NIGERIAN NOTCH

A group, Concerned Anambra Citizens, CAC, has frowned at the ugly developments happening in the revenue generating sector of the state, where intimidation, frame-up  and sheer propaganda have come to the fore  in order to frustrate the efforts of Bigly Oil and Gas Services, one of the frontline Revenue Partners of the government. The past couple of days have been challenging for the Bigly revenue collection team, following orchestrated intimidation, by a team led by Mr. Christian Madubuko, who has been employing all illegitimate means of restraining the activities of the Bigly Oil and Gas team, authorised by the state government as Revenue Partners in a letter signed by Greg Ezeilo, the Chairman /CEO of the Anambra Internal Revenue Service, AIRS on September 1, 2023. In a statement signed by the group’s President, Obi Mbamalu, it alleged that Christian Madubuko, who is an insider at the AIRS in order to protect the interest of the company he is fronting for, has be...

—Says Sam Daddy It’s Only Using ₦4.3B FG Intervention Funds On Ekemele To Buy Supporters.  The governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Imo state for the November 11 governorship election in the state, Sen. Athan Achonu has mocked the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu (Sam Daddy) over their recent claims that 4385 members of Labour Party and Obidents have defected to the PDP to support the party’s governorship ambition. Reacting to the claims Sen. Achonu who confided to his aide on campaign matters said that the fair skinned former Senator and his party the PDP have taken their jokes to a different laughable dimension as he insisted that no member of the Obidents movement and labour party ever joined Sen. Anyanwu and PDP on their governorship ambition which he described as a joke. He said that no genuine Obident or LP member can defect to the PDP as he noted that the few people who are less than 100 people were those imported...

The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, CON has expressed shock and sadness over the death of Alhaji Tijani Adeyemi, who was the Senate Correspondent of Tribune Newspapers. In a statement issued on Thursday, October 5, 2023, through his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Hon Eseme Eyiboh, the Senate President lamented that Adeyemi’s death had robbed the nation of one of the richest handlers of the institution memory of the National Assembly. Quoting from a letter to the widow, Alhaja Mamunat Adeyemi, he said: “Though your husband and I were not particularly close, but my information is that he was a very peaceable and gentle in all his dealings. “To his colleagues, he was a very diligent journalist whose assiduous dedication to duty made him one of the most established journalists in the National Assembly. “I am informed that he qualifies to be so described as the doyen of the National Assembly Press Corp, having covered the Fourth National Assembly from a...

The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC), in keeping with its customer education and safety awareness initiative, today visited Government Secondary School, Enugu. The visit is in continuation of its activities for this year’s Customer Service Week (CSW). During the visit, the students and their teachers were educated on the electricity value chain, the dynamics of electricity distribution, and their role as customers in ensuring that the sector is sustainable. The Head, Customer Service, EEDC, Mrs. Ijeoma Ogudebe, who led the team on the visit said that their choice of targeting schools is basically to catch the students at their early formative stage and consciously instill in them important information that they need to know about electricity and its usage. She affirmed that most of the challenges being experienced in the electricity sector today can be attributed to ignorance and lack of knowledge. The Head, Health Safety & Environment, EEDC, Dr. Franci...

The kidnapped Benue State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism,  Mathew Abo, regained his freedom on Thursday. Governor Hyacinth Alia, in a statement on Thursday by his Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo, said the commissioner had reunited with his family. Abo was abducted on September 24 by gunmen who invaded his house in Zaki-Biam. “We can confirm that the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism,  Hon. Matthew Abo, has regained freedom. He has since reunited with his family in Sankera, Ukum Local Government where he was abducted. “No ransom or any other monetary exchanges were involved in securing his release. Rather, his release was as a result of intense pressure on the criminals from the gallant security operatives who were acting on the directives of Gov. Hyacinth Alia, who had earlier given marching orders to them to ensure Mr Abo’s release,” the statement said. Alia warned criminals operating within the state to leave for good, insist...

…Urges Them To Support President Tinubu President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio,  has said that the local government areas are the foundation of democracy and any politician that ignores it, does so at his or her peril, explaining that councillors play an important role in the political system. He stated this on Thursday when he was invested as the Grand Patron of the National Councillors Forum of Nigeria in his office by the leadership of the Forum led by its chairman, Hon. Yusuf Shuaibu Babawapa. Akpabio told the Councillors that as leaders, who are closer to the people, their support was indispensable as they help those of them at the national level to take care of issues at the grassroots. The Senate President said he was delighted to be made the Grand Patron of the National Councillors Forum of Nigeria and pledged to work closely with them to put in place enduring laws for the development of the nation. According to him, “you are the people that are givin...

By Okechukwu Nwokoye Valentine Ozigbo, the Frontrunner in the Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) gubernatorial race and the immediate past President and Group CEO of Transcorp Plc pictured at a town hall event for PDP delegates he hosted early in June 2021 at Emmaus House, Awka AWKA, Anambra — In an unfolding situation that appears to be deeply entrenched in political undercurrents, Valentine Ozigbo, a key figure in Anambra State, has declined a prestigious chieftaincy title. Initially scheduled for October 7, 2023, at the Anaocha Local Government Headquarters, Mr. Ozigbo was to be honoured with the title of “Enyi Oma Anaocha” at the Anaocha Festival (ANAFEST 2023) However, reports suggest that the event has become a hotbed for political tensions, with some elements attempting to capitalise on the occasion for their agendas. *The Trent* reached out to the organisers on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, Hon. Dr. Tochukwu Obiadi, Secretary of ANAFEST 2023 and the Anambra State Yo...

Valentine Ozigbo has through Chief Dr. Tony Offiah on behalf of VCO Organisation refuted claims by some quarters that he rejected or declined to the proposed conferment of Chieftaincy title by Anaocha communities.  In a press release made available to newsmen in Awka, Chief Offia said "We wish to inform the general public and all esteemed stakeholders about a recent development concerning the planned chieftaincy for Mr. Valentine Ozigbo by the Anaocha communities. "We want to clarify that on September 18, 2023, Mr. Ozigbo received a formal invitation to accept the esteemed chieftaincy title of "Enyi Oma Anaocha." This invitation was extended following prior discussions with some of the organisers." He stressed that the prestigious honour was scheduled to be conferred upon him by the Anaocha Traditional Ruling Council and the respected people of Anaocha on Saturday, October 7, 2023, at the Anaocha Local Government Headquarters, Neni. But he said that...

Staff of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC) have been charged to raise their benchmark to newer levels and work as a team to deliver efficient and quality service to its customers, as that is the only way customer affection can be achieved. This charge was made by the Managing Director/CEO, EEDC, Mr. Praveen Chorghade, while flagging off this year’s Customer Service Week (CSW), at the company’s corporate head office, in Enugu on Tuesday. CSW is a global event celebrated annually by service-oriented organizations. It provides them with an opportunity to celebrate their customers. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Team Service.” While delivering his remarks, Mr. Chorghade emphasized the importance of teamwork in every organization and the need for staff of the company to work together to deliver effective and quality service to customers. “As we celebrate this year’s Customer Service Week, let us raise our benchmark to newer levels and support each ...

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has rejoiced with Lieutenant General Alani Akinrinade (rtd.) on the occasion of his 84th birthday. Senator Akpabio, in a message endorsed by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh,  described Akinrinade as an enduring icon in the struggle to keep Nigeria one. Noting Akinrinade’s role in keeping Nigeria as a nation bound in Unity, Faith , Peace and Progress, he said: “Your patriotism is seen in the heroic role you played in the fight for Nigeria to remain an indivisible nation. You did not, like some, walk away from the line of battle, but made the personal sacrifice in the quest to keep the fabrics of our statehood.” Recalling Akinrinade’s exemplary role as Chief of Defence Staff in subjugating the military class to civil rule during the Second Republic, Akpabio noted, “Your role as Nigeria’s number one soldier in espousing the doctrine of the subjugation of the military class to civil authorities is on...

Mr. Joseph Aloba, father of late Nigerian rapper, Ilerioluwa Olademeji Aloba, aka Mohbad, has demanded a DNA test on his grandson. Recall that Nigerians have been torn apart over calls for a DNA test on the late singer’s son, Liam, to ascertain his true paternity. While some are of the opinion that it was important to conduct a DNA test on the late singer’s son in the wake of allegations that his wife cheated on him, others argued that the calls for a DNA test on Mohbad’s five-month-old son were “insensitive.” However, speaking in a recent interview with BBC Pidgin, Mohbad’s father said a DNA test should be conducted on his grandson, stressing that it has become a global concern. He said, “This thing has become a majority thing, not only in Nigeria. So they should do the proper thing at the proper time.”

By Declan Emelumba CYNICISM is an age-long bane of the human race, but it is often the trademark of those described by the holy book as "men of little faith." In ordinary parlance, it could be the apt definition for "men who are bereft of vision and insight." Either way, it leads to the same end: such people are often thrown away by the prospect of new ideas, particularly the ones that jolt or beat human imagination. In my days as a student of political science, one of my lecturers in foreign policy repeatedly urged us to always think of the “unthinkable”. At the time, it sounded weird, but because he kept harping on it during his lectures, it dawned on me and my classmates that the lecturer made a lot of sense. When you think of the unthinkable, nothing will shock you. Thinking of the unthinkable is actually another way of dreaming big, beyond human imagination. It is about the power of positive thinking, which can shatter all barriers to progress. This...

Organised Labour last night suspended its planned nationwide strike for one month following an agreement with the Federal Government. Though details of the Memorandum of Understanding suspending the strike, were sketchy at the time of this report, the agreement, Vanguard gathered, was reached very late at night. The meeting was reconvened yesterday for both government and labour to find common ground and avert the planned strike by organized labour to force the government to address the suffering and pains of Nigerians, occasioned by the petrol subsidy removal. Earlier yesterday, the National Executive Council, NEC, of NLC and its TUC’s counterpart, had met separately to review Sunday’s meeting with the Federal Government’s offers. Vanguard gathered that at the end of the separate NEC meeting, leaders of NLC and TUC set up a committee to harmonise their resolutions to arrive at common ground. According to the sources, the joint resolution of NLC and TUC was presented to the...

Officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) will meet today to consider the offers made by the federal government during intensive discussions between both parties in the ongoing dispute arising from the removal of the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), it was learnt last night. During a meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday, several agreements were reached. Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has approved N35,000 provisional wage award for all treasury-paid federal government workers for six months, following further consultations with the government delegation that met with the leadership of NLC) and TUC) earlier on Sunday. It would be recalled that at the meeting between both parties, the federal government pledged its commitment to expediting the deployment of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to alleviate the public transportation challenges triggered by the removal of the PMS subsidy. There is also funding sup...

As per the commitment made to reduce prices and following a periodic review of its opera- tions for efficiency, the man- agement of BUA Cement Plc has announced that effective October 2, 2023, it has decid- ed to bring the price reduction forward. As a result, BUA Cement would now be sold at an ex-factory price of N3,500 per bag. The company in a statement said the essence is to allow Nigerians to enjoy the benefits of the price reduction before the completion of our plants. It said, “we refer to our previous pronouncements regarding our intent to reduce cement prices upon the com- pletion of our new lines at the end of the year in order to spur development in the building materials and infrastructure sectors. “Upon completion of the ongoing construction of our new plants, which would in- crease our production vol- umes to 17 million metric tonnes per annum, BUA Cement PLC intends to review these prices further in line with our earlier pronounce- ments by the first quarter ...

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has predicted that Nigeria will soon rise to become one of the strongest nations in the world, even as he called on all Nigerians to strive to love the country more and make it work for everyone.  These statements were contained in the governor's independence day message to Nigerians. According to the governor "The least we can do as Nigerians is to invest our faith in our country and pray fervently for her progress".  He added, "Therefore, as we celebrate this year's Independence anniversary, we should renew faith in Nigeria. We must remain confident that this blessed country will ultimately become a great nation. I foresee a Nigeria that will sooner rather than later rise above the challenges that currently impede her march to a virile and prosperous nation.  I see in the nearest future a new Nigeria that is the bastion of democracy where the expectations of the majority will be met, where justice and equity shall...