Author: Editor

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Suspected bandits on Monday evening hijacked an Aba-bound commercial bus at the Ngor Okpala axis of Imo State. No fewer than 14 passengers were reportedly abducted after the gunmen, who emerged from the bush, shot sporadically and took control of the vehicle heading from Owerri to Aba. Community sources said the sudden attack triggered pandemonium, as motorists reversed in panic while passengers fled in different directions. “They came out of the bush and started shooting, then kidnapped passengers in a fully-loaded bus. Many people abandoned their vehicles and ran into the bush. The situation was terrifying,” a…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Nigeria Police Force has vowed to arrest any of its personnel found escorting Very Important Persons (VIPs), insisting that such assignments are now illegal. The move underscores the seriousness of the recent directive banning police escorts for VIPs. The Force said the decision became necessary due to insufficient manpower to effectively police the country. Recall that Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, last week ordered the withdrawal of all police officers attached to VIPs. Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, reaffirmed the directive on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today. He stated that all…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Wednesday, swore in the newly appointed Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Dr. Aminu Yusuf. The President also administered the oath of office on two NPC Commissioners and five Federal Permanent Secretaries. The brief ceremony was held at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja, shortly before the commencement of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting. After their citations were read, the five Permanent Secretaries — Abdulkarim Ibrahim, Dr. John Ezeamama, Dr. Abdul-Sule Garba, Dr. Isiaku Mohammed, and Dr. Ukaire Chigbowu — took their oaths at 1:42 p.m. and signed…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to eliminating all barriers hindering the full participation of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in society, insisting that such removal “is a must.” This was contained in his goodwill message at the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) celebration, signed by his Special Assistant on Persons with Disabilities, Mr. David Anyaele. “We will continue to say no to all forms of discrimination, stigma, and isolation of Abians on account of disability,” Otti said. He explained that the IDPD, set aside by the United Nations, aims…

By Uzor Maxim Uzoatu  Jeunalists have replaced journalists in Nigeria. There used to be journalism in Nigeria but now what we do have is jeunalism, and the difference is clear, as the advert line goes.   The etymology of “jeunalists” goes way back to the Yoruba word “jeun” which means “to eat,” and fact is: the jeunalists are indeed eating today. What needs to be done now is to have a uniform for the jeunalists to differentiate them from the older form known as journalists. For crying out loud, as the cliche goes, jeunalists are in the urgent need for a…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Wednesday announced the removal of limits on cash deposits and a sharp increase in weekly cash withdrawal thresholds. In a circular titled “Revised Cash-Related Policies” and issued to all banks, the apex bank raised the cumulative weekly withdrawal limit from N100,000 to N500,000 across all channels. The document was signed by Dr. Rita Sike, Director of the Financial Policy & Regulation Department. According to the circular obtained by Ikengaonline, the revisions are part of ongoing efforts to reduce the rising cost of cash management, address security concerns, and curb money…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia In a decisive move to curb building collapse, the Abia State Government has completed the installation of a building material testing laboratory, announcing that henceforth, all materials used in construction across the state must undergo mandatory quality testing. General Manager of the Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA), Mr. Kingsley Agomuo, disclosed this while addressing members of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abia State Council. Agomuo revealed that the laboratory, built by the agency, is now ready for inauguration by Governor Alex Otti, adding that the facility will play a crucial role in…

By Zainab Suleiman Okino  In the wake of renewed mass abductions of schoolchildren across Nigeria’s northern precincts, the governors of states within these high-risk zones have responded, not really with decisive protection measures,  but with buck-passing, blame games, or outright closure of all schools under their jurisdiction.  This response, far from being protective, sends alarming signals about the future of education for young people in the North. There is no rational justification for closing schools; it is synonymous with capitulation. Yet, there are best practices everywhere to draw inferences from. It is not only an admission of failure; it amounts…

…As Rector fixes January 2026 for relocation to Osisioma permanent site Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia It was celebration galore on Tuesday at the Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba (formerly Abia Poly), as Governor Alex Otti fulfilled his promise of awarding ₦1 million each to 150 outstanding graduates of the institution. The grant, first announced during the 2024 convocation ceremony, is intended to help the beneficiaries establish businesses of their choice. Presenting the cheques, the Rector, Dr. Christopher Kalu Okoro, described the gesture as unprecedented in the institution’s history and a major boost for academic excellence and youth entrepreneurship. “This is the first…

By Uzor Maxim Uzoatu The debut album, “Igbo Rising,” by the phenomenal Gerald Eze, aka Ogbuoja-Eze, is a comprehensive delight to behold and cherish. The compelling 12-tracker released by Felbon Records grips you from the very beginning and never lets go until the last sound seeps into the bloodstream.  Gerald Eze, universally hailed as Ogbuoja-Eze, is a singer and multi-instrumentalist in both Igbo and Western musical instruments, but holds aloft majorly as the maestro of the Igbo musical instrument Oja, alongside Uboaka.  The exquisitely packaged “Igbo Rising” album of Gerald Eze kicks off with “Ogbuoja-Eze (Intro)”, produced by Anyi Nso…