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Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has directed the immediate restructuring of the Ulonna Farm Settlement in Ohuhu Umuahia North Local Government Area of the state. The Governor, who gave the directive in a statement released via his Twitter account on Tuesday, said this was in line in ensuring that there is food sufficiency, availability of raw materials for export and local use, and job creation for teeming youths through agriculture in Abia State. He also directed the Commissioner for Agriculture, Prof Ikechi Mgbeoji, to immediately enter into discussions with leaders of Ohuhu Development Foundation (ODF) and other stakeholders to produce a workable plan for the take off of the project. “Yesterday, I directed that the process of revitalising the Ulonna Farm Settlement in Ohuhu, Umuahia North LGA of our State commence immediately. “This is in line with my administration’s policy of ensuring food sufficiency, availability of raw materials for export and local use, and job creation

Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The governor’s defection comes after weeks of speculation that he had taken the decision to dump the opposition party for the ruling party. One of the reasons given by the governor for his defection is that the South East region has suffered what he describes as injustice in the PDP. Umahi contested for the office of the governor in Ebonyi State in 2015, on the platform of the PDP and won. Upon concluding his first term, the governor won the bid to extend his stay in office in the 2019 general elections, again as the PDP candidate. A file photo of Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi. In 2007, Umahi led the PDP in Ebonyi in acting capacity, and later served as the party chairman between 2009 to 2011. Later that year, he emerged as the running mate to former Ebonyi State Governor, Martin Elechi, and became the deputy governor after they won the election. While E

Following the request by Abia State traditional rulers led by their chairman, Eze Joseph Nwabeke of Eziama Ntigha of Isialangwa North, Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu says he is considering to jettison the Abia Airport Project. The governor stated this while receiving in audience the Principal Officers of the State Council of Traditional Rulers and Chairmen of the Traditional Rulers Council in the 17 Local Government Areas of the state. The Chairman, Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Joseph Nwabekee and the Royal Fathers had urged the governor to shelve the proposed Abia Airport Project for now and use funds earmarked for it to complete the ongoing road projects in the state including some portions of the dilapidated Aba – Port Harcourt Highway and Aba – Ikot Ekpene Highway which are Federal Government roads. Nwabekee said that fixing the roads would boost the economy of the state. The governor assured them that he would table their request for government to shelve the proposed ai

The ongoing tussle concerning the control of The People's Democratic Party in Abia State took another dimension today as a purported memo containing the names of the 21 founding fathers of the party has leaked online. Though the source of the leaked memo containing the 21 names available to AFNews who founded the party is yet to be verified but it will interest you to note that the Current People's Democratic Party PDP in Abia was founded as a result of the collapse of the following political affiliation into one single umbrella: People's National Front PNF. People's Democratic Movement PDM. Social Progressive Party SPP. New Era Alliance NERA, All Nigerian Congress ANC. National League For Good Governance NLGF among others. Prominent among the founders are the following: Ezeogo Dr. Anagha Ezikpe Chief David Elechi Chief B.B Apugo Arch Chief Dan Nwakwo Chief Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu Chief Chris Ukpabi Comrade Uche Chukwumereije Chief Dr. Sam Igwe Chief Okech

Board Of Trustee Members, National Executive Council Members and Top State Elders of the People's Democratic Party PDP  in Abia State have resolved to allow peace reign in the state . This is contained in a press release made available to AFNews and signed by Senator's T. A. Orji , Enyinnaya Abaribe, Adolphus N. Wabara, Emma Nwaka, and Prince Vincent Ogbulafor , Chief Onyema Ugochukwu including Rt. Hon. Acho Nwakanma after a stakeholders meeting on 20th July 2020 at an undisclosed location in Nigeria Investigation by AFNews revealed that this Abia State  political budoxers met in a yet to be verified location to deliberate on the recent rancour and acrimonious outburst against each other from two factional groups of the party in the state loyal to Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu the Executive Governor and Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji who is the speaker of the State House of Assembly. Over comment credited to the speaker when he visited Senator Orji Uzor Kalu in his  Abuja reside

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, on Sunday denied the statement credited to his predecessor, Adams Oshiomhole, that he used obnoxious means to destroy the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. The former governor had said at his country home in Iyamho, Estako West local government area of the state on Saturday that he made a grave mistake supporting Obaseki in the 2016 governorship election in Edo. He claimed the governor used every obnoxious means, including the destruction of properties and unwarranted arrest of members to destroy the party in the state. The ex-APC national chairman also insisted that the state had not recorded any tangible development since he left as governor four years ago. Oshiomhole said: “The governor was demolishing the houses of our members while some were being jailed on trump-up charges. These were the people who fought for him to become governor. “I begged those who were being persecuted to take it easy, that they shouldn’t burn

A foreign student of Nigeria origin  is reported to have drown in Russia . The 18 years old boy whose name was given as Knowledge Uzochi Ndubueze from Abia State left the shores of Nigeria in 2018 having received admission into Yugoslavia State Medical University to study Medicine But according to The Father Professor Ndubueze Amaechi: a lecturer at Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike who spoke to Abiatracker , the family received a call at the 3:30pm July 9th 2020 that the first son Knowledge Uzochi Ndubueze is dead in Russia. " It was his guardian who stays at St Petersburg : another city different from Yugoslavia State where they boy was studying that called me and told me that my son is dead, when I asked him what happened, he told me he was not there with him to actually say what happened " " But according to unverified source that spoke to him (The guardian), he learnt that the boy went for a picnic with others at a lake where the boy got dra

Association of drivers working with Abia line Network has called on the General manager of Abia line Network to as a matter of urgency pay them thier salaries AFNews while monitoring the ongoing protest by the drivers saw them with placards having different inscription such as " monkey dey work , baboon dey chop " One among the Protesting workers who does not want his name on print said " we are being owed 25 months salary by the management of Abia line Network, we have our families to feed and cater for but we have not been able to meet up with our responsibility as father's to our children, because the management of Abia line Network is owing us for the last 25 months  " " They are owing us , we have been protesting for days now yet nobody has come out to address us nor say anything concerning the payment of this salary, rather they are intimidating us with security men " Another of the Protesting worker said . The workers said they are

The Governor of Abia State Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu has called for calm across the state . This is an attempt by the governor to close the ongoing crises rocking the state Executive Council between his loyalists and those loyal to the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly Rt Hon Chinedum Orji  . Investigation by AFNews revealed that there is  currently a face-off in Abia State between the camp of the state Governor and that of the speaker which arised as a result of a statement credited to Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji on his recent visit  to The Chief Whip of The Senate Senator Orji Uzor Kalu. The speaker was quoted to have asked Senator Orji Uzor Kalu to come back to the state and recover the position of the leader in the state as nobody is contesting that Position with him . But this statement did not go down well with those loyal to the Abia State Governor who described his statement as being " anti party and an attempt to undermine the leadership of Dr. Okezie Victo

The Abia State House of Assembly has directed the Director General of the Abia State Road Maintenance Agency to immediately covey his men and state equipment to the Uburu Ihechiowa Arochukwu Link Road so as to provide paliative work on the road which currently is in a bad state as a result of the current raining season An Abiatracker news reporter who monitored the plenary of the House today reported that the decision and resolution to direct ABROMA DG to fix the road  came  aa a result of the motion moved by Hon.Dr. Mike Ukoha who is the member representing Arochukwu State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly on the need to provide paliative work on the road .  Hon. Dr. Mike Ukoha while raising the motion said "Road is an essential infrastructure to the people;The society cannot function without good and quality road network;it is expedient to bring to your attention, the deplorable condition of Uburu Ihechiowq - Arochukwu Link Road iin Arochukwu LGA, Which

By Anya C. Anya "Do we have a government in Abia State ? He asked me , " yes I responded, we have a government in power ably led by HE Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu" , he sighed then look at me closely and said " if we have a government , then why are they insesitive to our plight and suffering " , at this point I was speachless, what do I tell this man who is among the protesting Abia line workers owed salaries for months ? For those who may not know , the Abia line workers are protesting the inability of government to pay them thier salaries for months now . The protest had continued today and I decided to meet one of them to reason with him on why they are still protesting after days. " They have not said anything yet and that is why we are still protesting, we have worked for this salary , our life depended on it and that of our children.  We simply cannot go home and stay while watching our families cry on our head " the Annonymous proteste

By Anya C. Anya Godfathers" in Nigerian politics don't usually run for office themselves, but many believe they are the ones who decide the election winners and losers.its widely believed among many quarters that they invariably are men - who pull the strings behind the scenes. They are political sponsors, who use money and influence to win support for their preferred candidates "godsons" who are not always selected for their political acumen, but rather on their ability to repay and enrich their godfather. These arrangements have spawned the term "godfatherism", says Dr Dele Ashiru, a senior lecturer at the department of political science at the University of Lagos who explain it "as a situation where there's a big man who wields enormous political power and then anoints a godson, who he adopts as a candidate for the election.And the godfather will do all that is reasonably possible to get the godson appointed into political office

Punch 628 dead as Nigeria’s COVID-19 cases hit 27,564 40th memorial: Buhari,Oba Ogunwusi pay tributes to late Ooni Aderemi Police get new DIG, AIGs, as PSC promotes 6,618 N168bn frauds: Hushpuppi faces 20 years in US prison N2.55bn fraud: Court jails hackers, orders restitution to bank Demand for oxygen by COVID-19 patients has increased –Lagos commissioner Police arraign man for stealing magistrate’s phone I have no APC court case, says Amaechi Three million apply for 400,000 N-Power jobs Falana, Umar dissociate selves from new political group Aspirants reject call to reserve NBA presidency for SANs Leadership crisis: APC to get new chairman, NWC November COVID-19: Why I can’t hand over to my deputy –Akeredolu Bauchi gov suspends Emir of Misau over killings Bello appoints Olusiyi as Kogi chief judge COVID-19: FCE Abeokuta, Osun bank shut as cases rise to 27,564 Lagos schools resume Aug 3, churches, mosques remain closed Fulani communities allege k

By Anya C Anya One obvious fact is that Nigerians are craving for a change: a change from from everything that have spell maladministration in the country to a more effective and efficient representation. A change from servicing same old incapacitated political office holders to a new breed of capable hands. Politics should be 100% representative adventure that should focus entirely on the citizens, viz as viz the target should be on making the electorate much more better with each passing administration but the reverse has always been the case in Nigeria  and Abia State in particular. Because each passing administration leave the state in a worst state than what the predecessor did. We are yet to have Capable hands Mar leadership position in Abia State which is why I say we are not yet ready for a change . We might have been craving for a change but we are not yet ready to enforce the necessary machinery that will enthrone change in the country in general and Abia State in p

. An Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Olushola Oyebade, currently at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Jos, Plateau State, was promoted to the next rank of Deputy Inspector-General of Police to represent the South-West geopolitical zone in the police management team. The promotions were one of the highpoints of the 8th plenary meeting of the commission which spanned a period of three weeks and ended on Wednesday. It was presided over by the Commission’s Chairman, Musiliu Smith, a retired Inspector-General of Police. According to a statement on Friday by the PSC spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani, four Commissioners of Police including one specialist, were promoted to the rank of AIG. They are Aisha Abubakar, CP, Veterinary Department, Asuquo Amba, former CP in charge of Bayelsa State Command, and currently CP, Ekiti State Command, Nekereuwem Akpan, and former CP, Cross Rivers State Command, Olafihan Adeoye, who is currently in charge of the Anti-Terroris

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia on Friday swore in 13 new Permanent Secretaries, with a call on them to discharge their duties without fear or favour and promote the developmental programmes of the state government. Ikpeazu, while speaking at the ceremony in Umuahia, called on the newly sworn in officers to be good ambassadors of Abia, as well as abide by the oath of allegiance they swore to. The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Chief Ude Oko-Chukwu, commended the newly sworn in officers for reaching the climax of their career in the state Civil Service. He said that this was an indication that the officers had maintained a track record of commitment and dedication to duty. Ikpeazu urged the new permanent secretaries to evolve ideas that would encourage growth in their respective ministries and boost the development of the state. Responding on behalf of permanent secretaries, Mrs Caroline Igwe, thanked the state government for finding them fit for the new posi

1• Petrol price: NLC demands reversal, NECA backs govt. 2• Ojudu, Adeyeye not welcome to PDP – Fayose. 3 Nigeria’s debt profile hits N28.63tn. 4• NCDC blames youths for rapid COVID-19 spread. 5• Border reopening: Protect yourselves, Ayade tells Cross River residents. 6• Passengers with cold, malaria won’t board – Aero Contractors. 7• Registration: Ohanaeze General Assembly sues CAC, demands N500bn. 8• COVID-19: Weddings, burials to resume soon – NCDC. 9• COVID-19 cases in Nigeria will rise – Nigerian govt. 10• COVID-19: Let us stop this game, Nigerians are suffering – Gov. Yahaya Bello. 11• Abia gov, Okezie turns Table Tennis player in isolation. 12• APC group attacks Gov. Yahaya Bello for denying existence of COVID-19 in Nigeria. 13• 2023: I’m not part of new National Consultative Front – Olisa Agbakoba. 14• COVID-19: FG goes spiritual, partners religious leaders on Prayers, Fasting. 15• We will back Obaseki to win, do more in second term ― PDP govs. 16• COVID-19: 3

1• Nigerian govt increases petrol pump price. 2• New pump price: IPMAN directs members to start selling petrol at N143.8 per litre. 3• COVID-19: FG gives reasons for reopening of schools for graduating students. 4• Abia State seeks Army’s partnership over security. 5• PDP sweeps Taraba LG polls. 6• No new registration of voters for Ondo governorship polls – INEC. 7• 774,000 workers recruitment: FG, National Assembly flex muscles, federal lawmakers dare Buhari. 8• Many Nigerians risk sliding into extreme poverty – Buhari. 9• Domestic flights resume in Lagos, Abuja July 8. 10• Army not considering dialogue with bandits – CAS. 11• 250,000 Borno farmers get CBN loan. 12• Ohaneze talks tough, wants Buhari to address genuine agitations of Igbo. 13• Teacher slumps, dies after hearing news of husband’s COVID-19 result. 14• I wanted to fortify my son against Fulani herders’ attack, palm-wine tapper narrates how his local bulletproof charm failed. 15• Don’t tarnish our image — F

By Anya C. Anya The Abia State government is working out modalities for the re-opening of schools in the state . Academic activities in the state have been paralyzed since the advent of Covid 19 which resulted in the shutting down of schools in the country . But the Abia state government in response to the directive of the federal government is considering re-opening Schools with emphasis on primary 6 pupils ,JSS 3 and SS 3 student to enable them conclude thier academic activities and move on to the next stage in life In a press release made available to AFNEWS dated 2nd July 2020 and signed by Barr. Chris Ezem who is the Secretary to the Abia State Government & Chairman Inter-ministerial Committee on COVID-19 , the Government noted that "In line with Federal Government directives, our ministry of education is currently working out modalities for the reopening of schools particularly for primary 6, JSS 3 and SS3 students in the State. Government however warns that any

By Anya C. Anya Much is yet to be heard and the truth will soon emerged concerning the Isuikwuato Erosion Control Project which currently is facing controversial claim on who attracted it as the duo of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and Dr. Uche Ogah  including Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejiocha are currently battling and laying claims to being responsible for attracting the Project to Abia State . While People are crying and counting their losses occasioned by the erosion ravaging  the environment. Our representatives are busy fighting each other  and laying claims to a project that is yet to be completed but except for the need to score cheap popularity on inconsequential project, One  will question what the person who attracted  the project stand to gain  in the light of the fact that the project is yet to be completed Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejiocha's claims to being the one who attracted the project is hinged on the fact that the Federal House of Representatives had earlier task Ministrie

By Anya C. Anya The Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu led administration in Abia State have expressed dissastifaction with the recruitment made by the Secondary Education Management Board since 2018 till date since over 90% of  it was made without government approved waiver. Investigation by AFNews revealed that the government had considered it necessary to set up a committee to investigate and review the series of recruitment done by SEMB from 2018 till date as a result of the inability of the government to pay those recruited and already in the service of the ministry of education. The committee which was set by the Government headed by Dr. Mrs Kate Ndukauba was giving an assignment to review the employment made by SEMB and report back to the Government within few months . Information available to Abiatracker is that the Committee have now  concluded it's Investigation and according to The State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, " it is  disheartening to find out that a total

By Anya C. Anya As a result of the need to reverse the negative effect of climatic changes in the environment. Gregory University Uturu would kick off a tree planting operation. The target of the university is to plant over 1000 trees in and around the university environment In a press release made available to Abiatracker by the The Vice Chancellor of Gregory University Uturu, Prof Augustine Uwakwe while flagging off the tree planting operation.  The VC" highlighted the strategic importance of  a smart green campus." He  pointed out that "the aim is to provide an eco-friendly environment that stimulates knowledge assimilation while also enhancing the aesthetic beauty of the campus." The exercise which is being executed under the the West African Green Energy Development Institute (WAGEDI) of the university is tagged " 'GUU Green Project Initiative" According to Prof Uwakwe, during the exercise," members of university community are ex