By Okey Maduforo, Awka

The Anambra State Government has issued a stern warning to developers and property owners, declaring that it will take decisive action against any individual whose building collapses due to the use of substandard materials or disregard for established building regulations.
The government reiterated its commitment to enforcing building standards and maintaining zero tolerance for unprofessional construction practices that endanger lives and property.
As part of this commitment, the state government has demolished a three-storey building under construction that collapsed in Umuoji, Idemili North Local Government Area.
The demolition, carried out by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, followed technical assessments which deemed the structure unsafe and a threat to neighbouring residents and properties.
Speaking during the exercise, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Chijioke Ojukwu, said the action was in line with the government’s determination to ensure orderly urban development, public safety and strict compliance with approved building standards.
According to him, the demolition was intended to prevent future disasters rather than serve as punishment for the developer, stressing that the state would not tolerate distressed or unsafe structures.
The building, located in Umuoma Village, reportedly collapsed on May 18 while construction workers were on site. No casualties were recorded.
Preliminary investigations attributed the collapse to the use of substandard materials and poor construction practices, including stacking blocks before adequate curing and the use of inappropriate reinforcement materials.
Ojukwu disclosed that the project violated several building regulations, including failure to obtain necessary approvals, non-compliance with setback requirements and excessive development beyond the carrying capacity of the land.
He warned developers, contractors and property owners against flouting planning laws, noting that the ministry would intensify monitoring and enforcement activities across the state.
The commissioner further revealed that the government is reviewing existing laws to introduce tougher sanctions for erring developers, with criminal penalties among the options being considered.
He urged builders to engage qualified professionals and strictly adhere to regulatory requirements, while reaffirming the state’s commitment to urban renewal and infrastructure development projects, particularly in Nnewi and other growing urban centres.
The state government maintained that safeguarding lives and property remains a top priority and pledged continued enforcement of building regulations to prevent future incidents.

By Chinedu Sabastine

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Enugu State Council, has inaugurated a Media Chat Committee to engage political office seekers and provide a platform for public scrutiny of candidates ahead of future elections in the state.

The initiative is designed to enable candidates of various political parties to present their manifestos, articulate their vision for governance, and demonstrate their preparedness for public office, with the aim of promoting credible representation at both state and national levels.

Inaugurating the committee at the NUJ Secretariat in Enugu on Wednesday, the State Chairman of the union, Comrade Obinna Ogbuka, said the media chat programme would help assess the competence, capacity, and commitment of aspirants seeking elective positions.

According to him, the platform will afford journalists and members of the public the opportunity to interrogate the policies, programmes, and leadership qualities of candidates, thereby encouraging informed electoral choices and strengthening democratic governance.

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“This committee was created to ensure that those seeking to lead our people prove they are worthy of the responsibility. Those aspiring for elective positions must demonstrate the capacity and competence required for leadership,” Ogbuka said.

He charged members of the committee to ensure that all candidates are given the opportunity to appear before the media and the public to showcase their readiness to serve.

“It will no longer be business as usual. Those who are not qualified to lead should not emerge through the electoral process without being subjected to public scrutiny,” he added.

Responding on behalf of the committee, the chairman of the committee, Comrade Emmanuel Ugwueze thanked the NUJ leadership for the confidence reposed in them and assured that the committee would discharge its responsibilities diligently and professionally.

Ugwueze stated that the union, as the umbrella body for all journalists and media organizations, should leverage the platform to reach and educate the wider public on their political rights and help reshape their mindset towards making informed choices when electing candidates to represent them

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Members of the committee include Comrade Emmanuel Ugwueze, National Editor Daily Post, Comrade Lawrence Njoku, South East, Bc, Guardian Newspaper, Dr. Henry Atigwe, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Chinedu Adonu, Vanguard Correspondent, Bamidele Ajayi, TVC reporter, Ebele Somadinaogbu, Head of news, Dream FM, Chimaroke Ugwu, NTA reporter and others.

The Abia State’s “Senior man” is leg-deep into a messy murky-water fight with the SEDC, I learnt. The crux of the squabble is saddening.

While Senator Orji Uzor Kalu wants a huge bite from a crumb-pie federal allocation the SEDC barely gets to fund its activities, the commission’s management is refusing to open its vault. For this, a fatal crisis brews.

I dug deeply to uncover the hidden cracks, which neither Orji Uzor Kalu nor the SEDC wants visible to the public.

A Thread.

When the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the 10-Man Senate Committee to oversee the activities of the South East Development Commission (SEDC) and made Orji Uzor Kalu its Chairman, many South Easterners, like myself, were underwhelmed.

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“How can a man who was once convicted of funds embezzlement and wanton corruption lead a committee that will conduct a transparent oversight function on the SEDC?” I questioned. The logic was vague.

Today, those silent doubts have been proven valid. The Abia state “senior man” in kleptocracy is showing off his true colours and they read red for the SEDC, the region’s “child” development initiative that should rather enjoy the support of every stakeholder from the region.

Before we get into unraveling the ridiculous “settlement” demands of OUK and the impending showdown, let’s take a look at the SEDC’s activities so far.

On February 12th, 2025, the SEDC Management Team, Governing Board, and Senate Committee were inaugurated. Tinubu’s government announced a N140 billion yearly allocation for the commission and directed its Management to draft its budget around the figure.

The Commission did as directed, drafted a N120 billion budget. But for its vision for the South East development, it included more critical infrastructures in the budget. This shot the budget to N250 billion.

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In its revenue mapping, it factored in raising the N110 billion shortfall internally – all by itself. This didn’t pose a problem. The government approved the budget. Allocations will come in monthly, in a tranche of N10 billion each month.

Unsurprisingly, the Commission didn’t get any budgetary allocation throughout 2025. In these months of financial drought and zero cash inflow, everywhere was quiet. Senator Orji Uzor and his committee members didn’t see a need to exercise oversight on the Commission’s activities.

But in December 2025, the government released a N5 billion take-off grant to the Commission. For context, a take-off grant is a mobilization fund. The commission is expected to use it to acquire and renovate office spaces, pay salary arrears for its staff, and cover other expenses it may have incurred throughout its 9 months of takeoff.

As soon as the funds arrived, the bees gathered to perch on the honeycomb. But with the honey sealed, the parasitic bees are piping to sting on the host with such a rude sense of entitlement. This is the crux of the matter.

I learnt the SEDC Management had yet to map out the expenditure for the takeoff grant when the “arrogant racketeers” came banging at the door for a fat share, with their greedy potbellies. I tried to obtain details but the SEDC declined. I assume they fear Orji Uzor Kalu’s brutish wrath.

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Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and his fellows want about 35% cut from the N5 billion takeoff grant, and also for subsequent allocations that the commission gets. How much more ridiculous can it get?

On what grounds does the so-called Senate Committee demand about 35% of the takeoff grant and subsequent allocations? Is the SEDC their private ventures? How more gluttonous can their kleptocratic deep pockets be?

The SEDC Management declined. And it is sticking with its “no” with vehement insistence. This set the tone for the fight which has now spiraled to a destructive dimension. In fact, it threatens the existence of the commission.

This year, the Commission has only received N1.8 billion twice, in January and February. The rest of the months so far, it has gone without allocation. I learnt that the Venture Capital Competition it recently hosted, which funded 25 startups and existing businesses from South Easterners, was financed largely by private investors – which the commissioned sourced.

Yet, Orji Uzor Kalu and fellow money-mongers want a bite from the fragmented pie.

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Recall that earlier in February this year, the Senate Committee, through Senator OUK, issued a “stern warning” to the commission over “the management of N250 billion takeoff grant.” It was because the Commission refused to hand them about 35% cut from the N5 billion. They lied that it was N250 billion.

Is the Senate Committee backing down yet? Never. They have summoned the Commission to appear before them on June 9th, tomorrow. They cannot understand stubborn Will and resolve of the SEDC Management Team to resist their insidious interference and mute their atrocious kleptocratic taste.

They now want to carry out a comprehensive probe into the SEDC activities. The Commission must provide details of all projects, programmes, interventions, and contracts it has executed so far, including their locations, costs, procurement processes, and implementation status.

Wouldn’t this have earned a reputable applause had the Senate Committee not been driven by a heinous greed and sought to choke a Southeast’s only Development Initiative to termination?

Isn’t it time for the leaders and stakeholders from the South East to stand up to Orji Uzor Kalu and his colleagues in the SEDC Senate Committee to quit this scandalous meddlesomeness and allow the Commission to do its job?

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Beyond the oversight function of monitoring and probing the activities of the Commission to ensure that it runs efficiently and effectively, and that it is transparent and accountable in all its dealings, the Senate Committee has no other business but to focus on its lawmaking duties. It should remain at this!