News
Ebonyi Airport: No amount of criticism will stop Gov Nwifuru’s 2nd term – Commissioner
The Commissioner for Aviation and Transport technology, Mrs Ngozi Obichukwu has said that no amount of criticism on the Chuba Okadigbo airport by social media critics can stop the governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru from completing his eight years tenure.
Obichukwu equally insisted that the Chuba Okadigbo airport remains the best in flight operations in the South East region, adding that the airport within six months has recorded no fewer than 45 aircrafts take off and landing safely without hiccups.
“Let us give him (Nwifuru) the support, not by castigating.You cannot bring him down as a governor. He’s already a governor. And I want to tell you, he’s coming for the second time. And after the second term, he’s going to Abuja.
“So, whatever you are doing, whatever you are saying in the social media, either to castigate him or to bring him down, you’re bringing yourself down. Whatever you write on social media can never bring Nwifuru down, it can never reduce him from being governor.
The aviation commissioner, Obichukwu who reacted on the closure of Akanu-Ibiam international airport Enugu, and selection of alternative airports by the regulatory bodies, said they have rights to decide or choose whichever airports they want, adding that there is no problem or hiccups with Chuba Okadigbo airport.
Obichukwu who made this known to newsmen in Abakaliki capital of Ebonyi State, commended the governor, Francis Nwifuru for his prudence, transparency to ensure that the Chuba Okadigbo airport becomes the most viable Airport in the SouthEast region, and however, for securing a chartered flight operation permits for the state.
“As it is now, from that October till this period, His Excellency, our dear Governor Nwifuru has been able to obtain what we call the chartered flight operation permit. And it is difficult for even the other airport that started with us to get even one. We have been able to get two from October to January, from January to March, and now from March to July.
“Any other flights that may wish to enter our airport are highly allowed. But will you follow the rules? Will you be on that charter? Recall that the airlines and aircraft operation is business-like. So they are willing to come to pick their passengers here, but the issue of the regulatory bodies that must permit them to come here and pick.
“So, I want to tell our people, both within Ebonyi state and outside, that our governor, Francis Nwifuru, has not erred or delayed anybody from the utilization of this wonderful edifice, and the security and safety is granted. We are only trying to abide by what the regulatory bodies demand us to do.
“The regulatory bodies are the ones delaying us.They will be here to tell us they are done, because over 170 booklets that need to be given to us by them are not yet ready. They are the ones holding those booklets.
“We call it the regulatory operation booklets. Not until they complete all the write-ups will they now give. Recently, they’ve started sending the normal bodies that are in charge of the air, the NAMA, the aerodrome, the NIMET, FAM, AVSEC, and all the rest of the staff are now coming in.
“If the regulatory bodies decide that they are using whichever airport they want to use, that is their decision. It has nothing to do with any mistake or any problem, either in Anambra, in Ebonyi, or Owerri. They have every right constitutionally to decide where they can do what they want to do. Enugu State’s stoppage of landing doesn’t mean that Enugu Airport has fallen. They have to do what they ought to do for security and safety.
“So why are we in a hurry to do something that will bring about problems to the entire state and the entire country? I want to plead with us, Ebonyians, both those that are visitors and those that are indigenous and those that are outside Ebonyi, all the South East, we are doing the best for the South East. Our dear governor, is standing up to do the best so that lives will be saved, so that lives will be secured.
“We cannot get up and rush things now. If you cannot travel by air, there is no place that it is written you must travel by air. You can use any other means. If you cannot use Asaba, there is Owerri. They didn’t ban Owerri. They didn’t ban Anambra.
“But for Ebonyi State, there is nothing wrong and there is no problem. And our governor is working day and night to ensure that we attain that which is stipulated for us, to ensure that we gain that which he had worked for. Nobody loves to waste money.
“I’m assuring you that this international airport will be the best across the country when the time comes. Right now, His Excellency is working to ensure that we have the airfield lights, the runway airfield lights, which is the major thing that will happen. Ebonyi will start having flights by night. Operationally, we are on for 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., as it is given to us by the regulatory bodies.
“But once we complete the runway light, international flights, local flights, chartered flights, and commercial flights can come in even at 12 midnight. We have capable hands that are working. The Ministry of Aviation has all it takes to run the airport” she stated.
By Chinedu Sabastine
ENUGU — Umuchigbo Iji Nike Autonomous Community in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State has fixed Sunday, September 13, 2026, for its annual New Yam Festival.
The cultural celebration, which is scheduled to commence at 3 p.m., is being organised under the leadership of the Executive Chairman of Umuchigbo, Hon. Chief Afam Joseph Ogbene, popularly known as Akirika Chioku 1, Na Nike Kingdom.
The festival is expected to showcase the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the people of Umuchigbo and Umuenwene in Iji Nike Autonomous Community, while promoting unity and communal bonding.
Ogbene, in an invitation to the festival, described the celebration as an opportunity for the people to preserve their cultural heritage, strengthen community ties and give thanks for the year’s harvest.
He said, “Our New Yam Festival is more than a cultural celebration. It is a time for us to come together as one people, appreciate our heritage and give thanks for the blessings of the year.”
According to him, the event will also provide an opportunity for sons and daughters of the community, as well as friends and well-wishers, to reconnect and celebrate together.
“We are inviting everyone to come and celebrate with us. It is a celebration of our culture, our community and thanksgiving for the new yam season,” he added.
According to the invitation, activities will commence at Ogbene’s residence on Akirika Chioku Avenue, Nome Ogba Aniji Road, Umuchigbo, before proceeding to Obodoeze Iji Village Square, Odangene, for the New Yam rites and masquerade display.
The event will also feature traditional cuisine, music and other forms of cultural entertainment.
The organisers urged sons and daughters of Umuchigbo, friends, well-wishers and members of the public to join the community in celebrating the festival.
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.
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.
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.
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