NIGERIAN NOTCH

......Says agitations across the country as a result of injustice, failed leadership, corruption*_ Valentine Ozigbo, the Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) frontrunner in the race for Anambra governorship, has offered practical steps that governments in Nigeria should take in addressing the security challenges in the county. In a statement issued from his campaign office in Awka on Saturday, May 1, 2021, the capital of Anambra State, Mr Ozigbo condemned the attacks on innocent Nigerians and called on the government to demonstrate responsibility by securing the lives and properties of every citizen.  Ozigbo, the immediate past President and Group CEO of Transcorp Plc, declared the current security crisis as "an existential threat" and offered solutions towards restoring peace to the country.  "We are facing an existential threat. The value of human lives is fast eroding to nothingness. A once peaceful state like Anambra has now become a theatre of violent crimes," ...

~ CALLS FOR STRONGER LABOUR LAWS TO PROTECT WORKERS Valentine Ozigbo, the Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) frontrunner in the race for Anambra governorship, has highlighted the contributions of the Nigerian workforce to the development of the country, describing them as "immensely valuable". In a statement issued from his Udoka Estate Campaign Office in Awka, Anambra State, on Saturday, May 1, 2021, in commemoration of this year's International Workers' Day, Mr Ozigbo regretted the unfair treatment workers receive from the government and employers in the country.  While acknowledging the resilience and dedication of Nigerian workers, Ozigbo, who is the immediate past President and Group Chief Executive Officer of Transcorp Plc, called for stronger labour laws that protect workers from abuses such as delayed payments of salaries, pensions and other entitlements.  The respected business leader also outlined his 'Ka Anambra Chawapu' agenda to improve the live...

  ~ Promise to look into their demands for welfare The minister of state for Education, Hon Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba has meet with the Nigerian student community in Rabat, Morocco. The Honorable Minister of state who paid a working visit to the Nigeria Embassy in Morocco, used the opportunity to meet with the students and interact with them on the prospects and challenges facing them in Morroco.  The Honorable Minister was in Rabat to meet with the Nigerian Student community in Morocco who were on full Federal Government Scholarship under the Bilateral Education Agreement scholarship. Hosted by the Nigerian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco, Ambassador Al-Bashir Ibrahim Saleh Al-Hussaini, the Honorable Minister interacted with representatives of the student community on various issues ranging from student welfare to the call for the review of the bilateral Agreement to reflect today's reality. Speaking on behalf of the Student community,  ,  Mr. Dalhatu Tijjani Yusha'...

  One week after, Imo state governor, Hope Uzodimma’s hometown was attacked,  Uzodimma, the governor of Imo state has returned back to the state, to continue his official duties especially to vehemently end hoodlums from attacking Imolites, & security apparatus. It was gathered in Owerri, that the governor arrived in the state at about 01:45 pm, on Friday, alongside his appointees and other stakeholders of Imo state. An inside source has it that the governor had concluded on his security strategy to immediately end the series of attacks by unknown gunmen in the state. Part of the arrangements of the governor was to set in motion the Imo state chapter of the Ebubeagu, meet with security heads in the states. He would also meet with traditional rulers as well as a special section with stakeholders of the state across party lines to collectively deal with the situation. A source said: “Uzodimma does not talk much he believes in action. His back and action will start. You think...

The Transition Chairman of Ogbaru Local Government Area, Hon. Arinze Ayogu; and the traditional ruler of Atani, Ogbaru LGA, Igwe Azuka Ngoddy, have been fingered in the death of a member of Atani Council of Chiefs, Egbuna Mbanefo, who was murdered at his place of work in the community on April 1, 2021. Egbuna Mbanefo, it was gathered, went to a building site on the fateful afternoon of April 1, to do a manual job, but did not return alive. Nigerian Notch gathered that, his body was found at the building site the next day, when his friends and family members went out on a search for him. A member of the community, who craved anomity, said that the deceased was his paternal uncle, as he linked the tragedy to a land dispute, which he said, involved a large portion of land belonging to Umuoniha kindred in Atani community of Ogbaru LGA. According to him: “Umuoniha Kindred has very massive land at different areas within Atani community, and it happened that a particular group in the kindred ...

The Ministries of Petroleum Resources, Foreign Affairs, and Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development are expected to make presentations at the 43rd virtual meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting is being presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday. Those in attendance of the meeting include Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha and Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari. Other Ministers physically attending the meeting are those of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Finance, Zainab Ahmed, Justice, Abubakar Malami and Foreign Affairs, Geoffery Onyeama. Others are the Ministers of the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello, Minister of State Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, and Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Faro...

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has disbursed N4. 1 billion to the six area councils and other stakeholders as its share of statutory allocation for the month of March 2021. The FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, who presided over the 152nd Joint Area Councils Allocation Committee (JAAC), on Wednesday in Abuja, said that there was an increase of over N444 million when compared to February 2021 allocation. She said that in February, the total sum of N3. 7 billion was disbursed to the six area councils and other stakeholders, compared to N4. 1 billion allocated to the six area councils and other stakeholders for the month of March, 2021. The minister said that the increase in the allocation was as a result of increase in the statutory revenue oallocation from the Federation Account. ”The figures released indicate that the sum of N2. 4 billion was made available for distribution to the six area councils. “While the sum of N1. 6 billion was made available to other ...

  The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the date for the 2023 general elections in the country. INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu made the announcement on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, during a one-day public hearing on the National Electoral Offences Commission Establishment Bill 2021, organized by the Senate Committee on INEC.   According to the INEC Chairman, the 2023 general elections are exactly one year, nine months, two weeks and six days or 660 days from today.   “By the principle established by the Commission, the 2023 General Election will hold on Saturday 18th February 2023 which is exactly one year, nine months, two weeks and six days or 660 days from today,” he said. “We hope to release the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the General Election immediately after the Anambra Governorship election scheduled to hold on 6th November 2021. “In order to do so, there should be clarity and certainty about the electoral legal framewor...

  ~ As he registers with the community. Okpuno Ebenator in Uruagu community of Nnewi was agog on Saturday as the age long disagreement which has raged on for years, which almost teared the community apart was settled through the facilitation of Dr Cletus Ibeto( Omekannaya) the CEO of Ibeto Group. Okpuno Ebenator community for over 80 years has remained in logger heads over issues that remained unresolved, untill Dr Cletus Ibeto came to the rescue. His resolve was to ensure that peace reigns in his own ancestry community, as he used the peace and reconciliation process to register with his ancestry background, which the community has longed for, all these years. While interacting with newsmen, Dr Cletus Ibeto said that he should now be addressed as an Indigene of Okpuno Ebenator community living in Otolo Nnewi community, and asked that his house in Otolo should be regarded as if it's in Okpuno Ebenator community by extension.  He thanked Hon. Iloka ( Mba Mba) the chairman of th...

.....Business mogul set for Anambra Governorship Valentine Ozigbo, the immediate past President and Group CEO of Transcorp Plc, has stepped down from his seat on the boards of directors of Transcorp Plc, Transcorp Hotels Plc, and Transcorp Power Limited after ten years with the conglomerate.   Mr Ozigbo made this known after the 14th Annual General Meeting of Transcorp Plc and the 7th Annual General Meeting of Transcorp Hotels Plc; both held at Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja on Monday, April 26, 2021.  In his speech at the annual general meeting, the chairman of the Transcorp Group, Mr Tony Elumelu, commended Transcorp Hilton Hotel for its fantastic transformation and continuing its tradition for excellence which began under Valentine Ozigbo.   He thanked Mr Ozigbo for his contribution to the organisation's growth, wishing him well as he embarks on his new endeavour.  "The tradition of service excellence at Transcorp Hilton Hotel began with Val (Ozigbo). He is ...

Prof. George Obiozor, PresidentGeneral, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, on Saturday condemned in strong terms the attack at the country home of Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State,which he termed as evil and abomination. The President General of the Igbo sociocultural organisation, in a statement, made available to newsmen, Prof Obiozor said the attack on Uzodinma’s home was not acceptable and must be condemned by Ndigbo, anywhere and everywhere, stressing that, no matter the cause, they must not attack their sanctuaries.   “This is an abomination and a new development that is totally out of character of the Igbo,”    He warned Igbo youths not to be used or make themselves instruments for destruction, to be used by elements within and outside Igbo land.  He bemoaned the use of destructive elements who want to turn the South East of Nigeria into a theatre of crises, conflicts and violence.   He said, “We must as Ndigbo be careful with what confronts us in the form of ...