Author: Editor
Ben Ezechime, Enugu Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has slashed land charges introduced in 2023 by 60 per cent following widespread public outcry, particularly from residents of Enugu metropolis. The Mbah administration also announced sweeping reforms in the land sector, including the immediate abolition of illegal levies and the streamlining of property-related charges, as part of its broader economic transformation agenda. The governor disclosed this at a stakeholders’ town hall meeting on land sector development held on Thursday in Enugu. Speaking through the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Chidiebere Onyia, Mbah said ground rent, land use charge,…
By Richard Akinnola Reading through the rejoinder of the Russian Embassy to the column of Azu Ishiekwene in the January issue of Ikengaonline, to borrow the phrase of inimitable Patrick Obahiagbon, the “Igodomigodo,” I was “maniacally bewildered.” The Russian Embassy’s response appears to have missed the point by a wide margin. Azu, in his usual flowery and didactic prose, had sought to excoriate the modern-day Hitler in the person of Donald Trump, who, in my opinion, exhibits traits of a combination of a sociopath and psychopath. In his attempt to draw a parallel between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, who…
By Azu Ishiekwene After months of dallying and endless speculations, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State finally broke ranks with Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, his in-law, mentor and political godfather. Yusuf had been in Kwankwaso’s shadow for nearly two-and-a-half decades, serving in various roles, including an executive portfolio as commissioner in Kano State, until 2023, when Kwankwaso nominated him as governor over more prominent and visible aspirants. Yusuf followed his godfather, Kwankwaso, from PDP to APC, then back to PDP, then to NNPP. It has been a tried-and-tested companionship – the type that only politicians can toss aside and still…
Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki The Police in Ebonyi State have detained some of their officers following the fatal shooting of a motorcycle rider along the Abakaliki–Enugu Expressway in Abakaliki, the state capital. The incident, which occurred on the night of January 27, 2026, near Hariz Filling Station close to the Spera-in-Deo Flyover, has sparked public outrage after an eyewitness accused police operatives of killing an unarmed and innocent rider. According to the eyewitness, the deceased was riding a motorcycle popularly referred to as a “rubber rubber bike” when he emerged from Afor-Ezunna Street and was allegedly chased by a police Hilux…
Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki Hundreds of youths, men, and women from Amata-Akpoha Community in Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest over the alleged incessant abductions and killings of their indigenes by suspected Amasiri warlords. The protesters converged at Akpoha Junction along the busy Afikpo–Abakaliki Expressway, bringing traffic to a standstill for more than six hours. Commuters and motorists travelling to Abia, Imo, and Cross River states were forced to take alternative routes due to the blockade. The protest comes amid a long-standing communal crisis between Amata-Akpoha and the neighbouring Amasiri Community, rooted in a…
Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki The Ameka community in Ezza South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State on Wednesday opened a new chapter in its long mining history with the signing of a landmark five-year Community Development Agreement (CDA) valued at over ₦2 billion with First Patriots Limited. The agreement, signed in the presence of state officials, community leaders and other stakeholders, is designed to ensure peaceful mining operations while guaranteeing tangible development benefits for the host community. Speaking at the ceremony, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development, Chidi Onyia, described Ameka as a “special community,” noting that it is…
Our Reporter, Abuja Media Rights Agenda (MRA) on Thursday released its 2025 Annual Report on Freedom of Expression in Nigeria, documenting 86 incidents of attacks against journalists, media organisations, and citizens, and warning of a worsening climate for free speech marked by a “reign of impunity.” The 147-page report, titled “The Reign of Impunity,” recorded violations across 27 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, noting that none of the documented cases led to a successful investigation or prosecution, even when the acts constituted criminal offences. According to the report, arrests and detentions remained the most frequently used tools…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Governor Alex Otti has urged Abians at home and in the diaspora to bring their investments back to the state, saying his administration has restored security and created an enabling environment for businesses to thrive. The governor made the call while receiving a delegation of the Abiriba Communal Improvement Union (ACIU) Worldwide, led by its General President, Chief Yuccee Ottah Uwah, at the Government House. He said the recovery of Aba and other parts of the state was deliberate, aimed at laying a solid foundation for sustainable investment. “It is good to talk about foreign investment, but…
Our Reporter, Abuja The Executive Board of the Ellsberg Whistleblower Award has thrown its weight behind Mr. Yisa Usman, former Deputy Director of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), commending his courage in exposing alleged systemic corruption within the agency. In a letter, the Board disclosed that Mr. Usman emerged as the closest runner-up for the 2026 Ellsberg Whistleblower Award, following a rigorous selection process by an independent international jury. The jury noted that Mr. Usman’s whistleblowing revealed widespread violations of public financial management and recruitment procedures, describing his actions as a significant contribution to the public interest. According…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 9 Command, Umuahia, Kanayo Uzuegbu, has warned against any actions capable of obstructing investigations into the alleged theft of an electricity transformer belonging to Azumini Community in Ukwa East Local Government Area of Abia State. The warning follows growing tension in the community arising from the vandalisation of the transformer, which has resulted in a total blackout and disrupted social and economic activities in the area. A community source alleged that the suspects unlawfully removed the transformer and later sold it as scrap, plunging the entire…