NIGERIAN NOTCH

•••As Construction Kicks-Off August -Umahi President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has admonished the Akwa Ibom State Government and its people to give absolute support to the contractors that would be handling the Akwa Ibom -Calabar axis of the Coastal Highway.  Akpabio stated this while speaking at the Stakeholders' Engagement on the alignment of Sections 3b and 4 of the Lagos- Calabar Coastal Highway, on Saturday in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital. A statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, quoted the President of the Senate saying," I am very happy because people that are supposed to be here are here. Let me at this point, appeal for the support and cooperation of the Akwa Ibom State Government and my brothers and sisters for the construction companies, who would be handling this road project. " These companies need peace, support and cooperation of our people to deliver the project in record time. I congratulate Governor Umo Eno for

......Restates Commitment to Professional Standards in Structural Development The management of a real estate firm, Praco International Limited on Saturday debunked rumours making the rounds that one of its buildings under construction in Abuja had collapsed, trapping an unspecified number of victims. The incident, alleged to have happened on Friday, was said to have occurred at one of the company’s site located in Guzape, Abuja. But in a reaction to the ongoing rumour, which has found its way to various social media platforms, the managing Director and Project Manager of Praco International Limited, Dr Chukwudubem Ezekwelu said no such incident happened at any of the company’s sites in Abuja or anywhere. According to him, contrary to the rumours being peddled that many have died and others trapped at the site, no single death was recorded, nor was anyone trapped. Dr Ezekwelu explained that what happened at the Guzape site of the company, was that a client decided to demoli

... as government approves conduct of EIU election  BY RAYMOND OZOJI, Awka  The electoral committee responsible for the conduct of Eziowelle Improvement Union Election in Idemili-North Local Government Area of Anambra State has debunked rumours making the rounds that a court injunction has stopped Eziowelle Improvement Union Election from holding Saturday the 29th day of June, 2024. Chairman of the electoral committee constituted by the Anambra State Government, Dr. Laz Okafor told this journalist that such information were blatant lies from the pit of hell as no court in the country issued such fictitious cum frivolous injunction being peddled by those he described as enemies of peace in Eziowelle community.  Okafor who spoke exclusively with journalist Raymond Ozoji on Friday, said that the position of the court is that Eziowelle Improvement Union Election should hold as scheduled devoid of confusion and rancour while status quo remained.  He said truly some

The attention of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC) has been drawn to a video circulating on the social media space, made by one Mazi Okechukwu Cyril Nwuche who claims to be a lecturer at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, and the Anambra State Chairman of South East Electricity Consumers Association (SEECA), purporting that EEDC is calling on its customers to apply for free prepaid meter. EEDC in reacting to the misleading video through it's head of corporate communication, Mr Emeka Ezeh said "This information is not only incorrect but laced with mischief aimed at misleading unsuspecting customers and creating confusion within the space." "Whilst EEDC encourages its customers in need of meters to apply and have their premises metered, it is important that they are armed with the right information, and that they also understand the procedure in place for meter acquisition." "EEDC clearly states that the Meter

A business mogul and philanthropist, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu was on Thursday, inducted as a Fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations, NIPR. Ukachukwu, was inducted alongside many other distinguished Nigerians at the 60th Diamond Anniversary celebration of the NIPR, held at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. Ukachukwu’s recognition was as a result of his numerous contributions towards strategic development of the nation’s real estate landscape and human capital development, as one of the pioneers of real estate development in Nigeria, as well as his philanthropic and political accomplishments. The NIPR was established in 1963 and Chartered by Decree 16 of June 1990, the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations Practitioners Decree (now an Act of the National Assembly and cited as Cap N114, Laws of the Federation Nigeria, LFN, 2004). Performing the induction, the NIPR President, Dr. Ike Neliaku said it aims to reinforce professionalism and end quac

Mr. Peter Obi, CON, the immediate past presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the last presidential election in the country has called on the government to partner with local pharmaceutical manufacturing industries for production of high quality drugs instead of issuing licences for the importation of drugs, therebycollecting revenues from the importers, without recourse to the welfare of pharmaceutical companies in the country  Obi made the call on Wednesday, while delivering a keynote address at the 6th Public lecture of the Board Of Fellows of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (BOF-PSN) at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State. Speaking on the theme: "Access to Quality Medicines in An Unstable Environment’', Obi lamented the state of the nation’s health sector, and wondered why many pharmaceutical companies have left the country, thus making drugs very expensive for the poor, which is why most families have resorted to prayers, as the

BY RAYMOND OZOJI, Awka  Tipper drivers in Anambra state are set to block the Onitsha axis of the federal highway in the state on Friday 28th June over allegations of forceful collection of N200,000 from each tipper by officials of the Anambra State Road Traffic Management Agency (ARTMA).  Chairman of the Onitsha zone of Tipper Drivers Comrade Ebuka Unekwe who spoke to this journalist exclusively concerning the ordeals and excruciating experience of his colleagues in the hands of ARTMA officials stationed in Onitsha, said the ARTMA officials claimed that they were instructed by the agency's Managing Director to collect N200,000 from each Tipper Driver operating in the area.  Although efforts to contact ARTMA Managing Director was abysmally unsuccessful, chairman of the Onitsha zone of Tipper Drivers further disclosed that their members always have problems navigating through Uga junction due to the very deplorable condition of that portion of the road.  Unekwe complaine

- ...And Inline With Ndi Anambra's Yearn For A Power Change To The APC  As the countdown to the Anambra Decides 2025 continues, various interest groups have begun to strategise and finetune their game plans depending on the endgame of the parties involved. Going into the polls, every political party worth its onion must first of all do a proper in-house analysis of its strengths and weaknesses including possible advantages and disadvantages. One of the most critical factors that help in determining the party that carries the day at the end of the contest is the critical issue of zoning.  In zoning, which is mostly unwritten but carefully engraved on the mindset of the masses. During party primaries, contestants are usually allowed from every zone. However, the zone given preference by the party delegates determines the seriousness or otherwise of the various parties towards the main electoral contest with the other parties. Contrary to the argument in some quarters abo

The leadership crisis within the Labour Party escalated yesterday as the Labour Party National Transition Committee (LPNTC) demanded the immediate resignation of Chairman Julius Abure, disrupting a National Working Committee (NWC) meeting with Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate in attendance. The labour leaders, who forcefully entered the venue of the National Working Committee (NWC) meeting in Abuja convened by former presidential candidate Peter Obi, insisted that Abure’s tenure, along with those other executive members, would expire by the end of this month. Comrade Abdulwahed Omar, chairman of the Labour Party National Transition Committee (LPNTC), expressed the committee’s determination to forge ahead. “The issue at hand is the expiration of Abure’s tenure and that of the National Working Committee by the end of this month. We cannot afford a leadership vacuum. We have attempted to resolve this issue peacefully. If we can find a resolution without resorting to

Dr Prince Chijioke Mbanefo the highlife mastero, and king of highlife in Nigeria, has floated a charity foundation. The event which happened in his country home is geared towards taking care of widows, orphans and the less privileged in the country. The foundation, Prince Chijioke Mbanefo Charity Foundation, was officially launched yesterday June 22, 2024 at his country home in Atani.  In his welcome address at the official launch of the foundation, Prince Chijioke Mbanefo, said he is humbled because of what God has done for him over the years. He was thanked God who has seen him through the industry for over 25 years, with a record history of over 50 albums in the market. He said that anytime he looks around and see people suffering, it pains his heart, knowing how it feels, for one to be in such misery. He stated that he resolved to set up the foundation as a way of giving back to the society which has been very appreciative of his efforts and contributions to the societ