News
Enugu Bus Terminal: Jubilation as Govt pays Compensation to biz owners, provides alternative Locations
Following the town-hall meeting conveyed by the Enugu State Government through the Ministry of Transportation with the property and business owners at the Nigerian Railway Corporation’s land over 8 months ago, which activated a series of negotiations and discussions on the proposed development of a world-class Transport Interchange (Enugu Central Station), alongside other innovative facilities at the Holy Ghost axis.
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Fulfilling its promise, which marked a significant milestone, the state government has commenced the payments of considerable compensations to the affected property and business owners.
Some of the jubilant beneficiaries, who confirmed payments on Monday, said the state government had, in addition to monetary compensations, also provided temporary locations for them to carry on their businesses pending the completion of the project.
This initiative, according to the beneficiaries, underscores the government’s commitment to transform and remodel the transportation sector, decongest traffic in the state capital and make it one of the leading transportation systems in Africa that would also allow them the right to carry on their businesses in the facilities.
“I just received confirmation from my bank notifying me about the clearance of a huge sum of money from the Enugu State Government. At first, I thought it was the usual scam from internet fraudsters until I visited the bank.”
“We have already relocated to the temporary site provided for us by the state government after we were notified by the railway corporation authority that the state government had taken the land in the overriding public interest.”
“I want to thank Governor Peter Mbah for the compensation. I didn’t believe that the government would even do anything,” a transport owner who simply identified himself as Mr. Udoka Aku said.
Another business owner, Chief Ignatius Okpara, who said the Railway Property Management had leased some portion of its land to him for business, told our correspondent that the Enugu State Government engaged them sometime in October 2023 on its plan to construct a modern transport interchange on the land as part of its urban regeneration strategy to eliminate the traffic jams and hardships motorists face in the area as well as to address the longstanding security issues and criminal activities in that axis.
“At first, some of us were sad; however, during our discussions with the railway management and the state governor on the options available to us and the fact that compensations would be paid; we accepted it in good faith. This was followed by another letter from Railway Property Management Company Ltd, sometime this year, which came as a notice of recovery of railway land on Market Road.”
“I had no option but to start relocating because the project is good and will benefit everyone. Besides, all of us who had property there were even given the right of first refusal after the completion of the terminal. To God be the glory, my bank reached out to me about some money that the state government was crediting to my account. I want to appreciate the governor for not abandoning us,” he stressed.
A visit to the area unveiled a concerning reality: the Railway Road and its surroundings, housing big transport companies, are now being used as hideouts for criminals and kidnappers. This alarming development calls for urgent intervention from the government.
Some of the business owners who spoke to our correspondents said they received notice of recovery from the government over 7 months ago. Despite this, they have continued operating their businesses as they perceived that the government was unprepared to take action.
“Yes, we were invited by Governor Peter Mbah for discussion. We were about 29 in number, including Onitsha South Transport Company, Anaocha South Mass Transit, Chisco Transport Company, Farm Associates Limited, Dozzy Oil Limited, A.C. Decanal Limited, Harco Oil, Nigerian Red Cross, Pilgrimage Sisters (Osisatech), Okeyson Transport Limited, MDS Logistics, FCMB, Ecobank and others, and we had fruitful discussions as the state government gave us the right of first refusal and other compensations. I’m still here because I feel I will easily switch to my new place any time the government comes.”
One of the transport managers who spoke to our correspondent said that the Chairman of Chisco Transport Ltd, Dr. Chidi Anyaegbu, who represented affected transport owners in the area, had lauded the state government for the initiative when he visited the government for further discussion on the interchange project, saying the Transport Infrastructure Project would enhance efficiency and profitability for transporters if it’s completed on time.
A middle-aged wholesale trader, Mr. Ekene Mojekwu, selling assorted wares, shared his perspective on the situation. He acknowledged the risk of remaining on the premises, noting that the evacuation notice had already expired.
Despite this, he emphasized his willingness to comply whenever the government initiates the demolition on the site
Reactions have trailed to trail the disclosure by the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, that Nigerian soldiers now earn a minimum monthly salary of N100,000 following recent welfare reforms by the Federal Government.
Veterans and serving personnel have described the amount as grossly inadequate in the face of Nigeria’s rising cost of living, while some accused the Federal Government of failing to implement a more substantial salary review promised months ago.
The criticism comes amid renewed concerns over troop welfare, military funding, and the effectiveness of efforts to boost morale among personnel battling insecurity across the country.
A retired soldier, Abdul Isiak, argued that the current salary falls far short of what is needed to meet basic living expenses.
“It is not enough at all. What is N100,000 in the current situation of the country? It cannot go far. They should do better. If soldiers are paid more, they will be more motivated and committed to their duties,” he said.
Another retired military officer, Sergeant Zaki Williams, questioned the accuracy of the figure disclosed by the minister and described the amount as inadequate for personnel who risk their lives in service to the nation.
“I doubt if they are even paying up to that amount now. Even if they are, it is too little. Any government paying a soldier N100,000 in today’s economy is not serious enough about the welfare of its troops,” he said.
Williams noted that soldiers face enormous challenges and deserve better remuneration and working conditions.
Also reacting, the Coordinator of the Coalition for Concerned Veterans, Abiodun Herbert-Durowaye, said the salary does not reflect the sacrifices made by military personnel.
“How can that be sufficient for someone putting his life on the line for the country? Consider the cost of food, housing, transportation, and children’s education. N100,000 is far from adequate for those responsible for protecting the nation’s peace and security,” he stated.
The reactions followed comments by the Minister of Defence during an interview with News Central, where he disclosed that the minimum monthly salary of soldiers had increased from N49,000 to N100,000 under the current administration.
According to the minister, the Federal Government has made deliberate efforts to improve troop welfare despite funding challenges facing the military.
“When they started, a soldier was collecting N49,000 monthly. We tried so hard, now he’s collecting N100,000,” he said.
Musa, however, acknowledged that the defence sector remains underfunded and requires greater financial support to effectively address the country’s security challenges.
The minister also advocated stricter penalties for kidnapping, including the possibility of introducing the death penalty for convicted kidnappers, arguing that stronger deterrents are necessary to curb the growing wave of abductions across the country.
The debate over soldiers’ welfare comes at a time when the military continues to confront multiple security threats, with stakeholders insisting that improved remuneration, better equipment, and enhanced welfare packages are critical to boosting morale and operational effectiveness.
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced that travellers in the United States seeking Nigerian visas must now submit their applications directly at Nigerian diplomatic missions following the termination of its contract with a third-party visa processing company.
The new directive, which takes immediate effect, ends the role previously played by Online Integrated Solutions (OIS Services), which had been responsible for receiving and processing Nigerian visa applications through its centres across the United States.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the NIS Public Relations Officer, Akinsola Akinlabi, said visa applicants are now required to submit their documents directly at the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington, D.C., or at the Nigerian Consulates in New York and Atlanta until further notice.
The immigration service did not state the reason for ending its partnership with OIS Services.
However, Akinlabi assured applicants that adequate measures have been put in place at the embassy and consulates to ensure a smooth transition. He added that visa submission, processing and approval would continue without disruption.
He also urged prospective travellers to monitor the official communication channels of the Nigeria Immigration Service and Nigerian diplomatic missions in the United States for updates on visa application procedures.
A Professor of Economics and Governance, Prof. Chiwuike Uba, has called on South African Government to take active responsibility of protecting foreigner and desist from ‘compromising inaction’.
Uba, Chairman of the ACUF Initiative for Policy and Governance, made the call on Thursday in Enugu in a statement he titled: “South Africa Is Playing with Fire, and Its Elites Are Holding the Match”.
He said that the lack of intentional action against the individuals and groups perpetrate the xenophobic attacks, who are non-state actors, raises serious questions under international law.
The don noted that “protection of non-nationals is a clear obligation, not a discretionary act.”
According to him, persistent failure to uphold this responsibility undermines both legal commitments and diplomatic credibility.
Uba said that the implications of the development extend far beyond South Africa, adding that it would have economically, politically and diplomatically consequences both to the country and Africa in general.
He noted that economically, the country is not just another market.
“It is a continental anchor. Its financial systems, industrial base, and regional linkages make it central to African growth.
“Prolonged instability would ripple outward, constraining trade, deterring investment, and weakening regional integration,” he said.
On the Political aspect, he said that South Africa had long been seen as a model of democratic transition and constitutionalism.
“If that model begins to fracture, it sends a powerful signal across the continent.
“It emboldens those who argue that institutional democracy cannot deliver, and it weakens reformist voices elsewhere,” he said.
Uba said that diplomatically, xenophobic violence is not a domestic issue when it targets foreign nationals.
He said, “It is an international concern that tests regional solidarity and diplomatic patience.
“Each episode forces other African governments to respond, balancing domestic outrage with the need to preserve bilateral relations.”
The don noted that over time, the balance in the country would becomes harder to maintain as non-state actors would be emboldened to perpetrate other unlawful acts as they view the government as weak or inactive.
The Apex sociocultural youth organization of the Igbo race worldwide, Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), has described the current arrest made by the Independent Corrupt Practice and Other Related Offence (ICPC) against former Minister of Science and Technology and the 2027 People Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Enugu State, Hon. Uche Nnaji, regarding his certificate, as a deliberate political witch-hunt orchestrated by the Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency Gov. Peter Mbah.
In a press address in Enugu on Wednesday, 8th July 2026, Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, National President of Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), called on Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to maintain the commission’s ethical standards, threatening to seek his removal if evidence confirms the alleged bias of ICPC in favor of Governor Peter Mbah against Hon. Uche Nnaji regarding the 2027 Guber election.
*The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) revealed that the fight against Hon. Uche Nnaji is a battle for the Enugu Governorship and the “Lions Building Seat” in 2027, and dismissed the certificate forgery allegations against Uche Nnaji as a political distraction and blackmail.*
The surreptitious entry into the court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to obtain a court order detaining Hon Uche Nnaji is a teleguided executive overreach attributed to Gov Peter Mbah apparently aimed at silencing Hon Uche Nnaji, which is highly censurable.
The Council stated that “A court of competent jurisdiction is presently handling the unsubstantiated certificate forgery case, and the University of Nigeria Nsukka and Hon Uche Nnaji have opted for an out-of-court settlement, following recent findings of misinformation.
Therefore, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), should maintain a neutral stance regarding the Enugu State Governorship battle to preserve his reputation built through his legal career and public service, and avoid being perceived as succumbing to Governor Peter Mbah’s alleged attempts to utilize executive power to blackmail and witch-hunt Hon. Uche Nnaji.
The Ohanaeze Youth Council(OYC) warned Governor Peter Mbah to concentrate on fulfilling his unfulfilled campaign promises to Enugu State rather than chasing Hon Uche Nnaji through the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)
Families displaced by the recent fire outbreak in the Asata area of Enugu have received immediate relief from the Enugu State Government following the intervention of Governor Peter Mbah, who directed that palliative support be provided to ease their suffering.
Chairman of the Enugu State Emergency Management Agency (ESEMA), Chinasa Mbah, disclosed that the agency promptly delivered the relief materials in compliance with the governor’s directive.
“We have given them some palliative as directed by His Excellency. Our report has equally gone in, and we await further instructions,” Mbah said.
She explained that ESEMA has completed its assessment of the incident and submitted its recommendations to the state government, adding that additional assistance for the affected families will depend on the governor’s approval of the agency’s report.
The swift response underscores Governor Mbah’s commitment to standing with citizens in times of distress. The victims, whose homes and belongings were destroyed in the fire that gutted two flats in a two-storey building on Church Road, Asata, are expected to receive further support as the government considers ESEMA’s recommendations.
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