Author: Drum Africa Correspondent
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, commiserated with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, over the death of his staff, Dr Chamberlain Dunkwu. The Deputy Speaker expressed shock and sadness over the sudden death of Dr Chamberlain Dunkwu, who he said was more than an aide to the Speaker, as he was a friend to all, dedicated, active, and cheerfully executing his duties with admirable enthusiasm. Kalu, who led a delegation of legislators on a condolence visit to Dunkwu’s house in Abuja on Tuesday, described the late Dunkwu…
Rt Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, has congratulated former Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, on his appointment as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain. Levinus Nwabughiogu, Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, in a press statement extends Kalu’s congratulatory message, where he said that Ikpeazu’s experience in governance has adequately prepared him for this new challenge. Congratulating Ikpeazu, Kalu said, “As you embark on this national assignment, I am confident that your diplomatic skills, strategic vision, and leadership abilities will enable you to make a significant impact in strengthening Nigeria-Spain relations.”…
The Imo State government and its ability to successfully implement the Imo Diagnosis-Related Group (i-DRG) Provider Payment Method have received commendations from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Joint Learning Network for Universal Health Coverage, and National Health Insurance Authority. The above agencies described the Imo State’s model as innovative and a potential blueprint for nationwide adoption, stressing that it is what many states should emulate. The commendation came after a three-day field assessment conducted as a follow-up to a national methodology workshop on provider payment reforms. Imo State was selected as the pilot for in-depth review at…
Security operatives in Enugu State, including the state’s forest guard and police special squad, have rescued twelve kidnapped victims following a coordinated raid on a suspected kidnappers’ hideout. Drum Africa learnt that the kidnappers’ hideout is located within the Effeche Eja/Ojugo forest corridor around Ette and Aguibeje communities in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area. The Enugu State Forest Guard, in collaboration with the Inspector-General of Police Special Intervention Squad and other security agencies, collaborated on the operation as part of an ongoing statewide bush-combing exercise aimed at dismantling criminal camps in forest corridors and rural communities. A statement issued by…
The Managing Director of Custos Care Foundation, Mrs Blessing Egodi Igwe, has noted that untreated high blood pressure is often responsible for sudden deaths sometimes wrongly attributed to spiritual attacks, underscoring the need for regular health screening. Mrs Igwe made the assertion during a large-scale free medical outreach organised by the Custos Care Foundation, founded by the First Lady of Enugu State, Mrs Nkechinyere Iheoma Mbah, to provide essential healthcare services to thousands of women and girls at Michael Okpara Square, Enugu. Drum Africa gathered that beneficiaries received a wide range of healthcare services, including blood pressure checks, blood sugar…
…as claims, counterclaims, saturate media space over unlawful detention and illegal withdrawal from suspects account Nkeiruka Nwode, spokesperson of the Nigeria Police at the Force Headquarters Annex in Lagos, has rejected allegations made by former presidential candidate and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, stressing that the claims had already been investigated and found to be untrue. A few days ago, human rights activist Sowore wrote to the new Inspector General of Police, IGP Tunji Disu, urging him to meet Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Princess Nkeiruka Nwode, popularly known as “Ruka”, PPRO Zone 13, Ukpo, for allegedly conniving…
South East stakeholders are of the opinion that with over 11,500 participants pushing boundaries, the 2026 Olympiad marks a transformative step in Nigeria’s education narrative, proving that intellectual competitions can drive regional excellence.
The much-awaited congratulatory message from Abia State Governor Dr Alex Otti to his predecessor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has arrived after some days he was announced as Nigerian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain. Drum Africa gathered that there were serious negative reactions of perceived political bitterness that may have been overstretched after the Abia government house went quiet on Ikpeazu’s appointment for some days, leading to questions. Most of the reactions that went viral online tried to question the personality of the governor and his ability to let go of politics when it matters most, while some others were of…
The bill titled “Act to Give Effect to the Provisions of the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria; and for Related Matters” has been signed into law by President Bola Tinubu. The bill as gathered stands in the name of Rt Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, as the lead sponsor alongside 6 other lawmakers: Hon. Jonathan Gaza Gbefwi, Hon. Khadijat Bukar Ibrahim, Hon. Blessing Onuh, Hon. Nasiru Shehu, Hon. Felix Uche Nwaeke and Hon. Steve Fatoba as co-sponsors. As gathered from a press statement by…
…charges Abia govt to face governance instead of campaign of calumny The Abia State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the state government led by Governor Alex Otti to focus on governance instead of concentrating on what the party tagged the ‘campaign of calumny’ against the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu. The Abia APC, in a statement issued by Uche Aguoru, Publicity Secretary of the party, said it strongly condemns a perceived desperate and coordinated attempt by certain individuals and interests to undermine, tarnish and malign the image and…