Author: Drum Africa Correspondent
By Ogba Nwokoro A writer on contēmporary issues Evaluating the qualifications and viability of Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Member for Bende Federal Constituency and Deputy Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives highlights a career defined by extensive legislative productivity, strategic positioning at the national level, and deep grassroots engagement. Kalu has established a reputation as a master legislator, having sponsored dozens of critical bills spanning constitutional reforms, electoral integrity, and institutional growth. His legislative portfolio includes driving pivotal framework laws and securing assent for key statutes, such as the transition of correctional services to the concurrent legislative list…
The Onyedinma Foundation, in collaboration with the Child Protection Network, Abia State Chapter, visited a 16-year-old survivor of child domestic work who was receiving care at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba. From facts available, the young boy was severely abused by his aunt, an incident that rightly sparked widespread outrage on social media. DrumAfricanews reports that the boy was brought to Aba in 2024 from Orji River in Enugu State, with the promise of putting him in school and taking good care of him. Onwuka Glory, Executive Director, the Onyedinma Foundation, said that the boy was instead…
By Udora Orizu In politics, the loudest applause may come from a rally, but the truest verdict is often heard in the quiet conversations between a leader and his people. Across Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State, those conversations have been taking place, but not on a campaign podium, but in palaces, churches, community halls, village squares and meetings with the people. For Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, PhD, CFR, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, the journey towards 2027 has begun in an unusual place: with the people, before the politics. As he winds down his ward-to-ward “MeetMyConstituentsConsultations”,…
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu, has proven to the people of Bende Federal Constituency that no part of the area is regarded as lesser than the other, as he has planted his infrastructural footprints all over the 13 political wards of the federal constituency. DrumAfricanews reports that the Deputy Speaker’s presence is currently felt at the Itumbuzor Ward through the construction of 5 kilometres of Ubibia-Itumbuzor road, the construction of the biggest health centre in ntalakwu Itumbuzor, and the construction of 6 kilometres of Etitiulo-Okporoachara-Ndiwo-Itumbuzor road. The wave of his infrastructural inputs at…
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Anambra State Command has charged Anambra State residents to take ownership in the protection of Critical National, State and Local Government Assets and Infrastructure as patriotic duty. The State Commandant, Commandant Maku Olatunde, gave the charge while delivering a lecture at the maiden Amanuke Youth Summit in Amanuke, Awka North L.G.A, themed, ‘Protection of Critical Assets and Infrastructure: The Role of the Youth in Homeland Security.’ Maku, represented by the Command’s image maker, Superintendent of Corps, Okadigbo Edwin described national critical assets as nation’s backbone, warning that their destruction directly threatened national…
Prince Eze Ugochukwu The 2026 National Council on Finance and Economic Development (NACOFED) commenced today in Owerri, Imo State, with a powerful call for a fundamental re-examination of Nigeria’s fiscal federalism. The retreat, which brings together key financial stakeholders from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, was declared open with a compelling address by the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele . Mr. Oyedele set the tone for the deliberations, stating that the gathering is not merely a routine meeting but a platform for honest interrogation of the nation’s fiscal architecture. “This year, we…
Governor Peter Mbah has approved an additional N115 million monthly subvention for the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), as part of efforts to address concerns surrounding the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), ESUT chapter. The additional funding will raise the state government’s monthly subvention to ESUT from the current N161 million to N276 million, representing a cumulative increase of N140 million since February 2026. The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, who made this known in a statement on Monday, said the additional funding underscored the administration’s commitment to…
The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has expressed heartfelt sense of loss over the road crash involving members of POR Star Football Club of Onitsha who were on their way to Awka on Sunday, Aug. 16. DrumAfricanews gathered that POR Star players were on their way to honour a fixture in the ongoing All Stars Football Championship when the bus conveying them plunged into a ditch on the Enugu-Onitsha expressway leaving some severely wounded and in danger. The incident was confirmed by Chikelue Iloenyosi, Chairman of Anambra State Football Association (AnSFA) who has paid condolence visit to the club…
The Anambra State government through the State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development has commenced a large scale programme by planting no fewer than 500 combination of economic trees and flowers in open spaces across Awka capital city. The economic trees which include Oil palm, Orange, Mango, Coconut, Soursop, Royal Palm and Murraya flower varieties are being planted at government designated open spaces. Areas covered include parts of New Government House(Light House), Emeka Anyaoku Blouvard, Alex Ekwueme Square, Ikenga Shopping Mall, Jerome Udoji Secretariat, Aroma, Kwata and Amawbia Flyovers as well as the Ministry’s premises. Speaking with newsmen during…
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…