* The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Anambra State Traffic Management Agency (ARTMA), Engr. Emeka Okonkwo has warned tricycle riders in Awka and environs to guard against consumption of hard drugs and alcohol while on duty for their safety and that of their passengers.
Speaking during a meeting organized by the Chairman, Anambra State Tricycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria, Awka Zone, Prince Collins Ozojiofor for pits chairmen of the association in Awka and environs, at Awka South Secretariat hall, the Managing Director regretted that the keke riders in the state had been labelled with bad names over the years.
He assured his mutual assistance and co-operation with members of the association in the state in the course of carrying out their statutory operations in the state amicably, adding that his leadership had been in good terms with the leadership of the association and his members in Awka Zone and elsewhere in the state.
The Managing Director, represented on the occasion by the Commander of the Agency in the state, Commander Stanley Okonkwo, stated that sometimes they had problem with keke riders and even the Police in the area and later settle by proffering lasting solutions to the problem seamlessly.
* No fewer than five traders from the Ogbogwu drug market in Onitsha, Anambra State has been reported dead and several other hospitalised.
The incident was announced by the traders during a protest at the entrance gate of the market recently.
The traders linked the death of their colleagues to the just concluded National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), raid in the market.
According to them, the protest was also to informed the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Charles Soludo, the NAFDAC Director General, Prof Moji Adeyeye, civil society organisations, media and the general public that Ogbogwu drug market Onitsha is still under lock and key as against the reopening report of the enforcement agency.
* In its continuation of Charity Mission, Faithspiration Initiative has once again put smiles in the faces of the poor and less privileged ones gathering in various strategic locations across Onitsha metropolis.
The Charity Mission themed” Feed The Poor ” (Psalm 41:1) however depicts one of the core foundation of Faithspiration Initiative by the founder, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. George Adimike.
However, feed the poor in Onitsha metropolis was powered by a philanthropist, Onyinyechi Anyaora marked another successful Charity outreach by the religious group Shortly after few weeks visit to Opi-Agu Community in Nsukka, Enugu State.
Other places they reached out in the past few months were; correctional center Onitsha, Olumbanasa comprising Odeh, Odomagwu, Igbokenyi and Brother Adaka in Awada Idemili North Local Government Area, Anambra State, as well as Sick brothers and sisters in Bamenda, Republic of Cameroon even as the religious foundation went extensively in recognizing the plight of some particular vulnerable ones and made financial intervention in specific cases ensuring that their needs were urgently addressed.
* Governor Chukwuma Soludo has congratulated President Ahmed Tinubu, on the occasion of his 73rd birthday.
In his goodwill message, Governor Soludo remarked that Mr. President’s birthday is yet another moment to celebrate a life dedicated to service, vision, and the pursuit of national unity and progress. According to the Governor, President Tinubu’s leadership, anchored on deep political experience, strategic thinking, patriotism and a commitment to democratic governance, continues to inspire a renewed hope for a better Nigeria.
Soludo went further to express deep appreciation for the President’s large-heartedness and support for Anambra State’s developmental aspirations, as his inclusive approach to governance and willingness to partner with subnational entities for national progress reflect his belief in a Nigeria that works for all.
* The humiliation of Val Ozigbo continues as APC faithfuls across Anambra reject his desperate ambition ahead of the party primaries.
At the Anambra North zonal meeting at All Saints Hall, Onitsha, Ozigbo attempted to push his zoning agenda, only to be shut down immediately. Party leaders made it clear:
APC has no zoning arrangement, and the governorship ticket is open to all as any campaign to go South is direct campaign for Soludo re-election and a plot to divide APC.
* Women traders in some markets in Anambra North Senatorial District have called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to reduce the exorbitant fees, levies and rates placed on traders, which have driven many of them out of market.
The women made the appeal during a sensitization campaign organized by Tax Justice and Governance Platform, (TJ&GP) for selected markets in the senatorial district at Onitsha Main Market under the Tax for Service (T4S) project, implemented in collaboration with the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, (CISLAC), with funding support by Oxfam Nigeria.
In her speech, the Woman Leader of Ochanja Central Market, Kate Uchebechi, regretted that too many payments being demanded from all traders are becoming unbearable for women traders.
* Anambra State students have thrown their weight behind Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s second-term bid, contributing a total of N2 million to support his re-election. The endorsement came as students, under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Anambra State chapter, donated sums ranging from N200 to N500 each to raise the amount.
Soludo, overwhelmed by the students’ gesture, expressed deep gratitude for their sacrifice, likening it to the widow’s mite. He noted that their financial contribution from their limited pocket money mirrored similar acts of goodwill from artisans and transporters who have voluntarily supported him in appreciation of his administration’s impact.
Recalling a recent experience in Onitsha, Soludo shared how a bus driver handed over his entire day’s earnings as a show of gratitude for the governor’s road rehabilitation projects, which have reduced the need for frequent vehicle repairs. He also recounted how, during the last Christmas season, two women—one of them an elderly widow—gifted him baskets of fruits and chicken, expressing joy over improved road infrastructure that now allows them to travel with ease.
* The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP. Ikioye Orutugu on Saturday held a strategic meeting with the sectional heads of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to assess emerging crime trends and enhance the investigative capacity of officers within the department.
As part of efforts to strengthen intelligence gathering and security operations, the Commissioner directed an immediate reorganization of the CID Formation. He further approved the establishment of a Political Desk Unit within the department, tasked with monitoring political developments, conducting threat assessments, implementing risk management strategies, and providing security guidance for political campaigns and other sensitive events.
CP Orutugu also proposed the acquisition of modern forensic equipment to enhance evidence analysis, improve suspect profiling, and increase efficiency in crime scene investigations. This initiative aims to align the Command’s forensic capabilities with global best practices in criminal investigations.
* The Congress of University Academics (CONUA), Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) Chapter, has reiterated its commitment to improving the welfare of its members and fostering a more stable academic environment.
Speaking to journalists in Awka, the Coordinator of the UNIZIK Chapter, Prof. Chigozie Damian Ezeonyejiaku, stated that the recent emergence of CONUA in the university was aimed at creating a platform where academics in Nigerian public universities can thrive. He emphasised that the union seeks to promote intellectual freedom and ensure the well-being of its members.
According to him, “The union fully commenced operations in UNIZIK on the 12th of March 2025, and I was fortunate to emerge as the pioneer coordinator. As you all know, CONUA, just like other sister unions in the university, is registered by the Federal Government to provide a platform for academics in Nigerian universities.
* The Golden Tulip Hotel played host to the official launch of the Obele Women Empowerment Foundation (OWEF), a transformative initiative aimed at uplifting women across various sectors of society.
The event, which drew dignitaries, stakeholders, and women advocates, was a vibrant celebration of the potential of women in nation-building, marked by inspiring speeches, panel discussions, and showcases of women-led businesses.
The foundation, spearheaded by its founder Mrs. Amara Oyeka (SSA on IGR) and co-founder Dr. Greg Ezeilo, promises to bridge the gender gap and empower women at all levels.
