Author: Editor

…EEDC increased our bill from ₦9,000 to ₦47,000 per month – Protesters Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Residents of Umuahia, the Abia State capital, on Tuesday took to the streets to protest what they described as an outrageous hike in estimated electricity bills. According to the protesters, households in the World Bank Housing Estate, Umuahia, have had their monthly bills arbitrarily increased from about ₦9,000 to between ₦47,000 and ₦50,000. During the peaceful demonstration, the residents appealed to the management of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) to reverse the hike. They also called on the state government to intervene, lamenting that…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Abia State Government has announced that the State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) has commenced the clearing of drainages and waterways from Umuahia down to Isiala Ngwa to avert flooding. This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, while briefing newsmen after the State Executive Council meeting. He explained that the measure followed warnings by the Federal Government that several states could experience flooding this year. “The waterways need to be cleaned and opened up to prevent flooding in those areas of the city during the rainy season. There have been predictions that some…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) has said that anti-corruption strategies are critical for advancing good governance, transparency, and accountability in the country. RoLAC Project Coordinator for Abia State, Mr. Peter Omenka, stated this at a three-day workshop organised for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and relevant Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in Umuahia, Abia State. He explained that without the necessary anti-corruption framework in place, accountability would remain a mirage. The workshop, held in collaboration with CSOs and MDAs, was aimed at developing strategies to improve accountability, transparency, and anti-corruption in Abia State. RoLAC Programme…

By Press Release Agbaja Summit 2025: A celebration of education, skills, and cultural heritage The Agbaja Leaders of Thought (ALT) has announced plans for the Agbaja Summit 2025, scheduled for November 26–27, 2025, in Enugu. Themed “Education and Skills Development: Building a Future Anchored on Heritage”, the Summit will bring together Agbaja sons and daughters at home and abroad, alongside partners and cultural custodians, for two days of dialogue, innovation, and cultural celebration. Announcing the event at a press briefing at the Amadeo Centre yesterday, Professor Chike Anibeze, Chairman of the Planning Committee, described the Summit as “a clarion call…

…Public varsities get Oct 31, private – Nov 30 deadlines Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has given a December 31 deadline to all tertiary institutions in the country to complete their 2025 admission processes. The deadline was contained in a bulletin released by JAMB on Monday. According to JAMB, public universities are expected to finish their admissions by October 31, 2025, while private universities have until November 30, 2025. All other tertiary institutions — including polytechnics, colleges of education, and innovation enterprise institutions — have been given a final deadline of December 31, 2025. JAMB…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Reprieve has come the way of kidney patients in Nigeria as President Ahmed Tinubu has slashed the cost of dialysis by 76% in all federal hospitals across the country. By this development, the price of a single dialysis session is now about N12,000 instead of N50,000 that it previously cost. This was disclosed in a statement on Monday by the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala. Bwala said the move is expected to bring immediate financial relief to thousands of Nigerians battling kidney disease, a condition that often requires multiple treatment sessions per…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu  The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Enugu Field Office has commended the State Government for its effort at reducing child malnutrition in Enugu State. The Chief of UNICEF Field Office, Mrs Juliet Chiluwe, made the commendation at the policy dialogue with Enugu State government and the 17 LGAs, Executive and Legislative Councils on investments in Nutrition and the N774 Initiative. The theme of the event was, “Harnessing Optimal Development Potentials of Enugu Children and Adolescents through Investment in Maternal and Child Nutrition: A key to sustainable development in Enugu State.” Represented by Mrs Ngozi Onuorah, Nutrition Specialist,…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Catholic Bishop of Umuahia Diocese, Most Rev. Michael Kalu Ukpong, has stated that those plotting to unseat Governor Alex Otti of Abia State in 2027 are “wasting their time.” Bishop Ukpong emphasized that the 2027 elections would be a walkover for Otti due to his remarkable achievements in office. He made the statement on Sunday during a luncheon hosted for the Governor at the Mater Dei Catholic Church, Umuahia. “Otti’s good works over just two years have done his campaign for him,” Bishop Ukpong said, adding that he hosted the Governor to celebrate his “impactful and…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Civil society organization, African Centre for Human Advancement and Resource Support (CHARS-Africa), has urged the Abia State Government to emulate Imo State on the ban on graduation of pupils in non-exam classes and the yearly change of textbooks. It also commended the Imo State Ministry of Education for placing firm guidelines on the conduct of graduation ceremonies and textbook usage in both public and private primary and secondary schools in the state. The policy, according to the CSO, will help curb extortion by school proprietors and management. CHARS-Africa, in a statement by its Executive Director, Amaka Biachi,…

Our Reporter, Abuja  Former Minister of Youth and Sports Development and spokesman of the African DemocraticCongress (ADC), Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, has condemned what he described as a coordinated attempt by supporters of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to mobilise the Yoruba and South-West people against former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, for exercising his democratic rights. In a post on Monday via his X handle, Abdullahi said it was “incredible” that Aregbesola was being demonised simply for choosing to align with the Nigerian people, stressing that such actions were undemocratic and dangerous for the nation’s unity. He recalled that after the…