By Okey Maduforo, Awka

Pro-Biafran agitators based in the United Kingdom have challenged the three leading presidential contenders ahead of the 2027 general elections to address the lingering consequences of the Nigerian Civil War and the plight of families affected by the conflict.

The agitators, operating under the platform of the Biafran Diaspora Movement (BDM), specifically challenged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to make the Biafran question and the concerns of affected families part of their political conversations.

The group expressed displeasure over what it described as the continued reluctance of political leaders to openly discuss measures aimed at addressing the historical grievances surrounding the Biafran struggle.

Speaking with reporters in Awka on Thursday, the BDM Luton Zonal Officer, Adeze Vivian Nzelu-Iheanacho, argued that the campaigns of the presidential contenders should address the political foundations of the country and offer concrete commitments towards healing the wounds of the civil war.

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According to her, the Nigerian Civil War of 1967–1970 left behind unimaginable suffering, broken families and painful memories, particularly among Igbo communities.

“The Nigerian Civil War of 1967–1970 left behind unimaginable suffering, broken families and painful memories. For many Igbo families, the consequences of that war are not simply a chapter in history books.

“Decades later, concerns about marginalisation, political representation, insecurity and belonging continue to shape conversations across the Southeast.

“We cannot keep asking why people feel angry or unheard without being willing to listen to what they are saying,” she stated.

Nzelu-Iheanacho noted that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had become a prominent voice in the campaign for Biafran self-determination, adding that its supporters view the movement as an avenue for expressing concerns about identity, political exclusion and the future of the Southeast.

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She, however, maintained that the Biafran question transcended any individual or organisation, insisting that changes in political leadership and continued security operations would not automatically resolve the historical and political grievances associated with the struggle.

“The Biafran question is bigger than any individual or organisation. Even when political leaders change or security operations continue, the historical and political questions surrounding Biafra do not automatically disappear,” she said.

She urged the Federal Government to distinguish between legitimate political grievances and criminal activities, arguing that security measures alone could not provide a lasting solution to the concerns driving agitation in the region.

“A government can disagree with IPOB’s demands, challenge its ideas and act against criminal conduct where evidence supports doing so. But these actions do not remove the need to address the deeper issues that keep political grievances alive.

“A problem left unresolved today may become more difficult to address tomorrow,” she added.

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The BDM official observed that while political leaders engage in debates, security operations continue and various movements advance their demands, ordinary citizens bear the consequences of the prevailing situation.

She identified mothers worried about the safety of their children, traders afraid of losing their livelihoods, young people uncertain about their future and families struggling to go about their daily activities as among those affected.

“There are mothers who worry about their children, traders who fear losing their livelihoods, young people who wonder what the future holds, and families who simply want to go to work, send their children to school and return home safely,” she said.

Nzelu-Iheanacho maintained that the group’s position was anchored on justice, protection of human life, respect for peaceful voices and the need for government to address genuine grievances.

“Our position is simple: justice must be fair, human life must be protected, peaceful voices must be heard, and genuine grievances must not be ignored.

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“Let justice be done. Let innocent lives be protected. Let the people be heard. And let peace be built on truth, not silence.

“Because at the end of the day, beyond the politics and arguments, ordinary people simply want to live, raise their children and grow old in peace. Surely, that is not too much to ask,” she said.

OPay has explained how Nigerians can determine whether they qualify for the Federal Government’s ₦50,000 monthly cash support programme targeted at vulnerable citizens.
The digital financial services company said eligible customers would receive a pop-up notification on the homepage of their OPay mobile application, providing instructions on how to proceed with the registration or verification process.

In a statement shared on its official X handle on Tuesday, the company advised customers to click on the notification and follow the steps provided to access the intervention.

OPay clarified that customers who do not see the pop-up notification on their app are not eligible for the programme.

The company also stressed that it has no responsibility for selecting beneficiaries or determining who qualifies for the Federal Government’s cash support scheme.

According to OPay, Nigerians seeking further information or clarification about their eligibility should contact the National Economic Recovery and Support Initiative (NERSI).

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“The ₦50,000 monthly Federal Government cash support is available only to eligible citizens. Eligible customers will see a pop-up notification on their OPay app homepage. Kindly click on the pop-up to proceed with the next steps.

“Kindly note that customers who are unable to see the feature on the app are not eligible for it. Please note that we do not determine your eligibility. Kindly contact NERSI at 07000222222 for assistance,” the company stated.

The clarification comes amid growing interest among Nigerians in the Federal Government’s proposed financial support programme for vulnerable citizens.

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Members of the Cross River State House of Assembly have commended the State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, for devoting ₦708.43 billion, representing 71.72% of the 2027 budget estimates, to capital development and ₦279.38 billion, representing 28.28%, to recurrent expenditure.

Lawmakers gave the commendation during Tuesday, 3/11/2026 plenary as they passed the Cross River State 2027 Appropriation Bill for second reading, earlier presented by Governor Otu to the Assembly for consideration and passage.

The Bill scaled second reading following robust deliberations by members at the Assembly Complex, Calabar.

Leading the debate, the Deputy Leader of the House, Rt. Hon. Davis Etta (Abi), described the 2027 budget estimates as people-oriented, development-driven and reflective of the Governor’s ‘People First’ mantra. He particularly commended the Governor for devoting a substantial percentage of the total budget to capital expenditure rather than recurrent expenditure, noting that it marks a clear shift from a consumption budget to a production and growth budget.

According to Etta, Governor Otu’s decision to prioritize capital projects demonstrates a clear commitment to infrastructural development, economic expansion, job creation and the industrialisation of the State.

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Contributing to the debate, majority of the members took turns to applaud the Governor for his fiscal discipline and focus. They noted that the high capital component will fast-track the completion of ongoing projects, open up new roads, boost agriculture, improve healthcare delivery, strengthen human capital development, and reposition Cross River as an investment destination.

In his remarks, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, who presided over the session, commended his colleagues for their painstaking analysis of the budget and also lauded Governor Otu for sustaining a fiscal policy that places premium on infrastructure over frivolities.

He thereafter referred the Appropriation Bill to the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation for detailed budget defence and further legislative work, with a mandate to report back within three weeks.

In a related development, members of the Assembly commended the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, for organising the just-concluded Budget Retreat for members of the Assembly.

Members noted that the retreat was timely, highly educative and impactful, as it widened their scope and deepened their understanding of budget analysis, scrutiny, legislative oversight and fiscal discipline.

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They observed that the knowledge gained from the retreat was evident in the quality, depth and professionalism of the debate on the 2027 Appropriation Bill, adding that it has better equipped the House to discharge its constitutional duty of thorough budget consideration.

An illegal refinery uncovered at Ogere Remo in Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State had an underground storage tank with an estimated capacity of over 90,000 litres, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has disclosed.

The facility, which occupied more than three hectares of land, was discovered following intelligence gathering by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The NMDPRA State Coordinator, Dr Atilola Akinyemi, made the disclosure on Wednesday during a joint inspection of the facility by officials of the authority and the EFCC.

Akinyemi described the operation as crude and completely illegal, stressing that the facility had no operating permit from any regulatory agency.

He said the discovery was made possible through intelligence provided to the EFCC, adding that the scale of the operation suggested deliberate efforts to evade government regulations.

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According to him, the facility contained underground storage tanks, locally fabricated tanks, separation silos, underground heating systems and water hydrants installed for cooling.

He noted that the operators appeared to possess technical knowledge, having constructed equipment intended to imitate the operations of a standard refinery without meeting the required regulatory and safety standards.

The NMDPRA coordinator also cautioned against describing the recovered petroleum products as diesel, otherwise known as Automotive Gas Oil, pending the outcome of laboratory tests to establish their actual composition.

He warned that releasing the products into the market without proper verification could expose vehicles and automobile engines to serious damage.

Akinyemi added that all recovered products and materials had been confiscated and placed under the control of the Federal Government pending laboratory analysis and further investigation.

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He assured that the authority would continue working with security agencies to identify and dismantle other illegal refining operations in Ogun State.

Meanwhile, the EFCC Zonal Director, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Bawa Usman Kaltungo, disclosed that the operation followed information supplied by a Nigerian whistleblower.

He said the commission first conducted surveillance to authenticate the intelligence before launching a sting operation that led to the discovery of the facility.

Kaltungo added that the commission was already investigating another suspected location following the successful operation.

The EFCC official also raised concerns about the immigration status of some foreign nationals arrested in connection with the operation.

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According to him, some of the suspects could not produce their passports, while others were allegedly found with visas that had expired about three months earlier.

He further disclosed that investigations were ongoing into the ownership structure of companies allegedly linked to the refinery, noting that some of the ultimate owners were based in China.

Also speaking, the Director of the EFCC Department of Proceeds of Crime Management, Gbolahan Latona, said illegal petroleum operations could undermine legitimate investments in Nigeria’s refining industry and deprive the government of revenue.

He explained that the commission would pursue the recovery of assets established to be proceeds of crime and ensure their productive reuse in accordance with the law.

Latona cited the conversion of Nok University, following its forfeiture to the government, into the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, as an example of the commission’s asset recovery initiative.

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He said the discovered refinery could also be considered for recovery and possible reuse, subject to the outcome of investigations and relevant legal procedures.

The EFCC director warned that illegal operators should not be allowed to undermine investments by legitimate players in the petroleum sector, particularly major domestic refining projects.

He assured that suspects would be prosecuted if sufficient evidence was established against them, adding that the commission would investigate individuals and interests allegedly financing the operation from outside Nigeria.

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has paid outstanding retirement gratuity arrears owed to retired local government workers, bringing relief to pensioners who have waited for nearly two decades to receive their entitlements.

The development has sparked excitement among beneficiaries, including Nze EC Aneke, a retired Head of Personnel Management (HPM) from Amokwe in Udi Local Government Area, who received his gratuity payment on Monday, November 2, 2026, after 19 years of waiting.

Aneke, who retired from the local government service in June 2007, said successive administrations had failed to pay his gratuity despite repeated promises.

In a video expressing his appreciation, the elderly pensioner described the payment as a moment of joy and relief, saying he initially doubted Governor Mbah’s promise to clear outstanding gratuity arrears because of his previous experiences.

He said he was surprised when a bank alert he initially thought was his October monthly pension turned out to be payment of his long-awaited gratuity.

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“I retired as HPM in local government in June 2007. Since then, I have not been paid my gratuity. Many governors have come and gone. But now we have this efficient and, in fact, humane governor, Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah,” he said.

Recounting his experience, Aneke said: “Recently, he promised that we would be paid our arrears of gratuity. Personally, I thought it was just like previous governors who had been promising and failing. But suddenly, unexpectedly, yesterday, November 2, I got an alert from my bank.

“I was thinking it was our monthly pension, the October pension. But behold, it was my gratuity arrears, 19 years plus. In fact, I couldn’t believe it. But it was real; it was true.”

The retiree praised Mbah for fulfilling his promise, declaring that the governor had achieved what previous administrations failed to accomplish.

“So I want to express my joy and happiness to His Excellency for showing us that ‘Our Tomorrow Is Here’. Our tomorrow is now. May God bless him. He has done what his predecessors failed to do,” he said.

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Aneke added that he believed other retired local government workers who had received their outstanding entitlements were equally celebrating the development.

He also prayed for God’s blessings upon the governor and expressed support for his continued leadership, saying he wished Mbah would remain in office until May 2031.

The pensioner further expressed his desire to meet the governor personally to appreciate him for the payment.

“I wish I could see him face-to-face and shake him. In fact, I lack words to express my happiness. Thank you very much, and may God bless you, Your Excellency,” he said.

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