Aba
Abia governor: Education the best way to fight insecurity
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state has described education as the best tool to change the mindsets of the youths and fight insecurity in the land. Speaking at the Grand finale of schools quiz competition organized by a Non Governmental Organization (NGO), Ray Nkemdirim Foundation in Umuahia, Ikpeazu said education play a pivotal role in shaping the youths positively for the future. Ikpeazu, represented by the Secretary to State Government (SSG), Chris Ezem, said dedication to education and hard work were the only route to success. While urging students to be studious and spend lesser times on unnecessary things, Ikpeazu challenged parents to always work hard in training their children and not depend only on teachers. He commended the organizers of the schools quiz competition and urged ...
Abia government renames technical colleges
The Abia State Executive Council has approved the renaming of some existing colleges in the state. The institutions renamed are, Boys Technical College, Aba to Government Technical College, Aba and Secondary Technical School, Afara to Government Technical College, Afara. The decision to rename the colleges was taken at a meeting presided by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu held inside the Executive Chambers of Government House Umuahia on Wednesday. This was disclosed in a release signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Barrister Chris Ezems and made available to newsmen in Umuahia on Friday. According to the release, the Council approved that all students enrolled in the Technical schools will enjoy free education whilst Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) should as a...
Sultan: Scrapping NYSC scheme not interest of Nigeria’s unity
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, says agitation for the scrapping of the National Youth Service (NYSC) scheme is not in the interest of Nigeria’s unity. Abubakar spoke when he hosted some selected members of NYSC Batch A stream 2 corps members posted to Sokoto state in his palace on Monday in Sokoto. The Sultan said that those agitating for the scrapping of the scheme did not mean well for the country. The emir explained that the NYSC scheme was established to foster the nation’s unity and strengthen ties among Nigerians. “I heard there are efforts for the scrapping of the NYSC scheme, I assure you that those behind that struggle do not mean well for this country, ” Abubakar said. According to him, the NYSC scheme is the most needed programme in view of the present situation wh...
Armed men rob expatriate, kill orderly, driver in Umuahia
Dare-devil armed men attacked an expatriate in Umuahia, Abia State, on Friday, killing his police orderly and driver. The police spokesperson in Abia, Godfrey Ogbonna, who confirmed the attack, said the bandits robbed the expatriate of N3 million. Ogbonna, a superintendent of police, told reporters that the expatriate, said to be a Chinese, escaped unhurt. The man was said to have come from Aba to withdraw money from a bank in Umuahia and was returning, when the bandits trailed him. It was learnt that the man’s SUV was intercepted in a traffic hold-up on Mission Hill, near the office of the Nigerian Correctional Service at about noon. A witness said, “They intercepted the man at Mission Hill and shot his orderly dead, while his driver sustained gunshot injuries.” The driver was said to hav...
Former Nigerian soldier who trains ESN militants arrested in Abuja
The police have arrested a dismissed army lance corporal allegedly responsible for training and recruiting people into the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the militant arm of the outlawed pro-Biafra group, IPOB, according to a report. He was arrested a few days after a top commander of the terror group, Awurum Eze, was arrested in Aba, Abia State. The group is alleged to have been responsible for killings of security agents and destruction of public properties in the South-east and South-south zones. They have, however, denied the allegations. According to sources, the 32 years old dismissed soldier, whose name was given as Livinus Owalum-Barnabas, was arrested on Sunday, at Gwagwalada Area Council of the FCT by men of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT). The e...
House to hold valedictory session for deceased member Ossy Prestige
Abia Facts The House of Representatives, will on April 15, hold a valedictory session for the late member representing Aba North /Aba South federal constituency of Abia State, Hon. Ossy Prestige. Younger brother to the late lawmaker, Rotarian Chuks Nnanna, who disclosed this while briefing journalists in Aba, explained the event, would mark the beginning of activities for the burial of the late lawmaker. Prestige, who was serving his second term at the House on the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, died on February 6 in Germany, after a brief illness. He further disclosed that there would be a walk as well as an interdenominational service in honour of the late lawmaker who would be buried on April 24 at Abiriba, in Ohafia council area. Meanwhile, a group, Old Bende Pro...
Abia by-election: APC candidate urges supporters to accept result
All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the just-concluded Aba North/South Federal Constituency by-election, Hon Mascot Uzor Kalu, has urged his supporters and APC members to accept the result and remain calm. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon Chimaobi Ebisike, winner of the by-election held on Saturday. In a statement, Hon Kalu said the by-elect1ion was over and appealed to APC members to accept the outcome of the elections in good faith while appreciating them for making the party stronger in Abia. He said while the PDP wanted the election at all cost , “we chose life over bloodshed and therefore won lives and lost the polls. To us, that was a m victory.” Hon Kalu said the level of thuggery, violen...
Senator Abaribe: It’s shameful that Ihejirika joined APC
The Senator Representing Abia South Senatorial zone, Sen Enyinnaya Abaribe, says it is a shame that a former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika (rtd), campaigned for the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Aba. Speaking in a radio interview, Abaribe described APC as a party that has so much disdain for the South East. He added that with the level of insecurity the country is being faced with, no APC Senator from the region has summoned the courage to speak up. “PDP government recognized Igbos in the military by making him the Chief of Army Staff for the first time in history.” “The same man is supporting a party that has so much disdain for Igbos. That Ihejirika is with APC that has pushed out our people to a point that you hardly see any Igbo in the top rank of the military and ot...
Abia: Senator Kalu scores successors very low, wants Aba declared a disaster area
Sen. Orji Kalu, the Chief Whip of the Senate, has advocated for declaration of Aba, the economic hub of Abia State, a disaster area so that the Federal Government can take extra-ordinary measures to fix the town. Kalu, who was governor of Abia state from 1999 to 2007 said this on Thursday when he hosted some clergymen in the state to a breakfast meeting in Aba, according to a statement from his office. The meeting was in furtherance of the campaign for his younger brother, Mascot, who is All Progressive Congress, APC’s candidate for Saturday’s bye-election for Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency. Kalu scored successive administrations after his very low in terms of infrastructure development in Aba. He said, “I am disappointed that since I left office in 2007, nothing tangible has bee...
NSCDC arrests 16 for ‘illegal’ oil bunkering
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has reported the arrest of 16 persons including a 45-year old mother of four in Abia State for allegedly engaging in illegal oil bunkering. The state commandant of the corps, Mr Vincent Ogu, stated this while briefing newsmen at the command’s headquarters in Umuahia, the capital on some of its recent achievements. He explained that, “The suspects were arrested at different locations across the state for offences bordering on oil bunkering and illegal dealings in petroleum products.” He said Babangida Saleh, Abubakar Ibrahim, Bukar Ali, and Mohammed Mohammed were arrested, while conveying about 30,000 litres of suspected petroleum products in a truck with Reg. No. GYA611XA. “Lawrence Ahmed, Johnson Akinrinola and Ofo-Obong Francis were ar...
Abia governor promises delivery of more road projects
Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia on Tuesday expressed the readiness of his administration to facilitate the delivery of more road projects in Aba and the state. Ikpeazu said this while inspecting the ongoing reconstruction of Port Harcourt Road, as part of the resumption of a statewide-project-inspection programme, tagged “Kinetic Abia Project Tour” in Aba. He said that the government would deliver high quality roads as part of its efforts to rebuild Aba and improve the wellbeing of its residents. He appealed to the residents to support the government to achieve its goal of transforming Aba by assisting the contractors handling the projects and protecting the infrastructure. The governor said that he would remain irrevocably committed to changing the narratives of Aba in the area of infrastruct...
Imo hunter kills lover for ‘cheating on him’
A hunter identified as Chidube Onyema has killed his girlfriend over allegation of infidelity. The tragic incident happened at Umuokirie village in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo state, on Sunday. A source in the community told newsmen that the victim simply identified as Chinwendu visited the suspect from her village, Ohabele in Obosima community in Ohaji/ Egbema LGA of the state after returning from Aba in Abia state. The source, who pleaded anonymity, told newsmen that trouble started when Chinwendu, who was billed to return to Aba same day, answered a phone call in the presence of her lover. The suspect reportedly asked Chinwendu whom she spoke with over the phone but she refused to tell him. He had asked her to hand over the phone to him but she still refused. The source sai...
