UMUAHIA — The Abia State Government has officially commissioned the Nnenna Oti Bus Terminal in Umuahia, describing it as a landmark multimodal transport hub built to drive a modern, safe, and sustainable transport system.
Governor Alex Otti announced the opening on Tuesday, confirming the facility is now ready for public use. The terminal is designed to accommodate more than 340 buses at once and is directly linked to the state’s new electric bus network.
Twenty electric buses are already in operation, with additional units expected in the coming weeks. The facility runs on independent power and water systems to guarantee uninterrupted service.
The terminal is named in honour of Prof. Nnenna Nnennaya‑Oti, the INEC Returning Officer for the 2023 Abia governorship election. Governor Otti said her name on the facility celebrates “integrity and patriotism” and pays tribute to all electoral officials, security operatives, party agents, and citizens who defended democracy against intimidation.
Delivering an address titled “Raising the Bar”, the governor stated that Abia had moved beyond “the era of small ambitions.” He added, “We refuse to be boxed into margins that underestimate our strength. This principle underpins all our undertakings.”
Otti commended contractors, Planet Projects Limited, for delivering the project. He also recognized the Commissioner for Transport, Dr. Chimezie Ukaegbu, and the Senior Special Assistant on Transport, Dr. Obioma Nwaogbe, for their roles in executing the vision.
The governor urged residents and the host community to take ownership of the terminal. “Maintain a clean environment and guard against vandalism. This terminal belongs to you, and its success depends on your care,” he said.
He further appealed to Abians to pay their taxes regularly, noting that “development cannot be sustained without collective responsibility, and every naira contributed helps us deliver the future our people deserve.”
ENUGU — Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has pledged to immediately push for implementation of the new Igbo Charter, following the submission of the committee report by former CBN Deputy Governor, Prof. Kingsley Moghalu.
The President-General of Ohanaeze, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, received the document Tuesday at the group’s National Secretariat in Enugu. He described the charter as a “unified blueprint” for Igbo interests and promised it would not be shelved.
“This is a new roadmap for Ndigbo. Ohanaeze will set up an action committee this week to drive advocacy, engagement, and enforcement of the recommendations,” Iwuanyanwu said.
The 15-member Moghalu-led committee was inaugurated in January to harmonize Igbo positions on restructuring, security, economic revival, and political inclusion. The final report was compiled after months of consultations across the seven Igbo-speaking states and key diaspora communities.
Presenting the charter, Prof. Moghalu said it reflects a non-partisan consensus on core demands. “This document gives Ndigbo one voice. It is a framework for negotiating our place in Nigeria and protecting our future,” he stated.
Ohanaeze confirmed the report will guide its engagement with the Federal Government, National Assembly, and international bodies. Traditional rulers, youth groups, and women leaders who attended the handover urged swift action on the charter’s provisions.
LAGOS — Several Nigerian celebrities turned Children’s Day into a moment of reflection this year, sharing “Unhappy Children’s Day” messages to spotlight the struggles many kids still face and the oyo kids that was kidnapped two weeks ago.
Rather than the usual cheerful photos and goodwill wishes, stars across Nollywood, music, and comedy used their platforms to call attention to child poverty, out-of-school kids, and insecurity affecting children.
Actress and activist posts highlighted rising cases of child labour in major cities, while a popular Afrobeats singer wrote that “there’s nothing to celebrate when millions of kids are hungry, unsafe, or denied education.”
The posts sparked wide conversation online, with fans praising the shift from performative celebrations to advocacy. Many users shared the hashtag #UnhappyChildrensDay alongside stories of children in IDP camps and street kids.
Child rights groups welcomed the tone, saying celebrity voices help push children’s welfare back into national discourse.
Ultimately ABUJA — Former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi has rejected the outcome of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, primaries, describing the exercise as “concocted” and lacking credibility.
Amaechi, in a statement released Tuesday through his media office, faulted the conduct of the primaries, alleging irregularities that undermined the integrity of the process.
“I cannot in good conscience accept a result that emerged from a flawed and manipulated exercise. The so-called primaries were concocted to serve predetermined interests, not the will of genuine party members,” the statement read.
He called on the ADC leadership to cancel the results and conduct a fresh, transparent process that reflects true democratic principles. Amaechi warned that proceeding with the current outcome would damage the party’s credibility ahead of upcoming elections.
The former Rivers State Governor also urged party faithful to remain calm, assuring them that he would explore all lawful and political avenues to address the situation.
As of press time, the ADC National Working Committee had not issued an official response to Amaechi’s rejection of the results.
Party insiders say tensions have been building over the last week, with several aspirants raising concerns about delegate lists and accreditation procedures during the primaries.
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has declared that former President Goodluck Jonathan is eligible to contest in the 2027 general elections.
The judge gave the ruling while delivering judgment in a suit filed by an Abuja-based legal practitioner, Jideobi Johnmary, seeking to stop Jonathan from participating in future presidential election, haven taken the oath of office twice as president.
Justice Lifu dismissed the suit on the grounds of being an abuse of court process.
According to Lifu, the suit was a waste of the court’s precious time because both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal have already resolved the eligibility of Jonathan.
“I am bound by the above decision of the Court of Appeal and this court, I have no more to add”, Lifu said
Meanwhile, he slammed a cost of N20 million against the plaintiff in favour of Jonathan and N1 million in favour of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Senator Ned Nwoko claims he was promised an automatic APC ticket before joining the party but was later betrayed.His statement comes days after he lost the APC Senatorial ticket for Delta North to former Governor of the state, Ifeanyi Okowa.
Ned defected from the PDP to the APC in January 2025 citing deep divisions and fractionalization within the PDP as the primary reasons for his decision to leave the party, stating that the growing factions had become irreconcilable.
Good Governance Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd (GGMCS), whose membership cuts across different parts of the world, was established a few years ago in Anambra State with the core mandate of contributing to food security in Alaigbo.
Since its establishment, the Cooperative has continued to engage and collaborate with individuals who are passionate about agriculture. It has also made several efforts to secure agricultural land, including engagements with government institutions and relevant stakeholders.
The Cooperative has, however, observed with concern that many communities are increasingly involved in land speculation, a development that has fueled persistent land disputes across several communities. Government has also failed to make agriculture sufficiently attractive to young people.
As a result, a large percentage of energetic youths are gradually losing interest in agriculture as a profession, thereby worsening unemployment and increasing involvement in internet fraud and other social vices.
In developed societies, governments deliberately incentivize food production in recognition of food as the first basic need of man. Such incentives include employment opportunities within mechanized farm settlements, scholarships for agricultural studies, attractive wage structures, provision of modern farm equipment, access to fertilizers and agrochemicals, as well as designated agricultural zones and farmland support schemes.
Open grazing remains another major obstacle to successful farming. Although an anti-open grazing law exists in Anambra State, it is difficult to understand why the law has not been fully enforced. Herds of cattle continue to invade and destroy farmlands, causing devastating losses to farmers and discouraging agricultural investment.
There is also a growing concern over the relationship between open grazing and insecurity, particularly kidnapping activities within forests and bushes. Government must therefore urgently address communal land disputes and security challenges that continue to discourage genuine agricultural development and investment.
It is in line with GGMCS’ commitment to achieving food security in the state that we identify with the laudable initiative of Prof. Kate Omenugha in establishing a world-class Centre of Agro-Excellence in partnership with HKSS.
According to a statement released by the University’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Harrison Madubueze:The statement reads;
“The initiative is strongly focused on transforming students from theoretical learners into globally competitive, solution-driven professionals capable of delivering excellence in modern agriculture, agribusiness, food systems, and innovation.
The fully irrigated Agro Park and Centre of Agro-Excellence is strategically designed as a practical learning and research hub where students, lecturers, researchers, and industry practitioners can acquire hands-on experience aligned with global best practices in modern agronomy and sustainable agriculture.
HKSS’ intervention is multidisciplinary and multidimensional, reflecting a strong commitment to food sustainability, mechanized agriculture, innovation, youth empowerment, and institutional capacity building.
Current projects within the HKSS Agro Park facility include: 5 hectares of Hybrid Plantain Orchard, 5 hectares of HYV Hybrid Moringa Oleifera MOMAX-3, 2 hectares of Super Habanero Pepper Orchard, 2 hectares of Cucumber and Watermelon Production Scheme, and Bell Pepper Production within five Smart Farm Greenhouse Units.
This initiative is not merely conceptual. It is action-oriented, impact-driven, and excellence-focused. The COOU-HKSS Agro Park stands as a model agricultural transformation centre dedicated to raising a new generation of agripreneurs, researchers, innovators, and professionals equipped to solve real-world agricultural challenges across Nigeria and Africa.”
GGM Cooperative Society is delighted to identify with this initiative and hopes that this model will be replicated across idle spaces across the state, especially within public schools from primary to tertiary levels.
There are no longer enough white-collar jobs to absorb the growing population of graduates, while employment opportunities within government establishments have become increasingly limited. Government must therefore discourage overdependence on certificate-based education and instead promote practical, productivity-driven education capable of driving agro-industrial development, innovation, entrepreneurship, and self-reliance.
Parents should also avoid investing enormous resources in forms of education that merely produce certificates without corresponding practical or economic value. The future belongs to innovation, mechanized agriculture, entrepreneurship, and skills-based education that empowers young people to become productive contributors to society.
This is the face of a man standing at the dreadful frontier between life and death. At that haunting moment, with fear tightening its grip around his soul and uncertainty clouding the horizon before him, one truth must have echoed endlessly through his mind: the family he left behind in search of bread.
No father journeys into danger dreaming of martyrdom. He only seeks survival. He seeks dignity. He seeks the modest honour of returning home at dusk with enough to keep hope alive around his table. Yet fate, cruel and merciless, chose otherwise for Michael.
Look closely at his countenance.
That face carries more than pain; it bears the burden of a collapsing humanity. The admixture of torment, confusion, helplessness, and silent resignation in his eyes tells the tragic story of a society that has descended into darker realms—where evil now walks boldly in daylight, mocking both conscience and the Transcendent God.
Michael Oyedokun was not a warrior.
He was not a politician.
He was not a man of violence.
He was a poor teacher in Oyo State—a man whose only offence was choosing the noble path of educating children in a land where those who mould minds are rewarded with neglect, insecurity, and death. Kidnapped alongside his students and murdered in the most horrifying and senseless manner, Michael now joins the long list of ordinary Nigerians sacrificed upon the altar of national failure.
And while the earth receives his body, a more painful reality remains: at this very moment, his two children are writing their WAEC examinations, carrying in their young hearts the unbearable knowledge that the father who once prayed over their books will never return home again.
What does a child write in an examination hall when grief has become his closest companion?
How does the mind concentrate when death has emptied the chair at the head of the family table?
Yet perhaps therein lies the tragedy—and the prophecy.
For history teaches us that the blood of the innocent has a mysterious way of troubling the conscience of nations. The martyrdom of men like Michael Oyedokun becomes a mirror before society, exposing the moral decay we have normalized and the humanity we have abandoned.
His death must not end as another statistic buried beneath the noise of fleeting outrage. It must become a seed—sown into the conscience of Nigeria—a seed that demands accountability, justice, security, and the restoration of human dignity.
If a teacher can no longer travel safely with children;
if fathers must negotiate with death merely to provide food for their families;
if education itself now walks under the shadow of terror—then civilization stands wounded.
Michael may have fallen, but his memory must rise higher than the cruelty that consumed him.
And perhaps someday, when this nation finally rediscovers its conscience, the story of Michael Oyedokun will not merely be remembered as the tale of a murdered teacher, but as the painful sacrifice that helped awaken a sleeping people to reclaim their humanity.
Okoro Chinedum Benedict,
National Institute for Security Studies,
Abuja.
UMUAHIA — Abia State is pushing for energy independence as the 1,074MW Alaoji Power Plant returns to life after a 3-year shutdown, with Governor Alex Otti moving to wheel electricity directly to Umuahia and beyond.
What’s happening:
Plant restored: NDPHC MD Jennifer Adighije confirmed 3 generating units at Alaoji are back online, with 375MW now available for dispatch to the national grid.
Why it shut down: The plant was idle since 2023 over gas metering disputes and debts to TotalEnergies. Those have now been resolved.
Otti’s play: Abia has signed an agreement with EEDC to acquire distribution assets from Umuahia to Arochukwu and Umunneochi. The state is at the “payment stage” and plans to set up the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Agency. e28a
The goal:
Gov. Otti called direct wheeling from Alaoji to Umuahia “a low-hanging fruit” to rapidly transform economic activity. He says Alaoji could eventually scale to 800MW, then 1,100MW. e28a00db
Bigger picture:
Abia already commissioned the 188MW Geometric Power Plant in Aba. Otti says if Geometric adds a planned 125MW turbine, it can cover Umuahia’s 100MW demand too. The state is also investing in renewables and mini-grids for a diversified energy mix. 6c50e28a
Abia is positioning to detach from the national grid and run on independent power.
ABUJA — President Bola Tinubu has appointed Professor Segun Aina as the new Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, replacing Professor Is-haq Oloyede whose two-term tenure ends July 31, 2026.
Key Details:
Age: Aina will be 40 in July, making him the youngest JAMB registrar in history.
Background: Professor of Computer Engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. He began his career with JAMB during NYSC.
Expertise: Systems expert with 15+ years in national examination systems, digital infrastructure, and public-sector reform. Consultant to NECO, NABTEB, and state ministries on ICT and exam integrity.
Education: BEng Computer Systems Engineering from University of Kent; MSc Internet Computing & Network Security and PhD Digital Signal Processing from Loughborough University, UK; Senior Management Programme at Lagos Business School.
Professional bodies: COREN, NSE, IEEE, IET.
The appointment was announced Thursday, May 21, 2026, by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga. Tinubu expects Aina to build on Oloyede’s reforms and further strengthen JAMB’s operations through technology and digital transition.
Oloyede, who took office in 2016, is credited with major digital reforms and remitting billions in operating surplus to the federal treasury during his tenure.
