Author: Editor

By Okike Ezugwu I met Osmund Agbo as I met most people: through a shared penchant for reading and writing. He had hit me up after reading one of my articles, and we struck up a conversation. “Agbo,” already betrayed him as someone from my own part of Igbo-land. I told him—this perhaps brought some amusement—that my longer surname is actually Ezugwu-Agbo, and that even so, one would not have exhausted the whole thing. The rational thing to do, when the time came, was to drop one in the good sake of brevity. I had mistaken Agbo for one of…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia  No fewer than 90 people perished and 50 injured when a petrol tanker exploded in Majiya Town, Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State on Tuesday night. The State Police Command which confirmed the incident attributed the high death toll to the rush by most of the victims to scoop fuel. He said mass burial would be conducted for  the victims. Mr Shi’isu Adam, the Police Spokesperson in Jigawa, who confirmed this  on Wednesday, described the incident as very sad and unfortunate. According to him, the 50  persons who sustained varying degrees of injury, have been evacuated…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu  The Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme Phase-One, (ATASP-1) has applauded the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for the rehabilitation of moribund irrigational facilities for dry season farming in Anambra and Enugu States. The Zonal Programme Coordinator of ATASP-1 Adani-Omor Zone, Dr. Romanus Egba, also commended governments of Enugu and Anambra states, profiled farmers in both states and other value chain actors for efforts leading to success of ATASP-1 in South-East. Egba said this in a message to felicitate with farmers across Anambra and Enugu states, Federal Government and AfDB on…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia  Former Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Abia State, Dr Philips Nto, has decried what he called unending harassment by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over investigation that has lasted for nine years. This is as he has called on the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, to send for his case file to investigate what his real offence was, and why EFCC  should be dragging him over a case for nine years without charging him to court. Dr Nto who is currently a lecturer at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike,…

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Program Phase One, ATASP-1, Adani-Omor Zone has called on states and local governments plus organised private sector to support farmers for increased agriculture productivity. The group said the support can come through policies, investments, and innovations that enhance productivity, conserve natural resources, and create environment for the Nigerian farmer to thrive.  Zonal Program Coordinator, Dr. Romanus Egba, in a statement on Wednesday argued that the success of Nigerian agriculture is not only key to national food security but to broader economic and social development. He reassured of the group’s commitment to preparing farmers…

By Uzor Maxim Uzoatu Nothing divides Nigerians like religion, but I have it on good account that Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka who prefers Orisha to Christianity and Islam turned out the saving grace of Pastor Chuzzy Udenwa in the United States. Soyinka, the humanist who taught me Humanism at Great Ife, preferably delves into Orisha rather than Christian and Islamic worship but this did not stop him from penning attestation for the born-again Christian pastor Chuzzy Udenwa in America. It was in the dark days of the military dictatorship of General Sani Abacha and Chuzzy was in America asking Christian…

By Promise Adiele Barrister Jubril Salami is my good friend. Our friendship started at Henry Carr Hall, University of Lagos. I cannot immediately remember how our friendship started but we became friends and shared ideas about different things including Nigeria’s political situation. Then, the maximum dictator Sanni Abacha was in charge. Although older, Salami is humble and always punctuates every request with a ‘sir.’ He is a man of modest accomplishments, completely detribalised, and kind to a fault. But we disagree on one thing – football. While he thinks the red side of London is a better and bigger club, I…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu  As the World marks the 2024 Global Hand-washing day, Stakeholders in the South-East zone of Nigeria have suggested renewed efforts to improve the habit to reduce diseases associated with hand-washing. The resolution was taken at a one-day zonal press briefing on Global Hand-washing day 2024 held in Enugu. The briefing was organised by the UNICEF in conjunction with the Broadcast Corporation of Abia State (BCA) and the Enugu State Government. The theme of this year’s event is: “Why is hand-washing still important?” In her goodwill message, Mrs Maureen Zubi-Okolo, Specialist, Planning and Monitoring, UNICEF Field Office Enugu,…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia  UNICEF has expressed worry over the high percentage of feaces-contaminated water consumed in Abia State. This is coming on the heels of a survey by Water Sanitation and Hygiene Natural Outcome Routine Mapping (WASHNORM), which has revealed that 73% of Abia residents drink water contaminated with ‘E. coli’ (feaces). According to the survey, two per cent of people living in Abia still practice open defecation. WASHNORM survey was a collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and the National Bureau of Statistics, with support from UNICEF, World Bank, the World Health Organisation and other development partners.…

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka  Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has signed the Local Government Administration Law despite strong opposition from various stakeholders in the state. The stakeholders had, at different fora, criticised the legislation as a violation of the Supreme Court’s ruling on Local Government Autonomy, labeling it as anti-people and deeming it unconstitutional, illegal, null and void. However, signing the Bill into law at Governor’s Lodge Amawbia on Tuesday, Soludo said a joint responsibility between the State and Local Government administration is much necessary for grassroots development in Nigeria. He said the synergy will create a stronger relationship between…