Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

The Anambra State AIDS Control Agency (ANSACA) has commenced moves to strengthen and revive the HIV response at the grassroots through the repositioning of Local Action Committee on AIDS (LACA) structures and closer integration with the HIV/AIDS Awareness Brigade (HAB) across the 21 Local Government Areas of the state. The Executive Director/Project Manager of ANSACA, Dr. Nkem Okeke, disclosed this during a strategic engagement with LACA Managers and HAB Coordinators held on September 2 in Awka. A major highlight of the meeting was the move to establish a 1,693-member Ward HIV/AIDS Brigade, designed to deepen HIV awareness, prevention, testing, referrals…

Residents and youths of Enugu State on Friday marched through popular streets in the state capital in support of the government’s campaign against insecurity, declaring their zero tolerance for terror, criminality and violent extremism. The youths, including undergraduates and members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), who ultimately converged at Government House, Enugu, where they were received by the Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, pledged to mobilise young people across the state against criminal activities and violent extremism. Addressing the group, Mbah said security was one of the recurring risk factors identified by his administration while mapping out…

The Youth and Students Advocates for Development Initiative (YSAD) has expressed profound concern over the recent disclosure by the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, regarding the tenure of local government mayors and councilors. During the monthly media chat, the Governor revealed that the tenure of these local government officials will end in November 2028, contrary to the widely held belief of November 2026, citing an amendment to the law by the State House of Assembly. According to YSAD, it views this revelation as a critical failure of inclusive governance, adding that the fact that a law of such…

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, today, received the Daily Times Nigeria @100 Times Heroes Lawmaker of the Year Award (House of Representatives category). The Bende Abia state born lawmaker, who received the award on Thursday at the Daily Times Nigeria @100 Centenary Celebration and Times Heroes Awards held at the THISDAY Dome, Abuja, alongside prominent Nigerians and institutions recognised for their contributions to national development, described the recognition as both an honour and a renewed call to public service. Those that were equally honoured were President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo…

The Governorship candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 governorship election in Abia State, Chief Etugo Ndubuisi Ogah, has dismissed rumours suggesting that he is merely a placeholder candidate of the party. Ogah went on to insist that he remains the authentic candidate of the NDC for the 2027 governorship election, stressing that his candidature has no placeholder tag on it. While addressing women leaders of the party in Umuahia, he stated that his position was not in doubt, as his name had already been published on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), portal as the Governorship…

…Communications Minister, Tijani Commends Kalu’s Efforts Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani has commended the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, for prioritizing Abia State in the National Universal Communications Access Programme (NUCAP). DrumAfricanews reports that NUCAP is an initiative of the federal government to extend reliable mobile and broadband connectivity to communities yet to have adequate commercial network coverage for which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has directed that every unserved and underserved part of Nigeria should be integrated online. The initiative will also enhance the transparency and integrity of the…

The Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) says the party has candidates in all states for the 2027 general election. Speaking recently, Osa Director, NDC national publicity secretary, said claims that the party is not fielding candidates in some states are false. Recall that, Okoi Obono-Obla, a former presidential adviser, said the NDC is facing a major electoral setback ahead of the January 15, 2027, general election. Obono-Obla, in a post, said the opposition party failed to field governorship candidates in 11 states, covering 233 LGAs across the country. He said the provisional list of governorship candidates released by the Independent National…

A former presidential aide, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, has described the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) as a party destined to fail following a recent revelation by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). According to Obono-Obla, INEC’s displayed provisional governorship candidates by August 31, field checks confirmed NDC has no candidate in 11 states. Obono-Obla listed the 11 states to have 233 local government areas put together and they include: Cross River – 18 LGAs, Borno – 27 LGAs, Ebonyi – 13 LGAs, Katsina – 34 LGAs, Kebbi – 21 LGAs, Niger – 25 LGAs, Plateau – 17 LGAs, Taraba – 16…

The Centre for Human Rights Advocacy and Wholesome Society (CEHRAWS) has called on the Abia State Government to make public the specific provisions of the Abia State Local Government Administration Law, 2025, upon which the Governor’s position that the current Chairmen and Councillors will remain in office until 2028 is based. DrumAfricanews reports that recently, during a media chat, Governor Alex Otti said that the previous law providing for a two-year tenure for elected local government officials had been amended by the Abia State House of Assembly before the November 2, 2024, local government elections. Otti said that the amended…

…Nigerians shine in 10km category Athletes from Kenya and Ethiopia have won the prime prizes in the 42km category as the Enugu City International Festival ended in grand style. This was even as the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, vowed to return Enugu to its glorious sporting past and also make the state the sporting capital of Africa. While the 42km race, where professional athletes from various parts of the world competed, was flagged off at exactly 6.30am in front of the Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College, GTC, Enugu, the 10km race, where more Nigerians competed,…