Author: Editor
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia About 75% of mental health challenges in Abia State are linked to substance abuse, including nkpuru mmiri and other narcotics, according to a recent study conducted by BanStopPrevent. The research, carried out in Apumini, Mgbarakuma, and Nsukwe communities in Umuahia South Local Government Area, was presented on Tuesday to the Abia State House of Assembly Committee on Health by the team lead, Dr. Christian Abuajah. Dr. Abuajah called for stricter measures against the production and distribution of hard drugs to curb their accessibility, warning that substance abuse continues to drive rising mental health cases across communities. He…
By Jude Eze There is an old saying, drawn from the 1959 documentary, “The Hate That Hate Produced,” that cycles of resentment rarely die; they merely reproduce themselves in new forms. The documentary examined how decades of racial oppression in America gave birth to radical resistance movements. But more importantly, it revealed a universal truth: hate breeds more hate, often blinding people to facts, context, and fairness. In Nigeria today, this pattern is alive and thriving. Our national discourse, particularly around political controversies, shows that most citizens do not choose sides based on logic or evidence, but on a deep-seated…
Ben Ezechime, Enugu The Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN), a non-governmental organisation, has petitioned Governor Peter Mbah, calling for urgent reforms in the administration of justice in magistrates’ courts across Enugu State. In a statement issued by its President, Olu Omotayo, Esq., and made available to journalists in Enugu, the group said the call had become necessary due to what it described as “gross denial and frustration of justice.” CRRAN cited the cases of Godwin Odey and Yusuf Omotara as examples of “grave violations of citizens’ rights to access justice” and the authorities’ alleged refusal to take prompt…
Ben Ezechime, Enugu The Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) has announced that it will confer Honorary Doctorate degrees on the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen; the Senate Minority Whip, Senator Osita Ngwu; and the Chief Executive Officer of Polyester Electronics, Chief Paulinus Ozonnagbo. The awards will be presented during the university’s 21st Convocation Ceremony scheduled for Saturday. ESUT Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, made the announcement at a pre-convocation press briefing held at the university’s main campus in Agbani, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State. Prof. Okolie explained that the honourees were…
Our Reporter, Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the deadly attack on Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School (GGCSS), Maga, in Danko Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, where bandits killed the Vice Principal, Hassan Yakubu Makuku, and abducted 25 students. In a statement issued on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the PDP described the incident as “tragic” and a reflection of the worsening state of insecurity across the country under the Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration. The party accused the Federal Government of prioritising political maneuvering over the safety of citizens,…
Our Reporter, Abuja Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has sparked a fresh political storm after issuing a scathing “thank you” message to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, alleging that the elder statesman “belongs to the zoo.” The unusual message, sent via SMS and made public on Monday by Obasanjo’s Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, came barely 24 hours after the former President attended Fayose’s 65th birthday celebration. According to Akinyemi, Fayose’s message sharply criticised Obasanjo over comments the former President reportedly made at the event. Fayose’s Fierce Rebuke In the text message, Fayose thanked Obasanjo for attending his birthday but…
Chinwendu Uzoatu, Awka The Anambra State chapter of the Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW) has celebrated the 2025 Chinua Achebe Literary Festival and Memorial Lecture. The 10th edition of the annual event had the theme: “Revisiting The Trouble With Nigeria: The Achebean Perspective.” Held at the Anambra State Central E-Library, Awka, the festival attracted students, writers, and notable dignitaries. In his welcome address, the state coordinator of SYNW, Mr. Izunna Okafor, said the event was not only aimed at honouring the late literary icon, Chinua Achebe, and his globally acclaimed works but also at promoting creative writing and a strong…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Insecurity in northern Nigeria worsened on Sunday night as armed bandits invaded Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, killing the vice principal and abducting 25 female students. According to local sources, the attackers, who were heavily armed and in large numbers, stormed the school at night and began shooting sporadically before gaining access to the hostels. Unconfirmed reports also indicated that additional bodies were sighted within the school premises after the raid. “They came in large numbers at night and started shooting wildly before entering the school,” a community source said.…
Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki The Ebonyi State Government has trained and empowered 100 young people with market-ready skills and start-up equipment as part of ongoing efforts to build a skilled, self-reliant workforce in the state. The beneficiaries completed a three-month intensive vocational programme, which ran from August 15 to November 15, 2025. The initiative was organised by the Ministry of Skill Development and Job Creation in partnership with Genolanor Interior Design, Abuja. According to the Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media, Leo Ekene Oketa, the programme aligns with Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru’s commitment to youth development as outlined in…
Our Reporter, Abuja Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has encouraged the Super Eagles not to be discouraged by their defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo in Sunday’s 2026 World Cup qualifying playoff in Morocco. In a statement after the game, Obi said he understood how disappointing the result was for the players and the millions of Nigerians who had hoped for a victory. He commended the team for their hard work and sacrifice, noting that wearing the nation’s colours comes with the weight of high expectations. Obi urged the players to…