Author: Editor

By Nnamdi Elekwachi  In Nigeria, the largest democracy in Africa, a nationwide protest against mounting hardships themed ‘End Bad Government’ is being planned, making concerns to grow in the Tinubu-led government. While Tinubu, who had introduced taxing reforms, has been urging Nigerians, since his maiden Democracy Day speech in June of last year, to exercise patience, there is no proof that the president himself was patient with the economy before launching his reforms. For an economy that suffered the throes of currency redesign, and the COVID-19 pandemic before it, patience should have been exercised before introducing such rigorous reforms (removal of…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu The Enugu State Government says  it has set a target of over ₦100 billion for livestock production and processing. Governor Peter Mbah stated this when he received a delegation from the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) led by the National Project Coordinator, Sanusi Abubakar, who were in Enugu for the flag-off of the first Regional Enugu Model Veterinary Hospital in Enugu. Mbah said this would boost the economy, scale up the capacity of farmers in animal husbandry, and strengthen value chain across the spectrum of agricultural sector in the state. He said he was…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Enugu State Command has issued directive to its personnel to be on alert in enhancing security measures to protect critical national assets and infrastructure. The Commandant of NSCDC Enugu State Command, Commander Cyprian Otoibhi, said in a statement issued on Monday in Enugu that the directive was imperative ahead of the nationwide protests scheduled for August 1, 2024. The commander noted that the directive emphasised the importance of proactive measures to prevent any potential breakdown of law and order and to ensure a coordinated response to security challenges. According to…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia One hoodlum was shot dead Monday when some unknown gunmen operating in three vehicles attacked Aba, the economic nerve centre of Abia State. The criminals were engaged in exchange of gunfire with military personnel at Osisioma area of Aba, where they were overwhelmed by the superior fire power of the military, according to the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu. Kanu who addressed newsmen in Umuahia, said the criminals escaped with bullet wounds in one of their gateway vehicles, a Lexus SUV, while abandoning their other vehicle, a highlander jeep which was recovered by security agents. He,…

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka Two men, Philip Avatus and Pius Dickson, have been sentenced to seven years in prison each by an Amawbia chief magistrate’s court in Anambra State for stealing iron rods worth N1.1 million. Both men, from Taraba State, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy, theft, and malicious damage. Chief Magistrate Mike Anyadiegwu delivered the sentence, which will run concurrently for both offenders. They had stolen 120 pieces of 12mm iron rods used in road construction on July 24 along Amawbia-Nise Road. The prosecutor, Insp. Innocent Agu, earlier, had stated that the defendants damaged, cut, and stole the rods…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu The Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mr Kanayo Uzuegbu, has warned against planned acts of violence and breach of public peace by individuals or groups in the name of protest. The commissioner gave the warning in a statement issued on his behalf by the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, on Monday in Enugu. The state police boss noted that the protest should be canceled considering available intelligence revealing the sinister plans of criminal elements to infiltrate and hijack the planned protest. According to him, some, hoodlums, who are planning to hijack the protest will…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Monday, directed telecommunications operators in the country, to immediately restore all phone lines blocked due to non-linkage of National Identification Numbers, NIN,  to SIM cards. This was contained in a statement on Monday by the Director of Media and Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka. There have been speculations that the blocking of phone lines of subscribers, might not be unconnected with the planned nationwide protest against hardship.

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, signed the new Minimum Wage Act into law. The President gave his assent to the Bill at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, were present during the ceremony. The National Assembly, last week passed the Executive Bill sponsored by the Presidency, as one of the measures to end strikes by the Organised Labour.

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The  Abia State Government, has inaugurated a 27-member Petroleum Team of the Abia State Harmonised Taskforce (ASHTF), with a vow to end crude oil theft, and pipeline vandalism. Gov. Alex Otti, while inaugurating the task-force, charged the members to go after those sabotaging the economy of government through oil bunkering. The Governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu, also charged them to be tough on pipeline vandals and dubious petroleum marketers indulging in unwholesome practices. He charged the members of the task-force to discharge  their duties without fear or…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu The Labour Party (LP) legislative caucus in Enugu State, on Sunday, called for immediate release of the party’s Candidate for Enugu South Urban State Constituency election, Mr Bright Ngene, who is currently being held at Enugu Correctional Centre. It would be recalled that Ngene was declared winner of the Enugu South Urban State Constituency election held on March 18, 2023 General Elections by INEC. However, PDP candidate challenged the victory and sought for the election to be declared inconclusive, which the Election Petition Tribunal agreed and ordered a rerun in eight polling units. In a dramatic twist,…