News
Anambra Community Petitions Soludo Over Erosion Caused by Illegal Sand Mining
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
Residents of Umudimishi Village, Umuoru, in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, have petitioned Governor Chukwuma Soludo over the worsening menace of gully erosion allegedly caused by illegal and unregulated sand mining activities in the community.
The villagers said about 120 buildings are currently threatened by the expanding gully, with some residents already making arrangements to relocate for fear of losing their homes to the erosion.
In the petition addressed to Governor Soludo and copied to the state Ministries of Environment and Works, the villagers alleged that the activities of sand miners posed a serious threat to human lives, property and the continued existence of the community.
The petition, signed by the Chairman of Umudimishi Development Union, Nze Ibeabuchi Umeugochukwu, stated that several homes in the area were located only a few metres from the mining sites and had consequently become vulnerable to erosion.
The villagers said: “Many homesteads in Umudimishi are close to and along the line of mining by few metres and, as a result, stand eroded in the course of this ecological problem fueled by unregulated sand mining.”
They further alleged that the erosion menace was largely triggered by human activities, particularly unregulated sand mining along the Aguata-Orumba axis, where they said the soil structure was highly susceptible to erosion.
According to them, “Erosion menace is being triggered by human factor of unregulated sand mining, especially as it is in Aguata-Orumba Axis where the sand structure is prone to erosion, which is the major environmental hazard in the region.”
The community also claimed that sand mining had become the major source of environmental crises affecting Umudimishi Quarter, Umuoru Village and Uga generally.
Beyond the environmental consequences, the villagers expressed concern that the availability of quick money from sand mining was discouraging youths from learning vocational skills.
They said many youths now preferred sand mining to acquiring skills, while the worsening erosion had also discouraged residents and prospective investors from establishing businesses in the area.
The villagers therefore appealed to Governor Soludo to permanently shut down the mining sites in Umudimishi to prevent further deterioration of the already deplorable environmental situation.
They also urged the governor to direct the appropriate agency of the Anambra State Government to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the erosion sites and produce a comprehensive report with recommendations on how to tackle the problem and reclaim lands already lost to erosion.
The petitioners said urgent intervention by the state government was necessary to protect lives, homes and the remaining land in the community from further destruction.
The Nigerian Army has announced a major reshuffle of senior officers, with several major generals and brigadier generals redeployed to key command, operational and administrative positions.
The changes, approved by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, are aimed at strengthening the Army’s operational effectiveness.
Major General IA Ajose has been appointed the new Theatre Commander of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI. He moves from the Department of Army Operations at Army Headquarters to take charge of military operations against insurgency in the North-East.
Other notable appointments include:
Major General AE Abubakar — Dean, Faculty of Operational Research, Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre.
Major General AM Alechenu — Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre.
Major General RT Utsaha — Commander, Defence Headquarters Garrison.
Major General AM Umar — Commandant, Army War College Nigeria.
Major General UM Alkali — Director, Department of Civil-Military Affairs.
Major General GS Muhammed — Director General, Nigerian Army Finance Corporation.
Major General JE Osifo — Chairman, Military Pension Board.
Major General IE Ekpenyong — Director of Engineering Services, Defence Logistics, Defence Headquarters.
The reshuffle also affects several brigadier generals, including Brigadier General AA Bello, Brigadier General MS Adamu, Brigadier General MS Sule, Brigadier General I Sule, Brigadier General E Azenda and Brigadier General AS Bugaje, who have all been assigned to new command or administrative roles.
The Chief of Army Staff directed the newly posted officers to carry out their responsibilities with professionalism, dedication and a strong sense of duty.
More than 24 feared dead in suspected poisoning incident in Ondo
More than 24 people have reportedly died following a suspected poisoning incident in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The deaths were recorded in Araromi-Obu, Orita New Town and Odigbo communities, while several other residents affected by the incident are receiving treatment at various hospitals.
The Chairman of Odigbo Local Government Area, Taiwo Adegoroye, confirmed the incident but said he could not provide further details until medical experts conduct a professional assessment and determine the cause of the deaths and illnesses.
As a precaution, the local government has restricted the sale and consumption of sachet herbal concoctions and similar drinks being hawked in the affected communities.
Residents have been advised to avoid suspicious herbal mixtures, unverified sachet products and other substances of uncertain origin pending the outcome of medical examinations and laboratory tests.
Authorities are expected to carry out further investigations to establish the source of the suspected poisoning and confirm the exact cause of the deaths.
News
Major Generals to Receive Up to ₦25.91m Yearly as Tinubu Approves New Military Pension Structure
The Federal Government has approved a new pensionable salary structure for personnel of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force, effective September 1, 2026.
The approval was communicated in a circular issued on September 3 by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.
Under the new structure, the highest-ranking officers—Generals, Admirals and Air Chief Marshals—have annual pensionable salaries ranging from ₦21.9 million to ₦29.75 million, depending on their salary steps. The highest figure is equivalent to about ₦2.48 million monthly when divided by 12.
Other approved pensionable salary ranges include:
Lieutenant Generals, Vice Admirals and Air Marshals: ₦16.99m–₦25.91m annually.
Major Generals, Rear Admirals and Air Vice Marshals: ₦14.98m–₦23.9m.
Brigadier Generals, Commodores and Air Commodores: ₦13.86m–₦16.39m.
Colonels, Captains and Group Captains: ₦8.31m–₦9.49m.
Lieutenant Colonels, Commanders and Wing Commanders: ₦7.55m–₦8.74m.
Majors, Lieutenant Commanders and Squadron Leaders: ₦5.99m–₦7.01m.
Captains, Lieutenants and Flight Lieutenants: ₦5.28m–₦6.42m.
Second Lieutenants, Midshipmen and Pilot Officers: ₦4.92m–₦5.59m.
The new schedule also covers non-commissioned personnel. Warrant Officers have pensionable salaries ranging from ₦4.53 million to ₦5.17 million annually, while Privates, Ordinary Seamen and Aircraftmen fall within the range of ₦2.28 million to ₦2.49 million.
The government, however, clarified that the figures are pensionable salaries used to calculate retirement benefits and should not be interpreted as the actual monthly salaries or take-home pay of serving military personnel.
An Italian-born former Catholic priest has left the priesthood and married a Kenyan woman in a colourful traditional wedding ceremony in Baringo County, Kenya.
Father Sandro Ferretto reportedly served as a Catholic parish priest in Kasiela and Mochongoi before leaving the ministry.
According to reports, Ferretto met Sharon Jepng’ok, a Tugen woman and daughter of former councillor John Wendot, while carrying out missionary work in the area.
Their relationship reportedly developed into a romance, eventually leading Ferretto to relinquish his priestly vows and pursue a family life with her.
The couple recently held their traditional wedding at Seretion Village in Kasiela, Baringo South, reportedly at the parish where Ferretto once served as a priest.
The ceremony was attended by relatives, friends and members of the local community. Ferretto also participated in Tugen cultural rites as he formally joined his bride’s family.
The marriage marks a significant transition for the former priest, who had previously devoted his life to Catholic ministry in the Kenyan community.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
The Anambra State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has commended the Federal Government for the ongoing maintenance work on the First Niger Bridge, describing the intervention as a timely response that will avert a looming economic crisis in the South-East and South-South regions.
The party said the decision to temporarily close the bridge for repairs was necessary to prevent a possible collapse that could have severely affected commercial and economic activities across the two geopolitical zones.
Recall that the Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, during a working visit to Anambra, Delta and Edo states, had announced plans to temporarily close the bridge to enable the government to carry out urgent repairs, particularly following reported acts of vandalism around the facility.
The Federal Government subsequently announced the closure of the bridge for two weeks, with the closure taking effect on Sunday.
Reacting to the development, the Anambra State APC Chairman, Sen. Emma Anosike, in a statement, described the intervention as evidence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s responsiveness to the socio-economic needs of the South-East and South-South regions.
Anosike said the maintenance work was particularly important given the strategic role of the Niger Bridge as a major commercial and economic link between the regions.
According to him, the intervention further demonstrated the administration’s commitment to protecting critical infrastructure and sustaining economic activities in the region.
“We, as a political party, are once again vindicated by the compassion and quick response shown by Mr President by embarking on the repair of that bridge without delay.
“People have gone to town, especially because of the election, to peddle rumours and falsehoods about Mr President, but today they are no longer saying anything in the face of what is happening.
“They claimed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is anti-Igbo, but what is happening now with the total overhaul of the old River Niger Bridge, which is our commercial and economic gateway?”
The APC chairman commended President Tinubu for what he described as “quality leadership and magnanimity” in approving the urgent intervention.
He also praised the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, for his efforts towards improving road infrastructure across the South-East and South-South.
“We in the APC, Anambra State, commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for this show of quality leadership and magnanimity.
“We also salute our able and hardworking Minister of Works, His Excellency Dave Umahi, for the beautiful job he is doing on road infrastructure in the South-East and South-South.”
Anosike further appealed to residents of the South-East to support President Tinubu’s re-election bid, arguing that the administration’s infrastructure projects in the region demonstrate its commitment to development.
“We also use this opportunity to once again urge our people in the South-East to re-elect President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term. In view of what he has done so far, we believe the next four years would be better,” he said.
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