Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Benjamin Kalu, has assured Nigerians of more dividends of democracy from the present government. While highlighting President Bola Tinubu’s legacies in the South East over the last two years, he emphasized the need for the region to align decisively with the centre. Mr. Kalu made the call while unveiling the Renewed Hope Partners (RHP), a multipurpose vehicle aimed at realizing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term bid in Umuahia, the capital city of Abia State. Mr. Kalu said that RHP will play a crucial role in translating President Tinubu’s administration’s national achievements…

Catholic cardinals will meet on May 7 to start voting for a new pope, the Vatican announced on Monday, a week after the death of Pope Francis. So-called “Princes of the Church” under the age of 80 will meet in the Sistine Chapel to choose a new religious leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics. The date was decided at meeting of cardinals of all ages early Monday, two days after the funeral of Francis, who died on April 21 aged 88. The Church’s 252 cardinals were called back to Rome after the Argentine’s death, although only 135 are eligible…

Former Abia State Governor and Senator representing Abia North in National Assembly, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu says the South East should not miss the benefits that accrue from belonging to the mainstream political environment. Kalu, in a post on his official Facebook account, said that President Bola Tinubu was not happy that he could only get 4% vote in the entire Abia State during the 2023 Presidential election. He noted that the President scoring just 4% in the whole of Abia State was a worrisome outcome considering the array of personalities that APC had in Abia State during the polls.…

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has responded to criticisms by a former Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, over the early resumption time for its Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination. Obi had, in a post on X on Sunday, decried reports of candidates, mostly teenagers, being asked to travel to examination centres as early as 6:30 am despite security concerns. He described the situation as “reckless,” citing incidents of accidents and missing candidates, and blamed it on what he called Nigeria’s inadequate investment in education. According to Obi, setting exams for vulnerable teenagers at such early hours was…

Private school owners in Edo State, under the umbrella of the Coalition of Associations of Private Schools (CAPS), staged a peaceful protest on Friday in Benin City to express grievances over an alleged hike in personal income tax. The protest, held at the premises of the Edo State Ministry of Education, saw participants carrying placards and banners demanding the reversal of what they described as an outrageous increase in tax rates—reportedly between 200% and 400%. CAPS comprises several educational bodies, including the Association of Private School Owners of Nigeria (APSON), Association for Formidable Education Development (AFED), National Association of Proprietors…

A group of women in Rivers state are protesting the suspension of Siminalayi Fubara, the governor, and the declaration of emergency rule in the state. The protest began early Friday morning with the women chanting slogans and demanding an end to what they perceive as an “unconstitutional state of affairs” in Rivers. During a march to the government house in Port Harcourt, the women also demanded a return to democratic governance in the state. “We want governor Fubara back,” one protester was heard saying in a viral video. ‘We need our democracy restored’, ‘#BringBackFubara’, ‘Obey the rule of law’, and…

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufa’i, and former Governor of Sokoto State and serving Senator, Aminu Tambuwal on Friday visited former President Muhammadu Buhari at his residence in Kaduna. Also on their entourage were the former Governor of Imo State, Achike Udenwa, former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam and former Adamawa state Governor, Jubirila Bindow as well as former Minister of Communications, Isa Pantami. While El-Rufa’i is now a member of the Social Democratic Party, Atiku and the rest are of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Both El-Rufa’i, Atiku, Tambuwal, and Pantami also observed…

Some representatives from communities affected by the Abia airport project on Wednesday alleged that the state government did not apply transparency and fair treatment in the acquisition of lands for the project. However, the Abia State government maintains that it transparently and fairly engaged affected communities and paid adequate compensation to landowners. The community members, who gathered at Umunkolo Civic Hall, carried placards with messages such as “Adequate compensation should be paid to landowners” and “30% discount not acceptable after 10% deduction by attorney,” among others. They also claimed that the Abia State government’s approach to payments of compensation was…

Abia State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says the Umuahia–Uzuakoli–Akara–Alayi–Abiriba Road, alongside several other rural road projects across the state, was made possible through the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP)—a $60 million World Bank-powered development facility secured during the tenure of the PDP-led government under the leadership of Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on the invitation of Governor Alex Otti is due to commission the strategic 45-kilometre Umuahia–Uzuakoli–Akara–Alayi–Abiriba Road this, Friday, April 11, 2025, However, the PDP in a statement by the Publicity Secretary, Eric Ikwuagu said the RAAMP Loan Facility which enabled…

The Federal Government is emphasizing the urgent need for sustainable agricultural practices focusing on root and tuber crops to address food security challenges in Nigeria. The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyrai made this known during the Annual Research Review and Planning Workshop of National Roots Crops Institute, Umudike Abia State. Themed ‘A Sustainable Future for Nigeria’s Agriculture: Focus on Root and Tuber Crops’, the Workshop brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including Policy makers, Scientists, Academia, former Executive Directors and Directors of NRCRI, Provosts, Professors, Deans of Faculties/Colleges of Universities, Farmers, NGOs, His Royal Highnesses…