Author: Drum Africa

Select entrepreneurs from Bende Federal Constituency today benefited from the first phase of a skills acquisition and empowerment programme organized for the youth and women of Bende Federal Constituency in Abia State. The colourful event was put together by Project Development Institute (PRODA) of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology in collaboration with the Office of Honourable Benjamin Okezie Kalu, the House of Representatives member representing Bende Federal Constituency and held at the Agbamuzu Hall, Umuoche, Bende. The programme’s beneficiaries received empowerment items including grinders, sewing machines, clippers, power generating sets, cooking equipment, hair making equipment and deep freezers…

The Federal Ministry of Works has commenced construction and rehabilitation work on the Umuahia-Bende axis of the Umuahia-Bende-Ohafia Road in Abia State. Prior to this intervention, the road had not witnessed any form of rehabilitation or upgrade since its original construction in 1976. Drum Africa News gathered that the FG’s action was initiated following a vigorous representation of the dilapidated state of the road to the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola by Hon. Benjamin Kalu, member representing Bende Federal Constituency and Official Spokesman of the House of Representatives. The Honourable Minister, who was said to be perturbed…

Hon. Benjamin Kalu who is the official spokesperson of the House and member representing Bende Federal Constituency, has been appointed into the National Executive Council (NEC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by the national APC caucus in the House of Representatives.  Speaking on the appointment, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House and leader of the national APC caucus in the House, said that Hon. Kalu is most deserving the appointment into the highest decision making body of the party. He expressed confidence that Hon. Kalu would be the ears, eyes and ambassador of the House of Representatives,…

Member representing Bende Federal Constituency, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, yesterday visited the Amankalu community in Alayi on a fact gathering mission organized by Hon. Emma Eke, the Director-General, Benjamin Kalu Foundation, to inspect the massive land slide which recently occurred in there. Hon. Kalu was accompanied by Hon. Chijioke Chukwu, member representing Bende North in the Abia State House of Assembly and received by the President-General of the community; Chief Ngozi Chukwu, former Bende Local Government Chairman from Alayi; Chief Joseph Ukpani, APC Local Government Chairman; and Chief Kalu Iheke, a statesman from Alayi as well as other elders and citizens…

To mark Nigeria’s Independence Day celebrations, the Benjamin Kalu Foundation (BKF) is set to award bursaries to over 400 Bende undergraduates on Tuesday, October 1, 2019. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Member representing Bende Federal Constituency and Official Spokesman of the House of Representatives, in a response to our reporters, stated that the reason for this initiative was to fill a gap in the education sector and was borne out of his passion for the educational emancipation of Bende people. He further stated that the beneficiaries were chosen by his Foundation across all communities in Bende regardless of political affiliations. According to…

The House of Representatives reconvened yesterday after a brief recess. Part of the activities of the plenary was a speech by the Speaker on the resumption of the House. Drum Africa received the following brief of the Speaker’s welcome speech from House Spokesman, Hon. Benjamin Kalu. Welcome He welcomed everyone back, trusting that they had seized the opportunity for consultation, preparation and rest. Review of achievements of House before recess He recalled that in the short time prior to recess, the House had considered 13 bills and 57 motions including: Electric Power Sector Reform Act (Amendment) Bill 2019,…

His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari was received at the Presidential Lodge, Yokohoma, Japan yesterday by a delegation of select Japan based Nigerian businessmen including APC stalwart, Chief IK Ariwodo. President Muhammadu Buhari is currently in Japan seeking the support of the Japanese government and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in combating sea piracy as well as other business matters.

The 2nd Public Lecture of the National Assembly Legislative Digest held on Monday, July 29, 2019, at the Nigeria Airforce Conference Centre, Abuja. The event hosted by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Alh. Mohammed Ataba Sani-Omolori, and chaired by Former President of the Senate, Anyim Pius Anyim, witnessed the attendance of several dignitaries including former Senate President Ken Nnamani, the Speaker of the House of Representatives represented by Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs and official Spokesperson of the House. Also in attendance were the Service Chiefs, the SGF as well as…

The Senate on Tuesday directed the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, to issue a fresh proclamation for the inauguration of the Edo State House of Assembly within one week. The Senate went further to state that the governor’s failure to carry out their instruction within a week, National Assembly should invoke its powers as contained in the constitution by taking over legislative functions of the Edo State House of Assembly. The development followed the adoption of the report of the Senate ad hoc committee on the Edo State House of Assembly crisis, presented by the Chairman, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, the…

Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, yesterday, named the Chairpersons who will man the Senate’s 69 standing committees. This announcement came alive after Senators collectively voted to go ahead on the Senate’s annual recess. Most key positions were given to the Senators who have proven to be loyal to the Senate President. This didn’t come as a surprise. Generally, the Appropriation Committee, which deals with federal budgets, is considered as the most important committee. Senate Services is also highly ranked as it takes care of Senate and its members affairs. Committees on petroleum and gas as also important, while public accounts is…