
News
Enugu govt moves to reposition local govt areas for development
By Maurice Okafor
The current administration in Enugu state led by Governor Peter Mbah is very optimistic in impacting social amenities across the 17 local government areas in the state.
More importantly,the administration in what it termed ss ‘DISRUPTIVE INNOVATION’is bent on discovering the various socio cultural and economic potentials in the various rural communities and harnessing them for even development of the state.
Checks revealed that the means of achieving this feat informed the state government’s 60/40 percent partnership agreement on projects development with the 17 Council chairmen.
The implementation of this policy and realisation of the noble dream of developing and harnessing the various potentials in the rural communities in Enugu state is the reason for the current tour of the 17 local government areas embarked upon by the state commissioner for local government,rural development and chieftancy affairs, Deacon Hon. Okey Ogbodo.

The tour is meant to discover the various but yet untapped economic potentials in the rural communities, note the various developmental strides of the Council chairmen, interact with stakeholders, town union executives and other interested parties on rooms for improvement.
The tour of the 17 local government areas embarked upon by the state commissioner for local government,rural development and chieftancy affairs, Deacon Okey Ogbodo is also meant to resolve all crises areas that would enhance peaceful leadership and development of the rural areas.
The tour commenced on Tuesday,October 31st with a visit to Uzo-Uwani local government area,under Enugu North senatorial district.
At a Town Hall meeting held at the council headquarters at Umulokpa, with the stakeholders, Deacon Ogbodo thanked the people for their unflinching support to Governor Peter Mbah led adminidtration in the state, assuring them that Governor Mbah will unrelentlessly work for the good of the grassroots.
Commissioner Ogbodo noted that Uzo-Uwani local government area has the comparative advantage for agro-allied industries, stating the state government will capitalise on the massive and rich soil in the council area for investments in agriculture, that would create employment opportunities for unemployed youths in the envisaged agro-allied industries to be established in the council area, ginger food abundancy in the state and attract other socio economic and commercial activities to Uzo Uwani communities.
Deacon Ogbodo cautioned that the present administration in Enugu state demands accountability and transparency by the council chairmen, with emphasis on inclusive administration which would enhance peace and development.
He tasked the council chairman and party stakeholders to reconcile differences if any for optimal performance.
Giving account of his stewardship, Hon Chukwudi Nnadozie, Chairman Uzo Uwani LGA enumerated his developmental and political achievements and it’s impacts on the people.
According to him, his administration which started in 2020 has carried out a lot of developmental projects and programmes and above all, worked hard to keep the party intact.
He enumerated his projects to include provision of 300KVA transformers to some Communities, ashphalted 3km road, grading of community roads, provision of security Vehicles and Motorcycles to enhance adequate Security, massive support to the health sector which attracted UNICEF and WHO awards to him.
Nnadozie said he makes prompt payment of workers salaries, just as Traditional Rulers and Town Union President Generals receive stipends from his administrstion as at when due. He also promoted the education sector.
Some of the Stakeholders who spoke during the interactive meeting were HRH Igwe Emma Chukwuemeka Umunna, Chairman Uzo Uwani Traditional Rulers Council, Mr. Mathew Anuka of Uv uru Community confirmed the good works of the Chairman. They promised to maintain peace in their various communities for the good plans of the Governor to strive.
Speaking on behalf of women in politics, Hon. Princess Nwanneka Okoro and Lady Vera Ezeugwu maintained that their chairman has being carrying them along but they want to be involved the more.
The Enugu state commissioner for local government, rural development and chieftancy affsirs, Deacon Okey Ogbodo and his team continued their tour of the 17 local government areas of the state wiyh a visit to Oji River local government area on Thursday, November 2. Stakeholders of Oji River local government area assembled at the council headquarters to interact with him.
Deacon Ogbodo remarked that Oji River local government is well represented in the executive alm of government as two serving commisioners in Governor Mbah’s administration are from Oji River local government area.
He said the state government is still very desirous on how to improve on the lots of the rural dwellers which informed the reason of the local government tour embarked by his ministry.
He disclosed that the proposed Ugwuoba Industrial Park,Oji River is an initiative of Governor Mbah which will turn into reality for the benefit of the people,the South East zone and the country,based on it’s scope and viability.
Speaking on behalf of Oji River traditional rulers, Igwe Sunday Orah, commended Governor Mbah for having done so much within short a period.He said Mbah’s initiatives and achievements so far has shown that he is ready to serve Enugu state.
Some of the stakeholders demanded for more state government projects in communities within the local government. Some demanded for the constructoon of Umuabi-Nachi-Ehuhe Achi hinterland road, as a measure to reduce traffic hold up and pressure on Enugu-9th mile-Udi road- Oji River -Achi road. They pointed that it will serve as an alternative route to Achi with a shorter distance from Enugu in addition to opening up the rural areas interconnected along it’s route.
Another stakeholder lamented that the Oji River South Development center at Ugwuoba, whose roof was burnt some time ago, is still abandoned as such that the workers no longer come to work,most especially nurses and other health attendants attached to the Development center.
The Oji River Council Chairman,Hon. Kingsley Onyeagba,represented by his deputy,Hon Sopuluchi Onyebuchi,enumerated the achievements of his boss to include purchase and installation of a transformer at Oji -Urban, grading of several rural roads leading to the communities, Youth empiwerment, rural farm roads,drilling of boreholes etc.
The tour will continue this week with a visit to some other council areas.
Business
Enugu Air Launches New Website
…moves online services to www.enuguairlines.ng
Enugu Air has announced the launch of its new official website, enuguairlines.ng, as part of efforts to provide passengers and customers with a better, safer and more convenient digital experience.
The airline said the migration to the new website is designed to improve how passengers connect with Enugu Air and access its services online, including flight bookings, schedules and the latest updates.
Announcing the development, the airline said: “We’ve moved! We’re innovating! We’ve migrated to a better, safer and convenient website to connect you to the world.”
Passengers can now access Enugu Air’s online services through its new web address, enuguairlines.ng, which the airline described as its new digital home.
The airline urged passengers and prospective travellers to save the new web address and use it for flight bookings, checking schedules and obtaining the latest information about its operations.

“Same Enugu Air. New web address,” the airline stated, emphasising that the change represents an improvement in its digital platform while retaining the Enugu Air brand and services.
The airline further encouraged customers to visit, www.enuguairlines.ng for all flight-related information and online services.
It further stated that the old website, enuguairlines•com has been discarded and no longer in use.
News
Kidnapped female Police officer found dead in Ebonyi
A kidnapped female police officer has been found dead in Ebonyi State after a suspected member of a kidnapping syndicate was arrested and led police operatives to the scene where her remains were recovered.
The Nigeria Police Force disclosed this in its state-by-state operational update issued by Force Public Relations Officer
Force Headquarters, Ani Iniedu on Monday, detailing several arrests, rescues and recoveries recorded across the country between September 19 and 20, 2026.
According to the police, the suspect was arrested following a sustained intelligence-led and technology-based investigation into the kidnapping of the female officer.
The suspect reportedly led combined police teams to the crime scene, where the remains of the officer were recovered.
The police said the case is being investigated by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Abakaliki.

In a separate operation in Adamawa State, police operatives rescued two kidnapped victims from a suspected kidnappers’ hideout in Shako Forest, Toungo Local Government Area.
The operation, carried out on September 20 following actionable intelligence, also led to the recovery of two magazines containing 10 rounds of 7.62×39mm live ammunition.
A National Identification Number (NIN) card, mobile phone, passport and chain were also recovered from the suspected hideout.
In the Federal Capital Territory, police arrested 334 suspects during coordinated raids on criminal hotspots, black spots and uncompleted buildings across several locations.
The operation, conducted on September 19, also resulted in the recovery of various quantities of substances suspected to be illicit drugs.
Meanwhile, police in Anambra State arrested a suspected child trafficker who was allegedly intercepted while travelling with a six-month-old baby boy.
The baby was recovered and handed over to the appropriate authorities for necessary action, according to the police.
In Kaduna State, four suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate were arrested following intelligence-led operations.
Police said the suspects confessed to their alleged involvement in kidnapping and provided information about fleeing accomplices. A locally made Dane gun was recovered.
Another suspected kidnapping syndicate member was arrested at Soba Market in the state. Police said the suspect also confessed and gave information implicating five fleeing accomplices.
In Ogun State, police arrested a suspect linked to a fatal shooting incident in Isara, Remo North Local Government Area.
One single-barrel gun, one live cartridge and one expended shell were recovered during the operation.
In Imo State, a suspect was arrested during a raid on a suspected criminal gathering at Nekede, Owerri West Local Government Area, with police recovering a locally made cut-to-size single-barrel gun.
Police in Ekiti State also arrested two suspects linked to multiple shop-breaking and stealing incidents in Ado-Ekiti and recovered suspected stolen iron rods.
In another operation in Ado-Ekiti, police recovered an abandoned white sack containing a pump-action gun loaded with two live cartridges and a locally made single-barrel gun from a farmland.
In Benue State, police tactical teams, supported by personnel of the Police Mobile Force and military, intervened in a renewed communal conflict at Akpa-Mbakor Community in Tarka Local Government Area.
The security teams dispersed the rampaging youths and restored normalcy in the area, according to the police.
In Oyo State, police arrested a truck driver allegedly involved in a fatal road traffic incident along the Ijebu-Ode/Idi Ayunre Road.
The truck was impounded for further inspection and investigation.
The police said all the cases remain under investigation by the respective State Criminal Investigation Departments.
News
UK excludes Nigerian, Ghanaian-trained teachers from teaching qualification list
Teachers trained in Nigeria and Ghana are no longer eligible to apply for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in England under the United Kingdom’s overseas-trained teacher application route.
The change took effect on September 9 and means teachers trained in the two West African countries can no longer use the route to obtain QTS, a status recognised by many schools in England.
The UK Department for Education said countries included in the scheme must meet specific requirements to ensure that applicants’ qualifications, professional standing and teaching experience can be properly verified. One of the requirements is that a country must have a national regulator capable of confirming a teacher’s professional status and providing authenticated references.
According to the department, Nigeria and Ghana did not meet the reference-verification requirement.
“Our data shows that more than 70% of applications from teachers in Ghana and Nigeria include work history references that use public email addresses, such as Gmail or Hotmail, rather than a school’s official email domain. This means assessors spend additional time and resources trying to verify information provided in applications,” the department said.

The UK department said about 90 percent of applications are assessed within 12 months.
India was also removed from the eligible list because it does not have a national regulator capable of confirming teachers’ professional standing.
South Africa is now the only African country remaining on the list of countries whose teachers can use the QTS application route.
The department said the verification process was necessary to ensure that information provided by applicants was genuine and that teachers awarded QTS possessed the required skills and experience to teach in England.
To apply for QTS, overseas-trained teachers must have a valid passport, an undergraduate degree equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree and professional recognition as a teacher in the country where they trained.
Applicants must also have completed any mandatory induction requirements needed for full teacher registration in their country of qualification.
They are required to demonstrate that they are qualified to teach children aged between five and 16 and have at least nine months of teaching experience gained after qualifying as a teacher.
Applicants must also provide employment references that verify their work history and use an email address linked to the school’s official domain.
Depending on the country where a teacher trained, additional requirements may include qualifications to teach pupils aged between 11 and 16 and a specialism in subjects such as mathematics, science, biology, chemistry, physics, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Mandarin, Russian or Spanish.
However, because teachers in England are employed by individual schools rather than the Department for Education, schools may consider alternative routes into teaching.
The department said teachers who are no longer eligible to use the QTS application service can explore other routes into teaching in England.
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