Author: Editor
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has issued an April deadline to contractors handling the Aba–Port Harcourt Expressway, directing that the project must be ready for commissioning by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in May. He said Tinubu would inaugurate the project on May 12 during his visit to the South-East and South-South zones. Umahi handed down the ultimatum during an unscheduled inspection of the road on Saturday, expressing satisfaction with the pace and quality of work on key sections of the dual carriageway. He assured contractors that funding would not be a constraint, disclosing that arrangements had…
Our Reporter, Abuja Fresh controversy has trailed the unresolved disappearance of Abubakar “Dadiyata” Idris after former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, allegedly accused former Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, of complicity in the activist’s disappearance — an allegation Ganduje has denied. Reacting to the development, U.S.-based Nigerian academic and columnist, Farooq Kperogi, said Ganduje’s response was “a (tepid) denial” and argued that the exchange has reopened critical questions about the case. “While Ganduje may indeed have had strong political incentives to view Dadiyata as a threat,” Kperogi wrote, “El-Rufai’s suggestion that Dadiyata was not a fierce critic of his does…
By Chidi Anselm Odinkalu In June 2005, the Paris Club of creditors announced a deal granting Nigeria “60% cancellation of its Paris Club total debt stock based on December 2004 figures.” It was a culmination of a campaign personally led by President Olusegun Obasanjo. For Nigerians, this was supposed to signal real savings that could be ploughed back into delivering public goods or what many around the country call “dividends of democracy.” Instead, the Paris Club debt cancellation became a license for network criminality involving politicians, senior lawyers, and – it appears – some judges. The extent of the criminality is…
By Mukaila Kareem A calorie is a unit of energy, specifically a measure of how much stored energy exists in food. However, stored or potential energy is not the same as energy actively flowing through a living system. Much of modern nutrition conversation quietly treats these two ideas as if they were interchangeable, yet they are distinctly different and understanding that difference could gently encourage more movement in everyday life with cumulative metabolic health benefits. When we eat, we introduce food substrates, which often include a mix of glucose, fats, and amino acids, into a dynamic biological engine. Each of…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained the legal basis for the dates fixed for the 2027 General Election, amid growing public concerns over the coincidence of the polls with nationally recognised holidays and observances. In a press statement posted on its official X handle, INEC said the recently released Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 elections were drawn up in strict compliance with existing constitutional, legal and regulatory frameworks guiding Nigeria’s electoral process. The statement was signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee. The…
Ben Ezechime, Enugu The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Enugu State Sector Command, has confirmed the death of 11 persons in a fatal road accident on the Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway. The Sector Commander, Mr. Franklin Agbakoba, confirmed the incident to newsmen in Enugu following the crash, which involved two vehicles. Agbakoba said, “The accident occurred at about 6:46 p.m. today, Saturday, at a location adjacent to the FRSC Ozalla Unit Command on the expressway.” He disclosed that the 11 persons who lost their lives comprised 10 males and one female. “A total of 36 persons, comprising 27 males and nine…
Ben Ezechime, Enugu The Enugu State Government says it has surpassed the national measles and rubella immunisation target of 85 per cent, achieving over 101 per cent coverage through field commitment and inter-ministerial collaboration. The Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, made this known in Enugu on Saturday while reacting to the just-concluded national immunisation exercise in the state. Ugwu attributed the success to a comprehensive, team-based strategy involving coordination across the ministries of gender affairs, poverty alleviation, information, education, as well as traditional leadership, religious institutions, and local government structures. The commissioner commended Governor Peter Mbah for his exceptional…
By Chido Onumah Abubakar Malami, SAN, was the Honourable Attorney General and Minister of Justice of Nigeria for eight years under late President Muhammadu Buhari. As Minister of Justice, and one of the youngest minsters in the Buhari cabinet, when he was appointed on November 8, 2015, he prided himself on being the chief law officer of the country. I shall return to this. As the chief law officer, his responsibilities included providing legal advice to the government and ensuring compliance with the law. In a June 28, 2020, essay “Malami: Portrait of a ‘Barrier-in-Chief’” published on the whistleblowing platform,…
Our Reporter, Abuja The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has welcomed the announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fixing February 20, 2027, for the Presidential and National Assembly elections, describing the early release of the timetable as a positive step for democratic preparation. In a statement on Friday, the party said the early timetable provides political parties, stakeholders and the electorate with clarity for long-term planning ahead of the 2027 general elections. However, the ADC cautioned that the credibility of the elections would not be determined by the timeliness of the schedule alone, but by INEC’s commitment to transparency,…
…Gets N500m support for 2nd term Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Governor Alex Otti of Abia State on Friday unveiled the iconic Omenuko Bridge over the Igwu River, as well as the newly completed 30-kilometre Abam–Ndioji–Ndiokereke–Arochukwu Road executed by his administration. Speaking at the glamorous event, which was well attended by people from across the state, Otti vowed to deploy every arsenal at his disposal to resist any attempt by past leaders, whom he accused of underdeveloping the state, to regain political control. Apparently referring to a coalition of former governors ganging up against his re-election bid, Otti declared that Abia had…