what do the Igbos want politically and economically?
Lets begin to address the question and let the debate begins !
To me and Good Governance Ministry (GGM ) , ndigbo desire a competitive confederal system of Government where each federating unit will have control of her destinies .
APC has been in charge of the powerful federal Government and we have not seen a sincere effort to make Nigeria competitive and productive . It has remained sharing of cake( crude oil revenue) from Abuja instead of allowing the federating units to bake their cakes. This feeding bottle federalism cannot stand the test of time and APC under Tinubu has consolidated the sharing of our Commonwealth while millions of Nigerians are jobless and slaves in the Lord Luggard created entity.
Therefore , Hon Kalu agenda should be resisted by all -well meaning Ndigbo. Let him continue to enjoy the sharing of our Commonwealth with his family and friends. The judgement day is fast approaching.
In line with its vision to grow the state’s economy from $4.4bn to $30bn and meet the state’s power needs, the Enugu State Government says it is working to ramp up the state’s electricity capacity from the 70MW currently supplied by the national grid to 700MW through private sector investment.
The government said it was, however, eager to get the inputs of industry stakeholders into the state’s draft electricity regulatory framework to make the state’s electricity market viable.
This was even as developers, operators, investors, financiers, consumers, among other stakeholders commended what they described as the transparency and proactiveness of the state in its effort to build an electricity market where everyone’s interest is protected.
The state government and industry players spoke at a stakeholders engagement and consultation organised by the Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission, EERC, to review it’s draft regulatory instruments in the state capital on Tuesday.
Declaring the event open, Governor Peter Mbah, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Chidiebere Onyia, said the campaign promise to resuscitate pipe-borne water, improve security, education and healthcare delivery services, revamp and expand road networks, create the enabling environment for business development, job creation and economic growth would not be possible without a drastic improvement in electricity services.
“Therefore, we are opening up the entire value chain of the electricity market in Enugu State for all market participants to play, from supply to generation, transmission to distribution, electricity retailing through off-grid to mini-grid solutions and from metering to energy efficiency applications,” he said.
He assured the industry players of the continued independence of EERC to operate without political or administrative interference.
Speaking, the Chairman of EERC, Chijioke Okonkwo, who rued the present power deficits in the state, noted that the Commission needed to carry everyone along from the outset in order to build investor confidence required to turn things around.
“We have given ourselves some projected targets that within the next two years (2026), Enugu State should be consuming at least 300 megawatts and by 2030 we would have hit at least 700 megawatts.
“Right now, we are getting approximately 70 megawatts from the national grid. And this is not sufficient for us to say that we want to put ourselves in the position to industrialize. We want to change that narrative.
“However, industry players and operators want a place where they can carry out commercially viable businesses. They are here to make money, but they are also expected to provide services that are reliable and sustainable and also undertake these service for the long term and not the short term.
“So, this engagement will give them an opportunity to make inputs and let us agree on what these regulations should speak to in order to support their investment initiatives before the finalisation, adoption, and implementation of the regulatory framework,” Okonkwo said.
In his contribution, the Managing Director of Siemens Energy Nigeria, Seun Suleiman, commended the transparency of the state government through its regulatory agency.
“I see a lot of transparency here today. Each Commissioner is breaking down all the discussions in terms of the regulation and how you will get the permit. We are very happy because we also want to support a lot of these captive power investors with our ranges of gas turbines, which we have done in so many places,” Suleiman enthused.
The Enugu State Government today demolished properties used by kidnappers for detaining their victims in the outskirts of Enugu, the state capital.
Among the properties were an uncompleted storey-building with an underground tunnel at Nkwubor Layout in Emene Nike where a large cache of arms and ammunition were recovered and a large farm housing a poultry, piggery, and plantain plantation at Ogbeke Nike all in Enugu East LGA.
At Nkwubor Nike, 17 firearms were recovered, including eight AK47 riffles, seven pump action riffles, and two short guns, while two AK47 riffles were recovered at the Ogbeke Nike farm. Shrines, charms, and mini Indian hemp farms were also destroyed.
Security operatives had, following months of discreet investigation on the activities of the kidnappers, stormed the two hideouts, where they made the startling discoveries and rescued some victims after gun duels with the criminals.
It is recalled that the Enugu State Government had announced its readiness to demolish properties used for kidnapping purposes in line with Section 315 of the Criminal Code (Second Amendment) Law Cap. 30, Laws of Enugu State.
Speaking to newsmen at the kidnappers hideout at Ogbeke, Nike, the Executive Chairman of Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, ECTDA, Uche Anya, said the demolitions were in compliance with the said law as directed by the government.
“This government is determined to exterminate all manner of criminality. So, people were kidnapped and brought here, including the woman that was kidnapped near the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus.
“You can see the trouble we took to get here today. But after today, this place will never exist again in the manner you met it. That is why we are here to send a strong signal and we are also warning property owners not to come and tell us that they are in South Africa, China or Germany and do not know what is happening. Once your property or commercial entity is used for kidnapping or anything involving grievous bodily harm or threat, including attempted murder, we will come after you and your property,” he stated.
At Nkwubor, Emene, Nike, Anya told reporters, “The activities here were even more gruesome. You have seen the underground cell they built and covered it with a manhole. Ordinarily you will think nothing is happening there, but the eagle eye of the security in the course of doing their work detected that something was amiss, only to discover that there’s an underground where human beings are kept and we found their armoury, many AK47 riffles and other crazy equipments that no civilian is entitled to hold. But, today, it has to go down as directed by the governor in accordance with the Laws of Enugu State,” he said.
The ECTDA Chairman said the government would in addition take over the properties and put them to good use, noting that the demolition is an ongoing process as more structures were already marked to go down.
“So, all these places will be taken over by the government and we can turn it into a children playground, garden, park or primary health care. But whoever thought he or she owned this place before this hour will no longer touch his or her foot here forever.
“Enugu State has an anti-kidnapping law, but beside that, the Criminal Code covers that whatever that deprives you of your liberty and leads to death is what the government cannot condone,” he concluded.
The Enugu State Government says it will pull down property, whether a private residence or business premises, used for kidnapping for ransom in any part of the state.
The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, disclosed the government’s threat in a statement issued on Tuesday in Enugu by the Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Peter Mbah on External Relations, Uche Anichukwu.
Onyia stated that the step was in continuation of the determined efforts by Mbah’s administration to rid the state of all forms of crimes and criminalities.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Enugu State House of Assembly had in November 2016, amended the Criminal Code Law of Enugu State, which was subsequently signed into Law by former Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, on January 20, 2017.
Section 315 of the Criminal Code (Second Amendment) Law Cap. 30, Laws of Enugu State, currently provides that, “If the building or structure owned by the offender or any other person, who knows or ought to reasonably know that the building or structure is so being used for that purpose, the building or structure shall be demolished or forfeited to the State Government.”
The SSG was quoted to have said that Enugu citizens had wondered why the government was yet to enforce the law, eight years after.
“Responding to the citizen’s agitations over what they perceived as a lukewarm attitude to the law, the current administration is taking time to carry out due diligence to ensure that nobody suffers undue losses or miscarriage of justice.
“The government warned property owners to take necessary steps to know their prospective tenants before leasing their property to them,” Onyia reportedly said.
“He said that after due diligence, the government had compiled the list of property used for kidnapping purposes in the state,” the statement added.
According to him, the property will go down sooner than later, to serve as a deterrent to others.
“There is no hiding place for criminal elements in Enugu State.
“They either repent, leave town, or meet their Waterloo, the choice is theirs,” he reportedly said.
Following the ongoing face-off between it and Nigeria Police, the leadership of Nigeria Labor Congress has asked its members to be ready to commence a nationwide strike if need be by midnight of Tuesday.
The labor center said in a communique issued after its emergency National Executive Council in Abuja that it had directed all the state chapters and affiliates to mobilize workers for an indefinite strike from midnight if anything happened to the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, who was invited by the police for questioning over terrorism financing allegation.
The police invitation to Ajaero comes weeks after policemen conducted a night raid on the NLC national secretariat in Abuja.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, while justifying the raid, said the police were on the trail of one of the terrorists who masterminded the crisis in Sudan.
The police added that the raid was to search for seditious materials in connection to the recent nationwide #EndBadGovernance or hunger protest, which turned violent in parts of the country, particularly in the North, where some protesters were seen waving the Russian flag and demanding President Bola Tinubu’s resignation.
On Monday, the police said Ajaero should appear for questioning at 10 am over allegation of terrorism financing and treasonable felony.
But the NLC National Executive Council convened an emergency for Tuesday morning to weigh the situation.
Rising from the meeting, the NLC leadership, in their communique, said they viewed Ajaero’s summon as “a clearly unfounded and politically-motivated investigation.”
In the communique signed by NLC Deputy President, Ado Sani Minjibir, the congress warned that “it will not hesitate to take all necessary actions, including mass protests and industrial actions, to protect the integrity and independence of the labor movement.”
“The NEC directs all affiliates and state councils to immediately commence the process of mobilizing their members across the nation.
“The congress will not hesitate to take all necessary actions, including mass protests and industrial actions, to protect the integrity and independence of the labor movement.
“If anything happens to the President of the Congress or any other leader of the congress in furtherance of these tendentious allegations by the state;
“NEC puts all its affiliates and state councils alert to proceed on indefinite nationwide strike action by 12:00 midnight today.”
The NLC also called on all civil society allies and the general populace to stand in solidarity with the union at “this critical moment”.
The meeting expressed grave concern ‘that rather than extending the demand by the congress for the earlier invasion of its national headquarters by security agencies, the Nigeria Police has chosen to embark on this spurious and fortuitous journey of intimidation, harassment, and witch-hunt.
“This is nothing but a travesty and a blatant attempt to stifle the voice of the working people and their leadership, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the International Labor Organization Conventions 87 and 98.In light of this, the NEC of the NLC resolves as follows,” it said.
NLC said that it had decided to honor the police invitation as a responsible labor center committed to the rule of law and due process.
It however added that it would not sit idly while the rights and freedoms of its members and leaders were trampled upon with impunity by the state.
“The NLC shall honor the invitation extended to its President by the Nigeria Police but will demand for extension of time given the nature of the invitation.
“However, we wish to state unequivocally that this does not in any way legitimize the baseless allegations levelled against him.
“The Nigeria Labor Congress remains resolute in its commitment to defending the rights and interests of workers and the Nigerian people. We shall not be cowed or intimidated by these desperate attempts to silence us.
“The NEC strongly condemns the continued harassment of the leadership of the Nigeria Labor Congress and other Labor leaders. We view this as a calculated attempt to weaken and destabilize the labor movement, which has always stood as a bastion of democratic principles and the voice of the Nigerian masses.
Following cases of fake certification recently detected by the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB), examination boards in Kenya and Uganda are now writing Nigeria to verify records presented by Nigerian candidates seeking admissions into tertiary institutions in their respective countries.
JAMB made this known in a document ‘Registrar’s Report on 2023 ADMISSION & 2024 UTME Policy Meeting’ document obtained by Channels Television on Wednesday.
According to the document, JAMB stressed the need to protect Nigeria’s tertiary institutions from international disrepute, adding that it would not falsify the records of any students.
“Uganda and Kenya examination boards are now writing to JAMB to confirm records presented by candidates for admission of candidates. JAMB would not falsify record,” the Nigerian exam body stated.
Recently, the Federal Government suspended the verification of degree certificates from Uganda, Kenya, Benin Republic, Togo and some other countries over allegations of certificate racketeering.
The Federal Government’s decision comes on the heels of an investigation by Daily Nigeria reporter, Umar Audu on how he obtained a degree within six weeks in the Benin Republic.
After his report, the Federal Government set up an Inter-Ministerial Investigative Committee on Degree Certificate Milling to probe the activities of certificate racketeers and it had reported that JAMB threatened to sanction higher institutions that fail to submit lists of students admitted immediately after matriculation.
According to JAMB’s Public Communications Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, the initiative is one of the recommendations made by a committee set up by the Federal Government to combat fake degree racketeering in the country.
According to a ‘CLARIFICATION ON DISCLOSURE OF ADMITTED CANDIDATES OUTSIDE CAPS( 2017-DATE)’ by JAMB obtained by Channels Television, institutions are to “regularly submit their matriculation lists to the Federal Ministry of Education not later than three months after matriculation ceremonies.”
The list is expected to be submitted through the dedicated channel of JAMB.
“The Board has observed a large number of candidates thronging its offices to resolve issues related to the disclosure of candidates admitted outside the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) from 2017 to date. While we appreciate the enthusiasm, we must correct the misconception that the focus is on candidates’ actions. The true emphasis lies with the institutions, which must disclose all candidates admitted outside CAPS before the August 31st, 2024 deadline.
“This directive requires immediate attention and compliance. We urge institutions to carefully review our initial letter and ensure full compliance, as failure to disclose will result in severe consequences. Candidates are also reminded not to accept admissions outside CAPS.
“The Board reiterated that candidates not disclosed by institutions would not be entertained. The Board will not tolerate any condolement of undisclosed admissions moving forward.”
In a similar development, a memo addressed to the JAMB on July 15, 2024, the education ministry said, “You may recall that following the publication of allegations of certificate racketeering involving some foreign institutions, especially in Cotonou, Benin Republic, and other countries, the ministry constituted an inter-ministerial committee to investigate the allegations to find lasting solutions.
“The committee has submitted its report and the Honourable Minister of Education has approved its recommendations for implementation.
“In that regard, I hereby convey the request of the honourable minister for the implementation of the following recommendations of the committee:
“Enforce the mandatory requirement for all tertiary institutions in Nigeria to exclusively conduct their admissions processes through the Central Admissions Processing System under the auspices of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board; mandate all tertiary institutions in Nigeria to regularly submit their matriculation lists to the Federal Ministry of Education not later than three months after matriculation ceremonies through the dedicated channel of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.
“You are kindly requested to implement the above recommendations and furnish the ministry with implementation updates.”
Last Thursday, Channels Television reported that the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) had demobilised 54 corps members who were illegally mobilised by the University of Calabar.
This is in addition to the earlier 101 certificates that were recently voided by the scheme, making a total of 178.
Given the developments, the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman has since vowed to flush out holders of fake degrees from the Nigerian educational system.
Prisoner holding metal cage in jail, no freedom concept
The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) on Tuesday arrested the Permanent Secretary of the Kano Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ibrahim Kabara, along with the State ALGON Chairman and interim Council Chairman of Tarauni Local Government, Abdullahi Bashir.
The duo and five other individuals were detained in connection with alleged corruption in the procurement of drugs and medical equipment for Kano State’s 44 local governments.
The commission has also invited the Managing Director of Novomed Pharmaceuticals, Musa Garba, and the nephew of former Kano State Governor Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, for questioning as part of its ongoing investigation.
According to the PCACC, the arrested officials are suspected of breaching the Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission Law, the Public Procurement Law, and the Financial Management Law.
The allegations revolve around the awarding of a contract for the supply of drugs and medical equipment, reportedly conducted in violation of statutory provisions and without obtaining the requisite consent and approval from Kano State Governor, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf.
A source close to the commission disclosed that Abdullahi Ibrahim Bashir, the ALGON Chairman, has confessed to directing the illegal payment of ₦402.6m for the procurement. Of this amount, ₦347.7m was allegedly paid by 38 of the state’s local governments before the Commission launched its investigation.
“The actions taken by these officials were in clear contravention of the law,” said the source, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the investigation. “They bypassed necessary protocols and proceeded with the contract without proper authorization.”
The arrested officials, who were brought to the commission’s office at 11 AM on Tuesday, were still in custody as of 11:15 AM, undergoing intensive questioning by the commission’s operatives.
The PCACC has vowed to continue its investigation into the matter, promising to uncover the full extent of the alleged corruption.
“We are committed to ensuring that all those involved in this illegal act are held accountable,” the source added.
Atletico Madrid have signed England midfielder Conor Gallagher from Chelsea for a fee believed to be in the region of £33m.
The 24-year-old has signed a five-year contract with the Spanish top-flight club.
Gallagher joined Chelsea at the age of six and went on to make 90 appearances, scoring 10 goals.
He had entered the final year of his contract at Stamford Bridge so Chelsea wanted to sell now to avoid losing him on a free transfer next summer.
Atletico forward Joao Felix, also 24, is set to move in the other direction after Chelsea agreed a fee in principle for the Portugal international.
The collapse of Chelsea’s talks to sign Atletico striker Samu Omorodion had delayed Gallagher’s move to Spain, but the Felix deal frees up the required funds for Atletico to complete the transfer.
Gallagher spent five days in a hotel in Madrid earlier this month expecting a deal before flying back to London when the move stalled.
No fewer than 30 kidnappers, including members of the Biafra Auto Pilot, also known as Unknown Gunmen, a notorious breakaway faction of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) loyal to the Finland based, Simon Ekpa, which terrorised Enugu and its environs had been gunned down in shoot-outs with security operatives at various locations across the state in the past two weeks, a police detective has disclosed.
This was contained in a statement on Wednesday morning by Governor Peter Mbah’s media office which quoted a Police Superintendent, SP Onochie Ezeh, who led a joint security operation to rescue some kidnap victims at Ugwuogo Nike-Opi Road in the early hours of Wednesday.
The operation led to the killing of a seven-man gang kidnappers at Ogbeke Nike where the kidnappers used a large poultry farm to hide their hostages.
The police chief explained that Wednesday’s successful operation was part of the sustained operations in the state to flush out criminals operating from other neighboring states, including kidnappers, unknown gunmen and other unscrupulous elements.
“We were on the trail of these kidnappers for more than three months now. They had been operating within this axis where they kidnapped their victims and kept them at a large poultry farm at Ogbeke Nike until ransoms are paid.
“So, on a tipoff from members of the public who suspected the strange movements in the area and the accounts of some of the victims of these criminals, we swung into action. On sighting us, these men of the underworld opened fire on my men, and we quickly retaliated and overpowered them with our superior firepower,” he stressed.
Speaking further, SP Ezeh disclosed that the combined security task force, set up by the Enugu State governor, Mr Peter Mbah, as a tactical squad against kidnappings and activities of unknown gunmen, had recorded milestones in policing the state and flushing out criminal elements.
“This is a gallant crack squad with the mandate to eliminate every form of threat in the state. We have recorded huge successes over the past months. You know our role is not to rush to the media to tell our story but to ensure that every citizen and resident of the state has peace.
“I can tell you that we have already neutralized over 7 criminal gangs who were mostly kidnappers and unknown gunmen. We are going after them. We are taking the battle to their doorsteps because the governor said we should not come back home if we don’t completely rid the state of threats.
“So we are on it. In fact, during our operations, we identified many criminal hideouts that serve as rogue premises where kidnap victims and dangerous weapons are kept. These places include New Artisan Market, Akwuke community, Akegbe-Ugwu, Four Corners, Awgu, Mgbowo, Emene, Eke and Afa in Udi and some parts of Isi Uzo local government. During rescue operations, we were able to neutralize over 30 of the kidnappers and recovered guns and valuables,” the police chief added.
One of the rescued kidnap survivors, Dr Kate Pamela, said she was traumatised by the ugly experiences at the hands of the kidnappers.
“Each time I pass through that poultry, I feel I have been denied justice by still allowing it to operate. They kidnapped us and kept us there for five days. They even killed two of the victims because their families could only afford ten million naira each against the fifty million naira demanded. Notwithstanding that I was able to identify the bodies of three of the kidnappers when they were killed, I still feel that the area should be cleared.
“Government must ensure justice by turning that place to a landfill,” Dr Pamela fumed.
On Tuesday, the Naira depreciated to N1,610 per dollar in the parallel market following its N1,600 per dollar value on Monday.
In the same vein, the Naira undervalued to N1,592.06 per dollar in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market, NAFEM.
According to data from FMDQ, the indicative exchange rate for NAFEM rose to N1,592.06 per dollar from N1,579.22 per dollar on Monday. This indicates N12.84 depreciation for the naira.
Dollars traded in NAFEM fell by 6.5 per cent to $152.26 million from $162.99 million traded on Monday, resulting in the margin between the parallel market and NAFEM rate narrowing to N17.94 per dollar from N20.78 per dollar.
