NIGERIAN NOTCH

......Accuse him of not doing enough for the region, despite resources availed to the agency_  Members of the National Working Committee, NWC of the All Progressives Congress,APC seem to be at logger heads with the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, over his refusal to intimate the party about the agenda of the NDDC for the region.  A source close to an NWC member from one of the states within the Niger Delta region told journalists that in line with the party's desire to ensure that the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is successful, the members of the NWC from these nine states, namely Abia, Akwa Ibom,Bayelsa, Cross Rivers, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers, as well as the Zonal Chairmen of the SouthEast,SouthSouth and SouthWest regions and had requested a parley with the NDDC helmsman to understand how he has managed so far the affairs of the commission since his emergence at the commission.  The sou

Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has described as despicable the killing of five soldiers in Aba, Abia State on Thursday. It could be recalled that the soldiers were killed at a military checkpoint in Aba by unknown gunmen who were believed to be enforcing the May 30 sit-at-home order.  The incident has continued to attract condemnations from across the country.   In a statement made available to journalists on Friday, the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike said such acts were barbaric and alien to Igbo values and cultures.  Okwu said Ndigbo had sanctity for human lives, noting that it was callous for anyone to shed blood while at the same time mourning the fallen heroes.  According to the Youth President, “what happened in Aba on Thursday similar incidents in the past are pointers to the fact that infiltrators have taken over the Biafra struggle.  “We heartily commiserate with the

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday commissioned NASENI Compressed Natural Gas(CNG) Reverse Engineering Training, Filling and Conversion Centre in Abuja. NASENI refers to National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure. The agency was established in 1992 by the Federal Government to conduct developmental work in the area of manufacturing. President Tinubu was represented at the event by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio. In his address, President Tinubu said: "Our administration’s Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas Initiative(PiCNG) is a flagship program by which we are actively supporting a private-sector-led rollout of critical gas infrastructure to drive innovation and industrialization in Nigeria. "It is also a major contribution to our vision of fully harnessing Nigeria’s immense gas resources, as a transition fuel on the journey to net-zero, as envisaged by our Energy Transition Plan(ETP). "Let me say

...Recover Toyota Sienna, Assorted Plate Numbers, Guns, Charms, Others  BY RAYMOND OZOJI,  Awka  The Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS) Anambra State Command has bursted kidnappers' den discovered in Anam forest Anambra-West Local Government Area of the state.  Speaking on the operation which was carried out in the afternoon of 31st May, 2024 the Deputy Commander-General of the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Service (Technical Services) Amb. Dr. John Metchie said acting on intelligence, D.O Odanike and Ojukwu led operations into the forest.  Metchie said officers of the NHFSS traversed the deepest parts of the forest only to find an abandoned Toyota Sienna vehicle and other weapons of mass destruction which includes a pistol, one AK47 rifle, locally fabricated guns, assorted vehicle plate numbers, charms and other incriminating items.  The DCG technical services who thanked D.O Odanike and Ojukwu as well as other officers of the Anambra State Comma

The youth wing of apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has rated the President Bola Tinubu administration above average.  The Igbo group said this while assessing the current administration as it clocks one year in office May 29.  This is also as the Igbo group urged the President not to hesitate in sacking any member of his cabinet who is not contributing significantly towards the realization of the Renewed Hope Agenda.  In a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday, the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike said President Tinubu’s government had been making conscious efforts towards restoring the economic fortunes of the country.  Okwu, who said Tinubu inherited a battered economy, noted that it would not take rocket science to fix the country.  According to him, “as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu government marks one year in office, it is our considered view that he has demonst

BY  RAYMOND OZOJI,  Awka  Azia community in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State is set to elect a brand new traditional ruler after 10 years of kingship imbroglio.  All roads therefore lead to the civic centre on 1st June, 2024 where 4 serious contenders for the traditional stool of Azia will test their popularity and acceptance amongst Azia people.  Recall that stakeholders from Azia community had gone to Government House Awka to seek government intervention in the Igweship battle rocking the community.  Government however resolved that the solution to the prolonged Igweship problem in Azia was for an election to be conducted inorder to get another Igwe that would replace Igwe P.M.C Ojuro who joined his ancestors many years ago.  Speaking exclusively with this journalist on the Igweship election of Azia community, the President-General of Azia Town Union, Dr. Nwabueze Tonna Ferdinand said adequate security arrangements have been made to forestall a breakdown of l

BY RAYMOND OZOJI, Awka  Anambra State Commissioner for Health Dr. Ben Afam Obidike says Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo is increasing access to quality and affordable healthcare judging from the transformations in the health sector.  Speaking exclusively with this journalist at Golden Tulip Hotel Agulu Anaocha council area during an event recently, Obidike said a lot have been achieved in the health sector within two years of the present administration.  He said over 60,000 women have benefited from the state government free antenatal and child delivery services together with free cesarian sessions (CS) which he said cost close to a million naira in private hospitals.  The Commissioner explained that the construction of five new general hospitals as well as the renovations ongoing in the primary healthcare centres coupled with the recruitment of almost a thousand healthcare workers were all concrete evidence that the present state government is meeting the health needs of the popula

BY RAYMOND OZOJI, Awka  In the early hours of 29/5/2024, Anambra Police acting on credible information intercepted one Amalu Onyedika ‘M’ aged 32years old of Eziagu in Enugu State in Nkwelle, Oyi LGA of Anambra State, recovered one locally made pistol and four live ammunition. A statement from the Police spokesman SP Ikenga Tochukwu has it that Onyedika claimed to be a Technician who deals with Aluminum and Glass windows business in building materials, Onitsha but he confessed to being a member of the junior Vikings secret cult. He said he joined the notorious gang at the age of 22 and has been mentioned as one of those terrorizing Nkwelle and its environs. The Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, directs that the investigation be widened and deepened to bring to book other gang members at large and the case should be charged to court after the investigation. 

.........Commissions Defence Intelligence Headquarters  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has assured members of the Armed forces and other Intelligence agencies, of the commitment of his administration to their welfare and provision of other administrative and logistics requirements to enhance their productivity to enable them carry out their mandate. President Tinubu gave the assurance while speaking at the commissioning ceremony of Headquarters Defence Intelligence Agency, Abuja on Thursday.  Represented by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu said, " I assure you along with the entire armed forces of Nigeria that I will sustain the provision of the welfare, training and other administrative and logistics requirements to enhance your productivity and to enable you carry out your mandate. " I am persuaded that a conducive and well- equipped intelligence outfit would positively impact on the overall intelligence gathering effort, processing

BY OZO RAY, Awka  The Anambra State Police Command has warned enemies of the state and emissaries of rifts circulating threatening videos and obnoxious social media materials about a purported total lockdown on 30th May to stay far away from Anambra State because the Police and all other security agencies will not tolerate any breach of the fundamental rights of the citizens especially as it concerns right to freedom of movement.  A statement from the office of the Police Public Relations Officer of the Anambra State Command of the Nigeria Police, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, has authorized the citizenry to go about their normal lawful daily routines and disregard the compulsory illegal sit-at-home order from the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).  IPOB had issued earlier warnings and threats of a total lockdown and compulsory stay-at-home in the entire Southeast region of Nigeria on 30th May, 2024 for the repose of the souls of fallen heroes of Biafra land which th

The Managing Director/CEO of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC), Praveen Chorghade, has commended the efforts of the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) in the training and skill development programs the Institute has been providing as a conscious way of building the capacity of workers within the Nigerian Power Sector. Chorghade made this known yesterday when the Director General, NAPTIN, Ahmed Bolaji Nagode, paid him a courtesy call at the EEDC Corporate Headquarters in Enugu. He said that NAPTIN’s role is extremely important to the sector as the training they provide enables the staff to be grounded and skilled to deliver efficiently in their respective roles, especially considering the very hazardous nature that characterize the work environment within the power sector. The visit by Nagode was to familiarize himself with the management of EEDC, and to formally present NAPTIN’s Training Center, Oji River, to the company, to explore opport

BY RAYMOND OZOJI, Awka  The Chairman Anambra State House of Assembly Committee on Health and lawmaker representing Aguata 2 State Constituency in the 8th legislature, Hon. Tony Muobike has said that primary healthcare centres in the state are addressing the medical and health needs of those at the grassroots level.  Muobike who spoke exclusively with this reporter shortly after plenary on Tuesday at the assembly complex Awka, also observed that the huge resources being committed to PHCs are yielding positive results because access to comprehensive healthcare package is now guaranteed at the primary healthcare centres.  He also commended the efforts of the health commissioner Dr. Afam Obidike whom he said has proved his mettle in managing the health sector meticulously with very tangible results.  Muobike said the health sector is being revamped and that all the PHCs in the 326 wards of the state are being renovated and equipped for optimum service delivery even as he also

BY RAYMOND OZOJI, Awka  The President-General of Umueri community Anambra-East Local Government Area of Anambra State, Amb. Dr. John Metchie has commended wife of the state governor Dr. Mrs. Nonye Soludo for the introduction of free Human Papilloma Virus(HPV) vaccine to curb cervical cancer in the area.  Speaking exclusively with this journalist, Metchie said the HPV vaccine which is very expensive was introduced by the governor's wife free of charge to help fight cervical cancer diseases in girls from 9 to 14 years of age.  He said the initiative underscores Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo's efforts in providing affordable quality healthcare to the citizenry especially those in the hinterlands, pointing out that the construction of more general hospitals as well as the renovation and refurbishment of primary healthcare centres across the 326 political wards of the state is a testament to government commitment to saving lives.  Metchie said that the present adminis

BY RAYMOND OZOJI,  Awka The traditional ruler of Akwaeze in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State His Royal Majesty Igwe Christopher Ndubuisi Okpala, Ezenebo III of Akwaeze has unequivocally stated that he will personally ensure that Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo gets second term come 2025.  Igwe Okpala who was the royal father at the APGA Anaocha Stakeholders political summit held at Golden Tulip Hotel Agulu at the weekend, said although traditional rulers were not supposed to be partisan or engage in politics, he was of the opinion that Governor Soludo has done exceedingly well and therefore deserves another term in office.  The Akwaeze monarch maintained that opposition or no opposition, he will prevail on the people of his community to vote massively for Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo's reelection because of his sterling performance.  Igwe Okpala who spoke exclusively with this journalist shortly after the summit said he loves the All Progressives Gra

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has commiserated with the family of the late Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Lamorde, over the demise of the former anti corruption czar. Akpabio, in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, described the death of the anti corruption czar "as a rude shock, which has robbed the country of his wealth of experience at this time of our nation building." " I received the news of the demise of former chairman of the EFCC and Deputy Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Lamorde, with shock and disblief. His death is a huge loss to our country because we have been robbed of his wealth of experience. " As mortals, we have no control over our lives. On behalf of my family, the people of Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District and the Nigerian Senate, I commiserate with the family of the deceased former police officer and pray to Allah to give the family members, fri

Faced with the incessant kidnappings and killings by criminals in Anambra State, including their colleagues, lawyers in the State have sent a Save our Souls (SOS) message to the Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, urging him to step up and arrest the situation. The lawyers who had already declared a six-day boycott of court proceedings lamented what they described as a total collapse of security across all areas of Anambra State, bemoaning the needless killing and kidnapping of law-abiding citizens. They specifically noted the kidnap of a Catholic priest, Fr Basil Gbuzuo (who was later released), and the killing of Barr Peter Awa in Okija; as well as the killing of over 60 people in Ihiala within the last five months.  The lawyers regretted that these criminal activities were no longer restricted to any particular time of the day, calling on Governor Soludo to provide solutions to the lingering insecurity which has crippled economic, social and cultural activities in the State.