the net is important because, “Nigeria contributes a quarter of malaria burden in Africa; 97 per cent of the population in Nigeria is at risk and it is
responsible for about 66 per cent of all clinic attendances and poses a huge challenge on our developmental efforts.”
“Malaria robs our country of substantial investments, tourism and development,” the Minister said, adding, “Nigeria losses about N480 billion to malaria annually as a result of treatment and prevention costs, man-hour loss, among others”.
In an address at the occasion, the national coordinator, National Malaria Control Programme, Dr Nnenna Ezeigwe who was represented by Mr Godson Kingsley said, “Delta State require a total of 1, 975, 791 nets worth over 1.9 billion Naira to achieve universal coverage of the entire state require in the ratio of 2 nets per household,” asserting, “with the efforts of the Federal Government Roll Back Malaria partners, these nets have been procured to the households.”
He disclosed that over 157 million Naira was been spent as operational cost for the implementation of the LLIN universal campaign in Delta State reiterating that it will cover “movement of the nets and materials to local government areas, monitoring and supervision, state coordination and personnel payment.”
“Considering the terrain and other peculiarities of Delta State, some gaps amounting to about 90 million Naira, still exist in the operational cost, covering personnel payment and movement of net and materials to communities especially, the riverines,” Mr Kingsley said.
