NIGERIAN NOTCH

Birthday's are mostly times to remind us of our journey on earth and what we have accomplished. Today is a joyous day for Hon. Obinna Okechukwu, the former Chairman of NASPA, an APGA stakeholder and chieftain. As he marks his birthday,he sees it as a reflection of his life and a moment to reach out to the less privileged.  Ifechukwu kwulu na Nnewi, you have fought a good fight especially in your community, and NASPA. At NASPA you showed your capacity, through the development of so many projects that made the people happy. You showed leadership and the people enjoyed your stay. In your community you are a beacon of light as you have made impact on the lives of the young and old through your impactive leadership skills. As you celebrate your birthday today, we pray and hope that all your birthday wishes come true.  It's your special day, get out there and celebrate!” “Wishing you the biggest slice of happy today. We hope your celebration gives you many happy memorie...

.......emerges undisputed world heavyweight champion   Oleksandr Usyk did enough to earn a split decision victory in his fight with Tyson Fury on Sunday. Two judges scored in his favour – 115-113 and 114-113 with the other giving it to Fury at 114-113. Usyk’s victory is boxing’s first undisputed world heavyweight championship in 25 years, an unprecedented feat in the four-belt era. Britain’s Fury was the early aggressor but Usyk gradually took charge and the staggered “Gypsy King” was saved by the bell in the ninth round before recovering. Usyk was undisputed at cruiserweight and he is now undisputed at heavyweight. Tyson Fury who feels he won the fight says he is ready for a rematch in October. Usyk in reaction to the victory said: “Thank you so much to my team. It’s a big opportunity for my family, for me, for my country. It’s a great time, it’s a great day.  “Yes, of course. I am ready for a rematch.” The Ukranian joins the likes of Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis and M...

As a reconciliatory move regarding the action of one of its indigenes identified as Izuchukwu Ofojama, the President General of Nanka, Rev. Canon Ifeanyichukwu Ezeike, has totally condemned the act by Izuchukwu, who assaulted the staff of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) and damaged their vehicle while on official assignment in Enugwu-Nanka Community in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State on Saturday, the 11th of May, 2024. The President General, in company of Onyekwere Ofojama (brother to Izuchukwu Ofojama) were at the Ekwulobia District office of EEDC to appease the company on this ugly action by Izuchukwu who has been at large after the incident. In a viral video trending on the social media, Izuchukwu, who has been illegally consuming electricity without paying, could not present evidence of payment upon demand by the EEDC team. To this, the team moved to disconnect his premises which he resisted. When he was eventually disconnected, he...

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have finalised plans to form a confederation after turning their backs on former colonial ruler France to seek closer ties with Russia. Their foreign ministers met Friday in Niger’s capital Niamey to agree on a text establishing the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). “The objective was to finalise the draft text relating to the institutionalisation and operationalisation of the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)”, said Niger Foreign Minister Bakary Yaou Sangare as he read the final statement late Friday. He said the text would be adopted by the heads of state of the three countries at a summit, without specifying the date. “We can consider very clearly, today, that the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) has been born,” Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop said after meeting General Abdourahamane Tiani, the head of Nigerien military regime. The third foreign minister at the meeting was Burkina...

Manchester City stand on the brink of a historic fourth successive Premier League title, but Arsenal lie in wait hoping for a last-gasp slip from the leaders on Sunday. Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering team go into the final day of the season with a two-point lead over second-placed Arsenal thanks to an eight-game winning streak. City, who host West Ham knowing a win will seal the title, are hot favourites to set a new standard for dominance in English football. Arsenal, at home to Everton in their final game, have been near flawless themselves in 2024, with 15 wins and one draw, away to City, in 17 league matches. However, the Gunners’ costly 2-0 defeat against Aston Villa last month looks set to be decisive in a thrilling title race that also involved Liverpool until their recent stumbles. Not for the first time, City have been at their relentless best in the intense heat of the run-in. Guardiola’s men have dropped just six points since mid-December, in draws against Chelse...

There are indications that the Presidency may have given the green light for stakeholders to begin the search for a replacement of the All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje it was gathered from grapevine sources at the Villa. The Villa, which has been silent over Ganduje’s recent political travail, is said to have “commissioned” APC governors from the North Central geo-political zone to begin a search for a new chairman from the region as originally planned by the party. A top party source who craved anonymity on Friday said that besides the North Central zone producing the next chairman, the Villa might be open to allowing the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) camp within the party to produce Ganduje’s replacement as part of appeasement moves. It was further learnt that those opposed to Ganduje’s continued stay, including a serving senator who was former governor of a South South state, listed his perceived handling of the Edo and Ondo...

BY RAYMOND OZOJI, Awka  Comrade Kanu Victor Igboanugo, former Provost General Ajali Welfare Union Nigeria and APGA stronghold in Orumba-North Local Government Area of Anambra State, has declared that no matter the malignant tendencies and plots of anti-APGA agents to thwart the second term election of Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo in Ajali come 2025, the APGA stalwart has assured Soludo that contrary to the plans of anti-party agents, he will get 100% votes in Ajali.  Igboanugo who is the Group Chairman Terryvic Global Limited , said so long as Ajali ward one and two are in his domain, Soludo's victory in Ajali is already a done deal and that the anti-party activities of an insignificant few can not stop Governor Soludo from winning landslide in Ajali come 2025.  Speaking exclusively with this journalist, the business mogul noted that those plotting to sabotage APGA in Ajali do not have any electoral value and as such they should not be taken serious....

  * As Senate calls On Presidency To Champion Full Autonomy of Local Governments  The Nigerian Senate, Wednesday May 15, called on the president and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to, as a matter of urgency, halt the activities of state governors who engage in pilfering the funds designed for local governments. The resolution of the senate was sequel to a motion titled, "Call on the president and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to resuscitate the local government system in Nigeria". The motion was sponsored by Senator Suleiman Kawu, NNPP, Kano South. Senator Kawu said inter alia that “the Senate notes that in the tapestry of Nigeria’s governance system, local governments are meant to be threads weaving development close to the grassroots. Envisioned as the closest tier of administration to the people, they hold the potential to address local needs directly and shape communities from the inside out. But the ...

As part of its effort to develop the local automobile industry, the Federal Government is set to launch an auto-credit scheme to stimulate the development and growth of the automobile industry. Nigeria’s Minister for Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, made this known at a 3-day automobile conference themed “the West Africa Automotive Show (WAAS)” held at the Landmark Centre in Lagos on Tuesday. The Minister, who was represented by the Director General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr Joseph Osanipin, also expressed that the scheme is targeted at easing the acquisition of locally manufactured goods by Nigerians. She said, “There is no better time for this automotive conference than now. The time is right, as this is the time when the federal government is focusing more on the renewed hope agenda. In the last few months, the minister has been mentioning to us the steps the government is taking to stimulate the developme...

...RejectsTraditional Ruler  BY RAYMOND OZOJI, Awka  Indigenes of Ajali community in Orumba-North Local Government Area of Anambra State have threatened that Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo will lose his second term election in the area, if he doesn't withdraw the Certificate of Recognition given to one Augustine Nwangwu now parading and posing as traditional ruler of the community.  Indigenes of the community who granted an exclusive interview to this journalist on the kingship imbroglio in Ajali on Tuesday 14th May, categorically stated that there is no traditional ruler in Ajali yet because the one who is currently acting as the Eze of the community was not selected by Ogbako Ajali as it was done in 1920 when Nwosu Nwafor was selected and Nwosu Calistus was also selected in 1982 respectively.  They maintained that the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) will fail woefully in Ajali in the forthcoming governorship election if they continue with the ...

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has threatened to embark on another nationwide strike to protest absence of governing councils in all federal universities across the country among other issues the government is yet to address. The body which recalled that the federal government dissolved governing councils of the universities in May, last year, has asked Nigerians to hold the government responsible for any decision it takes to protest the action of government. President of ASUU,Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke,spoke at a press conference which is ongoing at ASUU national secretariat,Abuja. Details coming…

.....Asks Soludo to call Mr.Okwudili Okafor, Bishop Elochukwu to order Concerned Nnewi Drivers on the Nnewi, Ihiala route has called on the Anambra state government to come to their aid, over the double taxation, intimidation and extortion by Mr. Okwudili Okafor and one Elochukwu otherwise known as bishop, whom they said has made doing business on that route unbearable for them, because of the taxes they are collecting from them which is beyond what the government of the state stipulates.  In an exclusive chat with our correspondent in Nnewi, Anambra state, the concerned driver's led by Mr. Maxwell Onyeka said that Mr. Okwudili Okafor and Mr. Elochukwu has really made life unbearable for the drivers on that route, as it's always fighting galore on a daily basis. He said " it's unfortunate that after working for the whole day, they go back home empty, because of this extortion and intimidation, because what we pay on the route is much. The most annoying part...

According to Albert Einstein, "imagination is more important than knowledge". The above statement simply depicts the strength that Idea Bearers possess and the ultimate reason why they are usually the set of people who bring positive change to the world. Walt Disney, a pioneer of the American animation industry, has the following as his favourite quote: "If you can dream it, you can do it." Walt Disney's major accomplishments include producing the first synchronized sound cartoon, Steamboat Willie (1928); initiating the use of the three-colour process in animation for motion pictures; producing the first feature-length animated picture, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937); and creating the family theme park Disneyland... In Anambra state, the times are exciting, the crowd despite currently playing a losing match is watching with bated breath filled with anticipation as the Idea Bearer, a popular homeboy and human capacity developer par excellence ...

CP Nnaghe Obono Itam on Monday assumed office as Anambra State Police Command after the former, Mr Aderemi Adeoye retired on 1st of May 2024. CP Nnaghe Obono Itam is the 34th Commissioner of Police in Anambra State. In statement by spokesperson of the command SP Tochukwu Ikenga said that Anambra State Police Command is pleased to announce announce the assumption of duty by CP Nnaghe Obono Itam as the 34th Commissioner of Police of the Command. According to him,the Posting of CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, by the Inspector General of Police IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun followed the statutory retirement of CP Aderemi Adeoye on 1/5/2024 after attaining 35 years of service to the nation. CP Nnaghe Obono Itam was born on 16th June 1967 in Yakkur LGA of Cross River State. He joined the Nigeria Police Force on 18th May 1992 as a cadet Assistant Superintendent at the Nigeria Police Academy Annex Kaduna. CP Nnaghe Obono Itam holds a BSc in Sociology and Anthropology from the University of Cal...

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has initiated a nationwide shutdown of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and all Distribution Companies (DISCOs) today. The move comes as a direct action following the elapse of the ultimatum given to the commission to reverse the recent electricity tariff hike. The NLC including the Trade Union Congress (TUC) stand united in denouncing the increased tariff, describing it as injustice, a flagrant abuse of power and a clear violation of the trust bestowed upon the commission by Nigerian people. The organised labour demands an immediate reversal of the hike in electricity tariff to N65/kwh, cessation of the discriminatory practice of segregating electricity consumers into arbitrary bands and restoration of the supremacy of the statutes governing the conduct of operators within the electricity industry. However, in a memo issued to all its affiliates, yesterday in Abuja, the labour centre called for a mass mobilisation to pic...

BY RAYMOND OZOJI, Awka  The Anambra State Command of the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS) has called on the general public particularly Anambra citizens to disregard news making the rounds in some sections of the online media about the disappearance of seven hunters in Amanuke, Awka-North Local Government Area of the state.  NHFSS described such reports as mere fabrications maliciously concocted by beer parlour journalists and bloggers to tarnish the corporate image of Nigerian hunters who have continued to display their gallantry and intrepidity in providing complementary services in securing lives and property in Anambra state.  The State Hunter Public Relations Officer SH Aloysius Chibuikem Nneke who spoke exclusively with this reporter about the trending malicious story against hunters, said the Command will do everything within its reach to ensure that the peddlers of such false information were brought to book.  He said, " I h...

Investigation has revealed that federal government workers may have been involved in a systematic diversion of public funds allocated for the payment of electricity bills, particularly between 2021 and 2023. Official records reveal a troubling trend: over 34 ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), including the Nigerian Army headquartered in Abuja, were encouraged to circumvent budgetary allocations. Consequently, substantial unpaid electricity bills, totaling over N10.01 billion, have accumulated despite specific provisions in the annual national budgets. This diversion has resulted in an alarming fiscal deficit that burdens both the current administration and future ones. Earlier this year, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) took a public stand, alleging that the Presidential Villa and 85 MDAs collectively owed a staggering N47 billion for electricity supplied. It issued a stern warning of disconnection if the debts, particularly the Nigerian army’s ou...

BY  RAYMOND OZOJI,  Awka  The traditional ruler of Eziowelle community Idemili-North Local Government Area of Anambra State His Royal Highness Igwe Michael Ugorji Nwafor Okonkwo Etusi (Owelle Eziowelle) has declared that nobody can cage Eziowelle with ill-gotten wealth.  Etusi who addressed select journalists in his palace at Umunnama village Eziowelle, maintained that nobody can truncate the peace and tranquility Eziowelle enjoys because no individual is bigger or mightier than the community.  Igwe Okonkwo Etusi said people amassed wealth and bring such wealth home for the development of the grassroots but in the case of Eziowelle, some chronic characters are using their ill-gotten wealth to terrorise the community because of their connection with the police, military and other security agencies in the country.  Owelle Eziowelle remonstrated that rather than deploy their so-called wealth to awarding scholarships, tarring village roads, building...