Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates for the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW). Tinubu’s trip to the Middle East is at the invitation of the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, announced Tinubu’s arrival in a post on his X page. He accompanied the post with a short video showing Tinubu’s arrival in the UAE. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu arrives in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where he is received by Sheikh Shakhboot Nahyan Al Nahyan,…

Three persons are feared dead in a suspected cholera outbreak in the Isiodum community of Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State. It was gathered that the incident was discovered when a team from a multinational oil company visited the community to inspect a water rehabilitation project in the area. A former Chairman of Andoni Local Government Area, Dr Gogo-Ogute Isaiah, who said he was with the oil firm working on the water rehabilitation project in the area, confirmed the incident in a statement on Saturday. Isaiah said two of the three victims were from the same compound in the…

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to recognizing and honoring the sacrifices of military veterans and active personnel. He acknowledged their crucial role in protecting the nation during the 2025 Armed Forces Remembered Day Church Service at Seventh Day Adventist Church Aguiyi Ironsi Layout Umuahia The Governor who paid tribute to veterans and serving members of the Armed Forces, acknowledged their sacrifice, bravery and dedication in service to the nation. He also recalled the tragic cases of Armed Forces personnel who were brutally murdered in the state while performing their duties, and vowed that the…

The All Progressive Congress, APC, has said that it will take over the leadership of Abia State in 2027, with a promise to provide more democracy dividends for the Abia people. The Chairman of APC in Abia, Kingsley Ononogbu stated this at Abiriba Stadium in Abiriba, Ohafia LGA of Abia State on Friday while receiving a former prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kelvin Jombo Onumah who defected to the APC his supporters. The Abia State APC Chairman said that his party will count on the achievements recorded by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu in the Senate, Deputy Speaker,…

The South East Senate Caucus congratulates Senator Azuta Mbata on his emergence as the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide. In a statement in Abuja on Saturday, the leader of the Caucus, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe said Senator Mbata’s victory at the election during the Ohaneze General Assembly in Enugu, marks a milestone in the history of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation. The caucus he said have firm confidence in Senator Mbata’s pedigree and leadership qualities that are solid enough to steer Ohaneze to achieve the much desired unity and development in Igboland and command the ability to also reach out…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has invited Wahab and Raheem Okoya, sons of billionaire businessman, Chief Razaq Okoya, for questioning over alleged naira abuse. Raheem and Wahab are expected to report to the commission’s Lagos office for questioning by 10 am on Monday, January 13, 2025. The brothers sparked widespread criticism after a video surfaced showing them flaunting and spraying bundles of N1,000 notes in a promotional clip for Raheem’s new song titled “Credit Alert.” In the video, the duo, dressed in white agbadas, danced while a mobile policeman held stacks of crisp naira notes, which they flung into…

A total of 108 officers from the Anambra Police Command were decorated on Friday at the Command Headquarters in Awka, the state capital. While 110 officers were approved for promotion by the Police Service Commission, 108 were present at the occasion. A breakdown of the officers decorated shows that twenty-four Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSP) were promoted to the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP), twenty Assistant Superintendents of Police were promoted to the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), and sixty-six Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASP) were promoted to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP). Speaking shortly after the…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has proposed the sum of N126 billion for its 2025 budget. The Chairman of the Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, made the presentation while defending the 2024 budget implementation before the National Assembly on Friday. He pleaded with the National Assembly to approve the 2025 budget which is nearly three times the size approved last year. “Our proposal for 2025; the Commission requires the sum of N126 billion. So, we will like the support of the National Assembly members to ensure that we are adequately funded for the responsibilities we are required to discharge, and…

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has hailed the emergence of a former Senator representing Rivers East, John Azuta Mbata, as the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide. Fubara said that the politician’s victory at the poll in Enugu on Friday is a testament to his wide acceptance as an accomplished Nigerian whose test of character and integrity is exemplary. This was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Nelson Chukwudi. He said that the overwhelming votes of the delegates showed the implicit confidence of members of the socio-cultural organisation in his ability to…

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Senator John Azuta-Mbata on his election as the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide. Azuta-Mbata, a former senator, represented Rivers East in the Senate from 1999 to 2007. He was elected as President of the preeminent Pan-Igbo socio-cultural group at its meeting in Enugu on Friday. President Tinubu also congratulated the group on the successful leadership transition and enjoined the new leaders to uphold the principles of their predecessors. A statement issued by the presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, explained that “the President recognises the critical role of socio-cultural organisations in nation-building; hence, his commitment to…