Author: Editor

Our Reporter, New York US-based award-winning movie director Rahman Oladigbolu, has said he sees no reason the Alaafin of Oyo cannot be a Christian. Rahman, a prince in the kingdom, made the remarks during an interview with 90MinutesAfrica hosted by Rudolf Okonkwo on Sunday. “In Oyo, where I came from, we are trying to select a new king,” he said. “It has been the tradition for some decades that the Alaafin of Oyo will be a Muslim. Now, we have some Christians among the people vying for the position, and there are discussions about whether Oyo can have a Christian Oba. Of…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu The Minister of Defence, Dr Badaru Abubakar, says that President Bola Tinubu is determined to end all forms of insecurity in the South-East and Cross River State of the country. Abubakar said this on Thursday in Enugu while addressing heads of security agencies and security stakeholders within the South-East and Cross River State. He noted that President Tinubu-led administration had done “tremendously well in the past one year in the fight against insecurity throughout the country especially in the South-East and Cross River State axis.” “There is a renewed determination to do more in the fight against…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu The National Sports Commission (NSC), has awarded Enugu State the hosting right for the 2026 National Sports Festival. The commission took the decision after its top management meeting in Abuja on Friday. In a statement signed by Kola Daniel, Special Adviser Media to the Director General of NSC, the state emerged top from a competitive bidding process, adding that the state was set to deliver a world-class event. The statement reads in part: “National Sports Festival, a biennial multi-sports event, brings together thousands of athletes from Nigeria’s 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory to celebrate sportsmanship, national unity…

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka  Officers-in-charge of primary healthcare facilities and Ward Development Committees (WDCs) have been trained on improving maternal and child health service delivery in Anambra communities. The capacity building workshop, held at the Onitsha North LGA, was organised as part of the Strengthening Public Accountability for Results and Knowledge (SPARK II) project supported by the International Budget Partnership (IBP). The project is implemented in the state by the Justice Development and Peace Caritas (JDPC) Nnewi, alongside other network of partners including the Community Empowerment Network (COMEN), and the Civil Rights Concern (CRC). Speaking at the event, Mrs Ugochi Ehiahuruike,…

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka The Anambra State Disability Rights Commission (ASDRC) said it has initiated processes for legal actions against the Federal Road Safety Corps in the state for alleged discrimination and violation of rights of persons with disabilities. The commission also hinted that it has concluded plans to seek legal redress against three citizens for their individual actions ranging from rape, attempted assault and infliction of bodily harm on persons with disabilities in the state. The commission said the decision to launch the action followed FRSC refusal to grant driving license to one Mr Victor Onwudiegwu, a member of the…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The International Criminal Court, has issued arrest warrants on the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu; and his former Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant. ICC’s warrant disclosed on the court’s X handle, means that neither Netanyahu nor Gallant can travel to some 120 countries that are party to the Rome Statute. “ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I rejects the State of Israel’s challenges to jurisdiction and issues warrants of arrest for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant,” the post read. The ICC said that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant committed the war crime of starvation as a…

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka President Bola Tinubu has reinstated Professor Joseph Ikechebelu as the acting Vice-chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State. Ikechebelu’s reinstatement followed the president’s sack of Professor Benard Odoh as VC and the dissolution of the Greg Mbadiwe-led Governing Council of the institution. Recall that Ikechebelu was the acting VC upon the expiration of the tenure of the 6th substantive Vice-chancellor, Professor Charles Esimone, before he was forcefully removed and replaced by Professor Carol Arinze-Umeobi in the same acting capacity. In the latter developments, Prof Arinze-Umeobi made way for Prof Odoh, who was appointed as the 7th substantive VC…

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka Women Foundation for Improved Living Standard (WOFILS) has advocated for the dredging of Niger and Omambala rivers to deepen them so as to ensure accommodation of more water during flooding in Anambra East Local Government Area, and other flood-prone communities of Anambra State. The group also called for hosting of early warning signposts indicating water rise to guide evacuation of residents of communities along riverbanks ahead of time. Speaking during advocacy visit to the traditional ruler of Umueri, Igwe Benneth Emeka in his palace, Project Co-ordinator, Theresa Obialor, further underscored the need to make the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps habitable by early renovation and provision of…

Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki Oferekpe mega water scheme in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, has commenced operation seven years after it was completed but not put to use. The multi-billion naira water scheme was constructed by Chief Martin Elechi, the second civilian governor of the state. Elechi also built multi-billion naira pipe production company for production of pipes for water reticulation. But the water scheme and the pipe production company were vandalised and looted by criminals  during the last administration of David Umahi who is now Minister of Works. Governor Francis Nwifuru revived the company and the water scheme after procuring the…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Self acclaimed Biafra Prime Minister, Mazi Simon Ekpa, has been reportedly arrested by law enforcement agents in Finland. Ekpa, according to BBC, was arrested alongside four others over terrorism-related acts. Ikengaonline recalls that Ekpa had vowed to declare the restoration of Biafra on December 2nd. The report said he was subsequently sent to prison by the District Court of Päijät-Häme for “spreading terrorist propaganda on social media.” He was said to have committed the crime in 2021 in Lahti municipality. The arrest was effected by Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Ekpa who holds dual citizenship of both Nigeria and Finland,…