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South East now a priority under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda — Idris, Information Minister
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has re-iterated that under President Bola Tinubu administration, the development and the inclusion of the South East geopolitical region into mainstream politics in Nigeria is no longer an afterthought but a priority.
Idris who made the declaration in Enugu on Tuesday during a sensitization campaign embarked upon by the Ministry on the impact Mr. President has made in South East in the past two years tagged: “Mid-term Report of President Tinubu ‘s Administration,” pointed out that South East, under the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President is no longer an afterthought but a top priority that cannot be toyed with.
“Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, several critical sectors are receiving the attention long overdue from Agriculture and Healthcare, as South East is no longer an afterthought but a priority now,” he declared.
Idris, represented by the Head of Centre, FIC, Enugu, Mr. Bonaventure Ngwu, noted that the establishment of the Cassava bio-ethanol in Enugu was a bold step towards food security and job creation, adding that the project would provide opportunities not only for farmers but the entire agro-processing value chain that the people would benefit from.
He cited many projects the Federal Government has embarked on in the zone to include the establishment of a cancer centre at UNTH Enugu, equipped with MRI, a facility needed for early detection and treatment of cancer as well as many road projects for ease of transportation.
“The construction of the Second Niger Bridge and the Onitsha Expressway as well as the ongoing Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway upgrades are not just regional assets, they are lifelines for trade, commerce, industry and connectivity,” he said, not adding the many flyovers ongoing in Enugu.
Chairman of the occasion, which was attended by heads of Federal ministries and parastatals, Chief Arinze Nnia Ogbodo, while appreciating Mr. President for what he has done for the South East said that Tinubu has made Ndigbo proud, pointing out that the zone had been forgotten over the years.
“Tinubu has done well for the Southeast. He is the first president to recognize South East. He has made us proud. We had been forgotten before now. We shall remember Tinubu for putting smiles on our faces. We expect more from him,” Ogbodo enthusiastically declared.
Ogbodo was particularly happy with the establishment of the cancer centre in Enugu and the resuscitation of some federal roads in the zone.
“We must commend his Excellency for remembering us because of the Oncology Centre at UNTH. The Port Harcourt Expressway that used to be a death trap has been remembered and the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway is ongoing,” he enthused, pointing out that Tinubu ‘s quick and adequate release of Federal Allocation has made it possible for Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State to perform optimally.
The special guest of honour and the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Enugu State, Dr. Malachy Agbo, said that President Tinubu had re-integrated the South East into Nigerian polity by embarking on projects that bring tangible development.
Agbo, represented by a director in the Ministry, Mr. Chukwuemeka Nebo, said Tinubu has shown a strong commitment to the physical development of the South East especially with the establishment of the South East Development Commission, SEDC.
“Then, up till now, we did not see any visible integration of the South East in the polity of Nigeria as a whole but currently as we look at what has happened along the line under two years running, you see that intense commitment that this administration has about integrating the South East into what is going on in the country. For instance, you see the level of government projects that have sprang up, the attention that is being given to massive road construction and infrastructure development of Mr. President,” Agbo commended.
Delivering a keynote speech at the occasion, the keynote speaker, Wordshort Amechi Ugwuele, while commending Mr. President’s attention to South East and indeed the entire Nigeria development, said that Tinubu is not restructuring Nigeria but carrying out a revolution, with particular reference to the removal of oil subsidy that was strangulating the country.
.”What we are seeing in Nigeria is not restructuring but a revolution. If you know the pains of the subsidy, you will appreciate Mr. President for removing the subsidy. What this means is that people had been stealing and robbing Nigerians but this has stopped,” he commended and appreciated Mr. President for the two flyovers ongoing in Enugu at Eke Obinagu and Abakpa Junction, simultaneously, the Oncology Centre at UNTH and the establishment of a University of Agriculture in Enugu as well as the appointment of an indigenous Nsukka man to become the Vice Chancellor of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN after many years.
A cleric, Chibuzor Gift Chinyere, has raised alarm after another child was reportedly abandoned at his residence on April 23, 2026.
According to him, the incident occurred earlier in the day when the young boy was discovered at his gate. He stated that he has immediately notified the police and is making arrangements to hand the child over to the appropriate authorities.
The cleric explained that he is unable to take in new children at the moment due to ongoing registration processes with the Ministry of Social Welfare. He stressed that accepting the child would violate existing legal requirements guiding child care and protection.
He further disclosed that his facility is already accommodating over 500 children, making it necessary to strictly adhere to regulations before admitting more.
Chinyere also expressed appreciation to the Federation of International Women Lawyers and the Ministry of Social Welfare for educating him on proper legal procedures.
He reiterated that the child would be transferred to the custody of the Ministry, emphasizing that compliance with the law remains his top priority.
Adewole Emmanuel, a 400-level medical student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, has died after reportedly collapsing moments before his final session examination.
Emmanuel’s death was announced on Thursday in a statement by the Ife University Medical Students Association.
The association lamented the sudden departure, describing Emmanuel as a solid pillar of his class.
The statement read in part, “Under the cover of dark clouds, we write to you with the heaviest of hearts to inform you of the passing of one of our own, an integral part of the association and a solid pillar of his class.
While describing the deceased as “a colleague, friend, roommate, and a Part 4 medical student with an undeniably bright future until the time of his passing”, the association added that “This incident is not only sad, but crucially painful as we lost a rising star and a loving member of the IFUMSA family.”
“In honoring his dearest memories, we kindly ask the general public to do without speculations and respect the privacy of the family during this vulnerable period.”
Speaking under condition of anonymity, a senior member of the association said the student died on Wednesday without an underlying ailment.
“He died yesterday. But he hadn’t been sick. He just collapsed and couldn’t be resuscitated,” the source said.
“We were about to write our final exam for the session. And during the process of waiting for the exam, he suddenly collapsed in the college and died.
“It’s just unfortunate as he didn’t have any underlying medical condition. We have contacted his family already.”
..As court srikes out charges against CEO, Energy FM Enugu, Pastor Ogbuanu, 3 others, Awards N1m cost against her
An Enugu State Magistrate Court has struck out a four-count criminal charge brought against a Lagos-based cleric and Chief Executive Officer, Energy FM Enugu, Pastor Basil Ogbuanu, and three of his workers.
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The court also awarded a N1m cost against Mrs. Patricia Nwobodo, the wife of a former governor of Old Anambra State, Chief Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, for her failure to prosecute the case.
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The ruling, delivered by His Worship D.K. Ekoh at the Enugu South Magisterial District, followed the persistent absence of the complainants since the inception of the matter in January 2026.
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The defendants, Ezeh Patrick Muoneke, 46; Arinze Onoja, 26; Sedro Theodore, 28; and Basil Ogbuanu, 56, were arraigned on January 20, 2026, on charges bordering on conspiracy, deprivation of liberty, and assault.
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The four- count charge levelled against them read:
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“That you Eze Patrick Muoneke ‘m’, Arinze Only a ‘m’, on the 16th day of January, 2026 at about 1300hours at Patin-Son Estate, Ozubulu Street, Independence Layout, Enugu within Enugu Magisterial District did conspire among themselves to commit misdemeanor to wit: Deprivation of Liberty and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 496(a) of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State, 2004.
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Count 11: That you Ede Patrick Muoneke ‘m’, Arinze Onoja ‘m’, Sedro Theodore ‘m’ and Ogbuanu Basil ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully confine the movement and detain Mrs Patricia M. Nwobodo ‘f’ against her will from 11hours to 13hours and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 316 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State 2004.
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Count 111: That you Ede Patrick Muoneke ‘m’, Arinze Onoja ‘m’, Sedro Theodore ‘m’ and Ogbuanu Basil ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully confine the movement and detain Police Constable Ugwu Emmanuel ‘m’ against his will from 1100hours to 1300hours and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 316 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State, 2004.
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Count IV: That you Ede Patrick Muoneke ‘m’ Arinze Onoja ‘m’, Sedro Theodore and Ogbuanu Basil ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully assault Police Constable Ugwu Emmanuel ‘m’ by beating him all over his body and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 252 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State, 2004.
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However, during the proceedings on April 15, 2026, the police prosecutor, B.C. Nnadozie, admitted that he had not seen the complainants since the matter started.
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Nnadozie told the court that he could not “manufacture oath” or serve witness statements on the defence as he had no contact with the nominal complainants.
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Counsel for the defendants, Emeka Oko, urged the court to dismiss the charge, noting that his clients, who are busy artisans and a Lagos resident, had suffered by traveling to Enugu for a case the complainants were not interested in pursuing.
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Delivering his ruling, Magistrate Ekoh lambasted the conduct of the complainants, describing it as a clear indication of their lack of desire to prosecute the matter.
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“A complainant whose complaint was investigated and to her knowledge is aware of the charge proffered against the defendants decides to stay in her luxury home without prosecuting her complaint, should as well pay damages to the person(s) she wrongfully complained against”, he said
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The court subsequently struck out the charge and ordered that the defendants must not be re-arrested on the strength of the same complaint.
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The trial Magistrate also granted the application for N1m cost against the complainant to be paid to the defendants.
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