Awka – Following reports of growing incidences of touting, extortion and illegal revenue collection on the streets of major cities of Anambra, the state government has announced ban on all forms of road revenue collection with immediate effect. Recent weeks have witnessed serious increase in the menace of gangs of people, who pretend to be agents of the State Government, demanding and collecting money on the road from mostly travellers in cities and towns, especially Onitsha, Obosi, Nnewi, Amansea, Ogidi, Nkpor, among others. Their illegal, violent and brazen activities have resulted in serious security breaches and harassment of law-abiding citizens,…
Author: Kenechukwu Ofomah
A High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, is to deliver judgement in the trial of the case of murder of a Jumia delivery agent on 15th of February next year. The Presiding Judge, Justice Chigozie Igwe adjourned the matter after lawyers from the prosecuting and defence sides, argued on the point of law and adopted their written addresses in court on Monday. The lifeless body of late Chukwuma Eleji, the Jumia delivery agent, was found in a septic tank in Port Harcourt on March 27th, 2017. He was said to be delivering two iPhones to some customers, who…
Awka – Anambra Civil Society Network (ACSONET) a platform for Citizens and Non State Actors in Anambra State has called for a stop to the call for renewed ENDSARS protests across the country. The call was in reaction to an online release, saying the second phase of the ENDSARS protest will commence on Monday, 7th of December, 2020. The social media release also contained palpable incitement of Nigerian citizens to embark on nationwide protests with threats of violence and mayhem. Bu while speaking with TNC Correspondent on Monday, Prince Chris Azor, ACSONET Chairman, enjoined all peace and development loving citizens in…
Awka – With Christmas less than 3 weeks away, Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano has asked traders in the state to be more cautious and observe all the coronavirus protocols to ensure that figures do not escalate during the Christmas and new year period. Obiano gave the warning on Monday at the conference Hall of the SSG, Government House, Awka during a meeting between the State Government and market leaders. Markets across the state had been shut as parts of efforts to flatten the curve of the virus during the first wave, and with the second wave of the virus at…
Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), has described as ridiculous and lame, claims by suspected attackers of the church belonging to the father of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike. The suspected attackers reportedly claimed they were contacted by IPOB to carry out the attack so as to gain recognition. The group which had earlier denied responsibility for the attack, alleged that the claims were sponsored by security agencies. In a statement issued by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB wondered what recognition a global movement with presence in over 100 countries would looking for. It noted that the…
Disbursement of cash sum of 50,000 each to 50 market women from various communities in Dunukofia Local Government Area on Friday commenced at Nkwo Market, Ifitedunu. The initiative which came from the Director General of Anambra State Youths Mobilisation and Technology Innovation, Engr. Emeka Okonkwo, is expected to provide financial support to the rural women for trading activities. The disbursement which will be done in batches, is tagged ‘Konti Ember Trade Money 2020’. Okonkwo who was the immediate past Chairman of Dunukofia Council Area while speaking at the mini cash presentation ceremony that held at Nkwo market, Ifitedunu today, explained…
The Joint National Association Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Anambra State Chapter, has expressed disappointment with the State Government over its failure to establish the Disability Rights Commission in Anambra State. The Association expressed their disappointment during a media chat with newsmen in Awka to mark the 2020 International Day of Persons with Disability. International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which is commemorated every 3rd of November, is set aside and promoted by the United Nations since 1992, with the aim of encouraging a better understanding of people affected by disability, helping to make people more aware of the…
Following the deregulation of Petroleum products like the AGO, PMS and others and the attendant increase in pump prices of these products, the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources is looking for a way to increase the availability of natural gas in the country for private and public use which experts say is more economical, safer and eco friendly. To achieve this, the Federal Government of Nigeria led by the President, Muhammadu Buhari on 1st of December, launched the National Auto-Gas Scheme in Abuja, aimed at encouraging people to increase the use of gas in the country. That was after the…
Officers and men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), in Anambra State, have been charged to redouble their efforts in intelligence gathering to effectively combat insecurity. The newly deployed Commander, Zone K of NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General Raji Ibrahim, gave the directive on Wednesday, during the decoration of recently promoted officers of NSCDC, Anambra State Command yesterday in Awka. The newly created Zone K of NSCDC with headquarters in Awka, comprises Anambra and Enugu states. The two states in the South-East geo-political zone was initially under Zone G with headquarters in Benin, while the remaining Ebonyi, Abia…
Over N17million was on Wednesday handed over by Azia community in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra state to the local vigilante towards tackling security in the area. The community also provided a patrol vehicle, 7 motorcycles and 7 walkie talkies, while Deputy Speaker of State House of Assembly, Hon. Paschal Agbodike and Chairman of the occasion, Eurial Chukwubundum donated N1 million each. Presenting the cash and equipment during inauguration of Azia Unit of Anambra Vigilante Group, AVG, President-General of Azia Town Union, Dr. Nwabueze Tonna explained that the move was to revitalize the community’s security architecture. “It is the…
A six-year-old girl simply identified as Amanda, who was severely abused by her 39-year old foster mother, one Mrs Agatha Uba, has been rescued by the Anambra State Government. The rescue operation was carried out on Wednesday by the State Ministry of Social Development, Women and Children Affairs, at Abagana in Njikoka Council Area of Anambra State, where the victim was residing with the suspect. The rescue followed complaints by concerned citizens who reported the maltreatment, starvation and abuse of the young girl at Child Development department of the ministry. TNC gathered that Mrs Agatha, a petty trader from Imo…
Indigenes of Ndiowu in Orumba North Council Area of Anambra state on Monday besieged the State Government House in Awka in protest over what they called ‘hijack of the community and undue exploitation of the people’ by some cabals in the community. The protesters also bore placards bearing various inscriptions that indicted the Deputy majority leader of the State House of Assembly, Hon Emeka Aforka of embezzlement, high-handedness and imposition of leadership on the community. They proceeded from the government house down to the State House of Assembly Complex, Awka, chanting protest songs and calling on the state government to…
Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ASPHCDA) has kicked off Sub-National Immunisation Plus Days (SIPDs), in collaboration with partner agencies in the state. The event, commenced from November 28 to end on December 1. On Monday, health workers were seen at designated places, administering Oral Polio Vaccines to children, although very poor turnout was witnessed in some areas visited. The places include Public Health Facilities, Churches, Mosque, Markets, Schools, Motor Parks, Village Squares among others. It will be recalled that the World Health Organisation had on the 25th of August, certified Nigeria as ‘Polio free’. Speaking with TNC Correspondent, the…
The Federal Road Safety Corps says it will carry out robust traffic management and control activities at places with heavy vehicular movements to ease traffic across parts of Anambra State this Christmas season. The State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Andrew Kumapayi disclosed this in an exclusive interview with TNC correspondent in Awka on their Ember Months preparations. Parts of Anambra State such as Bridgehead, Upper Iweka area, Owerri Road axis all in Onitsha, as well as other cities like Ekwulobia, Awka and Nnewi, are known for heavy gridlock during festive periods. This is largely as a result of an…
A heavy explosion at a Mechanic Workshop at New Road Toll Gate Ogbunike, in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, on Saturday resulted in the death of a male adult, identified as Richard. The explosion, according to a motor mechanic whose workshop is close-by who preferred not to be mentioned, was heard at about 2:30pm. “When we ran out, after the noise had died down, we saw Richard burnt severely by the explosion. We then contacted people around who helped us take him to the hospital,” he said. Confirming the incident, the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer,…
Anambra State Government has said it may not be able to construct the earlier proposed sporting arena in all 181 communities of the state due to what it called current realities. Governor Willie Obiano had in the 2020 budget, proposed the sum of five million naira for each community in the state, for the initiative, aimed at developing grassroots sports. However, while speaking with TNC correspondent in Awka on Saturday, the Chairman, Anambra State Sports Development Commission, Tony Oli revealed that the State Government’s initial plan to construct sporting arena in every community to complement the State’s stadia has been…
No fewer than 80 people lost their lives through road accidents within Enugu State between January and October this year says a top official of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). The Sector Commander of FRSC Enugu State Command, Mr Kalu Ogbonnaya, revealed this at the flag-off of the “FRSC 2020 Ember Months Safety Campaign in Enugu State’’ in Enugu on Thursday. Ogbonnaya also said that from January to October, 2020; 93 Road Traffic Crashes (RTC) had been recorded out of which 688 people were injured. According to him, in Enugu State in 2019; there were 171 cases of RTC out…
The Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) says that the renewed partnership with the Nigerian Police will help to increase its level of enforcement activities in the country. The Director-General of SON, Mallam Farouk Salim, made this known on Wednesday when he paid a courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mr Ahmad Abdurrahman, in Enugu. Salim said the existing cooperation between the Agency and the police had lasted for over 50 years, adding that the time has come to re-enforce the partnership for the greater benefit of the country in checking sub-standard goods. He noted that with…
Bayelsa State Police Command says it has identified and taken into custody the patrol team allegedly responsible for the unprovoked attack on innocent women at the Tombia-Etegwe roundabout, Yenagoa. The unfortunate incident occurred at the popular Tombia-Etegwe roundabout on 24 November, 2020, when the patrol team was stuck in a traffic gridlock and one of the Police officers in a bid to clear the gridlock accidentally fired a shot and the bullet injured three women. The victims, Alice Azaghene aged 17 years, Mrs Ebinipiri Onojamadu aged 46 years, and Madufuro Blessing aged 32 years, were taken to a Hospital in…
The earlier postponed meeting between Leaders of the South-South geopolitical zone and the Nigerian Government delegation, on Tuesday eventually happened, with the zone calling for restructuring, true federalism and devolution of powers to the federating zones in Nigeria. The consultative meeting involved a Federal Government delegation led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari and governors, ministers and other stakeholders from the South-South region and took place at Government House, Port Harcourt. Presenting the region’s demands, the Chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum and Governor of Delta, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, maintained that the nation was not…
Awka – The immediate past President and Group Chief Executive Officer of Transcorps Plc, Valentine Ozigbo has revealed that he resigned from his leading role in the company to dedicate his life to public service. Ozigbo, who is a leading governorship aspirant in the forthcoming Anambra State elections, was speaking after he bagged the Outstanding Achievement in Transformational Leadership Award at the 2020 edition of the People of the Year Awards. The Award is an annual event organized by Business Hallmark Group, publishers of Hallmark Newspapers, where awards are given to individuals who have exhibited uncommon enterprise, leadership, and excellence.…
Awka – The Anambra State Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr Andrew Kumakpayi has thrown his weight behind the forthcoming Anambra football Kiddies Camp with Maureen Mmadu. Kumapayi while receiving the initiator of the project, Ambassador Maureen Mmadu in his office in Awka, said the project being the first of its kind, deserves all the support it can get to ensure it turns out successful. The project is a football talent hunt for young girls aged between 10 and 15, with the aim of building capacity in female football and reviving their interest in the game. The talent…
Awka – A middle-aged woman has died following serious injuries sustained when she was knocked down by a hit and run driver on Tuesday at Onitsha. The incident occurred at about 9:20am today opposite Toronto Hospital, along Awka-Onitsha expressway. An eye witness said the vehicle whose number was not captured, had sped off immediately it knocked down the victim. “The vehicle was on top speed and fled after knocking down the victim. We could not identify the vehicle because everything happened in a flash,” the source told TNC correspondent. Confirming the accident, the Acting Public Education Officer of the Federal…
Awka – Nigerian Civil war veteran, Retired Colonel Emmanuel Nworah Nwobosi is dead. Nwobosi died in the early hours of Tuesday in his country home at Obosi in Idemili North Council Area of Anambra State, aged 81. The late Col Nwobosi, formally a Captain in the Nigerian Army, later became a Colonel in the Biafran Army. In the build up to the Nigerian Civil War in 1966, Nwobosi then a Captain in the Nigerian Army, alongside Major Emmanuel Ifeajuna, Major Chukwuemeka Kaduna Nzeogwu, Major Chris Anuforo, Major Adewale Ademoyega, Major Timothy Onwuatuegwu, Major Humphrey Chuwuka, Captain Ben Gbulie, Captain Donatus…
Awka – A Civil Society Organization, Human Rights, Liberty Access and Peace Defenders’ Foundation (HURIDE), has called for the immediate fishing out of the soldiers who shot and killed an Anambra citizen, Anulika Nweke and injured four others during the #EndSARS protest in Anambra State. Anwulika, who is from Umuzocha Village, Awka, Anambra State, was said to have been shot dead on the 24th of October, when some youths invaded a warehouse housing COVID-19 palliatives at Agu Awka. Her sister, Uchenna Nweke, who was with her on the same day, had also sustained serious injury wounds on her back and…
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu, on Monday approved the promotion of Eighty-Two Thousand, Seven Hundred and Seventy Nine Junior Police Officers to their next ranks. In the promotion details made available today to newsmen by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, 56,779 Sergeants were promoted to Inspector cadre, 17,569 Corporal to Sergeants and 8,431 Constables to Corporal. The statement said the promotion is part of the on-going efforts at boosting the morale of police personnel and repositioning the Force for greater efficiency. “Those promoted also include 86 junior officers negatively impacted by the ENDSARS riots – 16…
Awka – There is palpable tension at Satelite Top Estate, Umunya in Oyi Council Area of Anambra State, over what residents tagged unprovoked blockage of the access roads and entrances to their residential buildings by the Traditional Ruler of the community, Igwe Chris Onyekwuluje. The residents are beckoning on the Anambra State Government to intervene in the matter and save them from the hands of their oppressor. TNC correspondent who visited the estate on Monday revealed that most of the residents could not access their buildings due to heaps of sand, allegedly dumped by the traditional ruler at the entrance of…
Many persons have allegedly died in a ghastly motor accident at Nkwere junction, along Onitsha-Awka expressway, Anambra state. The accident which occurred at about 5pm on Sunday, involved a mini bus and a tanker. A witness said bodies of the victims were littered on the road. “There was a fatal accident at Nkwere (33) involving a minibus and a tanker. Many lives were lost,” he said. The Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Andrew Kumapayi confirmed the incident. He said, “A fatal crash involving a bus belonging to CDO transport Company just occurred this evening, 22nd November, 2020 at…
The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to completing the second Niger Bridge Project, by February 2022. The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola stated this on Friday during a town hall meeting with Anambra and Delta state governments on the construction of the main works and associated infrastructures of the second Niger Bridge. The Second Niger bridge, started by former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, is 1.6 km long and furnished with other ancillary infrastructure including a 10.3 km highway, Owerri interchange and a toll station, expected to be completed in the year 2022. The bridge, being constructed across…
Awka – The Federal Government of Nigeria, on Friday, inaugurated a Cassava Processing Plant in Uli, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State. The project was executed in partnership with Anambra State Government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD); Assisted Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP). At the ceremony, the State Programme Coordinator of the IFAD, Assisted Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP), Mr Nnamdi Emmanuel Agwuncha, noted that the project was justified based on the role Uli Community is playing in the production of cassava. This plan, according to him, would further help the youths and women to become…
