Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

…Over 130 churches to receive N5m to 6m each as support The Office of the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives and member representing Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu has said that the media reports suggesting that N1 billion was inserted in the 2026 budget solely for the procurement of musical instruments for churches in Bende is a misrepresentation of the intent and scope of the provision. Levinus Nwabughiogu, Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker explained that the proposed allocation is actually N780 million after VAT and other tax deductions. He further explained that it…

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has apologised to the Igbo community for the role the state played during the Nigerian Civil War, saying the people of Plateau were “deceived” into participating in the conflict. Speaking during an interactive session with Igbo leaders from the 17 local government areas of the state at the Government House, Little Rayfield, Jos, Mutfwang urged both sides to put the painful chapter behind them and strengthen the bonds of unity. According to a report the governor commended the Igbo community for its contributions to Plateau State’s socio-economic development, describing them as an integral part of…

For the past three years, the family of Fidelis Omhonria, from Ubiaja in Esan South-East Local Government Area, Edo State but based in Asaba, Delta State has been trapped in a nightmare that began on July 13, 2023. On that fateful day, their lives were shattered when personnel of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), on an undisclosed operation around Okpanam Road in Asaba, Delta State, opened fire, hitting their two young sons. Onose Ivan Omhonria, just two years old, died hours later. His brother, Eromonsele, barely one year old, survived but was shot in the eye. Today, three…

Tension is mounting in Onitsha, Anambra State, following the arrest of chairman of Ozomagana Building Materials Association, Chief Obiorah Okoro and two other traders, Nonso Paul and Emma Carpet, by a police team from Legal department of Force headquarters Abuja, led by one Kabiru. It was gathered that the arrest followed the crisis which has lingered for about a year now, between Modebe Enterprises Ltd (Modebe family) and Ozomagana Building Materials Traders Association, with its repeated arrest of the market chairman by Abuja police, which prompted him to sue the Modebe family at an Nnewi High court sitting in Nnewi…

Hon. Chief Joseph Ikunna is the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the Ohaji-Egbema, Oguta, Oru West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives election of 2027. In this interview with DRUMAFRICANEWS, he explains his agenda and several things he has to offer to his constituents if elected.  Beyond party lines, what is your four-year legislative agenda specifically for your constituency, and how will you measure if you’ve succeeded? I am not contesting simply to represent people in Abuja. I am contesting to fundamentally change the economic direction of our constituency. My agenda rests on five pillars: security…

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), has officially handed over the project site for the construction of a state-of-the-art research laboratory and demonstration farm, valued at ₦2.5 billion, to Afri-Fruits Limited, managed by an Israeli.  The landmark project, which has been described as a major boost to agricultural innovation and food security research, is funded by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund). DrumAfricanews gathered that the fund came following the approval of President Bola Tinubu after it was attracted through the strategic advocacy of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simon Uchenna Ortuanya.  Our correspondent gathered from sources at UNN that the facility…

The Ebonyi State Government has ordered the immediate confiscation of substandard construction materials discovered at the Ogbaga Road project site in Ebonyi Local Government Area. This is even as the government also directed the contractor handling the project to suspend work until full compliance with approved engineering designs and specifications is guaranteed. The directive came during a statewide inspection of ongoing infrastructure projects by the Commissioner for Project Monitoring and Evaluation, Sunday Inyima. Speaking during the inspection, Inyima accused some contractors of using inferior construction materials to undermine the infrastructure development agenda of Governor Francis Nwifuru’s administration. He described the…

Enugu State Governor has significantly scaled up its annual agricultural support programme, approving the free distribution of over 63,000 bags of organic and inorganic fertilisers and a wide range of agricultural inputs to registered farmers across the 17 local government areas of the state. The Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation, Dr. Patrick Nwabueze Ubru, said the distribution, approved by Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, underscores the administration’s commitment to food security, agricultural transformation, and improved livelihoods for farmers. He disclosed that the programme would be officially flagged off on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at 9:00 am at Michael Okpara Square, Enugu.…

…Approves 10.5km Igogoro-Amachara-Ikpamodo-Okpo-Amaada road project …1,000 housing units at Enugu Smart City, 18,000 mass housing units at Gateway Estate …Set to construct Ovu Lake Golf Resort at Akpawfu In another major push for infrastructural transformation, the Enugu State Government has approved the commencement of several projects cutting across roads, tourism, housing, and administrative infrastructure in various parts of the state. The government gave the approval during the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting at the weekend. Briefing Government House Correspondents, the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dr. Malachy Agbo; Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dame Ugochi Madueke; and Commissioner for Works…

…calls for Umahi’s Suspension The Youth and Students Advocates for Development Initiative (YSAD) has commended the Ebonyi State Police Command for insisting on autopsy on the remains of Mary Habila. YSAD hailed the police over the decision stressing that the case Habila who was allegedly found dead naked, with blood smear in her mouth, right on the premises of Minister David Umahi’s country home at Uburu, Ebonyi State, deserves thorough investigation. Nwagbara Obinna, Executive Director YSAD said the closure it seeks in this matter follows disturbing explicit videos and pictures obtained from traditional and online news sources. “We note with…