Category: General News

Enugu will lead Nigeria in crash-free highways – Gov. Mbah vows

Gov. Peter Mbah says that Enugu State will lead Nigeria in crash-free highways through fully-funded joint operations, tech upgrades like AI cameras and community town halls to ensure safety compliance.

Mbah said this in an address on Saturday during the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) 2025 Enugu Sectoral Workshop for Special Marshals and Investiture of Honourary Special Marshals held in Enugu.

The theme of the workshop was: “Enhancing Security and Safety Strategies for Special Marshals Operations”.

According to him, our ongoing reconstructions over 1,000 kilometres of roads – have slashed crashes by 25 per cent in key corridors like Enugu-Onitsha Expressway and we cannot relent.

Represented by the state’s Commissioner for Special Duties, Chief Sunday Ajogwu, the governor noted that his administration recognises that “transportation safety is not merely a technical issue as it is also a moral imperative as well.

“I have pledged and will deliver unwavering support to FRSC initiatives: from legislative backing for stricter enforcement to state-of-the-art patrol vehicles and tech-driven surveillance via our Enugu Security Trust Fund,” he said.

The governor, who commended FRSC Enugu State Command for the exemplary organisation, appreciated the FRSC Corps Marshal for entrusting Enugu the heartbeat of the South-East with hosting the pivotal event.

Earlier, the Sector Commander of FRSC Enugu State Command, Mr Franklin Agbakoba, said that the Special Marshal Scheme remained the bedrock of public partnership in the FRSC.

Agbakoba said that special marshals are the Corps’ ambassadors in various communities and professional fields, rendering road safety duties on a voluntary basis; which is a testament to the highest ideals of citizenship and service.

“The corps leadership, under the guidance of the Corps Marshal, places a high premium on the contributions of the Special Marshals. This workshop is a clear demonstration of that commitment,” he said.

The National Coordinator of Special Marshals, Mr Usman Adaji, who held a minute silence for special marshals that lost their lives in the line of voluntary duty nationwide, hailed the resilience of the special marshals.

Represented by the body’s National Secretary, Mr Friday Ekhator, the national coordinator said that the workshop would enhance operational effectiveness of special marshals through training on risk mitigation, personal protective protocols and emergency response.

One of the new Honourary Special Marshals, Chief Kingsley Ede, lauded the FRSC for creating a platform where people can contribute to the safety of Nigerians and betterment of the society in general.

Another Honourary Special Marshal, Dr Oscar Bernards, said that he would continue to contribute to ensure that everyone remained safe on the road as well as be an instrument to uplift the society.

Genocide: Students urge President Trump to drop military action plan

The Progressive Students Movement (PSM), a pan-African students body, has appealed to United States President Donald Trump to reconsider any plan of launching a military action in Nigeria.

This is contained in a statement issued and signed by the National President of PSM, Comrade (Amb.) Bestman Okereafor, in Enugu on Friday.

The statement urged Trump to instead offer visa-free entry to the United States for Nigerian Christians who feel unsafe and unsecured in the country.

According to the statement, the United States government should support Nigeria by providing digital security systems and sophisticated weapons to help the military track and eliminate terrorists and bandits.

It said that the PSM wanted religious leaders to speak strongly against the idea of Nigeria being used as a “testing ground for world powers”.

The statement noted that national unity and resilience were needed to overcome insecurity collectively by the Nigerian people.

“PSM is calling on the Federal Government to suspend its rehabilitation programme for “repentant” Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters under the Operation Safe Corridor Initiative.

“Many Nigerians doubt the sincerity of ex-militants going through the de-radicalisation process.

“Some, who pass through the de-radicalisation process, may return to terror groups if their personal expectations are not met.

“Over 120,000 terrorists have reportedly surrendered, and thousands have been killed, yet insurgency persists.

“The government must stop prioritising perpetrators over survivors,” it said.

The statement noted that PSM had warned against negotiating with bandits, insisting that such actions “embolden violent groups” and “discourage the morale of soldiers” at the front-lines.

“The organisation maintained that both Christians and Muslims remain victims of terrorism in Nigeria and that the conflict must not be framed as a religious war.

“We appreciate the intentions of the United States Government and People to help combat terrorism.

“However, terrorism affects everyone regardless of faith. We are appealing for world peace and not war,” it added.

…. Charges Members to Bolster Grassroots Support for Tinubu’s Agenda

The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, CON, mni, has called on members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Polling Units Agents Forum, Jigawa State Chapter, to strengthen grassroots mobilisation and support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Badaru made the call on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, when he received a delegation of the Forum at the Ministry of Defence Headquarters, Ship House, Abuja.

The group, led by Comrade Abubakar Mohammed Gumel, paid a courtesy visit to the Minister and presented him with a commendation plaque in recognition of his loyalty, service, and contributions to the implementation of President Tinubu’s policy agenda.

In their remarks, the Forum commended President Tinubu for his visionary leadership and ongoing reforms aimed at fostering national renewal, unity, and economic recovery. They also lauded the Defence Minister for his commitment to advancing the President’s security and development priorities, as well as his dedication to the APC’s core values of accountability, discipline, and good governance.

Responding, Badaru expressed appreciation for the visit and recognition, reaffirming his unwavering loyalty to President Tinubu and his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He urged members of the Forum to intensify grassroots engagement, promote unity within the party, and continue to strengthen public confidence in the government’s efforts to deliver peace, prosperity, and inclusive development for Nigerians.

Enugu Fire Service saves estimated property worth N2.5tn in 9-month

The Enugu State Fire Service says the service saved an estimated public and private property worth N2,46 trillion between January and September 2025 in the state.

The Chief Fire Officer of Enugu State, Mr Okwudiri Ohaa, disclosed to newsmen in Enugu on Monday that the service had attended 260 emergency calls within the nine months period.

Ohaa said that 260 emergency calls were attended swiftly within the 17 council areas in the state notwithstanding the period (timing) of the calls.

He said that personnel of the service during this call had rescued 20 victims alive; while 52 victims were recovered but suspected dead.

According to him, 137 emergency calls on building fires remained the highest in the course of the period.

“The service recorded just one gas fire emergency call as well as two dumpster fire emergency calls respectively during the period,” he said.

The chief fire officer urged residents to remain fire conscious this dry season and do all to check fire outbreaks, adding: “For fire, prevention is better than allowing it to happen”.

He called on residents, neighbourhoods and communities to clear their surroundings of bushes and weeds, which might easily catch fire this dry season.

Ohaa called on them to ensure that nobody ignites any form of fire and leave it unattended as well as extinguished when not in use.

He said, “Please, for people in buildings, switch-off your appliances when not in use or leaving your homes.

“Do not overload your electrical points or sockets with lots of appliances and ensure that your electrical wiring are done neatly by a qualified technician.

“Do not leave inflammables unattended to or placed within the reach of heat or direct sunlight.

“Toddlers and underaged should be kept far from matchstick box, lighters and all types of stove – kerosene, gas and electric.”

Ohaa said that the most challenging fire calls/incidents the service had attended to were the gas fire in Abakapa and the Ugwu-Onyema fuel tankers spill fires on Jan. 25, 2025 and Sept. 25, 2025 respectively.

By Mohammed Baba Busu

The former Secretary to the Niger Government, Prof. Mohammed Kuta-Yahaya says Gov. Mohammed Umaru Bago has now put the state on a global map.

“Bago is taking Niger to greater heights and it is now at par with its contemporaries across the globe,” the Pro-Chancellor of the Abdulkadir Kure University told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)in Bida on Sunday.

Kuta-Yahaya further said, “He has taken the bold step to push agriculture to the zenith of excellence.

“A lot of developmental works are going across the state and the trajectory of growth is unprecedented.

“In terms of infrastructural development,the consciousness of the people of the state has soared on a positive level.

“The people e happy and they have hopes and goodwill towards so that he can logically compete the good works he has starred across the state.”

The don particularly cited the colossal giant strides recorded by Bago in Bida, Headquarters of Bida Local Government of the state.

Kuta-Yahaya said, “For instance, I have happily seen the Bida Ring Road project and it is marvelous.

“It will drastically ease the traffic flow on the ever-busy Lagos to Abuja to Northern states road that crosses the city of Bida

“Niger is on the verge of making history I terms of governance, development and grassroots mobilisation.”

The former SSG also commended the Governor for making the Ward Development Committees in the str more diligent and impactful.

“Each of the 274 ward development committees in the state receives N3million monthly, making it a total of N822million for the execution of various projects.”

“With this development, the people in the grassroots will have a feeling of what governance is all about and not only in the State Capital, Minna or the LG Headquarters.”

According to Kuta-Yahaya, Bago is showing a classic example of the devolution of power and governance to the people.

He said, “i am sure that is a good example that is worthy of emulation by other states.

“I must also commend President Bola Tinubu for initiating a similar ward development initiative across the 8,700 wards in the country.

“Democracy has taken its full grap in our systems.”

Kuta-Yahaya commended Bago and the State Independent Electoral Commission for conducting free, fair and transparent local governments polls on Saturday.

He declared , ” Niger will be a shining example in this direction and it is good omen for peace,unity and sustainable development.”

NAN

Emulate Ogun Police Command, ACP Oladele on exemplary rescue of accident victim, hospital bill payment – Group

The Progressive Students Movement (PSM), an NGO, has urged Nigerians and other police commands to emulate Ogun Police Command and ACP Shola Oladele exemplary rescue of accident victim and payment of hospital bill.

The National President of PSM, pan-African Socialist Movement, Comrade Bestman Okereafor, made the call in a statement issued to newsmen in Enugu on Saturday.

Oladele, Area Commander of the Sango Ota Police Area Command, on Wednesday rescued an accident victim from the Onipanu area of Ota, took him to hospital, rushed to buy recommended medication for his treatment and later paid the medical bill of the victim.

He said, “The attention of PSM Nigeria has been drawn to a philanthropic gesture of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

“This kind gesture was carried out in Ogun State Police Command of the NPF through the very hardworking ACP Shola Oladele, the  Area Commander Sango-Ota Police Area Command.

“PSM commends Oladele, who is an Assistant Commissioner of Police, for her outstanding act of humanity and professionalism, yet second to none gesture in responding to a recent road accident that would have claimed lives in Ota, Ogun State’’

“The Nigerian Police through ACP Oladele rescued the victim and paid his full medical bills.

“This is absolutely in line with international best practices and the gospel of egalitarianism and accessibility policing being preached by the Inspector General of Police, Dr Kayode Egbetokun.”

Okereafor said that PSM considered the act as one worthy of emulation, adding that the act clearly re-emphasise the slogan ‘Police Is Your Friend’.

He also urged the general Public to appreciate good gestures of the police while supporting the police and other security agencies in making Nigeria a better place for all and sundry.

He said, “We implore other state police commands to emulate the kind gesture of Ogun State Police Command under the unrelenting yet hardworking leadership of state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Lanre Ogunlowo.

“PSM is calling on President Bola Ahmed to remain focused, resilient and dedicated towards delivering the dividends of democracy to Nigerians regardless of the inimical but aborted plans of mischievous elements.”

The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, CON, mni, on Wednesday, attended the screening of the newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs at the National Assembly, Abuja.

The screening exercise followed the nominations earlier forwarded to the Senate by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, in accordance with constitutional provisions guiding the appointment and confirmation of the nation’s top military leadership.

The nominees include the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt Gen O. O. Oluyede; Chief of Army Staff, Maj Gen W. Shaibu; Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral I. Abbas; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal S. K. Aneke.

Presiding over the plenary, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, commended the nominees for their professionalism, competence, and distinguished service records, noting that their appointments were a testament to their dedication and merit within the Armed Forces.

Following the Senate session, the Minister of Defence and the nominees proceeded to the House of Representatives Complex, where they appeared before the House Committee on Defence, chaired by Hon. Babajimi Benson, for further legislative screening.

Also present at the exercise were the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Maj Gen E. A. P. Undiandeye, senior military officers, family members, friends of the nominees, and other distinguished guests.

The screening marked a significant step toward the confirmation of the newly appointed Service Chiefs, who are expected to play key roles in advancing the administration’s ongoing efforts to strengthen national security and defence operations across the country.

Enugu Govt. optimises service delivery via digitalisation, increase productivity of civil servants

The Enugu State Government says it has optimised service delivery to the people through digitalisation and increased productivity of civil servants.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, disclosed this in an address at a 4-Day Training of Administrative Officers with the theme: “Optimising Service Delivery and Productivity in the Digital Age”.

The 4-day training is organized by the Enugu State Government through the Office of the Head of Service.

Onyia noted that the state government vision of moving the state from a $4.4 billion to $30 billion economy must be carried through the years and internalised by civil servants that had embraced digitalisation and ethical productivity.

According to him, you must work hard, move with the new digital transformation and technology-driven administration before you earn a promotion as the government will never encourage laziness and absenteeism.

“I must commend the Head of Service for this vital training, which would be in a 32-hour training module meant to boost the capacity, knowledge and practicability of being proficient in using digital tools in e-government.

“The training will be a co-creation of the resource persons and you the participants. It will be all interactive and we have an array of top niche resource persons for teh training,” he said.

Earlier, the Head of Service in Enugu State, Dr Godwin Anigbo, said that the training would enhance your skills, improve service delivery, and boost efficiency and professionalism.

Anigbo said that it was designed to accelerate policy implementation and strengthen overall governance in the state, as the civil service remains central to our critical systemic reforms. ​

He said, “The vision of His Excellency, Gov. Peter Mbah, to build a smart, agile, resilient, and reform-driven public service for integrated and sustainable development is sincere and achievable.

“The projected exponential growth of our GDP from 4.4 billion USD to 30 billion USD largely depends on strengthening state institutions and enhancing the capacity of the very people who drive policy.

“Therefore, the groundbreaking achievements, milestones, and multi-sectoral legacies of this administration can only be sustained by strong institutions and effective policy implementation agencies.”

Anigbo noted that the participants (civil servants) in this training are critical agents of change, policy enablers, and key stakeholders in the developmental trajectory of the state.

“As the engine room and architects of service delivery, it is imperative that you embrace the realities of digital transition, disruptive innovation, new thinking, and a new culture of work. ​

“This training is structured around three critical pillars: ​E-Governance and Technology Adoption; ​Enhancing Communication and Presentation Skills; and Legal and Ethical Frameworks,” he said.

He also said that the state government had made robust plan to provide civil servants with digital tools to work with as well as make the training a routine affair for every cadre of civil servants in 2026.

The Minister of Defence, His Excellency Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, today, received the newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff and the 3 Service Chiefs during their maiden courtesy visit to his office at the Ministry of Defence, Ship House, Abuja.

In attendance were the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt Gen OO Oluyede; Chief of Army Staff, Maj Gen W Shaibu; Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral I Abbas; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal SK Aneke.

The visit underscores the Minister’s commitment to building a cohesive defence leadership anchored on trust, collaboration, and shared purpose.
It also kickstarts a renewed drive toward a unified strategy and decisive action in safeguarding Nigeria’s territorial integrity and national interests under the guidance of the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.