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Ohanaeze urges FG to prioritise South East development commission

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7 months ago

February 4, 2026

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The President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, John Azuta-Mbata, has called on the Federal Government to prioritise adequate and sustained funding of the South-East Development Commission as a means of promoting national reconciliation and addressing long-standing grievances in the region.

Azuta-Mbata made the call on Wednesday at the ongoing four-day South-East Vision 2050 Regional Stakeholders Forum in Enugu, describing the commission as a tangible demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to equity and justice.

The forum, which began on Tuesday, is aimed at charting a unified socio-economic development roadmap for the South-East and repositioning the region as a global industrial hub by 2050.

It has attracted governors, private sector leaders, professionals in the diaspora and other stakeholders.

While acknowledging the South-East’s significant contributions to Nigeria’s growth through innovation and entrepreneurship, the Ohanaeze leader said feelings of exclusion and neglect had persisted in parts of the region.

“It would be dishonest not to acknowledge that over the years, feelings of exclusion, neglect and unresolved grievances have taken root in parts of our region. If left unaddressed, these sentiments can weaken national cohesion,” Azuta-Mbata said.

He stressed that the importance of the SEDC goes beyond infrastructure development, describing it as a critical instrument for reconciliation and healing.

“I respectfully appeal to the Federal Government to fully utilise the South-East Development Commission by providing it with appropriate and sustained funding.

“This will not only accelerate development, but also help assuage lingering ill feelings, rebuild confidence and heal old wounds in Igboland,” he added.

Earlier, the Managing Director of the SEDC, Dr Mark Okoye, said the South-East is currently burdened by an infrastructure deficit estimated at about $10bn, underscoring the need for regional collaboration.

Okoye urged the five South-East states—Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo—to pursue large-scale, bankable projects collectively rather than compete for limited investment capital.

“The signal sent by the physical and virtual presence of Igbo professional groups from across America, Europe and Asia underscores a collective readiness to rebuild the regional economy,” he said.

He disclosed that the region receives an estimated $4bn annually in diaspora remittances, which, according to him, should be channelled into legacy projects such as regional gas pipelines and other critical infrastructure.

Also speaking, development practitioner Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, challenged stakeholders to ensure that the Vision 2050 agenda delivers tangible benefits to rural communities.

“Vision 2050 must move from paper to practice. Development is bigger than party lines; it is about people,” she said, adding that women and youth must be central to the implementation of the vision rather than treated as an afterthought.

Representing Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Chidiebere Onyia, welcomed participants and emphasised that no single state could achieve transformational growth in isolation.

He affirmed Enugu State’s commitment to a people-centred, innovation-driven and private sector-led development model.

The forum continues on Thursday with technical sessions focusing on priority sectors such as agriculture, transportation and the digital economy, to produce a comprehensive development roadmap to guide the region over the next 25 years.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo is a pan-Igbo socio-cultural organisation in Nigeria that also operates as a political platform, with members and representatives drawn from various states across the country.

The group is established to articulate, protect and promote the collective interests of the Igbo people, while serving as an umbrella body that brings together Igbo political parties and stakeholders both within Nigeria and in the diaspora.

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New financial markets facility set to open in Abia

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12 hours ago

September 16, 2026

Top News Nigeria

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A forex trading facility is expected to open in Abia State in October, following the 2025 Abia Forex Expo, which organisers said attracted more than 1,500 participants.

The facility is being established by entrepreneur and financial markets personality, Sam Keys, as a platform for financial education, market analysis, trading activities and networking.

According to the organisers, the project followed increased interest in forex trading and other financial market activities among youths and business communities in the state.

The proposed facility will provide a physical location where traders, aspiring investors and other participants can access financial market information, take part in educational activities and interact with others in the sector.

Keys had previously organised the 2025 Abia Forex Expo, which brought together participants interested in forex trading, investment and financial markets.

The new facility is expected to complement such events by providing a permanent location for activities relating to financial market education and trading.

The October opening is expected to attract traders, investors and other individuals interested in learning about the financial markets.

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Abia debunks N50,000 akara tax claim

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12 hours ago

September 15, 2026

Top News Nigeria

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Abia State Government has debunked reports that akara sellers and other petty traders in the state are being compelled to pay N50,000 as tax, describing the claim as misinformation.

The government also said it had approved the designation of some historical and natural sites as State Monuments and State Natural Monuments, while declaring Aba a Creative and Innovative City.

Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.

Kanu said the historical sites approved as State Monuments include the National War Museum, Umuahia; Ojukwu Bunker, Umuahia; and Government College, Umuahia.

Those designated State Natural Monuments are Ibom Waterfall in Arochukwu and Ulochukwu Cave in Alayi, Bende Local Government Area.

According to him, the designations would strengthen the government’s efforts to preserve the state’s cultural and natural heritage, promote tourism and open up new economic opportunities.

“These sites have been elevated to heritage sites that enhance the state’s tourism potential. With this approval, they are primed to attract recognition as UNESCO Heritage Sites,” Kanu said.

He further disclosed that Aba had been designated a Creative and Innovative City in recognition of its longstanding commercial, industrial and creative significance.

The commissioner said the retrofitting of the Ojukwu Bunker and National War Museum had reached about 80 per cent completion and was expected to be concluded before the end of 2026.

He said the projects would improve the preservation of the sites, enhance visitors’ experience and strengthen their tourism potential.

Kanu also disclosed that the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy had received approval to develop the Ibom Waterfall Tourism Corridor in Arochukwu.

He said work had commenced, including grading of access roads to the waterfall, with completion expected before the end of the year.

The commissioner added that the state government had commenced the erection of monuments at strategic locations to preserve Abia’s heritage, honour its heroes and heroines and promote the state’s cultural identity.

He cited a monument being dedicated to the heroines of the 1929 Aba Women’s Riot as one of such initiatives, saying it would celebrate their courage, resilience, resistance and leadership.

No N50,000 tax on akara sellers
On the controversy over alleged excessive taxation, Kanu said there had been no fresh increase in tax rates by the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue, noting that most of the rates being circulated were contained in tax laws enacted in 2020 under the previous administration.

He stressed that the Board could not unilaterally increase tax rates without enabling legislation.

“For starters, these rates are not new. Most of the rates are 2020 tax rates that were introduced by the previous government.

“Let me reiterate that the Board of Internal Revenue cannot raise tax rates without the backing of enabling laws. And no such increases have been introduced by the Abia State Government,” he said.

Kanu explained that demand notices issued by the BIR were provided for under the law, urging taxpayers to comply with relevant tax provisions while assuring that legitimate concerns would be addressed by the appropriate officials.

On the specific claim that akara sellers were being made to pay N50,000, he said: “This is pure fallacy. Nothing can be further from the truth. Akara sellers don’t pay tax or levies. They pay daily tolls. And none can pay N50,000.”

The Chairman of the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue, Mr Uche Elekwachi, corroborated the clarification, saying there was no revenue window under the state’s tax laws requiring akara sellers to pay such an amount.

Elekwachi said the Abia Internally Generated Revenue Service Law establishing the applicable framework was enacted in 2020, before the present administration came into office.

“This whole thing has always been in existence. The Abia Internally Generated Revenue Service Law was enacted in 2020 long before this government came onboard, so we need to make that clarification,” he said.

Gratuity: 2011–2025 retirees next.

On outstanding gratuities owed retired workers, Kanu disclosed that the government had completed payments covering 2001 to 2010 and was preparing for the next batch covering 2011 to 2025.

He said the next payments would commence after the completion of ongoing internal verification and other necessary processes.

The commissioner dismissed claims that the government had only commenced gratuity payments because of pressure from the opposition, explaining that the huge financial commitment involved made payment in batches necessary.

“The payments will be in batches. The funds involved are huge for one balloon payment,” he said.

Kanu also clarified reports suggesting that gratuity payments would continue only until 2031, explaining that such reports are incorrect.

He explained that the State Gratuity Committee had recommended the inclusion of gratuity provisions in the state’s 2026–2031 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and subsequent annual budgets to ensure that gratuity obligations were systematically provided for and prevent the accumulation of fresh arrears.

“That does not translate to payments being terminated in 2031. As the internal processes and verification of beneficiaries of these payments continue, due payments would still be made in batches,” he said.

He added that the government remained committed to clearing the outstanding liabilities and expressed optimism that the process could be completed earlier than anticipated.

“The conclusion of payment of outstanding gratuities may happen earlier than we ever imagined. Let us therefore wait and see how the next batch of payments will unfold,” Kanu said.

The Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Mr Matthew Ekwuribe, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Internally Generated Revenue, Dr Emmanuel Okpechi, were also present at the briefing.

Source: Vanguard.

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‘I have no objection’ – Obi urges UNN to release his academic records

Published

13 hours ago

September 15, 2026

Top News Nigeria

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Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) Peter Obi has said he has no objection to the release of his academic records amid reports of a legal action seeking certified true copies of his certificates and other educational documents.

Obi stated this in a statement posted on X on Tuesday, saying he had given consent for the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, to make available his academic records and other official documents relating to his admission and studies, subject to applicable laws.

His statement followed reports circulating on social media concerning a legal action by an individual or group seeking certified true copies of his Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and other academic credentials relating to his admission into the university.

He wrote, “I wish to state clearly that I have absolutely no objection to the release of these records.

“I respectfully request that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, within the limits permitted by law, make available, upon legitimate request, my academic certificates, records, and other official documents relating to my admission and studies at the University. I equally have no objection to other educational institutions, within and outside Nigeria, which I attended, making my academic records available in accordance with applicable laws and procedures.”

Obi said he believed strongly in transparency and accountability, particularly for individuals seeking public office, but stressed that public scrutiny should be fair, lawful and consistently applied to all presidential candidates.

“As a presidential candidate seeking the trust of Nigerians to lead our country, I welcome legitimate public interest in my background, qualifications, and record. I am prepared to subject myself to the level of scrutiny that should reasonably be expected of anyone seeking the highest office in our country,” he said.

Obi said candidates seeking the nation’s highest office should be willing to subject themselves to reasonable scrutiny and demonstrate that they had nothing to conceal from the people they sought to serve.

He subsequently challenged other presidential candidates to make their educational qualifications and relevant records available for public scrutiny.

“Doing so should not be regarded as an inconvenience or an attack. Rather, it is an opportunity to strengthen public confidence, promote accountability, and rebuild the trust of Nigerians in those who seek to govern them,” he said

Obi added that transparency, integrity and accountability should begin with those seeking to lead the country.

“I therefore welcome the scrutiny of my academic background and remain committed to the principle that those who ask Nigerians for their trust must also be willing to earn that trust through openness and accountability,” he added.