The Nation News

Category: News

  • Dangote berates NNPCL for lying to Nigerians on selling of PMS at N898 per litre 

    Dangote berates NNPCL for lying to Nigerians on selling of PMS at N898 per litre 

    By Yagana Ali, Yola

    The Dangote group on Sunday berated the NNPCL spokesperson, Mr. Olufemi Soneye for lying to Nigerians on selling of PMS at N898 per litre to the NNPCL.

    Dangote made this known in a statement signed by the Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina and issued to newsmen on Sunday in Yola.

    The statement reads in part: “Our attention has been drawn to a statement attributed to NNPCL spokesperson, Mr. Olufemi Soneye, that we sell our PMS at N898 per litre to the NNPCL.

    “This statement is both misleading and mischievous, deliberately aimed at undermining the milestone achievement recorded today, September 15, 2024, towards addressing energy insufficiency and insecurity, which has bedeviled the economy in the past 50 years.

    “We urge Nigerians to disregard this malicious statement and await a formal announcement on the pricing, by the Technical Sub-Committee on Naira-based crude sales to local refineries, appointed by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, which will commence on October 1, 2024, bearing in mind that our current stock of crude was procured in dollars.

    “It should also be noted that we sold the products to NNPCL in dollars with a lot of savings against what they are currently importing.  With this action, there will be petrol in every local government area of the country regardless of their remote nature.

    “We assure Nigerians of the availability of quality petroleum products and putting an end to the endemic fuel scarcity in the country” it stated..

  • Breaking News: Cholera Outbreak kills 4 in Yola North

    Breaking News: Cholera Outbreak kills 4 in Yola North

    By Yagana Ali, Yola

     No fewer than four persons have reportedly been confirmed dead by health authorities of cholera outbreak in Yola north.

    The Nations News Nigeria reports that five new cases were recorded between September 4th and 15th, 2024, from Alkawa Ward, Ajiya Ward, and Limawa Ward. 

    The total number of confirmed cases now stands at 40, with four fatalities.

    The recent cases have been reported from the same three settlements, with no new wards or communities affected. 

    Health officials are closely monitoring the situation, and samples collected from the outbreak have tested positive for Vibrio cholerae 01 serotype at Yola Specialist Hospital.

    In an interview, Yola North LGA Chairman, Jibril Ibrahim, confirmed the outbreak and urged the Adamawa State Government for swift intervention to contain the spread. 

    He called for community cooperation with health workers, who have begun house-to-house visits to raise awareness and prevent further cases.

    “We need immediate support from the state government and collaboration from the people of Yola North to help health workers in their efforts to control this outbreak,” said Ibrahim.

    Authorities have encouraged residents to follow public health guidelines and report any suspected cases as efforts to contain the outbreak continue.

  • Enugu to Assemble 1,000 Tractors Locally by 2025, 300 Ready in 2024– Gov Mbah

    Enugu to Assemble 1,000 Tractors Locally by 2025, 300 Ready in 2024– Gov Mbah

    By, Chinelo Kodilichukwu Enugu 

    As part of the effort of his administration to grow the state’s economy from $4.4bn to $30bn and ensure food security, tractors needed for farming in Enugu State will be produced in the state before the end of the year, governor of the state, Peter Mbah has announced.

    The governor stated this when he received the newly elected president of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, NECA, Ifeanyi Okoye, and other leaders of the association at the Government House, Enugu, at the weekend.

    He reiterated his administration’s commitment to creating a business-friendly environment and helping to de-risk investment in the state, calling on investors to key into the growing investment revolution in the state.

    “We are ready for business and we are open for business. You could not make a better choice  than Enugu when you are thinking about where to invest or where to grow your wealth because you are dealing with a government that is business-friendly and we do not only think about creating the environment for businesses to thrive, we are also interested in working with you collaboratively either as a Joint Venture (JV) or Private Public Sector Partnership (PPP) or even helping you to de-risk the investment flow. We are interested in listening to you, knowing what areas that would make it possible for you to invest.

    “We have just signed an order with a Danish company that is coming here to manufacture their tractors. So, our target is that before the end of the year, we would  have been able to assemble over 300 tractors. Our ultimate target  in the medium term is to get up to 1,000 tractors before  the end of next year.

    “What this means is that you would not have to import the machinery and the implements you need to be able to farm in Enugu State. 

    “Again, we are interested in value addition and processing too. We are building a Special Processing Zone where we expect that as we plan to scale up our production in the agricultural space, we also have produce cities where those things can be processed. It is not just producing and exporting them raw. We are planning to add value, create and capture those values,” Mbah said.

    He added that the government was taking measures to ensure the availability of the necessary infrastructure, ranging from urban roads to access roads to farm, power, and water, while also making huge investments in security and collaborating with security agencies to sustain and strengthen the relative security attained by the state in the last 15 months.

    “In the area of roads, our target is to make sure that all our streets, all our roads in the city are paved and we are already achieving that. Just recently, we completed the 71 roads we  awarded last October and we again awarded another 141 roads. We are also making sure that we also get our rural roads paved, most importantly the access road to the farmlands because we have some ambitious target in our agricultural sector where we now have over 300,000 hectares of land in our landbank,” he said.

    Mbah congratulated Dr. Okoye, who is also the Managing Director of Juhel Nigeria Limited, on his emergence as NECA President, assuring  of his administration’s readiness to collaborate with NECA to create more economic opportunities in the state.

    Speaking earlier, the NECA leadership pledged unwavering commitment to fostering partnerships that will catalyze socio-economic development in Enugu State and the South East, having observed the governor’s vision and business-minded approach to governance.

    “We have closely observed your outstanding leadership, coupled with your clear vision for the transformation of Enugu State. Your administration’s focus on economic diversification, infrastructure development, and human capital enhancement aligns perfectly with NECA’s objectives.

    “We believe that through strong collaboration between the public and private sectors, we can collectively drive growth, create jobs, and improve the overall well-being of the citizens,” the NECA president stated.

  • Tinubu not cause of leadership, crisis in Anambra community – CP

    By Cyprian  Ebele, Onitsha

    The Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP, Nnaghe Itam, has exonerated Presided Bola Tinubu from written and verbal attacks by Nigerians following the present  socio-economic and political quagmire which they accused Mr. President of being the cause.

    Exonerating Mr. President from the accusation, while addressing the people of Mgbachu Nkpor Community, Idemili North Local Government Area, over leadership crisis at Abomili Estate, as two warring factions were threatening for a showdown, the CP reminded them that it is not President Tinubu that is the cause of their leadership crisis.

    Counselling the two warring factions to be their brothers’ keepers, the CP, who was ably represented by the Commander of Anti Kidnapping Squad, Awkuzu, Mr. Ifeanyi Ibru, (CSP), reminded them that in the time of war the buildings they built and other structures would be destroyed.

    “Lives may also be lost and funny enough you are brothers who should avoid war and live in peace  and not in pieces for the infrastructural development of your community. The best way to handle crisis is by discussion not confrontation,” the CP  enjoined them.

    In his vote of thanks, the chairman, Board of Trustees, BOT, Abomili Mgbachu Association, Christian Okeke, commended the CP’s representative but said that the people had expected the CP to be physically present.

    He assured the CP that the community will maintain peace pending the determination of the substantive  suit now pending in court over Abomili Estate leadership.

    Okeke told newsmen later that the bone of contention was leadership of the estate disclosing that his junior brother, Chibuzor Okeke, has overstayed his welcome as chairman having served for 12 years.

    “After 12 years the community resolved to conduct an election and it was conducted, Hon. Samuel Anikpe won. Since then Chibuzor has been frustrating his leadership to the extent that Chibuzor collaborated with the oppositions and dragged Ankpe to court, including myself, and others, there are many cases pending in court now and I will not because he is my brother ask him to continue in office after 12 years,” he stated.

    Contributing, Anikpe corroborated the position of Okeke, stating that he was elected after 12 years of Chibuzor being in office.

    “”What again does Chibuzor want when he did not render an account of stewardship for 12 years to the community. He disarmed the community vigilante group and my office was vandalized, the entire thing there looted, he operates with one Godwin Onwukw My case with Apiti is that he wants me to increase #20,000 loyalty he collects from land developers to #50,000 and I said no and that the #20,000 he is collecting should be looked into, that is my offence for him and he joined Chibuzor to frustrate my leadership.

    “Contacted, Onwukwe who is the Odu of  the community, denied the allegations the duo of Dr Okeke and Anikpe leveled against himself and Chibuzor, stating that Chibuzor remains the chairman of Abomili Estate.

    According to him, “The so-called BOT which Okeke claims to be the chairman is illegal. Okeke, in a bid to have his way into the estate, formed BOT,  Chibuzor has been the chairman of the Estate before the formation of the BOT by Okeke and his cohorts.

    “For peace to reign Okeke and Anikpe should vacate Abomili Estate for Chibuzor Okeke, pending when a new executive will be elected as Anikpe was not democratically elected but rather appointed by Okeke

    “I was the one that petitioned to the Commissioner of Police telling him about the atrocities being perpetrated in Mgbachu estate by the two self acclaimed leaders, I never talked about land issued but when Anikpe was asked to speak by the CP, he started talking about land,” he further disclosed.

  • Borno: Aliko Dangote Foundation donates N1bn to Maiduguri Flood Victims

    Borno: Aliko Dangote Foundation donates N1bn to Maiduguri Flood Victims

    …Presidential Committee on Flooding also donates N1bn

     By Yagana Ali Yola.

    The Chairman of Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) and Chairman, National Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation, Mr. Aliko Dangote, has donated a whopping sum of one billion Naira to help assuage the pains of the Maiduguri flood victims in Borno State.

    The Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation (PCFRR), which Dangote heads, also donated another sum of one billion naira to the cause, to help the Maiduguri victims of the flooding.

    During an on-the-spot inspection of the disaster-stricken areas on Friday, Dangote, who is also the President and Chief Executive of the Dangote Industries Limited, empathized with the victims and rallied for support from other Nigerians and willing stakeholders.

    Speaking on the flooding incident, Dangote described the sight as “mind boggling”, and exclaimed that he has “never seen a disaster of this scale before.”

    He said, “I am moved with pity; I have never seen a disaster of this magnitude before. The state needs urgent help and intervention from well-meaning Nigerians and stakeholders.

    “A lot of infrastructural development needs to be done; the houses and roads need urgent attention for people to get their lives back. Again, we are asking that corporate organisations need to intervene and provide succour in every way possible as the government cannot do it alone.”

    In his remarks, Borno State governor, Babagana Zulum, appreciated Dangote’s support, stating that he has contributed immensely into the development of the state.

    He added that he was not surprised to see the business mogul visit the disaster area as a solidarity gesture. He called on well-meaning Nigerians to emulate Mr. Dangote in his charitable contributions.

    Recall that the flood has displaced over a million residents and about 30 persons have been confirmed dead.

    The Director-General of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr. Barkindo Mohammed, stated that “As of 5pm on Thursday, SEMA evacuated 3,683 persons from their homes in a rescue operation. The search and rescue operation is still ongoing.

    “The mode of rescue involves motorists, boats, canoes, divers, military, and fire service trucks, among others. As the water continues to recede, we are concentrating on those who make distress calls and will start search and rescue today and tomorrow,” Mohammed said.

    According to him, about two million people were affected, and so far, SEMA has opened 14 official camps and many informal camps where displaced persons can go. He said that the Federal Government has supported the state with N3 billion and food consignments.

     “President Bola Tinubu has supported Borno and other states with N3 billion each. Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has forwarded the money to SEMA, and he has added more on what the federal government gave. We are not only responding to the flood victims in Maiduguri but also in Local Government Areas across the state,” Mohammed said.

  • Fuel price hike: Ebonyi govt. warns dealers against fraud, seals 3 fuel stations

    Fuel price hike: Ebonyi govt. warns dealers against fraud, seals 3 fuel stations

    By Uchenna Okeh, Abakaliki

    Ebonyi state government led by governor Francis Nwifuru has warned fuel dealers and markers in the thirteen local government areas of the state to shun all forms of fraud.

    The special assistant to the governor on petroleum, Mr. Nwafor Nnaemeka  made this known while speaking with newsmen in Abakaliki capital of Ebonyi State.

    He revealed that the state government has sealed three fuel stations who allegedly indulged in shape practices, meter adjustments among other offenses.

    Nnaemeka, who reads riot act to fuel dealers, further threatened that the government continues to seal any fuel stations that fails to give the masses measurably on what they paid for, adding that enough is enough, 

    According to him: “Fuel pump price hike is a global menace, so far this country is concerned. The sudden increase of the pump price both from the depot to fuel station owners, due to unavailability of products and as it stands now, Ebonyi state is not an exception, is almost everywhere in the country and all states are experiencing it.

    “We have been working tirelessly to make sure that fuel stations are not under dispensing. We got information that due to the unavailability of the product, people are using the opportunity to defraud the masses. 

    “That’s why we deployed a task force to go to all the fuel stations in the state to make sure that they monitor the activities of fuel stations closely. So far, we have sealed three fuel stations; Edde Mass, R&C and Dozi oil & gas fuel stations due to under-dispensing. 

    “We are not leaving any stone unturned and the procession continues and after the urban areas, we will relocate to the rural areas and make sure that the masses get value of what they paid for. 

    He further debunked the allegations making the rounds in the state that fake task force agents have flooded fuel stations and extorted money from dealers.

    “Anybody who is saying that government is not checkmating the activities of the fuel station owners are not saying the truth, that’s what resulted in sealing the 3 fuel stations, and they will not go scut free, and probably we are going to use them as an example, because it is not good to defraud the masses. They are going to face the full wrath of the law.

    “Also, it is not true that fake taskforce agents are flooding fuel stations in the state. I have taskforce agents that was approved by the governor, Francis Nwifuru, to work under my department to checkmate the Sharp practices that are going on in most of the fuel stations in the state, ranging from adulteration, meter adjustments and other unholy activities, thereby making the masses not to get the value of what they paid for.

    “For now, there is nothing like fake taskforce agents in the state as far as petroleum is concerned. The taskforce agents we have now are legally approved by the governor and they are making a move detecting those faults from the fuel stations” he stated.

  • Ohanaeze Youth berates Onoh for attacking Reps deputy speaker, Kalu

    Ohanaeze Youth berates Onoh for attacking Reps deputy speaker, Kalu

    ….Lauds Tinubu, Kalu for establishing SEDC

    By Uchenna Okeh Abakaliki 

    Ohanaeze Youths Council, the Apex Socio-cultural organization of Igbo youths have condemned in totality the efforts by alleged misguided and misinformed persons such as Josef Onoh; the acclaimed President Tinubu’s South East Campaign Spokesman in the South East for discrediting the dogged and patriotic inputs of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu in passing the age-long bill that has established the South East Development Commission, SEDC, describing Mr. Onoh as an enemy of progress, who wants to create disunity in South East polity.

    The Ohaneze Youth Council, through its President, Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka made the condemnation while speaking to Journalists on Wednesday in Owerri, where he noted that “there is nothing like former spokesman of Bola Tinubu in south east, accusing Mr Onoh of playing the Devil’s Advocate while seeking ways to clinch the Managing-Directorship position of SEDC through the back door without knowing the true background, and makeup of the Act that established the Commission.

    It’s once said that “Ignorance is what makes any one refer to old attempts as the  part of the ownership of the success especially when the final bill that was signed is different from the previous attempts.

    “Josef Onoh is lobbying to be MD of SEDC from the back door, unfortunately he has not even read the law to know what the Act says and he is looking for how to be the MD, and his failed effort to pull the Most Honorable Deputy Speaker of Federal House of Representatives down.

    “You do not become MD of SouthEast Development Commission by attacking any political leader and most especially Benjamin Kalu who saw to the finality of the of the bill as deputy speaker of Federal House of Representatives” Igboayaka queried Onoh

    He stressed that while several bills usually! introduced in the House Assembly dies off naturally for many reasons; all accolades ought be given to any parliamentarian who introduces a bill, revives, sponsors and dutifully ensures the bill sees the light of the day as an Act or law.

    The National President Ohanaeze Youth Council(OYC), Comrade Igboayaka O Igboayaka stated that Benjamin Kalu deserves the accolades  for painstakingly using his time, office and good relationship with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and members of the National Assembly to positively affect the SouthEast Development Commission bill, while describing the relationship of the Most Honorable Deputy Speaker and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a great resource to Ndigbo. Ohanaeze Youth Council extols President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing the bill into law in record time to ensure even development across the country. 

    “We are talking of proposing and processing a bill to become an Act, which is a no mean assignment and the likes of Josef Onoh is somewhere chasing shadow, because of his desperate ambition  to become the MD of SouthEast Development Commission, with zero capacity to drive such all important development tool of the president. So any one he suspects will not be in support of his ambition is made an enemy on the pages of the newspaper. 

    “The chief sponsor of the bill when it is signed should be addressed as the one who worked for it, not those who attempted and failed  previously in the past assemblies . It was display of ignorance listing those who had the desire to achieve this in the 8th and 9th assemblies as every assembly commences her activities de novo (anew) . Stop telling us about who tried, tell us we made it happen . 

    “Ndigbo are not ingrates, we appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for breaking the jinx of 54 years as Ndigbo are deeply appreciative to Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, our illustrious Igbo son for asking the president to remember Ndigbo by signing the SEDC Bill into law”

    “Like M. I Okpara whose visionary Leadership made Old Eastern Region the fastest developing Region, developing faster than China and Singapore between 1953 to 1966. Therefore, SouthEast Development Commission as actualized through the effort of Rt Hon. Benjamin Kalu is like the vision of Dr. M. I. Okpara has been revisited by Honorable Deputy Speaker to foster economic development in SouthEast”

    Ohanaeze Youth Council, however appealed to President Tinubu to initiate more cheering developmental programme and projects for South East region while calling for the release of IPOB detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

    “Ndigbo are waiting for another celebration, appealing to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Grant the prayers of Benjamin Kalu for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu release using a Political solution on his matter”, he added.

  • Crisis: Gov. Soludo’s aide, Uba sacks Anambra market boss over alleged incompetence

    Crisis: Gov. Soludo’s aide, Uba sacks Anambra market boss over alleged incompetence

    By Cyprian Ebele, Onitsha 

    The Special Adviser to governor Chukwuma Soludo  on trade and Markets, Evarist Uba has sacked the former chairman of the market, Okechukwu Umeozulu, over alleged incompetence.

    He, however, substituted him and his executives with a caretaker committee led by Chidi Emmanuel, 

    Addressing the traders prior to the inauguration of the Caretaker members, the president general of  Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders’ Association, ASMATA, Humphrey Anuna, reminded the committee that there is difference between appointed and elected adding that elected is an executive that stays for four years in office while appointed can be sacked anytime.

    He advised the traders especially the committee to be wary of the Vice chairman and secretary of any organization as crises start from them knowingly or unknowingly disclosing that some people thrive in crises and will always look for crises where there is none.

    “As traders and human beings you have to choose between good and bad behavior. The new chairman, Ukpaka, is a nice man and is already blessed and that is why you traders gathered here today to pay solidarity to his enthronement as your new chairman.

    “The sacked chairman has run away but I know that with Ukpaka the damaged items will be repaired. He has already whispered to me that there is no toilet in the market and that by next week he will use his own money to commence building of toilet facilities in the market,” he stated.

    He however, urged the traders not to relent in their support to Soludo who he described as God-sent to better the welfare of the people in the state.

    Inaugurating the committee members, the ASMATA  second vice Chukwudi Nwankwo, advised them to live by their oath of office adding that they should ensure open door policy in their administration.

    Expressing satisfaction with the inauguration, the market patron, Chief Silas Ike, lamented that the sacked market chairman achieved nothing in the market and was never present in the market.

    “He works alone and refuses to work with his executives as a team and has no shop in the market. We made the mistake of electing him as chairman, with the appointment of Ukpaka as chairman there is hope now for improvement and repair to damages done by the sacked chairman,” he stated.

    Contributing, the market founder and pioneer chairman, Augustine Onyemaechi, lamented that the sacked chairman when he was in power destroyed the little foundation the market had.

    “Umeozulu when he came on board as chairman destroyed the little foundation we had in the market. He came for destruction instead of market development and you hardly see him in the market. 

    “I have told the caretaker committee which I personally nominated, that they should restore the lost glory of the market, ensure truth reigns supreme and have oneness as a tool for peace and progress. They should restructure the abandoned structures in the market,” he advised.

    On how to reconcile his legal practice as a lawyer with market affairs he reiterated that, “If not for the good and interest I have for the market having known what we suffered to be in the present market location from Onitsha, I would have abandoned the market for my legal practice.”

    Also the secretary of the market, Damian Eziani, in his contribution lamented that successive administrations took the market backwards and called for concerted efforts between the new executive and traders for rapid infrastructural development of the market.

    In his post election speech, the newly appointed chairman, Chidi, commended the state government through ASMATA PG and others for finding him worthy to serve as chairman and vowed not to let them down.

    The chairman who disclosed that he was not surprised to be appointed as chairman, disclosed that he has before now been eager to make his own contribution towards the development  of the market adding that his achievements to the market will speak for him.

    “My priority now is to build toilet facilities in the market as there is none since the inception of this market. The cause of lack of development in the market is because leadership was bestowed on a hungry man who is interested only in what he benefits from the market and he doesn’t even have a shop in the market.

    “So many things were destroyed by the immediate past administration led by Umeozulu who didn’t even come to the market. He is the chairman, unlike myself that is in the market daily. 

    “I have taken it as a sacrifice to take the market to the next level and I believe that by the grace of God the burden will not be much for me to carry,” he prayed.

    Among those that witnessed the inauguration included, the Special Adviser to Governor Soludo on Security Matters, Chinenye Ihenko, his second in Command, Mr Monday Nwokoye, ASMATA PRO, Emeka Unegbu, among others.

  • Relief as Civil Service Commission conducts promotion examination for 4000 Kaduna workers

    Relief as Civil Service Commission conducts promotion examination for 4000 Kaduna workers

    By Nicholas Justus, Kaduna

    The Kaduna State Civil Service Commission has announced the commencement of promotion examination for 4000 workers. 

    Speaking on Monday during a media parley in the Commission’s office in Kaduna, the Chairman of the Commission Alhaji Sule Shehu Allahbamulafiya maintained that “inorder to reward the diligent efforts and dedication of public servants the Governor of Kaduna Senator Uba Sani approved the conduct of the 2023 and 2024 promotion exercises simultaneously targeting about 4000 workers of Kaduna State commencing on Tuesday the 10th of September, 2024.

    Allahbamulafiya revealed that consultants have been engaged for the conduct of the annual promotion examination and introduction of 50% pass mark before qualification for oral interview and  examinations and upward review of overall pass marks in both written and oral from 60% to 70% for Directorate level officers. Meanwhile the computer based (CBT) is being deferred till next year due to time factor 

    According to the commission, most of the tertiary institutions in Kaduna would be used to ensure smooth exercise.

    On recruitment, the commission assured that employment is usually based on merit after which other factors are taken into consideration like quarter system and gender equality.

    Speaking on workers discipline, the commission explained that 9 officers have been dismissed, 2 officers went on compulsory retirement, 5 demoted and 10 served with warning letters within the last two years.

  • Late Ohanaeze president general, Iwuanyanwu to receive exceptional funeral rites

    Late Ohanaeze president general, Iwuanyanwu to receive exceptional funeral rites

    By Chinelo Kodilichukwu, Enugu 

    The late President General of apex Igbo group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu will receive exceptional funeral rites. 

    This was made known by the Chairman of the Central Burial Committee, Senator Ben Ndi Obi, during the inauguration ceremony of the Sub-Committees and the Local Organizing Committees (LOC) at the Imo State Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja.

    Obi in his speech explained that the late Ahaejiagamba was a global citizen and a nationalist whose contributions to national development are legendary. He added that Iwuanyanwu was a success story in diverse fields of human endeavours. But most importantly served the Igbo at an elderly age with utmost passion, dedication and sincerity.

    Senator Obi stated that there will be Days of Tributes for Chief Iwuanyanwu at Lagos, Abuja, Enugu and Owerri. The Service of Songs is slated for Tuesday, October 29, at Attah, Ikeduru LGA of Imo State, while the interment takes place in his country home, Attah, on November 1, 2024. 

    The programme further indicates that there will be more elaborate ceremonies at Enugu including taking the corpse of Chief Iwuanyanwu to the Headquarters of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, no 7 Park Avenue, GRA, Enugu. The Burial Committee assures that more details of the above events will be communicated to the general public.  

    Obi also seized the opportunity to express immense delight that eminent persons and groups have shown interest and enthusiasm in giving a befitting farewell to the late Igbo Leader. He however cautioned that the only authentic Burial Committee for the funeral of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu is the one that was set up by the South East Governors Forum led by His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma, CON, the Governor of Imo State. 

    It is therefore advised that, to avoid clash of events and inappropriate channels, any other group that wants to organize any event with respect to the funeral rites of Chief Iwuanyanwu should contact the Central Burial Committee for clarifications.

    The inauguration ceremony was witnessed by the former governor of Anambra State, Sen. Chris Ngige, CON. Others include the Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and Secretary of the Burial Committee, Ambassador Okey Emuchay, MFR; Prince Garry Igariwey, the former President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide and Deputy Chairman of the Burial Planning Committee, Mr. Jide Iwuanyanwu, amongst others.