* The Nigeria Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) says the preliminary evidence before it shows that the collapsed Dennis Memorial Grammar School, (DMGS), Onitsha centenary building did get necessary approvals from relevant authorities. Chairman of NBRRI Technical Team on Building Collapse in Anambra, Prof. Akaolisa Ezeagu said this when the team visited the site on on-site assessment on Saturday. Akaolisa, who is the Head of Civil Engineering Department Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, attributed the collapse to foundation problems which were as a result of disconnect between the building team and the Technical Engineer.
* A Nigerian activist, Boniface Okonkwo, residing in South Africa, has been held in Anambra prison since January 3, 2024.
Okonkwo claims that his arrest was instigated by Anambra State businessman, Chief Emeka Offor. According to Okonkwo’s statement, he was arrested at the Area Command in Oraifite, Ekwusigo Local Government Area, while visiting home for the Christmas holidays.
* Governor Chukwuma Soludo has extended warm greetings and felicitations to the Muslim Ummah in Anambra State and across Nigeria on the happy occasion of Eid el Kabir. In his goodwill message, Governor Soludo stated that Eid el Kabir holds profound significance in the Islamic faith as it commemorates the enduring faith, obedience, and devotion to Almighty Allah. The governor wished the Muslim Ummah happy celebrations of Eid el Kabir with abundant blessings, peace, joy, and prosperity.
* Anambra State Road Traffic Agency (ARTMA) has expressed displeasure over the displacement of median kerbs used to barricade the Awka- Onitsha Expressway by Tarzan Junction, Idemili North Local Government Area. This was contained in an ARTMA Report issued on Wednesday, warning those responsible for such acts to desist from it as the act doesn’t just cause gridlock but has led to several accidents. According to the report, “the attention of the agency was drawn to the displaced median kerbs used to barricade the Awka- Onitsha Expressway by Tarzan Junction, Idemili North Local Government.
* The Managing Director of Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra, OCHA Brigade Mr. Celestine Anere has sealed off electronics Market at Iweka road in Onitsha over refusal by traders to relocate to their permanent site in Atani, Ogbaru Local Government Area. Anere who disclosed this in an interview immediately after conducting the exercise, explained that the relocation of the market became expedient because the location at the current site is not in line with the planning of the city. According to Mr Anere, the closure of the market became necessary after traders at the market refused to relocate to the new permanent site despite several notices by the state government. The OCHA Brigade boss assured the traders that the new site is better planned to accommodate them and that government has provided necessary facilities for conducive business transactions and enjoined traders to relocate to the new site in Atani.
* In a tearful appeal, 72-year-old woman, Evangelist Azụka Obi, has begged Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State to spare her family’s 8-bedroom apartment from demolition in the ongoing dualization of the Amawbia/Agulu/Nanka/Ekwulobia/Uga/Akokwa road.
With a quivering voice and a heart full of sorrow, Azuka pleaded with the governor to consider the devastating impact that demolishing her home would have on her family.
* Police Operatives attached to Abagana Division have arrested two serial offenders wanted on a case of alleged rape and armed robbery, recover two locally made double barrel guns, one locally made single barrel gun, six live cartridges, and one Q link motorcycle.
According to SP Tochukwu Ikenga,
Police Public Relations Officer,
Anambra State Command, the suspects are Chukwuma Diji AKA Sympathy aged 35 years of Obinagu Umudun Village, Abagana, and Micheal Edochie AKA Mikel aged 31years of Eziabunabu Umudun, Abagana sometime last year 2023, allegedly raped married woman at Obinagu Abagana and fled the Community when Security Operatives attempted to arrest them. Also, the suspects broke into an apartment belonging to a young lady and raped her and her friend at gunpoint. The criminals later forced one of the victims to transfer money to his account after they took turns of sex with them. Chukwuma and Micheal both confessed to the crime.
* The Association of Radio and Television Technicians, Anambra State Chapter, has sent a “Save Our Soul” message to Governor Chukwuma Soludo following the sealing off of Electronics Spare Parts Market at Iweka road, Onitsha by the Anambra State government. Members of the association made the call through their Chairman, Mr Sebanstine Ekunite at ASMATA Office, Modebe Street Onitsha.
The Technicians who were in their numbers were seen carrying placards with different inscriptions such as “Governor Soludo you are doing well”, “Radio and Television Technicians are not Members of Electrical Spare Parts Traders Association”, “Governor Soludo come to our rescue”, “Freedom of Association is our fundamental right” among others.
* The Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze has called on leaders at different levels to serve with uttermost sense of responsibility and fear of God irrespective of their religious affiliations. Felicitating Muslims on behalf of the Stata legislature as they celebrate the feast of Eid-El-Kabir, Rt. Hon. Udeze stressed the need for peace and tolerance to thrive among members of diverse religious bodies in the country in order to achieve sustainable peace and development. The Speaker urged Nigerians especially Muslims to seize the opportunity of the Eid-El-Kabir celebration to pray for the corporate existence of different tribes in the country, adding that with collective prayer, most of the ethnic, socio-economic and other challenges confronting the Nation will be addressed.
* Police Operatives attached to Fegge Division while on patrol along Niger Street, Onitsha arrested one Felix Owaya, aged 48yrs of Ika south LGA of Delta State and recover three hundred and Seventy-Five live cartridges. During interrogation, the suspect confessed that he was sent by one Mr. Charles Ogboma to a man he is yet to mention to collect the ammunition. Meanwhile, the investigation is still ongoing. The Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, while commending Police Officers who made the recovery for their vigilance and tenacity of purpose directs all personnel in the Command to sustain the tempo of crime prevention and detection in service of the people of the State.
