# The Anambra State House of Assembly has urged Governor Chukwuma Soludo to direct the Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports to ensure strict compliance with the statutory youth age bracket in all youth development programmes across the state.
The resolution followed a motion sponsored by the member representing Dunukofia Constituency, Barrister Chuks Azotani.
Presenting the motion, Hon. Azotani noted that the National Youth Policy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, defines youths as persons between the ages of 18 and 35, making that age range, the benchmark for eligibility in youth-focused programmes, leadership development initiatives, appointments, empowerment schemes and related activities.
He explained that youth development programmes are designed to empower, mentor and create opportunities for young people within the prescribed age bracket, promoting inclusive governance, economic empowerment, innovation, leadership development and sustainable socio-economic growth.
Azotani observed that several states, including Lagos, Kaduna, Kwara, Ekiti and Oyo, have aligned their youth development initiatives with the National Youth Policy by restricting youth appointments, empowerment schemes, leadership programmes, youth councils and similar interventions to persons aged 18 to 35.
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze, who presided over the plenary, commended Azotani for sponsoring the motion and praised members for their support.
Rt. Hon. Udeze urged lawmakers to continue encouraging young people in their constituencies to participate actively in government youth development initiatives.
# Anambra State Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Clem Aguiyi, has issued a “stop work” order on a building under construction at No. 7 Nnewi Street, Odoakpu, Onitsha, in Onitsha South Local Government Area for causing flooding in the neighbourhood.
Speaking after visiting the site and other buildings where flooding has caused extensive damage, Dr. Aguiyi explained that his ministry would follow up on the matter with the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development and also verify the developers’ environmental compliance approval for the construction.
The Commissioner disclosed that he issued the stop work order on the project because it blocked drainage channels along the street, thereby causing devastation whenever it rains, adding that he gathered from residents in the neighbourhood that last month’s rainfall flooded their warehouses, destroyed their goods, and caused significant losses as a result of the blockage of flood channels by the building.
Dr. Aguiyi pointed out that the Soludo-led administration is determined to stop people from erecting structures on waterways and dumping refuse into drainage channels through decisive enforcement actions, and urged Anambra residents to always report anyone who blocks flood channels with structures or refuse to prevent catastrophe.
On his part, the member representing Onitsha South 2 Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Jude Umennajiego, said that he brought Dr. Aguiyi to Nnewi Street and Bida Road to witness the level of damage flooding has caused in the areas as a result of the unconscionable actions of some individuals.
While a landlord in the neighbourhood, Mr. Michael Aji, lamented that last month’s rainfall flooded his house and caused extensive damage because an individual blocked the flood channel beside his house with a fence, calling on the state government to come to his aid.
# Onitsha drug market, popularly known as Ogbogwu Market, Bridge Head, Onitsha, has handed over 192 items of substandard and falsified drugs worth N435 million to the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for destruction.
Performing the handover ceremony, Mr. Chukwuleta Ndubisi, Caretaker Committee Chairman of the market, said traders wilfully submitted the drugs to the leadership of the market based on their collective understanding to rid the market of substandard and falsified drugs.
He noted that the over 400 cartons of adultrated drugs were gathered between December, 2025 and June, 2026. He thanked the market taskforce and members of the market executive for supporting him in his efforts to sanitize the market of fakes.
Speaking on behalf of NAFDAC, Mr. Omoyeni Tunji, Deputy Director in charge of NAFDAC Investigation and Enforcement in the SouthEast and South South regions, expressed appreciation to the market leadership for in synergy with NAFDAC in curbing the society of fake drugs.
He said that the items will be taken to the dump site in Awka for destruction. He commended the leadership of the agency and the federal government for being at the forefront of the fight against falsified and counterfeit drugs all over the country.
# The Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Somtochukwu Udeze, will on Thursday be honoured with the prestigious National Legislative Award as the Most Outstanding Speaker in the South-East.
The award, organised by Hallowmace Africa in collaboration with the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, will be presented at the NAF Event Conference Centre in Abuja.
According to the organisers, the recognition is in appreciation of Udeze’s leadership, legislative reforms and commitment to strengthening the Anambra State House of Assembly, as well as his contributions to the Conference of Speakers in Nigeria.
The event is expected to attract senators, members of the House of Representatives, state lawmakers, senior government officials and other distinguished personalities from the public and private sectors.
The organisers said Udeze was selected for the honour because of his commitment to effective lawmaking, quality representation, leadership and collaboration with the executive arm of government in advancing good governance.
They also noted that the 8th Anambra State House of Assembly, under his leadership, has become a reference point for legislative excellence in Nigeria.
# St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Aguluezechukwu, was filled with joy and thanksgiving as the parish welcomed His Eminence, Peter Ebere Cardinal Okpaleke, for a pastoral visit highlighted by the administration of the Sacrament of Confirmation to 157 candidates.
The visit commenced with a Pontifical Mass celebrated by Cardinal Okpaleke, who was warmly received by the Parish Priest, Very Rev. Fr. Michael Muonwe, alongside parishioners and other faithful.
During the Eucharistic celebration, the Cardinal administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to 157 candidates, urging them to remain steadfast in their faith and committed to Christian values.
In his homily, Cardinal Okpaleke reminded the faithful that every christian is called to holiness, stressing that sainthood is achieved through a life modelled after Jesus Christ and sustained by sincere repentance through the sacrament of reconciliation whenever one falls into sin.
# The debate over leadership, equity, and the future of Nnewi’s traditional political arrangement took centre stage as the Nnewi Solution Team renewed its call for fairness, justice, and strict adherence to the 1997 Nnewi Rotational Agreement.
At its monthly meeting, the group maintained that lasting peace, unity, and stability in Nnewi can only be achieved through equitable treatment of all communities and respect for existing agreements governing the town’s traditional leadership structure.
Convener of the team, Chief Gabriel Chukwuma (Gabros), reaffirmed the group’s commitment to ensuring that Nnewichi occupies what he described as its rightful position under the rotational arrangement.
He expressed concern that some members of the community were allegedly compromising Nnewichi’s collective interest for personal benefit, warning against actions that could undermine the community’s long-term aspirations.
# Anambra State House of Assembly Committee on Works and Infrastructure has condemned the activities of land developers allegedly destroying sections of the ongoing Ndiukwuenu-Awgbu Road project with heavy equipment.
The committee made the condemnation during an inspection visit to the project site, warning that such actions could undermine government efforts aimed at improving infrastructure across the state.
Members of the committee, led by the Chairman, Engr. Emma Nwafor, stated that the matter would be reported to the state government for urgent intervention, while also commending the contractors handling the project for the quality of work done so far.
The committee further inspected the 3.5-kilometre link road between Igboukwu and Amichi, describing the project as nearly completed and satisfactory.
According to Engr. Nwafor, the road has a good width and carriageway, while the drainage systems, culverts and other interception structures are properly constructed, except for a catchment area that still requires attention.
At the Akpo-Ogboji Road project, the committee confirmed that the construction work has been completed.
# A public affairs analyst and resident of Onitsha, Onitsha North Local Government Area, Anambra State, Mr. Victor Ononye has sought urgent intervention of governor Chukwuma Soludo to end noisy pollution at the metropolitan city.
Ononye, who made the call at Onitsha, alleged that preachers from different churches partition places like American Quarters Community Onitsha, position their loudspeakers to residential houses while preaching, playing gospel songs or praying even at odd hours of the day.
He urged the government to mandate that church crusades and outreaches be restricted to open fields outside residential areas, while the churches already in residential areas be made to stop night vigils, fit their buildings with noise proof materials as well as dismantle loudspeakers.
# The people of Enugwu-Agidi in Njikoka Local Government Area have appealed to the government to urgently address land degradation in their community before the situation worsens.
The appeal was made during a visit by officials of the Anambra State Erosion, Watershed and Climate Change Agency (ANSEWCCA), aimed at assessing the impact of flooding in the area.
Areas worst hit by the flood include Mgbachala and Irugaga in Ifite Village, Enugwu-Agidi.
Addressing the ANSEWCCA officials, the Vice Chairman of Ifite Village, Mr. Benjamin Ejinaga, lamented that during the rainy season, it is always difficult to pass through the affected areas, noting that if the situation is left unchecked for a long time, it could force residents out of their land.
The ANSEWCCA team also visited the University Teaching Hospital, Iyienu, Ogidi, in Idemili North Local Government Area, where erosion has pulled down the hospital fence and is now threatening about ten buildings, including the male and female hostels, as well as other administrative blocks.
Also addressing the ANSEWCCA officials, the Legal Secretary, Diocese on the Niger, Barr. Humphrey Udechukwu, identified illegal stone mining behind the school premises by unauthorized persons as the cause of the erosion and lamented that even after it was reported to the appropriate authorities, the mining has continued.
He urged the state government to stop the miners and address the damage already done, as the lives of students, lecturers, management staff, and other residents are under threat.
At the end of the visit, the Acting Managing Director of ANSEWCCA, Engineer Ifeanyi Nwasinoke, proposed the construction of five solar-powered catchment pits to help divert floodwater away from the school environment and noted that his agency’s report would be forwarded to the appropriate authorities for further action.
# The Police Public Relations Officer for Zone 13, Ukpo, ASP Chidera Oha, has denied allegations that the Zonal Police Command played any role in the leadership crisis within the Anambra State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking on the matter, ASP Oha said the police do not interfere in party politics and should not be linked to the internal disputes of the APC. He described claims of police involvement as hearsay, stressing that there is no credible or circumstantial evidence connecting Zone 13 or any of its personnel to the allegations.
The denial follows accusations by members of the faction loyal to Senator Emma Anosike, who alleged that some security operatives were being used to influence the ongoing leadership tussle within the party.
The dispute intensified last Sunday after the faction led by Chief Ifeanyi Osegbo reportedly took control of the APC state secretariat, relying on a Federal High Court judgment obtained in Abuja, which it said affirmed its legitimacy as the party’s executive in Anambra State.
However, the Anosike-led faction claimed that operatives attached to Police Zone 13 facilitated the takeover despite the filing of an application for a stay of execution against the court judgment.
