The last Tuesday heavy downpour that swept across the major towns in Anambra state yesterday submerged an estimated two thousand buildings in the commercial town of Onitsha as well as major markets in the state.
The flood which cut off major roads and vehicles in Onitsha also swept away goods of traders at the main market, Ochanja market and Oye – Agu Abagana markets respectively while vehicles were stocked for several hours far into the night as commuters lamented over their predicaments .
The flood also carried large supply of debris from the upper part of Onitsha to the lower plane heading towards the River Niger only to hang up at blocked water channels.
To this end Gov Charles Soludo has ordered the relevant departments and his Aides to commence work in Onitsha and make proper assessment of the remote and immediate causes .
In compliance to the governor’s order the Secretary of Onitsha South local government area Mr Paul Onuachala who carried out inspection of the area noted that the flood is caused by blocked water channels being perpetrated by residents of the town who empty their wastes into the drains thereby blocking the flow of water .
Onuachala however announced that a fifty years old bridge with narrow water channels is the cause of the flood announcing that the bridge is currently being demolished and a new one being constructed as well as widening the water channels.
The thing actually harvested a lot of wastes along that line and automatically block the water channels”
“Towards Genis bread side there is a colvert there that was equally blocked and that also contributed to what is happening”
“We are demolishing the bridge and we are constructing a new bridge along Genis bread that would empty into the River Niger and that will empty the Ochanga and lower part of that area quicker “
We are going to widen the water channel to accommodate water and flood during this rainy season”
“These flood carrying debris from the upper part of Onitsha a d given our topography it follows from upper Onitsha down to the lower part of Onitsha to the River Niger”
“This is an old bridge because by the time the bridge was constructed the population of Onitsha was not the same with the population that we have now and that bridge was constructed about fifty years ago ” he said.
Reacting to the disaster the Anambra Commissioner for Environment Engr Felix Odumegwu said that the Ministry is working with the Ministry of Works as well as the Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra aka OCHA Brigade to address the situation and ensure a permanent solution to the problem.
We have contacted the Commissioner for works and we are carrying out the desilting of the drains “
“When the rain sets in the first few rains present this type of difficulty sometimes because of some areas where there are blockages but along the line it would ease off after identifying the areas that we have problems and take care of them “
Since February we have been announcing to people to start desilting their drains because of the coming rains and we set out a deadline and the OCHA brigade has been mandated to carry out enforcements but we are gout around and you noticed that yesterday we were on the streets and all efforts are being made to ensure that we do not witness this kind of thing again”
“Any man made causes of flooding will not happen a d we a are taking proactive measures in that area”
“We are aware of the fact that there would be flooding this year and we have been carrying out sensitization campaigns at the targeted areas and as a government we are on too of the situation ” he said.
In a sweeping legislative move aimed at curbing crime and unregulated spiritual practices, the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has transmitted an Executive Bill to the Enugu State House of Assembly. The bill, titled “Maintenance of Internal Security, Vigilance and Order,” seeks to combat illicit activities among native doctors, herbalists, and spiritualists, while also targeting ritual practices, illegal forest encampments, and property misuse for criminal operations.
The bill proposes a ban on money rituals, commonly referred to as ‘okite’, and criminal bulletproof charms, known locally as ‘odeshi’. It also prohibits the unlawful occupation or use of forests and private properties for kidnapping, banditry, and other criminal purposes.
According to Section 3 (1) of the bill:
“Every person, who engages in the practice or rendering of spiritual services within the state, whether as a native doctor, herbalist, spiritualist, chief priest, diviner, seer, or by any other traditional or spiritual title or designation, shall be registered with the ministry, department or agency (MDA) of the state as may be designated by the Governor for that purpose.”
Failure to register would attract a fine of not less than N1 million and not more than N5 million, or a two-year jail term, or both.
The Nigerian Naira (NGN) has been exchanging for approximately 1,584.54 Naira per US Dollar (USD) as of today, according to recent currency conversion rates.
– Buying Rate:1 USD = 1,582.53 NGN
– Selling Rate: 1 USD = 1,584.54 NGN
Keep in mind that currency exchange rates can fluctuate frequently, so these rates might change soon.
Less than 24hrs after he empowered 30 people with over 3 million naira during Sunday church service, the General Overseer of Answer of God Bible Ministries Incorporated, Ezira, in Orumba South LGA of Anambra State, Pastor Stephen Nwabuike Okoli, was reportedly kidnapped.
A social media user, Ikechukwu Kingsley; who announced the development while reacting to the empowerment on ABS Facebook page described Pastor Okoli as generous.
A member of the church who pleaded anonymity informed that the President General of Ezira Improvement Union, Mr Moses Akam, and some of the community youths were with the Pastor at his compound on Monday 2nd June when the “kidnappers” numbering 6 stormed guns, daggers and other dangerous weapons and took him away around 1pm after resistance from the youths yielded no result.
The source explained that while the armed group said they came from Awka; the state capital, the Pastor has remained incommunicado; as his lines were switched off.
He noted that the unfortunate incident may not be unconnected to the Pastor’s empowerment programmes being supported by public-spirited individuals, but however expressed confidence in God’s ability to rescue his servant., as his church members are presently organizing prayers for his release.
When contacted over the development, the President General of the community, Mr Akam, promised to call back our Correspondent.
In exercise of its regulatory powers, the Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission, EERC, has ordered MainPower Electricity Distribution Company, formerly Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, to refund over 20,000 estimated customers over “wrongful billing” by the company.
This was contained in a public notice issued by EERC on Monday where the Commission said that its order was consequent upon many complaints by MainPower’s customers against the firm’s overbilling.
“Pursuant to Section 35 of the Enugu State Electricity Law 2023 and other extant rules, this is to inform customers in Enugu State that the Commission has issued an Order to MainPower to refund the affected customers the overbilled units for energy consumed in April 2025,” EERC notice reads.
It said the list of the affected customers have been published on the Commission’s website, www.eerc.en.gov.ng/order, and advised affected customers of MainPower, who are not refunded at the expiration of the timeframe for the refund to contact the Commission via email at info@eerc.en.gov.ng or call 09122642755 for the Commission’s necessary action.
Meanwhile, the order signed by the Chairman of EERC, Chijioke Okonkwo, and the Commissioner in charge of Market Operations, Barr. Reuben Okoye, gave MainPower till July 2025 billing cycle at most to refund the customers, failing which it would pay a fine of N500,000 for each day that it fails to comply with the order in line with the extant law of the Enugu State Electricity Law, 2023.
According to the Commission, it started tracking the estimate billing practices of MainPower from October 2024 when it assumed full regulatory control in Enugu State from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, and raised the issues with the firm in a letter dated 16th December, which it said MainPower failed to adequately address in their response dated 14th January 2025.
EERC added that in another letter dated 4th April 2025, it further called MainPower’s attention to its continuous estimated billing violations from October 2024 to February 2025 and demanded a significant improvement in the next two billing cycles failing which it would be constrained to commence enforcement action.
“The Commission, in its letter to MainPower dated 6th May 2025 called MainPower’s attention to the suspiciously striking similarity between MainPower’s estimated billing reports in February and March 2025; and gave MainPower 14 days from the date of receipt of the letter to provide an explanation, if any.
“The 14 days given to MainPower to respond to the Commission’s letter dated 6th May 2025, expired on 23rd May 2025 without any response from MainPower.
“The Commission recently reviewed MainPower’s April 2025 estimated report, and observed that the degree of violation of the caps on estimated billing by MainPower had further deteriorated from the 24 percent observed in February and March 2025, to 34 percent in April, 2025,” EERC stated.
The Commission, therefore, said it had “established that MainPower is in deliberate breach of the Commission’s stipulations in the terms and conditions of MainPower’s Interim Licence with respect to the capping of estimated billing.”
Consequently, it ordered that MainPower refunds the equivalent amount of the April 2025 over-bill to the affected customers.
“MainPower shall refund the over-bill to the affected customers within the June 2025 billing cycle, but not later than the July 2025 billing cycle.
“Where MainPower fails or neglects to comply with this Order, the Commission shall invoke its powers under section 32 (5) of the Enugu State Electricity Law 2023, which authorises the Commission to impose a fine not exceeding Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000.00) for each day that MainPower may be in default of compliance with this Order,” the order concluded.
NAIRA TRADES AT N1,589.12 PER DOLLAR AS OF JUNE 2, 2025
The Nigerian Naira (NGN) closed at N1,589.12 per US Dollar (USD) as of Monday, June 2, 2025. This exchange rate reflects the current market dynamics in the foreign exchange market.
Exchange Rate Details:
– Buying Rate:N1,585.00 per USD
– Selling Rate:N1,589.12 per USD
The Naira’s exchange rate against the US Dollar has remained stable, indicating a steady market sentiment. However, currency traders and investors are advised to monitor market developments closely, as exchange rates can fluctuate rapidly.
Stay tuned for further updates on currency exchange rates and market trends.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has made history by winning their first UEFA Champions League title, defeating Inter Milan 5-0 in the final held at Munich’s Allianz Arena on June 1, 2025. This dominant victory marks the largest margin of win in a Champions League final since 1956.
PSG’s triumph makes them the second French club to win the European Cup, following Marseille’s victory in 1993. Coach Luis Enrique, who previously led Barcelona to the title in 2015, secures his second Champions League win.
This win completes a historic treble for PSG, who had already secured Ligue 1 and Coupe de France titles earlier in the season. The team’s shift from a “galactico” approach to a more balanced, team-focused strategy under Luis Enrique has paid off, bringing European glory to the Parisians.
Three prominent opposition figures — former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and former governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna) and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) — have come down hard on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the worsening insecurity, hunger, and poverty in the country, vowing to stop his re-election bid in 2027.
They spoke at the weekend during a public lecture themed “Weaponisation of Poverty as a Means of Underdevelopment: A Case Study of Nigeria” to mark Amaechi’s 60th birthday.
Atiku, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accused the Tinubu administration of deliberately weaponising poverty as a tool of political control.
You may call me a conspirator, you may call me anything,” Atiku said. “That is why we are in this alliance — to make sure we don’t allow them to continue weaponising poverty.”
He said the administration had failed to meet expectations and was using poverty as a political tool.
“What we are experiencing in Nigeria today is state-sanctioned weaponisation of poverty,” he declared.
“When I was growing up in the North, Kano State was the most prosperous. After secondary school, I was posted there. I never saw people sleeping outside — not under bridges, not in front of shops.
But recently, during a visit to Kano, I saw people sleeping everywhere — under bridges, on the streets — driven out by poverty and insecurity.
“There’s a state agency in Kano that provides support to such people. They began their work — relocating people from under bridges, enlightening them, helping them. What happened? They were called to a meeting and told to stop,” he added.”
Amaechi: Hunger doesn’t know tribe or religion
Also speaking at the event, Amaechi said poverty and insecurity were closely linked and challenged the opposition to rise to the occasion in 2027.
We are all hungry, all of us are. If you are not hungry, I am. For us in the opposition, if we are serious, we can remove this man from power. We must unite and be committed if we want to get out of this problem. For the opposition to lead us out of this problem, we must all agree to submit ourselves to the interest of the nation first before that of ourselves”, he said.
He added, “Hunger doesn’t recognise tribe or religion. This government has made people poorer, and that has increased the level of insecurity and crime in society.”
Amaechi noted that the power to remove underperforming leaders lies with the people, not politicians.
Nigerians must know that the power resides with them. If we are serious about change, the people have the power to make it happen.”
He said his refusal to support Tinubu during the 2023 election stemmed from his belief that Tinubu lacked the capacity to lead.
“I told Tinubu in Yola: I will not support you; I will not work for you. And I didn’t. I didn’t vote for him. It was about capacity.
“Some of us voted along ethnic and religious lines. Innocent, uneducated people are manipulated to vote based on ethnicity and religion — and that’s why we are where we are.”
He criticised the political class for failing the people, saying, “After events like this, we go behind closed doors to plot how to grab power. No Nigerian leader truly cares about the people. The benefits of the fuel subsidy removal? They’re sitting in the pockets of the elite.”
Amaechi expressed embarrassment at Nigeria’s international image, saying carrying the Nigerian passport has become burdensome.
“I’m ashamed. I was detained in Germany for 30 minutes. I had done nothing wrong. I was going for a medical check-up. I showed them my return ticket, yet they said, ‘Wait’. Just because I carried a green passport.”
On his part, former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, described Nigeria’s current condition as the worst since the country’s amalgamation in 1914.
“Nigeria is in its biggest trouble since 1914. That’s why we are working and conspiring to build a coalition to take Nigeria back on track — because right now, it is off track,” he said.
He blamed the deterioration on “urban bandits” — leaders who have seized power without competence or vision.
“We’ve allowed bandits, not the ones in the bush but those in urban areas — the so-called urban bandits — to take over leadership.
Our biggest problem is that we hand over power to people who have no idea what to do. They only know how to seize power but not what to do with it afterwards.”
He called on Nigerians to elect leaders with the “competence, capability, capacity, and commitment” to move the country forward.
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, who also attended the lecture, praised Amaechi’s courage during the APC presidential primaries in 2022, where he refused to step down for Tinubu.
“The main reason I had to be here today is because I admire Rotimi Amaechi’s fighting spirit. It’s consistent,” Soyinka said.
He recalled watching the APC primary election live from Abu Dhabi and being moved by Amaechi’s stance.
“I wasn’t in Nigeria, but I followed the primary on TV because I wanted to witness the drama. And I’m glad I did.
“It gave me great, almost mischievous pleasure—rascally if you like—to see the incumbent president being given a dose of his own medicine.”
Soyinka compared Amaechi’s defiance to Tinubu’s own refusal to step down during the Obasanjo era.
“While others were falling over themselves conceding, one man stood up and said, ‘No, I’m not conceding.’ That was Rotimi Amaechi. And I thought, this is what democracy is all about.”
Tinubu eventually emerged as the APC flagbearer, polling 1,271 votes to defeat 13 other aspirants. Amaechi came second with 316 votes.
Also speaking, the Emir of Kano and former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, said he only truly understood the scale of poverty after ascending the throne.
“Many of Nigeria’s elites have no real idea what poverty is,” he said. “As an economist and a former CBN governor, I saw the numbers. But I didn’t know poverty until I became Emir.
“You go to the villages and see the water they drink, the houses they live in — two-block classrooms with no roofs. Do we love the people, or do we just love ruling over them?
Our priorities are upside down. We build overpasses and underpasses in the cities for ourselves, while those in rural areas can’t even reach a clinic. We are in crisis. Our focus should be: how do we get out?”
He urged those in leadership to show empathy and reflect on the human impact of their decisions.
Shine your eyes, Dickson tells coalition
But former Bayelsa governor and serving senator, Seriake Dickson, has advised opposition leaders to be more strategic and unified as they attempt to unseat Tinubu in 2027.
When I came in here and climbing up here, I have seen a lot of you and as my brother El-Rufai has said, there are a number of you who are expert conspirators, who know how to assemble coalitions and then take over governments as you did to my party in 2015.
“And when you did so, particularly to a clueless government, so-called. Now, 11 years down the line, we thought that there would have been no weaponisation of poverty and that all the challenges of Nigeria would have been gone.
“But 11 years down the line, here we are, assembled to still bemoan the fate of our country.
“And the only advice I can give, not being a professional coalition builder and conspirator, as some of you are, is that this time, shine your eyes. As you live coalition and conspire, shine your eyes, “Dickson said.
Today marks the 58th Anniversary of the emergence of the Republic of Biafra in the comity of nations. Businesses ,Schools ,Banks ,Markets etc are all closed voluntarily in honor of all those who paid the supreme price in defence of the rising sun – Republic Of Biafra . Today , the Governors of former eastern Nigeria have all failed the people as none of them could gather enough courage to officially declare public holiday in honour of the Biafra fallen Heroes .They(Governors) have cowardly accepted slavery than freedom!
On the solemn day of 30th May 1967, the Consultative Assembly from the then Eastern Nigeria, unanimously affirmed the right to self-determination of their indigenous population to be identified as Biafra with their millennial name Biafra.
The flag of the Republic of Biafra consisting of a horizontal tricolour of red, black, and green, charged with a golden rising sun over a golden bar was mounted to be suppressed no more. It also inspired the rhyme of the national anthem: “Land of the Rising Sun”. The motto of the republic is “Peace, Unity and Freedom”.
The resistance of Biafra against Nigeria with her colonial and post-colonial cronies in collaboration with allied international powers resembles the victorious struggle of Finland against tsarist Russia.
The right of self-determination in international law is the legal right for ‘people’ to ascertain their sovereignty by a legitimate process.
The Right of Self-Determination as of then was only anchored in the United Nations Charter, which states in Chapter 1 Article 1 Part 2 that the purposes of the UN is ” to develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples”. This has been reaffirmed in UN successive Resolutions and Declarations. African Union Charter on human rights came into force later on 27 June 1981.
Biafra is the first nation of the world that put into effect this act of the universal declaration of human rights. Though similar event previously happened in Katanga from 11 July 1960 to 15 January 1963 and South Kasai from 9 August till 5 October 1962 then Belgium colonies but was only in the form of shifting of powers and territories. Biafra was muscled down by colonial and post colonial cronies contrary to Bagnlandesh that she shares similarities with which had her independence on 26 March 1971.
Nigeria declared war against the Republic of Biafra on the 6th of July 1967 aberrant to any peaceful negotiation and dialogue in what it deceitful coded as ‘police action’.
Biafra was drawn into an unprepared war and she fought for survival and for the true independence of Africa as rightly noted by Biafran Statesman and world reknown writer Chinua Achebe. It stood out as the first challenge against post colonialism – a net fracture and radical refute of ugly deceit of colonial and postcolonial boundaries. Unfortunately, it resulted to a tragedy of world relevance.
Late Gen Odimeqwu Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, the first Head of State of the Republic of Biafra pinpointed massacre and genocide of innocent Biafran people as the core reason why Biafrans needed to have and defend a homeland for survival. In an address to the Organization of African Unity on 5 August ,1968, he accused the Nigerian military dictatorial government of waging a ‘genocidal war’ against Biafra, and argued that it was ‘appalling’ that ‘this palpable genocide is being openly financed and directed by major non-African powers whose interest in the event is the economic and political advantage of their own countries’ .
African statesmen Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, Leopold Senghor of Senegal, Omar Bongo of Gabon and Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia clearly stood behind Biafra and condemned this African tragedy.
True images of genocidal crimes against Biafran children denuded, de-nutrited dying with terrific kwashiorkor epidemics: symbolize how, when and why the world nations failed humanity.
Let’s clarify a point. The recall on genocide and continual atrocities being melted against the people of Biafra is not a call to gain sympathy rather it is redress for justice, which we must seek no matter what it takes. Human sympathy is a duty to all persons of good will; liberty and justice is a right.
Biafra stood out as sacrificial lamb for humanitarianism after the second world war. Biafra travails were made known to the world through the diligent work of Swiss Publicity Agencies – Mark Press.
Bruce Mayrock on 29 May 1969 martyred for the people of Biafra and humanity.
Many personalities, writers and academics were not indifferent over this human tragedy : Graham Greene, Kurt Vonnegut; Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir and Leslie Aaron Fiedler, Aubery Wanf and Suzanne Cronje authors of Biafra: Britain’s Shame.
Bernard Kouchner (Founder in1971 Medecins sans Frontieres). Daniel Jacobs functionary of UNICEF in his book – The Brutality of Nations – exposed the indifference of U Thant UN Secretary general and international complot against the people of Biafra.
The 1977 additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions were consequent to genocide by starvation against Biafrans. International revulsion at the use of starvation as a mayhem on innocent Biafran children by Nigerian government and cohorts was instrumental in the inclusion of clauses prohibiting starvation as a method of warfare in the 1977 Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions.
In recent years, questions on genocide in Biafra have also become topics of academic debates. The Journal of Genocide Research, published by researchers of the International Network of Genocide Scholars, edited a special issue titled “ The Nigeria-Biafra War 1967- 1970: Postcolonial Conflict and the Question of Genocide (XVI, 2-3, 2014).
Republic of Biafra is now in a state of quiescence. Biafra has the appeal of first African political civil rights techno administrative creativity. So much so that her anniversary is still a popular current phenomenon.
Biafra’s political land mark in the comity of nations, despite ‘colonial and post colonial complot’ demonstrated to Africa and the whole world, that there was no human rights more sacrosanct , than right to self-determination when all the other reasons for the survival of a human family has been threatened by an colonial created political union ‘.
It is a duty that this day must be remembered and celebrated by the Biafran families.
Yes, ‘the reason’ why Republic of Biafra must be celebrated annually is still same: the ‘survival of Biafran people’. It has been from the onset legitimately sought by her generations from different perspectives and currently interpreted by the young generation in civil acts of fundamental freedom and liberty.
Biafrans feel the energy and the potential in their own rights as citizens, civil rightist or activist to remember and celebrate this day. It is a moment for the sharing of experiences, reflections and appraisal which if correctly understood and exercised in view of the Nigeria national predicaments is beneficial for our common good.
The recollection of memories by Biafrans home and abroad from all works of life have been essential in the revive of Biafra heritage and legacy that were being negated and cancelled by Nigeria authorities that have been. Equally important have been the experiences handed over by our heroes, heroines and veterans.
Biafran anniversary is also an important moment of unveiling the Biafran values to younger generation Biafrans, friends, well wishers and detractors, such like when it comes to values of nationhood created under the detects of human liberty.
Biafran legitimate defense for self-determination has been one of the best documented in the history of conflicts in Africa. Unfortunately, it has also been the mos t denied and hidden even under threat by Nigeria government and cohorts. Substantial facts and evidence of declassified documents and files from archives are now revealing what transpired, with silence offensiveness engaged by the master-minders and protagonists. Much is still expected and need to be done , as to always remember and not to forget the heinous act against peace loving people of Biafra.
