Blog - Abia ThinkTank News

Mar

2025

Gov. Otti To Partner Vietnam To Improve Agriculture, Trade, Commerce, Others

Abia State, Agriculture, Economy, Good Governance, News Flash

GOV. OTTI TO PARTNER VIETNAM TO IMPROVE AGRICULTURE, TRADE, COMMERCE, OTHERS. Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti says his Government is interested in partnering the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in various areas of the economy to develop Abia State. Governor Alex Otti stated this Tuesday while receiving in audience, a delegation led by the Vietnamese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Bui Quoc Hung who paid him a working visit at his Umuehim, Nvosi Country home. He said that there are many areas the State could partner with Vietnam for mutual benefits. "We are very happy to have you in Abia. We…

Mar

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

When Protests Become Graveyards – By Dr. Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

Abia State, Columns/Opinions/Letters, Good Governance, Politics

When Protests Become Graveyards A 340% inflation rate. 30 million starving. Sudan’s pro-democracy cries met not with reform, but rifles—and a war displacing 7.1 million. Freedom’s price? A broken state." The case of Sudan serves as a sobering lesson for pro-democracy movements seeking to oust authoritarian regimes in Africa, illustrating how protests can spiral into protracted crises without strategic cohesion, economic stability, or safeguards against military entrenchment. The 2019 revolution that toppled Omar al-Bashir’s 30-year regime initially appeared triumphant, with mass protests involving millions of citizens and coordinated strikes led by groups like the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA). However, the…

Mar

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

Ex-Immigration Boss Found Dead In ABUJA Hotel Room After Receiving Female Guest – Police

Crime, News Flash, Security

Ex-immigration Boss Found Dead In Abuja Hotel Room After Receiving Female Guest – Police The FCT Police Command has debunked reports that former Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Mr. David Shikfu Parradang, was kidnapped and killed. Instead, the police confirmed that he was found dead in a chair inside his hotel room in Abuja after receiving a female guest. Parradang was discovered dead a day after checking into the Joy House Hotel, Area 3 Junction, by a concerned friend, a military officer, who arrived with hotel staff to check on him. In an official statement titled, “FCT…

Mar

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

In Major Leadership Overhaul, CBN Appoints 16 New Directors

CBN/Commercial Banking, Economy, News Flash

CBN Appoints 16 New Directors In Major Leadership Overhaul The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has appointed 16 new directors across key departments in a significant leadership shakeups. These appointments affect crucial areas such as Monetary Policy department, Trade and Exchange Department, Banking Supervision, Payment Systems and Consumer Protection among others. This new appointments are coming at a time when regulators are tightening oversight on banks and financial technology firms as it declared last week as well as the final leg of the banking sector recapitulation exercise. A source at the CBN told The Nation that “the very best were…

Mar

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

Lagos Assembly: How Akande-Led Panel Forced Meranda Out, Reinstated Obasa

House Of Assembly, Lagos, Politics

Lagos Assembly: How Akande-led panel forced Meranda out, reinstated Obasa The 49-day reign of Mojisola Meranda as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly ended on Monday, when the lawmakers re-elected Mudashiru Obasa to lead them. The move is not unconnected to the resolutions of the mediating panel led by Chief Bisi Akande and Chief Olusegun Osoba, former governors of Osun and Ogun states, who intervened in the leadership crisis that rocked the assembly for almost 50 days. Over a week ago, the heavyweights in the All Progressives Congress, including the aforementioned former governors, were drafted by President Bola…

Mar

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

NAFDAC Director Escapes Hoodlums’ Attack In Onitsha

Crime, News Flash, Security, South East

NAFDAC Director escapes hoodlums’ attack in Onitsha The Director of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC, South East Zone, Dr Martins Iluyomade, on Tuesday, narrowly escaped hoodlums attack at the popular Ogbo-Ogwu Bridge Head Market in Onitsha, Anambra State. Tribune Online learnt that Iluyomade was rescued by security operatives from the hands of the suspected hoodlums that invade the market unnoticed to stop the NAFDAC enforcement team from continuing the ongoing search of fake and expired drugs in the market.

Mar

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

Ovation As Friends And Associates Celebrate Chief Arch. Lucas Eme Onu Uche (Ugwumba) On His Birthday Yesterday

Birthday, News Flash, People & Events, Personality

Ovations As Friends And Associates Celebrate Chief Arch. Lucas Eme Onu Uche (Ugwumba) On His Birthday Yesterday The event which took place at 322 Lounge, Azikiwe Road, Umuahia attracted creme da lacreme of the society and top political players from Ohafia LGA. Chief Arch. Lucas Eme Onu Uche was the immediate past President of Mben Political Assembly (MPA), a pan Ohafia political think tank. Present were Member Representing Ohafia South in ABIA House of Assembly Hon. Chief Kalu Nwoke (Etiokwe), Former Member Representing Ohafia South/Former TC Chairman Ohafia LGA Hon. MBA Ukaha, Former Deputy Chief Of Staff to Gov. Ikpeazu,…

Mar

2025

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Tax Torrent And Supply Chains In Crisis?: ABIA Traders Recount Their Experiences – By Dr. Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

Abia State, Columns/Opinions/Letters, Good Governance

Tax Torrent and Supply Chains in Crisis?: Abia Taders Recount their Experiences The Crushing Weight of Taxation* Traders in Abia State reportedly claim that they still face a tax regime characterized by overlapping levies and systemic corruption. A 2023 survey by the Abia Chamber of Commerce revealed that small businesses contend with 5–12 different taxes annually, ranging from state-sanctioned levies like business permits (₦50,000–₦200,000 yearly) to local government fees, averaging (₦3,120 monthly) and some still enforce "market development" charges (₦5,000 per stall). Worse, 68% of traders surveyed report daily harassment by state and non-state actors, who extort informal "settlements" of…

Mar

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

Amaekpu Ohafia Receives Another Dividend Of The New ABIA, As Greater Ohafia Development Agency (GODA) Begins Asphalting Of Internal Ring Road

Abia North, Abia State, Good Governance, News Flash, Ohafia LGA

AMAEKPU OHAFIA RECEIVES ANOTHER DIVIDEND OF NEW ABIA, AS GODA BEGINS ASPHALTING OF INTERNAL RING ROAD The Abia State Government, under the leadership of Governor Alex Otti, has commenced the construction and asphalting of the Amaekpu Ring Road in Ohafia through the Greater Ohafia Development Authority (GODA). The 1.1km road, which begins at the Ugwu Orji Junction in Amaekpu Ohafia, will enhance connectivity within the community and improve access to the daily market and other trading activities along the route. For years, residents and business owners have struggled with poor road conditions, particularly during the rainy season, making this project…

Mar

2025

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Evaluating Governor Otti’s Merit-Based Recruitment Model In ABIA State – By Ebere Uzoukwa Ph.D (SSA To Gov. Otti On Public Affairs)

Abia State, Columns/Opinions/Letters, Good Governance, Labour

Evaluating Governor Otti's Merit-Based Recruitment Model in Abia State By Ebere Uzoukwa, Ph.D Governor Alex Otti's administration has introduced a merit-based recruitment model in Abia State's civil service, aiming to drive critical reforms and promote competence and capacity. This approach was revealed during the recent send-forth party for the outgoing Head of Service, Mrs. Ngozi Queen Obioma, PhD, where Governor Otti emphasized the importance of merit over mediocrity. The governor's commitment to merit-based leadership is a significant departure from traditional practices in Abia State, where nepotism and favoritism often influenced recruitment decisions. By adopting a merit-based approach, Governor Otti's administration…