Author: Editor
By Azu Ishiekwene Many years ago, when my teacher said nothing sells like sex, crime, and money, I didn’t fully understand what he meant. Yet, over the years, I’ve repeatedly seen that a judicious mix of these socio-economic ingredients is a spellbinder. Apart from the tragic news about banditry, the suspense in Rivers State, and the heightened prostitution amongst politicians crossing carpet or finding new harems, nothing has hugged the headlines as relentlessly as the salacious tango between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. After weeks of trying to see, hear, and say no evil, I’m compelled to…
Ben Ezechime, Enugu The Federal Government has begun the process of reviewing the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the South-East through the 2025 Voluntary National Review (VNR), aimed at achieving targets in 2030. Dr Babatunde Ipaye, the Lead Consultant for the Development of Nigeria’s VNR, said this at the review event themed, “Regional Stakeholders Consultation,” in Enugu on Wednesday. The VNR is a process through which countries assess and present national progress made in implementing the 2030 Agenda. The event offered stakeholders drawn from Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu, the opportunity to discuss the progress made, pitfalls, and…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Efforts by Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State to re-present the 2025 budget of the state before the Martin Amaewhule-led 27 lawmakers loyal to Nyesom Wike, were bluffed on Wednesday, as the lawmakers denied him access to the complex. Fubara, who arrived at the complex in the company of top government officials, including the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, and his Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, met a locked gate. Fielding questions from journalists at the scene, Gov. Fubara accused Speaker Martin Amaewhule of deliberately avoiding him, stating that several calls placed to the lawmaker…
…As FG approves modular refinery for Abia Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Governor Dr Alex Otti, on Monday, flagged-off the reconstruction of the 11.1 kilometres Obehie-Umudobia-Owaza road in Ukwa West Local Government Area with an assurance that the road will be completed within one year. This is as he promised that Ukwa which is the only oil producing area in Abia, would never be neglected again. Speaking at the flag-off ceremony held at St. Ann Secondary School, Obehie Asa, Otti said that the road, when completed, would boost marketability and viability of Abia Industrial and Innovative Park (AIIP). The highly-elated Governor disclosed that the Federal Government…
By Zainab Suleiman Okino President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has set forth an ambitious vision for Nigeria’s economic transformation—a $1 trillion economy by 2026, with projections reaching $3 trillion by decade’s end. This bold declaration, made at the 29th Nigerian Economic Summit, outlines a roadmap centred on revitalising agriculture, bolstering manufacturing, promoting made-in-Nigeria goods, and supporting local manufacturers through indigenous sourcing of raw materials. While the timeline has sparked scepticism about its feasibility, there exists a statistical mechanism that might just make this economic utopia achievable: the rebasing of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has…
Ben Ezechime, Enugu The Enugu State Government says it has has commenced payment of gratuities to workers in the state civil service who retired from January 2025. The State Accountant General, Anthony Okenwa, disclosed this to newsmen in Enugu adding that the government began with retirees who had passed through biometric verification mandated by the state governor, Peter Mbah, to eliminate ghost workers from the payroll and pensions records. He said the backlog of gratuities between 2010 and 2024 had been frozen for verification of workers who retired within the period. He assured retirees in the state of the present…
Ben Ezechime, Enugu The newly appointed Commissioner of Police (CP) for Enugu State, Bitrus Giwa, has officially assumed duty as the 29th Commissioner of Police, Enugu State command. He succeeded Kanayo Uzuegbu, who has been redeployed following his promotion to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG). This was contained in a statement by the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dan Ndukwe. According to the statement, Giwa, who hailed from Paikoro, in Niger State, joined the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police in 1994. He has held several key positions, including Personal Assistant to…
Ben Ezechime, Enugu Nigeria’s Former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Chief Duben Onyia, has passed away at the age of 73. Late Onyia died on Monday in Abuja following a yet to be disclosed sickness, according to the family in an announcement on Tuesday. He was minister of state for foreign affairs in Nigeria from 1999-2003, during the administration of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. The late politician, had a distinguished career in politics and public service spanning several decades. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 1999 but resigned to serve as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.…
Lawrence Nwimo, Awka Anambra State Government has debunked reports that it has placed a ban on activities relating to public evangelism and outdoor crusades in the state. State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, in a viral video, had threatened a fine of N500,000 on anyone found to be disturbing public peace through open evangelism, particularly in parks and markets. In the video, the Governor had described such activities as noise pollution. He warned preachers to desist from the act, as he said it contravenes the law of the state. The matter has since generated wild reaction from both human right lawyers…
Our Reporter, Abuja On a day that the former two-term governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai announced his defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to the Social Democratic Party, SDP, another foundation member and former Governor of Ekiiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has poured cold water on rumours of his own defection from the party saying, “nothing has changed.” Fayemi took to his X account to make the clarification of his continued membership of the ruling party for now while admitting that he has issues with the current state of the Party with regard to inclusion and…