Abia ThinkTank - Abia ThinkTank News

Jun

2026

Poverty Persists Despite Nigeria’s Reforms Gains; But Don’t Reintroduce Subsidy- IMF Tells President Tinubu

Poverty Persists Despite Nigeria’s Reforms Gains; But Don’t Reintroduce Subsidy – IMF Tells Tinubu The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has urged the federal government to maintain a neutral fiscal stance in 2026, warning that poverty and food insecurity could worsen despite improvements in Nigeria’s macroeconomic stability. In its 2026 Article IV consultation report released on Tuesday, the Washington-based lender said reforms implemented over the past three years have strengthened economic resilience, but cautioned that higher global fuel and food prices pose fresh risks to inflation and living standards. “Strong reforms over the past three years have yielded improved macroeconomic outcomes…

Jun

2026

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By Abia ThinkTank

Obi Demands N5 Billion, Apology From Kenneth Okonkwo Over Alleged Defamatory Remarks

Crime, News Flash, Politics

Obi Demands N5 Billion, Apology From Kenneth Okonkwo Over Alleged Defamatory Remarks Former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has demanded N5 billion in damages from actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo over alleged defamatory statements made during a television interview. Obi, through his lawyers, Chief Alex Ejesieme (SAN) & Co., accused Okonkwo of making false allegations capable of damaging his reputation and public image. In a letter dated June 9, 2026, and addressed to Okonkwo, Obi’s legal team demanded an immediate withdrawal of the statements, a public apology and a written undertaking against further publications.…

Jun

2026

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By Abia ThinkTank

Insecurity: Trust God, Be Patient With Tinubu – Anglican Bishop Urges Nigerians

FGN, News Flash, Security

Insecurity: Trust God, Be Patient With Tinubu — Anglican Bishop Urges Nigerians The Bishop of Ijumu Anglican Diocese, Church of Nigeria, the Right Reverend Paul Ojo, has called on Nigerians to remain steadfast in their faith in God, expressing optimism that the security challenges confronting the country can be overcome. Bishop Ojo made the call during the just-concluded First Session of the Fifth Synod of the Diocese, held at Ogale-Idioro in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. The Synod, themed “Thanksgiving,” brought together church leaders, delegates and members to deliberate on spiritual and developmental issues affecting the Diocese and…

Jun

2026

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When Questions Become Conclusions: The Truth About Otti, Medical City, Owaza Industrial Park And Abia’s Investment Future – By Prof Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

Abia State, Columns/Opinions/Letters, Good Governance

WHEN QUESTIONS BECOME CONCLUSIONS: THE TRUTH ABOUT OTTI, MEDICAL CITY, OWAZA INDUSTRIAL PARK AND ABIA’S INVESTMENT FUTURE There is nothing wrong with asking questions. In fact, every serious government deserves to be questioned. Every project must be interrogated. Every investment claim must be tested. Every public statement must be measured against timelines, evidence and delivery. But there is a difference between asking questions and arriving at a political conclusion before the facts are examined. That is the problem with the latest criticism against Governor Alex Otti’s presentation at Invest Lagos 3.0. The argument sounds strong on the surface, but once…

Jun

2026

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Nigeria Is Not Broke – Nigerians Are Being Taxed Twice: Once By Government, And Again By Insecurity- By Prof Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

FGN, Columns/Opinions/Letters

NIGERIA IS NOT BROKE — NIGERIANS ARE BEING TAXED TWICE: ONCE BY GOVERNMENT, AND AGAIN BY INSECURITY There is a lie Nigerians have been forced to accept for too long: that the country is broke. Nigeria is not broke. The real tragedy is that Nigerians are being made to pay twice for the same country. They pay government through taxes, levies, tariffs, duties, fuel price adjustments, electricity bills, school fees, road charges, local government permits, market levies, transport costs and endless official demands. Then, after paying government, they pay again to survive the failure of that same government. This second…

Jun

2026

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Married Woman Who Stages Own Kidnap, Demands N50 Million Ransom From Family Found In Hotel With Lover

Crime, Marriage And Love, News Flash

Married Woman Who Stages Own Kidnap, Demands N50 Million Ransom From Family Found In Hotel With Lover A married woman identified as Oluchi has been found in a hotel in Delta State after she faked her abduction and demanded N50 million from her family. Children of the woman, including her daughter in Canada, had pleaded with the public to help them raise money even as the kidnappers reduced the ransom to N20m. They had told the police that their mother was kidnapped at the Ikpoba Hill area of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State. But the police investigation led…

Jun

2026

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Gunmen Kidnap Redeemed Church Pastor In Ondo

Crime, News Flash, Religion, Security

Gunmen Kidnap Redeemed Church Pastor In Ondo Suspected gunmen have abducted a cleric with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), identified as Pastor Gbenga Sanny, in Ondo State. It was gathered that Sanny was seized by three gunmen on Sunday evening in the presence of his children. Sources who confirmed the abduction to The Nation on Monday said the incident occurred at about 7.00 p.m in front of his residence located at Ilu-Abo community in Akure North Local Government. Sanny, who is also a staff of the Akure North Local Government Area of the state, was taken to an…

Jun

2026

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Insecurity: We Don’t Take Your Sacrifices For Granted, President Tinubu Tells Security Agencies

Armed Forces, News Flash, Presidency, Security

Insecurity: We Don’t Take Your Sacrifices For Granted, Tinubu Tells Security Agencies President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended men of the Armed Forces and other security agencies, saying the country does not take their sacrifices for granted. The President, in a message posted on his X handle and addressed to members of the Armed Forces and other security agencies, commended the soldiers for their sacrifices and commitment, saying they are the shield protecting Nigerians and preserving the nation’s peace and stability. While describing the fight against insecurity as more than a military operation, the President said it is a national…

Jun

2026

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NSA Ribadu Reveals Targets Of Bandits, Terrorists

News Flash, Security

NSA Ribadu Reveals Targets Of Bandits, Terrorists The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has revealed that bandits and terrorists operating in Nigeria are targeting young people, particularly those disconnected from education, opportunity, family, stability, and social mobility in the northern parts of the country. According to him, the extremists come with offers of ideology, identity, belonging, and purpose. He therefore stressed the need to tackle insecurity, particularly in the country’s northern region, as a way to curb criminal activity. Ribadu made the submission on Monday during an EU/BUK Workshop in Kano. Represented by a Director of State Liaison, Office…

Jun

2026

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By Abia ThinkTank

Eke O. Ako, Questions Are Good – But Facts Must Answer Them – By Prof Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

Abia State, Columns/Opinions/Letters, Good Governance

EKE O. AKO, QUESTIONS ARE GOOD — BUT FACTS MUST ANSWER THEM Eke O. Ako asked: 🤨 How many jobs were created?🤨 How many industries were built?😔 How many young Abians were lifted from hopelessness into productivity? Good questions. But good questions must be answered with good facts — not emotion, not propaganda, not political bitterness. So let us answer Eke O. Ako directly. HOW MANY JOBS WERE CREATED? Under Governor Dr Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, Abia has not been running a government of mere slogans. The administration has been building a structured employment and productivity pipeline. First, Abia recruited…