Onitsha – Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano and his Commissioner for Commerce, Market and Wealth Creation, Chief Uchenna Okafor, have been urged to immediately dissolve the Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA) Caretaker Committee and restore democracy in Anambra markets. The Anambra State Traders’ Forum (ATF), which made the call in Onitsha on Thursday, lamented the increasing undemocratic culture in the State under Obiano’s administration. The State Government had in 2019, stopped the election being organised by Amalgamated Market Traders of Anambra State (AMATAS) to replace Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo, the AMATAS former President-General, who is now representing Orumba North and…
Author: Kenechukwu Ofomah
Awka – The Traditional Ruler of Umuchukwu Community in Orumba South Council Area of Anambra State, Igwe Kenneth Maduka, has said he is willing to sheathe his sword and make peace with members of his community whom he alleged, had taken extreme actions against him and the community. Igwe Maduka was responding to a recent protest embarked on at the State Government house in Awka, by women of Nkerehi otherwise known as Umuchukwu Community on Wednesday. The women protested over what they described as harassment, intimidation and assault on them by the traditional ruler of the town, Igwe Kenneth Maduka and…
Awka – The Bauchi State Police Command investigations into a viral video of a torture scene where some group of young ladies in their late teens and early twenties were being tortured by some gang of boys, has revealed that the incident was the outcome of a fight between two girls over a boyfriend. The video released on the 8th February 14, 2021, showed the syndicate gang confining the group of captured ladies, numbering about ten of them, to an uncompleted building as they brutally and oppressively beat the girls with intensive strokes of the whip. The girls were further disgraced…
Awka – The Federal Government should de-emphasize the unilateral policy it has adopted for housing development across all the states of the Federation. This is because some states unlike the others, do not have the luxury of massive land mass, and has the need to maximize the use of their lands. The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Anambra State Housing Development Corporation, Architect Willie Okafor made the appeal on Monday in Awka while reacting to issues of housing deficit experienced in the state raised by citizens and the government’ seeming silence over the issue. Statistics show that Anambra is the…
Awka – The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State has debunked rumours of hijack of its ongoing revalidation and registration exercise by some politicians within the party. Over the past week, some APC Governorship aspirants had raised alarm that former Senator Andy Uba, who also aspires to the seat of the State helmsman, had hijacked the exercise to gain upper hand during the party’s Governorship primaries, scheduled for later this year. There were also reported cases of issues with the ongoing exercise in Orumba North, Onitsha North and Oyi Local Government Areas of the State. But while speaking with TNC…
Awka – Anambra state government through the state Covid-19 Protocols Taskforce is currently arresting people who flout Covid-19 safety laws in Awka and environs. The exercise is in line with the efforts of the Anambra state government to curtail the spread of coronavirus in the state. The team commenced the exercise at Dr Alex Ekwueme square in Awka, through Arroma junction, Unizik junction, Kwata Roundabout, Amawbia junction, before proceeding to Onitsha, where they arrested over one hundred persons who were not putting on their facemasks. The taskforce led by the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Obiano on Legal Matters, Barrister Chika…
Awka – The Vice-Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2019 elections, Mr. Peter Obi, has eulogized the newly-elected Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, describing her emergence as historic. By her selection, Okonjo-Iweala becomes the First Female and First African WTO Director-General. Okonjo’s term which is renewable, is scheduled to start on March 1 and will expire on August 31, 2025. In a Congratulatory Message made available to TNC correspondent, Obi, who had earlier drummed support for Okonjo-Iweala’s candidacy, expressed delight at her emergence, saying she has always been known to shine brilliantly…
Portharcourt – A High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has sentenced a young man to death by hanging for the murder of a delivery agent with an online marketing store, Jumia, in March 2017. The convict, Mr. Sodienye Mbatumukeke was arrested alongside his friends, Mr. Divine Excel Naabe and Miss Joy Eluwa for the murder of the delivery agent, Chukwuma Eleji. The lifeless body of late Eleji, the Jumia delivery agent, was found in a septic tank in an apartment on Ada-George Road in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State on March 27, 2017. He was said to…
Nnewi – Contrary to his mother’s political inclination, Chief Ben Etiaba, son of former Anambra State Governor and first Female Governor in Nigeria, Dame Virgie Etiaba, is gearing to contest the Anambra 2021 Governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Ben Etiaba on Monday took a major step towards the contest with the revalidation of his membership of the APC, at Obi Ezeonu Polling Centre in Nnewi in his Umudim Ward 1 Nnewi home, during the ongoing APC Membership Registration and Revalidation Centre. Dame Virgie who became governor of Anambra State on the platform of the All…
Awka – The Executive Secretary of Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, (ASPHCDA), Dr Chioma Ezenyimulu says the challenge of Primary Health Centres across the state, running out of stock for drugs, has become a thing of the past since Governor Willie Obiano established the Agency in 2015. Dr. Ezenyimulu disclosed this on Sunday in an exclusive chat with TNC correspondent, in Awka. The ASPHCDA, is an agency of the state government charged with overseeing the activities of the over 326 Primary Health Centres in Anambra State. Prior to its establishment, the management of the PHCs were done by the Health…
Awka – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra state has called for the immediate arrest of the Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C.Don Adinuba and an aide to the State Governor, Evangelist Chinedu Obigwe. The call for the arrest of the duo, was following their utterances on the violence that ensued during a ‘Walk 4Health’ program, organized in Nnewi earlier this month, by an aspirant of the PDP, Valentine Ozigbo. Adinuba in a press statement, had accused the PDP of haaving a trademark of violence, chronicling the series of violence suffered by the state during its reign…
Awka – Five youth representatives in the Anambra State Judicial Panel of Inquiry into the Allegations of Extrajudicial Killings By The Defunct SARS, Police Brutality and Other Public Complaints Against The Nigerian Police, on Sunday, tendered their resignation from the Panel. The panel members included the registrar, Chijioke Ifediora, Henry Chibuike Ugwu, Osonwa Chukwuka, Comrade Ebelechukwu Ngini and Kas Chibuike Obiwuzie. They are accusing Anambra State Government of not providing the required logistics for the panel to undertake their assignment which hinges on bringing succor to victims of human rights violation by the Police in the state. The Panel had commenced…
Awka – The Lagos State Police Command says it has instituted an immediate investigation into the molestation of protesters arrested on Saturday during the renewed EndSARS protest at the Lekki tollgate. A viral video had shown some of the protesters, including popular comedian, Mr Macaroni, being roughhandled by police operatives. Reacting to the development in a statement on Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer in Lagos State, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the State Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, was piqued by the unprofessional and inhuman act by the operatives. “The attention of the Lagos State Police Command has been drawn to…
Umuahia – A Rights Group, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has petitioned the Commissioner of Police, Abia State Police Command, Janet Agbede, over the unlawful detention of one Victor Ogbonna at the Central Police Station, CPS Umuahia over a civil dispute, and denial of the detainee’s due process safeguards including access to his lawyer. TNC gathered that some police officers attached to the Anti-kidnapping Unit of the Abia State Police Command, led by one Inspector Sylvester Ike, came to Lagos in the early hours of Wednesday and arrested the said Ogbonna. Ogbonna was taken to Ifako Police Station…
Awka – Awa community in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State has elected a front line philanthropist, Chief Israel Okeke Ezue as its traditional Ruler. The election which took place on Saturday, at the Community’s Market square, saw Chief Israel Ezue, garner a total of 584 votes, to beat his closest rival, Chief Mmaduabuchi Chikwendu, who got 48 votes. In third place was Chidiebere Nwankwo, with 27 votes. The election was observed by officers and men of the Nigeria police Command from Zone 13 and the Department of State Security, DSS. TNC correspondent in Anambra gathered that all 12…
Awka – Awka, Anambra State Capital, will today play host to top Nigerian Business leaders and Executives who will be turning up for the second edition of the Stanel Youth Empowerment Masterclass, titled ‘Access More With Stanel’ scheduled to commence on Friday. Among the big names expected to grace the Masterclass are former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, former presidential candidate and founder, Centre for Value in Leadership (CVL), Prof Pat Utomi, frontline traditional ruler of Onitsha, Obi Nnaemeka Achebe and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Chief Allen Onyema. Others are the Senator representing…
Awka – A two-time governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has hit back at state governors for not assuming responsibility by rising to the challenge of addressing insecurity in their various states. Uzor-Kalu expressed the view on Thursday in Awka, after he inspected facilities at Stanel World, a business consortium established in Awka, Anambra State Capital by a youth entrepreneur, Chief Stanley Uzochukwu. Recently, the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Orthom had accused President Muhammadu Buhari of shielding the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association leadership who he accused of perpetrating the numerous killings of farmers in his state. Across…
Awka – A baboon kept at the Centre for Psychic Healing and Administration in Awka has escaped custody from the facility and inflicted injuries on a 13-year-old girl, one Chekwube Ositadinma. TNC correspondent in Anambra who visited the area, reports that the baboon escaped from the cage where it was kept at the healing home on Wednesday morning and had since then been missing. It was also gathered that the victim who lives in the neighbourhood, was on the same day, moving within the area when the anima pounced on her, inflicting deep wounds on her legs. She was however…
Ukpo – As part of efforts at garnering stakeholders’ support towards the fight against fake and substandard drugs, the Executive council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria {PSN} Anambra State chapter, on Thursday, visited the Assistant Inspector General of Police in-charge of the Zone-13, Anambra State, AIG Hafiz Mohammed Inuwa. The executive committee of the group was led on the visit by the President, Pharmacist Josephat Obasi In his address, Pharm Obasi explained that the visit was to identify with the new AIG and express their satisfaction over the manner in which the Zone had always carried on with its activities since…
Awka – Anambra state government has suspended the 9pm to 6am curfew, one of the measures introduced to check the spread of Covid-19 in the state. The midnight curfew had commenced on Monday, 8th of February, 2021, with night clubs and bars, mostly affected. In a release made available to TNC on Thursday, the Secretary to Anambra State government, Professor Solo Chukwulobelu revealed that the state COVID-19 Task Force had reported an increase in the observance of COVID-19 preventive guidelines in the state, hence the decision to suspend the curfew. He said Governor Willie Obiano has directed the suspension of the curfew…
Awka – The Senate has approved the restoration of Ethiope West State Constituency (1) in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State from the present Ethiope West State Constituency. This followed the adoption of a motion by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, at Wednesday’s plenary. The development comes two months after the Senate approved the restoration of Abraka State Constituency in Ethiope East Local Government Area from the present Ethiope East State Constituency. In his lead debate, the Delta Central lawmaker urged the upper legislative chamber to approve the restoration of the constituency in compliance with…
Awka – Nkpor Community in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State was on Wednesday was thrown into mourning as three young men were shot dead in broad daylight by unknown gunmen. The incident took place at about 1.30pm, after the inauguration of Nkpor Community tax force at the Civic Centre Eke Nkpor. TNC correspondent gathered that the victims are thirty-two-year-old Izuchukwu Idemili and thirty-one-year-old Chidi Oforma both from Nkpor as well as forty-five-year-old Bongo Muoghalu of Umuoji all in Idemili North Council Area of the state. A source claimed that the incident took place when two unknown boys drove…
Awka – The Community Newspaper Publishers Association of Nigeria, CONPAN, has lauded the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) in its resolve to address open grazing by Fulani herdsmen, which it said is a major cause of herders/farmers clash across the country. The Northern States Governors Forum at an emergency virtual meeting on Monday, to discuss issues affecting the region and the nation in general, had noted with concern, the tension generated by the eviction order issued to herdsmen in some parts of the country and condemned every form of criminality whether from herders, hunters, or farmers occupying forest reserves illegally. The…
Awka – A nineteen-year-old boy, Okafor Stanley, has been arrested by the Anambra State Police Command for allegedly robbing a commercial tricycle at gunpoint in Awka, Anambra State Capital. The 19-year old who is from Ezeawulu village, Nibo in Awka South LGA of Anambra State, was arrested alongside his friend, 21-year old from Ifite Village Awkuzu in Oyi LGA. They were said to have allegedly attacked and snatched at gunpoint, a tricycle from a Keke rider at Ziks Avenue, Awka on Tuesday at about 8pm. The State Police Public Relations Officer, Haruna Mohammed in a statement on Wednesday, said “in furtherance…
Nnewi – Following the shutdown Monday, of Agbo-Edo New Motor Spare Parts Market Nnewi, due to non-compliance with Covid-19 safety and preventive protocols put in place to forestall the spread of the virus in the State, the market leaders have appealed to Anambra government for leniency. A statement from the government on Saturday, signed by the state Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Chief Uchenna Okafor, had ordered the closure of the market for one week, starting from Monday, 8th February, 2021. The statement had cited brazen disregard of the COVID safety protocols by the traders and customers as the reason for…
Awka – Anambra State Government has warned people of the state over what it called return to gangster politics in the state, being perpetrated by the opposition, Peoples Democratic Party PDP. The State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C-Don Adinuba gave the warning on Tuesday, on the heels of weekend’s violent attack on a walk-for-health event organized by a PDP aspirant to the governorship position, Valentine Ozigbo. The incident which happened on Saturday saw some thugs invade the Nnewi venue of the exercise and destroyed materials and structures put up for the purpose of the health walk. Although some of…
Awka – Authorities of the Nigeria Police Force has described as untrue, unfounded, defamatory and libelous, the publication by Sahara Reporters, which alleged that the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu, paid over 2 Billion Naira for the tenure extension. The said publication was made by the media outlet on the 7th of February 2021. Reacting to the publication, the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba said the Force wishes to state categorically that the extension of service of the IGP was strictly the prerogative of the President and was never paid for as reported in the publication. “The insinuations also…
Nnewi – An invasion of unknown thugs and the resultant destruction of property and events materials for the programme, was not enough to stop the 3rd edition of the Valentine Chineto Ozigbo(VCO) Foundation Walk for Health, from taking place on Saturday in Nnewi, Anambra State. Very early in the morning, thugs had invaded St Andrews DCC Church, Nnewi, venue for take-off of the Walk and Medical Outreach sponsored by the Foundation, destroyed canopies and partially burned Red Carpet stands for the show. Sources who witness the attack said the assailants had threatened to burn down the event centre, had it not…
Enugu – A non governmental organization, the Northern Youth Progressive Forum (NYPF), has awarded Dr George Ugwu, Executive Secretary of Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ENS-PHCDA) with ` Garkuwar Matasan Arewa’ award. Garkuwar Matasan Arewa means Pillar of Hope to the Nigerian Youth. Unveiling the award on Sunday, the Vice President of NYPF, Mr Abdulmalik Jamil, said the forum, with active membership in 19 northern states and FCT, found Ugwu worthy of the award due to his leadership qualities in the health sector. According to Jamil, the NGO, which holds ideals of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, feels the award…
Awka – Anambra Government has introduced COVID-19 chain of survival strategies for early intervention in the handling of the virus so as to ensure low death rate. The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Vincent Okpala, disclosed this during the conclusion of a 2-day Refresher Training Course for private healthcare providers at Ministry’s Conference Hall, Awka. Dr Okpala attributed the deaths recorded so far in the state as a result of COVID19, to late presentation of cases by patients and diagnoses by health personnel, noting the need for early intervention strategy. He expressed concerns over the spike in the number of…
