Importers in Anambra State have cried out over the imposition of multiple levies on them by illegal revenue agents operating in the state under the guise of working for the state government. Anambra has been adjudged the commercial nerve centre of the Southeast, with a large number of importers across the 61 markets in the state. Investigations by TNC revealed that the importers are asked to pay levies like yellow ticket, road maintenance fee, haulage fees, container levy, heavy-duty levy and park agent fees amongst others. The Chairman, Importers Association of Nigeria (IMAN), Anambra State chapter Mr. Emeka Ojukwu in…
Author: Elochukwu Benjamin
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has dismissed a Policeman, Mfon Esio for engaging in cult-related activities. The constable with file number 513379, on the 20th May, 2020, was fingered in a Junior Vikings Confraternity initiation in which one Ubong John William was allegedly abducted and taken to a bush along Marina Road, Eket. In the bush, the victim was forcefully initiated into the Junior Vikings Confraternity. It was gathered that the Constable has been subjected to an orderly room trial where he was found guilty of the offence and has been dismissed immediately from the Force. A statement by…
As Nigeria marks this year’s Democracy Day, Valentine Ozigbo, a Nigerian business mogul and philanthropist, has called on all citizens to deepen their engagement and investment in the preservation of the country’s democracy. In a statement issued by his media office from Lagos on Friday, June 12, 2020, Mr. Ozigbo, while acknowledging the weaknesses in the political system, also maintained that “democracy has come to stay in Nigeria”. He also acknowledged that though the democratic experiment had not been perfect, there are still aspects of it that ought to be celebrated. “As we celebrate another year in this democratic journey,…
As Nigeria celebrates Democracy Day today, opinions are varied as to whether there is any hope for the country’s future considering the socio-economic and political travails which the nation faces. This is just as everyone agrees that democracy in the country has not really been what it should be. In Anambra, aside from the shutdown of government offices, there appears to be no sign that such a celebration is going down. According to a University Don, Professor Dennis Aribodor, changing the nation’s Democracy Day from May 29 to June 12, was to connect to an exercise in 1993 that depicted…
Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano has announced the enrolment of all Ex-Rangers International Football Club players into the Anambra State Health Insurance Scheme. The enrolment exercise took place at the premises of the State Health Insurance Agency in Awka. The Executive Secretary, Anambra State Health Insurance Agency, Dr. Simeon Onyemaechi who conveyed the message to the ex-rangers players, said the governor due to his love for the players, paid their insurance premium to enable them to enjoy all the benefits of the scheme. According to him, the ex-footballers made Ndigbo proud through their superlative performance, soon after the civil war…
Anambra State Government on Thursday announced the closure of Eke-Awka, the largest market in the state capital territory. The market it was gathered, was shut down because of non-compliance by the market traders and customers with COVID-19 protocols including wearing of protective face masks, provision of running water and soap for washing of hands, keeping of physical distancing among others. A statement signed by the Secretary to Anambra State Government, Professor Solo Chukwulobelu said the closure will take effect from Monday, 15th of June, 2020. The statement read in part; “This is to inform the public that effective Monday, 15th…
The Anti- Vandal Team of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abia State Command, has arrested two suspected pipeline vandals. The suspects who gave their names as Modestus Anyika ’35’ and Godwin Mezie ‘42’ were arrested along Osisioma axis of the Enugu/ Portharcourt Expressway while conveying about thirty-three thousand (33,000) litres of suspected Petroleum Products. Exhibits allegedly recovered from the suspects include, One Mack Truck without registration number and one locally fabricated Valve for fixing on the Petroleum pipeline According to a statement by the Command Public Relations Officer, Ndukwe Agu Egwu, the arrest was made possible following an…
Police in Anambra says it has arrested three persons in connection with the stealing of a hijet cargo shuttle bus and newly baked bread worth fifty thousand naira, belonging to Ofiaku restaurant Awka. A staff of the company, one Chukwujekwu Igiri had allegedly disappeared to an unknown destination with the newly purchased vehicle and the bread. Director of the company, Uchenna Okeke had officially lodged a complaint at ‘B’ Police Division, Awka and on Tuesday, the Police operatives attached to the division, arrested the suspect aged 21years, who resides at Mgbajiaka, behind Amenyi Girls’ Secondary School Awka. Police spokesperson in…
No fewer than six persons lost their lives in an accident involving a truck, three cars and four commercial tricycles near Lagos Park, Upper Iweka, Onitsha, in Anambra State. The multiple crashes took place at about 10:40 am. Among the vehicles involved were a Mack Trailer with registration number UMA259XB, a Toyota Previa with registration number ENU849XE, Toyota Precis with registration number ENU575ZU and a Toyota Sienna with registration number JJT434ZF. Others were a Tricycle with registration number AAH705UW, Tricycle with registration number AGU482QE and the third Tricycle without the registration number. According to eyewitnesses, the brakes of the trailer…
Four Police operatives who allegedly foiled a robbery attack on Monday at Regina Caeli Junction axis of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, Awka have received two million naira from Anambra State Government. Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano gave the cash reward to the Police operatives today at the governor’s Lodge, Amawbia. Also, the Governor’s wife, Chief Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano equally donated Four bags of 50Kg Rice to the police operatives. The Police operatives comprise three Inspectors, four Sergeants and one Constable attached to Department of operations and MOPOL 29 PMF Awka. Presenting the largesse, Governor Obiano commended the operatives for their…
Renowned businessman and owner of Tonimas Oil, Chief Anthony Enukeme has reportedly passed on Monday. News of his demise filtered in this morning although TNC is yet to get official confirmation from the family. Enukeme who is also the traditional ruler of Neni Community in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra state, has been ill for a while, sources close to him said. The billionaire business owner who had last year, celebrated his 76th birthday, will be remembered for his philanthropic gestures which have seen many young people in the community grow from obscurity to greatness. Meanwhile, the National Chairman…
The Nigeria Police Force has unveiled a new Operational Guidelines for its personnel and other Law Enforcement Agencies on COVID-19 prevention enforcement duties. The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu, NPM, unveiled the Guidelines on Monday today, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja. According to a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, this is part of measures to foster a more harmonious relationship between the Police and members of the public, deepen respect for the rights of citizens, provide a new set of policing tools for tackling emerging crimes such as domestic violence, rape, child molestation and other…
A lone armed robbery incident around Regina Caeli junction Awka, involving an arms-wielding 25-year-old man, was on Monday foiled. The suspect, one Chukwuemeka Afor, a native of Akpugo in Nkanu South Council Area of Enugu State, had allegedly snatched a bag containing the sum of three-point five million naira from one Ebuka Okeakpu who just stepped out from a nearby bank. Eye witness account said the suspect started shooting indiscriminately to scare people away and in the process, bullet pellets hit and injured about five persons as was shown also by a recorded video. The eyewitnesses say the angry onlookers…
Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu has tested positive to coronavirus. A test sample was taken from the governor on the 4th of June to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) laboratory for confirmation after an initial test had come out negative. But the latest sample had come back positive. The Commissioner for Information in Abia State, Chief John Okiyi Kalu who disclosed this in a press statement on Sunday, said the governor has gone into isolation as required by the relevant NCDC protocols. “Recall that on Saturday, 30th May, 2020, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu volunteered his sample for COVID-19 test…
Anambra State Commissioner for Basic Education, Prof Kate Omenugha says the botched one teacher one laptop initiative of the present state administration could have addressed the numerous challenges which the virtual learning program poses for teachers in the state. The disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic in the education sector had forced most state governments to take to teaching on the internet as an alternative. On the 24th of March, 2020, Anambra state government shut down all schools in the state, in a bid to prevent the spread of the virus in the state and on the 1st of April,…
Abba Community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State has called out the Nigerian Police and Oil magnate, Prince Arthur Eze over the alleged abduction of one of their respected sons, Chief Pius Nweke, by men suspected to be from the Nigeria Police Force. The Community alleged that Nweke who is the Chief Executive Officer of Best Aluminum, was abducted on his way to his office on the 5th of June, 2020 and hours later, his pictures in handcuffs with a pistol, in a background of a Police Station, flooded the internet. Investigations reveal that Nweke has been one…
A training programme on registration and distribution of the new Integrated Billing System, introduced by Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AIRS), for improved revenue collection in the state, has commenced. The training, which kicked off at the AIRS Headquarters, Awka, was attended by a team of Community Revenue Officers (CROs) and officials from Ministry of Trade and Commerce, the Anambra State Waste Management Agency (ASWAMA), Anambra Signage and Advertising Agency (ANSA), Business Premises and Fire Service. The Integrated Billing System is an innovation that harmonizes all billings payable to the state government, including ASWAMA, Business Premises, ANSSA, Fire Service Compliance…
As the debate on the suitability of zoning intensifies ahead of the 2021 Anambra Governorship election, a former Chief Executive Officer of Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Val Ozigbo has said the zoning arrangement provides for both equity and competence, if done right. Ozigbo gave the view in an online interaction with journalists in Anambra State. The need for zoning came to the fore in Anambra in 2014 at the expiration of the second tenure of the then governor, Mr Peter Obi, after key stakeholders in the state agreed that the governorship seat is zoned to Anambra North Senatorial District. As a…
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is taking measures to bring down the cost of crude oil production to $10 per barrel or below, the Corporation’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), Ventures and Business Development, Mr. Roland Ewubare, has said. A press release on Friday by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the corporation, Dr. Kennie Obateru, said the NNPC COO explained that terrain peculiarity was an important factor in determining cost, arguing that issues such as pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft, among others, were some of the factors peculiar to the Nigeria terrain that drive up…
A middle-aged man, Osita Ekpere has lost his life after a Prado Jeep rammed into his shuttle bus at Old NITEL axis of Upper Iweka, Onitsha. The accident which happened Friday morning involved four shuttle buses and the Prado Jeep with registration number, UWN277PE. An eye witness said the accident occurred when the driver of the Jeep lost control and crashed into the three shuttle buses before crashing into a nearby drainage. Of the total four male adults involved in the crash, two sustained varying degrees of injuries while one of the shuttle bus drivers, was confirmed dead by doctors…
25 women from Ezi-Umunya village in Umunya Community, Oyi Council Area of Anambra State have been suspended by the traditional ruler of the Community, Igwe Chris Onyekwuluje. The women had organized a protest against the traditional ruler after he directed Police operatives to arrest some suspects in the maiming of a youth in the community, Chinenye Okwundu. Okwundu was on Wednesday inflicted with deep machete wounds by the suspects over issues concerning the sale of communal land. The women it was gathered, were members of the families of the suspects arrested by the Police, most of whom have been fingered…
Ebonyi Government has ordered an immediate shut down of all government offices in the state with effect from Thursday, 4th June to Wednesday, 10th June, 2020. The directive came today from the state Governor, Dave Umahi, after 75 persons out of the total 3000 persons tested in the state, turned out positive for coronavirus. Among the infected persons were members of the State Executive Council from the Ministries of Finance and Budget. A statement Thursday, by Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji, the state Commissioner for Information and State Orientation and acting Commissioner, Human Capital Development and Monitoring, said the Governor is…
Elochukwu Benjamin Awka Anambra State Government has announced the waiving of charges for Fibre Optic Cable Right of Way in the state, from N600 per linear meter to zero naira. The announcement is coming as the state government targets to create a robust digital economy in the state. Fiber Optic Cable is the cabling that carries internet services just as electric cables carry electric power to different parts of the state. In 2019, Anambra State Government had commenced engagements with key stakeholders in the telecommunications industry, to achieve deeper broadband penetration for better internet services in the state. Waiving the…
Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano has warned that his government will not hesitate to shut down markets in the state if the traders do not comply with protocols established to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the state. Governor Obiano gave the warning in a statewide broadcast Tuesday night. According to him, the information he received from different quarters indicates that the people have started lowering their guard on the Covid-19 protocols. The governor said, “I have it on good authority that traders in various markets no longer comply with the enforcement of the wearing of face masks and…
As part of efforts at garnering more collaboration in achieving the mandate of the Nigerian Army in securing and protecting lives of citizens, the Commanding Officer, 14 Field Engineer Regiment, Nigerian Army Engineers Onitsha, Lieutenant Colonel Aondoaseel Adeke has commenced familiarization visits to sister agencies in Anambra State. Lt Col Adeke who was recently posted to the state, today visited the Heads of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). In his remarks during the visits, the Army Commander explained that the purpose of the visit was to familiarize with heads of…
The Police in Anambra says it has arrested four suspected members of a motorcycle snatching syndicate operating along Nri-Neni axis of the state. The suspects were arrested in a hideout inside the bush at Nri after they allegedly robbing one Nnamdi Ebegbe of his motorcycle and an unspecified amount of money and chopped off part of his right ear with a knife. Police Spokesperson in the State, Haruna Mohammed said exhibits recovered from the suspects include one Cutlass, the motorcycle and a phone belonging to the victim. “On the 01/06/2020 at about 1:30pm, following a distress call, Police operatives attached…
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu, has ordered the immediate transfer of the ongoing investigations into the inhuman sexual assault and death of Miss Vera Uwaila Omosuwa which occurred recently in Benin, Edo State from the Police State Headquarters, Benin, to the Force headquarters, Abuja. The IGP’s directive is a sequel to the preliminary report from the team of investigators and forensic experts earlier deployed to assist the Edo State Police Command in the investigations into the unfortunate incident. The victim, Late Miss Omozuwa was allegedly raped and murdered at a Pentecostal Church in Benin, the Edo State Capital…
The Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Senator Uche Ekwunife has called for the amendment of the criminal code to provide for more stringent punishment for rapists. Ekwunife gave the position while contributing to a motion during Tuesday’s plenary at the floor of the Senate. Recent days have seen an increase in the incidence of cases and sexual violence with the latest being the murder and rape of an undergraduate, Miss Vera Uwaila Omozuwa at a Pentecostal Church in Benin City, Edo State. Senator Ekwunife said rape damages the victims emotionally and physically, putting them in trauma which oftentimes, does…
A fatal road traffic crash on Monday along Enugwu-Ukwu axis of Awka-Onitsha Old Road has claimed one life and injured another. The crash which happened at about 9.32am, involved a purple coloured Toyota Camry with registration number KPP979PJ and a blue coloured commercial motorcycle with registration number UX28JJT. A total of three adult males were involved in the crash including the driver of the Camry, the Motorcyclist and a passenger who sustained some degree of injury. The bike rider identified as Okafor Chibuzor aged 26, was confirmed dead by doctors at Zion Hospital, where they were rushed to by some…
Rivers State Police Command has debunked rumours that the corpse of the late chairman of the Asari-Toru Local Government Area, Princewill Odiari was exhumed by unknown gunmen. Princewill had died last week Wednesday while receiving treatment at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital. He was buried at about 10 am Thursday at the Port Harcourt Cemetery by the officials of the State Rapid Response Team on COVID-19 clad in personal protective equipment. Rumours had it over the weekend that a day after he was buried, his remains were exhumed by unknown gunmen. But, the Spokesman of Rivers Police Command, Nnamdi…
