…Lament Absence Of Ngige, Moghalu Others

By Okey Maduforo Awka

Foundation members of the All Progressives Congress APC in Anambra state have protested what they call the hijack of the party by members of the People’s Democratic Party PDP at just concluded State Congress.

They further lamented the absence of former governor and Minister Sen Chris Ngige, former National Auditor of the party Chief George Moghalu, former National Youth leader of the party Chief Uzoma Igbonwa and others during the Congress.

According to the spokesman of the foundation members Mr Uchenna Adika from Onitsha North local government area ; members such as Chief Ike Ekwensi and Chief Kene Nzekwe were both disqualified and denied access to purchase forms for the post of Deputy Chairman and Chairman, most original members of the party.

Advertisement

“What you saw that took place there at the party Secretarate is a hijack of the party by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and not the real APC stalwarts”

“Some of us went to buy forms for the post of state Chairman they refused to sell to us and there are some of us who actually purchased forms for the post of Deputy Chairman but they were disqualified by them and you call it internal democracy in the party ”

The group questioned that ; “,At what point did all these people join the APC ? ”

“There should be a demarcation between the Renewed Hope Ambassadors campaign organization of Mr President and the leadership of the APC in Anambra state” he said.

But Sen Uche Ekwunife during the Congress contended that what the party did was I line with the provisions of the APC constitution adding that the party at this point do not need Photoshop executive members who do not have capacity or anything to offer for the growth and progress of the party .

Advertisement

“Our outgoing Chairman Chief Basil Ejidike is not going because he did not do well or that he is incompetent but he has been there for seven years and there is the need to regig the party ”

“It is not about becoming an executive member of the party for Photoshop or just to be there ”

“We did basketing and consensus in line with the provisions of our party Constitution and we are looking at people that had capacity to work and deliver and not rubber stamp executive ” she said.

By Chinedu Sabastine
The second edition of the Enugu Tech Festival (ETF 2.0) has concluded with a record-breaking 53,000 physical participants, reinforcing Nigeria’s growing ambition to emerge as a continental hub for digital innovation.
Held from 24 to 27 February 2026 at the Enugu International Conference Centre, the four-day festival exceeded its projected target of 50,000 attendees, drawing innovators, founders, investors, policymakers and students from across Nigeria and beyond.
Convener of the festival and Enugu State Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Prince Lawrence Ezeh, described the turnout as “a resounding validation of Enugu’s vision to become a technology trailblazer in Africa.” He noted that the festival also attracted hundreds of online participants globally.
The event was broadcast live on Africa Independent Television (AIT) and reportedly ranked among the top five trending global events on social media during its run—an unprecedented level of digital engagement for an African technology convergence.
“We set out to inspire 50,000 innovators, thinkers, founders, investors and digital talents. To see nearly 60,000 people here—not registrations but real engagement—shows that the African tech narrative is shifting from perception to measurable impact,” Dr Ezeh said.
Attendance Breakdown and Daily Focus
Organisers disclosed that Day One recorded 20,000 participants, Day Two 15,000, Day Three 13,000, and Day Four 5,000 attendees. Each day was structured around a central theme, featuring contributions from government, global tech firms, startups and academia.
The theme for ETF 2.0 was “Coal to Code: Energy in New Form.”
Policy, Investment and Innovation
Day One focused on policy and governance and was officially declared open by Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, who emphasised technology and innovation as central pillars of his administration’s development agenda.
“We are witnessing an economic renaissance powered by technology… The global economy is now driven by ideas, code, data and innovation,” Mbah said, adding that Enugu has chosen to be “a producer, not a spectator” in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Dignitaries including Sweden’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Anna Westerholm, toured exhibition halls showcasing startups, coding boot camps, robotics demonstrations and AI-powered agricultural tools.

Observers from Britain and other European markets noted a shift in Nigeria’s tech discourse—from aspirational rhetoric to implementation-driven frameworks with measurable outcomes.
Day Two spotlighted entrepreneurship and investment. A curated “Deal Room” facilitated engagements between startups and venture capitalists, while masterclasses addressed scaling, product-market fit and cross-border expansion. Investors from Lagos, Nairobi, London and Dubai attended, reflecting rising global interest in African digital enterprises.
Dr Ezeh described the festival as “a bridge between talent and capital,” positioning Enugu as an emerging investment gateway to South-East Nigeria’s technology corridor.
Day Three explored artificial intelligence, blockchain and Web3 technologies, featuring a live hackathon with teams developing solutions in fintech, healthcare diagnostics and climate-smart agriculture. Panels also examined responsible AI governance and decentralised finance regulation.
Youth Empowerment and Lasting Impact
The closing day blended innovation showcases with awards and cultural performances. Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, reaffirmed federal support for youth-led innovation and research commercialisation.
Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Chidiebere Onyia, described ETF 2.0 as “a landmark achievement” that has elevated Enugu’s global profile.
One of the festival’s most tangible outcomes was its youth empowerment initiative. Hundreds of young participants received laptops and tablets, while selected startup founders and innovation teams were awarded ₦10 million grants each to accelerate product development and market entry. Additional groups received smaller grants to support training, prototyping and community tech hubs.
“Inspiration without tools is incomplete,” Dr Ezeh said. “We are placing real resources in the hands of those who will shape the ecosystem.”
A Growing Continental Signal
Beyond speeches and exhibitions, ETF 2.0 functioned as a marketplace of ideas, ambition and opportunity. Cultural performances and digital art installations underscored the festival’s message that technology and cultural identity can coexist.
For international observers, the festival reflects a broader continental shift: Africa’s youthful, tech-savvy population is increasingly entrepreneurial and globally connected.
Against persistent challenges such as infrastructure gaps and regulatory uncertainty, Enugu’s successful convening of over 53,000 innovators sends a clear signal—subnational governments are stepping forward as active ecosystem builders.
As the curtains fell on ETF 2.0, Dr Ezeh reflected on what he termed “Africa’s defining decade.”
“This festival is not an endpoint,” he said. “It is the foundation. We are building from Enugu to the world.”
If ETF 2.0 is any indication, that ambition is already gaining momentum.

By Okey Maduforo, Awka

The alleged sit-at-home order reportedly issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for Monday, February 2, 2026, in Anambra State has suffered a major setback, following a firm denial by the group that it authorised such a directive.
IPOB dismissed the order as false and further disowned the use of the pseudonym Emma Powerful as the signatory to any of its press statements, warning that any statement issued under that name did not originate from the organisation.
In a statement attributed to the Head of the Directorate of State (DOS), Mazi Chukwukadibia Edoziem, the group said it never approved any sit-at-home or lockdown across Biafraland on the said date.
“Furthermore, the Directorate of State categorically states that it did not authorise any individual or group whatsoever to issue a lockdown or sit-at-home order across Biafraland on Monday, February 2, 2026,” the statement read.
IPOB also announced new guidelines for its official communications, resolving that all press statements representing its position must henceforth be issued exclusively on the organisation’s official letterhead.
The group explained that due to the abuse and compromise of the pseudonym Emma Powerful, it would no longer use the name for issuing statements.
“For the avoidance of doubt and in the interest of clarity, any press statement released under the pseudonym ‘Emma Powerful’ going forward does not emanate from IPOB leadership and does not represent the position of the IPOB Directorate of State,” the statement added.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has cancelled the posting of an ambassadorial nominee to Turkey, clarifying that no ambassador has been appointed to Ankara despite an earlier announcement suggesting otherwise.

The clarification came on Friday, hours after the Presidency initially announced the posting of former Kebbi State Governor, Usman Dakingari, as Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to Turkey.

Earlier in the week, President Tinubu had approved the posting of four ambassador-designates from a pool of more than 60 nominees confirmed by the Senate last December. However, the Presidency has now confirmed only three appointments, effectively leaving the Turkish diplomatic mission without a nominee.

In a statement issued late Thursday night, the President’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, had announced that President Tinubu approved the posting of four ambassador-designates.

The initial list named Kayode Are, former Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), as ambassador-designate to the United States; Ayodele Oke, former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), as ambassador-designate to France; Amin Dalhatu, former Nigerian ambassador to South Korea, as High Commissioner-designate to the United Kingdom; and Usman Dakingari, former Governor of Kebbi State, as ambassador-designate to Turkey.

Advertisement

Landlords , shanty owners, sand minners and street traders have been issued with a 48 hour ultimatum to remove their structures and clear off the streets as the Operation Clean Healthy Anambra aka Ocha Brigandage commences massive demolition of illegal structures in major towns in the area.

Also members of households that do not have septic tanks dismissing wastes into the major roads there by blocking the water channels would be arrested and prosecuted.

Similarly, street traders blocking major roads in those towns shall also be arrested and prosecuted while their goods shall be confiscated by the Brigade.

Already Mobile Courts have also been established in those towns for quick dispensation of justice and those found guilty may either go to jail or made to pay heavy penalty.

This is coming as the agency had concluded the recruitment of additional 200 personnel to ensure the effective execution of the demolition.

Advertisement

The Managing Director of Ocha Brigade, Comrade Celestine Anere, disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing in his office, stressing the agency’s renewed commitment to keeping Anambra State clean and healthy.

Anere expressed dissatisfaction with the rate at which some residents still engage in public urination and defecation, especially along the streets of Onitsha.

He stated that the Brigade would no longer tolerate such acts, particularly around the Head Bridge and the Upper Iweka axis, where public toilets have already been constructed.

According to him, he would not entertain calls from anyone pleading on behalf of offenders arrested for public urination or defecation.

“It is an offence to urinate or defecate in an open place. If we catch you, we will take you straight to court, and you will pay whatever fine the court imposes. I will not listen to pleas, regardless of anyone’s status. Both Ocha Brigade and Ndi Anambra must work together to keep the state clean and healthy. We will go on radio and television in the next five days to inform the public before full enforcement begins,” he said.

Advertisement

Anere further explained that the agency would clamp down on individuals who jump into gutters or dispose of human waste and refuse inside drains, actions which he described as serious environmental and health hazards.

“We will not tolerate such acts anymore. People must learn to obey environmental laws,” he added.

He also revealed that Ocha Brigade would intensify enforcement against street trading in Eke Awka, Onitsha, and other locations across the state, noting that the law empowers the Brigade to arrest street traders and charge them to court. He lamented that the agency had previously been too lenient, which is why compliance among residents has remained low.

The MD stated that the Brigade would work closely with the police to ensure effective arrests and prosecutions.

“For us to achieve a clean and healthy Anambra, everyone must pay attention to their surroundings and keep them clean. A healthy environment is only possible when we maintain proper sanitation,” he said.

Advertisement

He added that the agency would take strict action against those who dump waste into gutters, especially during the rainy season.

Anere disclosed that the Brigade would monitor various local government areas to ensure that contractors assigned to evacuate waste do so promptly.

“It is part of our mandate to ensure that those responsible for waste evacuation do their job immediately and properly. When they evacuate waste, they must ensure the area is left clean and not littered with debris. We will also require all Keke drivers, bus drivers, and tipper operators to stop throwing trash out of their vehicles. We will enforce the rule that every vehicle must have a waste container. Tipper drivers must ensure their loads—such as sand and other materials—are properly covered while moving anywhere in the state.”he said.

He stressed that Ocha Brigade would begin full enforcement of all environmental laws in the state.

“It will not be easy for us, and it will not be easy for offenders. But what we are saying is simple: everyone should obey the environmental laws. If residents comply, we won’t need to enforce; but if they disobey, we will enforce strictly. We want all Anambra residents to adhere to the laws completely because we are now coming out in full force.”he said.

Advertisement

Anere also referenced an executive order issued by the governor banning sand mining in Ekwulobia, Ogbu, Oko, Nnaka, and Amaokpala. He advised tipper drivers and sand miners to obtain approval from the relevant authorities before mining at any location.

“Any site without a valid permit will be shut down by Ocha Brigade. Enough is enough. We cannot continue to build new roads only for them to be destroyed by unauthorized mining activities within months. We urge tipper associations to educate their members so they do not fall victim to our enforcement,” he warned.

He stated that the Brigade would also be firm in enforcing the desilting of drainage channels across the state due to the health risks posed by blocked culverts.

“We will double our efforts. We have discovered that many culverts are blocked, and we will ensure they are reopened to allow the free flow of water.” he added.

He appealed to residents to assist Ocha Brigade by reporting individuals who channel wastewater improperly or engage in other activities that degrade the environment.

Advertisement

.