The Nation Newspaper

Category: South East

  • Market closure: Lawyer sues Soludo, demands N2b damages for traders

    Market closure: Lawyer sues Soludo, demands N2b damages for traders

    By Elekwachi Chinedum, Onitsha

    A human rights lawyer, Ikechukwu Obasi, has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja against Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo; the Attorney-General; Commissioner of Police and the Inspector-General of Police.

    He is challenging the closure of the Onitsha Main Market and other markets across the state following traders’ continued observance of the Monday sit-at-home.

    Filed under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009, the suit argues that the market closures violate the traders’ fundamental rights, including personal liberty, freedom from forced labour, human dignity, freedom of movement, freedom of peaceful assembly and association, right to privacy, economic development, and freedom of expression.

    The rights are guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (Cap A9) 2011.

    Obasi, who is representing Onitsha traders in a public interest litigation, said he became aware of the dispute after watching a viral video in which Soludo directed that markets in Onitsha and across Anambra State must open from Monday to Saturday, warning that traders who failed to comply should leave the state.

    READ ALSO: The men who ruined a republic

    In the suit filed on January 28, Obasi contends that the governor’s directive amounted to forcing the will of the government on traders, compelling them to conduct their businesses according to a government-imposed timetable rather than their personal choice.

    The lawyer further stated that from January 27, 2026, police operatives, acting on the instructions of the state government, enforced the shutdown, leading to civil unrest, unlawful arrests, the use of teargas, and severe economic hardship for traders.

    In his affidavit in support of the originating motion, Obasi described the enforcement actions as a gross violation of the traders’ fundamental rights.

    He maintained that the voluntary sit-at-home constituted a lawful protest protected under Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

    He argued that the actions of the state government amounted to forced labour, violated human dignity, and unlawfully restricted the traders’ freedom of movement, association, and economic activity.

    Obasi is asking the court to declare that the governor’s threat to shut down the Onitsha Main Market and traders’ shops as punishment for observing a lawful sit-at-home on January 26, 2026, constitutes a violation of the traders’ rights to personal liberty, peaceful assembly and association, freedom of movement, and economic, social, and cultural development.

    He is also seeking:

    A declaration that the actual shutdown of the Onitsha Main Market and other shops from January 27, 2026, by the governor and the attorney-general violates the same fundamental rights.

    A declaration that the mandatory directive compelling all markets in Anambra State to open from Monday to Saturday or for traders to leave the state amounts to a breach of the traders’ rights to freedom from forced labour, human dignity, personal liberty, privacy, peaceful assembly, and economic development.

    A declaration that the enforcement of the shutdown by police operatives violates the traders’ rights to peaceful assembly, association, freedom of movement, and economic development.

    A declaration that any continued shutdown of the Onitsha Main Market as a sanction for observing a lawful sit-at-home constitutes a violation of the traders’ fundamental rights.

    A declaration that observing a lawful sit-at-home is an exercise of the traders’ fundamental right to peaceful protest and lawful expression, and that any clampdown on such voluntary actions violates their rights to privacy, peaceful protest, and freedom of expression.

  • ‘Name church hall after my parents’

    ‘Name church hall after my parents’

    • From Elekwachi Chinedum, Onitsha

    A philanthropist, Dr. Anthony Obele, has appealed to Anglican Bishop of Aguata Diocese, Rt. Rev. Samuel Ezeofor, to immortalise his late parents by naming the hall he built at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Ezinifite after them.

    He made the appeal during the memorial service of his late parents at St. Andrew’s Church, presided over by the Bishop, with a host of priests of Anglican and Catholic Churches in attendance.

    He paid tribute to the Bishop for approving that the Obele family built a hall in the church, pleading it bore his late parents’ names as lasting memorial for them.

    The Bishop, in his homily, described the remembrance of a good person as a blessing, while that of a bad person is a curse.

    According to him, Jesus Christ is concerned about both the dead and the living, as the dead reminds the living that one day, they too will die.

    The prelate urged everyone to live life in such a way that when they die, people will be crying because of their good deeds.

    Vicar of the church, Ven. Ikechukwu Okonisah, had appealed to the Bishop to approve the building of a church hall by the Obele family.

    Read Also: Rhema Christian Church sets stage for glorious year at Bethel Peace Day Service

    Responding, two sons of the late Chief & Mrs Hezekiah Obele, Pst. Eric Obele and Dr. Ikenna Obele, appreciated the Bishop, priests and the congregation for coming to worship with them in honour of their late parents, whom they said lived exemplary lives that they were still remembered till today.

    The Bishop in company of other clergy, the choir and family members had offered prayers at the graveside of the late parents before proceeding to Obele’s family compound for the dedication of Obele’s new mansion.

    Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo has inaugurated five kilometres of asphalted and road built by Obele in the area as part of activities marking the memorial service of Obele’s late parents.

    He said the inauguration was in furtherance of public private community partnership (PPCP) exemplified by the philanthropist and his family for public purposes.

    He hoped the road would promote economic and social activities in the area and the state.

    The event, which also featured dedication of Obele’s palatial mansion, was attended by the traditional ruler of Ezinifite, Igwe Chukwuma Orji, his cabinet chiefs and other traditional rulers.

    President General of Ezinifite, Chief Nwora Ekwuilo, captains of industries, friends and associates were also among dignitaries at the event.

  • Bank donates solar-powered borehole

    Bank donates solar-powered borehole

    The Retail Operations Group of Access Bank has donated a solar-powered borehole to Umuokpo community in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State.

    The inauguration of the borehole attracted dignitaries and prominent members of the community.

    Among them were the traditional ruler of Umuokpo autonomous community, Eze Eunan Ekeh (the Okpo 1 of Umuokpo community), the president-general of the community, as well as the councillor, Chief Chinemerem Nkwocha.

    Others included the Executive Vice Chairman of Owerri West Council, Osinachi Amako and his entourage, Chief Clement Asoluka, Access Bank workers, among other personalities.

    The Regional Director of Access Bank, Mr Charles Oguibe, said the borehole donation by workers of Access Bank to Umuokpo community was the first of its kind in Imo State.

    He said the project was aimed at providing the community with access to potable water.

    Read Also: Flooding: Group to empower 40 Anambra farmers on solar processing, storage

    The Zonal Head of Access Bank, Onyemauche Okere, said Umuokpo community should be grateful because it was randomly selected without any external influence.

    He urged residents to prioritise security of the facility.

    Eze Ekeh expressed gratitude to Access Bank for the project, noting that the community would safeguard it against vandalism.

    An indigene of the community, Chief Smart Unegbu, donated a new generator to the community to power the solar borehole, which he noted “is a high breed, as it can be powered by solar (sun) and electricity.”

    Residents hailed the management of the bank, describing the gesture as a new year gift.

  • Council boss reaffirms peace deal with counterpart

    Council boss reaffirms peace deal with counterpart

    The Chairman of Ika Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Utibe Nwoko, has pledged to consolidate on the inter-community harmony and cordial relations with Ukwa East Local Government Area of Abia State.

    He said Ika Council under his watch would sustain dialogue, peaceful coexistence and collaborative development with other neighbouring local governments areas, especially in Abia State.

    Nwoko said this while delivering remarks at a peace meeting between his people and residents of Ukwa East Council in Abia State.

    Describing the meeting as epochal, the council chairman said the engagement had continued to yield social and political benefits by providing a consistent platform for dialogue and peace-building.

    He said the gathering marked the beginning of a renewed phase in relationship between the people of Ikot Udo in Ika Local Government and their neighbours from Ukwa East and adjoining communities in Abia State.

    Read Also: Council seeks private sector investment pact with Türkiye

    Nwoko recalled that a similar peace meeting held on March 17, 2025, produced resolutions that had sustained peace between the communities up to the current time.

    He expressed gratitude to the governors and deputy governors of Akwa Ibom and Abia states for approving and supporting the continued convening of the peace meetings, and described their interventions as a demonstration of commitment to peace-building and inter-state cooperation.

    The council boss said Ikot Udo village in Ika Local Government shared a boundary with Abiaka village in Ibeme, Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State.

    He recalled that resolutions reached at the 2025 meeting was that both states would begin road construction from their natural boundaries, with Obingwa communities building towards their boundary, while Ika communities would undertake construction from Ikot Udo through Nto Mfong and Ikot Akata to Urua Inyang, covering a distance of about 3.7 kilometres.

    Nwoko said there was no genuine boundary dispute between the communities, stressing that no party was laying claim to land, houses, forests, cultural artefacts or economic trees.

    ‘’Rather, the core issue centres on identity, with Akirika Obu people seeking recognition as indigenes of Abia State, while Ikot Udo people maintain their identity as indigenes of Ika Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

    He said identity-related differences should not be allowed to degenerate into hostility or disrupt development efforts, particularly the ongoing road building project intended to benefit the affected communities.

    According to him, disagreements over identity should never punctuate peace or truncate infrastructure projects designed to improve livelihoods and connectivity.

     Nwoko clarified that Ika Local Government did not have any boundary dispute with Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, noting that while Akirika Obu people claimed customary tenancy under Obingwa Local Government and traced their ancestral roots to Ukwa East near Port Harcourt in Rivers State, such narratives should not undermine peaceful coexistence or inter-community cooperation.

    Appealing for continuity of the road project, the council chairman urged Abia State Government to continue construction from Ntinwouzo through Obete Ibeme to Abiaka Ibeme, the last village in Obingwa Local Government, while Akwa Ibom State Government should complete its section from Ikot Udo through Nto Mfong and Ikot Akata to Urua Inyang in Ika Council

    He said completion of the road would further promote harmonious relations between Ika Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State and Obingwa Council of Abia State, while strengthening ties with Ukwa East indigenes living in the area.

    Nwoko appealed for adequate security for contractors handling the project, to ensure uninterrupted work and timely completion, reiterating that the people of Ika, Akwa Ibom State and Abia State were peace-loving and committed to unity and development.

    He appreciated the sacrifices, goodwill and interventions of leaders from states, praying for peace in their homes and administrations, and expressing confidence that the meeting would yield fruitful outcomes.

    In their remarks, the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Dr. Akon Eyakenyi, and her Abia State counterpart, Ikechukwu Emetu, an engineer, pleaded with the people of Ikot Udo in Ika Local Government Area and Ukwa East Council in Abia State to embrace peace for lasting development.

    They urged youths from the two communities to get involved in productive ventures, to improve their families, rather than engage in senseless feud, so as to encourage governments of the two states to do more for them.

    The peace parley was attended by stakeholders from the two states.

  • Police thwart robbery, nab mob for assaulting suspect

    Police thwart robbery, nab mob for assaulting suspect

    • From Godwin Otang, Calabar

    Cross River State Police Command, through the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit, has prevented a mob action against a suspected armed robber, who allegedly attempted to rob a woman in Calabar, The Nation has learnt.

    Police sources said the operation led to the recovery of a Beretta pistol with three live 9mm rounds of ammunition and arrest of individuals involved in the mob attack.

    The incident happened in the early hours of Sunday.

    Sources said the police intervened and prevented a mob action against a suspected armed robber, who was allegedly attempting to rob a woman in Calabar.

    The operation led to the recovery of a Beretta pistol with three live 9mm rounds of ammunition and the arrest of individuals involved in the mob attack.

    The suspect, prior to the arrival of the police, was beaten unconscious by a mob at Abangasang area, Mbora Street, Calabar. He was taken to University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) for medical attention.

    Read Also: Police arrest 7 suspected bandits, recover firearms in Kaduna

    The victim, whose personal information is yet to be verified, was pronounced dead at the hospital on Sunday morning.

    Three suspects are in police custody and are assisting with the ongoing investigation. The victim’s body has been evacuated and deposited at UCTH mortuary for preservation and autopsy, while a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident continues.

    Commissioner of Police, Cross River State Command, CP Rashid Afegbua,  described the operation as, “a clear demonstration of the command’s commitment to crime prevention, protection of lives and adherence to the rule of law.”

    The police boss reiterated the command’s zero tolerance for crime. The CP condemned mob action and emphasised that suspects apprehended by individuals must always be handed over to the police for proper investigation and prosecution, in accordance with the law.

    He appealed to the public to cooperate with the police by providing timely and useful information, and to refrain from taking the law into their hands.

    The command through its spokesman, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, assured the people of Cross River State of its resolve to ensure safety and security throughout the state.

  • Protest trail monarch’s election in Anambra community

    Protest trail monarch’s election in Anambra community

    From Elekwachi Chinedum, Onitsha

    Protests have greeted the election of the traditional ruler of Ndiowu community in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Chibuzor Okekeife, on January 12, 2026.

    While one group rejected the election, describing it as unconstitutional with the exclusion of women, the pro-monarch protesters insisted that the election must stand, having been approved by the government.

    On Monday, the anti-monarch group, predominantly women, stormed the Government House in Awka, calling on Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s intervention to forestall breakdown of law and order.

    The people also protested women exclusion from the election and use of secret ballot voting, ‘’which contravenes our town’s constitution.’’

    They called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to intervene, to forestall breakdown of law and order.

    The protesters, predominantly women, bore placards with inscriptions such as: “The stool of Ezediohamma Ndiowu is not for sale”, “Respect our right to choose”, ‘’We say no to imposed election”, “Women must vote”, “Soludo Solution come and help us in our Eze Stool”, among others.

    Speaking to reporters, Chairman, Ndiowu Four Traditional Quarters, Chief Uchenna Iloh, sought transparent and credible poll, saying the candidacy must come from Ufere village, as stipulated by the 2024 constitution of the community.

    He said the community would not accept emergence of a United States of America-based businessman, ‘’who is from Umudiabor kindred.’’

    Read Also: Anambra plans pro-rata pay to curb Monday sit-at-home

    Iloh said: “We’re here to protest injustice done to us, including discrimination against women in the community by the commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs, as well as the local government chairman.

    “We’re peace loving people and don’t want violence. We want women to have the right to vote, as they have always voted.

    “The commissioner insisted the election be conducted on January 12, as against the Easter period we chose, to enable more people participate in the exercise.

    “They went ahead to conduct the election on a church premises, instead of the town hall and without the women. The next thing we heard was that a new Igwe had emerged.

    “This is why we’re here to plead for governor’s intervention. We want the election conducted according to our constitution.”

    Responding on behalf of the governor, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof Solo Chukwulobelu, hailed the protesters for their peaceful and orderly conduct, assuring them that their grievances would be attended to.

    He said: “I implore you to ensure there is no breakdown of order in the community. The problem will definitely be resolved and Ndiowu will continue to exist.”

    But in a sharp reaction, Chairman, Elders Council of Ndiowu Town and Leader, Ndiowu Progressives, Christian Nnabuihe, who spoke on behalf of the pro-monarch group, described Monday’s protesters as terribly misinformed, misadvised and misguided.

    He also described the constitution they paraded as fake, insisting that the 1990 constitution approved by government and Aguata High Court remained the authentic document guiding the community.

    Addressing reporters yesterday, Nnabuihe said the constitution not only declared that certain persons should no longer take part in election due to their dirty conduct, but was also clear about women participation in such election.

    He said: “We’re here to appreciate the governor for restoring peace to our town and creating a conducive atmosphere for the conduct of free, fair credible election that produced our monarch.

    “Ndiowu 1990 constitution is clear about all the issues those who came yesterday raised. I stand to be corrected, there’s no community in Anambra State where women are permitted to take part in selection of a traditional ruler.

    “Apart from the monarch being the custodian of people’s culture, it’s an abomination to involve women in an election that produces a traditional ruler. It has never happened anywhere.

    “Those people who were here yesterday (Monday) were terribly misinformed, misadvised and misguided. And the constitution they paraded was fake.

    “A lot of them are regretting their journey yesterday. Their presence was nullity as far as majority of Ndiowu is concerned.’’

    Also speaking, Woman President General of the town, Oby Okoli, said: “As women, we desire peace and progress for us, our children and children’s children in Ndiowu.’’

    Responding separately to both protesters, Secretary to State government, Prof Solo Chukwulobelu and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Dr Nwabufor Nwankwo, commended them for their peaceful and orderly conduct.

    They assured speedy response to the issues raised.

  • Emoh leads Offor Global Network on visit to Onitsha Correctional Centre

    Emoh leads Offor Global Network on visit to Onitsha Correctional Centre

    Offor Global Network, led by its Principal, Dr. Stan Chinedu Emoh, on 28 December 2025, paid a humanitarian visit to the Onitsha Medium Security Correctional Centre, formerly known as Onitsha Prison, as part of efforts to identify and support Nsugbe indigenes in custody.

    The visit focused on inmates who are convicted, those awaiting trial, and those who have been granted bail but remain incarcerated due to financial constraints affecting their ability to meet bail conditions and pursue their court cases.

    The Onitsha Medium Correctional Centre, established in 1916, houses 778 inmates, comprising 10 inmates on death row, 147 convicted inmates, and 619 inmates awaiting trial. 

    The facility operates rehabilitation programmes that expose inmates, both male and female, to formal education, vocational training, and other reformation activities aimed at preparing them for reintegration into society.

    The Offor Global Network delegates was received by the Controller of the facility, Mr. Ike Anselem, who welcomed the team and guided them through the centre. 

    The delegates interacted with inmates, particularly those from Nsugbe, giving them counsel and assurances of legal followup, especially for inmates whose continued detention is linked to financial hardship.

    Eight Nsugbe indigenes are in custody at the facility for various offences, including two murder-related cases, three cases of stealing and three cases of obtaining by trick (OBT). Offor Global Network indicated plans to initiate legal engagement and appeals in appropriate cases.

    Offor Global Network donated relief materials to inmates. Items donated include bags of rice, slippers, tissues, tomatoes, groundnut oil, and cash, aimed at easing conditions within the facility and supporting inmates during this festive period.

    This outreach is part of Offor Global Network annual humanitarian and social intervention initiatives, with emphasis on justice advocacy and Societal rehabilitation.

  • Enugu slashes land rates by 60%, bans illegal levies

    Enugu slashes land rates by 60%, bans illegal levies

    The Enugu State Government has announced sweeping reforms in the land sector, including the immediate abolition of illegal levies and the streamlining of land-related charges, as part of Governor Peter Mbah’s broader economic transformation agenda.

    The government disclosed that ground rent, land use charge, and all property-related charges have now been unified and reduced by over 60 per cent, with property owners required to pay only a single Unified Land Use Charge annually through the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS), whether their properties are located within estates or outside them.

    Governor Peter Mbah made the announcement at a stakeholders’ town hall meeting on land sector development, which held at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, on Thursday.

    Represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, the Governor said his administration remained committed to building a transparent, efficient, and investor-friendly land administration system anchored on legality, digitisation, and accountability.

    He described land as the legal foundation for housing, infrastructure, agriculture, commerce, and investment, stressing that since inception, the administration has pursued deliberate reforms to modernise land governance, reduce uncertainty, curb abuse, and restore public confidence in the land tenure system.

    “These reforms are anchored on transparency, predictability, digitisation of records, and strict adherence to statutory processes for land allocation, registration, and development control,” he said, adding that effective land governance must be driven by continuous engagement with communities, professionals, investors, traditional institutions, and citizens.

    A major highlight of the reforms is the immediate ban on the controversial Ogbonecheagu fees collected by some communities and local governments. Prof. Onyia said Governor Mbah has declared all such fees illegal and directed their outright abolition following widespread complaints by residents.

    Read Also: Enugu rallies town unions for peace, grassroots governance

    A task force has been constituted to enforce compliance, while members of the public who are compelled to pay such illegal charges have been urged to submit evidence to Whistleblowing@enugustate.gov.ng for prompt intervention.

    The SSG further revealed that the reforms were informed by the recommendations of a multi-stakeholder Committee on Land-Related Revenue and Administration constituted by the Governor to address complaints of multiple taxation and revenue abuse in the state.

    In his remarks, the Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, Barr. Chimaobi Okorie, said Governor Mbah has introduced critical policy directions and legal instruments, including an executive order declaring nine of the state’s seventeen local government areas as urban areas to enable planning and structured infrastructural development.

    He also said that the Mbah Administration enacted the Enugu State Geographic Information System (ENGIS) law to serve as a one-stop platform for land transactions and to drive the full digitisation and digitalization of land processes and systems. According to him, land records are now fully harmonised, eliminating cases of missing files, while every plot of land in the state can be digitally tracked.

  • Globacom redefines new standard for telecoms In 2026

    Globacom redefines new standard for telecoms In 2026

    • By Michael Abimboye 

    As always, Globacom is at the heart of telecoms transformation in Nigeria.  The acquisition of additional spectrum, is a decisive move that has expanded network capacity and fundamentally improved customer experience. 

    With the ability to carry significantly higher data volumes at greater speeds, users are seeing faster downloads, stronger uploads, seamless video streaming, and clearer voice calls even at peak periods. Crucially, this expansion has driven down latency. Independent performance testing has ranked Glo as the network with the lowest latency in Nigeria, meaning faster response times whenever data commands are initiated.

    This spectrum advantage is being matched on the ground by the rollout of thousands of new LTE sites nationwide. Network capacity has increased pan-Nigeria, with noticeably higher download speeds across regions. At the same time, the installation of thousands of additional towers is easing congestion and closing coverage gaps, particularly in high-density locations such as markets and tertiary institutions, where demand for fast, reliable internet is highest.

    Read Also: Globacom dismantling fetters to Nigeria’s digital future

    Power reliability, often the silent determinant of network quality, is also being reengineered. Globacom has deployed hybrid battery power systems across numerous sites, reducing dependence on diesel while improving sustainability. Beyond cost efficiency, this greener model delivers stronger uptime ensuring uninterrupted power supply and optimal performance for base stations and switching centres.

    Behind the scenes, Glo has upgraded its switching systems and data centres to accommodate rising traffic volumes nationwide. These upgrades are designed not only for today’s demand but to ensure the network consistently meets performance KPIs well into the future, even as data consumption continues to grow.

    Equally significant is the massive reconstruction and expansion of Globacom’s optic fibre cable (OFC) network. Along highways and metro routes affected by road construction, fibre routes are being reconstructed and relocated to safeguard service continuity. Thousands of kilometres of new fibre have also been rolled out nationwide, fortifying the OFC backbone, improving redundancy, reducing network glitches, and enabling the network to handle increasingly heavy data loads with resilience.

    These investments collectively address long-standing coverage gaps while driving densification and capacity enhancement in already active areas, ensuring a more balanced and reliable national footprint.

    At the core layer, Globacom is modernising its network elements through new platforms and applications, upgraded enterprise and interconnect billing systems, and an expanding roster of roaming partners for both in-roaming and out-roaming services strengthening its integration into the global telecoms ecosystem.

    Taken together, these are not incremental upgrades. They represent a deliberate, system-wide repositioning. 

    In 2026, Globacom is not just improving its network; it is asserting itself as an emerging technical leader in Nigeria’s telecommunications industry.

    • Michael Abimboye, a communications specialist wrote in from Lagos
  • Enugu rallies town unions for peace, grassroots governance

    Enugu rallies town unions for peace, grassroots governance

    The Enugu State Government has reaffirmed the strategic importance of town unions in grassroots governance, describing them as indispensable partners in community administration, peacebuilding and sustainable local development.

    The government also charged Presidents-General of town unions across the state to promote peace in their communities and resist any attempt to use their offices to foment discord or destabilisation.

    The charge was given by the Commissioner for Chieftaincy Matters, Dr. Charles Egumgbe, during his maiden official meeting with town union Presidents-General at the ministry in Enugu on Wednesday.

    Egumgbe, whose portfolio includes oversight of town unions, said Governor Peter Mbah had mandated the ministry to strengthen traditional and community governance structures in line with the administration’s development agenda.

    He explained that the core responsibilities of the ministry include the formulation and implementation of policies on chieftaincy matters, the creation of autonomous communities, village integration, and the establishment and supervision of palace courts for effective dispute resolution.

    Other functions, he said, cover the registration and regulation of chieftaincy constitutions, town unions, social clubs and community-based organisations, as well as policies aimed at strengthening traditional institutions and improving community governance.

    According to the commissioner, town unions remain central to infrastructure development, social stability and effective grassroots administration across the state.

    “There is a need to partner with Governor Peter Mbah, whose political philosophy and governance style have become a visible game-changer in Enugu State. No sector of development is paused,” he said.

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    Egumgbe described town unions as critical agents of community development, noting that they serve as grassroots administrative and self-regulating structures that promote infrastructure such as roads and schools, maintain social harmony and function effectively as a fourth tier of governance.

    He, however, stressed that town union leaders must take responsibility for peace and order in their communities, lamenting the volume of petitions received by the ministry over avoidable communal conflicts.

    The commissioner frowned at attempts by some individuals to hijack community leadership without due process or proper stakeholder engagement.

    “Presidents-General must ensure peace and tranquillity in their communities. It is time to do the right thing and uphold responsible leadership,” he added, while assuring town unions that the state government would give due consideration to their welfare.

    Responding on behalf of the town unions, the Chairman of the Enugu State Council of Presidents-General of Town Unions, Hon. Chief Arinze Nnia Ogbodo, commended Governor Mbah for what he described as visible and far-reaching development across the state.

    Ogbodo said the engagement had strengthened the confidence of town union leaders in the ministry and pledged their continued support for the administration’s development agenda.

    “This engagement is very important to us. With the new commissioner overseeing the ministry that relates directly with town unions, our confidence has been reinforced. We will continue to support His Excellency to achieve his vision for the people of Enugu State,” he said.

    Also speaking, the Presidents-General of Ikpamodo Autonomous Community in Igbo-Eze North LGA, Mr. Christian Ugwuanyi; Okorouba-Ozalla Autonomous Community in Nkanu West LGA, Hon. Chukwunonso Igwe; and Mgbagbu Owa in Ezeagu LGA, Ozo Chibuike Okafor, pledged their support for the commissioner and the Mbah administration.

    They praised the governor’s inclusive development approach, noting that key initiatives such as Smart Green Schools and modern healthcare centres were having positive impact across communities and electoral wards in the state.