* Anambra State Government has warned individuals and groups impersonating the state building regulatory body, the Anambra State Physical Planning Board, to desist forthwith or face the wrath of the law. The Chairman of the Physical Planning Board, Barrister Chike Maduekwe handed down the warning in an interview with journalists at the Board’s Corporate Headquarters in Amawbia. According to Barrister Maduekwe, he has been inundated by a barrage of queries by government and private individuals that some people now move round the state, pasting demand notices and soliciting for money, thereby usurping the legal duty of the board.
* A middle-aged woman, simply identified as Auntie Success has been remanded for allegedly trafficking four female teenagers in Anambra State. Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Ify Obinabo, who disclosed this through her media aide, Chidimma Ikeanyionwu said the suspect was nabbed by the Ministry in conjunction with the State Police Command. She said the victims were rescued two days to Christmas while the suspect was arraigned before the Children, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Magistrate court in Awka where she was denied bail and committed to prison custody.
* Security agents and traffic management officials manning different roads in Anambra state have been warned to desist from any act that can lead to unnecessary gridlock this yuletide. The Deputy Governor of Anambra , Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim gave the warning when he visited some strategic junctions in Awka and its environs, including the Amawbia Flyover, Akwata Flyover and Amansea junction, where he dismantled checkpoints mounted by men of the Nigerian Army in the area who according to road users cause heavy gridlock on the highway from morning till the visit of the Deputy Governor to the scene in the evening.
* Two passengers, including a little girl lost their lives while eight others sustained varying degrees of injury in a fatal accident in Nteje, Oyi local government area of Anambra State. The crash which occurred around 05:20am along Awka-Onitsha expressway, involved two vehicles, Toyota Hiace bus with Reg. No: AGL 552 JT and Daf/truck with no registration number. According to a security guard at a filling station close to the scene, the bus rammed into the stationary faulty truck undergoing repairs by the side of the road and crashed.
* Catholic priest of Onitsha Archdiocese Rev. Fr. George Admike has profoundly emphasized on the need for the people of God to embrace Jesus Christ especially in this preparation to commemorate the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Fr. Admike who is the Director of communication Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha made the assertion during his Christmas message to the people of God at the end year thanksgiving and party which was organised by Mass Communication Department of the Archdiocese of Onitsha held at Legion House Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha, Anambra State.
* The Chief of Staff to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Mr. Ernest Ezeajughi, has described the appointment of Mr Patrick Estate Onyedum as the chairman of the Anambra State Sports Commission by the governor as a demonstration of the governor’s huge plans for sports development in the state. Mr Ezeajughi disclosed this in Awka, December 17, while delivering a lecture titled, “Driving Soludo Solution Agenda through Sports”, at the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Anambra Chapter 2022 Week and End-of- Year ceremony. He said the governor was committed to making Anambra residents mentally and physically fit through sports, noting that Soludo had also started equipping and empowering sports professionals to thrive.
* A foam industry has been gutted by fire in Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State. The industry, located close to a Catholic Church was razed at about 6am on Saturday. An eyewitness told ANN that the fire would have spread to other nearby structures if not for quick response of the fire fighters who arrived the scene shortly.
*Journalists have been called upon to always bear the interests of the society in mind while discharging their duties as the watchdogs of the society. Anambra state Commissioner for Education, Professor Ngozi Chuma-Udeh made the call during the 2022 end of the year party and award presentation day of the state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, held at the council’s secretariat in Awka.
Professor Chuma-Udeh while commending the efforts of journalists in nation building, acknowledged their powers to build and to destroy through their reportage, encouraging them to always abide by the ethics of the profession so as to effect positive change in the society
* As this year’s Christmas celebration kicks off, the Government of Anambra State has directed masquerades to take their stuff to village squares rather than on major roads to avoid disrupting traffic. This directive was contained in a press statement signed by the state’s Commissioner for Information, Sir Paul Nwosu. Hoodlums often use such chaotic situations to rob passengers of their possessions like mobile phones and money, apart from causing traffic jams.
* The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, Anambra State Chapter, recently, in Awka organized a get-together to mark the end of 2022. The event attracted members of Ohaneze from a across the state and other stakeholders. The Apex Igbo Group during the celebration, honoured deserving Anambra sons and daughters, including the senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Mrs Uche Ekwunife, and member representing Onitsha North and South Federal Constituency, Honourable Lynda Ikpeazu; even as they presented the Best House of Assembly Speaker Award to the Anambra State House of Assembly Speaker, Rt. Honourable Uche Okafor.
* As part of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration’s policy of raising the standards of education in the state, the Transition Committee Chairman of Anambra West Local Government Area, Mr Felix Ikechi has paid the school and West African Secondary School Certificate Examination, WASSCE, fees for forty-two indigent students in the area. The fees cover the 2022/2023 academic session for the students selected from eight public and mission secondary schools in the council area.
