Living faith Church debunks visa denial story on Oyedepo; it’s a lie

Bishop David Oyedepo.

Living Faith Church has denied a news story that claimed that the founder and President of the church, Bishop David Oyedepo was denied visa by the embassy of the United States.

A statement by the church signed by Prof. Sheriff F. Folarin. Chairman, Editorial and Media Board LFC WW (Winners' Chapel Int'l), which described the information as not true, stated “We wish to put it on record and categorically submit that this piece of information is NOT TRUE. At no time was the Bishop denied visa, nor did he create a scene at the US consulate in Lagos, as purported by some mainstream and online newspapers”.

 Full text of the Press release reads:

Bishop Oyedepo was at NO TIME Denied US Entry Visa

-Living Faith Church

Mainstream and online media spaces this morning were abuzz with the news that Bishop David Oyedepo was denied entry visa to the United States on Thursday, January 30, 2020. We wish to put it on record and categorically submit that this piece of information is NOT TRUE. At no time was the Bishop denied visa, nor did he create a scene at the US consulate in Lagos, as purported by some mainstream and online newspapers.

The Bishop renewed his visa, last year, without any initial denial or drama, or scene. The Bishop was NOT at the Embassy or Consulate yesterday or even anytime this year. Bishop has been in Canaanland all this week. The last time he applied for visa, which was last year, he was issued without delay.

We have been in touch with the US Embassy and they are as surprised as we are about this FAKE NEWS, which some media houses decided to spread.

We encourage the Nigerian media to always tow the line of due diligence before rushing to press and try to at least reach the church from time to time, whenever items try to pass through the rumour mill. Professionalism and wisdom require this so as to maintain integrity and make the media trusted in the society, particularly in this age that fake news has become The News.

Bishop Oyedepo is a good friend of the US government and has a very good relationship with US Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria. He is a social entrepreneur, who has touched so many lives in Nigeria, Africa, United States and all around the world.

Prof. Sheriff F. Folarin

Chairman, Editorial and Media Board

LFCWW (Winners' Chapel Int'l)

Environmental marshals coming for Delta, Okowa hints, wants more partnership in promoting clean, decent surrounding

Governor Okowa visiting one of the SMART fruits arena.

Delta State government is in the process of engaging environmental marshals, to enforce the culture of clean and decent environment in the state, according to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

The Governor dropped the hint today, Friday, January 31, 2020 when he undertook a working visit to some beautification projects executed by the Delta state Capital Territory Development Agency.(DSCTDA).

"We are in the process of engaging environmental marshals; a task force has been created so people should be warned,’’ the governor said, even as he called for more collaboration, especially with the private sector in providing a cleaner and aesthetic environment in the state.

The projects visited by Governor okowa included sets of shops - SMART Delta Delicacies/Fruit Arena -.located at Summit Road, Nnebisi Road and NTA Junction, Federal Medical Center Bus Stop and unveiling of new Dennis Osadebe Statue on Anwai Road, which was unveiled by the governor.

Okowa explained that partnerships with the government would help to create better amenities for citizens.

He commended the Agency and some private concerns for the structures, saying "I am aware that some of the structures have been built either directly by the Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency or in partnership with some Deltans as I am aware that two of the structures were donated to the state government by some very supportive deltans or people doing business in Delta.

"As a government, we are very grateful, and some willing Deltans and non Deltans who are trading in the state have also started to offer support to the state government by building some of these structures which tell us that our people should be willing to support government by giving back to the people.

"We will continue to ask and encourage our people to partner with government because government cannot do everything alone’’.

The governor charged the capital development agency to sustain it's pursuit of clean and beautiful environment in the capital city.

He said: “I hope that they will continue to work judiciously to keep our capital territory and its environs cleaner and better.

"I can see that in the last few months there have been a lot of changes in the sanitary character of Asaba and I think that it is very instructive, not just in the capital territory.

"I want to use this medium to urge our people and let them know that sanitation is good; it is good for us to keep our environment clean.

"It is good for us to put in a lot of effort to make sure that our environments are tidy and in so doing every Deltan, non-Deltans living in our cities must be committed to doing what is needed to be done to be able to keep our state clean.

"I hope that our people will continue to support the programmes of the agency and also the programmes being put in place by the Warri-Effurun Development Agency to ensure better cleanliness of our environment.

"I am glad that Deltans are getting more interested in ensuring they do not dispose of waste wherever they feel like, particularly in our cities and I hope that better actions are taken to ensure that those who deliberately dump waste inappropriately will be dealt with accordingly.

Earlier, the Director-General of the Agency, Mrs Onyemaechi Mrakpor, stated that the main purpose of the agency was to redesign and reconstruct structures that would give the state capital a face lift and add value to the lives of Deltans.

She commended the governor for the support given to the agency and assured that more work would be executed to help in achieving the Stronger Delta mandate.

It would be recalled that clean and aesthetics being seen in the environment in Asaba is a fulfillment of his campaign promise in his five-point SMART agenda of bringing about a “transformed environment through urban renewal.”

Ward Liaison Officers get appointment letters in Delta

Rt. Hon. Funkekeme Solomon, Senior Political Adviser to
Delta Governor.

The Delta State Government has commenced the issuance of appointment letters to the ward liaison officers appointed from the three senatorial districts across the state.

The exercise which included data capturing and pay rolling of the appointees began with Delta North Senatorial District through Delta South and Delta Central Senatorial Districts respectively.

The Senior Political Adviser to the Governor, Rt Hon. Solomon Funkekeme, whose office is saddled with the responsibility of coordinating the activities of the affected persons, said the ward liaison officers would function as the ambassadors of the PDP and the Government in their various wards.

According to Rt Hon. Funkekeme, the appointees are expected to propagate and promote the activities and programmes of government, and ensure that government projects cited in their areas were executed to standard and further protected from vandalism.

He therefore implored the appointees to be of good behavior as ambassadors of PDP and the government.

On their part the ward liaison officers expressed appreciation to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for the appointment and promised to discharge their assigned responsibilities to uphold the honour trust reposed on them.

It will be recalled that over One Thousand Six Hundred (1,600) ward liaison officers were appointed from the Three (3) Senatorial Districts across the State and subsequently inaugurated on the 28th and 29th respectively in October 2019

Methanol, transmittal firms ready for Delta, Okowa discloses

 

Governor Okowa displays the plaque presented to him at the NEXIM
Bank South-South Export Enlightenment and engagement Forum.

Delta Governor, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, today, Tuesday, January 28, 2020 said activities would begin soon at Kwale Industrial Park as methanol and transmission tower manufacturing companies had indicated readiness to set up their plants in the state.
 
The governor made the disclosure at the South-South Export Enlightenment and Engagement Forum organised by the Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank) in conjunction with Delta Government in Asaba.

He said "Our investment drives have started paying off; our state has commenced the process of take-off of the Kwale Industrial Park located along Ughelli-Asaba Expressway.

"Expected to drive this administration’s industrialization agenda, the Park has the potential to be Nigeria’s biggest location for gas and energy intensive manufacturing such as ceramics, rubber and methanol.

``I can confidently say that we engaged in a successful road show at China which will bring about the establishment of a methanol manufacturing plant at the park within the next few months; pulp and paper will also be manufactured at the Park.

"As a demonstration of our faith in the viability of the project and as an incentive to prospective investors, my administration approved a seed fund of 10 million dollars for partnership with interested investors in the Park.

``In the same token, we have earmarked the sum of five million dollars as seed capital for the establishment of a transmission tower manufacturing plant being promoted by ENFRASCO Limited.

"The project, which will be sited at Issele-Uku, comprises the establishment of a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant for power transmission, telecommunication masts, hot dip galvanizing plant, tower testing and certification facility and research facility training school with focus on fabrication and distribution know-how.

``This sort of commitment on the part of the state government serves to de-risk investments and give assurance to prospective investors."

Okowa called for diversification of the nation’s economy from oil and gas, saying "evidently, this distorted mono-product economy does not bode well for inclusive economic growth and sustainable development as oil is a depleting resource.

``Even more importantly, the advent of electric cars is a clear and present danger to the future of this industry, hence, the urgent need for the governments in the Niger Delta region to expeditiously diversify their economies and maximise our non-oil export potential.

"To achieve this, it is exigent that we first take full advantage of our unique location. In business, it is axiomatic that being in the right location is critical for success.

``Our natural location in the coastal region puts us in a prime position to engage in export-import trade; take Delta, for instance, it has four seaports in Warri, Burutu, Sapele and Koko, whose combined capacity exceeds that of all the other ports in Nigeria put together.

"You can, therefore, imagine the quantum of trade and commerce as well as the limitless possibilities that exist for investment and employment opportunities when just two of the ports are fully functional."

Welcoming participants earlier, Managing Director of NEXIM Bank, Mr Abubakar Bello, had stated that efforts should be geared towards encouraging non-oil export.

He announced that N1 billion had been set aside for entrepreneurs that produced non-oil export products for each state of the country.

Edo Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, attended the opening of the Forum.

FEATURES - Delta out with one-stop public service secretariat

New imposing Delta State secretariat ... work in progress.

By Eyitemi Agoda


Within three months of the creation of Delta in 1991, the first secretariat complex popularly referred to as ‘Works’ was hurriedly put in place by the then military administrator, Group Captain Luke Ochulor, in Asaba, the capital. The complex barely accommodated the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and the army of public servants relocated from Benin City, the capital of defunct Bendel State, where Delta was carved out from.
Many public offices, including the Government House and Deputy Governor’s quarters, operated in rented apartments, but successive governments headed by late Felix Ibru, Group Captain Ibrahim Kefas (retd), Brig-Gen. Bassey Asuquo (retd), late Col. John Dungs, Navy Captain Walter Feghabor (retd), Chief James Ibori and Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, who all administered the state between 1994 and 2015, saw to the construction of some office buildings in Asaba to complement the State Secretariat now known as Olorogun Felix Ibru Secretariat, built by the Federal Government to support the new state.

During the period, a Government House was built and the secretariat was extended, but some public establishments remained in rented buildings, a situation that continued to encumber effective delivery of services by MDAs.

Recognizing this deficit and determined to change the narrative, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, on assumption of office as governor in 2015, conceived the idea of a modern secretariat that will accommodate all MDAs – an integrated complex with the objective of providing an environment conducive for work by public servants in the state under one roof. To the governor, it is only such complex that would provide the public service in the state the tonic needed for seamless discharge of its responsibility in the well-articulated governance pattern of his administration.

The contract for the project was awarded in December, 2016 to North China Construction Nigeria Limited, a Chinese company said to be a grade `A’ firm classified in the same category as Julius Berger Nigeria Limited, but mobilization to site was in November, 2017, and work began pronto.

Three years on, the project, which has developed from obscurity to an imposing and audacious edifice, occupies about 65,000 square metres space along Mariam Babangida Way in Asaba, between Olorogun Felix Ibru Secretariat and its Annex. Its ground floor alone approximates two standard football fields.

Aside being an integrated complex designed to house all MDAs, construction of the secretariat is aimed at reducing wastages and cost of governance as it will save the huge funds currently being spent by government on rent for some MDAs. The savings, of course, will be deployed by the government, to other purposes to boost the state’s economy, flowing from its track of prudent fiscal management.

Interestingly, the project is being funded under Contractor-Financed model, which means that the contractor is using its resources to build the secretariat, while the state will repay under an arrangement agreed by both parties. Adopting this method of funding the project is pragmatic as it gives the state government leverage to deploy freed funds to other needs.

According to Mr Henry Sakpra, Commissioner for Special Duties, who is in charge of the secretariat project, the complex has the capacity to accommodate no less than 27 ministries, agencies, departments and parastatals; it has five clusters - A to E.

``Clusters A and B have four floors; clusters D and E have four floors while cluster C which is the middle structure has seven floors. Two floors on each cluster has a courtyard and will house a ministry, with each floor having elevators and staircases,” he explained.

Sakpra disclosed that raft approach in modern building was deployed for the foundation of the structure and it measured up to 2.7 metres in depth, representing about two times the height of an average man.

He said, ``the raft approach will guarantee the sturdiness and integrity of the building as well as guard against any breach or possible collapse.

``The complex has facilities for a crèche, a bank as well as a clinic. For instance, if an official comes to work and wants to go to the bank, there will be no need to leave the premises.

``For mothers, there is a place to cater for the needs of their children while they do their work.

``Besides, the complex is designed to reduce paper work in most official dealings as all offices will be able to share information through Information Communication Technology facility that will be deployed in the building.’’

The initial timeline for the completion of the complex was last quarter, 2019, but this was shifted to first quarter, 2020, due to some hiccups in clearing the construction materials at the seaport. Officials claimed that about six months was lost in sorting out the hitches, but assured that the project would be delivered at the new schedule.

Sakpra stated that about 80 per cent of the project had been completed and that work was currently at finishing stages.

“As we speak, there is a frenzy of activities in all the floors, rooms and offices; tiling is ongoing, water installation, landscaping, water treatment and roofing have been completed.

``Work is constantly in progress, seamlessly and without any hindrance. The completion timeline of first quarter of 2020 will be met.

``This building will serve as a one-stop shop for government businesses. It is built to house state facilities and we call it `Intelligence Building’.

``This is because it is going to contain all the facilities needed to make work much easier and by that, improve the efficiency of work for our civil servants and public officers. This secretariat building is first of its kind in the country,” he said.

Already, the quality and magnificence of the complex is attracting attention from residents and visitors to the state – no one passes by that way without beholding the structure. At the recent conference of the National Council on Establishment which comprises Heads of Civil Service of the Federation and in the 36 states, in Asaba, the members, led by the Acting Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan, took time off their schedule to tour the secretariat project. In her remarks at the end of the tour, an obviously impressed Yemi-Esan said, “this is fantastic, it is marvelous. This type of edifice built as workers’ work place, to the best of my knowledge, is only in Delta.

``It is great and workers in this wonderful building will have no reason not to give their all, their best, to the job. The governor is a gentle and great man and this has been demonstrated in this building.

``He has continued to show his friendly disposition toward the workers in the state.”

Sir Austin Oghenekevwe, a retired civil servant, who claimed to have been attracted to the site by the size of the building, said, “We never had such an edifice when I was in service and it makes me happy to know that we have a governor who is interested in the welfare and wellbeing of civil servants.

``Okowa is indeed, a wonderful man, whose projects and programmes are always people-oriented. We love him and prayed for him as he takes us to a Stronger Delta.’’

Similarly, Mr Chika Odili of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in the state said ``it is certain that the governor is determined to ensure that civil servants receive the best and put in their best by providing a conducive working environment.

``From what I have heard about this secretariat, it will contain a lot of facilities that will make our work a lot easier.”

He commended the governor for his efforts at developing the state and urged him not to relent.

``We can’t wait for this edifice, this gift by the governor to workers, to be opened for use’’ is the running chorus by excited public servants and residents in the state, anxiously waiting for the two months left in the deadline for the completion of the complex.

Astronauts bake first cookies in space; cookies to undergo testing by food scientists to determine if they are edible

Astronauts on the International Space Station have baked the first cookies in space, but they took far longer than on Earth.

The space station’s Italian commander Luca Parmitano acted as baker aided by NASA astronaut Christina Koch for the chocolate-chip cookie experiment.

Cookies take around 15-20 minutes to bake on Earth but the astronauts discovered that their most successful efforts required at least two hours in the oven in space.

The first and second cookies were in the oven for 25 minutes and 75 minutes but were still under-baked.

The best results came from 120 and 130 minutes in the oven.

“We made space cookies and milk for Santa this year,” Koch tweeted.

The prototype oven which can be used in microgravity was designed and built by Nanoracks and Zero G Kitchen while the Double Tree by Hilton hotel chain supplied the raw cookie dough.

“The ISS smelled like fresh chocolate chip cookies when @astro_luca opened the oven door! Just like home!” Nanoracks tweeted.

“While we have initial visual and scent feedback from the crew aboard the ISS, we’re excited to dive into fully understanding the baking results -– including breaking down why the bake time and temperature in space varies from what we are used to seeing on Earth,” Mary Murphy, a Nanoracks payloads manager, said in a statement from Hilton.

While the astronauts said they looked and smelled like cookies, no one has tasted them.

Three of the cookies returned to Earth on the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on January 7 and will undergo testing by food scientists to determine if they are edible.

“Currently on the International Space Station there’s really a limited ability to prepare foods in ways that we’re used to,” Zero G Kitchen founder Ian Fichtenbaum said in a video posted by Hilton.

“And now as longer duration space flight is more common you want to focus on making space more comfortable,” added co-founder Jordana Fichtenbaum. (NAN)

Oil Theft: EFCC to train Army in evidence handling

EFCC senior officers in Port Harcourt in group photograph with the GOC,
6th Division of the Nigeria Army.

In a bid to enhance the prosecution of suspects alleged to be  involved in illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has offered to train officers of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army in the intricate art of evidence gathering and handling to guarantee successful prosecutions in court.

A statement signed by the Acting Head, Media and Publicity of the Commission, Mr. Tony Orilade, stated that Usman Iman, new Zonal Head of the Port Harcourt office of the EFCC made the offer yesterday, Thursday, January 23, 2020 when he led senior officers of the Commission on a courtesy visit to the General Officer Commanding, 6 Division Nigerian Army, Major General F. O. Agugo.

According to Iman, him, the training will ensure "that evidences are secured to enhance prosecutions as lawyers often look for loopholes to frustrate the trial of oil theft cases."

General Agugo who expressed delight at the offer mandated a team comprising the training commander and the Division's legal officer to work with the EFCC in working out the fine details of the intervention."We welcome the training proposals...why should will kill ourselves in the Creeks only for some unscrupulous lawyers to rubbish our efforts. We will go out of our way to help you achieve convictions," he said.

Earlier, Imam told the GOC that he was at the Division to acquaint himself with him and his officers, and to solicit their support and collaboration. He expressed satisfaction at the existing relationship between the Army and the EFCC .

He, however, called on the GOC to consider releasing his officers to testify as witnesses in oil theft cases. "We have a situation where under cross examination in court you are asked whether you are the arresting officer and you say no, and your evidence becomes hearsay".

He also harped on the need to preserve evidence and to ensure that drivers of trucks with stolen or illegally refined products are apprehended.

While thanking Imam for the visit, General Agugo, who described the Zonal Head, as "a friend and brother", pledged closer collaboration between the Army and the EFCC. He said the Army has no choice but to support the EFCC in line with the vision of the Commander- in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari that, "If we don't kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria".

He said both the Army and the EFCC have a common purpose which is linked to the survival of the nation, and "we should work together."

Delta Govt begins registration for 2019/2020 students special assistance scheme

Mr. Sunny Orishedere, Executive Secretary, Delta State Bursary and
Scholarship Board.

The Delta State Bursary and Scholarship Board has announced that the site for the 2019/2020 Students Special Assistance Scheme (SSAS) is now opened for students of Delta State origin who are in tertiary institutions in the country for online registration of students for the scheme.

The board disclosed that the registration commenced from January 20, 2020 and will closed on Wednesday February 20, 2020.

A statement signed by the State Director of Information, Mr Dona Obuseh, said applicants must be of Delta State origin; have registered with the National Identification Management Commission (NIMC); either be in second year or above (200 to 500 level) in the universities or; be in ND II and HND II in the Polytechnics/Monotechnics; be in 200 level and above for Colleges of Education Students and have a CGPA of 2.20 and above in the previous academic year's examination.

The statement enjoined all eligible students to log on to www.dsbsb.dl.gov.ng and click on Apply Here to login and revalidate their details for old students or submit bursary application form for new students.

It also requested that students should print out their email and signed copy of the student’s acknowledgement card to 2019bursary@dsbsb.dl.gov.ng to complete the bursary registration.

Also, applications must be processed and submitted online, saying that double application was ground for disqualification and advised all enquiries to be channeled to help lines 07066092632, or 08032261336, support@dsbsb.dl.gov.ng.

Candidates could also check the Pointer Newspaper of Thursday, January 16, 2020 and Vanguard Newspaper of Wednesday, January 20, 2020 for details.

Infant Jesus residents seek Delta Govt’s intervention against perennial flood

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa .

Residents of Infant Jesus Phase 2 community have called on the Delta State Government to come to their aid on the issue of the perennial flooding of Infant Jesus area from River Niger by constructing an embankment along the stripes of Anwai River and Umejei Adudu Street to wade off overflow from the water bodies.

The Community made the call when they visited Government House, Asaba on courtesy call.

The Community's Chairman, Chief Cyprian Okoye, appealed to the state government to direct the firm handling the construction of the road at Infant Jesus to take advantage of the dry season to expedite works on the project going on in the area.

The leaders maintained that the dry season was the best time to construct the road given the volume of water deposited on the road during the rains and that the government should sand-fill the community.

He also pleaded with the state government to construct an embankment on the edge of River Niger to check the annual overflow and also to reclaim some failed and low areas in the community by sand filling to increase the land level.

Meanwhile, the state government has reiterated its commitment to making the government much visible and less opaque to get firsthand information on issues and act on them for the benefit of Deltans.

The Chief of Staff, Government House, Chief David Edevbie, who received the delegation on behalf of the government and made the declaration said: “We are making government less opaque and much visible and open as possible to get first-hand information and address them and meet the priority of the people.”

He also called on Deltans to bring their plight to the government, stressing that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was ready to attend to their need.

The Chief of Staff promised to convey the message of the community leaders to the governor whom he said, would take the matter to the appropriate ministry for the necessary action.

Be productive, disciplined, Aniagwu tasks new information officers

Mr. Charles Aniagwu, Delta Information Commissioner.

Newly recruited Information Officers in the Delta State Civil Service, have been charged to be productive, obedient and creative in the discharge of their duties.

The Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, gave the advice today at a pre-orientation meeting he had with the new officers, at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Information, Asaba.

Mr Aniagwu, while welcoming and congratulating the officers on their engagement as full time staff with the Delta state Government, called on the officers to see their new position as the best thing yet, advising them to work with dignity.

He frowned at the misconception of many people believing that there was no work to be done in the civil service, saying that the service was not only  inundated with work but had challenging activities on a daily basis.

The commissioner admonished the new recruits to demonstrate every sense of hard work, show obedience to their superiors and be willing to confront challenges.

“Majority have work to do and we will engage those who are willing to work
We will deploy some of you to work in DBS and The Pointer to assist in areas where they lack workers.

“Make this place a fertile ground by engaging in business that will bring value to the Ministry and the state. We don’t have room for idleness. Your business here is to add value. We are happy you are here and we will be happier when you make your stay here productive. We punish indiscipline and reward hard work

“Respect your superiors and your seniors. Be humble and build good relationships
We will organize orientation course to enable you know the what is expected and not expected from you

“Your prospect here is in your hand. The way you make your bird, that is how you lie on it,” Mr Aniagwu stated.

Responding on behalf of the new staff, Mr Azubike Okei thanked the commissioner for the pre-orientation lecture and the state governor also for the employment, pledging that they would work in line with what was expected of them.

The meeting was attended by the Permanent secretary in the Ministry, Mr Paul Osahor; and the Director of Information, Mr Dona Obuseh, among others.