Author: Editor

Orders police to be on red alert Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia As the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, has vowed to push ahead with its nationwide protest and strike scheduled to commence tomorrow, August 2, the  Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has warned against violent protests, saying that security agencies will not tolerate any act capable of breaching public peace. The Police boss specifically warned that hoodlums would not be allowed to hijack the protest to cause chaos in the country. The IGP in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Uyiwa Adejobi, warned that police would not allow ugly…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has condemned the incessant call for sit-at-home in the South-East by Mr. Simon Ekpa.   In a statement by Dr Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide worldwide, the body said it was  disheartening and unacceptable. According to Iwuanyanwu: “It is indeed very disheartening that the people of South-East of Nigeria are being subjected to hardships by the incessant call for sit at home. “Unfortunately several non-state actors in an attempt to enforce the order have unleashed mayhem on the people. “As a result, several people have been killed, maimed and properties worth millions…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu Youths from the five South East states have taken to the streets of Enugu metropolis in support of efforts to end illegal sit-at-home, which is crippling the zone’s economy. Speaking to newsmen after the march, Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youths Worldwide, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, said the youths were “demonstrating the desire, resolve and endorsement of an end to sit-at-home in the South East.” According to Okpalaezeukwu, Igbo youths and stakeholders have gathered here from the five states of the South-East to declare and endorse the end to sit-at-home. “We acknowledge the fact that sit-at-home commenced because of our…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Governor Alex Otti has vowed that Abia State Government would resist any move to stop the on-going probe of the administration of his predecessor, Okezie Ikpeazu. Otti spoke on the heels of a purported court injunction by Ikpeazu restraining the Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Recovery of Government Properties and Funds inaugurated by Otti from investigating him as well as  officials who served under his administration. Justice E. Okpe of Abuja Federal High Court granted the injunction after an application for an ex parte motion was brought before him by Mr C. Enuka,  Counsel to Ikpeazu and three others.…

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka Human Rights Group, International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has said that an estimated N2.8trillion belonging to the people of South-East and South-South regions was lost at gunpoint in three years. The group which said the extortion spanned from July 2020 to July 2023 disclosed that “the whopping amount of $3.5billion had risen from ‘blue-collar’ corruption and other corrupt practices perpetrated by armed state actors and armed non-state actors cutting across the eleven old Eastern Nigerian States of Edo, Delta, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, Abia, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Rivers a…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Commissioner for Education, Abia State, Professor Uche Eme Uche, has disclosed that the State Government would soon embark on aggressive rehabilitation of public schools across the state. This, according to her is part of the on-going efforts by the Gov. Alex Otti-led administration to transform the critical education sector. The Commissioner who gave the hint while interacting with the leaderships of the Association of Primary School Head Teachers of Nigeria, (APSHON);  All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS); and National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS),  Abia State chapter, in her office, said the…

Stephen Ukandu with Agency Report As tension continues to build over last week’s military coup in Niger Republic and the 7-day ultimatum issued by the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, to the coup plotters to restore democracy in the country, Mali and Burkina Faso – countries headed by military juntas, have sternly warned against any military intervention. The Authorities of both countries on Monday, warned that any military intervention in Niger to restore deposed President Mohamed Bazoum would be considered a “declaration of war” against their separate countries. According to them, the entire West African sub-region could be plunged…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, has promised to provide a whopping N75 billion loan to 75 vibrant enterprises in the country capable of creating mass employment that would help boost the economy. Tinubu who disclosed this during his nation-wide broadcast, said the measure was part of the strategies of Government to cushion the biting effects of fuel subsidy removal. According to him, the loan will be accessed at nine per cent interest rate, and payable in 60 months. “To strengthen the manufacturing sector, increase its capacity to expand and create good-paying jobs, we are going to spend…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia President Ahmed Bola Tinubu has explained that his insistence that fuel subsidy regime must go was because only few tiny powerful individuals benefited from it to the detriment of the rest of the citizenry. The President who stated this in his nationwide broadcast noted the adverse effects of the removal on the economy but vowed not to succumb to be antics of the cabal fighting back to frustrate the new policy. “For several years, I have consistently maintained the position that the fuel subsidy had to go. This once beneficial measure had outlived its usefulness. The subsidy…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has disclosed that Nigeria had saved over N1 trillion since the removal of the petrol subsidy two months ago. The President who disclosed this Monday, said that fund would have been otherwise squandered by those he referred to as “smugglers and fraudsters” who had benefited from the subsidy regime. He said that saved funds would be channeled into intervention programmes targeting families and businesses nationwide. “The funds so far saved from subsidy removal will now be used more directly and more beneficially for you and your families.” Tinubu who insisted that the fuel…