Awka – Anambra State Government has approved Saturdays as school days in place of Mondays. The approval is expected to take effect from Saturday this week, 30th of October, 2021. The development, TNC gathered, was in response to the Monday sit-at-home directive by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, which had affected academic activities in all Southeast states of Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo and Abia. It was also gathered that the Saturday school day was to ensure that the school children in Anambra cover the academic curriculum of the schools. An internal memo to all heads of public primary schools in…
Author: Kenechukwu Ofomah
Awka – Anambra State on Friday joined the comity of southern states that have legislation against open grazing of cattle, as the State Governor Willie Obiano today signed Anti-Open Grazing Bill into law. The legislation is law to prohibit and abolish open and nomadic cattle and other livestock grazing and rearing in the state. It among other things, also provides for cattle and other livestock ranching and has a penalty for anybody grazing cattle openly. Governor Obiano while signing the bill at the governor’s lodge Amawbia, said the move became imperative in order to protect all critical stakeholders and their businesses…
Awka – The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Thursday validated the election of Nigerian business mogul, Valentine Ozigbo, as the authentic candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), for the November 6 election. Ozigbo was elected during the PDP primary held at the Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka on the 26th of June, 2021. However, Ugochukwu Uba who emerged from a factional primary held same day had gone to court to challenge Ozigbo’s candidacy, asking the courts to declare him winner. The apex court, in a judgement delivered at the Supreme Court Complex in Abuja today, threw out all the challenges to Ozigbo’s…
Nigeria and Turkey have signed eight major agreements to further bolster bilateral relations between the two nations. The agreements were in the areas of Energy, Defense industry, Mining, Hydro Carbons among others. Announcing this at a joint press briefing with his Turkish counterpart on Wednesday, President Muhammadu Buhari said implementation of the agreements will commence immediately. President Buhari said their deliberations reviewed the travel list based on the revised COVID-19 protocols and removed Turkey from Nigeria’s Travel Ban List, adding that Turkey has achieved remarkable success in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. “We held very useful discussions on a number of…
The 28th Annual Conference of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria on Wednesday held in Awka, Anambra State Capital, with the need stressed for tertiary institutions to invest in training digital pharmacists that will drive the use of technology in pharmaceutical practice. The event with the theme, “Technological Revolution: Panacea to challenges in pharmaceutical practice in Nigeria,” had as its participants, pharmacists from within and beyond Anambra State. It also provided the platform for interaction by practitioners on grey areas of the practice, with professional providing answers to the questions. Declaring the event open, Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano who was represented…
Awka – A commercial motorcyclist, Victor Asuquo has received the sum of N20,000 from the Edo State Police as compensation for the income loss he suffered after he was detained illegally by the Police. Mr Asuquo’s tricycle was said to have been detained illegally last week Thursday by operatives of the Edo Police Command for his inability to present his rider’s permit. According to the Public Relations Officer, Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO), Leftist Aliyu Umweni, the Civil Society in the state, took up the matter, resulting in the intervention of the State Police Commissioner. “It was like the usual horrifying…
Awka – The Apex Igbo Socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that the leader o the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is produced in court on Thursday. This, it said, is necessary to prove to the global community that Nnamdi Kanu is not only hale and hearty but that shady judicial process is not contemplated while on trial. Kanu is due for appearance in court on Thursday over charges of treason. His initial appearance in court in July, was marred by the failure of the Department of State Security, DSS to bring him…
Lagos: The Lagos State Police has debunked insinuations that it has lifted the ban on street protests in commemoration of the one year EndSARS anniversary scheduled for Wednesday, 20th October, 2021. The Command through its Public Relations Officer, CSP Adekunle Ajisebutu on Tuesday, said on the contrary, the police will only allow an indoor and virtual event in commemoration of the EndSARS anniversary and will provide adequate security at the venues if known. According to him, this is in recognition of rights of every Nigerian to express his or her interest. He explained further that the decision to ban the street…
Delta State Government, on Monday, faulted the British High Commission for listing the state among the 12 states in the country with security challenges and unsafe for its nationals, as reported in the Vanguard newspaper of Monday, October 18, 2012. The Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, gave the position at a press briefing on Monday, held at the headquarters of the Ministry of Information, Asaba. According to the Delta Government spokesperson, the advisory must have been issued in error, arguing that the reality on ground proved Delta as one the safest in Nigeria. The commissioner noted that Delta remained…
The Apex Igbo Socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that the leader o the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is produced in court on Thursday. This, it said, is necessary to prove to the global community that Nnamdi Kanu is not only hale and hearty but that shady judicial process is not contemplated while on trial. Kanu is due for an appearance in court on Thursday over charges of treason. His initial appearance in court in July, was marred by the failure of the Department of State Security, DSS to bring…
Awka – A human rights group, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre, RULAAC has said one year after the ENDSARS protest that rocked parts of the country, police abuses in Nigeria remain widespread with police officers engaging in the same patterns of abuse that sparked the protests. The protests driven by youths, were against the spate of extrajudicial killings, torture, harassment and extortion by men of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS of the Nigeria Police Force. It was expected that the protests would propel the government to see the need to urgently initiate a comprehensive police reform programme to…
Goods and property worth millions of naira were on Sunday destroyed by fire at the Nkwo Ogbe Market in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra state. The fire which started around 1pm, was said to have lasted for some hours following late arrival of men of the Fire Service. One of the victims, Edward Uzoma said the inferno had consumed more than half of the shops in the market, expressing anger at the absence of fire service or any kind of government help. The Anambra Chief Fire Officer, Engr. Martin Agbili while explaining the reason for the delay, said…
Valentine Ozigbo, the flag-bearer of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 6, 2021 election, has called for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, an activist and the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), from detention. Ozigbo is also advocating for a different approach in addressing the agitations for self-determination in the country. Mr Ozigbo, a respected business leader, made the call when he spoke at the 2021 Anambra Gubernatorial Debate hosted on the state television station in Awka on Sunday. Ozigbo was the only candidate of a major political party who attended the hour-long debate, which had…
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered the mobilization and deployment of a total of 34,587 police personnel and 3 Police Helicopters, for effective security during the November 6 Governorship election in Anambra State. The IGP also ordered the deployment of technical capabilities of the Police Airwing, the Force Marine and the Force Animal Branch, and other operational assets for the Anambra election. A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, disclosed that the IGP gave the order on Thursday at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, during the 2nd Strategic Police Managers Conference for Senior Police…
Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, on Thursday presented a draft estimate of one hundred and forty-one point nine seven billion naira as Anambra’s 2022 budget proposal before the State House Assembly. Out of the draft estimate based on realistic projections on all sources of revenue, Recurrent Expenditure was pegged sixty point nine billion naira representing 43 percent, while total Capital Expenditure is eight-one billion naira representing 67 percent of the total budget size. A breakdown of the estimate shows that road works and infrastructure will gulp twenty three billion naira, agriculture will take three billion naira, while three point…
Awka – The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, on Wednesday assured of the commitment of the Force to securing the public space and upholding the democratic values ahead of the November 6th, 2021, Anambra State Gubernatorial Election. The IGP gave the assurance, during a strategic meeting held at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, with Commanders of the Police Mobile Force (PMF) Squadrons in the country. The meeting is part of efforts to specifically contain the activities of criminal elements in the South-East and particularly guarantee a safe and secure environment for the elections. According to the IGP, the leadership of…
Awka – The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) says the defection of the deputy governor of Anambra State, Dr. Nkem Okeke to the All Progressives Congress (APC), is of no consequence. On Wednesday, the Anambra Deputy Governor was received by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, the APC Caretaker Committee Chairman and Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni at Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he was presented with the APC flag. The defection which has been rumoured for over two weeks now, is eventually coming less than three weeks to the Anambra Governorship election slated for 6th of November, 2021. Political…
Awka – Anambra State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed the anti-grazing bill into law after the bill was read for the third time and overwhelmingly supported by members during the plenary session today. The bill which is for a law to prohibit and abolish open and nomadic grazing, was submitted to the House a few weeks ago and has been painstakingly considered by the House before it was passed on Tuesday. The Bill is expected to come into effect from after the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano would have signed it into law. Some key provisions of the law include…
Asaba The APGA Youth leader in Anambra State, Comrade Magnus and five Senior Special Assistants to Governor Willie Obiano have decamped to the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, declaring support for its candidate in the November 6 governorship election, Valentine Ozigbo. The decampees included Abuchi Egboo, the Senior Special Assistant on Environment, Barr Eziafa Charisma, SSA on Legal Matters, Emeka Nwabunwane, Deputy Chairman of Dunukofia and SSA on Community Liaison, Engr Ibik Kelvin, SSA on Works, Uzuegbunnam Chike, an APGA Zonal Youth Leader in Anambra Central and several special assistants, Councillors and local government youth leaders. The APGA members, were welcomed…
Awka – The Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), on Wednesday demanded that the embattled All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the All Progressive Congress (APC) come out clean on their roles in the upsurge of violence ahead of the November 6 governorship election. The Publicity Secretary of the Campaign Council, Afam Dozie Ofomata, who disclosed this, said the party came at the conclusion, after a critical review of the rising insecurity situation in Anambra state. On Tuesday, an APGA campaign rally was thwarted by gunmen, resulting in the death of one soldier and unconfirmed number of gunmen. The State Police Command through…
Enugu – The Medical Director, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, Prof. Monday Igwe, has identified the sit-at-home and negative COVID-19 fall-outs, as key factors driving depression leading to mental illness within the South-East and the country in general. Igwe was speaking with newsmen in Enugu on the increasing mental illness cases being recorded in most psychiatric hospitals worldwide including the country. The medical director who spoke on the sidelines of the World Mental Health Day 2021, which was themed: “Mental Health in an Unequal World”, said other triggers included high level of unemployment, inflation, terrorism, banditry, communal conflicts and kidnapping, adding that people’s daily…
Enugu – The Open Hands Amazing Charitable Organisation Incorporated, an NGO, on Sunday provided over 1,100 residents of Egede community in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State with free medical treatment. The free medical outreach covered blood pressure and sugar test, malaria laboratory test, eye check, free 200 eye glasses, medical consultation and advice, free drugs and other free medical consumables. The event also featured donation of cash grants to 50 less privileged, disabled and aged people within the community and a free sumptuous meal for everybody that attended the outreach. Speaking, the Founder of the organization, Dr Magdalene Agada,…
Awka The Federal Government has been urged to fully explore the potentials that abound in the Agricultural Sector, to open up multiple foreign exchange earning avenues for Nigeria. The traditional ruler of Ifite-Ogwari in Ayamelum Local Government Area of Anambra State, Igwe Alphonsus Ofuebe, who made the call during the celebration of the 2021 New Yam Festival of Ifite-Ogwari community, said only by providing farmers with the necessary support, will Nigeria achieve this. The festival celebrated in a spectacular way, witnessed the conferment of awards on the Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uche Okafor and other illustrious…
Enugu – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has commenced its second quarter Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) within Enugu State, while calling on stakeholders to intensive mobilisation for its success. Dr Emeka Ononamadu, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Enugu State, disclosed this on Thursday in a press briefing on the 2nd Quarter of the CVR within Enugu State. The CVR registration is expected to start from 8a.m and ends by 3p.m each working day. It would be recalled that INEC had registered a total of 12,832 new eligible voters in its just-concluded first quarter CVR in Enugu State.…
Awka – Governor Willie Obiano on Thursday, claimed the massive defections into the All Progressives Congress, APC by members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA is a political ploy by his party. Obiano disclosed this when he was fielding questions from state House correspondents yesterday after a close-door meeting he had with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja. Six Anambra state legislators, one federal legislator and many other APGA stakeholders recently defected to the APC, a development many political watchers have said should be a source of worry to the ruling party in the state. But Obiano has said the lawmakers…
Onitsha – Popular Nollywood actor, Chinwetalu Agu was on Thursday allegedly physically assaulted and whisked away at Upper Iweka, Onitsha, by men of the Nigerian Army. A video that went viral online today, showed the veteran actor dressed in Biafran overall, with his van parked in the middle of the road. Armed men dressed in military clothes were seen moving round the van before dragging him on the tarred road, as people drive past. One of the suspected soldiers was also hitting and kicking the actor before he was alleged to have been taken away. There were also gunshots that caused…
Enugu – The Bishop of Nike Diocese (Anglican Communion) in Enugu State, the Right Reverend Christian Onyia, says the Church must rise to its responsibility of being a beacon of hope and harbinger of solutions to myriads of societal challenges. Onyia gave the task in a statement he signed on Wednesday, to herald the forthcoming Third Session of the Diocesan 5th Synod holding from Thursday, Oct, 14 to Sunday, Oct. 17. The prelate said the Church was made by Jesus Christ to be a haven of rest, a place of growth, encouragement, learning, comfort, and most importantly, a place of worship,…
Awka – Anambra State Government says it is dismayed by the statement by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, that the Federal Government will impose a state of emergency on Anambra, if the new spate of violence in the state persists during the November 6 gubernatorial election in the state On Wednesday, the Attorney General of the Federation said the Federal Government will do everything within its powers to ensure a peaceful and credible governorship election in Anambra state on November 16. It went further to say that no option is ruled out including the…
Awka – Anambra State Government on Wednesday flagged the First Outbreak Response (OBR1) Campaign for Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Virus type 2 (CVDPV2) in the state. The exercise which was flagged off in Awka, will last till Saturday 9th October. The campaign which will be carried out with the key antigen- Novel Oral Polio Vaccine (nOPV), is for children between 0-59 months, irrespective of previous immunization status. The campaign which is driven by the State Ministry of Health and the Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, ANSPHCDA, with support from the World Health Organisation and other Development partners, is targeted at…
Awka – The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered the immediate posting of a new Commissioner of Police, CP Echeng Eworo Echeng to Anambra State. Echeng, takes over from CP Tony Olofu who has been redeployed to the Force Headquarters, Abuja. Killings and destruction of public property had gone to an all-time high within the one month Olofu had lasted as Anambra Police Commissioner, raising questions on his capabilities to arrest the situation. A statement on by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said the IGP has also ordered the deployment of a detachment of Police Special Forces…
