# Anambra State Commissioner for Women and Children’s Affairs, Hon. Ify Obinabo, has passionately appealed to traditional rulers in the state to support the bold steps Governor Soludo’s administration has initiated towards Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention in their various communities.
Hon. Obinabo made the appeal during a three-day refresher training on transformative GBV prevention programming for members of the Anambra State Multi-Stakeholders Action Committee on Gender-Based Violence Prevention (MAP-GBV) in Awka.
Commissioner Obinabo expressed confidence that with the capacity of the committee members and the knowledge they will garner at the end of the training, GBV will be drastically reduced in the state. She applauded ActionAid Nigeria for its commitment to building the capacity of members for effective service delivery.
# The Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA) has commenced full enforcement exercise at Awka Millennium City Estate, Agu-Awka, Anambra State, urging property owners and developers to commence construction on their allocated lands to transform the estate into a functional and vibrant residential area or risk having their lands revoked.
The agency was working closely with the Anambra State Ministry of Lands to enforce development standards, revoke undeveloped plots when necessary and reassign them to developers who were ready to build within the stipulated period.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ACTDA, Dr. Ossy Onuko, who made this known in Awka, said the exercise was part of the agency’s ongoing ”Operation Keep Awka Clean”, which, he said, sought to ensure proper urban planning and promote active development across the capital territory.
Dr. Onuko explained that many developers had acquired government lands with the expectation of developing them within three years but had not yet commenced construction. He emphasised that ACTDA was committed to stopping land speculation and ensuring that all allocated lands served their intended purpose for the benefit of residents.
# The Anambra State Chapter of the Labour Party has hailed the Federal High Court in Abuja for affirming Senator Nenadi Usman–led Caretaker Committee as the lawful national leadership of the party, describing the ruling as a decisive victory for constitutionalism and internal democracy.
In a statement issued and signed by its Chairman, Mr. Peter Okoye, the Anambra state chapter said the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, finally resolved what he said was a long-standing leadership dispute within the party.
Justice Lifu had in the judgement ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately recognise the Nenadi Usman–led Caretaker Committee as the sole authority to represent the Labour Party, pending a national convention.
The court based its decision on the April 4 Supreme Court ruling, which it held, to be binding and conclusive.
# A newborn baby has been discovered at a shop along Pope John Paul Seminary School Street, Umuodu Village, Okpuno, alive.
The baby was discovered by a nurse, Mrs. Mercy Iloanya, who said she went to her shop, which is close to the shop where the baby was dropped, when she noticed a bag containing the baby.
According to Nurse Iloanya, she immediately called the attention of a man she saw along the street, who confirmed that the baby was alive before they alerted the woman whose shop the baby was dropped in front of.
Mrs. Chika Onyema, who owns the shop, told newsmen that when they opened the bag, they saw a written note accompanying the baby in which the mother appealed to her to help take care of the child.
# Anambra State Government has ordered members of the Eziubulu family in Ifite Village, Nkwelle Ezunaka, Oyi Council Area, owners of Aboigwugwu Land, otherwise called Hill View Estate, to suspend all ongoing works at the estate boundaries until all outstanding issues are amicably resolved.
The order followed the ongoing illegal re-channeling of the Ekulu and Oja Rivers on the boundary of the estate with a swamp buggy by the host family in a bid to acquire more land for sale, thereby damaging the ecosystem of the estate, exposing it to erosion, and its inhabitants to disasters.
Conducting newsmen round the site, the Managing Director, Anambra State Housing Development Corporation (ASHDC), Mr. Chike Anyaonu, who traced the origin of the estate back to 2005, frowned that at 95% completion, it is still suffering from perimeter fence demolition, environmental degradation, and all manner of dangerous encroachments.
Narrating his encounter with the host community in the recent past when they applied for appropriate boundary re-establishment through their lawyer, Mr. Anyaonu, while testifying that the corporation assented to their request, made it clear that the host family was asked to pay the cost into the government purse, as the exercise, according to him, would be carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands via the Office of the Surveyor General.
Expressing shock over the host family’s attitude of reneging on paying the stipulated bill they had earlier agreed to for the boundary re-establishment, the ASHDC boss wondered why, without government approval, they swung into action with the re-channeling, acquisition, and boundary re-establishment, describing their actions as unjustifiable.
# The atmosphere in Awka the Anambra State capital was filled with celebrations as the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor, has inaugurated Christ the king Catholic Church, GRA, Awka, as a Parish.
During the solemn ceremony, which attracted heavy presence of religious men and women, Anambra State government functionaries, community leaders, among others, Bishop Ezeokafor also blessed a magnificent ultramodern two-storey rectory; Chapel of Perpetual Adoration, built in the memory of the late Sir Sylvester Obikwelu and his wife, the late Lady Victoria Obikwelu, by their children, and the Grotto of Blessed Virgin Mary, built by the CWO of the Parish, for worship of God in the area.
Ezeokafor, who was on a maiden pastoral visit to Christ the King Catholic Parish, carved out as an Outstation of St Thomas Aquinas Parish in 2004, and became quasi Parish in 2023, administered Sacrament of Confirmation to 90 candidates.
While delivering a homily during a Holy Mass heralding the epoch-making event, the Prelate expressed satisfaction with the pace of development and growth of the Parish.
He thanked the Parish Priest, Rev Fr Roland Victor Okoli, and the entire parishioners, for their services and contributions to the development.
# Though a civil matter has been instituted at the Otuocha High Court sitting in Onitsha over an attempt to overthrow his leadership, the Chairman of Umueri Village in Ogbunike, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, Chief Levi Elobisi, has called on the government and security agencies to prevent his “brothers” from further taking the law into their hands, alleging attempts on his life, burglary at Umueri Village property, and forceful invasion of the homes of members of his executive, as well as vigilante operatives in the area.
Speaking during the visit of a special police investigation team who were in the community over the brewing crisis, Chief Elobisi alleged that he was attacked by gunmen suspected to be from Umueri Ogbunike, adding that properties genuinely acquired by people in the area are being destroyed just to pitch the people against his leadership.
Others who spoke to the police and the media during the investigation, including the wife of the Chief Security Officer of Umueri Village, Ogbunike, Mrs. Ifeoma Onwunagha; the wife of a vigilante operative, Mrs. Uchechukwu Onyekwuluje; and the sister to Chief Elobisi, Mrs.
Ifechukwu Udeh, narrated how their homes and/or shops were invaded by a group of young men wielding guns, machetes, axes and other dangerous weapons, their lives threatened, and their homes looted because of their relationships with perceived enemies.
Also speaking, the Welfare Officer of Umueri Village, Ogbunike, Nze Kenechukwu Nzeakor, alleged that on a Tuesday, a youth group visited his house and gave him an ultimatum to leave the village, while Mrs. Ifeoma Mmadukife said the rampaging youths, wielding guns, axes, and other dangerous weapons, also invaded her compound, assaulted her, and broke into her house.
Mrs. Ogochukwu and her husband, Onyeka Mgbolu, also narrated how a group of young people they could identify destroyed their goods and gave him an ultimatum to leave the village.
# The Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria, (TOAN) have endorsed Awka South local government area Chairman, Hon Chinedu Okafor for the second term.
The group also donated two million naira as support for acquiring ticket.
TOAN Chairman, Prince Collins Ozojiofor while speaking during the Association’s Annual General Meeting held at the Awka South local government area, at the weekend, said the gathering was not only to discuss pertinent issues but equally endorse the Awka South Local Government Area Chairman, Hon. Chinedu Okafor second term in office.
Ozojiofor, maintained that the tempo at which the local government boss is assisting the tricycle owners, ensuring that feeder roads are fixed and our members to ply and maintain the cordial relationship is topnotch.
