Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Otti, on Friday, July 10, officially flagged off the Abia State Farmers Support Programme, an initiative aimed at empowering over 18,000 farmers across the 17 Local Government Areas of the State. The flag-off ceremony was held at the Umuahia Township Stadium. Governor Otti reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transforming agriculture into a major driver of food security, employment generation, and economic prosperity. Otti explained that the empowerment and distribution of farm inputs followed a comprehensive farmers’ registration and verification exercise aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability. “We started with data gathering because we wanted to…

By Uche Aguoru One of the political developments that has profoundly unsettled Governor Alex Otti in recent times is the emergence of Dr. Eric Chinemeucheya Opah as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Many may not have known Dr. Eric Opah as an active politician before now, but Governor Otti understands the strength and implications of his emergence. With Dr. Opah on the ballot, the political landscape has changed dramatically. For the first time, the Governor is confronted with a challenger whose credentials, competence, integrity, and acceptability speak for themselves. Any leader who has chosen deception, falsehood,…

The President-General of the Abia State Markets Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA) Chief Alphonsus Udeigbo has sued for calm and understanding following a wave of near-violent protest marches by aggrieved market women at Nkwo Asa Nnentu Market in the Ugwuagbo local council of the state, promising to take up their case with the appropriate authorities. The aggrieved market women, who in their hundreds on Friday, July 10, 2026, had embarked on a protest march against the proposed N36,000 annual statutory levy, were only prevented from going violent and destructive by the swift intervention of the ASMATA leadership led by Chief Udeigbo.…

Abia Command has arrested Obioma Nmeribe (male, 22 years), Emmanuel Lekwechi (male, 25 years) Ikemefulla ThankGod Amadi (male, 25 years), for activities suspected to be cultism. According to the police, the arrest took place at Ubakala axis, and was effected by its operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Olokoro, who raced to the scene. Maureen Chinaka, Abia police PPRO said that the Police, in collaboration with sister security agencies (Operation Crush) apprehended Bright Nnabugu (male, 31 years) of Umuobasi, Ugwunagbo LGA of Abia State for case alleged to be vandalism. While the police recovered one (1) Beretta pistol…

Renowned educationist and former President of the Nigerian Association of Economists (NAE), Prof. Innocent Eleazu, has advised the federal government to stop its planned scrapping of the 6-3-3-4 system of education policy currently in place in the country and replace it with a continuous 12-year stretch of basic (primary and secondary) education programme. Speaking on educational issues, Eleazu told New Telegraph that there was nothing wrong with the basic 6 years of primary, 3 years in junior secondary and another 3 years in the senior secondary level. He noted that while planners of the system made good policy proposals and…

Ahead of the new dateline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for eligible voters to register and obtain their permanent voters cards (PVCs), the Abia State Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA) has embarked on renewed and last-minute spirited efforts to sensitise and encourage traders yet to be captured to avail themselves of this last opportunity. It will be recalled that the INEC continuous voters registration which began on August 18, 2025, across the country, and which was originally scheduled to end on July 10, 2026, has been extended to July 24, 2026. The INEC National Commissioner for the Information…

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has called for financial autonomy and investment in modern security infrastructure for state police services when created, stressing the need for any legal framework for state police to take into account the need for national standards, national support, local capability and local decision-making. Mbah made his position known during the town hall themed, “Building a National Consensus for State Police and National Security,” organised by Arise News in Abuja on Thursday. The governor emphasised that prioritising security through adequate funding for state police services and investment in technology would enable those responsible for security…

The Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that Senator Patrick Ndubueze remains its candidate for the Okigwe Zone (Imo North) Senatorial election. The party said that it has to speak out because it has observed a renewed trend of misinformation campaigns especially as it affects the long concluded Okigwe Senatorial District Nomination process. A statement signed by Onwuasoanya FCC Jones, state Publicity Secretary, the State Working Committee of the Party affirms that the nomination process for all legislative constituencies has been concluded, peacefully, and the names of all the standard bearers elected by Party members…

Impressed by the superlative performance of Imo students in the just concluded International STEM olympiad in Rome, Governor Hope Uzodimma has approved a grand reception for them. Whereas Onyedikachi Egejurum, an eleven year old got a gold and emerged the best in Mathematics in the world in the primary category, Don Anele Munachisom won gold in Science in the world in the secondary category. They were among the three Nigerians who won gold in the STEM olympiad in Rome, Italy. Education advocate and Educare CEO, Alex Onyia sponsored the students in the competition after they emerged top performers at the…

In a move to restore the glory of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), Prof. Ikechukwu Nosike Dozie has began moves towards restoring the living conditions of students at the prestigious institution. The erudite professor recently took over from Professor Nnenna Oti embarked on an unscheduled familiarisation tour of the university’s residential facilities, to see where improvements are needed. There was an atmosphere of excitement and jubilation across the students’ hostels of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) as heade the move. The visit, which attracted enthusiastic cheers from students, formed part of the Vice-Chancellor’s commitment to obtaining…