Author: Editor

By Azu Ishiekwene Following the G-20 summit held in India, I have been amused by the debate about whether or not Nigeria should be more than a guest again at the next G-20 meeting in Rio, Brazil. If South Africa is a member, why not Nigeria? How do you offer Africa’s largest economy only a complimentary ticket every time to such an important global event, leaving it with the rather humiliating option of begging for a place?  I thought that we had outgrown the belief that respect is earned by size or by simply hanging out with the right crowd, regardless…

Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki Over 17,000 persons have applied for the available 1,454 vacancies in the Ebonyi State Civil Service. Governor Ogbonnaya Nwifuru had directed the recruitment be carried out to fill vacancies that ensued as a result of retirement and resignations. Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Jude Okpor, on Thursday said the State Civil Service Commission has received 17,834 applications from job seekers. Okpor stated this while briefing the media in Abakaliki, the state capital on the outcome of the state Executive Council meeting held on Wednesday this week. He noted that out of the 17,834 applicants who submitted applications for…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu The Oha Obollo Community in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State has frowned at an alleged attempt by the Chairman of the local government, Solomon Onah, to build shops at the Obollo-Afor Motor park in the twilight of his administration. The chairman’s tenure is expected to end in February 2024, barely five months away from now. A source told our correspondent that on Sunday last week, the park was invaded by bulldozers and trucks aided by some security personnel. The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the action attracted reactions from the people, who…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Aba axis of Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway has literally collapsed, thus making movement on the dual carriage way both torturous and nightmarish. A trip en route the highway reveals the agony of road users in the South-East geopolitical zone which is grossly marginalised by the Federal Government in virtually every sector. The worst portion of the expressway begins shortly after Osisioma ‘flyover’ where the on-going rehabilitation work that commenced since the first tenure of the immediate-past President Muhammadu Buhari stopped. The rest of the highway from around Tonimas Junction down to Ariaria Junction/Enyimba Filling Station, Uratta junctions, Alaoji, Obehie…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu The Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Enugu has upheld the election of Barrister Peter Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the duly elected governor of the state. In the Judgment delivered on Thursday, the three-man panel of Justices led by Kudirat Akano, ruled that  the Labour Party, LP, and its candidate in the election failed to provide sufficient evidence in all their pleas including the case of alleged certificate forgery brought against Mbah. The tribunal held that, Mbah did not submit his NYSC certificate to INEC in aid of his qualification to contest for office of governor, since he was already qualified without…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Nigeria’s ex- First Lady,  Dame Patience Jonathan, has passed a vote of confidence on Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, hailing his developmental strides. The former First Lady who stopped by at Nvosi, Isiala-Ngwa South Local Government Area, country home of Governor Otti on a courtesy visit Wednesday, congratulated the Governor for cleaning up the state and freeing the streets of putrid stench, which had been the lot of the state prior to Otti’s assumption of office on May 29, 2023. Ikengaonline had reported that Otti declared a state of emergency on refuse dumps shortly after taking over power, and…

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka Anambra State Government has made known its intentions to restore peace in Isuaniocha, a community in Awka North Local Government Area that has been in crises for more than eight years. The Chief of Staff to the Government, Mr Ernest Ezeajuyi, stated this when over one thousand residents of Isuaniocha carried a peaceful protest to the Government over some issues bringing disunity and insecurity in the town. Youths, aged men and women including the oldest man in the community, carried placards with various inscriptions as they marched to the gate of the Anambra State Government House, chanting…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has waded into the lingering controversy over pre-paid metres as the Commission has directed Electricity Distribution Companies, DISCOs, to refund electricity consumers for pre-paid metres purchased under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme. The directive according to the commission, is in compliance with the national mass metering regulations 2021. Chairman of the Commission, Sanusi Garba; and Commissioner, Legal, Licensing & Compliance, Dafe Akpeneye; who signed the order marked NERC/2023/001, pegged the usefulness of pre-paid metres at 10 years. This is coming on the heels of the recent upward review of the…

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka The Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has tasked Federal Government to declare state of emergency on federal roads in Anambra State and the South-East region in general. The Vice President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Damian Okeke Ogene, who spoke in Awka, recently, urged the federal government to also take decisive action to address the menace of erosion in the region. Chief Okeke Ogene noted that the recent visit by the Minister of Works, Engineer Dave Umahi, to Anambra State afforded him the opportunity to see first-hand the deplorable condition of federal roads in the state…

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka Security operatives under the umbrella of Anambra Vigilante Group (AVG) have busted a baby factory in Umunze, Orumba South LGA of the state. Ikengaonline learnt that the baby factory was discovered after a three-month investigation conducted by the AVG operatives, led by the Transition Committee Chairman of Orumba South, Prince Neville Uchendu. Three girls aged between 14-20 reportedly hail from Arondizuogu in Imo State, Ihite in Orumba South, and Bayelsa State respectively, were all confirmed to be currently pregnant. They were rescued while a member of the child trafficking syndicate, Mr. Oruchukwu Okoroafor, was also arrested during…