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By Iheanyi Chukwudi The leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has been absolved of being responsible for the insecurity in the South East, by the Governors of the region. This is as the Governors declared their readiness to partner with the federal government to deal with insecurity in the South East. Chairman of the South East Governors' Forum and Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, who was answering questions from newsmen after reading the communique of the Forum's meeting on Thursday at the Lion Building Enugu State Government House, Enugu, asked whoever has evidence tolink Kanu the insecurity in region, to approach the Forum with it. Uzodimma who was asked what the forum was doing to see that Kanu who is seen as the reason for the tension in the region is released to douse the tension, said, "I don't know how you want to relate the name Nnamdi Kanu to the kidnappings, the beheading of human beings, the burning down of homes, and the palaces of traditional rulers to Nnamdi Kanu. But if you have any evidence please you may wish to approach us after this session." Asked if there is any collective plan to bring back Simon Ekpa and to relaunch Ebubeagu in region, the forum's chairman said it was the detailed programme of Forum in conjunction with the federal government to tackle insecurity in the South East. He said, "Well that has to do with the details of the programme of the Forum of Governors working in partnership with federal government to deal with insecurity in the region, when the details are out we will let you know." Meanwhile, the four-point communique reads, "The Forum firmly resolved to fight insecurity decisively in the region individually and collectively, in partnership with the Federal Government and other Stakeholders. "We commend the security agencies for their cooperation thus far and encourage them not to relent." "We wish to state categorically that the perpetrators of the insecurity in our region and their sponsors are criminals and should not be seen as legitimate agitators. Therefore, upon arrest, they should be dealt with in accordance with the laws of the land." "The Forum resolved to hold the security and economic summit on a date to be announced soon." The meeting was attended by all the five governors: Sen. Hope Uzodinma, Imo State (Chairman); Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, Anambra State; Dr. Alex Otti, Abia State; Hon. Francis Nwifuru, Ebonyi State and Dr. Peter Mbah, Enugu State (Host). Also at the meeting is the new Director General of South East Governors' Forum, Sen. Uche Ekwunife.

By Madu Obi The Anambra girl, Kamsiyochukwu Nkechinyere Umeh, who scored 360 in the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, which was the highest in the country, has again achieved another feat by scoring 8As and 1B in the just released West African School Certificate, WASC, examination. Umeh, who studied at Deeper Life High School, Ota, Ogun State, has therefore shown that her JAMB score was not a fluke. Her father, Mr. Umeh, who gave her daughter's WAEC results said she made A1 in Economics, Civic Education, English Language, Further Mathematics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Dyeing and Bleaching and Computer Science and B2 in Physics. Although Kamsiyochukwu applied to study Chemical Engineering at the University of Lagos, the Anambra State governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo also awarded her a scholarship to study any course of her choice at the state-owned Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu University.

By Madu Obi Following the threat of gully erosion that is almost cutting off the access road to the Union School, Amawbia, Awka South local government area, the Principal of the school, Mrs. Celine Ozomma has called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to come to their rescue. The principal, who spoke at Amawbia on Thursday, lamented that the erosion menace and the deteriorating access road to the area had made it difficult for teachers to live within the vicinity of the school. She argued that control of the erosion and rehabilitation of the road would also open up the area and provide access to property developers in the area. "The residents, as well as the staff and students of this school, encounter so much difficulty as tricycle operators do not ply the dilapidated road." "The rehabilitation of the road will ease the suffocating traffic congestion on the ever busy Amawbia - Government House junction - Agulu road," she said. She observed that houses of many inhabitants of the area, including that of the deputy speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Pius Chukwuma, are being threatened by the erosion. While commending the governor for the massive road projects in all parts of the state, Ozomma appealed for the rehabilitation of the Umuokpu Awka - Nise - Agulu - Ekwulobia road to open up the area. Ozomma also thanked the governor for employing 5000 teachers which, she added, led to the posting of additional nine teachers to her school.

By Madu Obi Awka- The coordinator in charge of breastfeeding in Anambra State, Mrs. Ngozi Okoye has told nursing mothers that exclusive breastfeeding up to six months, is a form of family planning, as they would hardly become pregnant within the period. Speaking during an advocacy programme at Mgbakwu Primary Health Center in Awka North local government area of the state, Okoye also told them that exclusive breastfeeding prevents ovarian cancer, explaining that most women who suffer from cancer were those who failed to do exclusive breastfeeding. The advocacy programme was put together by the Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency, APHCDA, and the United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF. The campaign, which is also for Zero Water for babies zero to six months, took the health officials to markets and rural communities of the state. According to Okoye, with exclusive breastfeeding, a nursing mother does not require any other form of family planning. She also said that babies who enjoy exclusive breastfeeding hardly fall sick for the first six months of their birth. She said: "We mothers abandoned exclusive breastfeeding because we care more about our shape and that is why our children are having problems." "Many women erroneously believe that breastfeeding would result to the sagging of their breasts and therefore prefer to feed their babies with various formulas to exhibit status symbol." "Most of the delinquencies among youths of today are traceable to the failure of their mothers breastfeed them adequately." "Breast milk touches the brain and enhances proper upbringing. The cow milk which many women prefer makes children behave like cows. "Even as we are interacting, you can easily remember some children in your neighborhoods whose mothers, out of carelessness, did not breastfeed their babies." She added that what the breastfeeding mother requires is to eat well and the baby would be okay. Also speaking in one of the markets, the Anambra State Nutrition Officer, Mrs. Uzomaka Eriken said that after six months of life, breastfeeding could be complemented with safe and appropriate nutritious soft foods. "The baby needs to start eating complementary foods after six months of exclusive breastfeeding", she said, adding however that because of the importance of breast milk, the baby should continue to be fed with it along with the complimentary nutritious, rich and hygienic foods. The Officer in Charge of PHC, Mgbakwu, Mrs. Virginia Nduka expressed delight that more women were beginning to embrace exclusive breastfeeding. She said that on the average, 60 percent of the nursing mothers in the area now practise exclusive breastfeeding following various advocacy programmes. "Many families in this area have understood that instead of buying children's milk, the money should be used to buy enough food to enable the nursing mother eat well so that the baby enjoys exclusive breastfeeding", she said. She added that the additional effort the woman requires to make is to observe routine immunization of the baby.

By Madu Obi THE national coordinator of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Media Warriors Forum, Mr. Chinedu Obigwe has advised touts still operating in parts of Anambra State to embrace Governor Chukwuma Soludo's empowerment programme to avoid running foul of the law. Obigwe was reacting to the call by shuttle bus drivers on Soludo to ban touts whose action allegedly led to the unfortunate loss of one of their member. He observed that what the shuttle bus drivers were asking for was what Soludo did on assumption of office, recalling that he categorically stated that "touting is not work" and that those into it should embrace his administration's empowerment initiatives to better their lives. He said: "When the touts thought that the governor was joking and disobeyed his directives, he hit them so hard without mercy. "The issue of 'agbero' is not being handled with kid gloves in Anambra State as the enforcement unit of the Board of Internal Revenue Service, AIRS, has sent so many of them to prison and they are still going after others." "Any unauthorized revenue taskforce agent seen on the street of Anambra State is a criminal and is being treated as such." "There is a big difference between government authorized revenue taskforce agents and agberos. The authorized revenue taskforce agents behave well, unlike the criminals impersonating them." "Governor Soludo is waging a successful war against the touts and the people should join him in doing this by providing information on how to apprehend more of them so that they will face justice." "If you go to the Correctional Centers in Anambra, you will see many agbero's serving their punishment there." "So, it is wrong for anybody to call on Governor Soludo for a total ban of their activities when he has done that already and dealing decisively with the recalcitrant ones among them." "One thing with Governor Soludo is that he is a man that walks his talk and ndi Anambra should continue supporting him for the completion of the numerous good works he is doing in our state." He commiserated with the shuttle bus drivers on the death of their member, Vincent Chukwujekwu, and advised his colleagues to alert security agents to apprehend and pay the offenders for their heinous crime

By Iheanyi Chukwudi Enugu State House of Assembly has received the list of the second batch of Governor Peter Mbah's Commissioner nominees. The second batch has five nominees, Dr. Martin Chinweike, Obi Ozor, Ajogwu Sunday Emeka, Chris Robert Ozongwu and Dr. Felix Nnamani, bringing the total number of Mbah's Commissioner nominees to 20. Mbah had earlier sent a list of 15 Commissioner nominees to the House including former Deputy President of Senate, Ike Ekweremadu's son, Lloyd Ekweremadu; former Governor Sullivan Chime's daughter, Ada Chukwu; veteran broadcaster, Aka Eze Aka and former Commissioner in the state, Okey Ogbodo. Others are Prof. Ndubueze Mbah, Mrs. Ngozi Eni, Prince Lawrence Eze (Prince of Mburumbu), Prof. Sam Ugwu, Chika Ugwoke, Dr. Kingsley Ude, Prof. Emmanuel I. Obi, Ben Ugochi Madueke, Gerrald Otiji, Nathaniel Urama and Dr. Malachy Agbo. The State Assembly Speaker, Hon. Uche Ugwu, read the letter the Governor sent to the House in which he listed the five new nominees, to the lawmakers at plenary. Governor Mbah in the letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, appealed to the House for speedy consideration of the nominees. He said, “I’m optimistic that this request will receive your usual expeditious consideration.” The Speaker, Hon. Ugwu therefore directed the nominees to make available, 25 copies of their CV and appear on Thursday, August 10, at 10am for screening.

By Madu Obi RELIEF has come the way of traders at the popular building materials international market, Ogidi in Anambra State as men of the Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (OCHA) Brigade stormed the market and demolished shanties and illegal structures housing miscreants in the area. The traders have been complaining that the criminal elements have been terrorizing the residents and traders who come to do transaction in the market and in some instances, kidnap and maim innocent citizens. Managing Director of OCHA Brigade, Comrade Celestine Anere, who spoke on the demolition on Wednesday, said the operation was carried out by a special enforcement team of the Brigade. He lamented that the area has continued to be a nightmare for business owners who occasionally fall victims of arm robbery, kidnapping and theft. He explained that his men have vowed to chase away all the criminals operating within Ogidi and Ogbunike axis, adding that the special enforcement team commenced the operation on Tuesday. Anere stated that several incidences of crimes, like kidnapping and carjacking, had taken in the place and described the spot as tipoff points for informants of organized crimes in the area. "We raid all illegal structures and criminal elements' hideout in order to restore sanity in the state." "The dismantling of these shanties and illegal structures will aid the free flow of water through the canals as these structures were constructed on waterways which had obstructed the drainage system." Aside the above, it will help reduce traffic gridlock and decongest the area for smooth vehicular movement. "Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra; Ocha Brigade will continue to ensure that the state is safe and conducive for Governor Chukwuma Soludo's agenda on green, clean, healthy, livable and prosperous homeland", he said. According to him, the criminals terrorizing the area have been maiming and committing all kinds of heinous crimes on innocent citizens and business owners plying the road.

By Madu Obi The Anambra State Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Agency has extended its ongoing digitization of the state to Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, with a training programme for the members. The exercise, which is aimed at bolstering the digital landscape in Anambra State, is to be conducted in collaboration with Wikimedia Foundation. A similar programme was recently held for media practitioners and top government officials. The agency had also distributed over 200 laptops to civil servants and is planning the provision of internet facilities in all the 21 local government areas of the state. The Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Mr. Fred Agbata said on Tuesday that the training is in line with the visionary mission of Governor Chukwuma Soludo to lead the state towards a digitally transformed future. According to him, digital literacy is an essential skill needed in today's technology-driven world, as it enables individuals and organizations to fully utilize modern technologies to promote creativity and effectiveness in their respective fields. Agbata described the training as crucial in view of the critical role Civil Society Organizations play in promoting positive change and community development. He said: “The training programme will provide CSOs with requisite digital abilities and expertise to thrive in the digital era, catalyze positive developments across various sectors and ultimately contribute to the overall socio-economic advancement of the state. "The training will equally give participants an overview of Wikimedia's guiding principles and editing procedures, which will enable them to contribute their expertise to the platform in an effective manner." "The agency's unwavering commitment to fostering digital literacy and inclusive technological development aligns seamlessly with the Governor's vision of positioning Anambra State at the forefront of digital transformation in Nigeria." "We should, therefore, unite in our collective efforts to embrace the digital revolution and usher in a brighter, digitally empowered future for Anambra State."

By Madu Obi The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has said that noodles imported into the country are fake, warning that those consuming them are risking their lives. NAFDAC director in charge of chemical evaluation and research, Dr. Leopard Omokpariola gave the warning in Awka on Tuesday at the South East media sensitization workshop on dangers of drug hawking and ripening of fruits with calcium carbide. He said that Nigerian noodles are safe and fit for consumption because they have NAFDAC number. According to him, one could distinguish the imported ones with the foreign languages on the packs and they do not have NAFDAC number. Omokpariola, who represented the director general of NAFDAC, Professor Moji Adeyeye at the workshop, described many drug hawkers in the country as merchants of death, adding that they knowingly or unknowingly expose lifesaving medicines to the vagaries of inclement weather, thereby degrading their active ingredients to the things that endanger human life. He described most of the perpetrators as semi literate, who go as far as parading themselves as Doctors and sometimes prescribe drugs to unsuspecting members of the public. He said that despite the concern and alarm raised by many organizations on the looming dangers and health implications, the activities have continued across the country. He said: "They sell their products cheap because they are not the genuine ones. Drugs are sensitive lifesaving commodities and should never, under any circumstance, be sold in the open market because there are standard storage conditions for them." "These products they sell are poisons and should never be taken as they do not contain active ingredients and therefore cannot cure any ailment." "Any drug hawker arrested by NAFDAC will be prosecuted and will be made to face jail terms." He also spoke on the riping of fruits with dangerous carbide, noting that the action is rampant in many parts of the country, especially in the urban areas. "They apply the dangerous gas which is used for welding to ripen fruits. It reduces oxygen supply system to the body and contains a lot of impurities." "It causes dizziness and mood alteration and can cause sleeping disorder, mouth cancer, skin rashes, kidney problem and sometimes, cancer." "What is used in riping fruits is ethylene gas," he said. NAFDAC director of public affairs, Dr. Abubakar Jimoh solicited the cooperation of the media in the battle against drug hawking. He observed that the agency, since its inception, has continued to sanitize the drug and food industry, lamenting, however, that in spite of the efforts, many people have continued to undermine its activities.

By Madu Obi TWO houses of the member representing Ihiala federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Dr. Paschal Agbodike has reportedly been set ablaze in his home town, Mbosi in Ihiala local government area by unknown arsonists. Recall that hoodlums had also previously burnt down the houses of the President General and the traditional ruler of the community last year. Mbosi is one of the communities in the local government where gathering of people no longer takes place because of the activities of unknown gunmen, such that burial and marriage ceremonies no longer take place in Mbosi. Agbodike, who was the deputy speaker of the state House of Assembly said no life was lost. According to an eye witness, Agbodike's houses consisting a fully furnished duplex, with a bungalow in the same compound, were completely razed down and properties looted. It was gathered that the incident, which happened at about 1am on Tuesday, caused pandemonium in the community as people ran out of their houses. The federal lawmaker was in Abuja carrying out his legislative function when the attack happened. Anambra State police command is yet to react on the incident.

By Iheanyi Chukwudi From Monday, September 4, 2023, no unauthorized tinted glasses vehicle will be allowed to use any road on Enugu State. This is because the State Government has ban the unauthorized use of vehicle tinted glasses in the state and has specified punishment for would be offenders. The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Chidiebere Onyia, in a public service announcement said the ban is primarily aimed at curtailing the activities of criminals and to generally enhance the security and safety of the people and residents of Enugu State. Onyia stated that defaulting vehicles will be impounded by the enforcement taskforce and will only be released to their owners after the tinted glasses are removed or replaced and the specified fines paid. His statement reads in parts, "In line with its determination to combat the nefarious activities of kidnappers and other criminal elements, the Enugu State Government hereby bans the unauthorized use of vehicle tinted glasses in the state. "The ban shall take effect after four (4) weeks of this notice, with consequent enforcement starting on Monday, September 4, 2023. This is to give owners of vehicles with tinted glasses, who did not obtain Police Tinted Permits before the suspension of its issuance by the Nigeria Police Force on 7th June 2021, sufficient time to have them removed or replaced (if they are factory fitted), in accordance with the provisions of the law. "...It is important to reiterate that the ban is primarily aimed at curtailing the activities of criminals and to generally enhance the security and safety of the good people and residents of Enugu State. We therefore solicit the understanding and cooperation of the general public in this regard."

By Iheanyi Chukwudi Enugu State Government has ban all forms of paper tickets across the state, making collection of levies, tolls on highways and roads in the state an offence. Consequently, the State has introduced an e-Ticket system called, Enugu State Unified e-Ticket Scheme. Government said the introduction of the e-Ticket Scheme is in line with the mandate of the Gov. Peter Mbah's Administration "to promote a digital economy, eliminate multiple taxation and grow the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR)." Announcing the introduction of the new scheme, the Executive Chairman, Enugu State Internal Revenue Service, Angela Chilotam Nnamani, said the new e-ticket scheme will commence on Friday, August 11, 2023. Explaining the scheme the Executive Chairman said, "The unified e-ticket is an electronic ticket for collection of taxes from the informal sector, such as road taxes, including tickets from tricycles, buses, tippers, emblems, and passengers’ manifest. Others are revenues from markets and artisans. "This scheme has been introduced to make tax payment easy and convenient for all citizens while eliminating harassments and loss of government revenue. All payments and enforcement shall be done using online and agency banking tools. "By this announcement, government hereby bans all forms of paper tickets across the state. Citizens are enjoined to purchase their daily tickets through our approved e-ticket agents across the state. "Your ticket will be vended to your vehicle plate number/shop number, and enforcers will also confirm your purchase using online means only. Anybody found selling paper tickets will be severely sanctioned. "To confirm the status of your payments at any time, please dial 8011042#." She also asked those that have further enquires to call 08038743801, 07062634378 and 08038950202.