Author: Editor
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), has disclosed its decision to set up an operational base in Aba, Abia State. Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, disclosed this when he visited Gov. Alex Otti in his country home in Umuehim, Nvosi, Isiala-Ngwa South Local Government Area. The Air Force boss said that the essence of his visit was to engage in meaningful dialogue with the Governor and explore opportunities for collaboration between the Nigerian Air Force and Abia State. Abubakar requested the state government to provide them a parcel of land for the establishment of…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Federal Government has revoked the Umuahia-Bende-Ohafia federal road due to under-performance of the construction firm handling the project. The Member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia federal constituency, Hon. Ibe Okwara Osonwa, who disclosed this during a press conference in Umuahia, expressed sadness that the contractor had been crawling on the road since it was awarded many years ago. The Labour Party lawmaker who had during a townhall meeting with his constituents in January, threatened to petition against the construction firm, said that the Federal Government would engage a better contractor for the project. He expressed displeasure that the…
Lawrence Nwimo, Awka The era of street and roadside trading may be coming to an end in Anambra State as Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Saturday commissioned modern shops named, Solution Arena in Awka, the state capital. Solution Arena, a mini market, with over 40 open stalls, is located at the junction leading to Isuaniocha from the temp site and along the club road popularly known as Abakaliki Street, Awka. Ikengaonline learned that the place was established by the governor to serve as an arena where vegetables, fruits, grills, and sundry food stuff would be sold by traders who hitherto had been…
Ben Ezechime, Enugu Okey Anichie, former Football commentator and ardent supporter of Rangers International Football club, has described the death of former Rangers striker, Stanley Okoronkwo as a monumental loss. Anichie, who worked with the then Eastern Nigeria Broadcasting Service (ENBS), Enugu, later NIgerian Television Authority (NTA), Enugu, said Okoronkwo shone like a bright star with Rangers. “I started following Rangers immediately it was formed in 1970, that was after the war, that was when I finished secondary school. “The man we called “Englishman,” Stanley Okoronkwo, I don’t know the kind of word to use to show the calibre of…
Lawrence Nwimo, Awka Anambra State Government has assured zero malpractice in the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the state. Commissioner for Education, Prof Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, gave the assurance on Friday during a courtesy visit of BECE Monitoring team from the Federal Ministry of Education in her office. She said the visit was to ensure conformity in all educational space in the nation, that all due processes were observed, as well as ensure there were no irregularities in the conduct of the examination. She said, “The ultimate goal of this administration is to produce a school environment devoid of…
By Godwin Onyeacholem It was a rare act of courage driven by no less a sentiment than pure affection – and a bizarre allegiance to service of which humanity remains at the core. At a time Nigeria was roiling in political instability, with riots and street protests at full tilt on account of the voiding of the June 12 1993 presidential election in the heat of strident calls by pro-democracy groups and active civil society for a return to democratic governance, MacArthur Foundation chose to plant its benevolent feet on the country’s dicey soil. Ironically, that was the period just…
Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki The Industrial Training fund (ITF) says it had trained a total of four thousand Nigerian youths in various skills in the year 2024. The training was carried out in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Budgeting and Economic Planning under the ITF’s National Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (NERGP). Director General of ITF, Dr Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, stated this in Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi State on Friday during the graduation ceremony of a fresh batch of graduates of the programme. He noted that so far, 100 Youths in the state have participated and benefited in the three months technical and vocational training.…
By Azu Ishiekwene I’m opposed to minimum wage. And I know I’m saying this at the risk of losing readers. The minimum wage hurts the poor and vulnerable in whose name and interest Labour claims to strike. Sounds foolish, right? How can more naira in the pocket of the Nigerian worker currently on a minimum wage of N30,000 be bad? In a country where each of 469 lawmakers earns N13.5 million monthly, minus allowances, and office holders in the executive branch use large convoys and maintain large personal staff at the public expense, why should there be any fuss about the…
Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki The Ebonyi South Senatorial Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Feb 3rd 2024 By-election in the state, Barrister Silas Onu has accused Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and the National Organising Secretary of PDP, Umar Bature, of masterminding the leadership crisis in the Ebonyi State chapter of the PDP. In a statement issued in Abakaliki, Barrister Onu noted that the leadership crisis in Ebonyi PDP was rooted in Governor Makinde’s ambition of running for the Presidential position on the platform of the PDP in 2027. He alleged that the shortchanging of list of caretaker committee in…
By Owei Lakemfa The loss of majority in parliament by the African National Congress, ANC in the May 29, 2024 South African elections, was a sunset for the continent. It means that the unrepentant Pan Africanist organisation with its vow to the mass of the people and, unrepentant commitment to humanity as manifested in its unprecedented war against genocide in Palestine, might be compromised under a coalition. The uniqueness of the ANC in South African and international politics is that it has never really been a political party. Rather, it is an all-comers movement of people dedicated to freedom and…