Columns/Opinions/Letters

Otti’s Road Revolution: Promises Made, Promises Kept – By Ebere Uzoukwa, Ph.D (SSA To Governor Otti On Public Affairs)

Otti’s Road Revolution: Promises Made, Promises Kept – By Ebere Uzoukwa, Ph.D (SSA To Governor Otti On Public Affairs)

Otti's Road Revolution: Promises Made, Promises Kept Ebere Uzoukwa, Ph.D Governor Alex Otti's administration has been making waves in Abia State, particularly with its ongoing road revolution. During his campaigns, Otti promised to address the acute infrastructural deficit in the state. This promise was made in response to the failure of past administrations, which led to the collapse of many roads and other infrastructures. Completed Road Repair and Maintenance Operations: Repair & Maintenance Work at Aba Road, Umuahia. Repair & Maintenance Work on Otuka Road, Umuahia. Palliative Work at Olokoro Road, Umuahia. Repair & Maintenance Work on Ikot-Ekpene Road, Umuahia…
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Abia International Cargo Airport, Adding To The Streams Of Good News – By Dr. Engr. Odo Ijere (Okpotemba Ohafia)

Abia International Cargo Airport, Adding To The Streams Of Good News – By Dr. Engr. Odo Ijere (Okpotemba Ohafia)

ABIA INTERNATIONAL CARGO AIRPORT, ADDING TO THE STREAMS OF GOOD NEWS. In a matter of a few hours from the time of my writing this piece, the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Festus Keyamo Esq. will be on ground in Abia State to flag off the construction of Abia International Cargo Airport in Nsulu, about 10kms from Umuahia. This historic flag off ceremony promises to be the mother of all flag off ceremonies just following the epic commissioning of construction works of the Umuopara ring road project and the four lanes Onuimo bridge to Umuahia tower project in less than a…
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Northerners Should Wait For 2031 Presidency – SGF Akume

Northerners Should Wait For 2031 Presidency – SGF Akume

Northerners Should Wait For 2031 Presidency – SGF Akume The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, has said that those eyeing the presidency from the North in 2027 should wait till 2031. He also has appealed to Nigerians to allow the bills to scale through required legislative processes stating that the bills were well envisioned for Nigerians. Akume, who gave the admonition while featuring on the Politics on Sunday programme of Television Continental, anchored by Femi Akande, assured Nigerians that President Bola Tinubu has not lost goodwill among Nigerians as a result of tax reform bills…
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INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu Commends Ghana Election, Says There Are Learning From Nigeria

INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu Commends Ghana Election, Says There Are Learning From Nigeria

INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu Speaks On Ghana Elections Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says the just-concluded presidential and parliamentary elections in Ghana showed that the country has learnt some lessons from Nigeria. On Saturday, Ghanaians headed to the polls to elect a new president and members of the parliament. John Mahama, candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has been elected president. The INEC chairman described the electoral process as “commendable” and one that provides stability for Ghana and its citizens. “It has been a very interesting election. We came here as part of the…
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Your Voice, His Action: Chief Kalu’s Open Door Policy For A Better Ohafia LGA – By Dr. Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

Your Voice, His Action: Chief Kalu’s Open Door Policy For A Better Ohafia LGA – By Dr. Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

Your Voice, His Action: Chief Kalu's Open Door Policy for a Better Ohafia LGA. Hon. Chief Eleanya Ojuu Kalu's commitment to running an open door policy in Ohafia Local Government Area is reminiscent of the Open Door Policy initiated by U.S. Secretary of State John Hay in 1899-1900. This policy allowed for equal trade access to China, promoting fairness and preventing monopolization by any single power. Similarly, Chief Kalu's open door policy aims to foster transparency, accountability, and equal opportunities for all stakeholders in Ohafia LGA. In a brief chat two nights ago, he emphasized Transparency through physical and virtual…
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The Damascus Paradox. Unpacking Socio-Economic Upheaval For Abia’s Prosperity – By Dr. Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

The Damascus Paradox. Unpacking Socio-Economic Upheaval For Abia’s Prosperity – By Dr. Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

*The Damascus Paradox. *Unpacking Socioeconomic Upheaval for Abia's Prosperity* The Syrian uprising and the fall of Damascus were largely fueled by socioeconomic factors. There are Political Repression: The Assad regime's authoritarian leadership and suppression of dissent created widespread discontent. Another isEconomic Inequality where Syria's economy was marked by corruption, cronyism, and uneven distribution of wealth, leaving many Syrians feeling marginalized. Third factor is Drought and Environmental Factors: A severe drought in 2006 led to widespread poverty and displacement, particularly in rural areas. We can not ignore Demographic Pressures this is because Syria's rapidly growing young population faced high unemployment and…
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Growing Abia, Growing Nigeria: The Power Of Industrialization – By Dr. Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

Growing Abia, Growing Nigeria: The Power Of Industrialization – By Dr. Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

Growing Abia, Growing Nigeria: The Power of Industrialization Abia State's industrialization efforts are gaining momentum, driven by a N10 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Bank of Industry (BOI) to boost entrepreneurship and small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in sectors like agriculture, ICT, and manufacturing. Key StatisticsAbia State's GDP is believed to be N2.78 trillion (2022), with a 7.2% growth rate, while, Unemployment Rate is 24.7% (2022). Dr Otti is targeting a 10% reduction through industrialization. So far, the SME's Contribution is pegged at 48% of Abia State's GDP, employing 70% of the workforce. It is interesting to note…
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Former Governor Demands Death Penalty For Killers Of Security Officers

Former Governor Demands Death Penalty For Killers Of Security Officers

Former Governor Demands Dëåth Penalty For Killers Of Security Officers Former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu has called for the death penalty for anyone who kills a security personnel, emphasizing the need for strong deterrents to curb the alarming rate of attacks on military and paramilitary officers. His statement follows reports that at least 229 police officers have been killed in the past 22 months by criminals, including terrorists, bandits, and gunmen. Aliyu made the recommendation on Saturday during the graduation ceremony of the Executive Intelligence Management Course 17 at the National Institute of Security Studies (NISS) in Abuja, an…
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Sultan Of Sokoto Led – NSCIA Asked FGN To Revoke Oyedepo Airstrip Licence

Sultan Of Sokoto Led – NSCIA Asked FGN To Revoke Oyedepo Airstrip Licence

Sultan Of Sokoto Led-NSCIA Asks FG To Revoke Oyedepo Airstrip Licence The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has asked the Federal Government to revoke the airstrip licence given to the Living Faith Church, also known as Winners Chapel, founded by Bishop David Oyedepo. The council’s call is contained in a communique issued at the end of the 10th meeting of the Expanded General Purpose Committee (EGPC) held at the Abuja National Mosque. In October, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), announced the granting of the licence to the Living Faith Church for the construction…
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Gov. Otti’s Wars On Waste: Cleaning Up Abia’s Governance  – Dr. Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

Gov. Otti’s Wars On Waste: Cleaning Up Abia’s Governance – Dr. Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

Otti's Wars on Waste: Cleaning Up Abia's Governance These figures and data that demonstrate Governor Alex Otti's efforts to reduce financial waste in governance in Abia State: Financial Reforms Salary Arrears: Otti's administration paid ₦14.1 billion in salary arrears, benefiting 22,000 civil servants. Pension Reforms: The governor implemented pension reforms, saving ₦150 million monthly. Budget Transparency: Abia State's 2023 budget was made public, with 55% allocated to capital expenditure. On road, Infrastructure Development, Road Construction: Otti's administration completed 20 road projects, for instance, covering 100 km, using direct labour, at a cost of ₦10.5 billion, saving over #29.2billion.Aba Revitalization: The…
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