By Madu Obi A man who gave his name as Ejike Ofoegbu, publisher of Igbo Time Magazine, has owned up as the character behind some of the skits on the Facebook and other media outlets disparaging Governor Chukwuma Soludo and claiming that they were made by Soludo's first son, Ozonna. In a video where Ofoegbu himself appeared, he admitted that all the things being said in the videos were completely false. He said: "I want to make something clear: those claims were never true; they are false, fake news and fabricated. "Some of the claims which I made and I sincerely want to apologize are where I wrote: Breaking news: " I will arrest anyone who calls Ozonna my son; he is not my son. I disowned him many years ago. He is no longer a member of Soludo's family. This statement is false. Our governor, Charles Soludo, never made this statement. "The second one was where I said I never take advice from my father; that he was a drunkard who beat my mum when I was young. This statement is completely false. Ozonna never uttered such a statement. I just fabricated it. "The other one was where I quoted Ozonna as saying that they should organize a drinking competition between Governor Soludo and Wike. This is false. " All these statements I listed were false and I made them because on Facebook when something like this goes viral, you get cash. That was my reason for doing it. It was not meant to hurt our able governor or his son. I did them out of ignorance. "To Nigerians seeing these things, I am really sorry and I will go to any length to see what I can do to retract them. I am going to write a rejoinder both on my Facebook page and other places I posted them so that they will also go viral. I am so sorry to Soludo family for what I had caused them." It was not clear last night whether Ofoegbu has been arrested as he appeared calm while owning up the Facebook statements.

By Madu Obi Anambra State governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo has announced the appointment of United States-based infectious disease specialist, Prof. Chinelo Ngozi Animalu, as Special Assistant on State HIV Diaspora Coordination and Development. Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Christian Aburime said the appointment pinpoints the present administration's strategic focus on leveraging global partnerships to elevate local healthcare delivery. In her new role, Prof. Animalu will head initiatives aimed at mobilizing international resources and technical expertise. She will also lead the coordination of diaspora partnerships and develop sustainable, innovative strategies to strengthen the state’s ongoing HIV response. According to Aburime, Prof. Animalu brings into the job, a wealth of clinical, academic, and leadership experience to the administration, adding that she currently serves as an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis and holds senior medical leadership positions within the Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare system. An accomplished academic and researcher, her credentials include: Doctor of Medicine (MD) and a Master of Public Health (MPH) from Tulane University. She is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP) and Fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (FIDSA). She is a recipient of the 2025 Healthcare Heroes Award for Community Outreach, alongside numerous awards for volunteerism and community service. The governor's spokesman added that her appointment further demonstrates the commitment of the Soludo administration to harnessing global expertise and diaspora partnerships towards strengthening healthcare delivery and achieving a healthier and more prosperous Anambra State. "By bringing top-tier diaspora talent into the state's governance framework, the Soludo administration aims to build a more resilient and sustainable healthcare ecosystem for ndi Anambra", Aburime said.

By Madu Obi The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Anambra State ICT Agency, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, has described technology as a catalyst for good governance, economic development and improved quality of life. Agbata, who spoke in Awka on Friday, commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo for creating an enabling environment for innovation to thrive, which, according to him, is a vision captured in the governor's guiding mantra of, 'Everything Technology, Technology Everywhere,' that has continued to shape the state's approach to digital governance. He observed that across the world, meaningful digital transformation usually begins with visionary political leadership which succeeds when vision is matched with capable institutions and leaders entrusted to translate policy into measurable impact. He said: "In Anambra State, Governor Chukwuma Soludo, has consistently demonstrated a firm belief that technology must serve as a catalyst for governance, economic development and improved quality of life. "Through his administration's bold digital agenda, he has created the enabling environment for innovation to thrive. "In implementing Governor Soludo's vision of a smarter, digitally connected Anambra, the Agency's transformation journey extends beyond technology and speaks to the future of governance." According to Agbata , technology is never the destination, but a means to better governance, just as a government website is not the story, but an easier access to public information. He added: "Technology should never be pursued simply because it is new. Whether through broadband expansion, cyber security, digital identity, government platforms, Artificial Intelligence or automation, every investment must answer one simple question, which is, How does this improve governance and service delivery? When innovation serves governance, citizens become the greatest beneficiaries. "Also, digital transformation is not merely about deploying software or installing infrastructure. It requires changing how institutions think, collaborate and solve problems. Technology enables transformation, but leadership and people sustain it. The future belongs to governments that learn. "As Governor Soludo continues to drive a bold vision for a digitally transformed Anambra, the Anambra State ICT Agency remains committed to translating that vision into measurable impact, by demonstrating that the future of governance is not defined by technology alone, but by how effectively technology is deployed to improve lives, strengthen institutions and deliver better outcomes for every Anambra person." "When visionary political leadership meets capable institutional leadership, digital transformation ceases to be an aspiration, but a reality".

By Madu Obi The Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS) and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, COOU, are to collaborate to achieve academic excellence in the profession that will culminate in the establishment of Department of Surveying in the university. The partnership was announced when the leadership of the Anambra State Chapter of NIS paid a courtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Prof. Kate Omenugha at the Igbariam Campus of the institution. State Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, Surv. Gabby Okeke said the body is eager to partner with the University and passionately appealed for the establishment of a Department of Surveying in COOU. Okeke expressed confidence in the Vice-Chancellor’s ability to turn the vision into reality, noting that NIS would be ready to provide the necessary support. In her speech, Prof. Omenugha acknowledged the commitment of the University’s management team to work out details of the partnership. She encouraged the professional body to prepare a comprehensive proposal to facilitate the necessary institutional processes, emphasizing that such a proposal would provide the foundation for engaging the University’s Senate and other relevant authorities toward the establishment of the department. Omenugha assured the delegation of the university’s readiness to embrace meaningful partnerships capable of expanding its academic offerings and strengthening professional education in line with national development priorities.

By Madu Obi The Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has deepened the conversation on State Police recently passed by National Assembly, insisting that the question is no longer if state police is appropriate, but about how it must be implemented. Speaking at the Town all meeting on State Police organized by Arise News TV, Soludo said the ongoing reforms to Nigeria’s federalism by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has not come as a surprise. Recalling how the President, then as Governor of Lagos State, consistently made a case for Nigeria to devolve power to subregions and become more federal in practice, the Anambra governor said he often calls the President the “Professor of federalism,” because of his astute commitment to a more functional federal system for Nigeria. Arguing that State Police should not exist in isolation, Soludo asserted that “State Police need to be seen in the context of the unfinished business towards a sustainable security and justice system.” He added that although more responsibilities have been handed down to the states, the revenue allocation formula has not been reviewed. He also spoke on the centralized judicial system and the challenges it poses to a speedy justice system. Using Anambra as a case study, Governor Soludo said that land disputes are a major source of judicial process in the state, noting that some of the cases take up to 30 or 40 years. Speaking on the need for reforms to correspond to the ongoing devolution of responsibilities to states, Soludo said: “I don’t understand why the issue of land should go beyond the state. The conversation should go towards a more sustainable federal structure.”

By Madu Obi Anambra State has been rated 100% healthy in the July 2026 Open Government Partnership (OGP) Nigeria subnational status ranking. The rating is the highest possible standing any state can attain on the platform’s rigorous, nine-point framework for measuring how genuinely open, accountable, and citizen-driven a government truly is. Chief Press Secretary to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Mr Christian Aburime said in a statement that Anambra’s rating is a well-earned scorecard, arrived at through the same demanding lens applied to every state that has signed on to the OGP. According to Aburime, the rating asks not what a government claims, but what it can prove, noting that OGP does not hand out its ratings, but ensures that the state earns its standing across nine distinct criteria, each designed to strip governance down to its essentials. Aburime said: "A '100% healthy’ rating thus means a state has performed convincingly to meet the criteria required. Anambra did. This, evidently, has been made possible under the accountable leadership of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR. "Anambra’s approach to public administration has consistently carried the imprint of Governor Soludo’s own instincts as an economist and institution-builder: a preference for structure over spectacle, and for systems that outlast any single administration. "The OGP rating is best understood not as an isolated award, but as the natural output of that instinct applied consistently across the machinery of state. "Political will, the OGP’s first and arguably most decisive criterion, is not something that can be manufactured for an assessment cycle. It shows up in whether a governor allocates real resources to open-government reforms, whether senior officials treat the agenda as central rather than cosmetic, and whether the commitment survives contact with the ordinary pressures of governing. "Anambra’s clean sweep across the OGP’s criteria suggests a leadership culture in which transparency is treated as an imperative rather than as an occasional public relations exercise. "That same instinct is visible in the state’s recent record on service delivery. For instance, the administration’s investments in primary healthcare have positioned Anambra among the leading states in healthcare performance within the South-East, drawing acknowledgment from international partners, including the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, and Medecins Sans Frontieres. "It is a small, but telling illustration of the same underlying discipline: build the institutional plumbing first, and outcomes follow". He noted that a 100% Healthy OGP status is, in effect, a certification that a government’s openness is structural, rather than seasonal, adding that it tells investors that regulatory and fiscal processes are more predictable. Aburime observed that the rating is an assurance to development partners that resources channelled through the state are more likely to be tracked and accounted for and that the mechanisms for holding the government to account are not aspirational, but operational. "For a state long associated with commercial dynamism, industrious citizenry, and cultural depth, this rating adds a further, quieter distinction. Anambra now stands among the small number of Nigerian states whose governance architecture has been independently verified as sound from the inside out", he stated. Acknowledging that the rating is not an endpoint, Aburime said the OGP framework itself is built around continuous cycles, new commitments, fresh rounds of co-creation, ongoing implementation, precisely because open government is a discipline that must be renewed, not a trophy that can be shelved. "What the July 2026 ranking confirms is that Anambra, under Governor Soludo’s leadership, has built the institutional habits necessary to keep meeting that standard. "In a highly political environment like ours, where the temptation to prioritise visibility over verification is ever-present, Anambra’s achievement is a reminder that credibility, once built on measurable process rather than rhetoric, tends to compound. "The state has, under Governor Soludo, shown its healthy excellence, and the results are now in the open. And Anambra is continuously on the rise", he said.

By Madu Obi The Anambra State Government has introduced what it called the Voluntary Assets Income Declaration and Tax Regularisation Scheme (VAIDS). The scheme, which runs from July 6, 2026, to September 5, 2026, offers a one-time chance for taxpayers to fix their tax issues without facing the full penalties for not complying. Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Dr Law Mefor, said it is available to everyone, including individuals, businesses, and other organisations that have unpaid taxes or fees. Specifically, the scheme covers those who have not registered as taxable persons, registered taxpayers with additional income, assets or liabilities to disclose, those who have failed to fully declare taxable income and assets, as well as those who have underpaid or under-remitted taxes or levies. It also includes those who are currently under tax audit or investigation, those involved in a tax dispute with the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AIRS) and those who have been issued Best of Judgement (BOJ) assessments and failed to respond within the statutory timeliness. According to Mefor, eligible taxpayers who make full and honest disclosure will enjoy 100 percent waiver of penalties, 100 percent waiver of accrued interest, immunity from prosecution for disclosed tax liabilities, immunity from tax audit for the periods covered by the declaration and flexible payment arrangements, subject to the approval of the AIRS. Already, the Executive Chairman of AIRS, Ikeazor Okonkwo, has invited people with undeclared income or assets, business owners, companies, partnerships, sole proprietors, taxpayers who owe taxes, unregistered taxpayers, and those who want to fix past tax declarations to join the scheme. He explained that AIRS will commence full enforcement against defaulting taxpayers upon the expiration of the scheme on 5th September, 2026.

By Madu Obi The wife of the governor of Anambra State, Mrs Nonye Soludo has urged families to invest in home gardening as a way of boosting food production in the country. Mrs Soludo, who spoke after harvesting a large quantity of maize from her Healthy Living Farm, reminded the people that healthy living begins with the choices people make everyday. "This harvest is the product of organic, non-GMO farming practices that reflect the values we've have consistently championed. The result is eating fresh, natural foods and embracing lifestyles that nourish our bodies and protect our environment. "For us, healthy living isn't just a message to be shared; it's a way of life to be lived dutifully. I believe that when we grow what we eat and choose wholesome, naturally cultivated foods, we invest in stronger families, healthier communities, and a brighter future for our children", she said. She observed that every harvest tells a story of patience, consistency, and the rewards of making the right choices, encouraging every household to embrace home gardening and support sustainable agriculture in whatever way possible. "By doing what's right, we can rediscover the richness of nature, promote healthy eating, and build a culture where good health starts from our farms and finds its way to every table", she added.

By Madu Obi The Executive Director of the Anambra State AIDS Control Agency (ANSACA), Dr. Nkem Okeke, has urged members of the public to verify information from official health authorities on HIV-related updates before disseminating. Okeke, in an interview, explained that HIV statistics should be interpreted with caution because the number of confirmed cases depends largely on the scale, coverage, and targeting of testing. According to him, Anambra State has intensified community-based HIV testing through several initiatives, including the Moonlight Testing Programme, which operates between 7:00 p.m. and midnight in identified hotspots to reach key populations. The initiative, he added, is aimed at expanding access to HIV testing, linking those who test positive to treatment and care, while also providing preventive services such as counselling and free condoms. He explained that HIV testing in the state is regularly conducted in communities, markets, religious centres, and other public locations through approved outreach programmes. Recent exercises, he said, were carried out in collaboration with healthcare institutions and medical students in communities including St. Paul’s, Ogidi, Nanka, Onitsha, and Awka. He emphasized that HIV test results remain confidential and are protected by ethical and legal standards, noting that responsible organisations do not publicly disclose the identities or test results of individuals. The ANSACA boss said that any organisation intending to carry out HIV-related programmes in government institutions or public facilities in Anambra State must obtain approval from ANSACA or the State Ministry of Health to ensure proper coordination, quality assurance, and compliance with national guidelines. "HIV remains a significant public health concern despite remarkable advances in prevention and treatment. COVID-19 pandemic diverted public attention and health resources away from HIV, slowing awareness campaigns and affecting service delivery in many communities," he said.. He identified adolescents and young people as a priority group for prevention efforts, pointing to the social, economic, and behavioural factors that increase their vulnerability to HIV infection. He also stressed the need for stronger parental involvement, community participation, school-based education, and sustained youth-focused awareness campaigns to discourage risky behaviours and prevent new infections. Okeke added that Anambra State is supporting the implementation of the National HIV Prevention Plan, which focuses on reaching young people with age-appropriate HIV prevention education before they become exposed to high-risk behaviours. He expressed optimism that sustained awareness, expanded testing, early diagnosis, and prompt treatment would significantly reduce new HIV infections and strengthen the state’s efforts to eliminate HIV as a public health threat. He reaffirmed that the fight against HIV requires the collective commitment of government, healthcare workers, educational institutions, faith-based organisations, community leaders, civil society groups, and residents. According to him, increased public awareness, wider access to HIV testing, and early treatment remain critical to achieving an HIV-free Anambra State.

Traders at the popular drug market at the Bridge Head in Onitsha, have handed over substandard and falsified drugs worth N435 million to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for destruction. The Caretaker Committee Chairman of the market, Mr Chukwuleta Ndubisi, who performed the handover of the 192 items of substandard and expired drugs, said traders voluntarily submitted the products to the market leadership as part of a collective effort to rid the market of substandard and falsified medicines. According to him, more than 400 cartons of adulterated drugs were recovered between December 2025 and June 2026 and commended the market task force and members of the market executive for supporting efforts to sanitize the market and eliminate fake drugs. “The primary aim of my being chairman is to sanitise the drug market. I came with a revolution, and some traders feel that I am causing inconveniences for them. "That is why they keep attacking me from different sides. Even now, we are in Enugu, but thank God we are winning the battle", he said. The Deputy Director in charge of Investigation and Enforcement, South-East and South-South Directorates of NAFDAC, Mr Omoyeni Tunji, expressed appreciation to the market leadership for working in synergy with the agency to curb the circulation of fake drugs. He said the seized items would be taken to the agency’s dump site in Awka for destruction. Tunji also commended the leadership of NAFDAC and the Federal Government for remaining at the forefront of the fight against falsified and counterfeit drugs across the country.

By Madu Obi The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), a nongovernmental organization, NGO, has called for an urgent, independent and transparent investigation into the alleged disappearance of Mr. Ekenne Valentine, a member of the Anambra State Vigilante Group (AVG), during an official security operation in August 2024. The Executive Director of RULAAC, Okechukwu Nwanguma, described the continued uncertainty surrounding the fate of Ekenne for nearly two years as "deeply disturbing" and symptomatic of the weak accountability mechanisms governing security operations involving state-supported security outfits. According to Nwanguma, despite repeated complaints by Ekenne Valentine's father, Chief Benjamin Nwosuagwu, to the leadership of the Anambra State Vigilante Group, the Anambra State Police Command and the National Human Rights Commission, no credible explanation has been provided regarding the circumstances of his disappearance, nor has any conclusive investigative outcome been communicated to the family. Ekenne Valentine, who served with the Ukpor Unit, Nnewi South local government area of the Anambra State Vigilante Group for about three years, was last heard from on 9 August 2024. Three days after his disappearance, his father was informed that his son had failed to return from a security operation in which other members of the vigilante team reportedly returned safely. Nwosuagwu subsequently travelled repeatedly from Imo State to Anambra State in search of his son, visiting the offices of the Vigilante Group in Onitsha, Awka and Ukpor, without any clue on the whereabouts of his son. Although he later petitioned the Anambra State Police Command, the investigation has not produced any publicly known outcome. Lamenting the situation, the Executive Director of RULAAC, Nwanguma, said: "No family should be left to endure years of uncertainty over the disappearance of a loved one without answers from those who had responsibility for his deployment and safety. "The disappearance of a person during an official security operation imposes a clear duty on the relevant authorities to establish the facts, account for the missing person, and keep the family informed. "The prolonged failure to establish the whereabouts of Ekenne Valentine raises serious concerns about operational accountability, command responsibility and the effectiveness of the investigation conducted so far. "Everyday that passes without meaningful progress deepens the suffering of the family and weakens public confidence in our security institutions." He called for a close supervision of the investigation by the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), or another competent investigative unit. "The rule of law demands that no person disappears during an official security operation without a full accounting. Justice demands truth. The family deserves answers, and the public deserves the assurance that security institutions are accountable for those who serve under their command," Nwanguma added.

By Madu Obi The leadership crisis rocking the Anambra State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) took a fresh twist on Sunday with an executive led by Chief Ifeanyi Osegbo took over the party’s state secretariat to assume control of the party structure. This came as the embattled executive led by Senator Emma Anosike described the takeover as unlawful and a violation of due process. The latest development follows a judgment obtained by Osegbo group against the Anosike-led executive, even as Anosike described the judgment as a “kangaroo judgment,” that lacks legal merit. At the APC secretariat opposite the old Government House in Awka, Osegbo and his supporters expressed happiness that the party has been liberated. The new chairman immediately set up three committees aimed at moving the party forward ahead of the 2027 general elections. The committees are truth and reconciliation, strategy and tactical, as well as election planning and winning committees. Addressing the stakeholders, Osegbo, said the era of bickering and disunity in the state party had come to an end, adding that the main priority of APC is to mobilize effectively for the reelection of President Bola Tinubu. Osegbo said: "The winning mentality of APC has just started in this state. We will begin by going to the grassroots and we are not going to allow our party's candidates in their areas to suffer because we are going to help them to achieve victory. "Let me acknowledge the sacrifices made by the former chairman of the party, Chief Basil Ejidike in repositioning the party in the state. "Our challenges are enormousz but not insurmountable. These committees are for unity and peace. We are not going to leave anyone out. It is a moment of sacrifice." According to him, APC was built on accountability, noting that the era of secrecy in the affairs of the party had gone. But reacting on the development, the Anosike-led group advised party members to disregard and refrain from attending any meeting convened by the Osegbo faction. According to the Anosike's faction, several individuals listed as plaintiffs in the suit instituted against him had denied authorizing the legal action, while elected executive members have distanced themselves from the judgment. The group further argued that neither Senator Emma Anosike, nor the State Secretary was joined as a party or defendant in the suit, adding that the defendants were the National Working Committee (NWC) and the National Chairman of the APC. The group maintained that before any faction can lawfully assume control of the state secretariat, the judgment must first be served on the National Working Committee and the National Chairman of the party, who, it stated, are the only authorities empowered to direct any change in the state leadership.