Author: Editor

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka The MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited (MEDL) has announced plans to carry out major maintenance work this weekend at its Trans-Ekulu Injection Substation in Enugu to enable the installation of a newly procured 11KV indoor switchgear panel. The Head of Communications at MEDL, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday. According to Ezeh, the maintenance exercise, expected to last 48 hours, will commence at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 14, and end on Sunday, March 15, 2026. He explained that two 11KV feeders radiating from the Trans-Ekulu Injection Substation — Phase 6 and Dhamija…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Abia State Government has urged contractors and project supervisors to strictly adhere to professional standards in project execution to ensure quality infrastructure delivery across the state. The charge was given at the close of a two-day capacity-building workshop on quality assurance, professional site supervision and improved project delivery organised for contractors and stakeholders involved in project execution in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Speaking at the event held at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, the Director-General of the Abia State Projects Implementation Bureau (ASPIB), Mr Onyinye Nwosu, said the training was aimed at strengthening project implementation…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia  Rural communities in Abia State are witnessing a quiet healthcare revolution as the remodelling and digitalisation of Primary Health Centres by Governor Alex Otti’s administration begin to transform access to medical services. Residents of Umudike Ukwu in Ikwuano and Alayi in Bende Local Government areas say the once-neglected facilities have been revitalised with modern diagnostic equipment, solar power and telemedicine, bringing quality healthcare closer to the grassroots. Speaking with newsmen during a facility tour, the excited locals commended Gov. Otti for restoring functionality to PHCs in their communities. At the Umudike Ukwu PHC, many residents – mostly…

By Press Release  The African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) has congratulated Nigerian whistleblower, Yisa Usman, on his international recognition as the closest runner-up for the Ellsberg Whistleblower Award 2026. The award ceremony was held on March 12, 2026 at taz Kantine, Berlin, Germany, bringing together advocates and organisations committed to transparency and accountability worldwide. The overall winner of the award, which carries a €10,000 prize, was Colombian environmental whistleblower, Andrés Olarte Peña, for exposing environmental crimes in his country. Usman, a former Deputy Director at the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), was recognised by an independent…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Health experts have called for urgent and coordinated action to combat glaucoma, warning that millions of people risk losing their sight to the disease largely because it is often detected too late. The call was made during the 2026 World Glaucoma Week Symposium held in Umuahia and organised by the Abia State Eye Health Management Bureau. Chairman of the event and ophthalmologist, Abali Chuku, said glaucoma remains a major global health challenge, noting that about 80 million people worldwide live with the disease, while a large percentage are unaware they have it until permanent damage has occurred.…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The new Supreme Leader of Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei, has revealed that the recent war claimed the lives of his father and wife, vowing that those responsible for the killings would be avenged. In his first public address since assuming leadership, broadcast on state television, Khamenei spoke about the deep personal and national losses suffered during the conflict and urged Iranians to remain united in the face of adversity. Among those killed, he said, was his father, the former Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, describing the tragedy as one that mirrors the pain being experienced by many families across…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Operators of Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres in Abia State have been warned against engaging in any form of examination malpractice capable of undermining the credibility of the examinations conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). The warning was issued by the Abia State Chief Examiner of JAMB, Christopher Okoro Kalu, during a meeting with JAMB-accredited CBT centre operators held at the Council Chamber of Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic. Okoro, who also serves as the Rector of the institution, said the engagement was aimed at strengthening oversight and ensuring strict adherence to guidelines during the conduct of…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustained investment in the education sector as part of efforts to reposition the state for long-term development. The governor made this known while receiving members of the East Regional Working Committee of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), led by the Regional Chairman and Enugu State Chairman, Odo Nweke, at Government House, Umuahia. Otti said his administration has consistently allocated 20 per cent of the state’s annual budget to education for three consecutive years, noting that the commitment reflects the priority his government places on the…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Senator Austin Akobundu, who represents Abia Central Senatorial District, has resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), citing the lingering internal crisis rocking the party. Akobundu, a former National Organising Secretary of the PDP, conveyed his decision in a letter titled “Notice of Formal Resignation” addressed to the PDP Ward Chairman in his Oloko Ward, Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State. In the letter dated March 10, 2026, the lawmaker said his resignation from the party takes immediate effect. The senator explained that his decision followed…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu The Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mr Bitrus Giwa, has disclosed that the state command arrested 5,895 suspects for various crimes and rescued 168 kidnapped victims between 2025 and 2026. Giwa made the disclosure at a press briefing held at the State Police Command Headquarters in Enugu to mark his one-year anniversary in office as Commissioner of Police in the state. The police chief, who assumed duty on March 11, 2025, said the command had focused on proactive and intelligence-driven policing to curb crime across the state. According to him, the achievements were recorded through coordinated…