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  • 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.

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    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.

  • Soludo, Kanu and befuddled Onitsha traders

    Soludo, Kanu and befuddled Onitsha traders

    Anambra State governor Chukwuma Soludo was justified to order a one-week closure of the Onitsha Main Market due to the traders’ defiance of the repeated appeal to end their Monday sit-at-home order emplaced by Nnamdi Kanu’s Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). If they could obey non-state actors who are in jail in Sokoto (Kanu) and Finland (Simon Ekpa), and which obedience is costing the state an estimated and astronomical N8bn weekly, the governor found it distasteful that the traders stubbornly disobeyed lawful state orders to keep the market open for business.

    Even more galling to Anambrarians is the fact that the traders responded to the governor’s one week closure by organising protests to force him to back down. This is utter shamelessness. The so-called unknown gunmen killings and Monday shutdowns in the Southeast never elicited the kind of protests that greeted the Soludo order. This indicates massive elite connivance at IPOB’s self-immolating tactics. Now, the traders are protesting and, together with a sizable section of their elite, have refused to condemn Mr Kanu’s counterproductive legal histrionics and political grandstanding. They objurgate Finland’s legal system for jailing Mr Ekpa, and are threatening Nigeria and the ruling party for jailing Mr Kanu.

    Read Also: Soludo commissions 5km community road, hails public-private-community partnership

    Prof Soludo will be advised not to back down. He has sensibly limited his market closure order to one week. He should let the punishment run its course despite the subterfuge of some analysts cynically equating the governor’s order with IPOB’s Monday order. The Onitsha traders have obeyed years of Monday sit-at-home orders. One week of closure will not kill them. They have after all generated the stamina to stomach the punishment.

  • Soludo’s market closure: Democracy, security and limits of executive power

    Soludo’s market closure: Democracy, security and limits of executive power

    The recent decision by Lt Col., sorry, Governor Chukwuma Soludo to shut down the Onitsha Main Market for one week has ignited a fierce debate about governance, security, and the existence of democratic rudiments in Anambra State. While the Colonel’s, sorry governor’s frustration with the Monday sit-at-home compliance is understandable, his stentorian response raises fundamental questions about whether ‘ajuwaya’ strong-arm tactics can substitute for the protection and security that these traders desperately need.

    Governor Soludo’s reasons for this drastic action are not without merit on the surface. The Onitsha Main Market, previously like many commercial centers across the Southeast, had been observing the Monday sit-at-home order, an action that appears to validate the authority of non-state actors, over the legitimate government. This compliance represents a troubling erosion of state authority, suggesting that faceless individuals wielding threats hold more sway over citizens than elected officials. The economic implications are equally staggering. Each Monday that Onitsha Main Market remains closed, Anambra State hemorrhages revenue that could fund infrastructure, healthcare, and education. The cumulative effect of these weekly closures amounts to trillions of naira in lost economic activity annually, affecting not just the state’s coffers but the livelihoods of countless families dependent on the market’s vibrancy.

    Furthermore, Soludo’s argument that other major markets across Anambra are  functioning normally on Mondays carries some weight. Markets in Awka, Nnewi, Nkpor, Abagana and Obosi, and even other parts of the Southeast continue their operations without interruption. The question then becomes: why should Onitsha be an exception? From this perspective, the governor’s insistence that Onitsha traders must break free from the grip of fear and resume normal trading appears logical. The state cannot afford to have its commercial nerve center paralyzed by the dictates of criminal elements who have no electoral mandate or moral authority.

    However, this is precisely where Soludo’s approach reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of democratic governance and the social contract between leaders and the led. The governor appears to have forgotten that Nigeria is a democracy, not a military dictatorship. In a democracy, governments exist to serve and protect their citizens, not to coerce them into dangerous situations. The traders are not closing their shops on Mondays because they are lazy ,unpatriotic or closet symphatisers of IPOB. They are doing so because they are terrified for their lives and property. This is not willing submission to non-state actors; it is survival instinct in the face of credible threats and demonstrable violence.

    Read Also: Soludo commissions 5km community road, hails public-private-community partnership

    Shutting down the market as punishment for this fear-driven compliance is not just counterproductive; it is morally indefensible. If the market were being closed for legitimate regulatory reasons such as poor sanitation, fire safety violations, or environmental hazards, the government would be within its rights. But closing a market because traders are afraid of being killed or having their goods destroyed represents a spectacular failure of leadership. It shifts blame from the government’s inability to provide security onto the victims of insecurity themselves. These traders are not the enemy; the hoodlums terrorizing them are.

    The comparison to other markets functioning normally, while superficially compelling, crumbles under scrutiny. Onitsha Main Market is not just any market. It is the largest market in West and East Africa combined, a sprawling commercial ecosystem with hundreds of thousands of daily visitors and transactions running into billions of naira. The security requirements for such a massive complex are exponentially greater than those for smaller markets. Protecting Onitsha Main Market would require tripling or even quadrupling the security presence that might suffice elsewhere. Has the Anambra State government deployed such resources? Have there been visible, sustained security operations that would give traders confidence in their safety? The evidence suggests otherwise.

    Ali Chukwuma, one of Anambra’s finest bards once crooned “ Eje ana bu isi Ije” (A safe return is the centrepiece of every journey or travel). Now, if the government could guarantee absolute security within the market premises, what about the journey to and from the market? Traders cannot materialize in and out of the market gates by magic and with Soludo arresting and detaining a number of dibias, such magic may not be readily available to these traders as they travel from various parts of Anambra and neighboring states, often in the pre-dawn hours to set up their wares. The roads leading to Onitsha, the motor parks, the surrounding neighborhoods—these are all potential ambush points for those enforcing the sit-at-home. A trader who survives the market day unscathed might still face violence on the way home. Is their life worth the revenue they would generate for the state? The traders themselves have answered this question with their feet, and it is revealing that many of them are willing and eager to trade even on Sundays, demonstrating their entrepreneurial spirit and economic ambition. Yet this same ambition cannot override the instinct for self-preservation.

    Contrast such authoritarian directives with the fact that a number of state institutions such as the Anambra State House of Assembly, as well as local government council secretariats  observe these sit at home days (Anambra State House of Assembly conducts plenary sessions on Tuesdays, whilst most secretariats experience skeletal presence of staff) these are places that possess immense security coverage, yet, Soludo wants to compel hapless citizens to risk their lives, a case of do as I say not as I do!

    Governor Soludo would serve his people better by engaging in meaningful dialogue with market leadership rather than wielding the sledgehammer of closure. What specific security measures do the traders need to feel safe? What intelligence-sharing mechanisms can be established between market unions and security agencies? What emergency response protocols can be implemented?

    These are the questions a democratic leader should be asking. Copying from the playbook of military regimes—issuing ultimatums, making threats, forcing compliance through coercion—is a dangerous path that may indeed come back to haunt him politically and morally.

    Democracy thrives on consultation, consensus-building, and collaborative problem-solving. It withers under autocratic edicts and punitive measures against citizens who are already victims. The Onitsha Main Market crisis is fundamentally a security crisis, not a compliance crisis. Until Governor Soludo addresses the root cause—the inability of the state to protect its citizens from violent non-state actors—any attempt to force the market open will be both futile and unjust.

    The governor must remember that leadership in a democracy means walking with the people, understanding their fears, and creating conditions that make courage possible, not demanding bravery while providing no shield. Onitsha’s traders need protection, not punishment. They need a governor who fights the criminals terrorizing them, not one who fights them for being terrorized. Only when security is genuinely assured will the market return to its full glory, not through coercion, but through the restoration of confidence and peace.

  • Soludo shuts Onitsha main market over sit-at-home

    Soludo shuts Onitsha main market over sit-at-home

    The popular Onitsha Main market in Anambra State has been closed for one week by the state government for obeying the sit-at-home.

    The shutdown could extend to one month by next Monday, if the traders and market leaders continue such a practice.

    The decisive move is to enforce compliance with the state government’s directive against the controversial Monday sit-at-home order by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in 2021.

    This was announced yesterday by Governor, Prof.  Chukwuma Soludo in Awka

    Two days ago, the government ordered that workers in the state who failed to resume work yesterday would lose 20 per cent of their pay.

    As a result, a register has been provided in every ministry for attendance of workers.

    The state government had repeatedly warned workers and traders to ignore the sit-at-home order imposed by non-state actors.

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    This order, has disrupted economic and social activities across the Southeast for years, but the fear of being killed by the non state actors had prevented the residents from following the government’s directive

    According to Soludo,”if they don’t open at the expiration of the shut down, the market will be shut down for one month and so on and so forth.

    “The closure is a necessary step to protect law-abiding citizens and reinforce the authority of the state, the government cannot stand by while a few individuals willfully undermine public safety and disregard official directives meant to restore normalcy” he said

    Security personnel, including the police, and Army, have been deployed to seal the market gates and ensure compliance.

  • Soludo commissions 5km community road, hails public-private-community partnership

    Soludo commissions 5km community road, hails public-private-community partnership

    Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo of Anambra State has commissioned a five-kilometre road project constructed by industrialist and philanthropist, High Chief Sir Dr Amb. Anthony Ikenna Obele, in Ezinifite, Aguata Local Government Area of the state.

    The commissioning ceremony, which was held on Thursday, January 8, 2026, marked a major milestone for residents of the community, as the road was executed through private initiative rather than government funding.

    The multi-billion-naira project features a fully asphalted roadway, drainage system and solar-powered streetlights, linking Aku village to neighbouring communities and significantly improving access, trade and mobility in the area.

    Speaking at the event, Governor Soludo described the project as a model of shared responsibility in development, noting that government alone cannot meet the state’s infrastructure needs at the required pace.

    “At the speed we need to move, government alone cannot achieve development,” the governor said, calling on Ndi Anambra at home and in the diaspora to invest in their communities.

    He commended High Chief Obele for complementing the state’s development agenda and aligning with the administration’s Public-Private-Community Partnership framework.

    High Chief Obele, an illustrious son of Aguata, said the project was driven by a sense of responsibility to his people rather than personal recognition, stressing that leadership should be measured by the impact made on lives and communities.

    Residents of Ezinifite described the road as a major relief, noting that it has eased transportation challenges, reduced erosion-related damage and enhanced economic activities in the area. Community leaders said the project had transformed daily life and opened up new opportunities for growth.

    Traditional rulers and stakeholders at the event praised the initiative, describing it as a turning point for the community and a demonstration that meaningful development can be achieved through private commitment.

    Governor Soludo, while commissioning the project, encouraged other well-meaning individuals to emulate the gesture, assuring that the state government would continue to recognise and support community-driven development efforts.

    The Ezinifite road project is the first of its kind by an indigene of Aku village to be commissioned by a sitting governor at his country home, further underscoring its significance to the community.

  • Soludo mulls recruitment of more teachers

    Soludo mulls recruitment of more teachers

    Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has disclosed plans of recruiting additional teachers across the state to further strengthen the education sector.

    Soludo who made the disclosure at the celebration of 50th anniversary of Uga Boys Secondary School, his alma mater said more recruitment of teachers is aimed at reducing class sizes and improving access to quality instruction.

    “It is vital that we provide a conducive environment for learning, where every child can reach their full potential,” he emphasized.

    The governor reiterated his vision of revitalizing public schools, building on the successes of institutions like Uga Boys Secondary School.

    Addressing an audience of students, teachers, alumni, and community members, the governor said, “Our journey is far from over. By investing in education, we invest in our future leaders, innovators, and change-makers.

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    “I stand here today not only as a former student but as someone deeply interested in the future of our education system.

     “Education is the cornerstone upon which we will build a stronger, more prosperous state.”

    Reliving his days at Uga Boys—which was once one of only four secondary schools serving the area, the governor recalled fond memories of his roles as Library Prefect and Senior Prefect before graduating as part of the school’s pioneer class in 1980.

    “Those early experiences shaped my outlook and discipline. The commitment of the teachers then, including my Igbo teacher who is here with us today, set a standard of excellence that still inspires me,” he said.

    The governor took time to honor the founders and the community members who laid the groundwork for the school’s enduring legacy. He praised the educators for their professionalism and dedication, calling them “unsung heroes” in the mission to nurture young minds.

    Appreciating the governor’s transformative efforts, the School Principal, Mr Benjamin Igwema said, “Yyour recent initiatives—especially the extensive reconstruction of our facilities—have dramatically improved the learning environment.

  • Awka community condemns Soludo’s rejection of Bianca Ojukwu’s chieftaincy title

    Awka community condemns Soludo’s rejection of Bianca Ojukwu’s chieftaincy title

    Concerned sons and daughters of Awka Ancient Kingdom, the capital of Anambra State, alongside advocates of Igbo cultural heritage, have strongly criticised the Anambra State Government for dismissing a chieftaincy title conferred on the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu. 

    The group rejected what it described as unwarranted interference by the state government in the conferment of the revered title Anyanwu N’Awalu Ora (Light of the Community) on the widow of the late Igbo leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Ikemba Nnewi.

    The chieftaincy title was bestowed late last year by His Imperial Majesty, Obi Dr. Austin Chukwuezugo Ndigwe, MON, JP, Ezeuzu III of Awka, in recognition of Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s contributions to Ndigbo and to Nigeria at large. 

    However, the Anambra State Government subsequently disclaimed the conferment, branding it “fake” on the grounds that the traditional ruler who conferred it was an “impostor.”

    In response, the Awka community described the government’s action as an affront to their cultural autonomy and an unacceptable intrusion into matters exclusively within the purview of the Awka people. In a statement issued by Professor Emmanuel Obi on behalf of Awka sons and daughters, and in solidarity with Obi Dr. Austin Ndigwe, Ezeuzu III, the group said the attack on Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu and the traditional institution was unjustified and dangerous.

    “The traditions, customs, and cultural practices of Awka are not subject to the whims of state bureaucracy or political expediency,” the statement said. “They are sacred elements of our identity, handed down through generations, and they remain the exclusive domain of the indigenous sons and daughters of Awka. It is the Awka people who possess the authority to select, crown, and affirm our leaders in accordance with our ancestral laws.”

    The group explained that Obi Dr. Austin Ndigwe was unanimously elected and crowned Ezeuzu III by the Oha Awka (Council of Elders), the Ndichie (titled men), and the wider community following extensive consultations, rituals, and traditional affirmations. “Any attempt by the state government to describe this leadership as ‘unrecognised’ or ‘fake’ is an insult to our autonomy and sets a dangerous precedent that undermines Igbo traditional governance,” the statement added.

    The group further described the conferment of the title on Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu as both appropriate and deserving, noting her status as a prominent daughter of Igboland, widow of the Ikemba Ndigbo, and a national figure of service and dignity. “As Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, she continues to project Anambra State and Igboland on the national and international stage,” the statement said. “The title Anyanwu N’Awalu Ora was conferred during a public ceremonial event in Awka, witnessed by multitudes, and it carries the full cultural legitimacy of our people. To discredit it is to undermine the very essence of Awka’s cultural sovereignty.” 

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    The group reminded the state government that traditional rulership in Igboland predates colonial and post-colonial governance structures and does not derive its legitimacy from modern political appointments or administrative recognition.

    “The role of government should be to protect and support traditional institutions, not to interfere in them for partisan reasons or to settle ongoing disputes,” the statement warned. “History shows that such interference breeds division and weakens communal harmony.”

    The Awka community called on Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo and his administration to retract any statements or actions discrediting the chieftaincy title and to respect the decisions of the Awka people. “The unanimous crowning of Ezeuzu III stands as a testament to our unity, and no external force can overturn it,” the statement concluded. “Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s title remains valid, honoured, and celebrated by those who truly understand and cherish our traditions.”

  • Sule, Otti, Soludo, Adeleke, Aiyedatiwa, Abiodun, Zulum, Yusuf sign 2026 budgets into Law

    Sule, Otti, Soludo, Adeleke, Aiyedatiwa, Abiodun, Zulum, Yusuf sign 2026 budgets into Law

    • Nasarawa to spend N545.2b, Abia N1.016tr, Anambra N765b, Osun N723b, Ondo N524.4b, Ogun N1.668tr, Borno N890.33b, Kano N1.47tr

    Eight governors yesterday assented to their states’ 2026 Appropriation Bills.

    They are: Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Alex Otti (Abia), Chukwuma Soludo (Anambra), Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Babagana Zulum (Borno), and Kabir Abba Yusuf (Kano).

    In Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, Governor Sule signed into law N545.2 billion tagged: “Budget of Strategic Consolidation” passed by the House of Assembly.

    The governor submitted N517.5 billion to the House of Assembly, but the lawmakers increased it by N27.6 billion.

    The signing ceremony was at the Conference Hall of the Government House.

    The governor hailed the Speaker and other lawmakers for the speedy passage of the State document.

    He promised that the state would witness more people-oriented projects, programmes and policies next year.

    Sule also promised effective implementation of the budget and strict adherence to the budgetary provisions.

    Speaker Danladi Jatau assured the governor of the commitment of the lawmakers to work for the interest of the people.

    “The budget has passed through all legislative processes and committee’s scrutiny before it was passed into law,” he said.

    The Speaker called for more synergy and support among all arms of government for the betterment of the state and its people.

    The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Hajiya Munirat Abdullahi, gave an overview of the budget and its breakdown.

    “The Capital Expenditure is N316.265,270,661.07 billion and the Recurrent Expenditure is N228.717,880,249.07 billion respectively,” she said.

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    In Abia State, Governor Otti signed N1.016tr 2026 budget into law in Nvosi Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area after its passage by the House of Assembly.

    The governor assured the people that his administration would faithfully implement the budget and sustain the momentum of accelerated development across the state.

    He described the process as a testament to democratic engagement, transparency and diligence between the Executive and the Legislative arms of government.

    Otti hailed the House of Assembly for its thorough scrutiny of the Appropriation Bill, noting that the time taken to review it was an indication of seriousness and commitment to the interests of Abians.

    “I’m very glad that this House pays attention to details, not just a House that would pass a bill without asking questions.

    “I’m not unaware of the engagements going back and forth between the Executive team and the Legislative team.

    “And that is what democracy should be about. Questions should be asked and numbers should be scrutinized. Two good heads, they say, are better than one.

    “That this Bill took a little bit of time to pass is also a plus. It shows that some work was being done. And it also puts the executive on his toes to ensure that he continues to up their game, to produce numbers that can be valued for,” he said.

    “This is a disciplined government and it will stick to the budget that has been approved. If there is any reason for anything to change, we will still come back to you with a legitimate defence.”

    Speaker Emmanuel Emeruwa described the 2026 budget as a “Project of Acceleration and New Possibilities”.

    He noted that the state was nearing “ground zero” after years of infrastructural and developmental challenges.

    “That is why we are beginning to accelerate. I do believe that we have started and we are not going to slow down until this place is completely transformed,” he added.

    In Awka, the Anambra State capital, Governor Soludo assented to N765 billion 2026 Appropriation, Correctional Bills and two others into law.

    The other Bills the governor signed into law are: Anambra State Mission Schools of Nursing and Midwifery, the Anambra State Taxes, Levies and Presumptive Tax and the Anambra State Correctional Services Law, 2025.

    The event was held at Anambra State’s Light House.

    A statement by the governor’s Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, said the House of Assembly increased the Appropriation Bill by N8 billion. Soludo had submitted N757 billion, while it was raised by the lawmakers to N765 billion.

    Assenting to the laws, the governor said: “This budget is more than numbers — it is a strategic plan crafted to deliver on our administration’s promises.

    “We have focused on what truly matters to the people, ensuring that resources are allocated to meet the critical needs in our communities.”

    Giving the lawmakers a pat on the back for doing a good jo, Soludo said: “Our productive partnership with the House of Assembly has been crucial.

    “Their thoroughness and cooperation have helped deliver laws that will accelerate the development and prosperity of Anambra State.

    “We submitted draft appropriation of N757 billion but in their wisdom after various reviews, the budget size very slightly increased to N766 billion for the 2026 fiscal year. So, we now get to work.

    “Transparency, accountability, and inclusive governance are not just ideals; they are the bedrock of our government.

    “By enacting these laws, we are creating the enabling environment for effective service delivery and sustainable growth.”

    In Osogbo, the Osun State capital, Governor Adeleke assented to ₦723 billion 2026 Appropriation Bill into law in the presence of Deputy Governor Kola Adewusi; Speaker Adewale Egbedun; the Chief of Staff, Kazeem Akinleye; the Head of Service, Elder Ayanleye Aina, and members of the State Executive Council (Exco).

    The House of Assembly had passed ₦723,454,988,670.00 the budget christened ‘Budget of Economic Transformation’ few days ago.

    Assenting to the budget, Adeleke said the budget will consolidate and expand governance and service deliveries in line with the five-point agenda of his administration.

    In a statement by his media aide , Olawale Rasheed, Governor Adeleke said: “This is the final year of our first term with expanded ambitions to complete ongoing projects and launch new initiatives for the good of our people.

    “Our administration has in the last three budget years laid solid foundation for the sustainable development of our dear state. We completed many abandoned projects and launched new ones. We paid billions of naira in pension and salary debt. We targeted workers welfare and approved and implemented payments of promotions arrears and paid many allowances which the previous government neglected.”

    The governor said his team had resolved to consolidate his administration’s achievements across the sectors.

    He said: “The year 2026 is a dual year of renewal of mandate and rolling out of a new agenda for the next four years. The consolidation for 2026 is a year of continuation, of further good governance and of continuity for sustainable governance.

    “Year 2026 is a loaded era as an election year when by God and people, our mandate will be renewed. But we should not allow governance to suffer. We must multi-task.

    “We promise Osun people full implementation of the new appropriation act. I charge each ministries and agencies to follow the established timelines for the budget execution. We will continue to focus on people’s welfare and complete all ongoing projects and programmes.”

    In Akure, the Ondo State capital, Governor Aiyedatiwa assented to N524.4 billion 2026 budget tagged: “Budget of Economic Consolation,” following its passage by the House of Assembly.

    The ceremony was held at the Executive Council Chamber of the Governor’s Office.

    The budget comprises a recurrent expenditure of N220,830,941,200 (42.11 per cent) and a capital expenditure of N303,579,649,739 (57.89 per cent).

    The governor said the budget underscores his administration’s strong commitment to infrastructure and economic growth.

    Sectoral distribution include: Agricultural Development: N29.6 billion (5.7 per cent), Trade and Industry: N8.7 billion (1.7 per cent), Education: N64.5 billion (12.3 per cent), Health: N59.5 billion (11.4 per cent), Information: N5.5 billion (1.1 per cent), Community Development: N16.3 billion (3.1 per cent), Infrastructural Development: N144 billion (27.6 per cent) and Environment & Sewage Management N8.7 billion (1.7 per cent), Regional Development: N15.5 billion (3.0 per cent), Administration of Justice: N20.5 billion (3.9 per cent), Public Finance: N95 billion (18.1 per cent),General Administration: N35b (6.7 per cent),Legislative Administration: N13 billion (2.5 per cent) and Energy: N7.3 billion (1.4 per cent).

    Aiyedatiwa said the fiscal plan was strategically designed to place the state on the path of sustainable growth while safeguarding the welfare of citizens.

    The governor described the 2026 budget as a strategic blueprint designed to respond effectively to prevailing national economic realities while positioning the state on a path of self-reliance, resilience and enduring prosperity.

    He outlined the sectoral distribution, highlighting the allocations to agricultural development, trade and industry, education, health, information, community development, infrastructural development, environment and sewage management, regional development, administration of justice, public finance, general administration, legislative administration, and energy.

    Aiyedatiwa also highlighted the budget’s key pillars, emphasising agriculture and food security with targeted investments in modern farming, support for smallholder farmers, and improved access to credit.

    He stressed that human capital development and skills enhancement through education, school renovations, teacher training, and digital skills development are also priority.

    He added that economic transformation and infrastructure development, including completion and initiation of critical projects in roads, power, and water supply, will create an enabling environment for businesses.

    Speaker Olamide Oladiji hailed Governor Aiyedatiwa for transforming the state and giving Akure a capital-like appearance.

    He also highlighted the Assembly’s achievements in passing Bills that regulate community activities, prohibiting kidnapping, registering domestic staff, establishing the State Road Fund, and creating coastal and waterways management agencies.

    In Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, Governor Abiodun assented to the N1.668 trillion 2026 budget following its passage by the House of Assembly.

    The passage followed the presentation and adoption of the report of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, chaired by Mr Musefiu Lamidi (APC-Ado-Odo/Ota II) during plenary at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

    Lamidi, who moved the motion for the adoption of the committee’s report, said the Bill was submitted to the Assembly 26 days earlier and had undergone scrutiny.

    The motion was seconded by Folawewo Salami (APC-Ifo II) and supported by the whole House during plenary presided over by Speaker Oludaisi Elemide.

    The Bill was later read and adopted clause by clause before the Committee of the Whole House; after which the motion for its third reading was moved by the Majority Leader, Yusuf Sheriff (APC-Ado-Odo/Ota I).

    The motion was seconded by Minority Leader Lukman Adeleye (PDP – Odogbolu) and supported by all the lawmakers through a unanimous voice vote.

    The Clerk/Head of the Legislative Service, Sakiru Adebakin, read the Bill for the third time, while Elemide directed that a clean copy be transmitted to the governor for assent.

    Earlier, while Presenting the committee’s report on the bill titled “H.B. No. 028/OG/2025 – Year 2026 Appropriation Bill”, Lamidi said the Assembly made adjustments to the budget proposals of three Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

    Governor Abiodun had, on December 3, presented the 2026 Appropriation Bill to the House of Assembly for approval.

    In Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, Governor Zulum signed the N890.33 billion into law.

    The governor said the budget was aligned with the state’s 25-Year Development Plan and 10-Year Strategic Transformation Initiative.

    The budget was christened “Budget of Sustained Recovery and Growth.”

    The governor said the budget comprises N536.56 billion for capital expenditure and N353.77 billion for recurrent expenditure.

    He said funding sources include N317.68 billion from FAAC, N44.30 billion from IGR and N417.23 billion in capital receipts from grants and aid.

    Zulum said the budget assumptions include an oil price benchmark of 64 U.S dollars per barrel, an exchange rate of N1,512 to the dollar and an inflation rate of 18 per cent.

    He said the budget prioritised security, human capital development, infrastructure, social welfare and economic revitalisation, with emphasis on durable solutions for displaced persons and resettled communities.

    He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to prudent financial management, due process, and value for money in public spending.

    The governor said the 2026 budget prioritised revenue generation, land administration, emergency management, urban planning, rural electrification, arts and culture, scholarship management, and sustainable development initiatives.

    He said security and durable solutions for displaced persons form the core of his 2026 Appropriation Bill.

    Zulum said the budget provided increased funding for security agencies to consolidate peace through improved welfare, modern equipment and enhanced intelligence gathering.

    He said significant resources were also earmarked for closing remaining IDP camps through the construction of resilient housing, land allocation and livelihood revitalisation in recovered communities.

    According to him, the goal is to transition from humanitarian assistance to sustainable development, ensuring resettled citizens live with dignity, self-reliance and opportunity.

    Zulum reviewed the 2025 fiscal year, citing macroeconomic challenges that affected budget implementation.

    He recalled that the 2025 budget stood at N615.85 billion, comprising N373.67 billion for capital expenditure and N242.17 billion for recurrent expenditure.

    The governor said that assumptions on exchange rate stability and inflation under the Federal Government’s Medium-Term Expenditure Framework were disrupted by prevailing economic realities.

    Despite the challenges, he said the state adopted proactive fiscal measures that ensured continued service delivery, infrastructure development and support to security agencies.

    Responding, the Speaker of the state assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, lauded the achievements made by the governor in the 2025 budget.

    Lawan also assured the governor of the assembly’s determination to pass the budget within a short time.

    In Kano, Governor Yusuf assented to ₦1.477 trillion 2026 budget following its consideration during plenary.

    The passage of the Bill followed its second reading and deliberations in the Committee of the Whole at a sitting presided over by Speaker Jibril Falgore in Kano.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Governor Yusuf had presented the 2026 Appropriation Bill to the Assembly on November 19 for legislative consideration.

    A breakdown of the approved budget shows that ₦934.6 billion, representing 68 per cent, was allocated to capital expenditure, while ₦433.4 billion, accounting for 32 per cent, was earmarked for recurrent expenditure.

    The capital-to-recurrent ratio is considered one of the highest in the state’s recent fiscal history, reflecting the government’s emphasis on infrastructure and development projects.

    With the passage of the bill, the assembly is expected to transmit the budget to Gov. Yusuf for assent in line with constitutional provisions.

    Also, the assembly also held a valedictory session in honour of its two deceased members, Aminu Sa’ad, who represented Ungogo Constituency, and Sarki Aliyu Daneji, who represented Kano Municipal Constituency.

    The lawmakers died in active service on Wednesday, Dec. 24, just hours apart.

    During the session, Speaker Falgore described their demise as a grievous loss to the assembly and the state, noting that the late legislators were committed public servants who contributed significantly to lawmaking and community development.

    He said their dedication to democratic ideals and the welfare of their constituents would remain indelible.

    The Speaker extended condolences to Gov. Yusuf, former Governor, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the families of the deceased lawmakers, and the entire people of Kano State.

    According to him, the assembly will continue to honour their memories and uphold the values they stood for. (NAN)

  • Soludo vs Obi: a new low

    Soludo vs Obi: a new low

    The Anambra governorship election has come and gone, with the people speaking loud and clear.  Across the state’s 21 local governments, everyone now knows the undisputed lord of the manor: the re-elected Governor, Chukwuma Charles Soludo.

    But that wasn’t joy — indeed, it was concentrated anguish — to former Governor Peter Obi.  He played the Emeka Ojukwu wannabe.  Recall: the late Ikemba Nnewi literarily strapped Obi to his back, and sold him to his captive APGA electorate. 

    That powered Obi to his two-term governorship.  In instant appreciation, Obi promised not to ever leave APGA — but that turned a dud, no sooner than Ojukwu hit the grave.

    But Obi, ever the mere butterly that always fancies himself a powerful bird, wasn’t quite shy playing the neo-Ojukwu, but this time to the Labour Party (LP) candidate, George Moghalu, himself an ex-APC, who wanted to cash on Obi’s felt popularity to sneak into the Anambra governorship. 

    That proved a rich mirage and opportunism never crashed so badly!  Some claim it was the “Soludo solution” that unhorsed Obi so badly.  But others swear it was the “APGA curse”, which harvested Obi’s conceit at the most painful of seasons.  Again, remember: Obi’s sensational renouncing of APGA, sooner than later, would come back to haunt the guilty.  Ojukwu, to whose grave Obi always went to campaign, while selling his hand-picked successor, Willy Obiano, must be smiling in his grave!

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    But Obi won’t be the sensational spin master, if he didn’t turn his trouncing into some realtime lexical triumph.  Mocked for his crash — well, the loud collapse of his LP protégée — Obi, gripped by post-electoral rout and conceit, claimed he wasn’t on the ballot, so he couldn’t have been defeated — true, but only literally so.  He knew he was well and truly trounced, because he was lifting Moghalu’s hand all over the place.  So, Moghalu’s rejection was Obi’s rejection too — fair and square!

    In his conceptual confusion, he happened on the rather colourful sports imagery: having been Anambra governor more than 10 years ago, he — Obi — now played in the Premiership (read presidency) and therefore was no Soludo’s mate.

    Well, that was a risky claim.  Besides, the Premiership — Presidency — claim is rather tendentious.  It ended in a loss, except you’re a Chimanmada Ngozi Adichie, who staked her literary integrity on Obi and confederates’ suspect 2023 claim.  His governorship?  There’s even a bigger shadow on that, given Obi’s legacy crisis.  Beyond a controversial “savings” claim, he left virtually zero landmark, compared to Soludo’s extant record.

    Soludo, who Sam Omatseye loves to call the “boom of Anambra orchestra”, on account of his baritone voice, didn’t take things lying low.  He countered that he, with his present gubernatorial record and previous record as CBN Governor, aside other pre-governorship achievements, had played in the World Cup, while all Obi could boast was playing in League One — effectively the English Second Division!

    Obi — a foul loser — brought it all upon himself, to be sure.  But Soludo too was no magnanimous winner, the way he robbed his predecessor in the mud.  That was a new low.  Both could do far better.

  • Obiano’s death rumour, wicked, irresponsible – Soludo

    Obiano’s death rumour, wicked, irresponsible – Soludo

    Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra has dismissed rumours circulating on social media alleging the death of former Governor of the state, Chief Willie Obiano.

    Soludo, in a statement issued on Friday by his Press Secretary, Mr Christian Aburime, said the reports claiming that Obiano died in a London hospital were “malicious and utterly false”.

    He said he had personally spoken with Obiano and could confirm that the former governor was alive and in good health.

    “I view with grave concern the reckless circulation of such malicious rumours. It is both wicked and completely irresponsible.

    “I strongly urge media practitioners, especially online publishers, to uphold the ethics of journalism by verifying any information through official channels before rushing to publish.

    “The spread of unverified death rumours is not only wicked and irresponsible but also erodes public trust,” the governor said.

    Soludo urged members of the public to disregard the trending report, assuring them that Obiano remained hale and hearty.

    He also wished the former governor continued strength, peace and a long, fulfilling life.

    (NAN)