NIGERIAN NOTCH

The youth wing of the Association of Town Unions (ASTUC) has honoured three distinguished personalities selected as Mega Star Role Models from the 179 communities of Anambra State. The honourees, Dr. Chinedu Umeadi (Anambra Central), Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Basil Ekwunife (Anambra North) and Chief Ebuka Onunkwo (Anambra South), were yesterday at old Government House Awka celebrated for their contributions to youth development, community upliftment, and social impact across the state. During the ceremony, each recipient expressed gratitude to the ASTUC Youths for deeming them worthy of the recognition. Chief Ebuka Onunkwo, while receiving his award, said he was delighted that his long-standing support for Anambra youths continues to be appreciated. He pledged to remain committed to youth empowerment and development initiatives. Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Basil Ekwunife, in his remarks, thanked God for the honour, noting that he was surprised that his quiet efforts over the years had been ...

By Chigozie Igbo Jr  Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged political, traditional, and community leaders across Northern Nigeria to recommit themselves to unity, visionary leadership, and a renewed development agenda capable of addressing the region’s deepening socio-economic challenges. Atiku made the call on Friday in Kaduna while speaking at the 25th anniversary of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), where he also reflected on the organisation’s history and the evolving future of Northern Nigeria. The former Vice President commended the ACF for sustaining what he described as a “difficult but necessary” responsibility of providing leadership for the region over the past quarter century. He paid tribute to founding members and departed leaders of the forum, praising their contributions to the region’s development. Atiku noted that the ACF’s founding was rooted in efforts to mend deep divisions in the North following the 1999 elections. He recalled that upon a...

The ADC Voice Worldwide Diaspora Network has raised fresh concerns over the worsening security situation in the country, particularly in the northern region, following recent attacks that claimed lives and left communities in fear. In a statement issued by Hon. (Dr.) Abdul-Malik Rabiu Jaafar, Youth Leader of the ADC Voice Worldwide Diaspora Network, the group condemned the kidnapping of schoolchildren and killing of staff in Kebbi State and the deadly attack in Eruku, Kwara State, where several residents were killed or injured. Describing the incidents as “distressing and unacceptable,” the Youth Wing warned that the repeated targeting of pupils, teachers, worship centres, and rural communities poses a grave threat to national stability. “As a nation, we cannot continue to watch helplessly while criminal elements destroy lives, disrupt education, and instill fear among citizens,” the statement reads. The group urged the Federal Government to move beyond routine condemnation...

The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) has secured the conviction of four individuals involved in vandalising its power installations in Ebonyi State, in what the company describes as a significant step in its fight against energy infrastructure sabotage. EEDC’s Group Head of Corporate Communications, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, confirmed the development in a statement on Thursday. According to him, one of the convicts, Chukwuma Onwe, was sentenced on November 12, 2025, to four years imprisonment by Justice John Igboji of the Ebonyi State High Court, Ohaukwu Judicial Division, sitting in Ezzangbo. Onwe was arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, vandalism, unlawful disconnection of transformer armoured cables, and stealing—offences contrary to the Ebonyi State Criminal Code, Cap 33, Laws of Ebonyi State, 2009. He received three years for conspiracy and four years each for vandalism and stealing. The court ordered that the sentences run concurrently. Onwe w...

By Chigozie Igbo Jr  Valentine Ozigbo, former President of Transcorp Plc and 2025 Anambra Governorship aspirant under the platform of the APC has issued an urgent open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to take bold and decisive steps to address Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, weak institutions, and rising national anxieties. In the letter, Ozigbo said he was compelled to go public due to what he described as the “deepening cycle of violence and preventable tragedies” affecting millions of Nigerians. He cited recent incidents, including the abduction of schoolchildren in Kebbi, the killing of worshippers in Kwara, multiple highway kidnappings, and the murder of a military general by bandits. “These are not just headlines, but open wounds on the conscience of our Republic,” he wrote, stressing that the President holds the constitutional responsibility to steady the nation at a time of “gathering storms.” Ozigbo outlined five key areas where he believes ur...

By Chigozie Igbo Jr  Former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing them of prioritising political manipulation over governance at a time Nigeria faces worsening insecurity. In a post on his verified X handle yesterday, Obi said the ruling party was investing more energy in fuelling crises within opposition parties than in fulfilling its constitutional duty of safeguarding the lives and property of Nigerians. The former Anambra State governor referenced a recent comment by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who described Nigeria as “now disgraced,” noting that while many Nigerians were outraged at the remark, current realities made it difficult to ignore. “A few weeks ago, when President Trump described our country as ‘now disgraced,’ many were outraged,” Obi wrote. “Yet how can we dispute it when, within a single week, 25 people were kidnapped and one of our ...

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Anambra State Command, has confirmed the death of one person and the injury of another in a fatal road traffic crash that occurred on Wednesday along the Nteje–Awka Road, near Igbariam Junction. According to a report issued by the FRSC Sector Public Education Officer, SRC Margaret B. Onabe, the crash occurred at about 2:40 p.m, and the Nteje Unit Command received the distress call five minutes later, while the rescue team arrived at the scene promptly at 2:50 p.m. She said that the accident involved two commercial vehicles: a red Sino trailer belonging to Coca-Cola and an ash-coloured Daihatsu Hijet minibus owned by ASTMA. Both drivers were unidentified at the time of the report. Four male occupants were involved in the crash. One person died on the spot, one sustained injuries and was given immediate first aid before being evacuated to hospital, while two others escaped unhurt. The FRSC attributed the cause of the accident to loss of c...

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the playing of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s campaign anthem, “On Your Mandate,” during the opening session of the 2025 All Nigerian Judges Conference, describing it as “an assault on Nigeria’s national dignity and a dangerous intrusion of partisan politics into the judiciary.” Atiku, in a statement on Monday, said he was alarmed after watching a Channels Television video showing the partisan anthem being played in place of the National Anthem at the conclusion of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun’s speech. He said his first reaction was disbelief, assuming the footage might be manipulated, but upon confirmation that it reflected what actually transpired, he expected a swift explanation from the Presidency or the Office of the CJN. “Instead,” he lamented, “there has been total and deafening silence.” Atiku said the incident was not an isolated mistake but “part of a consistent pattern under the Tinub...

Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University College of Medicine (COOUCOM), Awka, Anambra State, has inducted Dr. Echezona Awuzie into the medical profession during its 12th Induction Ceremony held on Tuesday, November 18. The event, which marked the transition of 81 newly qualified doctors into professional medical practice, was attended by dignitaries, faculty members, and proud families at the Pathology Auditorium, Amaku, Awka. Speaking with journalists after the ceremony, the mother of the inductee, Dr. (Mrs.) Chioma Awuzie, who is the Rector of Federal Polytechnic Oko, and his father, Chief Awuzie expressed profound gratitude to God for His grace and for the large number of well-wishers who joined them to celebrate the milestone. They prayed that God would grant their son the strength, wisdom, and compassion required to excel in his duties as a medical practitioner. Earlier in her remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Kate Omenugha, congratulated the inductees and reaff...

The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has warned that the ongoing strike by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) has crippled federal health institutions across the country, posing what it describes as a “national health emergency.” The President of PSN, Pharm. Ayuba Ibrahim Tanko, raised the alarm during a courtesy visit to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, where he led a delegation of the Society’s leadership and past presidents. “All 73 Federal Health Institutions Are Shut Down” Tanko expressed deep concern over the scale of the disruption, noting that the strike had entered its fourth day with significant consequences. “We are deeply worried because all 73 Federal Health Institutions and several non-hospital facilities have been completely paralysed in the last four days. The impact is debilitating and threatens the stability of our health system,” he sa...