News

Enugu Govt, Diasporan Investors Seal $300m Africa Medical City Deal

Published

2 months ago

July 20, 2024

The Enugu State government and a group of Nigerians in the diaspora have sealed a deal to build a state-of-the-art medical city for over $300 million.

The proposed city, which would play in all the value chains of medical services to make Enugu State the hub of medical tourism on the African continent, will see the state provide 100 hectares of land in consideration, for which it would get a 10 percent equity stake in the Special Purpose Vehicle, SPV, for the development.

Governor Peter Mbah received the executive and management of African Medical City yesterday at the Government House in Enugu.

The governor said the development was in line with his campaign promise to grow the state’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion and make it the premier destination for business, investment, tourism, and living.

He assured the investors, who are mostly Nigerian medical doctors based overseas, that the state government would discharge its obligations with dispatch to ensure a timely realisation of the initiative. He blamed the lack of modern facilities for the over $1 billion Nigerians are estimated to spend on medical tourism annually.

“What we are witnessing today is monumental, and we cannot take its value and significance for granted. This aligns with our humongous promise to our people during our campaign for office to grow our GDP exponentially from $4.4 billion to $30 billion.

“But we recognised that a lot of that growth will come from the private sector, and we also recognised that it has to be enabled by the government. So, our strategy was to have a government-enabled but private sector-driven economy.

“So, coming to Enugu with an investment size of over $300 million, we knew it was something that must not escape us when we heard of it. We must do everything necessary to ensure that the investment is not only sitting here but that we also recruit you as one of our testimonials, people who can market Enugu based on your experience in terms of how we made it easy for you to come here and invest and how we have also shown transparency, accountability and integrity in the entire process.

“You can be assured that we will discharge all those obligations creditably,” the governor said.

Speaking, the chairman of the African Medical City, Dr. Ethelbert Nwanegbo, said the group was attracted to Enugu by the investment and ease of doing business push by the present administration in the state.

“What we are trying to do here is to establish a medical city. A medical city is not just a medical building, to be sure. So, when we think of Africa, we think of Nigeria and think of yesterday.

“We are not looking at the Enugu State of yesterday, but Enugu State of the future. And there is no better time for us to institute this, and there is no better place to establish the African Medical City than Enugu State. That is why we are proudly here, and we are proud to make this place our home.

“I believe that what this project is going to do to the economy of this state in the future, there is no other state that can stand the chance, especially in the areas of GDP, employment, the welfare of our young and older parents and health status in the West African region,” he stated.

In his remark, the president/CEO of African Medical City, Dr. Uchenna Ogbozor, assured that the organisation would hit the ground running.

“African Medical City is a big organisation with 21 members. So, I want to commend our members, including those not here, for their financial commitment and capabilities,” he said.

CRED

News

We’ve been fair in distribution of FG palliatives – Abia Govt

Published

3 mins ago

September 21, 2024

ARS NEWS

The Abia State Government said that it has been fair and transparent in the distribution of the four tranches of the Federal Government palliatives to Abia citizens.

The Special Adviser to the Abia State Governor on Policies and Intervention, Rev. Fr. Christian Anokwuru, stated this in Umuahia while briefing the press on the distribution of the palliatives across the state.

He said that the state government first received a total of 16,800 bags of 50kg rice and 13,260 bags of 50kg maize. The government sold the bags of maize and bought rice instead and then added 4,800 bags of 50 kg rice. As a result, a total of 30,800 bags of 50 kg rice were distributed across the state in the first batch.

Anokwuru noted that the state government equally took delivery of 24,000 bags of 25 kg rice as the second batch of palliatives. Out of these, 19,524 bags were allocated to Abia civil servants from salary grade levels 01 to 08. The remaining 4,476 bags were distributed to persons with disabilities, Nigeria Correctional Centre in Abia, Amaudo Itumbauzo Centre for mentally ill, destitute, orphanages, and widows through the Ministry of Women Affairs in collaboration with the Office of the Wife of the Governor.

According to him, the state government received the third batch of palliative of 13,260 bags of 50kg maize and 3,196 bags of 25kg garri. Of these, 601 bags of maize and 144 bags of garri were given to each of the 17 LGAs, while faith-based organisations received 156 bags of maize and 38 bags of garri. Boarding schools received 23 bags of maize and six bags of garri.

In June 2024, the state received the fourth batch of palliative consisting of 8,900 bags of urea and NPK fertilisers, which will be distributed across 15 LGAs, excluding Aba North and Aba South LGAs, as well as a few wards in Obingwa and Osisioma LGAs, which are urban areas with minimal farming activities.

CREDIT: DIALY POST

News

Edo Governorship Election: Live results from polling units trickle in

Published

9 mins ago

September 21, 2024

ARS NEWS

Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, have started announcing results from polling units in the ongoing governorship election in Edo State.

Voting has ended in most polling units and results are being counted and announced in the presence of party agents and voters.

DAILY POST reports that the leading contenders for Saturday’s election include Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress and Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata.

Follow this thread for results from Polling Units, PUs.

Location: PU11, Ward 06, Oredo LGA

Results

PDP: 41

APC: 19

LP: 32

Ward 3, Unit 21, Etsako West

Results

APC: 28

PDP: 30

LP: 11

NNPP: 1

PU05, Ward02 GRA/Etete, Oredo LGA
Results
APC: 15
PDP: 58
LP: 12
The following results are from OREDO WARD 1.
UNIT18
APC—25
LB—-23
PDP—-104
VOID VOTE —2
UNIT19
APC—8
LB—10
PDP—-46
VOID VOTE 0
Unit 20
APC—-38
LB—-10
PDP—105
VOID VOTE —4
UNIT21
APC—-19
LB—-4
PDP—41
VOID VOTE—6
PU62, Ward 01, Ogbe, Oredo LGA, Edo state.
APC: 13
PDP: 19
LP: 02
Location: Ward 11 Unit 14 Etsako West LGA
Result
APC: 157
PDP: 35
ADP: 2
LP: 7
Location: PU1, Okada primary school, Ovia north/east
PDP=51
APC=51
LP=4
Location: PU2, Okada primary school, Ovia north/east
PDP=57
APC=36
LP=2
Location: PU3, Okada primary school, Ovia north/east
PDP=45
APC=25
LP=1
Location: PU21, Amufi primary school, ward 3
PDP=136
APC=38
LP=8
PU001, Uwessan 1, Esan Central LGA
APC: 102
PDP: 1
LP: 1
PU2, Afegbua primary school, Etsako East LGA
PDP: 121
APC: 128
NNPP: 1
Ward 11 PU13 Etsako West LGA
APC: 136
PDP: 34
LP: 4
Location: PU21, Amufi primary school, ward 3
PDP=136
APC=38
LP=8
Location: PU1, Okada primary school, Ovia north/east
PDP=51
APC=51
LP=4
Location: PU2, Okada primary school, Ovia north/east
PDP=57
APC=36
LP=2
Location: PU3, Okada primary school, Ovia north/east
PDP=45
APC=25
LP=1
PU3, Ward 1, Ewohimi, Esan south-east, Edo state
APC 45
PDP 200
Oshiomhole’s polling unit
Ward 10 PU 1 Etsako West
APC: 403
PDP: 1
ADC: 1
PU14, Community Hall Idumodin, Orhionmwon LGA, Igbanke West ward 12
PDP: 95
APC: 84
LP: 5
PU1, Orhionmwon LGA, Igbanke west ward 12, Idumodin Primary School, Idumodin III (Community Hall)
APC: 67
PDP: 35
LP: 2
PU4, Egor LGA, Egor ward 4, Egor secondary school, Egor I
APC: 21
PDP: 32
LP: 5
PU10, Orhionawon LGA, Ugboko ward 5, Ugbugo, Ugbugo Town Hall II
APC: 26
PDP: 11
LP: 0
PU7, Agbor/Ogbokpa primary school, Ewatto ward 3, Esan south LGA
APC: 131
PDP: 78
LP: 0
PU6, ward 14, Oluku, Ovia north east LGA
PDP: 84
LP: 21
APC: 11
PU20, Oredo LGA, Unueru/Ogboka ward 10, Ogboka/Unueru III, Urubi Primary School II
APC: 54
PDP: 46
LP: 4
Edo guber election result
PU14, Urora-Akengbuda Primary school VIII, Ikpoba/Okha LGA, Aduwawa/Evbo Modu ward 4
PDP: 90
APC: 23
LP: 3
PU15, Ujoelen-Ugha Square, Emuhi/ Ukpenu/Ujoelenu/Igor ward 7, Esan West LGA
PDP: 96
APC: 100
LP: 4
PU13, Uromi-Amedokhian primary school IV, Amedokhian ward 7, Esan north-east LGA
APC: 130
PDP: 119
LP: 1

CREDIT: DAILY POST

News

Nigerian Govt shuts Eko Bridge, ramps for 8-week repairs

Published

13 hours ago

September 21, 2024

ARS NEWS

The Federal Government has announced the closure of the Eko Bridge and Ramps for eight weeks to carry out essential asphalt resurfacing work.

Mrs. Olukorede Kesha, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, shared this information in a statement on Saturday. She noted that the resurfacing project is set to begin on Friday, September 20, at 7:00 a.m., and will continue until November 20.

Due to the closure, drivers will need to follow detours and alternative routes. Kesha advised that motorists traveling to the Island from Funsho Williams Avenue should utilize the service lane at Alaka to connect to Costain and access the Eko Bridge.

She explained that some sections of the bridge will be fully closed while others will have partial access.

“This important project aims to enhance road safety and improve the driving experience for motorists,” she stated. The work will involve milling the existing asphalt and laying down new asphalt on both the bridge and ramps to address wear and tear and create a smoother, safer roadway.