Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

The first section of Nigeria’s Trans-Sahara Highway linking Calabar in Cross River State through Ebonyi State to the northern part of the country has reached about 45 percent completion, Minister of Works Senator Dave Umahi has said. Umahi disclosed this during an inspection of the Calabar-Ebonyi-Benue-Nasarawa-Abuja highway project at Nwedeoga Ndidenyi Ishieke in Ebonyi State. He praised Infiouest International, the contractor handling the project, for the pace and quality of construction. “Section One is about 40, I will give them 45 percent in completion. The quality of the concrete pavement is top-notch,” Umahi said. The minister said the project formed…

A former Rangers International Football Club player and one of the pioneers of the legendary Enugu club, Dominic Nwobodo, popularly known as “Alhaji Nwobodo”, is dead. Nwobodo reportedly died at about 7pm on Friday, August 14, 2026. His death was announced by the Ex-Rangers International Footballers Cooperative, of which he was a founding member. The cooperative described Nwobodo as a remarkable footballer, national player and coach who made significant contributions to the growth and development of Rangers. “He was not only a dreaded attacker but also a remarkable national player in the 70s, who served the game with dedication, both…

Petty women traders at the Nkwo Asa, Nnetu Market in Ugwuagbo local government area have appealed to Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti to come to their rescue, while protesting over the N36,000 annual statutory levy. DrumAfricanews reports that despite their peaceful demonstrations around the market, the authorities of the Ugwuagbo revenue collection task force insisted that they are under obligation to collect the levy or have the women’s shops sealed. Amidst Increasing tension, the aggrieved market women who on Saturday, August 15, had their shops sealed by the revenue Task Force described the levy as being far beyond their…

Hon. Dr. Madukwe E.E. Ukaegbu, Federal Commissioner representing Abia State at the Public Complaints Commission (PCC), has declared that the people of Igbere in Bende Federal Constituency will overwhelmingly support the re-election of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu. Ukaegbu, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said the people of Igbere were satisfied with Kalu’s performance and representation during his first and second terms in the House of Representatives, describing the community as appreciative of the Deputy Speaker’s contributions to the constituency. Speaking during an interview, Ukaegbu said Kalu’s emergence as Deputy…

…as govt charges traders to participate fully in Aba international trade fair Abia State Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Dr Mrs Salome Obikwu, has called traders and business operators in the system to participate fully at the forthcoming Aba International Trade Fair. Meanwhile, the Abia State Markets Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA) has set December 6th, 2026, the final day of the trade fair, as a grand reception day for Governor Alex Otti. DrumAfricanews reports that the ASMATA leadership on Thursday, August 13th, ,2026 inaugurated a high-powered committee for the organisation of a grand reception in honour of Governor Alex Otti…

Blessing Ezeokafor, sister to Joseph Ezeokafor Jnr. (Jowizaza), son of Ekwulobia billionaire and CEO of JEZCO Oil and Gas, Sir Joseph Ezeokafor, has blasted her celebrity brother for what she termed fake life that attracted criminals who thought the family had money. DrumAfricanews reports that the industrialist and the founder of the Jezco group, has spent his 10th night in the dens of the kidnappers who kidnapped him while he was on his knees, seeking the face of our God in a church at Ifitte Awka. According to Blessing, what have the criminals the temerity to demand for a ransom…

The suspension of Professor Nnamdi Chinwendu Nwaeze of the Department of Economics, Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU), is currently generating serious controversies, as many have slammed the current administration in the state for intimidation. From what was gathered from the press statement by Chijioke Nwogu, ABSU’s PRO was suspended over what the university described as social media posts deemed “inimical to the interests of the University” and “uncomplimentary” to its visitor, Governor Alex Otti of Abia State. Taking a deep look at what Prof. Nwaeze posted on the 12th of August with the title “ASUU-ABSU STRIKE: MATTERS ARISING”, he started…

Barely eight months to their wedding, Mrs Sarah Innocent has allegedly killed her husband, Mr Innocent Nwaorji, in his sleep over a dispute said to be phone related. The ugly incident which took place around past 10PM on Saturday, 8th of August, 2026, in their residence at Ohuru-Isimmiri community, Obingwa LGA, Abia State, saw the suspect arrested by the police while an effort to save her husband was on. The couple whose wedding took place at the popular St Michael’s Anglican Cathedral on the 12th of December were wrongly adjudged by many as happily married, but unknown to all, the…

The people of Umuawafor, Umuokereke and Umunwogu villages in Isiala Aro-Ngwa Autonomous Community in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area of Abia State have raised alarm over what they termed land grabbing activities using the name of the state government. They said that the move to grab their land and use it for the proposed “Smart City” without considering their welfare and the already existing development activities of their tenants who had already purchased some land there is tantamount to unlawful acquisition and land grabbing. In a peaceful protest they held on Wednesday to demand an end to what they called…

The traditional ruler of Igbere, HRM Eze Joseph Ukaoha Anyanta, Enyi Ezeji of Ibinaukwu Igbere, has expressed support for the re-election of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu. Eze Anyanta made his position known on Wednesday when Kalu visited the traditional rulers as part of his ongoing consultations ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to the royal father, the people of Bende Federal Constituency had witnessed a difference in Kalu’s representation since he assumed office, compared with previous representatives. “Since 1999, your representation is different from others who have represented us.” Eze Anyanta…