News
Ex-Federal Permanent Secretary Commends Ugwuanyi on Community Development
Odalije, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa, the immediate past Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, Abuja has commended the effort of Enugu state government led by His Excellency, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, in introducing and sustaining what he called, “the novel idea of Basic Community Government, facilitating bottom-to-the-top approach to infrastructural development, as a paradigm shift from the previous governance structure in Enugu state.”
Speaking in a keynote address on the topic, Entitlement Expectation Bogeyman and the challenge of Basic Community Government in the 8th Edition of the Annual Conference of the Nigeria Political Science Association (NPSA) hosted by the Coal City University, Enugu, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa took a brief look at the pre-independence Eastern Nigeria projected economic trajectory from 1955, which led to the erection of industrial estates or parks such as:
- Aba light industries which presently limps for reasons of subsequent failure of infrastructure. The Aba light industrial plan was designed, and it took off, as a corridor to coalesce with Port Harcourt in present day River State;
- Biotechnology industries for Umuahia (also presently limping);
- Steel, heavy industry and automation for Emene (now non-existent for failure of infrastructure);
- Cement and building material belt for Nkalagu, Calabar, Port Harcourt (largely surviving today on the wings of private enterprise);
- Commercial/retail trading emporium for Onitsha (which has remained a huge success despite several incidences of vast destructions by war and seasonal fire disasters);
- Dairies, holidaying, private, group and corporate tourism for Obudu;
- Vast spread of plantations: cashew, oil palm, cocoa, coffee, timber, etc, coordinated for Oghe (present Enugu State), Okigwe (present Imo State), Obudu, Akamkpa, Itumbenuzor (present Cross River State), and many others nursed and harvested in present day Abia, Rivers, Bayelsa, Anambra; and,
- For necessity of the right kind of manpower or expertise, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, arrived as the first composite university in Nigeria, offering professional courses, as three new other specialist universities were planned out for Port Harcourt (Science & Technology), Nnewi (Medical Sciences), Omor/Uzouwani (Agriculture), Owerri (Education), Enugu (conglomeration of colleges), etc. These were to stand side-by-side with varieties of specialist institutes in the areas of Administration, Management, Arts, Culture, Law and Customs, etc.
“The Emene plan,” according to Sir Ohaa, “Was to be a 90 kilometre industrial corridor stretching from Emene in present Enugu State, through Abakaliki in Ebonyi State, to Ogoja in Cross River State. Perhaps, if it had not been interrupted, it would have been connecting with Bamenda in Cameroon.
These ambitious start-ups were to be serviced by coteries of feeder industrial and agricultural outlets which were to jut from, and through, some localities primed to form their own clusters. “
Continuing, he emphasised, “Of course, we know what adverse effect the civil war had on the entire plan. We are also conversant with General Gowon’s civil war strategic political development which split the geo-economic entity into minute but disparate entities, forced to chart entirely independent, if not hostile, politico-economic identities.”
“But if the war tragedy was the reason for the collapse of these beautiful ventures in old Eastern Region, could it have been the same with other regions, which were into the same gainful development frenzy as the East at the same time?,” he queried
“Not exactly, I think.
While it may be the same in the case of the political actions leading to multiple state system, the nexus, I hazard, was that Nigerians had quickly gotten over fed on the malaise identified by Professor Nnoli of UNN when he said, “Widespread expectation of benefits from public administration at little or no cost to the citizen … because there is a strong heritage of government involvement in many welfare functions … consequence of this great expectation is that the populace is not eager to calculate or make allowances for the cost of providing these amenities”
Sir Ohaa continued, “We had this vast blessing of petroleum and other natural resources, but, at the same time, we had unfortunately, and regrettably too, cultivated this massive relapse into indolent, indulgent, and suckling, expectation tradition, giving birth to a culture of entitlement mentality.
The arrival of the screaming petro-dollar wealth was supposed to impress greater strides on these. But it also speeded up the rise in urban population ambivalence, indulgence, indolence and shiftlessness.”
Taking a swipe on the role of Nigeria political scientists in post colonial Nigeria, he said, “Granted that the suddenness of its arrival, the vastness of the proceeds, and flamboyance of the time, were humungous; yet, socio-political science scholars should not have been off-guard their critical role of keeping post-colonial Nigeria leaders on their feet while the boom burst into a recipe for the present economic crisis pervading the nation. Regrettably, this has quickly bloated this “expectation community”, which props the bogeyman called “entitlement mentality.”
“Remember, having started on that framework where the citizens operate on the premise that there are rights to be provided for as is the case in welfare states, a great percentage of Nigeria population perennially hibernate in the “entitlement tradition” or “expectation” culture.
I read about Nigerian intellectuals and analysts insisting that the presence of this bogeyman or the culture of “entitlement mentality,” so called, was a creation of practicing politicians. Some even go as far as attempting to situate the argument that politics, as a career, does not exist outside the beggarly tradition, which is the full manifestation of the “entitlement mentality.”
Conversely, pro-system scholars have situated that this, having originated in the welfarist colonial political management pattern, was sustained by those Marxist-socialist intellectuals who hold that the State is irreversibly indebted to the citizen for every item needed for existence and sustenance. However, as a trained professional manager of scarce resources, my thought is that we are currently faced with severe challenges on how to contain this bogeyman, ‘entitlement mentality.’
We remember, even as Professor Nnoli holds this as colonial heritage, in the old Eastern Region, East-Niger Igbo areas, have had our strong socio-economic culture of consensus-communalism, which spares no bogeyman. It is a practice that sprouted from age old culture. In the past, it aided us in sponsoring our brilliant sons and daughters to the best universities in Europe and America. We also erected numerous Community Secondary Schools, providing the platforms for our young ones to access education and advance in careers.
Till date, it baffles me that having known, participated in, and understood, these practices, the socio-political scientists, who specialize in the Igbo socio-political and cultural systems, have not paid much attention in building, formulating and spreading the principles of these informal institutionalized community governments across the south east Igbo heartland and elsewhere.
Already, there have been attempts by some governments to infuse life into this, but we know that government alone cannot be everything for everybody, forever time, at the same time. The Enugu State government under the leadership of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has since realized the gains of this, and has been propping its brand of Community Government System quite impressively. To underscore its serious attachment to this, the State Government has so far recognized elected Presidents-General of over 400 autonomous communities in the state as integral part of community government system, besides ensuring the pride of place for our Royal fathers as the rallying points in community administration. Each President-General is paid monthly stipend. Most importantly, through the community government system, the State government, in 2017, approved the sum of Ten Million Naira grant for each of the autonomous communities, out of which Five Million Naira has already been disbursed to each community in the state for rural infrastructure.
It was an opportunity for communities to brainstorm, conceived and prioritize their development plans and execute same without interference from the top, i.e. the state government. Some communities preferred to repair their boreholes, schools, health centers, local markets, etc. It was a rare privilege for every person, even at the lowest rung, to once in a life time, bear the burden of government, and have his date with the overbearing bogeyman.”
Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa droped a food for thought to political scientists as he enthused, “Please, permit me to now drop a challenge to our socio-political scientists who are supposed to be specialists in social organizations and political engineering to: conceptualize, outline, situate and dissect the principles of Community Based Governments (CBG) for the true activation of development in our communities; being also a panacea to pruning the edges of the bogeyman who, I dare hazard, is susceptible to being weaponized in the electoral and electioneering processes.
The urgency of now demands that we search for that which creates the institutional foundations on which the stability of the society is built, that which props sufficient platforms for the participation of the would-be disruptive bogeyman. Needless to emphasize that this can be found in retooling our community based government structures, which, no doubt, is the first line of understanding, percolation and defense of policies of government while, at the same time, exposing and training rising community leaders, and checking the dreaded “entitlement” bogeyman, in the working of government.
The Federal Commissioner representing Kaduna State at the National Population Commission (NPC), Hon. Sa’adatu Garba Dogonbauchi, has presented letters of permanent and pensionable appointment to three youths drawn from different local government areas of the state.
The presentation, according to a statement issued by Dogonbauchi, is aimed at expanding employment opportunities for young people and supporting youth empowerment in line with the Federal Government’s development objectives.
The beneficiaries are Shamsuddeen Abdulaziz Bagi from Igabi Local Government Area, Abdulfatah Abdulwakil from Kaduna South Local Government Area, and Aisha Adamu from Birnin Gwari Local Government Area.
Speaking during the presentation, Dogonbauchi described the appointments as more than an administrative exercise, saying they provide beneficiaries with an opportunity to build sustainable careers in public service while improving their economic prospects and contributing to national development.
She said the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises employment generation, economic empowerment and improved living standards for Nigerians.
The NPC commissioner expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve and represent Kaduna State, pledging to continue supporting programmes that create opportunities for young people and strengthen public institutions.
She also acknowledged Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen, and Hon. James Abiodun Faleke for their support, which she said contributed to her appointment and service.
Dogonbauchi urged the new employees to discharge their duties with discipline, integrity and professionalism, while adhering to public service rules and serving as worthy representatives of their communities.
She congratulated the beneficiaries and encouraged them to justify the confidence reposed in them through excellence, accountability and dedication to public service.
Hon. Obi Aguocha, member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, is facing mounting criticism and backlash over his video in which he is seen singing and vibing to a sexually vulgar and demeaning song against women.
In the video, which is currently making the rounds online and in Ikwuano/Umuahia WhatsApp groups, Aguocha is clearly seen singing and enjoying the Ogele cultural song, whose lyrics reduce women to objects of sexual gratification.
The footage was reportedly recorded at a public gathering that had families in attendance, including children, a detail that has intensified the backlash.
The song, performed in the Ogele cultural music tradition associated with communities in Abia State, has sparked outrage among women and women’s groups who say the lyrics are not just vulgar but deeply degrading.
“This is not culture. This is humiliation dressed in tradition,” said Mrs. Ngozi Ibe, a women’s leader in Umuahia North. “We have watched the video. The words used against women in that song are not the kind of thing any serious leader should be associated with. A lawmaker representing our constituency should be defending our dignity, not promoting content that strips women of it.”
Another woman, a trader in Umuahia South who identified herself simply as Madam Grace, said the video had caused deep anger among market women.
“We heard about it and we watched it. Many of us were shocked. You cannot claim to represent women and then be seen singing and vibing to a song where women are being insulted in the most vulgar way. We are not laughing. We are insulted,” she said.
A coalition of women’s groups in the constituency, under the aegis of the Ikwuano/Umuahia Concerned Women’s Forum, also issued a statement condemning the video.
“The lyrics go beyond ordinary expressions of affection. They employ vulgar sexual references that reduce women to objects and make our sexuality the subject of degrading entertainment. For a serving federal lawmaker to be seen actively singing and enjoying such content is a serious indictment on his judgment and his respect for the women he claims to represent,” the group said.
The women’s forum also expressed concern over the presence of children at the event.
“What message does it send to our children when a leader they look up to is seen celebrating a song that reduces women to sexual objects? This is not the kind of example we should be setting for the next generation,” the statement added.
“Ogele is our heritage. But heritage is not a licence for vulgarity. Culture should uplift, not humiliate. We call on Hon. Aguocha to explain his involvement in this video and to apologise to the women and families of Ikwuano/Umuahia,” the group said.
The controversy raises questions about the judgment expected of a public officeholder and the appropriateness of associating with content that many women and families could reasonably find offensive and humiliating.
Aguocha has not responded to requests for comment as of press time.
News
National Assembly Receives Proposals for New LGAs as Lagos Seeks 37, Akwa Ibom Missing from Lis
The National Assembly has reportedly received proposals for the creation of additional local government areas (LGAs) across Nigeria, with Lagos State seeking 37 new councils, while Akwa Ibom State is conspicuously missing from a published list of submissions.
The proposals, according to a report by The Insight Lens Project, cover various communities across the country’s six geopolitical zones and reflect demands for administrative restructuring, improved grassroots representation and better access to government services.
However, the complete list of submissions has not been independently verified, and the proposals do not constitute approval for the creation of new local government areas.
In the North-East, the reported requests include Bidoma and Michika South in Adamawa State, Boi-Tapshin in Bauchi, Banki in Borno, Cham in Gombe, Gudi in Yobe and Wukari in Taraba State.
In the North-West, the proposed areas reportedly include locations in Jigawa, Piriga in Kaduna, Dankama in Katsina, as well as Moriki and other communities in Zamfara State.
The North-Central zone also features in the reported submissions, with proposals covering Agasha and other communities in Benue State, alongside several areas in Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger and Plateau states.
In the South-East, the list includes Abiriba in Abia State, proposed councils around Obosi in Anambra State, several communities in Ebonyi State and numerous proposed local government areas in Imo State.
The South-West proposals reportedly include Eso-Obe and Gbonyin in Ekiti State, Ogijo and other areas in Ogun State, as well as additional proposed councils in Osun and Oyo states.
Lagos State stands out with a reported request for 37 new local government areas, although the published report did not provide the names and proposed boundaries of all the councils.
In the South-South, the reported proposals include Akassa and other communities in Bayelsa State, Ughievwen in Delta State, several areas in Edo State, and Ataba, Evo and Alesa in Rivers State.
Cross River State is also listed, with proposed councils around Mbube and Calabar. Akwa Ibom State, however, has no clearly identified entry in the published list, raising questions about whether the state submitted proposals or was omitted from the report.
Constitutional Requirements
The creation of new local government areas is governed by Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, which prescribes a series of procedures involving consultations, a referendum, legislative approval and the submission of relevant records to the National Assembly.
The constitutional process must be completed before newly created councils can be recognised and reflected in the relevant constitutional schedules.
Consequently, proposals submitted by states or communities do not automatically translate into legally recognised local government areas.
The reported development comes amid broader constitutional review efforts by the National Assembly. In October 2025, the legislature reported receiving 278 requests for additional local government areas and 55 proposals for the creation of new states.
Nevertheless, the specific state-by-state submissions contained in the latest published list, including Lagos State’s reported demand for 37 additional councils and the absence of Akwa Ibom, remain subject to confirmation through official National Assembly records.
The proposals, if confirmed, could reopen discussions on administrative boundaries, grassroots governance and the constitutional procedures required for the creation of additional local government areas in Nigeria.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
The Mayor of Onitsha North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Ezennia Emelie Ibekwe, has issued a stern warning to traders and residents against indiscriminate dumping of refuse and blockage of drainage channels, threatening sanctions against those who fail to comply with sanitation directives.
Ibekwe, who handed down the warning during an inspection of Ajasa Market, expressed displeasure over the deteriorating environmental conditions in parts of the commercial city, describing the situation as unacceptable and detrimental to healthy living and business activities.
During the inspection, the Mayor observed that refuse and other waste materials generated from market activities were being dumped into drainage channels, obstructing the free flow of water and exposing traders, residents and their properties to flooding.
“This practice contributes to flooding whenever it rains, putting traders, residents and their properties at risk.
“An environment of this nature is not conducive to business and healthy living. It does not speak well of a commercial city that houses one of the largest markets in sub-Saharan Africa,” he stated.
Consequently, Ibekwe directed traders and other persons responsible for the blocked drainage channels to ensure their immediate clearance, giving them until the following day to comply.
He further announced that he would return to the market for another inspection to ascertain the level of compliance with the directive.
“People should be alive to their responsibilities by ensuring a clean and healthy environment. Government alone cannot handle this effectively without the active participation of residents and traders.
“I am going to come back here to see what you have done,” he warned.
The Mayor stressed that the sanitation directive was not restricted to Ajasa Market but extended to all markets within Onitsha North Local Government Area.
He consequently charged market leaders to take responsibility for enforcing environmental sanitation regulations within their respective markets, warning that the council would no longer tolerate practices capable of worsening flooding and environmental degradation.
“It is not only Ajasa Market but all the markets in Onitsha North Local Government Area. Market leaders should ensure that this directive is not compromised,” Ibekwe declared.
The Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, has commissioned a community market in Afi, Ikom II State Constituency, as part of his commitment to sustainable development and improved living conditions in rural communities.
The project, facilitated and completed by the Speaker, was identified as one of the priority needs of the community following consultations by the Constituency Needs Assessment Team established by Ayambem to evaluate infrastructure and identify projects that would directly benefit the people.
The team was mandated to identify critical infrastructure capable of improving the livelihoods of residents and promoting sustainable economic growth across the constituency.
According to community members, the absence of a suitable trading environment had been a major challenge for years, forcing traders to conduct business under harsh weather conditions, including rain and intense sunshine.
Speaking on behalf of the community, the village head, Chief Etta Ekawor, commended Ayambem for the intervention, describing the market as a miracle and a blessing that would transform the fortunes of the people.
In his remarks, Ayambem expressed appreciation to the Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, for his continued support for people-oriented projects and development initiatives across rural communities in the state.
He also thanked the people for their patience, support for his leadership and commitment to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Speaker was accompanied by the member representing Yala I State Constituency, Hon. Brian Odey; the Vice Chairman of Ikom Local Government Area, Hon. Maurice Ndome; and the Assistant Financial Secretary of the APC in Cross River State, Hon. Akanya Agbor.
Other stakeholders from Nde Ward who attended the commissioning included the former Vice Chairman of Ikom Local Government Area, Hon. Asinya Ntan, and the Community Relations Officer, Hon. Abang Neji.
Matthew Okache
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker
October 22, 2026
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