The Nation Newspaper

Category: South East

  • Enugu community protests alleged land grabbing

    Enugu community protests alleged land grabbing

    Residents of Ugwuto Nsude community in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State have staged a protest against what they described as an attempt by Enpower Energy Ltd to illegally take over their ancestral land.

    The protesters, made up of men, women, youths and children, marched through the community with placards bearing inscriptions such as “We Say No to Land Grabbers,” “Governor Peter Mbah, Save Us From Enpower,” and “Enpower, Leave Our Land Alone.”

    They chanted solidarity songs, vowing to resist any attempt to dispossess them of their land.

    The protesters alleged that the company moved into their land without authorisation, destroying crops and economic trees, despite a pending court case over the disputed property.

    They called on Governor Peter Mbah to intervene and stop what they described as an act of impunity.

    An elder of the community, Mr. Vincent Ukwuani, said the dispute began in 2019 when Enpower Energy Ltd allegedly entered their land and commenced clearing without the community’s consent.

    He said despite reporting the matter to relevant authorities, no action was taken.

    “The land in question is called Ugwuto Land, and the invasion started six years ago. We took the matter to court, but last month they returned with bulldozers and resumed work even though the case is still pending,” Ukwuani said.

    Another resident, Mr. Linus Ugwuoga, said the case had been adjourned to December 19, 2025, yet the company continued its activities.

    “We have supported several government projects in this area, including the Enugu International Market, the twin water tanks, and the Ebeano Bypass, but this is the only one we don’t understand. We won’t allow anyone to take our land unlawfully,” he said.

    Also speaking, a community leader, Hon. Emeka Joshua Ozochi, accused the owner of Enpower Energy Ltd, Engr. Emeka Ene, of using the police to intimidate residents and suppress opposition.

  • Don urges action over abuse of Information Technology

    Don urges action over abuse of Information Technology

    A university lecturer, Prof Virginia Ejiofor has expressed concerns over increasing abuse of Information Technology (IT) particularly among youths, calling for collective actions to fight the trend.

    She said amidst the abuse, IT had however remained great tool for advancement which must continuously be harnessed for ultimum satisfaction.

    Ejiofor, professor of computer science spoke at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra state while delivering the 115th Inaugural Lecture themed, “Information Technology, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly”

    Describing IT as double-edged sword – a tool for advancement and potential weapon for harm, the varsity don stressed that realizing such duality was key to shaping a digital future for the collective benefits of all and sundry.

    According to her, IT had not only enhanced communication and advanced healthcare, education, agriculture and business, it has equally improved governance and public service as well as increased career opportunities for the youths.

    “The positive impacts of information technology on economic growth, education, governance and global connectivity is undeniable and has shaped a more interconnected, efficient world,” she added.

    Ejiofor however listed negative sides of IT as cyber security threats, privacy concerns, digital divide, job displacement, misinformation and fake news, cybercrime syndicates, cyber bullying and online harassment, addiction and mental health issues, among others.

    “The accompanying risks from cyber attacks and data breaches to ethical abuses and societal disruptions cannot be ignored.

    “Even more alarming are the deliberate exploitations of IT for criminal and harmful activities that threaten societal trusts and security,” she added.

    While calling on individuals, organizations and governments to take advantage of immense opportunities offered by IT, the varsity don urged the bodies to remain vigilant, foster digital responsibility and implement effective policies that mitigate risks.

    “The future of IT will depend on our collective ability to harness its good, confront its bad and guard against its ugly sides.”

    On the forthcoming Anambra governorship election, Ejiofor warned against misinformation, disinformation and fake news, stressing the need for verification before acceptance.

    “Electorate must carefully verify every information that comes their way before accepting it as true and possibly sharing to others,” she said.

  • Residents of communities occupied by gunmen vow not to vote

    Residents of communities occupied by gunmen vow not to vote

    Residents of communities currently occupied by gunmen in Anambra State have vowed not to return home to cast their votes on Saturday.

    They said their decision followed the continued occupation of the surrounding bushes by hoodlums, contrary to government and security agencies’ claims that the areas had been cleared.

    The affected communities include Lilu, Isseke, Orsumoghu, and parts of Ihiala, all in Ihiala Local Government Area of the state. Others are Ukpor in Nnewi South Local Government Area, and Owerre-Ezukala and Ogbunka in Orumba South Local Government Area.

    Speaking with The Nation on Monday, a woman who sells tomatoes and onions at Eke-Awka Market said she had no plans to travel home for the election.

    “I’m from Lilu, and I will be the last person to travel home in the name of voting for anyone,” she said.

    “Where were they when my son was killed in February? Where were they when innocent people were being murdered daily by those who have taken over our bushes?

    Read Also: Suspected cultist, robber nabbed enroute attack on rival group in Anambra 

    “My once-beautiful community, which used to be our pride, has been under the control of hoodlums for over two years now. Everyone is afraid to go there and rescue it. We can’t hold any ceremonies; the place looks like a ghost town.

    “They should conduct their election and leave some of us alone to mourn our loved ones. No fewer than 50 people have been killed in my community, and many houses have been burnt. We’re not interested in their election,” the 56-year-old aggrieved woman said.

    Another resident, a civil servant from Ukpor in Nnewi South Local Government Area, who pleaded anonymity, said she would remain indoors with her children on election day.

    The 51-year-old woman told The Nation that her elder sister and niece were killed in October 2024 while returning from their farm, and the area has remained deserted since then.

    “The governor and the police keep telling us to go about our normal business, but they surround themselves with countless security personnel. Who’s deceiving whom?

    “We know all eyes will be on Anambra that day, but those boys operating in the bushes are dangerous. Nobody understands their modus operandi. Everyone is afraid of them, and no one wants to lose their life,” the Level 12 officer said.

    Meanwhile, despite a peace accord signed by candidates to discourage violence, anxiety remains high among residents across the state.

    However, the police have assured that all flashpoints and vulnerable communities will be adequately secured, with helicopters deployed during the election.

    Despite these assurances, many residents say they still fear for their safety.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has also pledged to ensure security in the troubled areas.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Anambra State, Dr. Queen Elizabeth Agwu, told The Nation that arrangements had been concluded with security operatives on how to manage the situation, declaring, “There’s no cause for alarm.”

  • Catholic Knights endorse Soludo’s re-election

    Catholic Knights endorse Soludo’s re-election

    Members of the Catholic Order, Knights of St. Michael the Archangel (CKSMA), have endorsed Governor Chukwuma Soludo for a second term, citing his outstanding performance in office.

    President of the Order, Sir James Ezeonu, gave the endorsement during the group’s maiden anniversary, admission, and investiture ceremony, presided over by the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor.

    Ezeonu said the governor’s achievements were enough reason for the people of Anambra to support his re-election bid to enable him to consolidate on his developmental strides.

    “Members of this Order, having critically analyzed the work records of Mr. Governor, join the greater majority of citizens of the state in appreciating his efforts toward fulfilling his campaign manifesto of turning Anambra into a new Dubai,” he said.

    “His free education, free healthcare services, free antenatal care and child delivery, as well as the impressive network of roads and community development projects, are clear testaments to his commitment. These are enough reasons to allow him a constitutional second term to complete his set goals.”

    The CKSMA president also appealed to the governor to assist the group with a take-off grant to build its secretariat and provide an evangelical bus to enhance its outreach within and outside the state.

    Read Also: Suspected cultist, robber nabbed enroute attack on rival group in Anambra 

    Reaffirming the group’s commitment to service to God and humanity without fear or favour, Ezeonu pledged that the Knights would continue to live up to expectations and contribute meaningfully to societal development.

    In his homily, Bishop Ezeokafor commended the Knights for their dedication and assured the Church’s continued support for all groups working toward its growth and the salvation of souls.

    “What you are doing is ordained by God and practiced globally, not only in this Church. The foundation you are laying is critical to your future. The Church is fully behind you,” the Bishop said.

    “The early Church grew both spiritually and numerically through the sacrificial lives its members lived. You must do likewise by living worthy lives so that your group can attract others and have maximum impact,” he added.

  • Trump’s threat of war with Nigeria

    Trump’s threat of war with Nigeria

    Imagine a deranged & sociopathic meglomaniac & tyrant, a recalcitrant and unrepentant schoolyard and dockside bully and a cheap and shameless godless scumbag like President Donald Trump @realDonaldTrump threatening our country with violence, military action and invasion. What a nerve! 

    Permit me to put the matter in context. A friend of mine sent the following words to me last night after reading his threat of war & military action.

    She wrote, 

    “How I wish we can simply ignore this petulant man spewing utter childish rubbish all over the place. They can categorise us as they like, that is on them and there is nothing we can do OR ought to do about that. He should bring it on. Let them send their troops and let us see.  The same Islamic Terrorists that THEY FUNDED to destroy us. Serves us right, We had the CHANCE to stand and be counted on the right side of history, before God with the genocide that is been committed by Israel and funded & supported by America. For all its worth, South Africa STOOD & REPRESENTED. We were nowhere to be seen or heard. AND YET look at this!”

    She concluded by saying the following,

    “it is not his fault or the Americans’ fault, it is SOLELY ours. I pray this is a wake-up call for us as leaders, as a nation & Africans. These people are NOT our friends, have never been & will never be; neither should we tolerate having them as our masters, or elders!”

    I concur with this deeply courageous lady who has said it as it is. Frankly I couldn’t have put it better myself.

    My response to her was as follows. 

    “You are right. They are evil and, if he carries out his abominable threat, there will be a war. We shall not leave the country but we will fight it out with them. We behaved like cowards and allowed them to demonise us with no response. I do not know what is wrong with Nigerians but this will be the greatest challenge they have ever faced and maybe after it is all over they will appreciate the importance of having bold, articulate and courageous leaders & disavow themselves of their accursed cowardice, ignorance, pettiness, weakness, envy & complacency”. 

    I meant every word.

    Trump, a fascist & an associate of the globally recognized Hitler of the 21st century, Prime Minister Benjamin @netanyahu, has refused to call the Israeli Zionist Nazis and the UAE-backed RSF butchers of Darfur, Sudan mass murderers and genocidal maniacs but he is calling our people the “killers of Christians” and is desperately trying to label our nation with the genocide tag and create a crisis in Nigeria.

    I am not surprised. Permit me to tell you why. 

    In my essay titled “Christian Genocide and the Danger of Mischaracterisation” which was published one week ago I wrote, inter alia, the following. 

    “Our Government must refuse to allow themselves to be hoodwinked by the words of middle-ranking American Governnent officials who are not members of the MAGA inner circle & who do not truly represent the very hardline and extreeme views of the right-wing Christian fundamentalist & anti-Muslim forces that Trump holds dear. If they really want to know what Trump is thinking but has so far refused to voice about Nigeria it would be wise for our Government to consider the words of Secretary of State Marco Rubio @SecRubio, Senator Ted Cruz @SenTedCruz,  Congressman Riley Moore @RepRileyMoore & Congressman Chris Smith far more than the soothing and encouraging words and expressions of support from “friendly faces” in the Trump administration who have deep ties with & a soft spot for Nigeria but who are not at the heart of the #MAGA power configuration like Trump’s Lebanese brother in-law and Special Advisor on African Affairs, Massad Boulus, @US_SenAdvisorAF. American doublespeak & subterfuge is an art and we must never take them for their word or drink from their poisoned chalice. As the Bible says “their speech is as smooth as butter but war is in their heart”. 

    Sadly our Government did not pay heed to my words & instead took the comforting words of Boulus as the position of Trump. How wrong they were!

    What a profound miscalculation & grave error. 

    They succumbed to a sucker punch & two weeks later a devastating right cross was delivered to their chin. 

    I saw it coming but they didn’t. 

    This decisive blow came when Trump not only claimed that Nigeria is the most dangerous country for Christians to live in the world but also designated us as “a country of concern” falsely alleging that “more Christians are killed in Nigeria in one day than in the rest of the world put together”. 

    He also said that he intends to do “far more against Nigeria” and that “this is just the beginning”. 

    He proved his words by going a step further the following day by threatening to send military forces to our country & kill our people. 

    What he did not say but which is obvious is that a regime change orchestrated by them may also be on the cards. 

    That is their objective & desire. That is their style & modus. That is their character & nature.

    That is their history and practice in foreign lands whose resources they covet & only a fool will deny it. 

    Yet it did not stop there. 

    On the same day Pete Hegseth @PeteHegseth, the American Secretary of War, went even further & threatened to launch air strikes & attacks on Nigeria to “protect our Christian brothers”. 

    This is the brazen threat & nonsensical rubbish that some in our midst have been cheering all night. 

    They forget that bombs & instruments of war when deployed by American-backed mercenaries, American proxies or American soldiers do not make any distinction between Christians & Muslims or ethnic groups. 

    Once they deploy, begin the carnage & the bombs begin to fly we shall ALL die or be displaced.

    Worse of all those in high places that do not have the intelligence, knowledge or understanding to discern the grave implications of all this & gullible members of the Christian community in Nigeria that are applauding this absurd narrative and course of action will soon find out that we are being pushed the way of Sudan, Libya, Iraq, Congo, Gaza, Lebanon and Somalia only ours will be one hundred times worse. 

    As much as I despise them and their evil ways, I doff my hat to the Americans, the Zionists & their local collaborators and co-conspirators for achieving their devil-inspired & sinister purpose & pulling off this great evil all in an attempt to destabilise, destroy & divide our nation & push us into a religious war after which they will send in the monster @realErikDPrince

    & what is left of his mercenary Blackwater Army to supposedly “protect Christians” but in reality to secure & steal our rare earth & vast mineral resources.

    That is really what this is all about: the violent acquisition of our rare earth. Sadly most in our country just don’t get it.

    It has nothing to do with religion & everything to do with re-colonising us, balkanising us & destroying us.

    Our Government & our people must recognise this for what it is and rise to the challenge.

    We must unite, close our ranks, bury our differences & jointly resist the bullies with contempt, defiance, faith & courage. They shall not conquer us & we shall never bow before them.

    There is no doubt that both Muslims & Christians are being subjected to genocide by Western & Israeli backed terrorist groups like Boko Haram, Al Qaeda, Ansaru & ISWAP in our country. 

    This is a matter of concern & with no international support our security forces have made progress against them in the last two years.

    Despite this @realDonaldTrump has threatened our nation with war & seeks to divide us on religious lines.

    The Nigerians that are applauding him are ignorant & naive because you need to be a fool to believe that Trump genuinely cares about genocide or Christians. 

    If he did there would be no genocide of Christians and Muslims in Gaza, Darfur or Congo today.

    He is interested in only one thing: sparking off a religious war in Nigeria & sending in his troops to bomb & occupy us & corner our rare earth, our oil reserves & our mineral resources. 

    That is the goal and the sooner our Government and people appreciate this the better.

    Whatever your views and whichever side of the divide you stand on our nation has now been threatened  with war and it is incumbent upon all sons and daughters of Nigeria to stand firm, prepare for it and defend our sovereignty and every inch of our sacred soil. 

    We may not have their weapons or money but we have God. Trump will not survive the wrath of the God of Nigeria and he will surely fail. 

    To be sure this is not about President Tinubu @officialABAT or his Government: it is about our fatherland and our people. 

    It is about our manifest destiny and our future which some seek to destroy and shatter. 

    It is about our self-respect, dignity, pride and honor. 

    It is about the preservation of our noble heritage. 

    No-one will shed our blood or “Gaza us” and escape it. 

    If attacked, by either Erik Prince’s CIA-backed private army of ruthless mercenaries or by American forces themselves, we must be ready to die fighting for our women, children, faith, dignity and nation. 

    To hell with the Yankee Nazis. We do not fear them and we will never bow before them. 

    They can choose not to help us to fight the terrorists that they sent to plague and destroy our land but they must NEVER threaten us with brazen acts of aggression, violence or an invasion. 

    We are a mighty nation with an ancient history of struggle and resilience. 

    We are a strong nation with the most formidable and remarkable people on earth who have excelled in all fields of human endeavour. 

    Despite the numerous challenges we face, by the power of God, we will fight back as best as we can and in the end we shall prevail. 

    We shall never be subjugated, broken, divided, decimated or enslaved. 

    Drop one bomb on our people, whether Christian or Muslim, and the fire of God will burn you, the Sword of the Lord will cut you and the plagues of of the Lord will afflict you. 

    It happened to Pharaoh, Sennacherub, Herod and Nebuchadnezzar and it will surely happen to you.

    He shall deliver us from your evil because He is a God of justice and the oppressed. He will never leave us or forsake us. 

    Do your worse and let the Lord strike you down. 

  • Onoh alleges silence, betrayal of Tinubu over US designation crisis

    Onoh alleges silence, betrayal of Tinubu over US designation crisis

    The former southeast spokesman to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Josef Onoh, has raised concerns over what he alleged is a united silence around President Bola Ahmed Tinubu immediately after the United States of America designated Nigeria a country of particular concern.

    He accused all the elected political office holders in the All Progressives Congress (APC) of the betrayal silence but said it is more worrisome that Tinubu’s political appointees and cabinet members are part of those maintaining silence at a critical period.

    Onoh, in a statement explained

    In the high-stakes arena of global diplomacy, where a nation’s reputation hangs by the thinnest of threads, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu finds himself isolated in a precarious ledge. 

    He said the ongoing US designation of Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ (CPC) for severe violations of religious freedom is a damning indictment that threatens economic sanctions, visa restrictions, and international isolation and has exposed the fragility of Tinubu’s administration like never before. 

    “As the world watches and Washington deliberates, I’m shocked that the President’s most ardent political allies have retreated into an unnerving silence. Not a single voice from the APC governors, the National Assembly members, or the cadre of presidential appointees has risen in robust defense. 

    “Yet mention Peter Obi, Atiku, Goodluck Jonathan any opposition, they will all wake up in all aggressive focus rushing to contribute something on the social media space. Clearly, the current situation has exposed they all have nothing to offer outside local political scope of opposition attacks. I alerted the president few months ago to trust only his wife, the first lady, and the reason is becoming evident. 

    “This is not mere oversight; it is a calculated abandonment, a stark revelation of the rot at the heart of Nigeria’s ruling party.”

    Onoh said that as a keen observer of Nigeria’s political theater and an unapologetic advocate for meritocracy, the current silence lays bare his alleged betrayal.

    “The APC’s machinery, once a juggernaut of unified purpose, now creaks under the weight of its own incompetence. Tinubu stands alone not because the cause is lost, but because he has been orphaned by the very cabal he empowered. 

    “Where are the governors who owe their palaces to his patronage? Where are the senators and representatives who feasted at his table? And the appointees—those placeholders in ministerial robes and agency sinecures—why do they not rally with strategies, lobbying, or even a modicum of public solidarity? 

    “And to my greatest shock, only the voices of few in the likes of Rabiu Kwankwaso, Sen. Ali Ndume were heard, they put the love of country first before politics and they are critics of this government yet their voices were heard when it was needed. 

    “The roots of this desertion trace back to a fatal miscalculation in the administration’s infancy. In the euphoric haze of victory, The President’s team prioritized loyalty over luminosity, doling out key positions not to the architects of policy or the tacticians of governance, but to political jobbers—those opportunistic fixers whose currency is allegiance, not expertise. 

    “Ministries meant for economic wizards were handed to non party loyalists with résumés as thin as their grasp of fiscal levers. Those that genuinely supported the president were abandoned. Advisory roles, critical for navigating international waters, went to sycophants skilled in flattery but adrift in the complexities of diplomacy. 

    “The National Assembly, bloated with APC majorities, became an echo chamber of standing on your mandate rather than a forge for legislative armor and today their silence out of fear of US visa revocations for them and their families if they speak boldly in your defense clearly shows majority of people surrounding you Mr. President are only standing on their own individual mandate and not yours.

    “The Governors many ensconced in their state fiefdoms, view federal tempests as distant storms, hoarding resources while offering platitudes in private.

    “Now, as the US State Department’s scrutiny intensifies—fueled by reports of escalating religious tensions, extrajudicial killings, and institutional biases—these “allies” reveal their true mettle: brittle and self-serving. There is no surge of diplomatic envoys dispatched to Capitol Hill, no flood of op-eds from APC luminaries in global outlets, no coordinated push from appointees leveraging their networks. 

    “Instead, Mr. President toils in solitary command, your mornings consumed by frantic calls to envoys and your evenings by the gnawing realization that the engine room of this government is staffed by passengers, not pilots. The actual work—crafting nuanced responses, mobilizing civil society coalitions, or even drafting a compelling counter-narrative—falls to a skeleton crew like myself and holdovers from prior regimes or overworked civil servants. The jobbers, predictably, excel at optics: photo-ops at Aso Rock, viral tweets of feigned outrage, but zero substantive output.”

    Onoh warned that the situation is no isolated fiasco but the harbinger of systemic collapse.

    “When competency is sacrificed at the altar of patronage, the bill comes due in crises like this,” he says. “Tinubu’s vision of a renewed Nigeria—bold infrastructure leaps, agricultural revolutions, and security overhauls—crumbles not under external pressure, but internal vacuum. The US designation is a mirror reflecting the administration’s soul: competent enough to win elections, but woefully unprepared to lead a nation through fire.”

    “Yet, in this valley of silence I see a clarion call for redemption. Mr. President must purge the jobber class, elevating individuals and technocrats who can turn rhetoric into results. The APC Governors and legislators owe The President more than inertia; they must step forward with actionable support—perhaps a bipartisan resolution in the Assembly, or governors-led advocacy tours in key US states. 

    Appointees should be measured not by their party badges, but by their deliverables. Only then can the echo of silence be replaced by a chorus of competence.

    “Nigeria’s story is one of resilience, not resignation. As the US deadline looms, Tinubu’s solitude need not be his sentence. It can be the spark that ignites a merit-based renaissance, proving that true allies are forged in the crucible of crisis, not the ballot box. My voice cuts through the quiet: the time for excuses is over. The work—the real work—begins now. I stood alone from the beginning with President Tinubu and I’ll Stand by him till the end of this tenure we laboured to win.”

  • PPDC provides free legal aid to 20,900 detainees

    PPDC provides free legal aid to 20,900 detainees

    The Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) has supported indigent detainees with free legal representation and works to speed up criminal trials.

    The organisation said that it achieved this through its ongoing Reform Pre-Trial Detention Project that is helping to ensure that all Nigerians, regardless of their social status, have access to justice without financial barriers.

    The organisation added that the initiative had already provided legal aid to over 20,900 indigent detainees, resulting in several being granted bail, discharged, or convicted after delayed cases were finally heard.

    Head of Programmes for PPDC, Aniekwe Ogechukwu said this during a Justice Walk in Abuja at the weekend ahead of the Access to Justice Parley next week.

    Ogechukwu decried the loss of public trust in the judiciary.

    He said many Nigerians now believe justice can be bought, a perception he said the organisation was determined to change through its interventions.

    Ogechukwu explained that the Reform Pre-Trial Detention Project—a three-year initiative that began in 2023—operates across five states: Plateau, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Kaduna, and the Federal Capital Territory.

    “The project ensures that, no matter your background or status, you still have the right to justice. It is free, and it helps those who cannot afford legal fees,” he said.

    He revealed that through the deployment of a new case management system and virtual court hearing technology, delays caused by logistics challenges—such as lack of transport from custodial centres to courts—had been drastically reduced.

    “We can now pull up case files in four minutes, and judges can preside virtually from anywhere in the world,” he noted.

    The programme, supported by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), also focuses on educating citizens about their rights during arrests and trials.

    Ogechukwu stressed that the PPDC’s goal was to make justice accessible to the poor and marginalised, not just the elite.

    “Many interventions in Nigeria tend to benefit the powerful. Our aim is to take justice to the grassroots and empower citizens to speak out for themselves,” he said.

  • Ogoni indigenes in Diaspora reject oil resumption

    Ogoni indigenes in Diaspora reject oil resumption

    …say no UNEP report implementation, no re-entry
    …accuse HYPREP of commissioning lifeless projects

    Ogoni indigenes in the United States of America (USA) have criticized the Federal Government (FG) plans to resume oil production in Ogoniland.

    The group also slammed the authorities of Hydrocarbon pollution, Remediation project (HYPREP), for allegedly prioritising profits and publicity stunts over lives of Ogoni people.

    The people reportedly spoke at an emergency Ogoni stakeholders congress in Chicago in the U S A recently.

    In a outcome transmitted to the Nation in Port Harcourt Nigeria, by the President Ogoni Business Owners in America, Chief Anthony Waada, and Gbenemene Legbo, the Leaders expressed outrage that environmental devastation in area has remained untouched despite billions of naira released for the Clean-Up Programme.

    The people in the statement alleged that “lifesaving infrastructure promised to the people has instead turned into abandoned shells, rusting pipes and water systems that supply nothing but empty promises.”

    Furthermore, they claimed that “even the recently commissioned water projects in Bodo, Uegwere-Boue, Taabaa and Eteo across Gokana, Khana and Eleme LGAs are not functioning, yet HYPREP continues parading failure as success.”

    According to them, commissioning ceremonies for projects that do not work are insulting to communities still living with poisoned streams, total blackout due to lack of electricity, and zero access to functioning healthcare.

    “Our people are still drinking poison,” Waadah stressed. “Our villages remain covered in darkness with no electricity. Women give birth in agony because there are no hospitals. Yet the government claims progress by cutting ribbons on dead projects. That is not cleanup. That is deliberate cruelty.”

    The reaction may not be unconnected with President Ahmed Tinubu’s endorsement for the return of oil extraction in Ogoniland, directing the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to collaborate with the NNPCL and selected stakeholders to finalise modalities for restarting operations.

    Tinubu also posthumously honoured four Ogoni leaders who died during the struggle for justice. Those gestures, according to the diaspora, ring hollow when the environmental and humanitarian crisis that defined the Ogoni struggle remains unaddressed.

    “They want to honour the dead while destroying what they died for,” Waadah said. “Ken Saro-Wiwa and our heroes laid down their lives for justice, not for the government to smuggle oil rigs into Ogoni soil through the backdoor.”

    He insisted that the UNEP Environmental Assessment Report remains the only legitimate roadmap to healing the land. More than a decade after its release, he said none of its critical recommendations — including access to clean water, remediation of polluted lands, functional healthcare, and livelihood support — have been meaningfully delivered.

    Life expectancy in Ogoniland hovers around 50 years, which Waadah described as “evidence of ongoing environmental genocide.”

    Waadah argued that the billions released for the cleanup could have transformed the region into a model for environmental renewal but instead have “exacerbated suffering and fattened private pockets,” he demanded a full-scale probe into HYPREP’s operations and spending, insisting that no new project should be commissioned until independent auditors verify the functionality of those already inaugurated.

    The Chicago congress resolved that oil development in Ogoniland is completely off the table until the Federal Government fully implements the UNEP Report, ensures transparency, negotiates directly with true community representatives, and complies with Local Content laws guaranteeing training and employment for Ogoni youths, adding that any oil company interested in Ogoni oil must relocate its operational headquarters to the region and demonstrate real development commitments instead of “business as usual exploitation.”

    They further assured Ogoni residents that the diaspora stands ready to defend the land through international diplomacy and legal avenues. “If oppression returns wearing a new suit, our resistance will rise wearing the armour of truth,” he declared, noting they are prepared to escalate the matter to the United Nations and African Union if necessary.

    The group however called for peace and unity among Ogonis worldwide, maintaining that non violence remains the strength of their struggle. “We are peaceful, but not passive. We are wounded, but unbroken. Ogoni oil will only flow when justice flows first.”he insisted.

  • PINL, firm gift palliatives, gadgets to military formations in Rivers, Bayelsa

    PINL, firm gift palliatives, gadgets to military formations in Rivers, Bayelsa

    No fewer than 2,000 bags containing edibles and work gadgets have been donated to selected military formations in Rivers and Bayelsa States, by the Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), and MaCaw Energy Services Limited.

    The formations who benefited from the gifts are, the 26 Support Engineer Regiment and 29 Battalion, Bori Camp Port Harcourt; Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Soroh and 16 Battalion Garrison in Bayelsa State.

    Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital, the Coordinator of the exercise and Project Manager for Macaw, Energy services, Udoka Anyabolu, the gesture is part of the firms’ corporate social responsibility policies.

    He said the focus of the initiative was on enhancing engagement with security agencies and community partners who contribute to the safety and stability of Nigeria’s energy infrastructure.

    Read Also: Final Trumpet Call: Nigeria bids farewell to titan of integrity, Christopher Kolade

    “The objectives are to recognise and support the ongoing efforts of security agencies protecting national energy assets; reinforce collaboration and goodwill between PINL, Macaw, and host communities and to enhance community visibility and promote sustainable engagement across operational areas.

    “The initiative is driven by a shared commitment to promoting activities around the protection and preservation of national assets, while encouraging positive behavioural shaping among locals to strengthen community support for critical energy infrastructure.”

    Reacting to the gesture, the Commander NNS Soroh, (Bayelsa), A.O Akinbanmi who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries thanked MaCaw Energy Resources Limited and Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) for the gifts noting that the gesture is a proof of the cordiality that exist between the government security agencies and the private security firms, which according to him results in the zero infraction recorded in the Trans Niger Pipelines (TNP), for several months now.

    Also speaking on behalf of officers and men of the 29th Battalion, Bori Camp, the Admin Officer, Captain K. Lawal, expressed the appreciation of the officers and men of the Battalion to PINL “for bringing this kind of support as a show of appreciation to the troops deployed to various pipeline infrastructure (PINL) locations.”

  • Imo bans okada riders from Owerri Municipal City

    Imo bans okada riders from Owerri Municipal City

    The Imo State Government has issued a ban on commercial bike riders, popularly known as okada, from operating within Owerri Municipal City, effective November 8, 2025.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Monitoring and Compliance, Chinasa Nwaneri, who signed the notice, said the ban is aimed at curbing rising criminal activities posed by Okada riders to the safety and security of citizens within the municipality.

    “We have noticed the criminal activities and risk posed by the commercial bike riders (aka okada) to the safety and security of citizens, within the Owerri municipal city,” the notice reads.

    He said the state government had given a seven-day notice to all commercial bike riders, from November 1 to November 7, 2025, to cease operating within the Owerri municipal city.

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    He disclosed that enforcement would commence on November 8, 2025, and any okada rider caught plying the streets will have their bike confiscated and face trial by a mobile court.

    “Beginning from 8th November 2025, the state government shall commence enforcement and confiscate any commercial bike (okada) caught plying the streets of Owerri municipality, and the rider will be tried by a mobile court in accordance with the law,” the notice warned.

    The Nation recalls that the ban on commercial bike riders within Owerri Municipal City was first issued by the past administration of Dr Ikedi Ohakim.