# Anambra State House of Assembly has implored the Executive Secretary of the Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA), Dr. Ezeka Uwaeme, to urgently expand health insurance coverage and improve service delivery across the state.
The charge was given by the House Committee on Health during an oversight and familiarization visit to the agency, where lawmakers reiterated that their visit was not intended as a witch-hunt but to promote synergy, accountability, and effective service delivery in line with the state’s health objectives.
The Committee Chairman and member representing Aguata Constituency Two, Honourable Tony Muobike, congratulated the newly confirmed Executive Secretary, Dr. Ezeka Uwaeme, on his appointment, expressing confidence in his ability to drive reforms and reposition the agency for greater impact in the state’s health sector.
Dr. Muobike stressed the need for strong teamwork between management and staff, noting that past achievements under the previous leadership should be sustained and improved upon.
# The wife of the Anambra State Governor, Dr. Mrs. Nonye Soludo, has visited 10-year-old Chiziterem Franklin Ozuligbo, who was allegedly subjected to abuse and maltreatment by his guardian.
Mrs. Soludo, accompanied by the Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, visited the child at the hospital where he is currently receiving treatment. The visit followed her earlier directive to the Ministry of Health to ensure that the boy receives comprehensive medical attention and adequate care.
Speaking after the visit, the First Lady said the purpose was to assess the child’s condition and offer encouragement as he begins his recovery process.
According to Mrs. Soludo, who is also the founder of Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo, she was encouraged by the positive update provided by the medical team handling Chiziterem’s treatment.
She disclosed that the child’s condition has stabilized and that he is responding well to treatment.
# A Spanish consulting firm, Acciona, has arrived in Awka to begin implementation activities for the African Development Bank (AfDB)-supported African Cities Programme in Anambra State.
The delegation, led by Elisa Maceratini, Deputy Project Leader, has commenced stakeholder consultations and technical assessments aimed at preparing the state capital for major infrastructure investments.
Speaking during engagements with the team, the Managing Director of the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA), Dr. Ossy Onuko, identified the construction of 10,000 affordable housing units as a top priority to address growing accommodation needs in the capital city.
Other key projects highlighted include a modern mass transit system, sustainable energy solutions, waste-to-wealth initiatives, and improved water supply infrastructure.
The consulting team has already paid courtesy visits to key government officials, including the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Chiamaka Nnake, and the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Ben Nwankwo, both of whom expressed support for the proposed projects.
# The Anambra State Police Command has commenced enforcement of the directive of the Inspector-General of Police aimed at curbing the use of unregistered vehicles and vehicles with concealed registration numbers across the state.
The Command said the action became necessary due to the growing trend of criminals using unregistered vehicles and deliberately obstructing, altering, or concealing number plates, making identification difficult and hampering security operations.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, urged vehicle owners and motorists to ensure their vehicles are duly registered and that registration plates remain clearly visible at all times.
The Command warned that practices such as covering, bending, defacing, removing, altering, or obstructing vehicle number plates, as well as the use of unauthorized registration numbers, constitute violations of the law and will attract appropriate sanctions.
Speaking on the exercise, the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, Ikioye Orutugu, said the enforcement is intended to strengthen security, improve intelligence gathering, and aid the swift identification and tracking of vehicles linked to criminal activities.
CP Orutugu appealed to motorists and vehicle owners to cooperate with law enforcement agencies by complying with vehicle registration requirements and avoiding any actions that conceal the identity of their vehicles.
The Commissioner further assured residents that officers participating in the operation have been instructed to carry out their duties professionally, courteously, and in accordance with the law.
# Loretto Special Science School (LSSS) Adazi Nnukwu has emerged victorious at the 2nd edition of the Adauba Senior Secondary Schools Debate Competition, triumphing over a formidable field of competitors at the Ezeokpu Civic Centre in Ichida.
The school secured the coveted trophy and a cash prize of ₦150,000 after a spirited debate against close rival Rosa Mystica High School which took second with a cash prize of 100,000.
The annual competition, a brainchild of Hon. Chinweogo Uba, the councilor representing Ichida Ward 2 and Deputy Leader of the Anaocha Congress of Councilors, was organized in collaboration with the Catholic Diocese of Awka Education Department, Adazi Region, and the Post Primary Schools Service Commission (PPSC), Awka Zone.
This year’s edition focused on the critical theme of “The Girl Child and Development,” providing a platform for young minds to engage in critical thinking, articulate their views boldly, and foster respect for diverse opinions.
The preliminary rounds explored the motion, “The House believes that investing in girls’ education is the most effective way to elevate the voice of the girl,” while the grand finale centered on, “The House believes that social media is an effective tool for amplifying girls’ voices in the fight for sustainable development.”
The competition saw commendable performances from other participating schools. St. Augustine Secondary School, Ichida, secured the third position, earning a cash prize of ₦70,000, while Community High School, Anaocha, took fourth place with ₦50,000.
# The Wife of the Chairman, Nnewi North Local Government Area, Lady Echezona Akachukwu, has encouraged women and young people to make regular physical exercise a part of their daily lives in order to maintain good health and prevent lifestyle-related illnesses.
Speaking during the weekly healthy-living exercise programme held in Nnewi on Lady Akachukwu addressed participants after a three-kilometre walk attended by members of town unions, women leaders, market associations, and health workers from the four communities that make up the local government area.
She noted that consistent physical activity plays a crucial role in reducing the risk of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases, which she said are becoming increasingly common among younger people.
# The General Overseer of Chapel of Faith Bible Assembly, Onitsha, Bishop Emeka Nwankpa, has engaged three Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) and seven other lawyers to challenge allegations by Chukwuma Soludo that he is a fake pastor.
Bishop Nwankpa has been accused of promoting false Christian teachings and undermining Christian values through the alleged staging of fake miracles.
At the resumed hearing of his bail application on Monday, the cleric appeared in court with a formidable legal team comprising three SANs and seven other lawyers to contest the allegations brought against him by the Anambra State Government.
Addressing the concerns raised by the marketers, Prof. Ofoegbu conveyed the governor’s intervention, assuring stakeholders that the consultant had been suspended pending further review of the issues raised.
However, lawyers representing the Anambra State Government, including officials from the Office of the Attorney-General, were absent from the proceedings.
Due to their non-appearance, the presiding judge was unable to proceed with the matter and subsequently adjourned the case until June 19, 2026, for further hearing on the bail application.
# It was an atmosphere of joy and optimism as workers of Dunukofia Local Government Area, held their first interactive session with the newly posted Head of Local Government Administration (HLGA), Lady Chinwe Ekwealor.
The maiden official meeting, which took place at the Council Hall of the Dunukofia Local Government Secretariat, was attended by management and staff of the council, who turned out in large numbers and with great enthusiasm.
In his opening remarks, the Head of Personnel Management (HPM), Sir. Fabian Ekweoba, formally introduced the new HLGA to the workforce. He described Lady Ekwealor as an administrator par excellence with vast knowledge of administrative procedures and the capacity to reposition the council’s administration to greater efficiency and effectiveness.
He assured the workers that under her leadership, administrative processes would be carried out professionally, with inclusiveness across all departments of the council.
In her maiden address, Lady Chinwe Ekwealor called for the cooperation, commitment, and unwavering support of the workers. She assured them that she would do everything within her powers to promote their welfare and ensure that no worker is denied his or her legitimate rights, provided due processes are followed.
# The Anambra State Government says efforts are underway to enact a law that will criminalize the construction of buildings without the necessary approvals and permits in the state, as well as empower the government to confiscate lands where collapsed buildings are located.
The State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Barrister Chijioke Ojukwu, disclosed this during the demolition of the remaining part of a collapsed two-storey building under construction at Umuoji in Idemili North Local Government Area, where he explained that the proposed law would compel developers to adhere strictly to building regulations, noting that building collapse remains a major threat to lives and property.
Barrister Ojukwu revealed that the collapsed building in Umuoji did not receive approval from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, attributing incidents of building collapse to the use of substandard materials, poor workmanship, and the failure of some developers to follow laid-down development procedures and regulations.
The Commissioner further disclosed that the owner of the property would be heavily sanctioned in accordance with the law, while the site would remain sealed until all necessary applications and approvals are obtained before any further development can take place.
He noted that compliance with physical planning and urban regeneration laws enhances public safety, improves environmental aesthetics, and promotes sustainable development, adding that the state government plans to plant trees along recovered setbacks on major roads across the state as part of efforts to beautify the environment and improve the ecosystem.
# The Anambra State Government has suspended a consultant appointed by the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources to monitor activities in the downstream petroleum sector following complaints by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN).
The development was disclosed during a meeting between the Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Prof. Charles Ofoegbu, and members of IPMAN, led by its Executive Chairman, Mr Chinedu Onyeso.
IPMAN had earlier written a protest letter to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, alleging that the consultant had exceeded the scope of his official responsibilities in the course of monitoring petroleum filling stations across the state.
