Author: Editor
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The hope of many Nigerian students has again been dashed, as the Federal Government has announced the indefinite postponement of the the launch of the Nigerian Students Loan Scheme. The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, Akintunde Sawyer, who disclosed this during an interview with Arise News on Tuesday, simply said the postponement was necessitated by the corrections being effected concerning the scheme. Previous attempts to launch the scheme in October 2023, and January 2024, were unsuccessful, thus leading to its reschedule for Thursday, March 14. “Unfortunately, I won’t be able to commit to a…
Ben Ezechime, Enugu The Enugu state Government has approved 15,000 hectares of land for Ugwuanama farms Limited, for Agricultural production in Isi-Uzo local Government Area of the state. The state government has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the farms with the view to ensuring food sufficiency in the state. Speaking after signing the MoU in Enugu, Governor Peter Mbah described the partnership as significant and symbolic. He congratulated the Ugwuanama farms Limited, and expressed the hope for a good partnership with the farm. Mbah, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Chidiebere Onyia,…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has visited Ehere Timber Market Aba, which went up in flames Monday night. The cause of the inferno is yet to be ascertained. Although no life was lost, goods especially timber worth millions of Naira were destroyed. Governor Alex Otti, during the visit sympathised with traders over the disaster and promised Government support for the affected traders. He also ordered immediate remodeling and reconstruction of the market to make it more convenient for trading activities. The Governor expressed dissatisfaction with the poor design of the market which made it easy for fire…
…Want Fubara to take legal action to stop AGIP, EXON MOBIL A coalition of women focused organisations working in the Niger Delta and knowledgeable about the evil trail of havoc wreaked on the region’s ecosystem and livelihood, have called on the Ahmed Tinubu government to halt the planned signing of the onshore divestment agreement with Agip and Exon Mobil. In a joint press briefing held Thursday February 22 at the office of the foremost women NGO in the region, Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Center in Port Harcourt, the coalition demanded that there should be no divestment without proper Federal…
Ben Ezechime, Enugu The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has decorated no fewer than 10 newly-promoted personnel serving within Enugu State. Those decorated with their new ranks after a successful promotion include: three top officers, three middle-level officers and four marshals. Speaking during the decoration in Enugu on Tuesday, the Sector Commander of FRSC Enugu State Command, Mr Adeyemi Sokunbi, appreciated the Corps Marshal and FRSC management for considering personnel of the command for the promotion and decoration. Sokunbi noted that the promotion and decoration was a privilege, adding that not everyone that went for the promotion exams made it.…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Nigerian Senate, Tuesday, slammed three-month suspension on Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP), representing Bauchi Central, for alleging that the Presidency padded the 2024 budget by N3.7 trillion. Senate had earlier disowned the Chairman, Northern Senators’ Forum, over the allegation, just as the Presidency flatly denied the allegation. When the matter came up on the floor of the Senate, a member of the Appropriation Committee in the Senate, Jimoh Ibrahim, moved a motion for Ningi’s suspension for 12 months over misinformation and breach of peace in the National Assembly and the country by extension. Ibrahim, who represents Ondo…
…As Jarigbe reveals how some ranking senators allegedly got N500 m each Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Senate was on ‘fire’ Tuesday, during a hearing on the revelation by the Chairman of Northern Senators’ Forum, Senator Abdul Ningi, that the Presidency padded the 2024 budget with N3.7 trillion. Another startling revelation was made by Senator Jarigbe Jarigbe (PDP, Cross-River North) that many of the ranking senators got the sum of N500 million each. Senate Leader, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, had moved the motion on breach of privilege by Senator Ningi when the Cross River Senator made the shocking revelation. Recall that shortly…
Lawrence Nwimo, Awka An 18-year-old orphan is currently ruing her fate after she was reportedly abandoned by her family to die possibly because of her sickle cell disorder (SCD) condition. The orphan, Miss Chilotam Ezikwelu, is the only surviving child of late Mr Akpu and late Mrs Regina (Opel Ugbondu) Ezikwelu of Irudo Igbuala Village Ifitedunu in Dunukofia LGA. Currently receiving palliative care at a Sickle Cell Orphanage and Underprivileged Home in Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area, of the state, Chilotam’s health is deteriorating and currently needs blood and other welfare packages to have chances of living. Ikengaonline attempt to interact with…
Ben Ezechime, Enugu Gunmen on Tuesday morning invaded the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku Ozalla, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State. Unconfirmed report said the attackers shot sporadically in the air scaring workers in the hospital and causing panic along Enugu/Port Harcourt Expressway for several hours. Ikengaonline also gathered that a female Deputy Director, a Nurse and a security man were reportedly abducted during the attack. An SUV Jeep allegedly belonging to the abducted woman was also seen in a viral video abandoned with bullet perforated windscreen on the front passenger side. Neither the Police Command in Enugu State nor the…
By Owei Lakemfa The students loan scheme, planned to be floated in the next few weeks, is an ingenious creation of a problem that does not exist. I explained this as the Lead Discussant at the Federal University of Technology, FUTA, Branch of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, Colloquium on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 in Akure. I had begun my submission by enquiring if a citizen has a fundamental right to be an illiterate. I did not think so, but argued that even if he does, the collective rights of society supersedes such an individual right. I pointed…