By Okey Maduforo, Awka

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has charged journalists in Anambra State to intensify advocacy for local content development in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry while holding operators accountable for compliance with statutory requirements.

The Board also urged media practitioners to give greater prominence to Nigerian Content issues to enable more indigenous businesses, professionals and communities to take advantage of opportunities in the oil and gas value chain.

The General Manager, Corporate Communications of NCDMB, Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, gave the charge on Thursday during the Nigerian Content Media Stakeholders Workshop for Editors and Journalists in Anambra State, held at Golden Tulip, Awka.

Ezeobi described the media as a critical stakeholder in the implementation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, stressing that journalists must go beyond routine reportage to set agendas, educate the public and monitor compliance with local content obligations.

He urged journalists to leverage their roles as agenda-setters and gatekeepers to draw attention to developments in the industry, highlight opportunities for Nigerian businesses and professionals, and demand accountability from oil and gas operators.

According to him, the workshop was designed to deepen journalists’ understanding of the Nigerian Content framework, improve the quality of industry reportage and strengthen collaboration between the Board and media organisations in Anambra State.

Ezeobi described Anambra as a strategic location for the engagement, noting that the state is recognised as an oil-producing state and ranks as the second-highest oil producer in the South-East, with an estimated production capacity of 3,000 barrels per day.

He also identified the presence of prominent indigenous oil and gas entrepreneurs, including Emeka Okwuosa of OilServ and Ernest Nnaemeka Azudialu-Obiejesi, founder of the Nestoil Group, as further evidence of the state’s significance in Nigeria’s energy industry.

The NCDMB spokesman maintained that journalists must acquire adequate knowledge of the local content law and the Board’s interventions to effectively inform residents about opportunities available to businesses, professionals and host communities.

He recalled that since the enactment of the NOGICD Act and the establishment of NCDMB in 2010, the Board had consistently recognised the media as a strategic partner in advancing Nigerian Content development.

Ezeobi explained that the Act mandates the Board to deploy media platforms, communication channels and stakeholder engagement initiatives to promote the development of indigenous capacity in the oil and gas sector.

He further noted that the Board’s 10-year Nigerian Content Strategic Roadmap, developed in 2017, identified collaboration and stakeholder engagement as key enablers of its implementation.

He credited the media with helping to elevate Nigerian Content into a national development agenda, adding that Nigeria’s achievements in the sector had influenced other African countries to adopt similar policies.

According to him, effective communication and stakeholder engagement have equally contributed to NCDMB’s recognition as the best federal agency on four consecutive occasions in the rankings of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).

Speaking on the economic significance of Nigerian Content, Ezeobi explained that the policy seeks to develop indigenous human and material capacity, strengthen local businesses, enhance technical expertise and expand Nigeria’s industrial base.

He said the objective was to ensure that competent Nigerian companies increasingly supply goods and services required by the oil and gas industry while indigenous professionals acquire the technical skills necessary to compete effectively.

He added that strengthening local manufacturing and productive capacity would help retain greater economic value within Nigeria, create employment opportunities and stimulate the growth of domestic enterprises.

The General Manager disclosed that the Board had introduced several programmes and interventions to achieve these objectives, assuring participants that the workshop would provide further insights into its mandate, achievements and available opportunities.

He said the event would also feature a panel discussion on Nigerian Content and community development, as well as a session on award-winning journalism and building a purpose-driven career, particularly in technical sectors such as oil and gas.

Ezeobi expressed optimism that the engagement would equip journalists in Anambra with the knowledge required to produce more comprehensive industry reports, promote local participation and strengthen accountability among operators.

He encouraged participants to engage actively in the discussions, ask critical questions, challenge assumptions and share their professional experiences to ensure that the workshop achieved its objectives.

The workshop forms part of NCDMB’s broader stakeholder engagement initiatives aimed at promoting awareness of its mandate, programmes and opportunities under the Nigerian Content framework.

By Okey Maduforo, Awka
The political cold war between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra State has deepened ahead of the 2027 general elections, following growing disagreements over the parties’ support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
At the centre of the controversy is APGA’s political slogan, Progressives Are Working Together, which the Anambra APC alleges is a smokescreen designed to hijack the President’s re-election campaign structures in the state.
The tension has been further heightened by the appointment of Governor Charles Soludo as a member of Tinubu’s Presidential Campaign Council, a development APC stakeholders in the state have criticised as a slight on loyal party members.
The disagreement came to the fore at a meeting of the Anambra State Elders Council in Awka, where members faulted Soludo’s directive urging APGA supporters to vote for Tinubu in the presidential election while backing APGA candidates in the National and State Assembly elections.
Speaking at the meeting, APC chieftain Bunty Onuigbo questioned the political wisdom of the arrangement, arguing that it could undermine the President’s chances of securing a supportive majority in the National Assembly.
“Where is the sense in voting for Tinubu of APC and voting for APGA in the rest of the general elections?
“If Tinubu becomes President without his party members having a majority in the House of Representatives and Senate, it amounts to political suicide,” he said.
Onuigbo alleged that the APGA-led government was exploiting the purported progressive alliance to take control of political activities meant for the APC in Anambra.
He recalled that during a recent visit by First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, APC stakeholders in the state were allegedly sidelined while APGA officials dominated the arrangements.
“An APGA member was appointed minister, alongside other appointments, when we have qualified APC members who can serve in those positions. Today, the leader of another political party has been appointed to the Presidential Campaign Council even though he is not a member of our party,” he lamented.
APGA Rules Out Alliance Beyond Presidential Election
However, the Anambra State Chairman of APGA, Barrister Ifeatu Obi-Okoye, dismissed suggestions of confusion within his party, insisting that its understanding with the APC was strictly limited to Tinubu’s re-election.
“Let me state categorically that there is no other political or electoral collaboration with the APC beyond the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and that is it.
“For the senatorial elections, they are on their own. For the House of Representatives elections, they are on their own, and for the State House of Assembly elections, they are equally on their own.
“There is no contractual or political alliance between APGA and APC concerning the other elections,” he declared.
Obi-Okoye maintained that APGA would field candidates for all three senatorial districts, 11 House of Representatives seats and 30 State House of Assembly constituencies in Anambra.
According to him, the party’s decision to support Tinubu does not amount to surrendering its electoral interests or political identity to the APC.
He also dismissed fears that the arrangement could confuse voters, describing the Anambra electorate as politically sophisticated and capable of making independent choices across party lines.
“Our people know what to do, and you will see it play out on election day. There will be no confusion of any form or manner.
“Besides, voters will be given separate ballot papers for the presidential, senatorial and House of Representatives elections. Confusion could only arise if all three elections were conducted using a single ballot paper,” he explained.
Despite APGA’s clarification, the disagreement has exposed growing cracks in the political understanding between the two parties, particularly over who controls Tinubu’s campaign machinery in Anambra.
With the 2027 elections approaching, APGA candidates now face the delicate task of campaigning for an APC presidential candidate while simultaneously seeking to defeat APC candidates contesting other elective positions in the state.
The unfolding situation raises fresh questions about the sustainability of the much-publicised progressive alliance and whether the competing political interests of both parties can be reconciled ahead of the polls.
Tighten the opening for sharper impact
Make the political conflict more balanced
Remove repetition and streamline quotations

Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, has called on the police to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into violence surrounding a recent political gathering in the state, during which a citizen was reportedly shot and injured.

The governor, in an address to the people of Enugu State, expressed concern over the incident, assuring affected individuals and their families that their safety and well-being remained a priority.

Mbah said the reported violence had raised concerns about public safety and the peace the state had worked to maintain, stressing that all citizens must be able to exercise their political rights without fear or intimidation.

He reiterated the Enugu State Government’s position on allegations of involvement in the violence, stating that the government’s primary responsibility was to protect lives, uphold the law and ensure that justice was served.

The governor also said he expected the police to investigate the incident thoroughly and without bias, adding that anyone found responsible would be held accountable through the appropriate legal process, irrespective of their political connections.

“Every citizen, whatever their political affiliation, must be able to exercise their political rights without fear or violence,” Mbah said.

He urged residents to remain committed to peace as authorities work to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The governor concluded his message by expressing concern for those affected by the violence and praying for the continued peace and progress of Enugu State.

The South-East Development Commission (SEDC) has briefed the Senate Committee on the Commission’s activities and development priorities for the South-East region during an oversight visit to Enugu on Monday.

The meeting focused on critical infrastructure and development needs across the region, including road connectivity, rural electrification, access to clean water, education, environmental sustainability and strategic projects aimed at unlocking the South-East’s economic potential.

During the engagement, the Senate Committee stressed the need for improved staff welfare, effective institutional development and sustained collaboration between the Commission and the National Assembly to ensure the successful implementation of its mandate.

The Committee also passed a vote of confidence in the leadership of the SEDC, expressing support for the initiatives undertaken by the Commission so far.

The development comes as the Commission continues efforts to address longstanding infrastructure challenges and promote sustainable economic growth across the South-East.

The SEDC reiterated its commitment to working with relevant stakeholders to attract strategic investments and implement practical interventions that will improve livelihoods, strengthen regional integration and promote inclusive development.

The Commission’s mandate covers the five South-East states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo, with a focus on advancing development initiatives capable of improving the living conditions of residents and enhancing the region’s economic competitiveness.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged residents of Enugu State to avoid waiting for rush hours before participating in the ongoing Claims and Objections, and Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection windows.

INEC, on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, commenced nationwide Claims and Objections for fresh registrants and PVC collection for those who did transfer of voting location and those who are yet to collect their PVCs.

INEC Residents Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Enugu State, Dr Chukwuemeka Chukwu, during a press briefing on Friday in Enugu, said that the Claims and Objections window would last for seven days from Oct. 9 to Oct. 15.

Chukwu said that both exercises would commence simultaneously on Oct. 9 across all the 260 Registration Areas (RAs) in the 17 Local Government Areas of Enugu State.

He said that INEC had concluded training and retraining for designated personnel on the procedures and processes for the Display and Hearing of Claims and Objections, as well as the distribution of PVCs.

According to him, I urge all eligible persons concerned to take advantage of this opportunity and avoid waiting until rush hours or the last day before visiting their designated Registration Areas.

He said, “The Display and Hearing of Claims and Objections is an important aspect of the voter registration process.

“It provides an opportunity for eligible citizens to examine the voters’ register and bring forward legitimate claims or objections regarding entries in the register in accordance with the Commission’s established procedures.

“This process is designed to help identify and correct errors, address legitimate concerns, and improve the accuracy and integrity of the voters’ register ahead of future electoral activities.

“I therefore encourage members of the public to visit their respective Registration Areas during the seven-day period to participate in the exercise and bring any legitimate claims or objections to the attention of designated INEC officials”.

On PVC distribution, Chukwu said the distribution was intended for eligible citizens who registered during first-phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) and those who applied for voter transfers or replacement of lost or damaged PVCs.

He said, “All affected persons are strongly advised to visit the appropriate Registration Areas where their PVCs are available and collect them within the stipulated period.

“They should follow the instructions of designated INEC officials to ensure an orderly and seamless process. The PVC collection will continue till December.”

The REC disclosed that Enugu State currently had a total of 2,213,768 registered voters across its 17 council area, adding that the figure underscored the importance of maintaining an accurate, credible, and up-to-date voters’ register.

He said that commission remained committed to ensuring that eligible citizens had the opportunity to participate in the electoral process in accordance with the law.

“I call on all stakeholders, community leaders, civil society organisations, political parties, and members of the public to support the successful conduct of these exercises by sensitising eligible citizens and encouraging them to participate.

“INEC Enugu State remains committed to transparency, inclusiveness, professionalism, and the continuous improvement of the electoral process,” he added.