9News Nigeria

Ohanaeze Ndi’Igbo Worldwide has announced a forum on the “Igbo Charter and Development of Ala’Igbo”, with Former Speaker of the Imo State house of assembly, Ike C. Ibe listed as a panelist and will speak on the theme.

The forum is scheduled for Monday, September 28, 2026, at the Ochendo International Conference Center in Umuahia.

The proposed Igbo Charter is expected to form the central focus of discussions at the gathering, with participants examining the ideas and principles contained in the document in relation to the broader development of Ala’Igbo.

The event is organized by Ohanaeze Ndi’Igbo Worldwide, whose motto is “Igwe bu ike” (there is strength in numbers). 

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

The Abia State Government has sealed a property in Aba after environmental officials reportedly discovered about 100 bags of human faeces stored on the premises.

Officials of the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA), Aba Zone, made the discovery during an inspection on Tuesday.

The property, located on Ibadan Street, was found to contain bags of human waste kept within the compound, raising concerns over potential public health risks.

Officials also reportedly discovered four basins containing human excreta in the corridor of the building.

The inspection reportedly uncovered another disturbing situation, with a sewage tank allegedly found beneath a bed inside one of the downstairs rooms.

ASEPA described the situation as a serious environmental and public health concern, warning that the conditions could contribute to the spread of diseases.

The agency subsequently sealed the premises on August 18 pursuant to a court order while investigations and corrective measures continue.

ASEPA said the property would only be reopened after all necessary requirements had been met.

Authorities have not disclosed why the human waste was being stored at the property.

However, some residents commenting on ASEPA’s social media page alleged that the waste was being sold to farmers as manure for about ₦10,000 per bag.

The allegation has not been independently confirmed by the authorities.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Abuja (9News Nigeria)

A fresh political confrontation has erupted in Abia State following a strongly worded response from the Office of Senator , representing Abia North, dismissing allegations made by the Labour Party as “false and misleading.”

In a press statement issued on March 17, 2026, and signed by George Maduka, the senator’s office accused the Abia State chapter of the of distorting facts and misrepresenting recent remarks attributed to Kalu.

The statement specifically took aim at comments linked to the administration of Governor , alleging that the Labour Party’s response was politically motivated and lacking factual substance. It described the criticism against Kalu as an attempt to equate “passionate political speech” with incitement, an interpretation the senator’s office firmly rejected.

According to the release, Senator Kalu maintains a long-standing democratic record and challenged his critics to provide evidence of any involvement in electoral malpractice. The statement further alleged that the senator had, in the past, been a victim of manipulated electoral processes, while also accusing political opponents of engaging in actions aimed at undermining his support base.

The response also raised concerns about governance under the current Abia administration, citing what it described as rising social challenges, including insecurity and youth-related vices. It claimed that such issues were either inadequately addressed or politically exploited.

On infrastructure, the senator’s office argued that many ongoing projects across key areas such as Aba, Umuahia, Ohafia, and Bende were continuations of foundations laid during Kalu’s tenure as governor. It called on the present administration to account for what it described as unprecedented financial allocations to the state, questioning the pace and quality of project delivery.

The statement further alleged discrepancies in wage payments, pension settlements, and public spending priorities, including claims of high expenditures on travel and media engagements. It also called for a forensic audit of the state’s finances, asserting that transparency would clarify the utilisation of public funds.

Additionally, the senator’s office dismissed criticisms relating to Kalu’s personal wealth and assets, stating that his business success predated his entry into politics and was built through private enterprise.

In a broader political context, the statement suggested that recent attacks against Kalu were indicative of growing tension ahead of future electoral contests, maintaining that the senator retains significant grassroots support across Abia North.

It concluded by urging the Labour Party-led government to prioritise governance and address pressing legal and administrative issues, while asserting that the electorate would ultimately judge the performance of political actors based on tangible results.

The Labour Party has yet to issue an official response to the latest claims as of press time.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

🛑 State & LGA Revenue: ₦1.46 Trillion (excluding LGA IGR)

🛑 Purchase of vehicles: – ₦10.23bn

🛑 Maintenance of cars: – ₦870.16m

🛑 Fuelling of vehicles: – ₦2.05bn

🛑 Travel costs: – ₦4.21bn

🛑 Transport allowance: – ₦2.19bn

Yes, you saw it – Over N10bn purchased for his office, N2.05bn for fuelling his vehicles in 2.5 years, N870m for maintaining the new cars, N4.2bn on ‘transport costs’ and N2.2bn for transport allowance in his office.

By Abia’s own published financial reports, Governor Alex C. Otti has burnt roughly ₦20bn on hIS transportation costs in just 2.5 years, yet we’re told to clap for “New Abia” and insult anyone who asks questions.

This is the same governor who works from home / uses his house as an office, but still spends like Abia is running a private airline and a luxury motorcade company.

Let’s do the simple math: ₦20bn in 2.5 years is over ₦20m per day on transport.
How do you defend that in a state where schools are still struggling, roads are collapsing, and “smart schools” are mostly talk?

And before anyone starts shouting at citizens for asking questions: this ₦20bn doesn’t even include:

Security Vote: ₦7.26bn

Running the Governor’s Office: ₦16.42bn

So when people say, “This is the most corrupt regime we’ve seen,” you don’t refute with facts, you attack the messenger.

Worse still, the reports also show over ₦10bn allegedly spent on vehicles for the governor’s office, yet many people say they can’t even see these vehicles on ground in Abia.

If this is “prudence,” then what is recklessness?

Abians, stop behaving like questioning your own money is a crime.
A government that respects you should not fear scrutiny.

Because at this rate… we can only pray Abia survives this regime.

Where does he travel to?

Governor Alex C. Otti appears to have spent more on running his office than the N117bn he spent on paying Abia Civil Servants and retirees!

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti on Tuesday, launched the 1st South-East Shooting Competition, describing shooting as a strategic sport for talent discovery and youth empowerment.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, in Umuahia, Otti said that the competition was part of his administration’s efforts to expand sports development beyond conventional disciplines.

The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Mr Nwaobilor Ananaba, described shooting as a recognised Olympic sport.

He also said that the sport possesses a strong potential to produce national and international champions, when properly developed at the grassroots.

He said that his administration was committed to supporting emerging sports that could provide new opportunities for young people and raise Abia’s profile in national competitions

“Shooting is a globally recognised Olympic sport and when we came on board, I promised to develop sports beyond the conventional ones.

“Today, alongside boxing, football and basketball, shooting has been introduced and promoting sports, such as shooting, will empower our youths and enhance our chances of winning medals in national and international competitions,” Otti said.

He commended the Shooting Association of Abia for organising the competition and assured it of continued government’s support.

He gave assurance that his administration would support sports associations that demonstrated discipline, transparency, and commitment to youth development.

He further said that shooting had already shown promise in Abia, citing the association’s medal-winning performance at the last National Sports Festival.

According to him, that performance convinced the government of the need to invest more in the sport and provide platforms for young talents to compete.

Otti said that the grassroots competition would help identify and nurture young shooters for state, national, and international representations.

He expressed the optimism that Abia would soon produce shooters capable of representing Nigeria at major international competitions, including the Olympic Games.

He said that the government’s long-term plan was to catch talents young and develop them through structured competitions and training programmes.

“Our strategy is to catch them young through community-based competitions and nurture them.

“We already have a growing pool of athletes capable of competing at state, national and international levels and we are confident that Abia will produce future Olympic champions,” he said.

In his speech, the President of the Nigeria Shooting Federation, Cmdre Mohammed Shettima (rtd.), commended Abia Government for its strides in sports development.

Shettima, represented by Lt.-Cmdr. Peter Ogbe, expressed appreciation to the State Government for supporting sports and enabling key milestones in the sector.

He also praised the Abia Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development for effectively mobilising resources to implement the State Government’s sports development agenda.

He said that Abia was selected to host the federation’s first shooting competition in the South-East due to its achievements in sports administration.

He described the event as impressive.

Also, the South-East Coordinator of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mr Bernard Ezemma, lauded the state for hosting the first edition of the shooting event in the region and described the competition as a visionary initiative.

Ezemma said that the government’s commitment had set the administration apart and commended it for successfully organising the competition, in spite the challenges in sourcing equipment.

He emphasised the importance of grassroots sports development, adding that strong foundations produce athletes who could progress to national federations.

Ezemma pointed out that Abia is known for producing top athletes, “both able-bodied and differently-abled, who have brought pride to Nigeria”.

He promised that the commission would continue to support Abia  in developing sports and nurturing talents for higher levels of competition.

In his speech, the Abia Director of Sports, Mr George Obioma, expressed the State Government’s commitment to developing all sports to give youths more opportunities.

“Abia is leading in many national events.

“Shooting is an Olympic sport, and our athletes have already won medals at the National Youth Games, because our motto is ‘I win and I can’,” he said.

George thanked the NSC, state officials, and partners for supporting sports development in Abia.

“The governor is passionate about sports, and the Abia Sports Council will continue to deliver,” he also said.

Earlier, the NSC South East Zonal Representative (Shooting), Mrs Paschaline Edozie, commended the State Government for its commitment to reviving shooting in Abia.

Edozie said that the government had provided the resources and support needed to ensure shooting thrived in Abia.

She said that each shooting range in the competition represented an investment of N10 million to N15 million, while pellets, costing up to N60,000 each, were generously provided for the event.

She said that the event brought together athletes from the five state of the South-East and acknowledged the support of the Abia Sports Council and media that covered the competition.

“This event is a testament to the commitment of our leaders to youth development and the growth of sports in the region,” Edozie said.

The event featured a seminar held from Jan. 25 to Jan. 27, while the shooting competition was scheduled for Jan. 28 to Jan. 30.

It has two categories – Under-15 (male and female), and Senior (male and female) – with 45 participants, 105 individual entries and 150 competitors from the five states.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Umuahia, The capital of Abia State, was totally locked down on Monday as residents decided to withdraw from their daily businesses and operations in solidarity with the #FreeNnamdiKanu march being championed by rights activist Omoleye Sowore.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Chief Dr. Joseph Eke Kalu Esq., Onwa N’etiri Oha 1 of Ohafia, recently met with Senator Orji Uzor Kalu at the Senator’s residence, Aso Rock Villa, Abuja. 

The meeting, initiated at the Senator’s request, sought to explore collaborative strategies to advance the social, cultural, and economic growth of the Ohafia community.

Senator Orji Uzor Kalu lauded Chief Dr. Joseph Eke Kalu for his unwavering support for Nde Ohafia, highlighting his instrumental role in founding and sponsoring the annual “Ohafia Got Talent” reality show. 

The flagship programme has emerged as a key platform for promoting local talent and celebrating the community’s rich cultural heritage.

During the meeting, both leaders reflected on recent successes, including the highly celebrated housewarming event for Chief Dr. Joseph Eke Kalu’s ‘London Villa’ in July 2025; an event that not only showcased his achievements but also affirmed his dedication to community development.

The discussions, characterized by warmth and mutual respect, centered on initiatives to further empower Ohafia’s youth, enhance cultural promotion, and reinforce community-driven development. 

Both leaders expressed optimism that their collaboration would drive meaningful projects and strengthen the socio-economic landscape of Nde Ohafia.

Photographs from the meeting captured moments of cordial interaction and highlighted the strong rapport between the two stalwarts, signaling a promising era of synergy and progress for the Ohafia community.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Gov. Alex Otti has promised that Abia will partner with the Nigerian Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in a project designed to showcase made-in-Aba products.

Otti made the promise when a delegation from NIPSS, led by the Board Chairman and Director-General, Sen. Ken Nnamani and Prof. Ayo Omotayo, visited him at Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of the state.

He said that providing enabling environment is key to incentivising investors.

He also said that the country would not be able to build a trillion dollars economy with only trade.

He said that a huge economic development, such as building a trillion dollars economy, could only happen with manufacturing and increased productivity.

The governor, therefore, assured the delegation of Abia’s support in the project.

“We have a duty to rescue this nation. We don’t have any excuse not to transform the country in our time,” Otti said.

Earlier, Nnamani commended Otti for his commitment to rebuilding Abia.

He said that the people of the South-East were proud of his developmental strides, which were “sounding like a bell louder abroad”.

He said that the team came to present to him a proposal for a national development project, which he might find suitable to host in Abia.

Also, Omotayo said that the president had directed NIPSS to design projects that would unlock the potentials of different zones of the country.

He said that the South-East had been found to be the hub of talented manufacturers, hence the choice of Abia for the project.

He also said the project would not only improve the marketability of made-in-Aba products but also increase productivity in the manufacturing sector in Abia.

Omotayo said the institute was proposing to establish an international trade exhibition – “Ariaria Fest” – which would be held twice annually and only comparable to China’s Canton Fair.

He said the project components included building a modern exhibition hall, road networks, parks, technology transfers, digital payment platforms, among others.

He said the project would announce Abia to the world with other accruing benefits for the state and the country.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Nigerian tech and media professional, Maryclare Chinedo, affectionately known as Chichi, has launched a fundraiser in honor of Chief Ferdinand Chukwuemeka Opara better known as Dan Satch; co-founder of the legendary Oriental Brothers International Band.

In a moving episode of her cultural storytelling series, Convos with Chichi: Igbo Nwere Mmadu, Chinedo sat down with the highlife pioneer to document his life, legacy, and the personal struggles that now overshadow his remarkable contributions to Nigerian music history.

“This is more than an interview. It’s a tribute, while the legend is still here to hear it.”Chinedo remarked. 

Founded in the wake of the Nigerian Civil War, the Oriental Brothers International Band helped define the sound of post-war Nigeria and elevate Igbo highlife music on a global stage. 

But despite decades of cultural impact, Dan Satch now lives in poverty, battling fragile health, and receiving little support from the industry or nation he helped shape.

In the emotional conversation, the 79-year-old veteran recounted the band’s rise to fame, his personal sacrifices during the Biafran War, and the exploitation he faced in the Nigerian music industry, including years of unpaid royalties.

The cultural commentator also shared raw footage of Dan Satch’s current living conditions, calling it a “painful reminder of how forgotten many of our legends have become.”

However, as part of the campaign, Chinedo launched a GoFundMe to help Dan Satch mark his 80th birthday and 58 years in music with dignity, while also securing better healthcare, safer living conditions, and the revival of the Oriental Brothers Band.

Support the fundraiser here

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has called on political leaders in the Southeast to intensify efforts to grow the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the region.

Speaking at a strategic meeting of Southeast APC stakeholders in Enugu, Governor Uzodimma urged party leaders to embark on a robust membership drive and actively promote the benefits of the Tinubu administration to the public.

He emphasized that the geopolitical zone’s interests are best protected under the current APC-led federal administration.

“You must have seen how sitting governors in other geo-political zones are now joining the APC.

“It is by joining the APC, which is in charge of the government at the center in Nigeria and other sub-national governments—that the Southeast will be very close to the corridors of power.” He said.

The meeting was attended by key figures including Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Chief Benjamin Kalu, former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Minister for Innovation, Science, and Technology Chief Uche Nnaji, Dozie Ikedife Jnr, and members of the APC Zonal Executive Committee.

Governor Uzodimma stressed the importance of unity within the party and the need for regional cooperation. 

“We have decided to see Southeast as a family, tolerate each other’s shortcomings, and work as a formidable team to achieve the desired results,” he stated.

The leaders at the meeting pledged to strengthen the party’s influence in the region and position the Southeast more strategically ahead of the 2027 general elections.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has expressed strong confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will receive over 70 percent of votes from the South East in the 2027 general elections.

Speaking at a public event Today, Kalu emphasized that Tinubu’s administration has made historic strides in addressing the post-civil war neglect of the South East, particularly through the establishment of the South East Development Commission (SEDC).

“No other President has remembered the promise made to Igbo people after the war like President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“Fifty years came and passed, administrations came and passed, none of them deemed it right to fulfill those promises made to Ndi Igbo. Only President Tinubu took it upon himself to say, there must be a platform to respond to those proposals.” Kalu declared.

He recalled the unfulfilled pledge by the Yakubu Gowon-led military government in the aftermath of the Nigerian Civil War to rebuild, rehabilitate, and reintegrate the South East, where over three million lives were lost. 

Kalu described the creation and funding of the SEDC by Tinubu as a landmark act of justice and inclusion.

“He answered to our problem to enable us develop the rural communities in Igboland. 

“He signed the SEDC bill into law and has funded it even when naysayers said he won’t. He loves Ndi Igbo, and we Igbos remember those who love us.” Kalu said

In appreciation, Kalu said the region would repay the President with massive electoral support in the next general elections. 

“We are promising the President 70 to 80 percent of votes from Igboland. Let us continue to remain as people that love peace and unity.” He stressed.

9News Nigeria reports that the SEDC is expected to play a pivotal role in addressing long-standing infrastructure and development challenges across the region.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has stated that while he currently has no intention of leaving the Labour Party (LP), he is not ruling out the possibility in the future.

Speaking during an interview on Arise TV today, Governor Otti addressed growing speculation about his political future amid ongoing realignments in the nation’s political landscape.

“I’m not God to say that I will remain in LP or leave LP.

“As we speak, the objective conditions today do not make it for me to leave LP. Tomorrow, anything can change. If I’m going to take any decision, it will be made in full consultation with the Abia people.” He said.

His comments come at a time when political observers have been closely monitoring the movements of key figures within the Labour Party following the 2023 general elections. 

Otti, widely considered one of the most prominent elected officials under the LP platform, has been seen as a pivotal figure in the party’s growth, especially in the South-East.

Governor Otti, a former banker turned politician, was elected on the platform of the Labour Party in 2023, defeating candidates from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in what was hailed as a landmark victory for LP in the region.

He reaffirmed that his focus remains on delivering good governance to the people of Abia, noting that his political alignment would always be subject to their collective interest and input.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has officially welcomed prominent businessman and former People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Chief Chris Odinaka Igwe, into the All Progressives Congress (APC), along with over 13,000 supporters.

At a well-attended political rally held in Isiochi, Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State, Kalu hailed the defection as a significant milestone for the APC in the South East.

Chief Igwe, popularly known as “Chris Nak”, is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mainland Oil and Gas Limited and was previously an influential member of the PDP. 

His defection to the APC comes with a massive political base; members of the Chris Odinaka Igwe Friends Club (CFC), which includes 27 PDP Ward Chairmen who have now collapsed their political structures into the APC.

The defectors cited Kalu’s rising political profile and impactful legislative contributions, especially his role in the establishment of the South East Development Commission (SEDC), as their major motivation for joining the ruling party.

Welcoming Igwe and his followers, Kalu said: “Chief Chris Igwe and I have been friends for a long time. We were together in politics before, even when we belonged to different parties. I admire his sincerity and deep love for his people. He’s a man of integrity, a successful businessman, and someone who gives generously to his community.”

The Deputy Speaker, accompanied by the Abia State APC Chairman, Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu, handed over the symbolic broom of the APC to the new entrants, declaring them members of the Renewed Hope Partners (RHP), a grassroots mobilization structure launched to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 reelection campaign.

Kalu added: “Chief Chris is already comfortable in his private life, but he made this decision for his people—to bring them into mainstream national politics. 

“The people of Umunneochi will surely reap the benefits of this alignment. Today, 13,000 members of CFC have joined the APC. The broom is not even enough to go round, and that shows how eager the people of Isiochi are to be part of this movement.”

The rally concluded with widespread celebration as party leaders, community members, and new APC faithful reaffirmed their commitment to the party’s agenda and the leadership of Rt. Hon. Kalu.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has launched a strategic grassroots campaign aimed at galvanizing support for President Bola Tinubu’s administration in the South-East.

On Thursday, Kalu officially unveiled the Abia State headquarters of the Renewed Hope Partners (RHP) initiative in Umuahia, declaring the platform as a vehicle to drive the region’s full integration into Nigeria’s mainstream political landscape.

Speaking at the event, the Deputy Speaker emphasized the need for the South-East to move beyond passive political engagement and actively embrace the Tinubu-led administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which he said has recorded impressive strides since its inception.

“To achieve meaningful inclusion and push for the continuity of this administration in 2027, we must take ownership of the narrative.

“We will aggressively disseminate the achievements of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to communities and households across the South-East.” Kalu said. 

The launch attracted key stakeholders across Abia State, including political leaders, community-based organizations, and other interest groups who pledged support and expressed readiness to partner with the RHP movement.

Kalu maintained that the initiative would serve as a bridge between the federal government and the grassroots, ensuring that the benefits of governance under President Tinubu are felt more directly in the region.

“The time has come for the South-East to rise and be counted, not as spectators but as active participants in shaping Nigeria’s future,” he added.

The Renewed Hope Partners campaign is expected to expand across all five states of the South-East zone.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Nigeria’s leading integrated power group, Geometric Power, has commenced the construction of a dedicated power line to industries along the Port Harcourt Expressway within its ring-fenced area.

The N1.8 billion project, flagged off on Wednesday by the company’s chairman, Professor Bart Nnaji, a former Minister of Power, is expected to be completed within three months. 

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony in Umuarakpa, Osisioma Local Government Area, Nnaji emphasized the impact of the project on industrial operations.

“The completion of this dedicated double-circuit 33KV commercial line will not only ensure 24-hour power supply to industries but will also provide high-quality electricity capable of supporting heavy machinery and equipment,” he stated.

The power line will directly connect the 188-megawatt Geometric Power Plant in Osisioma Industrial Layout, Aba, to industrial clusters in Ukwa, which borders Rivers State.

The industrial clusters benefiting from the project house several major companies, including: Oilserv, Nigeria’s top indigenous oil and gas pipeline construction firm, handling the $2.8 billion Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline, which will extend to North Africa and supply gas to Europe. 

The Nigerian-British University, Blue World Pharmaceutical, Foods & Cosmetics Company, which aims to manufacture pharmaceuticals to WHO standards and position Nigeria as an exporter, similar to India.

Despite previous electricity supply to Ukwa, Lawrence Umeh-Udeh, Chairman of Blue World Pharmaceutical, noted that power had been shared with local communities, leading to irregular supply and substandard voltage for industrial use. 

However, he expressed optimism that the new dedicated power line will resolve these challenges within 90 days.

The Managing Director of Aba Power, Ugo Opiegbe, reinforced the critical role of stable electricity in attracting investors.

He referenced Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu’s recent statement that 60% of Nigerian manufacturers rely on self-generated power due to unreliable distribution.

Opiegbe highlighted that major multinational companies, including PZ Cussons, are returning to Aba Power, Nigeria’s 12th and newest electricity distribution company (DisCo), following the resolution of gas supply issues in December.

He also revealed that Neimeth Pharmaceuticals, headquartered in Ikeja, Lagos, is constructing a manufacturing plant in Aba due to improved power supply. 

Additionally, he cited the forthcoming Enyimba Economic City, a project expected to transform the industrial landscape of the Southeast and South-South regions.

As part of its broader expansion strategy, Geometric Power is constructing three additional dedicated commercial power lines for industries in: Owerrinta, Ogbor Hill, Factory Road Industrial Clusters.

These lines, complete with new substations, are set for commissioning within 90 days, increasing the Aba Ring-fenced Area’s power output by 60MW, more than half of its current consumption. 

“We are optimistic that leading manufacturers like Nigerian Breweries Plc, which has a facility in Factory Road Industrial Layout, will benefit from this ongoing electricity revolution in Abia State,” Opiegbe said.

The 42-kilometre New Ukwa Line, which costs N1.8 billion, is financed through a vendor-financed arrangement led by Divine Point Group.

Tony Alozie, Chief Finance Officer of Geometric Power and a former Halliburton executive, described the deal as a “testament to the strong stakeholder confidence” in the company’s ability to transform the power sector.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

The Anambra State government has sealed a shrine in Umuofor village,Ojika in Ihiala Local Government Area allegedly used by Ekene Igboegbueze to make people rich through supernatural means.

The Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Community Security, Ken Emeakai who disclosed this when he led men of Operation Udo Ga-Achi to the shrine, explained that the government sealed the place on account of complaints it received from the people of Okija about the illegal business of Igboegbueze and online video where Mr Ekene said that he does Oke ite, Yahoo Plus, Awele for people which is contrary to Anambra State Homeland Security Laws.

He further said that state government has also sealed all the properties acquired by the suspect with the proceeds of the illegal business and all the items seen in the shrine will undergo foreinsic test and the outcome will determine what government will do with him.

On his part, the Director of Operation, Agunechemba Security Outfit, Mr Chinenye Ihenko lamented that the activities of fake native doctors and pastors are promoting get rich quick syndrome in the state and cautioned the youths to desist from patronising them as they are deceitful.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

The Abia State Government has announced plans to make the Igbo language a compulsory part of the school curriculum. 

Speaking on the initiative, the Deputy Governor of Abia State, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, on 1 February 2025, emphasized the administration’s commitment to reviving the Igbo language.

“We must take deliberate steps to ensure that our language does not go into extinction. Making Igbo compulsory in schools is one of the many ways we intend to strengthen our cultural heritage,” Emetu stated.

The proposal aligns with broader regional efforts to sustain the Igbo language. 

In 2019, the Imo State Government introduced a similar policy, requiring all students to study Igbo as a core subject. 

The move has been met with widespread support, with many educators and cultural groups hailing it as a step in the right direction. 

However, some have raised concerns about implementation challenges, particularly in private schools where Igbo is often overlooked in favor of foreign languages.

The full details of the implementation plan, including the expected start date and curriculum adjustments, are expected to be unveiled soon.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has voiced its concerns over recent tax reforms introduced by Abia State Governor Alex Otti, which include what many are calling a “signpost tax” on churches. 

While the Otti administration’s reforms aim to streamline the state’s tax collection through a newly introduced digital system, religious institutions have raised objections, stating that the reforms could place undue financial strain on them.

The reforms, which include the digitalisation of tax collection, have been largely focused on traders, transporters, and businesses, as part of Otti’s broader strategy to enhance internally generated revenue (IGR) for the state.

The Otti administration has already implemented a system designed to eliminate fraud and intermediaries in revenue collection, especially targeting commercial activities.

According to Governor Otti these measures will allow for better infrastructure development and improved services in the state, benefiting all sectors of society, including healthcare and education.

However, CAN officials claim that the reforms, particularly the so-called “signpost tax,” which would require churches to pay levies for signboards and advertisements, are inappropriate and could hinder the work of religious organizations. 

Church leaders argue that such taxes would place a burden on their operations, making it difficult for them to provide services to their congregations and the wider community.

Despite these concerns, the Otti administration insists that the tax reforms are necessary to bolster the state’s economic stability and development. 

The governor has reassured that the digital system will make tax compliance simpler and more transparent, while also helping to combat tax evasion.

Meanwhile, religious leaders are reportedly planning to engage with the government in dialogue, seeking ways to mitigate the impact of the new tax system on churches and other religious bodies.

This development is part of Otti’s broader economic plan to revitalise Abia State, with a focus on eliminating leakages in revenue and encouraging investment by providing a more structured and formal business environment.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Abia State Governor Otti has been criticized for not acknowledging the contributions of former Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, as he commissions various rehabilitated projects across the state. The criticism suggests that Otti has been taking full credit for these projects without properly recognizing the work done by Senator Orji Kalu during his time as governor.

This has created a “bitter political atmosphere” in the state, with some, like Reverend Samson Okoro Elekwa, a cleric with the Baptist Church, accusing Otti of simply “rehabilitating Orji Kalu’s projects” rather than initiating new ones. The lack of credit given to Kalu has been seen by some as a political move by Otti to undermine the legacy of the former governor. The cleric said all Governor Otti Is doing is rehabilitating Orji Kalu’s project, creating a bitter political atmosphere in Abia state other than uniting former governors.

Reverend Samson Okoro Elekwa, urged Governor Alex Otti of Abia State to emulate governors from other states by uniting former governors and other political stakeholders for the development of the state instead of trying to vilify and instigate the people against their leaders.

The Ibadan-based cleric, who is also an indigene of Arochukwu Local Government Area, in a chat with journalists said though a support of the governor, he does not support the actions of the governor in creating a bitter political atmosphere among politicians.

He accused the governor of rehabilitating road projects executed by former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu without giving him any form of credit.

“I listened to my dear brother, Governor Alex Otti in his speech vilifying every public servants from Abia state for abandoning the Arochukwu –Ohafia road. He only attempted to praise Michael Okpara, whereas the said road was attracted by prominent Aro sons — Professor Chimere Ikeokwu, and Mr Ochi Achinuvu under former Head of State, General Sani Abacha.

“It was executed by the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) under the leadership of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. Prof. Ikeokwu was a member of the Board, while Mr Achinuvu was a senior director. As patriots, they facilitated the project from Umuahia to Arochukwu. It was done by Elite Construction Ltd. When they started from the Aro end was Abacha died in office–leaving the road uncompleted from the Aro end. I also understand that during the time of former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu, the road received some palliative work and it was motorable then.

“I understand Senator Kalu and Hon. Uko made efforts to have it fixed in the 9th National Assembly, it is wrong for him to vilify these people without giving them credit. He is making them to look like the devil while he is the saint.

“I have followed him carefully, when he rehabilitated some roads in Aba that we all know that it was done by Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu when he the governor of Abia state, there was no credit from him. The Udeagbara road, the one in Early Learning School in Aba, and many others were built by Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu. He should be given some credit. I have seen the schools he renovated in Arochukwu, and the ones he is still doing, including the flagging off of Amanagwu road. He deserves our respect as a proper Ugwu and Okeosisi Aro.”

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

By Wisdom Nwedene, Umuahia

The Deputy Speaker of House Of Representatives, Honourable Benjamin Kalu has declared that the next Governor of Abia State will be a Governor from the All Progressives Congress, APC.

9News Nigeria reports that the current Governor of Abia State, Chief Alex Otti won the 2023 Governorship election on the platform of Labour Party despite efforts by then ruling party, People’s Democratic Party for the election to be declared inconclusive.

In a viral video seen by 9News Nigeria correspondent on Monday, Benjamin Kalu bragged that he won’t be number six citizen of Nigeria and his governor will come from another party.

According to him,“I Say This without mincing word , the Next Governor of Abia State in 2027 Will Be APC Governor”.

He further said, “this is the last time Labour Party will Govern Abia State , I cannot be number 6 Citizen of Nigeria and another party will take over my State”.

Meanwhile, mixed reactions has greeted his statement with many people lamabastng him saying it’s too early for such statement.

Benjamin Okezie Kalu was born on May 5, 1971 in Agbamuzu, Bende Local Government Area[2] of Abia State, Nigeria.

Kalu’s political career began in 2002 when he contested for the House of Representatives primaries. He served as the Local Government Chairman (Transition) for Bende Local Government Area, Abia State and held various advisory roles to the then Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu.

In 2011 and 2015, he contested for the House of Representatives elections, representing Progressive Peoples Alliance at that time, but lost in both elections.

On 23 February 2019, Kalu, representing the ruling All Progressives Congress defeated Chima Anyaso of the People’s Democratic Party and won the seat to represent Bende federal constituency, Abia State in the House of Representatives.

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9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Rev Chika Ubani, an Abia-born cleric, has called on Governor Alex Otti of Abia State to lead with honesty and avoid falsehoods and propaganda. In a discussion with journalists in Abuja, Ubani, a supporter of Otti, acknowledged the governor’s efforts in reconstructing roads originally built by former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu. He emphasized the importance of giving credit to the original builders rather than discrediting them.

Ubani criticized the governor’s team for misleading statements, such as claiming Aba now has 24/7 electricity, which led to confusion and numerous verification calls. He stressed the need for transparency and factual communication.

Furthermore, Ubani highlighted the contributions of past commissioners and officials, questioning the narrative that previous administrations left the state in disarray. He urged Governor Otti to focus on genuine governance instead of using propaganda for political gain.

In the media publication seen by 9News Nigeria, Rev Ubani said:

“I’m a big supporter of Governor Alex Otti and I am one of the people from Abia South that voted for him in the 2023 governorship election. Yes, he is reconstructing roads in Abia done by former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu; it is proper he tells Abians to constructed the roads and who abandoned them instead of trying to destroy the image of others.

“I listened to the Obi of Onitsha talking about 24 years of wilderness. Those roads: Ehi, Kent and Old Court—were built by former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu, and I am happy that he is reconstructing them and others. I urge him to give proper credit and shun propaganda, falsehood and lies to move the state forward.

“I was worried when his team told Nigerians that Aba is now having 24/7 electricity. I received so many calls from eminent Nigerians calling to verify if it was true. Why not inform Nigerians what is happening instead of using propaganda to deceive Nigerians. It is wrong to tag our state as normal just to score cheap political points.

“We have had Dr. Chris Akomas (a one-time Senior Special Assistant on Education and later Commissioner for Lands and Survey, then deputy to former governor T.A. Orji); High Chief Johnny Ukpabi (Commissioner for Agriculture), Dr. Sam Ahiwe (Health), Awa Kalu SAN (Attorney General), Dr Mrs Ori Obasi (Education) and Arua Arunsi among others serve the state as commissioners; are we saying these men kept Abia in wilderness. It is time for him to focus on governance and stop propaganda.”

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Enyimba Economic City Development Company FZE, the developers of Enyimba Economic City, a 9,803 Hectares Greenfield Special Economic Zone in Abia State, a Public Private Partnership (PPP) project of Crown Realties Plc.

Abia State Government and Federal Government of Nigeria under the Made In Nigeria for Export (MINE) programme of the Federal Government of Nigeria, congratulates Geometric Power on the official commissioning of Aba Integrated Power Project (AIPP).

Aba Integrated Power Project ringfenced 9 local governments of Abia State
including the commercial and industrial city of Aba for provision of 24/7 power
supply. By the ringfence, AIPP is a full utility company in the entire value chain of power business including generation, distribution and marketing.

The ceremony is the commissioning by and the esteem presence of The President of Nigeria, His Excellency, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, on Monday February 26, 2024, of its 188 MW gas-powered generation plant in Osisioma, Aba, Abia State.

The event is poised to draw dignitaries from across the Country and Businesses.

Enyimba Economic City and Geometric AIPP are jointly financed by African Export Import Bank, Cairo, Egypt, at the back of each other.

Geometric AIPP is the Bank’s recognized power partner for Enyimba Economic City, with which it has signed a 90MW Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for First Phase of Enyimba Economic City.

This momentous occasion therefore, not only signifies the launch of Geometric Power operation but also marks the significant step
towards the take-off of $288.7 million, first phase of the project.

Enyimba Economic City is located in 3 local governments of Abia State, Ukwa
West, Ukwa East and Ugwunagbo with growth sectors in Manufacturing, Logistics, Healthcare, Entertainment, Education, Innovation and Technology Hub, Commercial, Lifestyle Residential and Aviation. First Phase of the project is 1,499 Hectares of land that includes First Industrial Township and Logistics Park with Full Origin and Destination (OD) Inland Port connected by rail to both Port Harcourt and Onne Seaports. On November 14, 2023, the Board of Afreximbank approved $201.7million syndicated debt for the project with Afreximbank underwriting $150million.

Currently, the loan legal documentation is ongoing.

The two (2) interstate highways that are vital for connectivity for the project,
Enugu – Port Harcourt (200km) and Onitsha – Owerri – Aba (161km) are also
concessioned to a Consortium led by Enyimba Economic City Development
Company FZE that includes CCECC Nigeria Limited (EPC), Escher Silverman Global, UK (Technical), Instatoll of South Africa (Operations & Management) and Afrinvest (WA) Limited (Financial). Route Survey, Redesign, Traffic Studies, Revenue Modelling, Willingness to Pay Studies, are currently ongoing on the roads. With the planned 82km highway from Azumini in Abia State bisecting
the A3-Enugu Port Harcourt Highway to Obinze in Owerri, the intervention on
the external connectivity makes Enyimba Economic City 90 minutes driving
distance accessible to the 11 states of Southsouth/Southeast of Nigeria and
connected to economic activities of the whole Nigeria.

The intermodal logistics, road, rail, airport and seaports is also planned to make Enyimba Economic City “The Strategic Global Business Hub in Africa” and African
Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) compliant.

It is noteworthy that Enyimba Economic City won the first prize of the Global New Cities Business Plan Contest of the Chartered Cities Institute in WashingtonDC in 2019, beating Black Stone Charter City in Australia to second prize and Novgorod New Hanse Town in Russia to third place, as a new city that has the capacity to transform the economy of the country.

The award included a US$25,000 cash prize.
Enyimba Economic City Development Company FZE has started to build marketing teams by engaging zone marketing/FDI Companies in India (Crescendo Worldwide), China (Brilliance Co. Limited) and Nigeria (Commodities Development Initiative).

There are a total 127 manufacturing leads from the 3 territories currently. The project is planned to be launched by Q2 of 2024.

Once again, congratulations to our esteemed partners, Geometric AIPP, their
indefatigable Chairman, Prof Bart Nnaji and Governor of Abia State, His Excellency, Alex Otti.

Website: www.eecdgroup.com

Email: info@eecdgroup.com
Tel: +234 9033509001,
+234 8163818968

Twitter (X): enyimbaecocity

Instagram:enyimbaeconomiccity

LinkedIn: Enyimba Economic City Development Company

Facebook: Enyimba Economic City

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Abia State University Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Godwin Emezue has been abducted by unknown gunmen, according to a report received by 9News Nigeria on Saturday.

The incident was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday by the Abia State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Maureen Chinaka on behalf of the state Commissioner of Police, Kenechukwu Onwuemelie.

The Police Command’s statement confirmed that the Abia Stata University Uturu Deputy-VC, Prof. Godwin Emezue was kidnapped while purchasing fuel at a filling station in Umuopara, Abia state.

The statement read, “On 26/01/2024, at about 9.30 p.m., the Abia State Police Command received information that on the same date, at about 7 p.m., the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Uturu ABSU, ProfGodwin Emezue, while in the company of his wife in their vehicle, was abducted by hoodlums while purchasing fuel at a petrol station in Umuopara, Umuahia South LGA.

“During the incident, the hoodlums confiscated his wife’s ATM card, dragged the Deputy Vice-Chancellor into a Lexus SUV, and drove away with the victim.

“The Abia State Police Command is deploying resources and assets including intelligence and technical aid towards unravelling the crime, and safely rescuing the victim from his captors.”

The statement noted that the police urged “Abians to remain calm and continue their legitimate activities while maintaining vigilance and being security conscious

“Furthermore, we seek the cooperation of the public, especially by way of providing any useful information that could be helpful in these particular circumstances, and in attaining enhanced security in the state, generally.”

According to a source from Abia State University, the abductors have not made any contacts as regards any ransom as of the time of filing this report.

– 9News Nigeria Crime and Investigation report

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

“You cannot afford to sit at home when you have work to do. A lot of people live on a daily basis; the taxi drivers, the keke drivers; the woman that is selling pepper in the market, if she sits at home for two weeks, she will die of hunger. So, it (the order) is null and void,”.

The Abia state state spoke after the meeting the South East Governors had with the National Security Adviser to the President and the Service Chiefs

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

President Bola Tinubu has nominated the immediate-past governors of Rivers, Kaduna, Osun and Cross River State as Ministers. The nominees are Nyesom Wike, Nasir E-Rufai, Gboyega Oyetola, and Ben Ayade respectively.

Others on the Ministerial List to be unveiled on the floor of the Senate this Thursday morning include President Tinubu’s top aide, Dele Alake; Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; APC national woman leader, Dr. Betty Edu; former Lagos State Commissioner for Budget Planning, Wale Edun; ex-Minister of State for Health, Prof. Ali Pate, and ex-deputy governor of CBN, Adebayo Adelabu from Oyo State.

The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, had two days ago said the President personally told him the Ministerial List will be ready by Thursday, hence he needed prayer to make the right choice.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Chief Whip of the Senate and Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has been declared winner of the Abia-North Senatorial elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to the Nation’s Electoral umpire, the former Governor polled a total of 30,805 Votes to defeat his major opponents Mao Ohuabunwa of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) 15, 175 votes and Nnamdi Iroh of the Labour Party who polled 27,540 votes.

Declaring the result at the Ohafia collation center, INEC’s returning officer for Abia-North Mr. Chinedu Nnamdi Declared Senator Kalu Winner having satisfied the constitutional required votes.

Details later !

9News Nigeria

From Princely Onyenwe

At the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Rally in Umuahia yesterday, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma delivered a message of hope to the good people of Abia State.

While canvassing for their votes for all Candidates of the party in the State, Governor Uzodinma commended Ndi Abia for their unwavering support to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and stated they need to actively participate in national politics.

He, therefore, called on Ndi Abia to look beyond any drawbacks and support the “Renewed Hope” project of His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which is structured to guarantee economic advancement for the good of all.

9News Nigeria (Owerri) For inquiries on this news contact 9News Nigeria Imo State @08036856526

9News Nigeria

From Princely Onyenwe

It is indeed unbelievable in the minds of those who had wished Abia state government under Ikpeazu the worst developmental milestones in Nigeria that the governor is hellbent on leaving behind him an excellent record.

On this therefore, Honorable Commisioner for Trade & Investment has announced the immediate approval of the construction of few projects in the state today 19-01-2023, 9News Nigeria reports.

Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has approved the immediate reconstitution of the Ohiya Industrial Cluster, Umuahia, Market Committee, as follows:

Chairman- Ugochikwu Efem

While appreciating the services rendered by the immediate past committee members, Ikpeazu trongly advised the new members to ensure good sanitary and orderliness within the market environment.

The official Inauguration will take place on Friday, 20th January, 2023 by 12 noon at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Trade & Investment Abia State Nigeria.

Abians are hopeful that at the completion of this project, the state will wear a new look while the in high expectation that the cluster will be attracting more revenue for the state.

But regrettedly, Abians are not happy for the level of development Ikpeazu has brought to the state while measuring with that of other sister States in the South East zone. Abia State has continued to be rated as worst state ever.

9News Nigeria (Owerri) For inquiries on this news contact 9News Nigeria Imo State @08036856526

9News Nigeria

From Princely Onyenwe

Made in Nigeria products can be defined as best bet suitable for the entire people of the country and other neighbouring foreign countries.

These are Made In Nigeria Products which has passed SON test and made available for sales in the open market.

In the real sense of business, Aba Nigeria can supply to the world just as China is known for massive production of good and services to every part of the world.

However, it is the duty of Nigeria and Abia state government to partner and make sure such huge production companies situated in every part of the country is funded and empowered for more outputs.

The Government are expected to fund entrepreneurs across the states to grant such industry a face lift.

If the Products above are Produced in Aba Abia state Nigeria, then the assurance that more Products can be Produced is not negotiable.

From my research, I have found out that Aba is the Japan of the South East zone and despite all odds, entrepreneurs are doing their best to push out more Products from the local scene.

I am using this medium to call on government and business experts to invest more on entrepreneural circle than wasting resources on irrelevant ventures that cannot give the country any good.

Apart from the above Made In Nigeria Products shared in this story,, States like Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi can boost of locally made Products just like Aba has. There are other local Products like footwears, Vehicle tires, tricycle, Juice, and other Standardized Products being manufactured in Nigeria that can be exported to improve our national revenue base.

This sector needs funding and proper check to upgrade to international standard. This is where government must come in to help our locally made Products grow from nothing to greatness. It will interest our readers to note that our locally made Products are exported to foreign countries where they compete with other exported Products.

These Products are readily available at subsidized rates and Nigerians are advised to patronize their made in Nigeria producers and be proud to showcase their products.

9News Nigeria (Owerri) For inquiries on this news contact 9News Nigeria Imo State @08036856526

9News Nigeria

BY IKECHUKWU AGADA

Basking in the euphoria of the new found romance with opposition political parties, The G5, which held a crucial meeting in Markurdi, capital of Benue State, is also trying to woo more aggrieved chieftains of its camp from the six geo-political zones to make its onslaught wear a national outlook.

They have resolved to sustain the tempo of agitation for the resignation of National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu, who enjoys the support of the Presidential candidate. It was gathered that the aggrieved governors are trying to mobilise their camps in their respective states to resist ‘divide and rule tactics’ allegedly employed by the Presidential candidate to undermine and destabilize their structures.

They have insisted that Ayu, who hails from Benue, should quit, claiming that he had voluntarily promised to leave, if a northerner was picked as Presidential candidate. A source familiar with the workings of the G5 Governors, said “they have resolved to be in one accord in their opposition to Atiku, who is unwilling to prevail on Ayu to quit as chairman. Although the five governors are also under pressure to have a rethink and make more sacrifices, they are determined to fight on, following moves by Atiku to instigate some party chieftains against them in their states”. Another source said “that part of their strategies is to attend fully any activity organised by any of them, particularly during the campaigns”.

Ortom, while giving his opening remarks at the cocktail organized for his colleague, said : ” To hell with Atiku and any one supporting him”.

He said : ” If you don’t honour agreement, you create problems. That is why there are problem in the party today. ” Some people are blackmailing me for calling on Ayu to resign. Yes, because I can’t betray Governor Wike. He was the one who supported Ayu to emerge as the National Chairman. So, it would amount to betrayal if Ayu reneges on his promise and expect me to support him because he is a Benue man like me”.

Ortom stressed that Wike has no problem with Benue people, but only fighting for equity and justice. He said 18 people were killed in Guma Local Government Area last week by herdmen who were trying to take over Benue land, yet some people wanted him to keep quiet.

Ortom said : ” At 62, I am ready to die. I have written my will. God has been good. My age mates are long dead. So, nobody should blackmail me with Senate. Senate or no Senate, to hell with Atiku.

Following the insistence of the five Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, must resign as condition for giving him their support, the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has activated his plan to win the election in the affected states.

Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike; his Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde as well as Governors Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu are all at loggerheads with Atiku and the party’s hierarchy, with the PDP presidential candidate recently declaring that he had decided to carry on his campaign without them.

Feelers from the Atiku camp indicated that the Presidential candidate has mapped out new strategies with which he intends to triumph in the states where the aforementioned Governors hold sway as the Chief Executives.

One of such plans is for the PDP Presidential candidate and his party to shift focus to the three geo-political zones in the North.

Atiku and PDP, it was also gathered, have elected to engage influential party leaders in each of the affected states to checkmate the governors now popularly referred to as the G5.

Part of the counter-strategy, it was gathered, is to scramble for 50 per cent of the votes in each of the G5 states.

Some Atiku strategists are also out to prevent the rebellious governors from imposing their successors, winning senatorial elections or re-election as in the case of Oyo State.

It was gathered that the recent appointment of 200,000 aides by Governor Nyesom Wike was a move meant to curtail Atiku’s Plan B.

But a source in the G5 camp said Atiku’s Plan B cannot work because “it is too late in the day”

Investigation revealed that Atiku and PDP have also drawn the battle line with the governors in the five affected states in what might be a do-or-die affair because of their anti-party activities.

According to findings, Atiku and PDP opted to move on without the five governors after realising that some of them are nothing more than “lightweights” in their states.

They were also said to have realised instances where some of the governors have lost the confidence of their people who are just waiting to resist the governorship candidates imposed by them.

A reliable source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Atiku and PDP have activated Plan B on how to win presidential election in the five states without the governors.

“We have done ward to ward analysis of the voting pattern since 2015, and at a strategy meeting, it was agreed that the five governors can be beaten in their states.

“We concluded that the battle should be taken to Wike and others. Apart from Wike, we rated some of the governors as “weak”.

“The weakness accounted for why the National Chairman of PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, decided to come out to challenge Governor Samuel Ortom.

“We said if key PDP leaders in each of the five states are engaged, Atiku can win about 50 per cent of the votes in the five states.

“Besides Rivers State, the other states are not swing states in any way. They are parasitic states to Rivers.

“We know what is happening. One of the states has just been supplied brand new vehicles for campaign by one of the five governors.

“The introduction of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has buoyed the confidence of Atiku and PDP leaders that the five governors are beatable in their terrains.”

As at press time, it was learnt that the PDP has shifted its focus to the North to gain mileage for Atiku and the party in order to fill the vacuum created by the boycott of the G5.

Findings indicated that Atiku was yet to make an inroad into some parts of the North despite being a Northerner.

The opposition party is worried that most of the states in the North are under the control of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In line with Plan B, some PDP leaders met with the Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed in Bauchi yesterday.

Some of the attendees of the Bauchi meeting were Ayu; Sokoto State Governor and Director-General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Aminu Tambuwal and former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido.

A source said: “With the South-East gone, the South-South fluid and the South-West a no go area for PDP, the alternative is to do everything possible to win in the North.

“They are desperate to secure the North or else the election will be a formality for APC.”

As part of efforts to resolve the internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Chairman of the party, Iyorcha Ayu, Director General of the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign council, Aminu Tambuwal and former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, met in Bauchi yesterday for consultations.

The delegation arrived in the evening for the meeting with Governor Bala Mohammed.

Ayu, during the visit, described Mohammed as one of the major national stakeholders who have contributed immensely to the development of the party, adding that the meeting was also meant to rally support for the party’s Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Ayu said: “We are here to brief you on some of the developments that are going on in the party nationally and to seek your wise counsel because you’re not just the governor of Bauchi, you’re a leader in this country –very experienced.

“In all the places you have served, you gathered the experience, and we thought people like you in this campaign from time to time we need to come around and consult, brief you on some things.”

After the closed-door meeting which lasted about one and a half hours, Ayu shunned briefing the press on the outcome.

But Mohammed, who spoke briefly, said the delegation was in Bauchi to discuss issues concerning the party, the campaigns and the elections.

“They came to Bauchi to discuss some grey areas concerning my position as Deputy Director General of the Campaign Council in charge of the North,” he added.

9news Nigeria

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

“To show our readiness to exit Nigeria by 2023 & to prove Biafrans didn’t send @PeterObi & to further prove @PeterObi doesn’t represent Biafrans, our declaration of no mega political rally in Biafra, we declared 20.8.2022 sit at home civil disobedience as @PeterObi plan rally in IMO.

Save this date, no transportation from any part of Biafra to IMO. This particular site at home will demonstrate our readiness & also send a warning signal to whoever wishes to have a mega rally in Biafra. It is an insult, that all the killing in IMO, @PeterObi never said a word.

For the past one year, all the killing Biafrans in IMO state, @PeterObi never condemned it. He thinks Biafrans are a fool. Not @PeterObi not @atiku, not @officialABAT will be allowed to conduct any Nigeria mega rally after killing our people who all they wanted is freedom.

Any day any of these people call for a mega rally in Biafraland & we confirm it, that day will automatically become sit-at-home civil disobedience. We will lockdown Biafra & make sure no election or political rally is allowed. You can’t kill us & mock us at the same time.

We don’t have a military jet to fight back at this time, but we are going to use everything we have to fight Nigeria for our freedom including this sit-at-home civil disobedience until 2023 when we will finally exit Nigeria.

Those who take Biafra freedom or our resolve to exit Nigeria by 2023 for granted will live to tell the story”

•••Mazi Simon Ekpe
August 15, 2022

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

.
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on Monday said its members in Abia State have been on strike for almost a year over unpaid salaries.

The President of the association, Dr. Dare Ishaya, disclosed this during an interview Session

He criticized the Abia State Government for owing resident doctors their salaries as well as failing to implement the Medical Residency Training Act in the state.

Ishaya stated that plans are ongoing with the state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, who has agreed to pay seven months of the salary arrears and also domesticate the Act in the South-Eastern state.

“I want to tell Nigerians that Abia State, our doctors in the Abia State University Teaching Hospital have been on strike for almost a year now,” he said.

“However there has been some little progress being made. At the last meeting, the Association of Resident Doctors had with the governor and our representatives, it was agreed that the governor was ready to release seven months of the salary arrears within one week and also domesticate the Medical Residency Training Act within the state.”

Should the state government renege on its part, the NARD President said the body’s National Executive Council will consider everything and take appropriate decisions in the next two weeks.

He commended the Governors Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Babagana Zulum (Borno), and Mai Mala Buni (Yobe) for their investment in the health sectors.

Ishaya also called on other state governors to emulate those that have tried to improve the healthcare delivery system in their domains.

The doctors are asking the Federal Government to expedite action on the payment of the newly reviewed Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) so its members can meet up with the closing date of examination registration as advertised by the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN).

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has told leaders and delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State to trust him as the only presidential aspirant who can defend the interest of Ndi Igbo.

Governor Wike, who is also a presidential aspirant of the PDP met with the leaders and delegates of the party at Abia State Government House, in Umuahia on Friday to solicit support ahead of the party’s presidential primary this month.

The Rivers State governor stated that he would not be that kind of a leader who would be lost the opportunity in public service to address social injustice and other forms of unfair treatment that people suffer in Nigeria.

Governor Wike reiterated his belief in the restructuring of Nigeria and is determined to be the first to start the process to strengthen the sense of belonging among Nigerians.

“I say so with all amount of seriousness and I challenge anybody who is from the Southern part of Nigeria; who is from South-South, who is from South-East to say so boldly too. Check all of us, look, and determine who can even defend the interest of Ndi Igbo better than me?

“It is not merely to talk. I mean who has the mind. Who has the courage? I have the mind and I have the courage. I will make sure the injustice in this country is being solved.

“Ask them, when they were in power, what did they do? How many of them have spoken out? Look, don’t waste your votes on such people.”

Governor Wike observed that things have fallen apart in the country because those of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who control the Federal Government lack such capacity.

The governor said he is prepared to effectively and productively take drastic decisions and do so courageously to promote the national good.

Governor Wike assured that in solving Nigeria’s numerous problems, he would also provide requisite logistics, and other support to the security agencies to enable them to curb insurgency and activities of bandits within a given timeline.

“That is what leadership is all about. You must be courageous to take decisions people are thinking that are impossible. Inability to make decisions is our problem in this country.

“But I will make those decisions that people are running away from. I will take it.”

On his part, the governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, who had earlier hosted governor Wike on a courtesy visit, said they have found in the presidential aspirant a consistent leader, a character, and trustworthy.

Dr. Ikpeazu said Nigeria is in a precarious situation with a bleak future and requires governor Wike to forge national unity, rescue the country and stabilize socioeconomic development.

Former Abia State governor, Senator Theodore Orji, who represents Abia Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly, said governor Wike as a performer, is qualified to lead Nigeria.

He assured the presidential aspirant that Abia state delegates will support him.

Also speaking, former governor of Gombe State, Hassan Dakwambo restated that governor Wike is truly a tested politician who is prepared psychologically and physically to be the best president of Nigeria.

Abia State PDP chairman, Dr. Alwell Asiforo Okere informed that most delegates are governor Wike’s converts because they believe in the leadership that he would offer following what he had accomplished in Rivers State.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

The General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi, has canceled his planned crusade in Aba, Abia State, The PUNCH has learned.

It was gathered that Kumuyi canceled the crusade due to security concerns in the South-East geopolitical zone.

The crusade was scheduled to hold in Aba from May 24 to May 29, 2022, but the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra told the 80-year-old cleric not to go ahead with the crusade.

An official of the Global Crusade With Kumuyi confirmed the cancellation of the Aba crusade in a telephone chat with The PUNCH on Saturday and noted that a new venue would be announced for the crusade.

Also, the Chairman of the crusade’s organizing team, Pastor James Akpofure, corroborated the development in a statement on Saturday,

“As there are currently some security challenges at the intended alpha location (Aba, Abia State, Nigeria), the Global Crusade Convener, Pastor (Dr) W.F. Kumuyi commiserate with our people in Abia State and will be praying along for God’s Divine Intervention,” Akpofure said.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

From Kenneth Udeh , Abuja

Ahead of the Zuma Film Festival scheduled to hold between 1st and 7th of May, 2022, co-organisers have stated that the outcome of the film event will make the Federal Capital Territory an investment destination and also open up the key creative potentials of the industry to residents of Abuja.

The 2022 edition which is jointly sponsored by the Nigerian Film Corporation and the Federal Capital Territory Administration following a previous Memorandum of Understanding signed between both parties for which Abuja will be the host city for the film festival in Nigeria over the next 10 years.

According to the organisers, modalities have been put in place to ensure that the 2022 edition is bigger and better and further unlock the creative potentials of the Nation’s capital.

These were stated at a pre-event briefing organised for the press in Abuja on Thursday ahead of the week long event themed “show the money” scheduled to be held in May 2022.

The Minister for state , Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu who was represented by Mr. Samuel Atang. Director, Operations, Office of the Permanent Secretary. FCTA pointed out that Abuja having rapidly garnered a reputation as a pleasant tourist destination with its rich cultural mix , beautiful sights and a bustling entertainment industry will sustain using the Zuma Film Festival as a springboard.

Tijani added that the collaboration between the FCTA and the NFC will not only ensure a bigger and better Zuma Film Festival but will also provide residents of Abuja investment opportunities in the nation’s creative economy.

She said ; We intend to continue to leverage on windows of cooperation that exist within the creative and tourism sectors in the country and also harness the opportunities created by this festival to develop the abundant local talents in the FCT.
” I  therefore thank Nigerian Film makers for the rising profile of Abuja as a location of choice for our local films thus enabling us to benefit from the tremendous value chain that comes with this.
“We also commend their ingenuity in putting the Nigerian film industry on the global map with very limited resources, making it third only to Bollywood and Nollywood. We intend to use the collaboration between the FCTA and the Nigeria Film Corporation to further ensure sustainable development of our indigenous film industry with the ultimate aim of making Abuja, the film and creative hub for Africa using the Zuma Film Festival as a catalyst to attain these dreams.

She further appreciated the event partners and the Media for promoting the event in positive light and enjoined the public to give the event the publicity it deserves. 

On his part , Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NFC, Dr. Chidia Maduekwe expressed that collaborative partnership between the FCTA and the NFC is significant and iconic.  Stressing that Abuja now being the host city is in line with global practices like- Cannes (France), Toronto (Canada) and several others. 

Chidia revealed that the objective of the 2022 ZFF, the 12th edition is to herald a total transformation of the film,  cinema and tourism activities of the country, especially within the FCT. 

“Since its inception in 1999 and its rebranding in 2017 as Nigeria’s foremost and international film festival, no efforts have been spared to ensure that the objectives of the film festival are maximally achieved. 

“Consequently, the collaborative partnership between the FCTA and the NFC in mounting subsequent editions of the film festival beginning from this 12th edition is very significant and iconic. Abuja has now been designated as the official host city for the Zuma film festival. 

“At the NFC, we are resolved to deepen and develop the Nigerian film industry. Within the broad and specific mandate of developing the Nigerian film industry, NFC remains committed to engaging its key partners at all levels, Chida further disclosed. 

He also thanked Alh. Lai Mohammed, Hon. Minister of Information & gratitude to the Honorable Minister, Mal. Muhammad Musa Bello and the Honorable Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, Federal Capital Territory Administration, for facilitating the hosting of the event which he described as his historic first outing. 
The film festival is scheduled to take place from 1st – 7th May 2022, at the respective venues:  NICON LUXURY Abuja (1st – 4th) and International Conference Centre, Abuja (5th -7th). Time:    9:00am Daily. Some of the major events of the Film Festival include, but not limited to the following: Opening Ceremony/Screening of Opening Films, Red Carpet scheduled for Sunday, May 1st , 2022 at 5:00pm.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

The Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, has appealed to the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to consider the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike for his presidential bid.

Governor Ikpeazu described the Rivers Governor as the best candidate the PDP can queue behind in 2023.

He stated this on Tuesday during a meeting between Wike and the National Working Committee of the party.

According to Governor Ikpeazu, the two main requirements for the PDP to wrestle power from the ruling APC in 2023 are competence and acceptability.

He opined that Governor Wike has met those requirements and has also demonstrated loyalty to the party and should be allowed to fly the party’s flag.

Governor Wike, who was also accompanied by the former Governor of Gombe State, Hassan Dankwambo, asked the party not to be sentimental in their candidate selection process.

He said the party should consider who can win the elections for the PDP, adding that he has the capacity and knows the strategy of the ruling party, APC.

He noted that the 2023 elections are the only opportunity for the party to bounce back and that he will bridge the disconnect between the party and the Government if allowed to fly the PDP flag and eventually win the elections.

He says he’s against consensus candidacy and wants the delegates to make their choice.

He also advised the party against ignoring court orders should they come in the build-up to the elections.

The PDP’s National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, in his remarks, said all 17 presidential aspirants on the platform of the PDP will do better than President Muhammadu Buhari.

He assured the aspirant that the candidate selection process will be credible, free from manipulations.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

The Senator representing Abia South Senatorial District, Enyinnaya Abaribe, has informed Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of his intention to run for the governorship seat in 2023, sources have said.

9news Nigeria gathered that Ikpeazu will contest on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Recall that rumours of Abaribe’s interest in succeeding Ikpeazu has been flying around in the state for a while.

It emerged on Saturday morning that Abaribe made his intention known to Ikpeazu, who also comes from the same local government as the Senator, during a meeting with the governor at the Abia Government House Lodge on Friday night.

The Senate Minority leader was said to have embarked on the visit with some Obingwa political stakeholders.

Our correspondent gathered that Ikpeazu was taken aback when Abaribe told him the reason for their visit.

A source said: “Governor Okezie Ikpeazu was thrown off balance when Senator Abaribe told him about his gubernatorial ambition because he had no idea why they wanted to seek audience with him.

“We learnt that Senator Abaribe just called him to tell him (Ikpeazu) that he wanted to see him.

“The governor thought it was the usual Christmas homage.

“The twist is that we learnt that some of the stakeholders that came with Abaribe didn’t know his mission.

“They too were surprised when Abaribe made his intention known to the governor.”

Efforts to reach Abaribe or any of his aides to confirm the development have been unsuccessful.

It was learnt that Abaribe will declare his plan soon.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

A Professional pro-democracy, human and environmental rights advocacy group, Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development, FENRAD, has called on Abia State Government to make it own EndSARS panel report public.

A statement made available to our correspondent by Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, Executive Director of the group said
having read in full the recently leaked Lagos State EndSARS panel reports known formerly and officially as Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS-Related Abuses and Other Maters or Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry, the Group is urging the federal and Lagos State governments to ensure that justice is properly dispensed to the letter.

According to the statement, “while the said reports, from page to page, paint a gory, heart-rending picture of the ignoble action state actors – the Nigeria Army as led then by Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd) and the Nigeria Police led by former Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu – perpetrated against innocent and unarmed youthful citizens whose only crime was interrogating a system that has failed for years. FENRAD, beyond all of this, is more interested in the aftermath of the protests and reports, demanding restorative justice and restitution for victims of that ugly period in our history and as well prosecutorial trials of all those, like Lt. Col Bello and others, indicted by the same reports. “

“Meanwhile, FENRAD wishes to commend laudably the Doris Okuwobi-led panel for not only producing a report the international community and the US welcome, but one not tainted by politics and its nuances. However, the 309-paged reports, according to FENRAD, must not end on any shelf like many before it, findings and recommendations thereof must see full implementation so that the souls of the eleven youths massacred, the four persons disappeared and all the brutally wounded victims get commensurate justice and not any undergetting. “

” Now that the State Government (in this case Lagos) is looking to set up a “committee” whose mandate is to produce a white paper from the reports, FENRAD wishes to remind the state government, its commissioner for justice or whoever that may likely head the so-called committee not to do anything that may obstruct justice. FENRAD is aware that the state government cannot be a judge in its own case and must act within and according to law. The white paper when finally out must beget action and justice.”

“Having stated this, FENRAD is glad that from initial denials and cover-up, with the reports, we are now standing before the truth. The untruths churned out to deny the infamous Lekki Tollgate Shooting (named “massacre” in the reports) by the military and some government officials at national and subnational levels, to say the least, is regrettably worrisome. May history vindicate the just.”

“FENRAD calls on Abia State Government led by Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, Ph.D to also make its reports public soon so as to allow public scrutiny and access. Abia, as FENRAD knows, was among the twenty-nine states that instituted a panel of inquiry into police and other sister security agencies’ brutality with specific terms of reference covering the period from 2015 to 2020. While the panel has submitted its reports, nothing has been heard from the state government, especially after the panel recommended the sum of ₦511 million as recompense to all victims of police and SARS brutality. Like FENRAD wishes for Lagos State, all the persons named and indicted must be brought to justice in Abia State. This itself, more than any monetary numbers to be awarded, is the best form of justice that cleanses the land.”

“May we never witness such an ugly moment in our history, again.”
” May lessons be learned enough”

Signed

Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor
Executive Director

Barr. Akande Femisi
Head Corporate Accountability and Human Rights Enforcement

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Exclusive throwback photos of Abia Born Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Film Corporation, Dr. Chidia Maduekwe has surfaced online.

The awesome photo which goes down memory lane shows the Medical Doctor turned Chief executive of the Nigerian Film Corporation as a level three medical student at the university of Ibadan.

known prominently as “Good Governance”, Maduekwe a jobs and Justice Advocate graduated in medicine from the prestigious University College Hospital, Ibadan, in June 1980 now known as the University of Ibadan. Chidia established the Kesandu Rural Mobil Medical (KRUMM) Scheme where he focussed on the humanitarian aspect of medical services.

Dr. Chidia Maduekwe who hails from Asaga Ohafia, Abia North of Abia State aside being one of the technocrats in President Buhari’s cabinet, steers the affairs of the popular “KanyiKeseandu” political movement in Abia State with it’s slogan “Nkaa Ga eme”.

Since his appointment as the MD of the Nigerian Film Corporation by President Buhari in 2017 Dr. Maduekwe has pioneered several innovationss and revolutionary changes that has impacted positively in Nigeria’s film industry.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Rev Fr Godfrey Mark Chimezie of St Theresa’s Parish, Umuahia was kidnapped this morning along Enyiukwu Road Ohokobe Afaraukwu Ibeku in Umuahia North LGA of Abia State.

More details………

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

The Senate chief whip and former Governor of Abia state Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has facilitated free medicals for Abia North constituents in Abia State 

 This is even as he emphasizes on the need for Nigerians to access improved health care delivery at all times from professional caregivers.

He said the aim was to ensure that all terminal diseases affecting Nigerians would be treated and eradicated from the country by the year 2030, in line with the United Nations’ sustainable development agenda.

Kalu spoke on Wednesday at Amuda town hall in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia state during the free medical treatment campaign organized by the Small and medium enterprises development agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).

The exercise which was facilitated by the senator was aimed at the test and treatment of Peptic (stomach) ulcer diseases.

The Senate chief whip who was represented by the Director-General Orji Uzor Kalu movement Rev. Jemima Ola-Kalu added that the exercise that started in Isuikwuato LGA would continue in Arochukwu Local Government.

He also revealed that his foundation would commence a free medical treatment for cancer patients across all the political wards in the Abia North senatorial district.

He said, “We are aligning our thematic area with the United Nations sustainable development agenda 2030 which is to eradicate poverty and provide good health care for all.

“We are also providing a good education for our people at all levels. Recently we gave 50 students scholarships to study medicine and surgery in Venezuela and another 650 students to study medicine in selected 12 Nigerian Universities. 

“We will ensure that by the year 2030 the patients/doctor ratio in Nigeria which is currently one doctor to 30 patients improves by training more medical doctors”.

The head of the medical team Dr Grace Onyebuchi Achilike explained that peptic ulcer disease can occur in the stomach and any other part of the intestine. 

She pointed out that the medical outreach was facilitated by Kalu because of his love for the people of Abia North senatorial district and Abia State in General to access quality health care attention.

She said” ‘I had organized a free medical outreach to give back to the society at Igbere last year because of the kind gesture of his Excellency to me when I was a student.

“But being a man that wants good health care delivery for his people our distinguished senator asked that we should extend the free treatment to other Local Governments in his senatorial district.

Photo Gallery

Some of the beneficiaries of the free test and treatment including Mr Godwin Onyekachi Orji, Roseline Eze, Chukwudi Augustine and Iyke Okole commended the Senate Chief whip for the kind gesture, describing it as a privilege to members of the community.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

A student of Marist Comprehensive Academy, Uturu, Abia State has been reportedly killed when some armed bandits opened fire on four students during what seemed like a robbery attack.

9News Nigeria learnt that Some students from Marist Comprehensive Academy, Uturu, Abia State were attacked by armed bandits around Ihube road in Okigwe LGA on their way from a Final Religious Profession of some Marist Brothers on Saturday, 18th September 2021.

Edeh Donal was one of the four students shot at by the armed robbers and he died due to serious injuries he sustained.

Three other students also sustained different degrees of injuries but were rushed to the hospital where they are currently receiving treatments.

A source who confirmed the incident said that the three are already responding to the treatments.

“In the course of the robbery attack, one student in the person of Edeh Donald was shot and he later died.”

“Three other students were injured. They are receiving treatment and they are responding to the treatment,” the source said.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

4 Children of Abia Couple Who Died After Eating Suya laid to rest at Umuhu Ohuhu

BY PRINCELY ONYENWE, IMO

It was a heart-touching mood at UMUAGU UMUHU in ABIA state Nigeria at the burial of the family of Mr. & Mrs Chibuzor Ikwunze whose death occurred after the consumption of SUYA.

However, the burial of four children of Mr. & Mrs Chibuzor Ikwunze, of Umuagu, Umuhu Ohuhu in Umuahia North local government of Abia State was reportedly died out of poisoned the CONSUMPTION of SUYA.

It was seen as a mysterious circumstance that in one day, the four children died at the same time namely, Kelechi Chibuzor 12, Sunday Chibuzor 10, Oluomachi Chibuzor (f) 8, and Kingsley Chibuzor 3.

They were among the seven persons who passed on recently in the state after allegedly eating the local barbecue, popularly known as suya on August 25, 2021, in Umuahia.

Their burial which took place on Saturday, September 18, 2021, at their home town, Umuhu Ohuhu in Umuahia North was heartfelt and sorrowful.

Their bodies were laid at City Gate Mortuary at about 9 am in their home town.

Goodnews Pentecostal Church conducted a service in honour of the late kids at Umuagu Central School at 10 am after which they will be laid to rest.

The state government had ordered that autopsy be conducted on their bodies to ascertain the cause of their death.

Though the outcome is yet to be made public, there are speculations that they may have died of smoke from a generator set that was powered near their room the night they passed on.

They had during the recent holidays visited a family friend, Mr Sunday Ogbah at Umuaeze in Umuahia North when the sad incident occurred.

Mr Ogbah himself along with two children also died mysteriously. Only his wife and daughter survived.

The wife of Abia State governor, Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu had on Friday sent a delegation led by her Principal Secretary, Mrs Love Ezema to commiserate with the family over the loss.

She made a donation of an undisclosed amount to help the family organize the burial of the children.

9News Nigeria (Owerri)
For inquiries on this news contact 9News Nigeria Imo State @08036856526

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Lead Counsel for the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has said that the Department of State Services stopped the detainee from seeing his lawyers on Thursday.

Ejiofor, in a statement on Friday, said the secret police denied himself and other lawyers including “IPOB’s Attorney in the United States, Bruce Fein”, from meeting with Kanu.

He described the denial as a violation of the order of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja which ordered that the DSS should allow the lawyers to visit Kanu twice a week. The lawyer had previously alleged maltreatment by the DSS during the routine visits.

Ejiofor’s statement on Friday was titled,
‘Update On Yesterday’s Visit Being 2nd Day Of September, 2021.’

It read, “Yesterday (Thursday’s) Court ordered visit to Our Client- Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was aborted by the officials of the State Security Services on a reason we find extremely ridiculous.

“Following the arrival of Mr. Bruce Fein, a foremost American trained Constitutional Law Lawyer and IPOB’s Attorney in the United States of America, the game obviously took an interesting twist.

“Despite our formal notification to the
Service, in line with the existing protocol, and in compliance with the Court-Ordered guideline, the officials of the Department of State Security Services came up with an excuse, “that the person assigned to receive us during yesterday’s visit was on A SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT”, and as such, the visit cannot be conducted.

“This is not only ridiculous but a clear
violation of the Court Order on guidelines for visiting our Client – Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

“For the records, we have been consistently visiting Our Client on the specified days and time of the week, and there hasn’t been any time we were denied access to him on the ground that an individual assigned to receive us was not available.

“Needless to mention, that no one individual has been specifically assigned to receive us on any of the visits. They are fully aware that the visit takes place every Monday and Thursday.

“Thankfully, we have another date for Monday, and we do hope that this individual will be available on Monday to receive us, whilst we have taken steps to formally bring this latest infraction to the attention of the Court.

“We will continue to update you all, while we continue to urge for your relentless prayers and understanding. We are winning, you can be assured.”

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Former Governor of Abia State and the Chief Whip of the Senate, Dr Orji Kalu has congratulated the people of Abia State on the 30th anniversary of the creation of the state.

In a press statement made available to 9News Nigeria, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu said Abians must shun political differences in order to work harmoniously for the sake of building a prosperous Abia state.

The former Governor, while admonishing the political class to place the collective interests of the people above selfish ambitions, stressed that Abians are hardworking, selfless and patriotic.

Kalu in a goodwill message, re-affirmed his commitment as a politician, businessman and philanthropist in promoting credible leadership in all facets of life.

He said, ” as we mark the 30th anniversary of the creation of Abia state, it is imperative for the political class to unite in order to make Abia state great.

“Politics is an opportunity to serve the people and not an avenue for meeting selfish ambitions.

” The political classic must provide genuine leadership in a bid to ameliorate the suffering of the people.

“Despite our political differences, we must create a platform for development to thrive across the nooks and crannies of the state.

“The anniversary is a good opportunity for people in leadership positions to reflect on the current realities so as to forge ahead”.

The former Governor while wishing Abians a remarkable and memorable 30th-anniversary celebration, promised to sustain his developmental strides beyond Abia North Senatorial district.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

At least seven persons have been confirmed dead after eating the popular barbecue known as suya.

Our correspondent gathered that the ugly incident happened in Umueze Umuakanu Umuahia North LGA, Abia State.

It was gathered that the Father of the house Mr. Jessey bought the suya from where all the family members, including extended family who came for holidays ate.

According to report, only the Wife Mrs Ogba Jessey, and his son survived.

She is currently receiving treatment at Federal Medical Centre Umuahia.

Our correspondent gathered that she is not aware that other members of the family have passed on.

They were said to have started throwing up after eating the suya suspected to have been poisoned.

Their bodies have been deposited in the morgue while the surviving victims are currently receiving treatment.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Despite the suspension of Sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People Of Biafra, IPOB, Aba in Abia State is completely locked.

9News Nigeria correspondent that visited Aba revealed that the traders in the area are observing the sit-at-home order without being forced to do that.

9NEWS NIGERIA had suspended the Mondays Sit-at-home order aimed at protesting for the release of their leader Nnamdi Kanu who was abducted in Kenya and brought back to Nigeria.

More details soon.

STAY WITH 9NEWS NIGERIA.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

The Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, said on Saturday he would not influence the emergence of his successor in 2023.

Ikpeazu, who stated this in a chat with journalists in Aba, said nobody believed he would become governor in 2015 but God made surprised everybody and ensured his success in that year’s election.

He added that power is a serious matter that God would not leave entirely in the hands of men.

The governor stressed that his desire is that an individual who would build on his legacies and subsequently perform than him emerges the governor of Abia State in 2023.

Ikpeazu said: “The question of who succeeds me in 2023 resides entirely within God. But every man in my position will pray to get a successor who will sustain his legacies and mean well for the people of the state and also do better than I have done.

“At all times as a governor, I try to emphasize some virtues and traits that I think we need to grow to move forward. I will not want to be in a place where I will literally determine who will be governor, I won’t do that because I know I cannot because mine is a divine mandate.

“Nobody gave me a chance, but God made it happen. So, God can also raise somebody. Power is such a serious matter that God will not leave entirely in the hands of men.

“Maybe, if I have expectations, let it happen. But I will be sufficiently neutral such that I will be able to accept whatever decision God makes on the election. I have spent time in my lodge in Aba, it isa three-bedroom apart. I don’t know how many governors can reside in this kind of place.

“But I stay here because I want to keep my eyes on the fact that I’m the governor today, but I will not be the governor tomorrow. I won’t take myself too far away from how I live my life. I will work hard to the point that somebody coming after me will find it difficult to operate unless he is running on this same lane.”

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

The Senate Minority leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, on Sunday, decried the marginalization of Ndigbo in Nigeria, saying no amount of threat would stop the people of the South-East from demanding equity and fair treatment in the country.

Abaribe, who stated this at the inauguration of the Igbonine socio-cultural organization in Enugu, said President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has been exhibiting sectional leadership and unequal treatment in the country.

These, according to him, had been the problems of Nigeria.

The senator, however, said the Ndigbo would not leave Nigeria for anybody.

He said: “We are being highly marginalized. This Union called Nigeria is stiflingly everybody in Nigeria not just Igbo but other regions and I am glad that we are making noise to see how to change the situation.

“What does Igbo want? Igbo want emancipation. Our people have gone through a lot. We have gone through, lost over three million people. When the war ended, were given 20 Pounds but we rose through the ashes and survived.

“We are the glue that holds Nigeria together. We are the highest domestic investors and we are the most travelled people in Nigeria. In any part of Nigeria, after the indigenous people, the next is Igbo.

“That is why anywhere you go you must see an Igbo man. We are really the Federal Nigeria.

“When they say we want to leave, we say no. Some people want to push us out. We are not going to leave Nigeria for anybody.

“We have a government today that is manifesting sectional leadership. Boko Haram has been killing people but nothing was done to them. When our boys were carrying flags running around, it was easy for them to get them proscribed as a terrorist organization. But the same government refused to designate Boko Haram which everybody knows their activities, killing and destroying, and bombing churches and institutions.

“When we challenge them, the Minister of Information said Boko Haram was faceless but our boys were known.

“This unequal treatment of people has been the problem of Nigeria. We are feeling of being alienated. The alienation is spreading across the country and no longer on Igbo.

“What we now have is that even though there is insecurity everywhere but they want to paint Igbo as the people causing the problems.

“Our country Nigeria today is supposed to be the inclusion of everybody because we are equal partners. We, the Igbo are the glue that keeps Nigeria. Therefore, there must be a deliberate effort to bring everybody together.”

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

BY PRINCELY ONYENWE,IMO

Stakeholders in Abia State have lauded Governor Okezie Ikpeazu on gains made so far by his administration in the areas of economy and infrastructural development after six years in charge of the state’s affairs.

Quantifying the developmental strides of the state government, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Chinedum Orji, said the Abia citizenry made the right choice of electing Ikpeazu as their Governor, adding that he has justified the people’s confidence in him with massive projects scattered in every nooks and cranny of Abia.

In a statement felicitating with the State Government on the occasion of its sixth anniversary on May 29, the Abia Speaker described Ikpeazu as a true democrat who has epitomized leadership anchored on transparency, accountability and inclusiveness.

According to Hon Orji, “With the benefit of insight, it is clear that Abians made the right choice when they elected Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu as Governor in 2015 and reinforced the confidence they have in him by overwhelmingly voting for him for a second term in 2019. And since then, the Governor has gone ahead to justify the people’s choice of him as our Governor”.

9News Nigeria reports that the number one lawmaker also attributed the relative peace in the state’s political space to the humane and humble attributes of the Governor which he posited, has exceeded all expectations.

Also lending his voice as the government marked its sixth Anniversary, a renowned entrepreneur and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Innocent Nwachukwu, said the administration has made indelible marks in provision of genuine and people-oriented projects across the State.

He also stated that Governor Ikpeazu has justified the mandate of the people in provision of basic needs of the populace, encouragement of small and medium scale enterprises through promotion of Made-in-Abia products and youth empowerment and inclusiveness in governance.

Nwachukwu further added that the government has enhanced the safety of the citizens with its provisions of adequate logistics and manpower to security agencies in the state.

The Umuahia Ibeku-born business mogul used the medium to call on the residents of the state to remain steadfast and resolute in ther supports to the State government as it had made huge efforts in placing Abia in the world map of economic development.

Recall that Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu was first elected as Governor of Abia State during the 2015 general elections and completed his first term of four years.

He was reelected for a second term in office in the last 2019 election and was sworn in as Governor on 29th day of May, 2019 by the Chief Judge of Abia State.

Ikpeazu marked his sixth year in office on Saturday having recorded crops of dignitaries who graced the event.

9News Nigeria (Owerri)
For inquiries on this news contact 9News Nigeria Imo State @08036856526

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

BU PRINCELY ONYENWE,IMO

Elder statesman and Pioneer chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia state chairman, Chief Tony Ukasanya has lambasted Senate Chip Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu for allegedly failing to lay a solid foundation for the infrastructural development to thrive in the state when he held sway as Governor of Abia between 1999 to 2007.

Ukasanya lamented that at the early stage of Orji Kalu’s past administration, nothing was planned, and due to lack of foundation, it became difficult for people coming after that tenure of government to follow with a plan.

He maintained that nothing was on the ground for other successive governments to follow.

Ukasanya who spoke during an interview with select Journalists in Umuahia, told 9News Nigeria that ex-Abia Governor plunged Abia citizenry into untold hardship and suffering with draconian policies.

According to him, “If there was foundation, subsequent governments would have followed and continued to build from what they saw. The first Government failed in laying foundation. If the government had come in, build to an extent, another government would follow their footsteps, but lack of foundation truncated the steps subsequent governments would have followed in order to resemble our neighbors.

Continuing, the former PDP Chairman added, “the thing we can do is to work hard, Abians outside Abia should come home and develop Abia, it is not for the Government alone. If you go to Imo, you will see development there, what the Government does is to create enabling environment. The first elected administration of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state in 1999, led by the then Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu refused to lay any foundation that his successors would have start from to make Abia an envious state in the South East.

If you go to Owerri in Imo state, you see a lot of Abians who built modern Hotels and big businesses”

“What is happening at Owerri can happen in Abia, if we decide to do it here, it will thrive. Abians should come home and invest, when they come home and invest, Abia will look better than most of the adjoining states. Most of them keep talking about Government, it is not like that. Development is not left for government alone, “he concluded.

Ukasanya lauded the developmental strides of the present administration under Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, which he stated, has change the narratives in Abia.

The Abia Elder statesman said Governor Ikpeazu has given the state infrastructural facelifts, particularly pointing out at the massive road construction and reconstruction projects embarked upon in Aba, and as well as the state government’s promotion of Enyimba Economic city through manufacturing of Made in Aba products which has gained international patronage.

The Party Chieftain said, “that is exactly what Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is doing. I don’t like saying much about Ikpeazu. Though, he is my friend, but he is now trying to lay foundation in the state, create road map and develop that road map. But my fear is that the period left for him to do this is too short. If you go to Aba, which used to be the bane of the whole country’s commerce, it is now a changed place on the basis of infrastructure and economy, he has improved Aba a lot”.

9News Nigeria (Owerri)
For inquiries on this news contact 9News Nigeria Imo State @08036856526

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Elder statesman and Pioneer chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State chairman, Chief Tony Ukasanya has lambasted Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu for allegedly failing to lay a solid foundation for the infrastructural development to thrive in the state when he held sway as Governor of Abia between 1999 to 2007.

Ukasanya lamented that at the early stage of Orji Kalu’s past administration, nothing was planned and due to the lack of foundation, it became difficult for people coming after that tenure of government to follow with a plan.

He maintained that nothing was on the ground for other successive governments to follow.

Ukasanya who spoke during an interview with select Journalists in Umuahia, further claimed that ex-Abia Governor plunged Abia citizenry into untold hardship and suffering from draconian policies.

According to him, “If there was a foundation, subsequent governments would have followed and continued to build from what they saw. The first Government failed in laying the foundation. If the government had come in, built to an extent, another government would follow their footsteps, but lack of foundation truncated the steps subsequent governments would have followed to resemble our neighbors.

Continuing, the former PDP Chairman added, “the thing we can do is to work hard, Abians outside Abia should come home and develop Abia, it is not for the Government alone. If you go to Imo, you will see development there, what the Government does is to create an enabling environment. The first elected administration of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state in 1999, led by the then Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu refused to lay any foundation that his successors would have started from to make Abia an envious state in the South East. If you go to Owerri in Imo State, you see a lot of Abians who built modern Hotels and big businesses.

“What is happening at Owerri can happen in Abia, if we decide to do it here, it will thrive. Abians should come home and invest, when they come home and invest, Abia will look better than most of the adjoining states. Most of them keep talking about the Government, it is not like that. Development is not left for government alone, “he concluded.

Ukasanya lauded the developmental strides of the present administration under Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, which he stated, has changed the narratives in Abia.

The Abia Elder statesman said Governor Ikpeazu has given the state infrastructural facelifts, pointing out the massive road construction and reconstruction projects embarked upon in Aba, as well as the state government’s promotion of Enyimba Economic city through the manufacturing of Made in Aba products

The Party Chieftain said, “that is exactly what Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is doing. I don’t like saying much about Ikpeazu. Though he is my friend, he is now trying to lay foundations in the state, create a road map and develop that road map. But my fear is that the period left for him to do this is too short. If you go to Aba, which used to be the bane of the whole country’s commerce, it is now a changed place on the basis of infrastructure and economy, he has improved Aba a lot”.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

BY PRINCELY ONYENWE,IMO

The Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Chinedum Orji has urged the Muslim Ummah in Abia to continue to exhibit the love, good neighbourliness, compassion and such virtues that advance the cause of humanity as commanded by Prophet Muhammad.

In a message felicitating with the Muslims on the celebration of Eid-el-Fitr the Abia Speaker also urged the faithful to remember the poor and the needy in the society and use the occasion to continue to pray for the success of the Abia State Government.

9News Reports that Orji further ADMONISHED muslims to pray for wisdom for leaders of the State and for peace, security and prosperity for the people of Abia.

The lawmaker congratulated the Muslim community in Abia State and Nigeria in general on the successful end of the Holy Month of Ramadan.

“On behalf of the Abia State House of Assembly, I wish our Muslim brothers and sisters a joyous Eid-el-Fitr”, he concluded.

Also, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, in Abia State, Innocent Nwachukwu has felicitated with Muslims on the celebration of Eld-el-Fitr.

Nwachukwu in his goodwill message urged the Muslim community to use the occasion to pray for peace in Nigeria as well as for God’s wisdom in piloting the affairs of the country amid daunting security challenges ravaging the nation.

The Party chieftain also lauded the government of Abia State for providing a conducive environment for the harmonious relationship to exist among the different religious faithful in the state.

He however charged the Muslim community to continue to sustain their support for the governments at all levels given Abia a facelift in face of the state economy.

9News Nigeria (Owerri)
For inquiries on this news contact 9News Nigeria Imo State @08036856526

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9News Nigeria

BY PRINCELY ONYENWE,IMO

A pro-democracy and human rights advocacy group, Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development (FENRAD) has expressed concern over the plight of the students of Abia State University ABSU, Uturu, reportedly abducted by yet to be identified gunmen on Wednesday night.

Our source told 9News Nigeria that the yet-to-be-confirmed number of students were kidnapped while transiting on a bus on Okigwe-Uturu Road.

FENRAD, in a press release signed by its Executive Director, Nelson Nnanna Nwafor and made available to the press saturday, in Aba, warned that the abduction of the ABSU students must not linger as he expressed worried that nothing has been heard about them or their whereabout.

The Rights Group tasked Imo & Abia State Governments and her security agencies to live up to the security challenges before it gets out of hand.

FENRAD further cautioned that if this ugly situation sees light of further days it could become a regional norm for southeast.

The Environmental & Advcacy body, urged Government of Abia state to, in the interest of peace, summon a statewide security dialogue and summit involving all and major critical stakeholders from security heads stationed in the state to traditional, religious leaders.

According to the group, “Security deserves a bottom-up approach in which case it starts first from the locals than the current down-top arrangement where vertically, its foundation is standing on its head (the federal government) than on its feet (the state and local governments)”.

The release partly stated, “the Okigwe-Uturu road (bend) poses serious threat with gullies and hills on both sides and was at a time in a very bad condition. This road connects Abia State to Imo State and therefore one that requires a federal presence! With Nigerian Correctional Services facility, a military checkpoint and police station along that bend, we worries how a student and other passengers could be taken into custody within the coordinates of the area and yet no lead or trace has been established after two to three days.

“Recent happenings across the length and breadth of the nation, especially in her northern part, should have served a notice on all subnational governments to up the security situation on campuses within states. This should have been preemptive action unlike what Abia and Imo State are doing now.

From Kankara to Nasarawa and thence Greenfield University to College of Forestry and Mechanisation Afaka both in Kaduna State, kidnapping of students is now a “handsome” industry in the nation; an ugly trend.

“Abia State University, it should be noted, is located within 15-20 minutes drive from Akara-Isuikwuato road which only last year was in the news with cases of kidnapping allegedly by armed herdsmen and those the state government through its release stated where not from Abia.

With the recent surge in kidnapping of varsity students by armed men, it requires that a school like ABSU is secure at all times given its proximity to this axis.

“This should also spur the five regional governors to action. Heretofore, the governors of the region have not tagged along other regions in localising or regionalizing security outfit to help the law enforcement agencies with intelligence as is happening in other regions”

“While the five governors flagged off the Ebube Agu outfit, not much has been heard of the group and the governors, as it were, seem to be resting on their oars. Like Ohanaeze Ndigbo opined, there need to be harmony worked out between the Ebube Agu and Eastern Security Network, ESN towards ensuring there is regional peace, relatively.

“FENRAD urges the Abia State government to see to boosting the activities of the ministry it created for the purpose of forest and border guard operations and as well urge the regional governors to do the needful leveraging the Police Act 2020 which allows for community policing since security is a collective responsibility”

“This becomes more logical following the fact that entry and exit points of the region, just as those of the nation, are bare flanks lying fallowed, unmanned and are as such prone to invasion, incursion and infiltration”.

Meanwhile, in a press conference held in Umuahia, on Friday, the Vice Chancellor of the Abia State University, Professor O. M Ogbulu confirmed the abduction of the students by the gunmen.

He however assured that the school authority is working assiduously with security agencies to ensure the release of the students and prosecution of the culprits.

The Vice Chancellor also confirmed that two of the students escaped from the hoodlums while one student still being held by them.

9News Nigeria (Owerri)
For inquiries on this news contact 9News Nigeria Imo State @08036856526

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9News Nigeria

OPPOSITION FEDERAL LAWMAKERS THREATEN PRESIDENT BUHARI WITH IMPEACHMENT.

The caucus has also taken note of the fact that the President is absent from duty.

We have not seen our president, we have not heard from our President despite the daily killings that are going on and turned Nigeria into a killing field of unimaginable proportions.

The caucus will at the appropriate time utilize all constitutional methods and measures available after consultation with our colleagues to do the needful to save the country from collapse

• Sen. Eyinnaya Abaribe

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

BY PRINCELY ONYENWE, IMO

The governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has said he has improved the city of Aba from the poor state of infrastructure he met on ground when he assumed office in 2015.

This he disclosed while briefing Journalists in ABIA state few moments ago.

He has hinted that most of the roads were abandoned for over 20 years as trees started growing in them while others were regularly flooded all through the year.

According to him, the flood waters had been sitting on the roads for over 15 years and he had to adopt cement pavement technology to the roads with drainages on both sides to ensure durability.

The governor who stated this while addressing members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, who toured project sites of his administration in Aba, explained that he was greeted in office with issues of security and bad roads which led to investors taking flight from the city.

Ikpeazu however stated that he was focused on building roads leading to markets and other economic centres to boost small and medium scale enterprises, oil and gas and agro based industries in the state.

Meanwhile, for the first time in 30 years, he opened up Faulks Road (Sam Mbakwe Rd) leading to the Ariaria International Market from Brass Junction to the Enugu –Port Harcourt Expressway.

In his words: “In 2015, we started our journey to Government House, Umuahia, and thought about how best we could improve the lives of Abia people. We came with the need to support trade and commerce, small scale manufacturing, oil and gas, agriculture, education and those other sectors our people have comparative advantage in.

“At that time, we had issues of insecurity and poor infrastructure. There was no road to Aba. I once tried getting to Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom state and it took me five hours for a journey not usually beyond one hour. So, I knew that Aba was gradually ebbing away.

“The traders at Ariaria market were not making much sales because there was no road leading into Aba and even Ariaria. This is why we came with a policy of reconstructing roads leading to such economic centres of great importance to our state. If you want to jumpstart the economy of Aba, you must find a way to allow our brothers from Akwa Ibom and Cross River states to access the city. Then, you must also find a way for people coming from Port Harcourt and Bayelsa to come into Aba. The first triplet of roads we commissioned within the first 100 days: Ukaegbu, Umuola and Ehere, were roads that will ease you into Aba”

He futher stated that he had to do another road through Ekwereazu which takes you into Akwa Ibom state from Aba in just 40 minutes. And for the first time in 30 years, we also did Faulks (Sam Mbakwe) Road leading to the Ariaria international market from Brass Junction to the Expressway. These roads were constructed to ease access to economic centres in the state.

“You may have heard about a certain ‘mammy water’ that was rumoured to be behind the perennial flooding at Ama Ikonne and Ifeobara pond, even though that was a laughable narrative towards the cause of the flooding, let me announce to you that all the ‘mammy waters’ have now disappeared courtesy of hitech engineering works we deployed to the concerned spots. And with this, we knew we have made a statement over time.

“It is not that those who came before me didn’t attempt fixing the roads, but the roads they did failed after just the first rainy season. The reason was that they didn’t do sufficient study and deep planning about what really needed to be done to solve the problems as to why the roads kept failing almost Irredeemably”.

He had earlier maintained that with his focus on quality infrastructure, he has boosted trade and commerce and returned investors to Aba and ABIA state en-large.

9News Nigeria (Owerri)
For inquiries on this news contact 9News Nigeria Imo State @08036856526

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9News Nigeria

The Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma has expressed his compliments to his Abia State counterpart, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu following the commissioning of a project executed by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Central Bank of Nigeria has recently executed an intervention project and built a Nigerian Naval School of Finance and Logistics College, in Owerrinta naval base, Abia State.

In a press release made available to 9News Nigeria, Governor Hope Uzodinma who also took part in the official commissioning of the epic project thereafter commended the Abia State Governor, the Chief of Naval Staff and the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele for such a great intervention project.

The Press Release states as follows:

Today, His Excellency, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, the Executive Governor of Abia State and I were at the Nigerian Naval School of Finance and Logistics College, Owerrinta, Naval base, Abia State for the commissioning of some Central Bank intervention projects.

I commend the Chief of Naval Staff, for the robust achievements associated with him within the short period in office, as well as the leadership of the Naval Base College in Owerrinta for making available their technical manpower for the security of the Nation, that of Imo and Abia States and for the security of lives and properties of their neighbourhood – Owerrinta.

Furthermore, I thank the Governor, Godwin Emefiele and management of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the great intervention of building projects at the College to encourage and enhance the performance of the institution.

Some of the projects include a 300- sitting capacity Academic Complex Auditorium, E-Library, ICT office and 12 Classrooms of 40 Students capacity each. Others are: an Administrative block made up of the Commandant and Deputy Commandant Offices and other 17 additional office spaces for the Principal Officers of the College, male and female hostels, students’ dining hall, swimming pool and gymnasium.

I call on the private sector to emulate and support the Nigerian Navy in their effort towards the growth of Nigeria, in defence of our territorial waters.

We were received by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Z. Gambo and other Naval Principal Officers.

• Hope Uzodimma

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

A bomb explosion at Umuola Hall Ward 8 in Aba, Abia State on Saturday sent many voters to panic mode while voting for the bye election was going on.

9News Nigeria gathered that the explosion happened during the commencement of voting exercise in the state.

According to information made available to 9News Nigeria correspondent, the bomb blast did not cause any loss of lives, although report says that election materials for Aba North/South Federal Constituency Bye Election was scattered in the polling areas.

The Abia state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu had days ago raised alarm warning that he received intelligence report that there were gunmen brought into the state from outside and kept in undisclosed location in an attempt to cause commotion during the ongoing by-election.

The governor had warned that the suspected gunmen numbers more than two hundred and were armed with guns and ammunitions.

Recall that in recent days, there have been sporadic attacks on police stations by unknown gunmen in Abia state and some other places in the South East where the gunmen opened fire at the police men and caused destructions at the police stations.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

BY PRINCELY ONYENWE, IMO

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has commended Nigerian soldiers for their gallantry in killing some gunmen that attacked them, pledging its commitment to the protection of lives and properties.

The State Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, who stated this, warned youths of the state not to put themselves in harm’s way by attacking security agents under any guise.

“It is a good development; we welcome every necessary measure to protect the good people of Abia state. We call on our young men and women not to put themselves in harm’s way by attacking security agents under any guise. We also urge them not to allow themselves to be used by politicians for any reason to cause insecurity. Abia state government will do everything possible to protect law-abiding citizens without fear.”

Recall that on Wednesday, soldiers from 144 Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Abia, came under attack at Ariaria junction, along the Enugu–Port Harcourt expressway.

9News Nigeria (Owerri)
For inquiries on this news contact 9News Nigeria Imo State @08036856526

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9News Nigeria

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says a total of 498,390 registered voters are expected to cast their ballots for the Aba North/South Federal Constituency bye-election in Abia State, scheduled for Saturday 27 March 2021.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Festus Okoye, said this on Wednesday in Abuja at the end of the management meeting of the commission.

According to him, the election would hold at 609 polling units spread across 24 Registration Areas (RAs) in the two local government areas of the Constituency.

He also said that the commission will deploy over 2,970 officials for the election.

“All the non-sensitive materials required for the conduct of the election at the two LGAs of the constituency have been delivered and batched according to the Registration Areas.

“All the ad-hoc staff required for the conduct of the election have been trained and are awaiting deployment.

“All the sensitive materials have been delivered to the Central Bank in Umuahia, Abia State and will be inspected on Thursday, March 25, 2021, and dispatched to the two local government area offices of the commission,” Okoye said.

He urged all the registered voters in the constituency to come out en masse to exercise their franchise as representation is at the heart of democracy and huge voter turnout enforces and reinforces the mandate given to elected representatives.

Okoye enjoins all the voters and stakeholders to remain calm, shun violence and other acts capable of creating fear, anxiety and apprehension in the electoral environment.

He said: “Violent and unwholesome acts undermine the sovereign rights of the people to clean elections and deprives the constituency of quality representation.

“The commission is committed to the safety and welfare of its election duty staff and the voters and will strengthen its collaboration with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security in this regard.”

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

NDDC HEADQUARTERS COMPLEX: AKPABIO HIGHLY DECEPTIVE, DECIEVING BUHARI, NIGER DELTANS – IzanzanCamp

The IzanzanCamp has again gathered that senator Akpabio, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs has again about to deceived President Buhari to commission an empty NDDC complex today Thursday 11/03/2021.

Having gone round the complex, It is a clear fact that, the inside of the building is empty yet Akpabio has spent a whopping sum of 16 billion for a project that was already 67% completed yet the complex of 12 story building only 2 floors, 6th and 10th are habitable. He fought very hard to changed over 4 NDDC boards including a junior minister Festus Kayamo to operate solo to loot the commission dry, Over 450 billion has passed through Akpabio as supervisory minister, let him show us which other project he has done with the balance?

One is tempted to say, the Presidency is clearly behind Akpabio over the looting in the NDDC, considering the presidency’s continue silence over the broad day robbery of the commonwealth of the Niger Delta people by Akpabio and his collaborators.

We were the first to expose the looting by Akpabio in NDDC and with the Exposure by National assembly which are also collaborators in the looting, one right thing we thought was for the presidency to look deep into the affairs of the commission but they seem to be enjoying the looting spree by Akpabio as well. Severally appealed to Preisdent Buhari to heed to our calls but yet he gave us deft ears which has prompted us to assume and declared that the current Presidency is a promoter of corruption in the Niger Delta region and the country at large.

We shall not depend on the presidency anymore because they have failed us woofly and we shall also not relent, Our next resolve is to go down to all oil producing communities across the Niger Delta region to sensitize our people that we all raise to stop the daylight robbery coordinated by some key figures in the presidency with Akpabio.

We enjoined some good Nigerians that might be in attendant in the show of shame on Thursday not to only view the cosmetic work outside the complex but go inside from floor to floor to see things for themselves and not to fall for Akpabio’s sugar coated speech. It is already rumoured that the finishing of the complex will gulped additional 15 billion, prepared to settle some figures in the villa in Abuja.

We said it from day one that the so call Akpabio’s forensic audit will be endless and baseless and so it has become today for all to see, the forensic appointed by Akpabio is today another conduit pipe applying for payments on weekly bases without doing any work.

Akpabio’s stay as supervisory minister of NDDC needs more forensic audit than all that has run the affairs of the commission put together from inception. Akpabio’s looting is the oga kpata kpata of all that has never happened in any government agency in Nigeria.

Akpabio’s case is unpardonable, he has turned NDDC to corruption agencies, even after this Buhari’s government someday you will give account of all the river disilting and emergency contracts u have used to loot nddc mercilessly. Akpabio do not want to learn from history, some niger Delta big names before now had parked monies meant for the development of our region for political patronage to Abuja but non succeeded.

Arerebo Salaco Yerinmene SNR
001, IzanzanCamp

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

HON. STANLEY NWABUISI CALL ON FG, NATIONAL BOUNDARY COMMISSION TO SPEEDILY INTERVENE TO RESTORE LASTING PEACE BETWEEN THE PEOPLE OF IKWUANO ABIA STATE AND INI CROSS RIVER STATE

BY PRINCELY ONYENWE, IMO

In the plenary, Hon.Stanley raised a Matter of Urgent Public Importance to the House about a boundary dispute between the people of Usaka Ukwu in Ikwuano Local Government Area and people from Ini Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State.

On a chat with to the press the house member hinted that at the moment over 28 lives have been lost and properties destroyed in Ariam Usaka communities due to attacks from the people of Nkari in Ini LGA . It is important to note that IKWUANO people have remained law abiding and have not retaliated.

In his words, “My prayers is that the House mandate security agencies in the State to act swiftly and decisively to stop the wanton killings of my people in the skirmish.”

I also prayed that the House Committee on Land and Boundary Commission to fashion out ways of averting further loss of lives and property in the area”

We noted that after contributions from Members, the Speaker in an emotion laden voice said it’s very sad and pathetic that lives and property were being lost and destroyed between two sister States because of differences that could be resolved amicably. He therefore assured the people that the State will no longer tolerate the gruesome murder of Abians in the name of any crisis.

“We want to call on the State Commissionier of Police, Director of State Security Services, State Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps and other relevant agencies to step up their game in protecting the lives of Abians who are being massacred in their numbers with Ariam Usaka Ukwuwe having lost 28 people already without they at Ini Local Government Area losing any largely because of the peaceful disposition of those on Abia’s side of the divide.

“Tomorrow, if our people retaliate, it is ours that will make the most headlines. Now they are killing our people but nobody seems to be saying anything because we are generally known as peace loving people.

“It is only a tree that will stay in place in the midst of trouble and allow itself to be cut off; we will not advocate violence but we must defend ourselves.

“We are calling on the National Boundary Commission to, as a matter of urgency, if they have not yet been deployed, do the needful to bring this wanton deaths and destruction to an end. Our people must not be pushed to the wall to the extent that they have to defend themselves” the Speaker stated.

He had earlier pleaded with Ndi Ariana Usaka, requesting that they will not despair, help is on the way. We must together fashion out ways of providing lasting peace in the area. We are here to serve-House member stated.

9News Nigeria (Owerri)
For inquiries on this news contact 9News Nigeria Imo State @08036856526

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9News Nigeria

1. All praise is due to Allah … His peace and blessings upon the soul of the Noble Prophet Muhammad,…

2. 2020 was indeed a trying year with the Fitnah of COVID-19…What affects one affects  all and we should be our brothers’ keeper. We pray for the souls of our departed brethren…

3. We thank Almighty Allah for their lives and vision of our past leaders, our Board of Trustees and past presidents for the foundation that has been laid.

4. As an Association we have our strengths which many recognise us for. But we also  have our challenges and opportunities… Self-improvement and growth is never ending journey. This Administration, on resumption has initiated steps to leverage some of our strengths to close our obvious gaps.

5. Some of these (strategies) include recruiting and engaging youths, live membership database, professional networking and mentoring, internal and external media visibility, diaspora integration into programs etc

6. Our focus over the next few years will be centred around 3E’s. Educate, Empower and Empathize while building on the diversity pillars- Everyone Included, Everyone Engaged and Everyone Valued.

7. Security continue to be a growing challenge for the nation, impacting everyone… We implore the federal government to be more decisive in handling the situation (of kidnapping, insurgency and farmers-herdsmen crisis) and communicate  more openly to earn the trust of the populace.

8. We want to commiserate with all the victims of the recent mayhem at the historical Shasha market in Ibadan.

9. [I congratulate and] I encourage the awardees to rededicate themselves to the ideals of the Association and work to improve lives of people around them.

10. We need to pull more people up the ladder and we need their (awardees) help to monitor and support our UNIFEMGA youths to grow in all areas of their influence.

Alhaji Abdul-Fattah Olanlege

UNIFEMGA NATIONAL PRESIDENT

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Igbo presidency won’t solve Nigeria’s problems.

Former Group Managing Director, Diamond Bank Plc and two-time governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, has opined that handing the Igbo Nigeria’s presidency would not solve the problem of Nigeria, as some fundamental structural problems must be handled for an egalitarian society to be institutionalised.

The renowned economist also stated that insecurity would continue in the country until poverty among the citizens is addressed.

Speaking to Sunnewsonline, he said: “A situation where close to 90 million people, representing 43 per cent of our population, live below the poverty line of less than 1.90 dollar per day, makes the country a veritable candidate for insecurity of the highest order.”

“If you have followed my politics, you would realise that I do not believe in primordial sentiments. I believe that tribe and religion are basically smokescreens used by politicians to drive personal interests.”

” Having said that, I also know that arrangements about power shift have remained the fulcrum of our politics in Nigeria. That is not to say that our salvation is going to come from that.”

” Given that arrangement that has had power move from North to South and power having been in the North for two terms, it should naturally move to the South. Since South-West and South-South had been in power, it should naturally shift to the South East. That is the extent to which I believe in Igbo Presidency.”

“Would that solve the problem of Nigeria? I think not. There are some fundamental structural problems that must be dealt with for an egalitarian society to be institutionalised.”

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Come and Join Eastern Security Network ESN – Nnamdi Kanu tells 101 soldiers who fled from Boko Haram

The leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra and founder of the Eastern Security Network, Nnamdi Kanu, has asked the 101 soldiers accused by the Nigerian Army of fleeing the Boko Haram attacks in New Marte and Dikwa towns in Borno State to join the ESN

Newsmen had earlier reported that 12 officers and 89 soldiers have been declared missing by the Nigerian army in the wake of last week’s Boko Haram attacks on Marte and Dikwa local government areas of Borno State. A signal dated March 1, 2021 from Operation Lafiya Dole Headquarters in Maiduguri, revealed that the soldiers were declared as deserters.

Reacting to the development, Kanu in a live broadcast on Wednesday, March 3, said the doors of the ESN are open to the soldiers.

“Sometimes I wonder, how can you come from the East, West and Middle Belt, and you are in the army? And they used you to go and fight the bandits so that you can be killed.

Today, soldiers are leaving and they have ordered for their arrest for leaving the army. And I am telling all these soldiers to go and join the Eastern Security Network. Today, we have all these unknown gunmen; they have been avenging for us and if you come and kill us, they will avenge for us.”he said

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

BY PRINCELY ONYENWE, IMO

Governor Ikpeazu of Abia state has given nod to the Committee for the initiative to talk to Nigerians on the proposed Petroleum Industry Bill, noting that the major problem in Nigeria has been the issue of trust.

In a brief with the press over the weekend, the Governor expressed happiness that the State will be one of the States that could benefit more from the proposed Petroleum Industry Bill because of the peaceful disposition of her oil-producing communities.

The Governor expressed this view when he received a delegation of the National Assembly Joint Ad-hoc Committee on the Petroleum Industry Bill at Government House, Umuahia.

The Governor said that Abia has the record of being the most peaceful Oil Producing State as there has never been any face-off between oil-producing communities and oil companies operating in the State.

Ikpeazu regretted that despite the cooperation shown by the companies, the State gets little or nothing in return, leaving the oil-producing communities neglected.

He however lamented that the oil companies who do business in the State do not pay taxes in Abia but rather reside in a neighbouring State from where they come to Abia with the help of heavily armed security guards to do their business and leave.

The Governor, while admitting that there is a need to talk to the people, pointed out that many Nigerians do not believe the government and stressed the need for the government to encourage the people to believe her more.

He added that by so doing, Nigerians will feel carried along and that would help assuage fray nerves. He also emphasized the need for engagement in value addition on petroleum products as against sole dependence on crude exportation

Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Senator Albert Bassey Akpan, who said that the Committee is covering Abia and Imo States, explained that they were in the State to sensitize Abians on the proposed Petroleum Industry Bill which is an executive bill and what they stand to gain from it.

Senator Akpan said Nigeria as a country, has no choice than to pass the Bill adding, however, that parliament, stakeholders and the executive must all have a consensus.

He explained the main thrust of the Bill is the creation of a Trust Fund for the host oil-bearing communities without government interference, adding that the bill places responsibility on the host community to protect the asset in their vicinity in order to create a balance and stability on their God-given resources.

9News Nigeria noted that the Committee will be visiting the oil-producing areas before departing the State.

Government officials and members of the Committee who took part in the visit include Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Senator Ifeanyi Uba, Senator Bidoun Olujimi while the Secretary to Government, Barrister Chris Ezem and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr ACB Agbazuere.

This report has shown that Abians are hopeful of good governance under Ikpeazu watch.

9News Nigeria (Owerri)
For inquiries on this news contact 9News Nigeria Imo State @08036856526

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

CRIMINALS BREAK INTO POLICE STATION IN ABA, KILL 2 POLICEMEN, LOOT ARMS AND SET STATION ABLAZE
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Some gunmen who invaded a police station in Aba, Abia State, on the morning of Tuesday February 23, reportedly killed two police officers.

The gunmen reportedly broke into a store where arms were kept and carted them away after killing an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and a Police Corporal.

It was reported that the Police have restricted movements around the burnt station, compounding the traffic woes of residents of the estate.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

House of Reps member, Ossy Prestige is dead

A member of the House of Representatives, Ossy Prestige, is dead.

He died on Monday February 8 after a protracted illness. He was 56 years old.

Before his death, Prestige served on the house of representatives ad hoc committee on eastern ports.

Until his death, Ossy represented the people of Aba North/South Federal Constituency of Abia State in the green chamber

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

“BAN ALL FORMS OF OPEN GRAZING IN IGBOLAND OR ELSE…” – NNAMDI KANU WARNS GOVERNORS
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Leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has issued a 14-day ultimatum to South-East Governors to ban all forms of open grazing in the region in compliance with the 1969 statutory law of Nigeria.

Kanu gave the ultimatum while commending governors of the South West who recently announced a ban on open grazing in the state as part of measures to stop the incessant clash between Farmers and herdsmen.

Kanu in a statement released by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, warned the group’s security outfit would commence enforcement of the anti-grazing Law across the entire region if no action was taken at the expiration of the ultimatum.

“We wish to humbly and most submissively call upon all the governors of the East, to as a matter of urgency, ban all manner of open grazing in the region in compliance with the 1969 statutory law of #Nigeria that banned such provocative and primitive practice by Fulani herdsmen.

The bold step taken by Yoruba governors in banning open grazing in their region is commendable and as such MUST be reciprocated and consolidated by a similar pronouncement in the East.

If after 14 days there is no firm and decisive action by Eastern governors to ban open grazing in our land, #ESN will step into the breach to commence the enforcement of this 1969 Anti-Grazing Law across the entire region. Don’t say you were not informed or given prior warning.” the statement read.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

10 YEAR OLD CROWNED KING IN IGBOLAND AFTER DEATH OF FATHER
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A boy, Oyeachonam Okonkwo, 10, has become the youngest king in Igboland after he was crowned following his father’s death.

His father, Igwe Akuebisi, the Olame 1 Of Iyiora Anam. Anambra state, was buried in December 2020 and the boy was crowned on Thursday, January 7, 2021.

The boy was crowned the Igwe Olanme II of Iyiora Anam.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Igbo Elders seek legal backing for rotation of Presidency

Igbo leaders, elders, and academics across Nigeria and in the Diaspora rose from a summit at the weekend with a call for an enabling law compelling all political parties to insert rotation of presidency clause in their constitutions This was contained in the communiqué issued by participants at the end of the sixth World Igbo Summit held at Gregory University Uturu, Abia State, It was chaired by a former Chief of General Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (rtd.) with several prominent Igbo leaders in attendance either physically or virtually, The communiqué was endorsed by Senator Ike Nwachukwu, Prof. George Obiozor, Prof. Greg Ibe, Mrs. Josephine Anenih, and the Director-General of World Igbo Summit Group, Dr. Ifedi Okwenna, who read the document to journalists at a post-summit press conference, We call on Igbo legislators in the National Assembly to seek collaboration with members from other zones to amend the Electoral Act to accommodate a provision that compels INEC to ensure rotation clause in parties’ constitution, as a requirement for registration,” the communiqué said, The clamour for Nigeria to elect a president of Igbo extraction in 2023 dominated much of the deliberations at the summit, hence Igbo politicians were enjoined to work hard to convince their political parties to give presidential tickets to Igbo It stated: “We shall diligently and boldly work hard to convince other Nigerians to support the Igbo’s quest to become the president of Nigeria as 2023 is the right time for Ndigbo to occupy the seat of the presidency of Nigeria, As Ndigbo, we shall continuously seek a system or polity that guarantees and secures our social, political, and economic interest in Nigeria, based on equality of citizenship, equity, and justices, It urged Ndigbo to remain politically active and conscious as well as ensure effective use of their voting strength of about 26 million registered voters all over Nigeria, It, therefore, called for the mobilisation of Igbo voters through regular voter education to strengthen the capacity of the zone to negotiate and ultimately win the presidency. However, the summit acknowledged that the presidential aspiration of Ndigbo would only materialise through the support of other zones of the country, adding that Ndigbo are ready and are engaging other Nigerians and people without being antagonistic and abusiv

On the nagging issue of restructuring, the summit reaffirmed the urgent need for restructuring of Nigeria to allow for growth and development in line with resolutions of the 2014 National Conference and the Awka declaration of Ndigbo on the restructuring of Nigeria, The summit, which lasted for two days (December 18 – 19) was also attended by representatives of socio-cultural groups from South-west, South-south and Middle Belt, who brought goodwill.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

The Senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District at the Red Chambers, Senator Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah has made a strong case against the non inclusion of the south east in HYPADEC Governing Council.

Senator Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah (YPP-Anambra) during plenary yesterday , speaking under Order 43 of the Senate Rule, drew the attention of Senate President, Ahmad Lawan to the non-inclusion of South East in the list of nominees. He said some states in the South East have capacities for hydro power, hence the need for their inclusion in the governing council of HYPADEC.

The Senate President in his wisdom, however, advised him to come up with an amendment bill to amend the law establishing HYPADEC to allow for their inclusion.

Meanwhile, the Senate, in the same plenary, confirmed President Muhammadu Buhari’s nominees for appointment as members of Governing Council of Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPADEC).

The confirmation was sequel to the consideration of a report of the Committee on Power, Chaired by Sen.Gabriel Suswan(PDP-Benue) at the Committee of the Whole.

Presenting the report, Suswan said that the committee after its screening found out that the nominees were qualified to be appointed, given their relevant experiences and pedigree.

He said that security checks carried out on them got positive response from security agencies.

He said that the committee found all the nominees worthy of appointment into the governing council of HYPADEC.

Those confirmed included -Ityav Joseph Terfa as Chairman(Benue) and Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa Managing Director (Kebbi).

Others confirmed as members were Isa Ozi Salami(Kogi), Tahoheed Daud Toyin (Kwara), Mikail Bmitosahi(Niger), Saleh Mohammed Kanam(Plateau), Aminu Ganda (Sokoto) and Utum Eteng (Cross River).

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Chief Whip of the Senate and former Governor of Abia state, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has endorsed former Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States, Prof George Obiozor as candidate for Ohanaeze Ndigbo PresidentGeneral.

This is even as the Abia North Senator called on ImeObi Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the organisation’s highest organ to adopt Obiozor as her consensus candidate.

In a statement signed by Barrister Emeka Nwala of office of the Senate Chief Whip, Kalu said he has made wide consultations with Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige; Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu; Governor of Enugu State, Gov Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Ebonyi State Governor, Engr Dave Umahi; Governor of Anambra State , Chief Willie Obiano; Imo State Governor Senator Hope Uzodimma ; Former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu ; Former Secretary to Government of the Federation , Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Rt.Hon Nkeiru Onyejeocha ; Senator Ben Obi; other Igbo leaders in National Assembly and pleaded with them for their full support to Obiozor

He said Ohanaeze Ndigbo needed a non partisan technocrat to steer its leadership stating that Obiozor possesses all the qualities needed to revive Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

According to him, “Ohanaeze is the authentic voice of the Igbos, which exists for the sole purpose of speaking for and representing the interest of Ndigbo since its inception in 1976. It is expected to be non partisan. We need a leadership that can rightly define and defend the interests of the Ndigbo.

“I have known Professor George Obiozor long time ago and I am confident he will competently lead an active, mature, hardworking and viable Ohanaeze Ndigbo organization. ” He said

Kalu also urged all Abia delegates to vote for Obiozor for the betterment of Ohanaeze and growth of Ndigbo

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Students in Abia state under the aegis of Abia Joint Students Leaders have appealed to the state governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu to reverse the decision to offer them the sum of N30,000 bursary to mitigate the effects of COVID-19.

The students urged the governor to instead covert the sum to their fees and deduct from source, saying this will be more impactful to them.

In a statement made available to ABN TV, signed by the leaders of various student union bodies, they also called on the governor to consider offering students from other institutions such us Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, Abia State College of Education (Technical) Arochukwu, Abia State College of Health sciences and management technology, Aba, Abia State teaching hospital, Aba, Abia State school of nursing, federal medical centre, Umuahia, Abia State school of nursing, Amachara and school of midwifery, Amachara, Umuahia, saying there are also Abia students’ in all these institutions and not just ASUU students alone.

“That instead of the Bursary Allocation of thirty thousand naira (N30,000,00) to each Abia students, we kindly appeal for the school fees to be reduced and hence deducted directly as it will also give more credence and hope to Abia students in various Institutions in Abia State,” they said.

The students also expressed concern over the prolonged ASUU strike that has deprived them opportunity to go back to school, mourning their colleague, Anthony Ikechukwu who was killed during the #EndSARS protest in Lagos.

“We are saddened and concerned over ASUU Strike which has kept most of us at home and thereby depriving us of our Fundamental right of studying as Nigerian students and we also urge the Federal Government to swiftly respond positively as the future of our students is at stake which is totally unacceptable, as your leaders, we shall continue to engage the relevant authorities critically and otherwise to ensure that the needful is done.

“With a heart filled with pain and regrets, we commiserate with the family of Late Anthony Ikechukwu, one of us, a student of Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike who was a victim of the Lekki toll gate massacre as a result of the #ENDSARS Protest and pray for his soul to find rest in the bossom of the lord.

“However, the state of Campuses in all the tertiary institutions in Abia State has been a major concern to us as it is our topmost priority to ensure that your comfort and emancipation are accurately achieved.

“We, therefore appreciate the Executive Governor of Abia State, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu PhD for his quick response in scrapping of the Pandemic prevention fee of fifteen thousand naira only ( N15,000,00) Imposed on Abia State University, Uturu Students as well as his pronouncement for bursary allocation of thirty thousand naira only (N30,000,00) for each ABSU Students,” they added.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

An outrageous scene played out in Aba as a crowd gathered around a woman to accuse her of stealing and returning a man’s penis.

In a video shared online, the woman is seen with red marks on her face, neck, and chest, like she had been assaulted.

A crowd gathers around her, making accusations that she approached a man begging him for money and the moment the man gave her money, he felt a shock then noticed his penis had disappeared when he tried to pee.

They claim she later returned the penis after they gathered and threatened her.

However, the woman is seen in the video insisting she didn’t steal or return any penis. She asked the crowd how exactly she returned the penis if she had stolen it.

Despite her denials, they keep insisting she stole and returned the penis.

The man whose penis was allegedly stolen is also seen in a sky blue shirt as the crowd walks with them to a lab.

They explain in the video that they are going to a lab to test and be sure the man’s penis is still functional.

As the woman denies the penis theft allegations, a voice in the crowd is heard threatening to set her on fire.

Watch The Video Below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao1UYzquCko

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has placed 2.5 Million Naira reward on information leading to arrest of those who attacked military and police personnel recently in the state.

This is contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Chris Ezem, made Available to ABN TV.

He called on those who have such information to send same to office of of the Secretary to the State Government, Government House Umuahia, adding that their identity will be protected.

“The Abia State Government hereby announces a cash reward of 2.5 Million Naira each for any person or group that provides information leading to the arrest of those involved in the attack against the Military and Police Officers at Ukwa and Ohafia respectively.

“Any such information which should be sent to the office of of the Secretary to the State Government, Government House Umuahia will be treated with the highest confidentiality” he said.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

The Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) has described as laughable and a display of unusual state of confused mind, the number of persons that defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state.

Former APGA gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Alex Otti had claimed that over 400,000 and 450,000 of his followers joined him in his recent defection to APC.

Reacting to the conflicting figures, the state Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Fabian Nwankwo, maintained that the 400,000 and 450,000 alleged followers of Dr. Otti were mere assumptions manufactured by him to achieve undue popularity and mislead Abians and the public that he has a political weight.

Nwanko said Otti failed to understand the political equation that if actually he has the backing of such a large number of followership, then, he shouldn’t have failed woefully as he did in the last two governorship elections in the state.

He, however, advised Dr. Otti to live with his self inflicted woes and learn how to be a political team player.

NEWS: 2023: Gov Fayemi’s presidential campaign posters flood social media
According to him, the PDP has repositioned itself to win all the elective positions in future elections. He also urged the opposition parties in the state to support the ongoing massive infrastructural revolution of the state Governor – Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, to enable Abians enjoy more dividends of democracy

The party also advised people of Abia State to avoid serial liars and be careful with desperate politicians who want to ascend political power by all cost at the expense of the state resource and progress.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

The Abia police command has arrested one Mrs Rose Uwaga for allegedly strangling her 83-year-old husband, Alhaji Isa Uwaga, in Umuahia, the state capital.

Police spokesman Geoffrey Ogbonnaya confirmed the arrest of the woman, who was said to be in her early 70s, to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Umuahia on Wednesday.

Ogbonnaya said that one of Uwaga’s children, Ibeabuchi, reported the matter to the police on July 2.

He said that the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for proper investigation.

He also said that the remains of the deceased had been deposited at the morgue “for possible autopsy in order to ascertain what actually killed the man”.

NAN also learnt that the aged couple had a disagreement, which degenerated into fisticuffs at their residence at Ohobo-Afara Umuahia.

“During the fight, the man allegedly grabbed a machete to scare off the wife but the woman reportedly overpowered him.

“The machete fell off his hand and the woman, who is huge, pinned him down by the neck and strangled him to death,” a resident of the area said on condition of anonymity.

Another account had it that the deceased might have slumped and died “out of exhaustion after the  quarrel with his wife”.

“It is not possible that a woman of about 73 years can muster the strength to stangulate a man,” a friend to the family said.

NAN further learnt that the relations of the deceased rallied round to bury him shortly after his death, according to Islamic rite,before Ibeabuchi reportedly alerted the police.

The suspect, who was said to have immediately gone into hiding, was later arrested and detained by the police.

According to a police source, Ibeabuchi stated in his report that his parents were quarrelling at the time he left the house.

“He further stated that by the time he returned, he saw the lifeless body of his father in a sitting position in their house,” the source further said.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

By Wisdom Nwedene, Umuahia

The founder of Church of Satan in Abia State, Mr. Ifekwe Udo, has been arrested by the Nigerian police.

According to report, the Assemblies of light Bearer Greater Church of Lucifer, popularly known as Church of Satan in Ohafia founded by Mr. ifekwe Udo has also been vandalized and destroyed by the youths of community for the evil it has initiated.

Speaking with our correspondent, an eyewitness said, “It was a thing of joy and happiness for the people of Ohafia around the world as the founder of the Church of Satan was arrested by federal authority.”

“Ifekwe Udo, also known as Lucifer or Fada-Fada has a question root regarding his Ohafia nativity. He became popular in the past quarter of the decade for his visible effort in providing employment opportunities for the jobless youths of the community. He gave the jobless youth motorcycles on hire purchase.”

“He later opened a brothel also in Ohafia with allowed unisex.”

“People of Ohafia knew his evil practices but nobody could confront him because of his connections.”

Another eyewitness told 9NEWS NIGERIA that he was arrested by the Nigerian police for violating the lockdown order and also for child trafficking and terrorizing the community.

As at the time of filing this report, the youth of the community angrily destroyed the satanic images outside the church.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Abia State Government has announced the demise of a member of State Executive Council and the Honourable Commissioner for Environment, Dr Solomon Ogunji.

The Honorable Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, who made this known in a statement said the late Commissioner died on Saturday, 23rd May, 2020, at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, after a brief illness related to high blood pressure.

Chief Kalu confirmed that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, who received the sad news with shock, had personally communicated and condoled with the family of the bereaved and is currently in mourning.

The statement prayed the Almighty God to give the family of Dr Ogunji the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss and for his soul to rest in the bosom of the Lord.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

By Aruoma Stanley Osasumwen

Abia is a state in the south eastern part of Nigeria. The capital is Umuahia, and the major commercial city is Aba, which was formerly a British colonial government outpost in the region, and is also one of the most populated areas in Nigeria.

Abia state was created in 1991 from part of Imo State. It is one of the constituent states of the Niger Delta region. It is also the 5th most industrialized state in the country, and has the 4th highest index of human development in the country, with numerous economic activities and fast growing populations as recorded by the United nations early 2018.

The state also houses one of the biggest cattle markets in Nigeria.

The state occupies about 6,320 square kilometres, and is bounded on the north and northeast by the states of Anambra, Enugu, and Ebonyi.

To the west of Abia is Imo State, to the east and southeast are Cross River State and Akwa Ibom State respectively and to the south is Rivers State.

The southern part of the State lies within the riverine part of Nigeria, it is a low-lying tropical rainforest with some oil-palm brush, the southern portion gets heavy rainfall of about 2,400 millimetres (94 in) per year and is especially intense between the months of April through October. The rest of the State is moderately high plain and wooded savanna.

The most important rivers in Abia State are the Imo and Aba Rivers which flow into the Atlantic Ocean through Akwa Ibom State.

Crude oil and gas production is a prominent activity, as it contributes over 39% of the State’s GDP.

However, the indigenous oil companies- through the Marginal Fields Programme (MFP)- have not found it easy to attract the requisite funding and infrastructural capacity to explore some of the marginal oil fields which are about 50 in the State.

The manufacturing sector only accounts for 2% of the GDP.

The industrial centre of the state is in Aba, with textile manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, soap, plastics, cement, footwear, and cosmetics.

In addition to the above, Abia State has a 9,000 capacity multipurpose International Conference Centre in Umuahia. This edifice of international standard was built by Governor T.A Orji to enhance tourism as well as boost the state economy through hosting of major International and Local events.

Representing 27% of the GDP, agriculture- which employs 70% of the state workforce- is the second economic sector of Abia.

With its adequate seasonal rainfall, Abia has much arable land that produces yams, maize, potatoes, rice, cashews, plantains, taro, and cassava.Oil palm is the most important cash crop.

There are over 100 oil wells and 3 installed flow stations in Abia State. There is also an associated gas plant, Abia/NNPC gas plant.

As of 2012, boundary Commission said it returned 42 oil wells from neighbouring Rivers State to Abia. This would have meant Abia being fourth largest oil producing state in the country.

Oil giant, Shell, holds most of the licenses for the wells in the State and has concentrated on the estimated 50 wells that are considered high-yield.

However, the State has complained of poor funding from its oil revenue federal allocation.

There are four universities in the state: the federal-owned Michael Okpara University of Agriculture at Umudike, the state-owned Abia State University in Uturu, and the Gregory University Uturu and Rhema University in Aba, both privately owned.

There are two tertiary hospitals, the Federal Medical Center in Umuahia and the Abia State University Teaching Hospital in Aba, which serve as referral hospitals in the State. The Abia State Polytechnic is also in the city of Aba.

There are two major power plants in Abia, The Alaoji Power plant and the Geometric Power plant.

Abia is one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria and has been a “haven” for foreign investors.

The state’s population has grown rapidly since its creation.

The nearest airport to Abia is Sam Mbakwe Cargo Airport (Owerri Airport), an hour drive to Umuahia and Aba; and Port Harcourt International Airport, 2 hours.

Akwa Ibom Airport (Akwa Ibom State) can also serve would-be visitors. The distance between Uyo (Akwa Ibom) and Umuahia (Abia) is: 73.28 kilometres (45.53 mi).

The rail transport is also another means of travel, very effective.

Aba is connected to Port Harcourt by rail. The coastal parts of the State are equally accessible with boats and canoes.

Abia State is one of the thirty-six (36) States in seventeen (17) Local government areas (LGAs) that constitute the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Abia was carved out of the former Imo State in 1991.

The name “Abia” is an abbreviation of four of Abia state’s densely populated regions Aba, Bende, Isuikwuato, and Afikpo.

Abia is mainly peopled by the Igbo ethnic group. The Igbo people, who are one of the indigenous peoples of Southeastern part of Nigeria, make up 95% of the population. Their traditional language, Igbo is in widespread use.

English is also widely spoken, and serves as the official language in governance and business.

Abia’s over 2.4 million people are mainly Christians.

Languages of Abia State listed by LGA:

LGA Languages

Arochukwi: Igbo; Ibibio; Ibuoro; Nkari

Ini: Itu Mbon Uzo

Obi Ngwa : Igbo, Anaang

Ugwunagbo: Igbo; Anaang

Ukwa East: Igbo; Anaang; Ibibio

The State Government is led by a democratically-elected executive Governor who works closely with members of the state’s House of Assembly.

The capital city is Umuahia. There are 17 local government areas (LGAs).

In 1999, Nigeria became a democracy and Orji Uzor Kalu contested on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and won the Governorship election in Abia State.

Consequently, he was sworn-in on 29 May 1999.

In 2003, when it was time for fresh elections, Kalu re-contested on the platform of the PDP and got a second mandate to govern (the Constitution of Nigeria limits Governors to two terms in office).

Theodore Orji (PPA) defeated Onyema Ugochukwu (PDP) in the 2007 general elections to become Abia’s next Governor.

In 2011, Theodore Orji decamped from PPA to the PDP and was re-elected for another four-year tenure.

On 11 April 2015, Okezie Ikpeazu was voted as the ninth Governor of Abia State under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party.

He was also declared the winner of the 2019 gubernatorial election after polling total number of 261,127 votes to defeat Uche Ogah of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA and sworn in as Governor for a second term on 29 May 2019.

Abia State consists of seventeen (17) Local Government Areas. They are:

Aba North

Aba South

Arochukwu

Bende

Ikwuano

Isiala Ngwa North

Isiala Ngwa South

Isuikwuato

Obi Ngwa

Ohafia

Osisioma Ngwa

Ugwunagbo

Ukwa East

Ukwa West

Umuahia North

Umuahia South

Umu Nneochi

Some Notable people in Abia includes;

Uma Ukpai – Notable Evangelist

Okezie Ikpeazu – Abia State Governor

Arunma Oteh – Former World Bank Vice President and Treasurer

Ebitu Ukiwe – Former Military Vice President; Former Governor of Niger and Lagos States.

Ndubuisi Kanu – Former Governor of Lagos State and old Imo State

Azubuike Ihejirika – Lt. General and Former Chief of Army Staff

Chinyere Almona – Business Executive

Jaja Wachuku – First Minister of Foreign Affairs in Nigeria

Enyinnaya Abaribe – Senator and former Deputy Governor

Orji Uzor Kalu – Chairman, SLOK Group; Former State Governor and one time Founder of Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA); Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Chinyere Kalu – Nigeria’s first female pilot

Basketmouth – Notable Comedian

Chelsea Eze – Award winning Nollywood actress

Nwankwo Kanu – Two time African Footballer of the year and Arsenal FC legend

Uche Okechukwu – Former Nigerian Team Footballer

Okechukwu Enelamah – former Minister for Trade and Investment (2015–2019)

John Godson – Polish lawmaker and philanthropist

Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani – novelist and essayist

OC Ukeje – Lagos-based Multiple Award Winning Nollywood actor

Michael Okpara – premier of Nigeria’s Eastern Region from 1959 to 1966

Nnamdi Ezeigbo – founder/CEO SLOT Systems company

Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi – Nigeria’s Military Officer and former Head of State

Uzodinma Iweala – US-based medical doctor and author of the book Beasts of No Nation

Paul Agbai Ogwuma – Former Governor of Nigeria’s Central Bank

Kalu Idika Kalu – Former Finance Minister and Politician

Theodore Orji – Former State Governor and a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Nnamdi Kanu – founder of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a separatist group

Samuel Achilefu – Notable Inventor

Chinwe Chibuike – Nigerian philanthropist

Samuel Chukwueze – Nigeria National Team football player

Chinedu Ikedieze – Award winning Nollywood actor

Mazi Alvan Ikoku, OBE educationist (1900–1971)

Eni Njoku – Pioneer Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos and first black Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria Nsukka

Anya Oko Anya, Technocrat and Academic
Uche Jombo, Award winning Nollywood actress

Ruggedman, Afro-Rap artiste

Mr Raw – Igbo Rap Music Pioneer

J. Martins, Afro-pop artiste

Alexx Ekubo, Nollywood actor and Top Model

IK Ogbonna, Nollywood Actor and Top Model

Joel Kachi Benson, documentary film maker

Mao Ohuabunwa, Industrialist and Politician

Ike Nwachukwu, military officer, former governor of old Imo state, diplomat and former senator.

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9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

The Supreme Court quashed the judgement that convicted and sentenced the former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor-Kalu to 12 years imprisonment.

In a unanimous Judgement on Friday by a seven-man panel, led by Justice Amina Augie, the Supreme Court held that the Federal High Court in Lagos, which tried and convicted Kalu, his firm – Slok Nigeria Limited and his former aide, Jones Udeogu, acted without jurisdiction.

The Supreme court then proceeded to set aside the judgement that convicted the defendants and ordered a fresh trial of the defendants by another judge.

The court was of the view that Justice Mohammed Idris, who conducted the trial, was no longer a judge of the Federal High Court as at the time he sat and delivered the judgement that convicted the defendants for allegedly stealing about N7.1billion from Abia state treasury.

The Supreme Court added that Justice Idris, having been elevated to the Court of Appeal before then, lacked the powers to return to sit as a High Court Judge.

The court said the fiat that was issued to Justice Idris by the Court of Appeal President, pursuant to Section 396(7) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act was unconstitutional.

A Federal High Court in Lagos had on December 5, 2019 sentenced Orji Kalu, to 12 years’ imprisonment for N7.2 billion fraud and money laundering.

The court convicted Kalu, now a senator, on all the 39 counts preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission charge. Kalu was charged alongside a former Commissioner for Finance, in the state Jones Udeogo, and his company, Slok Nig. Ltd. While Kalu and his company were found guilty of all the 39 counts, Udeogo was convicted on 34 counts and sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment.
©The Nation

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Benjamin Apugo, a member of the Board of Trustees of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has insisted that governance has collapsed in Abia State over alleged inability of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu-led administration to make lives better for the people.

Apugo also insisted that the people would suffer more as the State currently lacks basic facilities to cushion the effects of the planned lockdown of commercial activities slated for Wednesday in Abia by the Ikpeazu-led government.

The APC Chieftain expressed concern over alleged refusal of the Abia Governor to go on self-isolation upon return from Australia, where he (Ikpeazu) and his aides spent three weeks.

He spoke during an interview with select journalists in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, on Tuesday. He advised the governor to go on self-quarantine and to make public his health status in order to avert the spread of Coronavirus in the state.

DAILY POST learnt that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu had last week returned to Abia State after spending about three weeks in Australia.

However, Apugo, berated the government over infrastructural decadence in the state and further claimed that the governor and his cabinet members have failed completely to address teething problems bedevilling the state and it’s citizens.

“Abia government does not have one facility to prevent the virus. They cannot even provide it. They have not provided roads, water, electricity, not to talk of providing facilities to cure something that America cannot handle. Britain cannot handle it. Germany cannot handle it and the world over cannot handle.

“Who told you Abia is God’s own state? Abia State is no longer God’s own State. Let nobody deceive you. I will also advise the media to continue strongly to advertise this virus as a deadly disease, for everybody to hear and protect themselves.

“The governor should quarantine himself. That is the order by the federal government of Nigeria. As he(Ikpeazu) has returned, he should go and quarantine himself for fourteen days for Abians to see if he is carrying the disease in order not to spread to other people. The governor and his aides who visited Australia should isolate themselves”.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has granted post-conviction bail to a former Abia State Commissioner for Finance Jones Udeogu, who was convicted of N7.65billion fraud alongside former Governor Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu. Last December 5, Justice Mohammad Idris sentenced Udeogu to 56 years imprisonment while Kalu bagged 133 years imprisonment.

But on Thursday, Justice Mohammed Liman granted bail to Udeogu in the sum of N50m on the grounds of hill health and chronic tuberculosis. Tuberculosis, the judge reasoned, is a dangerous disease which can easily affect the other inmates of the correctional facility. Justice Liman said: “I’m of the opinion that this application has disclosed a reasonable cause of action that the defendant’s health has greatly deteriorated which can not be salvaged by the doctor in the correctional services centre. “Accordingly this application is meritorious and succeeds.

“Bail is hereby granted to the applicant in the following terms: Applicant is granted N50m bail with two sureties in like sum “One of the Sureties must be a landed property owner within the jurisdiction.” The judge also ordered that the bailiff of the court must verify the authenticity of the title documents

9News Nigeria

Despite the increasing spread of coronavirus in Nigeria, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state strongly believes the disease won’t get to his state.

In a video that surfaced on Twitter on Sunday, the governor said, God had promised the people of the state that no disease would touch them, adding that Abia is the only state mentioned in the Bible.

He said, “Abia is the only state that is mentioned in the Bible. We have been promised by God that none of these diseases will get to us. We saw Ebola and pox, even this one (coronvirus) it won’t get to us”.

Meanwhile, since the outbreak of coronavirus in Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Health has confirmed cases of the disease in five states including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

As at 11:00 am on the 22nd of March, there are 27 confirmed cases of the disease in Nigeria.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

The authorities of the University of Abuja have released four students of the university to the National Examinations Council, NECO, for prosecution over forgery.

The four suspects, accused of forging NECO results to gain admission into the university, are to be arraigned in court by the nation’s secondary schools’ examination body this week.

The four students, Vanguard gathered, have since been picked up by the police and were in detention in Minna, Niger State, where the examination body has its headquarters.

The suspects said to be indifferent faculties, were alleged to have forged the certificates and used the same in gaining admission into the university.

A one-count charge has been preferred against the suspects whose names were given as Effiong Theresa Etim, Solomon Victor, Abdulkabir Mohammad, and Yakubu Joy Adama at the FCT Magistrate Court, Wise 2, in Abuja, by the police.
Police prosecutor, Chijioke Chigozie, said about nine students of the university have so far been arrested over the similar offense. He, however, added that they were still under investigation.

The arrest followed an ongoing screening exercise embarked upon by NECO on all the higher institutions in Nigeria which led to the arrest of the suspects in October 2019.

The examination body said that the move was to overhaul the institutions and its certificate issuance in order to ensure that only credible certificates are issued to the public.

“This is to send a strong message to students out there using fake NECO certificates”, an official of the body said.

A charge sheet sighted by Vanguard, Monday, in Abuja, showed that the offense contravened section 364 of the penal code.

The one-count charge read: ” On the 18, October 2019, the registrar of the University of Abuja laid a complaint to the AIG zone 7 headquarters Abuja for investigation.

“It revealed that you Effiong Theresa Etim with June 2017 NECO SSC no 501569013, Solomon Victor June 2017 NECO SSC no: 10506512111, Abdulkabir Mohammad with June 2012 NECO SSC no: 105016543 and Yakubu Joy Adama with June 2016 NECO SSC no:597472720.

“That these certificates upon which you gained admission or sought admission into the University of Abuja are forged certificates. You are thereby suspected to have committed the above offense”.

Even as it was gathered that the case would come up any moment soon for hearing in the court, it was yet to be assigned to any judge.
vanguard

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

A federal high court on Monday dismissed the bail application for imprisoned former Abia State governor and lawmaker Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.

The court on Thursday, December 5 sentenced Kalu to 12 years imprisonment after being found guilty on all the 39 count charges brought against him .

He was convicted of N7 .65billion fraud perpetuated when he was Abia State governor between 1999 and 2007.

Kalu was convicted alongside his firm, Slok Nigeria Limited and his former Abia State director of finance, Ude Udeogu .
But two weeks after his sentencing , Kalu sought post – conviction bail on medical grounds .

The former governor claimed that he had health challenges that could not be managed at the medical facilities in the Custodial Centre, Ikoyi , Lagos and prayed the court to grant him bail.

But his prosecutor, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC ) opposed his bail application , asking the court to dismiss it .

“ Although bail is generally a right of an accused as guaranteed by the Constitution , ” EFCC ’ s lawyer Rotimi Jacobs (SAN ) said , “ it is not a right available to a convict because the presumption of innocence had crystallised into guilt and conviction .”

The court ruled that the bail application lacked merit .

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Abia, Umuahia (9News Nigeria) – Police in Umuahia the capital of Abia State have gunned down a wanted armed robber identified as Sampson Nwokocha, popularly known as Grave.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Ene Okon, said Nwokocha, who was recently released from prison has been on the watchlist of the command following his alleged numerous criminal activities.

Okon said he was finally gunned by police operatives attached to the state command following a tip-off on Tuesday.

He said, “It would be recalled that on 6th and 10th November 2019, Nwokocha and his gang invaded a hotel and robbed staff and guests. During the operation, one policeman on duty was shot dead and his rifle carted away.

“Also on November 10, 2019, Nwokocha and his gang robbed attendants and customers of a filling station on Bank Road, Umuahia.

“On different occasions, he led a gang that snatched vehicles from their owners within and outside of the capital city at gunpoint.

“He also robbed other locations and planned to attack the Correctional Service Centre in Umuahia (Prison) in order to liberate his mother and other people.”

Okon warned criminals intending to disturb the peace of the state to relocate as the command will not spare them.

By Ogbonnaya Ikokwu – Umuahia

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Abia Commissioner for Cooperatives, Rural Development and Poverty Reduction, Prince Ezekwesiri Ananaba says about 9,300 people in six local governments will be paid arrears of Household Upliftment Programme (HUP) in December.

He said the arrears to the beneficiaries of the programme would be paid them from February to December 2019.

Ezekwesiri disclosed this on Monday in Aba an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of the National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO) end of year meeting.

He said the meeting was held to address the issues arising from the programme implementation.

The commissioner, who lauded the initiative, urged the poor and vulnerable residents to go and register en masse in the programme stressing that it would reduce poverty in Abia.

READ ALSO BREAKING!! 1.1m Nigerians Slip Into Extreme Poverty

According to him, the NCTO is the intervention arm of the National Social Safety Nets Project (NASSP) which facilitates cash transfers and capacity building of beneficiaries across states in Nigeria.

“I consider us and especially my ministry lucky because this programme that the state keyed into 10 months ago has been flagged off in Abia state.

“Some days ago, on Nov. 28, 2019, the maiden payments were made and it was N5,000 per person and there are six intervention local governments.

“We have up to 9,300 people in these local governments that would be paid in arrears from February 2019 to the current month; it is a very wonderful programme.

READ ALSO: “I Am Upset With The Level Of Poverty In Nigeria” – President Buhari

“We cannot thank Abia Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu enough for ensuring that Abia people benefitted from this federal programme aimed at addressing the plight of the poorest among the poor, the vulnerable and the aged.

“I want to urge Abians, the poor, the vulnerable in society to take advantage of this programme.

“When Community Development Officers (CDOs) visit their communities to get them enrolled, they should please turn out en masse to be part of the successes,” he said.

Ezekwesiri promised that the state would do everything possible to cover the remaining 11 local governments of Abia state to ensure all residents benefitted from the project.

Earlier, Dr Temitope Sinkaiye, National Programme Coordinator, Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, Abuja said the programme helped its beneficiaries to build a future.

READ ALSO: ‘Why Nigeria Emerged World Poverty Headquarters’ – Festus Keyamo

She said “You can see quite a number of their products are exhibited, especially, agric-related products, they make clothes and shoes, name it, whatever they are good at, we encourage them to do that”.

She said the states signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) to ensure they and local governments provided logistics for, train and pay their HUP program staff for them to deliver while the federal government pays N5000 to the beneficiaries.

Sinkaiye said the number of the poor already reached was small compared to the statistics of the poor in Nigeria stressing they were targeting most indigent in the country.

Chinenye Nwaogu, the Abia State Focal Person on Social Investment and Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to Gov Ikpeazu on Social Investment said the HUP programme had started in six local government areas of the state.

He noted that the scheme combined some techniques using the understanding of poverty by residents to determine who the poor among them was and also assisting in the selection of beneficiaries.

He said the scheme provided financial support to such families and encouraged them to save and invest in entrepreneurship projects through traders and business cooperatives to build a better future.

Nwaogu said that the project was aimed at improving the livelihood of enrolled families, to set up businesses with money saved, to train their children, fund health care needs and provide for themselves while raising happy families.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has spoken on the steps his administration is taking to ensure the Enyimba Economic City, located on a 9400-hectare of land fully takes off. He explains that the city which would be a hub, has the full backing of the Federal Government, the African Development Bank and Afreximbank. He says investors who set up manufacturing companies in the city will get space and manufacture goods and export for free. They would enjoy tax holidays and also enjoy the possibility of repatriating 100 percent profits.

African Development Bank (ADB) decided to create a platform for the mobilisation of funds where African nations can showcase their investment opportunities and their interests so that eventually, we would see a handshake between opportunities and funding gaps. You know that the bank is headed by one of our own and he is being driven by the need to first develop Africa and then see how we can become a powerhouse of manufacturing and exports of all kinds of goods going forward. We were pleasantly surprised to see that other agencies and banks like Afrexim bank and even institutions from Canada were there to respond to the initiative of ADB.

When you speak of these multinational entities, you reckon with the fact that other financial powerhouses are major stakeholders in these entities. So, for the second time, Africa was given the opportunity to seek funds where you first of all, defend your projects, then seek the interests of investors.

I am happy to say that the outcome of last year’s event was so profound that Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire will become major players in the cocoa industries worldwide. Sixty five percent of the entire primary production of cocoa pods happens between Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana and it is a 60 billion dollar business. The farmers in these two African countries get less than $5 million, that means those who do not even produce cocoa, controls over 90 percent of what comes into the industry. Very soon, chocolate factories will spring up from Ghana and the two countries are cooperating to make sure that they make it as quick as possible.

Nigeria was not part of the closures of 2018 and when the president of ADB was reeling out the achievements of last year’s meeting, they had deals closed in Rwanda, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, South Africa, and none was closed in Nigeria. Fortunately for us this year, Nigeria went with two projects and one of them was Enyimba economic city. Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State stood in for the governor of Lagos for the second project. I was supported by a delegation from the Federal Government and we asked for $430 million dollars which we would require for the first phase of the city. This city is a special economic zone which is located between Aba and Port Harcourt and it is a 9400-hectare of land which is large enough to accommodate Owerri and Aba put together. It is a special economic zone, signed and licensed by the Federal Government.

What we are seeking is strong companies to come into that space and manufacture goods and export for free. They would enjoy tax holidays and also enjoy the possibility of repatriating 100 percent profits. We envisaged a city where you can live, work and play. There would be health cities, oil and gas city, city for logistics. If you look at the geography of that area, we have three circles; the outer circle is about 150 kilometers radius. The center of that city has covered nine states in the South East and South South with a population of about 60 million people which is more than that of some countries in Africa. That spot is also very close to Cameroun.
There is also a rail line from there to the wharf in Port Harcourt to Maiduguri and that is where the gas bed of Abia State lies. We have the advantage of off grid power, powered by geometrics which means that those who will come there to do their manufacturing will not suffer the problems of power failure.

From conceptualisation, design and business modeling, I’m proud to say that it was done by the same consultants from Singapore that did Dubai. We did not take anything for granted and that is why today, it is regarded as the jewel of special economic zones in Africa. It has already won a prize of the most sustainable cities in view. The city that came second is in Australia and the third is in Russia. So, for the first time in many years, Nigeria is coming first in the world with that kind of flagship project. The American company that awarded the prices where the winner took $25,000 was present in the board room and attested to the fact that it is the best designed and sustainable city.

This project is a trans-generational project. You need to be a futuristic leader to be able to conceptualise it. If you build all the roads, bridges and hospitals in the world and you are unable to provide jobs, between now and the next 10 years, you are going to have massive unemployment issues on your hands. That in itself is a social issue that has no immediate solution. The way to handle this problem is for our country to begin to think in a trans-generational way –what do I do in the next 10, 20 to 30 years? Enyimba economic city is estimated to provide 600,000 jobs and as I speak to you, one of the anchor companies is producing textiles on a 300-hectare land and you can imagine how many people that a company that sits on such an expanse of land will employ.

From the closures we got in South Africa, we are expecting that the groundbreaking will happen before the first quarter of next year and if that happens, within the next four to five years, people would begin to see how the socio economic landscape of Nigeria would change. Our unemployment numbers are expected to go down drastically and most importantly, I would have given verve to the capacity of our people to display their passion, which is to use their hands to manufacture goods. I want us to start thinking away from trading towards manufacturing. Trading is good but manufacturing is superior.

It looks good on paper but what are the reasons for this project? Could they be political or other considerations?
The man who discovered television told himself that his idea is brilliant but that he could not imagine people sitting down all day in front of a box showing pictures. But today, there is no house without a television set. Anything that is not difficult to do is not worth the price; that is why we are putting everything into this project and we are prepared and determined to wait for the challenges as they come. Part of what we have done is to conceptualise the city as a state inside a state and the House of Assembly has approved it. If my successor comes and he is not happy with it, there is nothing he can do about it. The easiest projects are the ones you can conceptualise and build. We believe that providing the enabling environment for private sector intervention in our industralisation process is superior to actually trying to use our hands to set up a company and that is what we are trying to do.

This project is so viable that even the Federal Government has invested and I have no doubts in my mind that it has taken a life of its own and it is only a question of time. I told those who work with me that I do not want my name on any street in Abia as presently constituted but I want my name in one of the streets in Enyimba economic city.
How soon will we start seeing development in the city?
The project is already progressing and I do not see any delay because the planning was thorough. An economic zone is an ecosystem you are designing for exports; therefore it should speak the international language. It is not a Nigerian thing or something you invest in because of sentiments. No billionaire in dollars will invest as a result of sentiments. Even if you are his relative, if he can’t make profit, he will not come and invest. We are not overlooking the impact of socio political factors that could undermine such a project, but the time has come for us to think big in this country because if we look at the size of our problem, we would not think. The size of the prospects of this project is big enough to surmount whatever challenges that we will face.

You have always sounded very brilliant and during your first term campaign, everyone was convinced that you were coming to do something different. There was the belief that when you came on board, you may have been frustrated by some political players that made you not to achieve some of your visions. I also recall that one of the Afrexim chair said their fear for Enyimba economic city is for it not to turn out to be like Tinapa which was started by Donald Duke and was left undeveloped after Duke left. They are worried that the same thing will happen to this project after your second tenure expires.

I will never say that during my time that because of political frustrations, there were things I couldn’t do. But I want to tell you that if we go on ground and have a look at what he have achieved, I still stand tall to say that no government before now has done better and I want to be challenged on it. The difference is that my style is different from their style. As a scientist, I deal with problems foundationally. I cannot offer what is bad to my people. I am the only person who has done roads that has seen five rainy seasons without collapsing.
We have completed 77 roads out of 140. Before now, people do roads without drainages. I remember one of the roads that one of my predecessors did four times, while I was driving through, that road was in a very bad state. I inherited huge infrastructural deficit, but I don’t want to complain because if you cry for one hour over spilled milk, it would not make it any better.

I am a teacher and I am not very good in shouting about things in the media. But at all times, if you go through the streets of Aba, you would see for yourself. For the past 40 years, no one has done drainages in Port Harcourt road but today, that entire area has drainage and if you see someone building drainages on two sides, you know that the person is preparing for a solid road. I may not have done the road as I speak but I will definitely do it. Even if I stop there, let the person coming after me go ahead and do the road. I inherited drainage infrastructural deficit and if you construct roads without drainage, it will collapse after the first rainy season in Aba. The roads we are doing now are very quality cement roads that will last for a long time. If I do road A, B, C, D, my successor can now come and do road E, F, G and not to go back to A, B, C, D. I am the only person going back to A,B,C, D.
You know the Governor of Kaduna State had problems with teachers who could not write properly and that problem is everywhere. But what did I do? I quietly brought in Australians to retrain our teachers and over 4000 of them have been retrained. At a time, because of paucity of funds, we were trying to decide whether to send our primary school teachers to Australia or send our shoe makers to China. Today, I have better teachers. I have 340 new classrooms and four model schools and that is why we have come first back-to-back in WAEC for the past four years.

There are concrete things I need to tie up in order to focus attention to where I am going. My focus is trade and commerce, small and medium scale enterprises, oil and gas, agriculture and education. As we speak, my Appeal Court matter is still going on but whatever the outcome, I must talk to you and we must move Abia forward. The man who is in court with me is the person who came third and his votes are not large enough to upturn the votes in my local government alone but he is in court to make sure that I am distracted. The hallmarks of leadership are two things; one is to be able to say that despite distractions, you will be more focused. I have not done everything that I would have loved to do but it is a thing of joy that my state has moved from a place where all that was said about Abia was Bakassi boys, Osiskankwu, kidnappers, to a place where the state is being discussed on a global platform for investments. That is the kind of conversation that I want my state to be involved in.

While we were discussing business and investment, the head of the bank told me to tell them that whatever is left of Abia equity, they would pay. That is how important Enyimba economic city is, I think the man is from Cote d’Ivoire. I met the head of Afriexim bank in Dubai on our way to South Africa and we got talking and I noticed that he was not very enthusiastic of Enyimba economic city. I had the good fortune of flying with him back to Dubai. He stood up from his cabin and invited Mr. Gupta, the president of Olam who is behind one of the flourishing special economic zones in Congo and told Gupta to come and visit the state to see for himself. Afriexim bank is now looking for the possibility of taking 100 hectares of land. There were a lot of things that the head of Afriexim didn’t initially understand that was why he was not enthusiastic. He knows better now and he is fully on board. I see the support of everybody and I appreciate the robust disposition of the Western press. Nobody de-markets his country. Things may not be going on well for them but certain things are said in hushed tones. Things are happening in many countries in Africa. In Rwanda, they have an international conference center, security, a powerful airline with brand new aircraft. The day I went there, I counted 17 on ground; they want to make that country a hub in Africa.
Nations that have succeeded are nations that put statehood very close to God. Some nations like China put statehood above God but in Nigeria, statehood is at the lowest rung but religion, tribe, language and every other thing is up there but statehood is at the lowest rung of the ladder.

There was a plan for centenary city in Abuja but that project is comatose because of the many issues over land and compensation. If Abia State is acquiring this large expanse of land to build an economic city, have you settled the issues of compensation? Also, Geometric was supposed to supply Aba with dedicated power but it hasn’t. How confident are you that it will happen in the case of the economic city?
That question is very relevant because it was asked by the investors. Nobody wants to bring in money and then go into litigation. Also, no investor wants to talk to land owners in Africa where you go and push him to see the chiefs and all of that. But Enyimba economic city has the most robust community/government engagement, compared with other economic zones in Africa. The first day I went to China to look for investors, I transported the traditional rulers, youth leaders, women leaders, stakeholders and influential priests. I paid for them to join my entourage and people thought that I was mad. Many of them had never travelled out before and we got to China, I asked them; ‘Have you seen China? They said yes. I told them this is how I want the economic city to be and that the man sitting across us is coming to build a textile industry where he would employ 12,000 people and out of them, at least 3000 or 4000 will come from their community.
The state government owns all the land but we are not taking it by force, we are giving them two options. One, they will be part owners of the city and the board membership will be rotated community by community. They will also get what they are supposed to get in terms of land preparations. As the buildings rise, they will be the ones to provide labour. We also established community liaison officers so that every community that has even one inch of land there would have a liaison officer that meets on regular basis to discuss issues that come up. If you sell your land to me, it means you have no stake in that land again and if I discover oil there, there is nothing you can do.

We are developing the city in phases and were in South Africa for the first phase which is 1300 hectares out of 9000. It’s not as if all the money we are looking for will be spent on the first phase. We are going to do the spine road, which is an eight-lane road that connects Abia with Owerri, Abia with Enugu, Abia with Ebonyi and Abia with Akwa Ibom. All the roads leading to the nine states will be connected to the city. We are going to have an eight kilometers railway that connects Aboneme to Onne to join the existing narrow gauge that we have. There is a dry port in Enyimba economic city and if you construct that eight kilometer railway, what it means is that anything you produce here goes to the port through the railway. It is a well planned and structured development that every person that is involved would benefit. For the first time, the federal and state governments and funding agencies in Africa are coming together to say yes to a project. It is deliberate and it must achieve results.
Are you preparing the people of that community for the skills that are required to be able to work there? The company may want to engage 12,000 people but those in the community may not have the skills needed to fit in.

I think the way to go is to first do our ground breaking and then we determine the anchor companies that are coming first. But we are sure that it is the textile industry that is coming. We are sure that out of the 1200 hectares that we mapped out, nearly 200 hectares will go with infrastructure because we are going to do hotel, houses for security personnel and others. A lot of skill acquisition is already going on. The commission in charge of oil producing areas, DESPOADEC in Abia State has changed its focus from providing boreholes to skill acquisition, so I am sure we can cope with the skill requirements needed for employment.
If you are building an economic city, what is going to happen to Aba? How long is this project going to take before it becomes reality?
Already, Aba is becoming very congested and it costs more to do urban renewal than to do a new city. Dubai is not more than 30 years old. There is a place they call old Dubai, where Dubai started, which is across the river and I have had the privilege of going there. That did not stop the development of the new Dubai because we are creating a city where you would work, live and play. Within that city, we have entertainment and we have health. All of the people that are interested in health are ready; We have up to 12 consultants in all aspects of health outside Nigeria that are doing well. In South Africa today, the best black neurosurgeon is a Nigerian. In some parts of America, I know that the best organ transplant surgeon is also a Nigerian. These are the kind of people that have come together to say they need a health city.
Aba will naturally benefit because they are going to provide the skills for industries like shoemaking and textiles. The largest chunk of money leaving my state today goes to China on account of importation of fabrics because our people must sew. So, if I bring that, it will ventilate the business ecosystem of Aba. If you ask me about my greatest regret in the last four years, it will be that Ariaria market is still the way it is. People are displaying their cars on the fourth floor of malls. All we need to do is to put a multi layer car park, drive through a corridor to the car park and an escalator will take up to 45 people at once. But the Ariaria traders won’t let you do anything there. I was discussing with them in my office, they ran to the House of Assembly and the Assembly sent their House committee chairman to say that I should just give them three weeks to resolve the issue.

Before now, previous governments allowed the traders to convert everywhere to shops including police stations. Ariaria doesn’t have a police station or a car park. It doesn’t have a fire service office; the fire service office became shops. People do not know that it is the car park that drives the market and once you demolish the car park, no one will come there again because I must park my car to shop. I cannot shop on the go, so, if I don’t have anywhere to park my car, I go to another place and that is why Ariaria has moved to the express.

Back to your question, Aba will be re-ventilated and to the extent that I have time to do, the redevelopment of the city will happen. In the case of Tinapa in Cross Rivers, it was not a private sector driven initiative at all. It is easy for state governments to go and borrow money and make things happen. It is also possible for the state government to provide the ambience for the private sector to come and invest. The two can happen; one is easier to do but the latter is superior but more difficult and that is why all I have been doing in the past three years is that Enyimba economic city takes up a life of its own and that is what it has done. I cannot sit here and begin to think about what my successor would do. My thing is to run on the strength and power of my vision. Any project that any governor would do that would last only while he is in office cannot transform this generation.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Kalu, has reacted to his victory at the Appeal Court in Owerri, Imo State.

Court of appeal on Thursday led by Justice Stephen Adah, affirmed Kalu’s victory.

Kalu, in a statement by his Media Office said the judgement has vindicated him and a testimony that his people overwhelmingly voted for him.

According to Kalu, the decision of the Appellate Court has laid to rest rumours against his landslide victory in the February 23 election.

He urged Senator Mao Ohuabunwa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other politicians in Abia State to work collectively for the betterment of Abia North Senatorial District and Abia state at large.

The Senator equally commended stakeholders and members of the APC for their unshakable loyalty to the party, stressing that the APC will continue to grow from strength to strength.

The statement reads: “As we rejoice today, following the affirmation of the victory of our party, APC in the February 23, 2019 National Assembly election in Abia North Senatorial District, I urge our party members, loyalists, supporters and other stakeholders not to engage in any verbal and physical attack with our opponents.

“We have been vindicated by the appellate court and we shall continue to sustain our exemplary qualities, which are anchored on the ideals of the APC.

“The time is now to consolidate our achievements thus far, with a view to doing more for the masses.

“Let us come together, regardless of party affiliation, to find last solutions to the challenges facing our people especially the down trodden in our communities.

“All efforts must be harmonized to drive sustainable growth and development across Abia State.

“Politics should be seen as an opportunity to serve and unite the people and not a tool for disharmony and social vices.

“Over the years, we have been provoked and we have been attacked by our political rivals.

“However, because of our ideals, we have been law-abiding citizens for the sake of nation building.

“With the verdict of the Court of Appeal, it is clear that justice can be delayed but not denied.”

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

A nursing mother whose name cannot be immediately ascertained has been reportedly being kidnapped in Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State.

The incident, sources in the area disclosed took place at Umuebeke in Aba South Local Government Area of the state at about 1 am.

The woman whose husband was said to be a scrap dealer was said to have been taken away from her residence, leaving her newborn twin babies with the husband.

It was learnt that the gunmen who gained entrance into the compound after breaking the fence have contacted the family and were making demands of N3million before they could release the nursing mother.

A source close to the family who couldn’t confirm if any ransom was paid, told our reporter that the victim’s family dropped the sum of N50, 000 to the kidnappers at Umugo, a community of about 10-15 minutes-drive from the place of the incident.

According to the source, the kidnappers claimed that the N50, 000 was the money that they used in treating the nursing mother who took ill in their custody.

“Life has been the same for the family. They have been living in fears every day. The children are sick because they have not been able to suck their mother’s breast since she was taken away from their house.

“The husband is begging them for the release of the wife. He said that he can no longer cope with handling the twins alone. Each day without their mum is making them sick.”

But a member of the security outfits in Aba who craved anonymity told our reporter that the nursing mother at the time of filing this report has been reunited with the family and denied that the family paid any ransom for her release.

©Nation

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Hon. Adiele Ekeke, a Commissioner in Abia State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (ASOPADEC) has buried his two children who died alongside his wife in an accident which occurred along Enugu-Okigwe express road.

The lady and her two children were reported to have been traveling along the Enugu – Port Harcourt Road on Sunday August 11, when their vehicle got involved in a ghastly accident that claimed their lives. Luckily, the third child survived the accident but is currently in intensive care where doctors are battling to save her life.

Confirming the death of his wife and two kids, Hon. Ekeke said;

“Its too hard to believe, but it did happened. We’re on our way to Ohanku to bury my 2 children, my only son and first daughter. Their mother is still in mortuary”

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

A heavy downpour on Wednesday night, June 12 in Aba, Abia state, left many homes, shops and markets submerged under water and also destroyed goods estimated at over N15m

• The unfortunate development also rendered scores of residents of the area homeless
• Okechukwu Egechi, a landlord in the area, claimed that he lost all his property to the flood, and also nearly lost his 13-year-old daughter to the flood
• Oriaku Chisom, a senior pastor at a church situated in the area, urged political leaders to urgently intervene in order to save residents from the disaster
• 
  A heavy downpour on Wednesday night, June 12 in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia, has left many homes, shops and markets submerged by flood.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that goods estimated at over N15 million were also destroyed by the flood.

Legit.ng gathers that at Ahia Ohuru (New Market), over 25 shops on Lines 10, 16, 20, 43, 44 and 47 were all submerged.
Obinna Ogugua, a trader in the market, was said to have lost 32 bales of clothes, worth about N2.9 million.

More than six hours of rain also flooded the Ahuronye, Nwaogu and Mathew streets on Obuda/Eziukwu and Ohanku roads in the Ndiegoro area of the city, leaving many houses flooded.

The unfortunate development also rendered scores of residents of the area homeless.

A resident, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, disclosed that he lost all his household items to the flood.
He said that it took the intervention of neighbours to save some children, especially those whose parents were away during the downpour, from being swept away by flood.

Okechukwu Egechi, a landlord in the area, said that Wednesday’s experience was not new to them.

Egechi, however, said that the extent of flood and resultant damage of property was significantly higher than similar incidents in the recent past.

He said that he was away when the rain started, but regretted that it was difficult for him to access his house when he returned at end of the rain due to the heavy flood.

He said: “We have been complaining about the poor drainage in this area for many years, but nobody listened to us.

“It is so bad that we have people representing us at the state and federal levels but they do not know about the perennial flooding facing us.”

Egechi, who claimed that he lost all his property to the flood, also said that he nearly lost his 13-year-old daughter to the flood.

“As I was told, she was the last to leave the house and suddenly fell into the flood but was rescued by neighbours,” he said.

Oriaku Chisom, a senior pastor at the Garden of Life Ministries, situated at No 6 Ahuronye Street, said that flooding had become a perennial problem in the area.

Chisom said: “The situation is not new. It has become an annual incident and usually takes residents unawares.

“What is happening is simply a sheer sign of neglect by our political leaders. People will suffer and buy household equipment only to lose them to flood every year.”

He said that although he was sent parking from his residence in the area by flood some years ago, his church was still situated there.

He regretted that the federal government’s contract through the Ecological Fund Office for the reconstruction of the drains to properly address the flood menace was allegedly abandoned.
“We are calling on our leaders, from councilors, council chairmen, state and federal lawmakers and the governor to urgently intervene in order to save the residents from the disaster,” Chisom said.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

The lawmaker representing Bende Federal Constituency of Abia state in the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has promised to work with the state Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu .

Kalu stated that irrespective of the party differences with Governor Ikpeazu, he is ready to work with the PDP led administration to take Bende Federal constituency in particular, and Abia in general to greater heights.

He stated this during an interview with newsmen after the inauguration of the 9th National Assembly.

Kalu promise to build a healthy inter-relationship with both the executive and the legislature in the state.

Kalu, also eulogized what he termed the level of the intelligence of Governor Ikpeazu, opined that party differences do not often mean constant confrontation to prove a point.

“Abia belongs to all of us. Like I have always said and others have said that as well, political party is just a vehicle to take you to a destination”.

news naija

9News Nigeria

The Abia State government has alleged that a former Governor of the state, Orji Uzor Kalu was responsible for the military invasion of the Umuahia residence of the leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu in September, 2017.

The State Commissioner of Information, John Okiyi Kalu, made this known during a radio programme in Umuahia and monitored by DAILY POST on Wednesday morning. He exonerated Governor Okezie Ikpeazu from the military attack in Abia state.

DAILY POST recalls that the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu had urged his followers to scatter any gathering of Ikpeazu’s campaign team, to serve as a reprisal over his (the governor’s) alleged role in the military invasion of his Afaraukwu Umuahia residence on September 2017.

According to the government spokesman, “Let me set the record straight, Orji Uzor Kalu was the brain behind the invasion of Nnamdi Kanu’s residence in Afaraukwu Umuahia. Quote me anywhere you go.

“Kalu supported the military operation python dance in south east zone, particularly Abia. At no time, Governor Ikpeazu brought the army to invade kanu’s home. Orji Kalu should be held responsible.

“The governor was not in the country, when the military operation took place in Afaraukwu Umuahia in September 2017. The governor did not tell the President to bring operation python dance.

“I can recall when the issue of bringing the army to South East to stop the IPOB agitation came up, every Igbo leader opposed the military action. It was only Orji Uzor Kalu that supported the federal government to clampdown on Biafra agitators”.

When contacted by DAILY POST, the Media Aide to the former Abia governor, Ifeanyi Okali Ubaka, declined to react to the allegation by the Abia government, but later promised to get back to our correspondent.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Two suspected thieves who specialised in snatching the money withdrawn by bank clients, met their waterloo today, as they were caught and set ablaze.

According to multipla online reports, the duo were on their motorbike, this morning, waiting for their next victim in front of a bank at Abayi area of Aba, Abia State.

It was gathered that as soon as their target left the bank, the suspects swooped in and snatched the bag of money.

However, they were nabbed while trying to escape and subsequently set ablaze by irade residents alongside their operational bike.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Following the defection of some members of the All Progressives Congress to other political parties recently, former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has said that nothing will make him abandon the party or change his position on supporting President Muhammadu Buhari.

It will be recalled that reports earlier in the week alleged that Kalu was planning to defect to the PDP after the Senate President Bukola Saraki and other legislators left the APC.

But Kalu at a meeting with stakeholders and executive members of the party from wards to state levels including major stakeholders of the party in the state held at his Camp Neya in Igbere, Bende Local Government Area said that he was going nowhere but to stay in APC and ensure that Buhari is reelected come 2019.

According to him, APC under President Buhari in three years has been able to do what then PDP led government could not do within the 16 years they were in power.

The former governor who recalled how impassible the Enugu-Awka-Onitsha and Enugu-Umuahia-Aba-Port Harcourt were under the PDP and how he tried all his best to draw the attention of the PDP led government to the ugly state of the road which serves as major expressways connecting the southeast states and other parts of the country said that “the story is no longer the same under the Buhari APC led government.” He vowed that the APC in the state would appreciate Buhari for his numerous works in the southeast which the state has benefitted from, by ensuring that he (Buhari) gets 75percent vote cast in the state come 2019 presidential election.

Kalu while using the opportunity to disclose that the state government is taking glory over some of the federal government instituted projects in the state assured Abians that “the party would soon come out with the list of federal government sponsored projects including the ongoing school feeding of pupils in primary schools, rehabilitation and reconstruction of roads among other federal government completed and ongoing projects across the state.”

The APC chieftain assured Abians and party members that the era of PDP rigging in Abia State was gone, adding that while they (APC) would not rig to win election in 2019, “we won’t allow the PDP or any other party in the state to rig APC out.

”We will soon draw a list of some of the completed and ongoing projects in Aba and Umuahia and every other part of the state being executed by the federal government through the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and other arms of government which the Abia State government is taking glory for.

”President Buhari has done more than PDP did in 16years. For the first time after 16years of PDP rulership, the Enugu-Awka-Onitsha and Enugu-Umuahia-Aba-Port Harcourt roads are receiving attention of the federal government.

The Niger Bridge is about 60percent completed. Are we talking about the federal government school feeding and the numerous works that NDDC is doing in the state which the state government is taking glory for doing?

”We will soon list the projects that the federal government is doing in the state so that the people will be better informed and be in a better position to make proper decision in 2019. How can a government that has not been able to pay workers’ salaries and pensioners their gratuity and other entitlements be taking glory of what they didn’t do?

”The era of intimidation of the opposition or rigging in the state is gone. APC is ready to march PDP in any way and in whatever form.

©The Nation News

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Orji Kalu, former Governor of Abia State, has warned that there will be no peace in the country until Nigerians imbibe justice, equity and fairness in all their endeavours.

He noted that Nigeria cannot achieve peaceful coexistence without providing a level playing field for all citizens.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain gave the warning while addressing journalists yesterday in Abuja.

Kalu said there was no alternative to peace as without it, there would be no positive socio-economic and political developments in the country.

The business mogul observed that for peace to reign in Nigeria the government, corporate organisations and individuals must learn to obey court judgments and abide by the rule of law.

He said, “Peace is possible when there is rule of law.

“Every Nigerian must be equal before the law irrespective of your ethic identity, religious and political affiliation.

“Unless there is justice, equity and fairness in our system, we cannot have peace. The government, corporate organisations and individuals must obey court orders.

“People will not resort to self help or take up arms against others when they can get justice through the courts.

“If we want peace in Nigeria, we must be ready to eliminate the almajiri system prevalent in most parts of the North.

“Let these youths be taken off the streets and given good education because without education, ignorance and suspicion will rule their minds and they could resort to violence at the slightest provocation,” Kalu added.

©Daily Post

9News Nigeria

Former Speaker of the Abia state House of Assembly, Agwu Agwu, has reportedly dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

Agwu was Speaker of the state House of Assembly between 2003 to 2007.
Announcing his defection to newsmen on Sunday, in Umuahia, the state capital, the publicity secretary of APC in Abia, Comrade Benedict Godson, explained that the former speaker had registered in his ward(Ozu Abam) in Arochukwu local government area, which qualified him as a member of APC in Abia state.

He said, “I can tell you authoritatively that, the former speaker of the Abia state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Agwu. U. Agwu has seen the light and has join the moving train, which is APC in Abia state.

“He has registered in his ward at Ozu Abam ward 2 in Arochukwu local government area of the state. I can assure you, he has seen light.“Like I tell everybody, political party is like a church. APC is opened for everybody. I can tell you now is a member of APC.

We welcome him with open hands. We assure him of a level playing ground.”

©Daily Post

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Osinbajo orders 24 hours power supply for Ariaria Market Aba

Nigeria’s Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has directed the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to intervene and ensure that the Ariaria International Market in Aba, Abia States, enjoys 24 hours supply of electric power.

The city of Aba is noted for its huge commercial activities, while the Ariaria Market is one of the most popular markets in the southern part of the country.
Mr Osinbajo’s directive, according to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Presidency, followed a “strong and persuasive case” made for the market by the Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu.

A team from the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) is said to have already visited the market for a technical study to collect data that would determine the market’s power requirements.

The leadership of various clusters in the market is said to have agreed to assist the REA with all the support required to implement the project.

The President, Aba Chamber of Commerce, Emma Nwakpadolu, thanked the acting president, the federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, and the Abia State government for their plans for the market.

The federal government’s delegation to Ariaria was led by the Managing Director, REA, Damilola Ogunbiyi, while the Abia government delegation was led by Chinenye Nwogu and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communications, Sam Hart.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Honorable Prestige Ossy, member representing Aba North and South Federal constituency in the House of Representatives has called on the Federal government to come to the aid of the people living in Aba, Abia State.

According to the Honorable, FG should come to the rescue of the good people of Aba as “we already have IDPs in Aba just like we have in the North East”.

He stated this on Friday, when he led the Officials of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, to visit the erosion site at the Ndiegoro and Ohanku areas and other flooded sites within the Aba North and Aba South Federal Consituency of Abia state.

The visit was followed a motion, he raised over the plight suffered by residents of the area, during a plenary session on the floor of the House.

Speaking after the fact-finding mission, the Head of Operations of NEMA, Owerri operations office, Hon. Ugo Evans, stated that Ndiegoro community and other adjoining areas where flood prone zone.

Mr Evans assured the intervention of NEMA by providing relief materials to the victims of the disaster and co-opting the federal ministry of works for assistance.

Hon. Prestige, further noted that he would not relent until the Federal Government comes to the rescue of Aba people. Revealing that he has also petitioned the office of the SGF to intervene in the flood disaster in Aba through the Ecological Fund.

He called on the Federal Government to give same palliatives to the victims of the flood disaster in Aba as the victims of insurgency in the North East, noting that there are already IDP camps in Aba now as the NEMA officials saw some of them in the course of their inspection.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

The Abia State Police Command has arrested and detained two security operatives involved in Saturday’s shooting of two officials of Federal Road Safety Corps in Aba.

The spokesman of the command, Geofrey Ogbonna, made the announcement on Monday in Umuahia in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.
He, however, declined to disclose the identities of the operatives.

Ogbonna said: “The shooting did not involve the police alone: an officer from the Department of State Services was also involved.

“The two persons have been arrested and are being detained. Investigation into the incident had commenced.”

Ogbonna said the command condemned the ‘dastardly act’ and gave assurance
that there would be fairness and justice at the end of the investigation.

Meanwhile, Abia State Sector Command of the FRSC has declined to comment on the matter.

However a reliable source at the command told NAN on condition of anonymity that one of the victims had a pellet from the shot lodged in a sensitive part of his waist.

The source said: “He was booked for surgery for the removal of the pellet, but we learnt this morning that the surgery could no longer go on.

“Doctors said that surgery could cause him permanent disability and that it would be better to manage his condition with the pellet in his body.”

NAN recalls that the FRSC officials were shot on Saturday by the security aides attached to the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Chikwendu Kalu.

The incident took place at Arungwa Junction (near Aba) on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway when the officials stopped the vehicle conveying the speaker’s wife, Victoria, to Aba.

NAN learnt that trouble started when the officials attempted to book the vehicle on the grounds that the occupants did not wear seat belts.

The speaker told newsmen on Sunday that following a distress call he got from his relations at the scene, he sent his Chief Detail to the place.

Kalu said he was surprised to hear later that there was shooting in which FRSC officials were involved.

Kanu, who condemned the shooting, described it as an act of “overzealousness” on the part of any security operative.

NAN

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

A former Governor of Abia , Dr Orji Kalu, has said that those peddling rumours that President Muhammadu Buhari is on life support have been proven wrong.
Kalu, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), spoke with Newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.

He said the visit of acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo to Buhari in London had shown that the rumour peddlers were liars.

Kalu said that everything possible should be done to reduce increasing hate speeches and `death wish’ in the country.
“The confirmation of the President’s health status by the acting president and wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari is something good Christians and good Muslims should embrace with joy.

“Those wishing the President dead and spreading false rumours about his health are exposing their ignorance about life and death.

“I do not understand what joy people derive in wishing their fellow human being dead. Anybody can fall sick, but no good Christian and Muslim would wish someone dead,’’ he said.

The former governor also commended Osinbajo for the visit, noting that he had ‘` not only shown leadership, but also maintained the virtues of the President.’’

He also urged all Nigerians to pray for Buhari’s quicker recovery in the “hope for a better and stronger Nigeria.’’

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

It was a disgraceful day for former Governor of Abia State, Senator T. A Orji, as prominent sons and daughters of the state Friday gathered to pay their last respect to the former secretary to the state government under ex-Gov Orji Kalu’s regime, Dr. Elechi Nwaogbo.

The event which was held at Ikwuano local government area of the state had in attendance Ex-Gov. Orji Kalu, Abia State Deputy Governor -Hon. Ude Oko Chukwu, Chief Mascot Uzor Kalu among others.

As guests were pouring encomiums on the deceased, the gathering took another dimension as the youth sighted ex-Gov. T.A Orji at the venue and his entry was received with shouts of “we don’t want you”, “thief” among other negative names.

The former governor and now senator had barely sat down when artisans and students started throwing pure water and stones in his direction before he was later rescued at out of the venue by his fierce looking policemen.

Earlier in his remarks, Kalu extolled the virtues of the late administrator describing him as a perfect gentleman whose life was anchored on fairness, justice and equity.

He noted that the success of his regime as Governor can be largely attributed to the tireless efforts of the likes of the late Dr. Elechi Nwaogbo.

Also speaking, Abia State deputy governor stressed that the deceased will be remembered for his contributions to the development of the state.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

By Sam Oditah

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state has dissolved the state executive council, including commissioners and special advisers as well as senior special assistants.

The Secretary to the State Government was also affected.

The Permanent Secretary, Government House, Mr Onyii Wamah, announced the dissolution in a statement posted on the government’s website on Friday night.

According to the permanent secretary, the governor retained his Chief of Staff, Mr Sunny Nwakodo, and the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Obinna Oriaku.

Also retained is the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of the state, Chief Umeh Kalu (SAN).

No reason was given for the sack of the commissioners, special advisers as well as senior special assistants and the SSG.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the dissolution was coming after the commissioners took turns to present their scorecards at a forum attended by the governor between May 28 and May 29.

The statement also announced the appointment of three special advisers to the governor, including the former Commissioner for Works, Mr Eziuche Ubani, who was appointed as the Special Adviser on Works and Project Monitoring.

Others were Mr Emma Nwabuko and Mr Solomon Ogunji, who were appointed as Special Adviser/Personal Secretary to the Governor and Special Adviser on Urban Renewal, respectively. (NAN)

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Text of a speech delivered by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo at a meeting with middle level civil servants in Abuja on Wednesday 24 May on the implementation of Executive Orders

So, this morning I want to urge that the future lies in our hands. Every generation of people owe the next generation a debt and that debt is paid by ensuring that we provide for the means for the next generation to survive. Or at least, we have a duty to ensure that we do not destroy the means of survival and prosperity of the next generation.

But there are some people in every generation who have a special burden, a more important role than others in preparing for present prosperity and future abundance and this group of people are called public servants.

You and I who are here today; we are that group of people who have the special burden of providing and preparing for the future.

As I said earlier, I have served in the public service most of my adult life; as a university teacher, as an adviser to a Federal Minister, as Attorney General for about 8 years. I earned a salary, so I understand how salary increases can be such good news.

But most importantly, I learnt of the power of the public service to change the social, economic and political story of a nation. As a university teacher I realized the difference between teaching students with a vision and producing the best quality, and just doing your job. I saw how some of the least motivated students became great advocates, great lawyers, great law teachers, because the teacher gave them what was in their hearts, gave them all of their hearts and did their jobs as civil servants.

I believe that if we civil servants chose to do what we are called to do, our country will change.

Last week I was speaking to Permanent Secretaries and heads of parastatals on this same topic. We looked at the issue of unemployment. The most important investment we can make in life is probably in the education of our children.

We put in all we have, sometimes we even put together enough to send them to universities abroad, some even to secondary schools abroad; then they graduate and can’t find jobs. There is nothing more heartbreaking than seeing your son or daughter after graduation and Youth Corps Service not having anything to do.

In the past few years, I have tried to study the problem closely. How do we create jobs? How do we have enough opportunities for the millions of young people now and tomorrow?

Clearly government jobs are limited and there is no room creating more. Already we are spending over 70% of our revenue on salaries and overheads, so there is very little room for creating more jobs in the public service.

The power house of the economy; the fastest and most efficient job creators are private businesses, both small and large; investments, both local and foreign.

Everyone who starts a business, invests in an existing business or expands a going concern, creates opportunities for jobs, jobs mean money in people’s pockets. It means that whole families can survive, live well and pay taxes, so that government can continue to provide services, build schools, hospitals, roads and other infrastructure.

But small or large businesses cannot be created or can be frustrated out of existence if the environment for doing business in a country is harsh or difficult. It is the public service that determines whether the business environment will be friendly and welcoming for business or whether business will be driven away or destroyed. Or whether the opportunities to create jobs will be there or not.

When I say public service, I don’t mean (only) public servants in the executive arm such as those who are here today, I mean also in the judiciary and the legislature.

Let me give you an example that I shared with the Heads of Parastatals and Permanent Secretaries last week. To see how delays in the court procedures can kill business, I was talking about something that we did while I served in the government of Lagos State.

We noticed that the stock of houses was actually reducing, so we were looking to increase the stock of houses so that there will be more houses especially privately built houses. But we had a problem because the stock of houses was actually decreasing; people actually preferred to invest in stocks or something else.

Why was this happening? One of the major reasons was that when you build a house and rent it out, you expect that there would be an income stream from it coming year after year. But what would usually happen is that the tenant pays for two years advance and thereafter doesn’t pay anymore. He expects you to go to court, like go to a Magistrate court and he keeps you there for as many years as the Magistrate court delays.

So the delay in the court system means that you will not earn your rent and that other people and you will be discouraged from building. So until you can get that tenant out of your house so you can bring in other tenants, you are in trouble.

So, we understand that the problem of delays in the court system will eventually impact the building of houses, impact that sector which means there would be fewer jobs.

Everything that happens in public service that delays always affects jobs.

So, when a potential business owner wants to register a company, collect tax clearance certificate or obtain NAFDAC registration or S.O.N certification, or expatriate quotas, or any other papers, approvals or certification from government, and we do not willingly and efficiently help him or her, we are killing the jobs and prosperity that he would have created.

Every time we say come back next week to someone for something we can do today, we postpone prosperity of one person but in reality we postpone the prosperity of so many who would have earned something from the business.

So every time that a public officer is an obstacle to business in any way he attacks the prosperity of our economy and he attacks our future, it means our children cannot find jobs.

Great economies and great nations, prosperity and abundance of nations and communities are created by men and not spirits and I want to emphasise this point that those who make nations great are you and I, not spirits.

No matter how much you pray or fast our country cannot grow without some of us deciding to do the hard work that makes nations work.

I am sure that most people know and are aware that I am a pastor, a spiritual person, and I understand the law of sowing and reaping. It is a spiritual law that has tremendous physical implications.

Every time that we delay, or frustrate what we can do today leaving it till tomorrow, we hold back the future, we too must reap what we have sown by experiencing delays. If you help others to achieve, if you help your nation you have sown good seeds you will find help and you will prosper too.

So don’t see this (just) as government policy. This for us must be personal policy. We must determine that the future of our country depend on our personal investment in what we ought to do.

In the third Executive Order, we address an issue which the president, President Muhammadu Buhari has described as a cornerstone of our economic policy – the “Buy and Use Nigeria Policy.” The President said at the launch of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan that we must grow what we eat and make what we use.

Just to give an example, we eat a lot of rice in Nigeria but we import most of it. Yet we can grow enough rice to serve the whole Africa just from one region of Nigeria.
Assuming that only the northern states are producing rice today, produced at maximum capacity, we can feed the whole of Africa, not just ourselves. So we decided to start a self-sufficiency programme in rice production, but local rice is still expensive, more expensive than the imported one.
The reason why local rice is still more expensive than imported one is because those who are importing are doing something smart; from Thailand, from India, from Vietnam, wherever rice is being imported from, those countries are subsidizing their farmers so that rice can be cheap. And when they export to Nigeria they can be at an advantage over Nigerian rice. Why do they subsidize rice farming? (Just) so that they can create jobs for themselves.

Whenever we buy imported rice, we are creating jobs for people in those countries where the rice is imported from but if we insist on buying local rice we are creating jobs for ourselves; so it is our own business as government to introduce those kinds of incentives for our people by subsidizing production, by subsidizing even farm-market of rice so that our rice can be competitive.
But this begins from being more expensive but I can assure you that in the coming months, our rice will compete with the ones from anywhere in the world.

Those who have made their rice cheap didn’t fall from heaven, they are human beings like us.

So we are also sitting down and looking at all of the strategies that would make food cheaper, that would make it cheaper and easier and cheaper for Nigerians to be able to afford what it is that they will want to eat.

In conclusion, the prosperity and happiness of our nation depends on us, we public servants. Our civil service is the best educated and largest in Africa. We have the capacity, and the vision is clear. I want to urge us to go forward together as public servants to prove that an African nation can be better, bigger and greater than any nation in the world.

Thank you.

Source – NAN

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia says his administration will enhance the standard of shoe making in Aba as part of its investment development strategy.

Ikpeazu, who made the promise at a press briefing in Government House in Umuahia on Monday, said that he would facilitate capacity building in the industry.

He said that the state government was determined to reposition shoe makers in Aba and as such had secured a 1.5 billion dollars shoe factory deal with a Chinese shoe industry.

This, the governor said would put Aba in fore front of shoe production business and contribute to the capacity building of shoe makers in the country.

“Abia government is ready to acquire its own automated line of shoe production machine and we have a time frame to achieve it.

“So, we believe that the interaction would contribute immensely to capacity building.

“Today, the option left for us is to open our space for people to produce in Aba.

So, we have translated our ‘Made in Aba’ campaign to ‘Make in Aba’ campaign,” he added.

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

UMUAHIA — IN an effort to improve the quality of shoes produced in Aba, Abia State to international standard, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has secured the interest of a Chinese company which has agreed to set up $1.5 billion shoe industry in Aba.

The company, Huajian Shoe Industry based in Dongguan, Guangzhou, China and Governor Ikpeazu, according to Enyinnaya Appolos, the Governor’s spokesman, met and secured the agreement during a meeting with Mr. Zhang Huarong, the Group Chairman of the company, during the recent 1st Nigeria-China Governors Investment Forum.

The Abia-Huajian Shoe Industrial City is expected to produce 5,000 shoes per day and engage about 10,000 people directly and indirectly.

The tenets of the agreement provide that Abia State Government would provide the land and other conducive investment incentives for the project while the Huajian Group would fund the entire project.

Mr. Huarong, was quoted as saying that Governor Ikpeazu was the first Nigerian leader to visit him and disclosed that the Huajian Group has already employed 6,000 staff and currently developing a 250-acre Industrial City in Ethiopia and expressed his readiness to invest in Nigeria.

The Huajian Group, according to him, currently employs about 20,000 staff in China and operates a 10,000-shoe per day factory in Dongguan, China said to value at $2 billion.

Mr. Huarong was also said to have assured that he would visit the r in Abia before the end of April 2017 for further discussion on the project.

Source – Vanguard

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Operatives of the Abia State Police Command have arrested one Daniel Emeka, 51, for allegedly defiling a 14-year-old boy identified as Ndubuisi in a hotel room in Aba.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Adeleye Oyebade, who paraded the suspect on Monday at the command headquarters in Umuahia, the state capital, said he was arrested sequel to a tip-off that the suspect lured and abused young boys in his hotel.

Oyebade said Ndubuisi’s mother, Ifeoma, had reported the disappearance of her son on March 24, 2017, after which operatives placed the suspect’s hotel and house under surveillance.

He was reportedly arrested when he attempted to escape to Lagos.

The victim was also rescued.

Emeka admitted to taking Ndubuisi to his hotel room, but denied having sex with him.

He said, “I am a businessman. I come to Aba to buy goods, which I take to Lagos for sale. I do come to Aba with my son, who is 15-year-old. It was my son that brought the boy (Ndubuisi) to our room.

“He told me that the boy was driven away by his mother after a quarrel, and since it was late in the night, I allowed the boy to sleep with us.”

Also paraded by the CP were one 27-year-old Chukwuemeka Obijiaku and Kelechi Udobi, 27, who reportedly gang-raped a 16-year-old girl identified only as Favour at gunpoint.

The police boss stated that the suspects were arrested in their hideout on April 1, 2017, following a complaint by the victim’s mother.

Oyebade stated that the suspects confessed to have accosted the victim while she was returning from an errand and dragged her to an uncompleted building on Charity Avenue, Aba, where they raped her.

“The suspects are assisting with investigation. They will be arraigned as soon as investigation is concluded,” he added.

Source – Punch

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is now the Enyioha 1 of Abia State, an honur bestowed on him by traditional rlers of the state.

Osinbajo is currently in Abia State in his sustained effort to ensure peace in the restive Niger Delta region and other oil-producing states of the country.

Media aide to the vice president, Laolu Akande, said that Prof. Osinbajo is currently meeting with stakeholders on the communities.

Osinbajo travelled from Kaduna State where he met with Governor Nasir el-Rufai on Friday morning enroute Owerri, Imo State, before travelling to Abia

According to Akande, “VP Osinbajo (is) now in Abia state continuing FG’S interactive engagements with oil-producing communities. He went through Kaduna-Owerri to Abia “VP (is) accompanied by three ministers: Trade and Industry, Niger Delta and Petroleum Resources (state).” The entourage was reportedly received by the governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu.

Source – The Sun

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Enyinnaya Appolos is the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state. In this interview, he spoke on what his boss is doing to turn things around positively in the state. state.

How has the journey been so far?

It’s been two years of challenges and experience, it’s not been easy, but it is been fulfilling and rewarding.

Can you share some of challenges with us?

Yes, if you talk about the challenges, if you remember when this government started in 2015, we didn’t know there was going to be anything called recession, we didn’t know that the country was going to go into economic recession. But that apparently inspired the governor . The first policy of this government was to cut down his salary and his allowance and that of every appointed aide in the government, by 50 percent. Whatever the governor is getting today as his salary is half of what it is supposed to be. As common and as ordinary as I am, whatever I am getting today as salary in this office as CPS is 50 percent of what it is supposed to be. The decision was informed by the need to save money so that government can do more for the people.

During the campaigns, the governor made promises and one of the major promises he made was that he was going to develop Abia from Aba. The governor knew then that before long, Nigeria would no longer depend on oil as the main source of her revenue and if it becomes so, what’s going to be the fate of Abia that is not even a major oil producing state. This made us to start thinking about areas of our strength, what we have that other states do not have and we came to realise that we have Aba, which no other state in Nigeria has. The governor is determined to make Aba work.

You spoke about the governor cutting his salary and that of his aides by half, but there is this insinuation in some quarters that he upped his security vote. What’s your reaction?

The issue of security vote is one thing no governor or any state chief executive has ever made  known to the public. Even as I am, I don’t know what the security vote of the governor is. But I can tell and assure you that the governor that I know who took the pain of brining down his salary by 50 percent, will not even dare to increase his security vote.

Last year, the governor flagged off the reconstruction of Enyimba hotels, but till date , there is nothing happening on the site. What’s the problem?

A past government in the state sold Enyimba hotels to the Aba Chamber of Commerce, Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA), so it is no longer  the property of the state. What happened was that this government was making moves to reclaim that place, but hurriedly, ACCIMA people said they were already in touch with Swiss International who was coming to build the place. They came to the governor and said that everything was almost ready. It was not actually the state government that went to do the refurbishing and remodelling of that hotel, but ACCIMA. The governor was only invited to participate.

What is the state government doing to checkmate insecurity  in the state ?

We all know that the issue of security is a challenge to governments the world over; it is not peculiar to us. I read the other day that a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) was kidnapped somewhere in Lagos, imagine when a DPO is kidnapped. We are not trying to compare our case with others, but like I said, we are doing everything to checkmate this. The government has given all kinds of support to the security agencies in the state to do their work effectively. Recently, the governor was at Zone 9 headquarters here in Umuahia where he took a tour of their facility. It was during the tour he knew the headquarters was in a rented apartment. He has promised them that the permanent site will be ready before the end of this year.

Recently, the governor of Imo State said about three governors in the South East will be joining the ruling APC, it was rumoured that your principal would be one of them, could this be true?

Well, when the governor of Imo State said that, he never mentioned any governor. So, since he didn’t mention which and which governor from the South East will join them, we also think we are not mentioned, so, why should we be responding to that. But that’s not to say that Gov. Ikpeazu is leaving the PDP. Of course when PDP governors met with the former president of Nigeria to resolve the issue of crisis in the party, he was there, so, he’s still in PDP.

Source – The Sun

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Operatives of Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) on Monday evening stormed Umuahia, Abia State capital and arrested  the Accountant General (AG) of the  state,  Chief Gabriel Onyendilefu over alleged financial misappropriation during the tenure of the former governor, Senator Theodore Orji.

Impeccable  sources said  Onyendilefu was arrested by the anti-graft agency’s  operatives as he was emerging from   Gerobi Hotels, near Upstairs Line, World Bank Housing Estate, Umuahia.

The AG’s alleged arrest has become a topical issue in the state, since  the news broke out.

However, there are conflicting reports about his arrest.

While some people are saying he is currently being detained, others are saying he was quizzed and later released.

There are other sources that claimed that he is currently in Abuja, where he has gone for FAC meeting.

Daily Sun  learnt that AG was due for retirement after serving for eight years under former governor T. A Orji, but got  2 years extension by the then governor, a development, which our source  stated  was for strategic reasons.

The extension was backed by an amendment in Abia State Civil Service rules and was  moved and adopted in the last State House of Assembly before the expiration of the last administration.

It was also disclosed to Daily Sun that the aim of the extension was  to protect alleged financial recklessness of the past administration  and  work as informant over what comes in terms of fund and what goes out  in the present government.

The EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, at the time of filing this report could not be reached for confirmation. A staff in AG’s office  who pleaded  anonymity  told Daily Sun  that the  AG was in Abuja for a meeting convened by Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).

The staff denied any encounter between the  AG and the anti-graft agency over  alleged financial misconduct.

It is an open secret in Abia that there are several  pockets of petitions from different groups in the state, calling on EFCC to investigate what they termed “massive looting” that characterised the immediate past administration in the state, headed by Senator Theodore Orji.

Efforts made to reach the AG in his several lines did not go through, as his lines were either switched off or not reachable.

Source – The Sun

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Igbo leaders converged on the sleepy and serene Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State, which serves as the headquarters of the World Igbo Summit Group, WISG, under the auspices of the Igbo Leaders, Elders and Collectives.

Among many issues, the meeting brainstormed on how to kick-start the implementation of the resolutions adopted during the last summit of the World Igbo, WISG, on the 50-year development plan. The resolutions addressed an all-encompassing development plan that would cover economic, political, cultural, educational as well as proper mentoring of the youths.

Proper mentoring of the youths

Among those present at the occasion were the former governor of Anambra State, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, Chief Ike Nwachukwu, Chief Achuzie, former Governor of the Central Bank, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, Prof. Joe Irukwu, Prof. George Obiozor and Dr. Greg Ibe. Others included a former Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, the former Economic Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr Osita Ogbu, Mrs. Josephine Aneni, Prof Viola Onwuliri, Dr Ifedi Okwenna, Mrs. Chidinma Uwajumogu and Prof. Ihechukwu Madubuike as well as several traditional rulers and professionals in various walks of life among others.

The Ndigbo Development Plan 2066 is aimed at comprehensively tackling the development of Igbo land and would entail persuading Igbo entrepreneurs and investors all over the country and in Diaspora to think-home by bringing part of their investments and wealth home to ensure a prosperous home land. It was a collective opinion of all the speakers that Ndigbo have had enough talks over the problems bedevilling the race even as it was now time for collective action.

Addressing the meeting, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Achebe canvassed for strategic system that would propel the development of future leaders for Ndigbo to effectively execute the 50 year vision programme. “We should start implementation, not just talking; we need good leaders to carry on with the programme. Nnamdi Kanu has a vision and he has the courage to ask questions on why an Igbo person is institutionally disadvantaged in the country. Let us not be ashamed of it, we are all Biafrans in spirit. We have to create opportunity for our youths to rise,” Achebe said further suggesting that a committee be established  to kick-start the 50 -year development agenda.

Also speaking, Prof Soludo suggested the formation of Ohanaeze youth wings in all tertiary institutions in Igbo land saying it would help to inculcate the spirit of Ndigbo as well as help them key into the plan. Soludo said that the vision if well executed would not only ensure a prosperous homeland for the Igbo adding that “economic power is permanent while political power is ephemeral.”

Earlier, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nwodo, urged Ndigbo to be more diplomatic in pursuing their causes even as he warned against pushing Ndigbo to the wall. “I am here to encourage the people that have been doing this good work. There was a time Ohanaeze was lagging behind which led some patriotic Igbo to form some groups. At the last count, I have 48 groups. For me it is a good thing. We will encourage them to work with the Standing Committee of Ohanaeze so that their ideas would be harnessed for the good of Ndigbo.

“Since I was elected, I have been going round and talking to our people on the need to be one and speak with one voice which would give us greater strength. We will also be tactful and diplomatic in pursuing our cause, we should not be violent. But Igbo should not be pushed to the wall. These were a people given 20 Pounds after the civil war. We went to Lagos empty handed but today we have factories there; Igbo investment in Lagos is huge; half of the buildings in Abuja are owned by Ndigbo, we want them to bring some of them home,” Nwodo said.

Job-for-jobseekers

He announced that he had reconciled the South East governors who had resumed their meetings as well as promised to make it regular. He also said he had visited Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and would soon visit Governor Okowa of Delta State in an effort to bring together all Igbo in every state.

“Ohanaeze of today is not Ohanaeze of the past. The Ohanaeze you have today is not Ohanaeze of job-for-job-seekers. The leaders now are tested people whom you should trust. Development of Igbo land is the job for everybody,” he added.

Nwodo also condemned the militarization of Igbo land with the attendant mounting of road blocks and extortion of money from motorists, saying he had gone round and did not see such in any other part of the country. (9News – Nigeria)

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

ABA—Abia State government has unveiled plans to build a 60-unit housing estate in each of the 17 council areas of the state, totalling 1,020 houses across the state.

Commissioner for Housing, Chief Osita Igbe, who stated this in an interview with Vanguard, said the housing project was part of efforts by the state government to boost grassroots across the state.

Igbe explained that arrangements were set to engage the private sector and mortgage banks to deliver the houses that would have civil servants, members of trade associations and unions designated as beneficiaries.

He said: “The state government is planning something new in the area of mass housing. Inasmuch as we intend to decongest the capital city, we equally desire to create greater opportunities for civil servants and members of trade associations to own houses in their local government areas of origin.

“By the time the houses are completed and delivered to the beneficiaries, you will see other ancillary services naturally taking place, which of course, will drive development in the 17 council areas.”

Source – Vanguard

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Four unidentified soldiers have created confusion on Ikot-Ekpene Road, Umuahia, Abia State, after they allegedly brutalised a mechanic, Maduabuchi Onyemaeze, for damaging a vehicle put in his custody for sale.

The 32-year-old was said to have sustained injuries and was rushed to a medical facility in the area.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the case was reported at the CPS Police Station in Umuahia.

Onyemaeze, who spoke with our correspondent on Wednesday, shortly after he was discharged from the hospital, alleged that the military men were sent by a customer, identified simply as Jephat.

He explained that Jephat, who deals in electrical products, had contracted him to sell vehicle, a Murano Jeep, sometime in December 2016.

He said, “The car had been abandoned in a mechanic workshop for more than one year. He begged me to help him sell it. I discovered that the car’s engine was faulty and the steering was also bad.  He said I should sell it for N1m and I could remove the cost of repairs after selling it.

“While driving the car to my workshop, I discovered that the alternator was bad. I told him I would replace only the alternator because I didn’t have enough money and he agreed.

“I bought the alternator for N13,000 and when people started coming for the car, I went to his shop to ask for the vehicle documents. He said he had misplaced them and I should give him some time. After going several times, I became tired and gave up.”

The father of one said sometime last week, Jephat suddenly showed up at his workshop to inspect the car and discovered a scratch.

He added that Jephat later sent him a message, demanding that the car be returned.

He said, “I removed the alternator that I bought and took the Jeep back last Saturday. He was not around, but I dropped the car key with one of his female workers.

“I was in my shop on Monday when I saw four soldiers. They put me inside their car and took me to the back of the man’s shop. They tortured me until there was no strength in me.

“After they were done, the man gave me the car key and said I should take the car back to my workshop, fix it and return it by Friday. I was able to call some of my friends who took me to the police station from where I was taken to a hospital.”

Our correspondent learnt that the police arrested Jephat, but released him on bail on self recognition.

When PUNCH Metro called him on Wednesday, he denied the allegation, saying the mechanic was not tortured, but “flogged.”

He added that a military officer, who had indicated interest in the Jeep, sent the four soldiers to Onyemaeze’s workshop.

He said, “From the first day that I bought the Jeep, it had developed a fault and I spent a lot of money on it without any result. So, I decided to park it in my garage as a monument.

“He (Onyemaeze) saw the vehicle and said he could sell it after fixing the fault. We agreed that after selling it, he would take his repairs’ fee and commission from the money. That was sometime in November 2016.

“Two people I had told about the vehicle and directed to his workshop came back and said they didn’t see the vehicle. I assumed that they didn’t get the location right.

“When another prospective buyer made a similar observation, I decided to check his shop myself. I discovered that he had gone out with the Jeep. When he brought it back, I observed that it had been damaged.”

He said a few weeks afterwards, a friend told him that someone had been having sex in the vehicle. He said he was angry and went back to the mechanic workshop.

“When I got there, I saw that the four doors were open. Loud music was blaring everywhere. One of his apprentices was sleeping at the back. I queried him for sleeping in the car. He told me that his boss asked him to wash the Jeep for a function the following day.

“While waiting for him at the workshop, I decided to open the Jeep’s glove compartment and saw a heap of CDs and two unused condoms,” he added.

He added that when he asked Onyemaeze about some scratches on the Jeep, the mechanic said they were done by some children in the place where he parked the car.

He said he sent a message to Onyemaeze, telling him that he had been using the Jeep for his selfish end against their agreement.

The businessman added that the mechanic threatened that if he didn’t pick the car in two days, he would damage it further.

He said, “Coincidentally, a commander, who had indicated interest in buying the car called me and asked about the car. I told him all that transpired and he was angry that the vehicle was being used in such a manner.

“After some time, I saw some soldiers in my workshop; they brought the mechanic. They accused him of having sex with women in the vehicle and maligning me. They asked him to kneel down and raise his hands.

“They used a fallen mango branch to flog him. After a while, they drove off. To my surprise, he called a pastor and they started a drama. He rolled on the floor while the pastor took his pictures.

“Two policemen later came to arrest me and I followed them to the station. Because of my health condition, I was released on bail on self recognition.”

The Police Public Relations Officer, Nta Ogbonnaya, could not be reached on the telephone as of the time of filing this report.

However, a police source, who confirmed the incident, said the police were still investigating the matter.

Source – The Punch

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Ecobank Nigeria has restated its commitment to sustain support for projects that impact positively on the lives of the people and economic development of the country.

The Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Charles Kie, who gave the assurance during the commissioning of Abia Retail Shopping Mall (Shoprite) in Umuahia, Abia State, said such support is part of the bank’s policy.

Represented by the Team Lead, Medium and Local Corporates, Commercial Banking, South East, Jovita Okeahialam, he affirmed that the bank has a deliberate policy to finance projects that stimulates development, stressing that it was the motive behind the decision to be one of the financiers of the Abia mall.

“We find it quite fulfilling to be part of this project. This shopping mall will no doubt promote commerce, enhance peoples’ lives and as a matter of fact bring development to the state in general. We will continue to support such initiative in the continent,” he said.

The State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, said the mall will be a hub for opportunities for the people all over the world to do business, noting that Abia now belongs to the comity of states that have Shoprite.

He also appealed that Made-in-Abia products like shoes and bags be displayed alongside foreign ones, assuring that the products would attract more customers because of their quality.

He commended the former Governor, Senator Theodore Orji for initiating the project and other organisations like Ecobank for supporting the project.

Managing Director, Abia Retail Mall, Chuka Okoye, said Ecobank’s support to developmental projects in the country and the state in particular, was quite commendable, lauding it for being one of the key financiers of the project.

He assured of good and quality products in the mall and urged people to patronise the business.

Source: Today.ng 

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

Men of the Abia State Police Command have smashed a car-snatching syndicate, which allegedly stole a Toyota Highlander Sports Utility Vehicle at gunpoint along Finbarrs Road in Umuahia, the state capital.

It was learnt that security operatives attached to the Umuahia Area Command, while on a patrol, got a distress call that a car had just been snatched from its owner and gave the hoodlums a chase.

It was gathered that the operatives caught up with the hoodlums at Agric Research Institute along Ikot-Epene road.

A police source disclosed that the hoodlums opened fire on the operatives, adding that at the end of the gun battle, three members of gang, who sustained bullet wounds, were arrested while three escaped.

Items recovered from the gang were one Toyota Highlander with registration number JJJ 872 CX, one Mercedes Benz car with registration number AG 467 NEM and one AK 47 rifle with two magazines containing 31 rounds of live ammunition.

Others are one locally-made pistol with four rounds of live ammunition, vehicle plate number with the inscription ABA 457 RA, three Tecno phones and a wallet containing the sum of N9,080 and two one dollar bills.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adeleye Oyabade, confirmed the incident while briefing journalists in Umuahia.

Oyebade added that when the wounded hoodlums were taken to an undisclosed hospital for treatment, two of them were certified dead, while one received treatment. He pointed out that efforts were on to arrest members of the gang.

He said, “The police are appealing to members of the public with useful information that could lead to the arrest of the fleeing members of the gang to report to nearest police station.”

Source: Today.ng 

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

– Authority

9News Nigeria

9News Nigeria

[Channels Television]  A Federal High Court on Friday declared that the election of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State is valid.

Justice Ambrose Allagoa made the declaration in his judgement at the Federal High Court in Owerri, the Imo State capital in southeast Nigeria.

He was ruling on the matter filed by Mr Friday Nwosu against Governor Ikpeazu, Mr Uche Ogah, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on alleged forgery of tax documents by the Governor.

The judge also affirmed that Governor Ikpeazu’s tax documents were not forged.

The court ruled that the plaintiff, Mr Nwosu was unable to prove that the tax documents were forged.

9News Nigeria