Anambra State Government on Monday said it is considering enforcing compulsory COVID-19 vaccination in the state, beginning with civil servants. The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Vincent Okpala disclosed this today during a press briefing to mark the commencement of mass vaccination campaign for COVID-19 in the state. The campaign which is in line with the new direction of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, NPHCDA, is aimed at achieving herd immunity. The mass vaccination campaign is to span from tomorrow 7th December, till Wednesday 5th January, 2022. Speaking at a briefing to mark the rollout, the State Commissioner for…
Author: Kenechukwu Ofomah
The South-East Amalgamated Markets Traders Association (SEAMATA) has sent a Save Our Souls (SOS) to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over alleged multiple and indiscriminate charges and deductions on customers by commercial banks. SEAMATA, the umbrella association of traders in all the markets in the South-East geo-political zone and traders of South-East extraction doing business across the states of the Federation and in the Diaspora, raised the alarm in an open letter addressed to the Governor of the CBN, Dr. Godwin Emefiele, on Monday made available to newsmen in Enugu. The letter was jointly signed by the President-General of…
Awka – Anambra State Police Command on Sunday, shot and killed two armed robbery suspects and arrested four other suspected members of the gang, operating in the state. The deceased suspected were said to have been gunned down in a gun duel with operatives of the state command. According to the State Police Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga who disclosed this on Monday, the suspected hoodlums were about to rob passengers travelling in a Toyota Sienna van, when they opened fire on sighting the police. “On 5th December, 2021, at about 05:30 hours ,Anambra Police Command operatives intercepted a three-man armed…
Anambra State Government on Friday announced the approval of the establishment of the Disability Rights Commission in the state in accordance with Section of the State Disability Rights Law. The Commission is to drive the full implementation of the State Disability Rights Law passed and accented to by the State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano in 2018. The Commission will have as its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Barr Chuks Ezewuzie, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Disability Matters, and will have other members appointed in line with sections 4(1)of the Disability Rights Law. The Commission has also been authorized…
People of Uhuala Village in Isulo Community, Orumba South Council Area of Anambra State are calling on the state government to intervene and end the illegal sand excavation going on in the area threatening their homes. TNC Correspondent who visited the site of illegal sand excavation which sits on over 20 plots of land owned by individuals, saw youths excavating sand and loading it onto tipper trucks. A one-storey building and two other buildings are presently under threat of collapsing as a result of the illegal activity, which is now less than 5 metres away from the buildings. A major…
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued authority to Anambra state government to open Anambra International Cargo And Passenger Airport for commercial operations with effect from 2nd December, 2021. The airport had been scheduled for opening late October, 2021 but the approval was declined, under circumstances, the State Government had alleged as politically-motivated. However, in a letter by the NCAA Director-General, Captain Musa Nuhu, dated 1st December, 2021, addressed to Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra state and made available to newsmen on Thursday, the aviation authority said it has received security clearance from relevant security agencies for the opening.…
Governors and leaders of the five Southeast states of Nigeria has condemned what they said they saw in some social and print media where two policemen were said to have been killed and their heads cut-off by youths who styled themselves as members of IPOB/ESN. The position of the South-East Governors and Leaders were made known after an emergency virtual meeting on a number of issues affecting the region. In a statement released on Wednesday by the Chairman of the Southeast Governors Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr Dave Umahi, the governors said they have resolved among themselves to…
Awka – The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Wednesday accused the Federal Government and its security agencies particularly the Department of State Security of being complicit in the jail breaks and attempted jail breaks in Jos and other places in Nigeria. Recently, there have been reports of break-in at various prisons across the country, the latest being that of Jos in Plateau state. In a statement on Wednesday, the IPOB through its Media and Publicity secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful said the organization is not oblivious of the alleged antics of the Federal Government and its security agencies particularly the Department…
Enugu – The former Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, says that pro-active leadership is a means of up-lifting followers in a sustainable way. Nebo said this on Tuesday in Enugu during “Proactive Leadership Conference for New Generation Leaders”. The conference, which focused on the leadership qualities of Dr Akanu Ibiam, the former Governor-General of Eastern Nigeria, was organised by Daniel Ukwu Leadership Foundation (DULF). The former minister, who presented a lecture on “Pro-Active Leadership”, noted that Ibiam provided “true and exemplary leadership’’ during his time and showed enviable example of humanitarian care for people around him. According to him, pro-active…
Awka – The Delta State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, passed the 2022 Appropriation Bill of N478, 941, 810, 911 into law, during plenary at the assembly in Asaba, the state capital. The passage of the bill was sequel to the report of the house committee on Finance and Appropriations presented by its Chairman, Hon. Erhiatake Obori-Suenu. Hon. Erhiatake informed the house that the committee swung into action immediately after the second reading of the appropriations bill was taken on Tuesday, 21st October, 2021 and was committed to the Committee on Finance and Appropriations, together with the Standing Committees of the…
Awka – The South East Amalgamated Markets Traders Association (SEAMATA) has strongly criticised and rejected the recent astronomical and indiscriminate increment in the import duty on cargoes charged by Nigerian Customs. SEAMATA is the umbrella union of traders in all the markets in the South-East Geo-political Zone and traders of South-East extraction doing business across the states in the Federation and in Diaspora. This is contained in a statement jointly signed by SEAMATA’s President General, Chief Gozie Akudolu and its Secretary General, Mr Alex Okwudiri, in Enugu on Monday. It said the Nigerian Customs introduced a method of working out import…
Awka – The Federal Government on Monday, strongly condemned the recent gruesome murder of two policemen, warning that those who carried out the killings, videotaped their heinous act and circulated such will be apprehended and brought to justice. A video that went viral over the weekend showed where two policemen were killed and their heads cut off and kept on the road. The individuals in the video then began to comically price the body parts before eventually setting the body ablaze. The location of the incident was however not disclosed by the persons involved in the video. In a statement issued…
Asaba – The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Monday inaugurated the Professor Chike Edozien State Secretariat, Asaba, built by Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa. The secretariat complex was named after the Asagba of Asaba and Nigeria’s oldest professor, Obi Prof. Chike Edozien. According to the Vice President, the new state-of-the-art Central Secretariat Complex built by Governor Okowa, was one of the governor’s legacies of inspirational and visionary leadership in Delta State. He said governments across the country must recognize the critical role of the civil service in boosting Internally-generated revenue and greater tax efficiency and as such, show commitment…
Awka – Mrs Charity Maduka, wife of Nigerian billionaire businessman, President and Chairman of the Coscharis Group, Cosmas Maduka is dead. According to close family sources, Mrs Maduka died on Sunday afternoon after suffering a stroke. Late Mrs Maduka was the Vice-president of the Coscharis Group since its inception as the co-owner of the company. Meanwhile Anambra state governor, Chief Willie Obiano has commiserated with the Maduka family over the incident, describing her death as a huge loss. According to a statement on Monday by the governor, signed by the State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr C-Don Adinuba, the…
Awka – A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Professor Ilochi Okafor has advocated the abolition of security votes from Nigeria’s governance system, insisting that no political office holder enjoying the perquisites, truly means to fight corruption. Okafor, who is a Professor of Law gave the view in Awka, at a ceremony to mark the commencement of the 2021/2022 Legal Year in Anambra State. Security vote is a monthly allowance, secretly allocated to office holders for the sole purpose of funding security services, which runs into billions of naira and vary based on the level of security required by the individual…
Awka – The All Progressives Congress, APC in Anambra State over the weekend accused the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige of being the brain behind the crisis which the state chapter of the party has been facing. Last week, some members of the party announced the suspension of the State Chairman of the party, Chief Basil Ejidike. According to them, the announcement was after the state executive committee of the party met and passed a vote of no confidence on the state chairman. However in an exclusive chat with newsmen in Awka, Anambra State Capital, after a meeting…
A coalition of youth groups in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has reaffirmed their support for Mr Valentine Ozigbo, the party’s flag-bearer in the last governorship election. The coalition was reacting to a statement by a group led by one Chief P. U. Offorkansi, which attacked Ozigbo and other leaders of the PDP. According to the coalition’s conveners, Dr Justin Kingland and Engr. Kissinger Okoye, in a statement on Sunday, the culture of politicians using unknown persons to cast unjustifiable and unfounded aspersions at some of the Party’s nationally celebrated party leaders, is highly commendable. “We, a coalition of youth…
Azia Community in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba over the alleged murder of a 20-year old girl, Miss Chidimma Ezeanochie by men of a Police Special Unit deployed from Awka to Orsumoghu on Thursday, 25th November, 2021. The deceased was said to have been shot at close range at Ogwumabiri, located along Orsumoghu – Azia road. The Azia-Mbosi-Orsumoghu area has been a major flashpoint in terms of killings by unknown gunmen, despite heavy deployment of security personnel to the areas at intervals. In the letter which was routed…
Anambra State Government has accused the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), of allegedly being behind the recent move by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against the state governor, Willie Obiano. The EFCC, had, in a letter, dated November 15 and addressed to the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), said it should be informed whenever Obiano is seen attempting to travel out of the country. Anambra State Commissioner of Information and Public Enlightenment, Don Adinuba, who spoke in an interview with TNC correspondent on Friday in Awka, described the EFCC’s action…
Anambra State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday announced the suspension of its state caretaker chairman, Chief Basil Ejidike. The party cited insubordination and disrespect to the office of President Muhammadu Buhari, as reasons for the suspension. Spokesperson of the committee and former Chief Whip of Anambra State House of Assembly, Barr Uchenna Okonkwo Okom in a briefing in Awka, said the decision was part of the resolution of state congress of all leaders and stakeholders to reposition the party. He said details of the reasons for their actions were contained in a concise petition submitted to…
No less than 8 persons on Thursday sustained varying degrees of injury while seventeen others came out unhurt in a multiple motor accident in Nteje, along Onitsha-Awka expressway, Anambra State. An eye witness said the crash which occurred at Abba junction around 8.35 am, involved three vehicles- a green colour tanker with Enugu registration number ENU 518 YS, a white bus with Anambra registration number BUU 72 Z and another red and white bus belonging to Star Sunny motors, with Registration number, AGU 289 ZL. The source said the truck driver while overtaking wrongfully, rammed into the oncoming vehicles on…
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank, has approved a new Water Strategy for 2021-2025, with the theme “Towards a Water-Secure Africa.” The five-year strategy, aims to increase water security in Africa, and to foster its sustainable, green and inclusive socio-economic growth and development. The strategy is expected to guide the Bank’s implementation of its Policy on Water, which it approved earlier this year. The Water Strategy’s four pillars underscore the importance of water and sanitation for socio-economic development namely- sustainability, resilience and inclusivity; food production and nutrition; and hydropower. Speaking on the development on Thursday, Dr. Beth…
Enugu – The leaders of the Int’l Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), the Southeast Zone of the Civil Liberties Organization (Southeast CLO) and the Southeast Based Coalition of Democracy and Human Rights Organizations (SBCHROs) are strongly calling for comprehensive investigations into the just conducted Anambra Governorship Election held on 6th and concluded on 9th November 2021. The Rights Groups are asking that such investigations must be hybrid or have national and international dimensions and centered on failures associated with BVAS machines, their handlers and despicable roles played by other stakeholders. The calls were made in a statement…
Awka – A human rights activist, Ayo Yinka has called on the members of the Lagos judicial panel of inquiry on ENDSARS to defend their reports amidst the recent comments by the federal government. On Tuesday, Information Minister, Lai Mohammed had said the recent report by Lagos panel is totally false and misleading, and not based on any fact or evidence but on fictitious information mostly from social media platforms. The Minister believes there is absolutely nothing in the report that is circulating to that can make the Federal Government change its stand that there was no massacre at Lekki on…
Awka – The Nigeria Police Force on Tuesday, it is designing and running a Police Reform programme for the Nigeria Police Force, with support from the German government, through its Global Security Sector Reform Foundation (GS-F) Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba in a statement, said this was the reason for the visit by a high-level delegation of the German Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, yesterday. At the meeting, the IGP was represented by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Department of Finance and Administration, DIG Sanusi Lemu, while…
Awka – The African Child Social Empowerment Center, ACSEC on Tuesday called on stakeholders in the society to work concertedly towards intensifying sensitization on rape and sexual abuse, to arrest the ugly trend and its menace to the society. The group made the call during a one- day campaign against rape and other sexual abuses in Awka, Anambra State Capital. The event which had as its theme, “Stop Rape Now”, climaxed with lectures at the auditorium of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. It had kickstarted with a sensitization walk within the school premises and environs, as participants bore placards with different inscriptions…
Awka – The Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma has described Monday’s killing of a soldier at Awommamma in Oru East local government area of the state, as regrettable, saying the soldier who was on a legitimate duty did not deserve to die such a gruesome death. Unconfirmed reports have it that about two soldiers were killed in the community, by unidentified individuals in a gruesome manner. The incident had allegedly angered soldiers who embarked on wanton destruction and indiscriminate burning of residential and business premises in the community. A viral video on Tuesday, showed many buildings on fire around…
Despite Anambra State Government’s warning that Mondays are not work free days in the state, government offices, banks and business premises were on Monday shut down across the state. It was gathered that a video of the heavily-armed pro-Biafra group, had surfaced late Sunday, warning Southeast residents to disregard the directive by government and stay indoors every Monday, until the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is released from the custody of the DSS. The group had also threatened to deal with market leaders, government officials and community leaders who flout the sit-at-home order. TNC…
Awka – The All Progressives Congress, APC in Anambra State has described the reasons given by the Minority leader in the State House of Assembly, and member representing Ekwusigo State Constituency, Hon Onyebuchi Offor, for returning to the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, as untenable. Hon. Offor who had decamped to the APC in the build-up to the 2021 Anambra Governorship election, had last week, announced his return back to PDP, tagging the APC as hot and unaccomodating. But in a reaction to the development, the spokesperson of the Anambra APC, Okelo Madukaife accused the lawmaker of constantly being in the business…
Awka – Anambra State Government on Sunday, reminded all individuals and organizations in the state that Monday, November 22, 2021, is not a work-free day in the state. Mondays have been involuntarily observed as sit-at-home over the past four months in the state, following an order of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to press home their demand for the release of their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who is standing trial for some charges in Abuja, brought by the federal administration. This involuntary action has continued despite the decision of the IPOB to call off the order, thereby crippling socio-economic activities…
