Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

The Federal Government has officially handed over the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA), Enugu, to the concessionaires, Aero Alliance Limited, under a public-private partnership arrangement. Following the execution of the handover certificates, assets register, and other relevant documentation, Aero Alliance will now undertake the financing, rehabilitation, expansion, operation, and management of the airport, ensuring that it meets and sustains internationally recognised standards of safety, efficiency, and passenger experience. This was even as Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State described the successful concession of the airport as a major breakthrough and opener of new economic opportunities for the South East, while…

The Enugu State Government and the South East Development Commission (SEDC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the South East Agro Development Programme, marking a major step towards transforming agriculture into a catalyst for economic growth, industrialisation, and food security across the South-East. Speaking during the signing ceremony at the Government House, Enugu, on behalf of Governor Peter Mbah, the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Chidiebere Onyia, said the administration remained committed to building a robust agricultural economy capable of driving industrial growth and expanding the state’s wealth base. He said the government’s vision of growing Enugu’s…

“We are proud to stand with Imo State on this forward-thinking journey. It’s not just about giving loans—it’s about weaving financial inclusion into the very fabric of group enterprises” – Mr. Olusegun Alebiosu, the Chief Executive Officer of FirstBank Group There’s an old saying that echoes through our villages and cities: “A single broom cannot sweep clean, but many brooms tied together can clear any floor.” That timeless wisdom is exactly what the Imo State Government had in mind when it launched the ÓKÓBÌ Initiative—and now, FirstBank is stepping in to help make that vision a reality for even more…

The Abia State Shippers Association has urged members to ensure that they apply every necessary piece of knowledge gathered from the one-day seminar held to educate them on the new tax policy reforms. Recall that President Bola Tinubu signed into law tax policy reforms on 26 June 2025, a move some experts said streamlined revenue administration, enhancing compliance, strengthening intergovernmental coordination, and repositioning the tax system to support inclusive growth. However, despite the position of the government on the benefits of the tax policy reforms, the shippers’ association of Abia State insisted their members have to know more about the…

The Abia State Government has said that the pipeline explosion that occurred in Umuololo community, Owaza, in Ukwa West Local Government Area, was due to an ageing petroleum pipeline believed to have been laid about 70 years ago. The pipeline, part of Oil Mining Lease (OML) 11, reportedly exploded at about 1:30 a.m. on Monday, triggering a major oil spill that affected homes, farms, schools, shops and livestock in the community. A delegation from the state government, led by the Commissioner for Environment, Philemon Asonye Ogbonna, and the Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Professor Joel Ogbonna, visited the affected…

The Imo State Health Insurance Agency (IMSHIA) partnered with The Widow Aid Foundation to enroll 100 widows into the ImoCare Health Insurance Programme on Tuesday, 23rd June 2026, in commemoration of International Widows Day 2026. The enrollment exercise took place at the IMSHIA State Office, Owerri, and aligns with this year’s global theme, _“Invisible Women, Invisible Problems.”_ Each beneficiary was issued an ImoCare ID card, granting access to quality healthcare services without financial hardship at IMSHIA-accredited facilities across the state. The event was attended by key stakeholders in health and women’s development like Hon. Nkechinyere Ugwu, Honourable Commissioner for Women…

The Onyedinma Foundation has issued an urgent call to action following the harrowing rescue of two teenage sisters from human traffickers at the Lagos border earlier this month. The foundation is a leading non-governmental organisation dedicated to protecting vulnerable members of society, especially women and children, from exploitation and abuse.  Onwuka Glory, Executive Director of Onyedinma Foundation, explained that two sisters, aged 14 and 15, were trafficked from Ugwunagbo Local Government Area of Abia State in June 2026 by their own aunt, who deceived them with promises of employment as salesgirls in Lagos.  According to Onwuka, the sisters were intercepted…

The Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Abia State command, Chigbu Chilee, has said that the agency nationwide has long recognised that old strategies cannot solve new drug-related problems and has adopted a more results-orientated approach. Speaking to journalists in Aba, in preparation for the June 26, 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (World Drug Day), with the theme “World drug problem: persisting issues, new challenges, innovative responses”, Chilee said the Abia State Command of the NDLEA is already aggressive in its sensitisation now that these dealers have started penetrating secondary schools. Speaking on…

The Anambra Police Command has foiled an alleged attempt by a 21-year-old woman to sell her newborn baby girl in Igbariam, Anambra East Local Government Area of the state. The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday in Awka. “Operatives of the Anambra Police Command attached to Oyi Divisional Station, acting on credible intelligence, on June 19, successfully foiled an alleged attempt by a 21-year-old woman to sell her newborn baby. “The police promptly secured both the mother and her infant daughter and facilitated their reunion with family members…

The Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continues to grapple with the fallout from its May 24, 2026 governorship primary election, an exercise that has attracted widespread criticism from party members and stakeholders. Several party faithful have alleged on social media that no actual voting took place across the state’s 184 wards as required during the primary. According to the allegations, results were instead compiled and announced by the state executive committee, led by the party chairman, in favour of Barr. Kelechi Anosike, a candidate many members claim was largely unknown within the party structure across the…