Author: Editor
Our Reporter, Abuja Former chairman of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, has named Abia State Governor Alex Otti as his Person of the Year, citing what he described as a dramatic reversal of decades of governance failure in the South-East state. In a lengthy post on X on Thursday, Odinkalu framed Abia State as a cautionary tale of how democratic institutions can be hollowed out by sustained elite predation—and how credible leadership can begin to restore public faith. Odinkalu recalled that from the start of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic in 1999, Abia endured nearly a quarter-century of what…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The 2027 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi, has vowed to resist any attempt to manipulate the outcome of the 2027 general elections. Obi made the declaration on Wednesday in Enugu while formally defecting to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), insisting that the struggle to rescue Nigeria had only just begun. “The will of the Nigerian people is sacrosanct and non-negotiable. Those plotting to subvert it in 2027 should rethink their actions. Nigerians have endured enough,” he said. Drawing from his international engagements, Obi cited Rwanda, Indonesia and several Asian economies as examples…
By Yisa Usman The Nigeria Procurement Certification Programme (NPCP), administered by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) with support from the World Bank, represents a strategic policy intervention aimed at professionalising public procurement in Nigeria. Designed as a competency-based certification system, the NPCP establishes a structured pathway for developing procurement officers with the technical expertise, ethical grounding, and leadership capacity required to safeguard public resources and improve service delivery. At its core, the programme aligns academic qualifications, professional experience, structured training, and rigorous assessment into a unified national framework. The conceptual foundation of the NPCP is closely linked to the…
By Sam Amadi One clear realization in 2025 is that we have not made much progress as a society, even as we have built complicated and costly systems of government. We talk about increasing costs of governance. But beyond the financial costs of government, we have the sheer scope and scale of government. In Nigeria, we have three levels of government: the local, state, and federal. Each level has a constitutionally mandated system and process of government. Recently, the Supreme Court restated that each of the levels of government must be democratically elected. Each has its own bureaucracy, and the…
Our Reporter, Abuja President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening national security, accelerating economic growth, and promoting unity as Nigeria enters the 2026 fiscal year. In his New Year address to the nation on Thursday, the President acknowledged the challenges associated with ongoing reforms but said they remain necessary to secure long-term stability and prosperity. He stressed that economic progress must go hand in hand with peace and security. Tinubu disclosed that Nigeria continues to face threats from criminal and terrorist groups, particularly in the Northwest and Northeast. He confirmed that, in collaboration with international partners…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Senator Nenadi Usman-led national leadership of the Labour Party, LP, has endorsed the defection of LP’s presidential candidate in 223, Mr Peter Obi, to the African Democratic Congress, ADC. Usman’s Special Adviser (Media), Ken Asogwa, in a statement, explained that the party, had during the formation of the ADC, given Obi, its tacit support to participate in the coalition talks. The statement read: “As the nation may recall, on 26th May 2025, the Labour Party issued a statement confirming that the participation of His Excellency, Mr. Peter Obi, in the ADC coalition received the full blessings of…
Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki Tragedy struck in Ebonyi State on New Year’s Day as two brothers were killed in a road accident at Obegu-Aba, Ozibo, in Ebonyi Local Government Area. The incident occurred at about 7:30 a.m. along the Obegu-Aba/Ogbaga Road in Abakaliki, the state capital. Sources said the victims, whose identities had not been confirmed as of the time of filing this report, were riding a motorcycle when a Toyota Corolla vehicle, bearing Ebonyi State government registration number EBONYI 241-EBGH, allegedly rammed into them at high speed. The impact reportedly led to their instant death, while the motorcycle, a Mate…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Governor Alex Otti has explained the reasons behind his administration’s decision to introduce electric buses for urban mass transit in Abia State, saying the move is aimed at promoting environmental sustainability and reducing carbon emissions. The Governor made this known during a media parley in Umuahia, where he also assured that Abia would continue to witness massive development under his administration. Governor Otti expressed satisfaction with the rollout of 20 electric buses under a pilot scheme, which he said are offering free transportation throughout the Yuletide season and January 2026. He disclosed that the initiative has been…
Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the 2023 general elections in Ebonyi State, High Chief Chukwuma Odii, has resigned his membership of the party. Odii announced his resignation in a letter dated January 1, 2026, addressed to the PDP Chairman of Amanator Ward, Isuachara, Onicha Local Government Area of the state. In the letter, the former governorship candidate said his decision followed wide consultations with his family and close associates. He expressed appreciation to the party’s leadership and members for providing him with the platform to contest the 2023 governorship election. The letter read in…
Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki The Ebonyi State Government has announced the procurement of three new aircraft as part of efforts to boost economic activities and improve connectivity within and outside the state. Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru disclosed this on Wednesday while delivering his 2026 New Year address to the people of Ebonyi State, titled “Ebonyi Rising: A New Year of Hope and Responsibility.” He said the aircraft, acquired under the Ebonyi Air initiative, are expected to arrive in January 2026. According to the Governor, the decision to procure the aircraft is a strategic economic move aimed at opening up the state…