Connect with us

News

Enugu Gov’t raises hope on restoration of Water to Emene, Idaw River, Agbani Road, others

Published

on

Enugu SSG, Prof Chidiebere Onyia during the water project inspection
Spread the love

…As Abakpa residents commend Mbah for restoring water supply

The Enugu State Government has raised fresh optimism over the restoration of potable water supply to Emene, Idaw River, Agbani Road axis, and other parts of Enugu metropolis, as ongoing rehabilitation of water infrastructure intensifies.

This assurance was given by the Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, during an inspection visit to Abakpa, following the successful restoration of water supply to the area.

Prof. Onyia, who led the government delivery team alongside engineers of the Enugu State Water Corporation, said the exercise was part of checks to confirm the effectiveness of newly laid high pressure ductile pipes as well as distribution lines and their integration with existing water networks.

Prof. Onyia explained that the water pipelines supplying Abakpa were among the public utility infrastructure affected by the expansion and dualisation of the Abakpa – Opi Nsukka Road.

Maduka College Advert

He noted that the old asbestos pipes were excavated and replaced with more durable and safer ductile iron pipes, capable of withstanding the pressure from increased water production and transmission.

He reaffirmed that the administration of the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, remains committed to its promise of restoring sustainable and equitable water supply across all parts of the metropolis.

According to him, the inspection in Abakpa confirmed that water has successfully returned to the axis, with visible flow recorded in multiple locations and residential buildings.

“We started our inspection, our final inspection after the pipes have been laid; the distribution lines and those connecting residential areas. What we have noticed today is that the test of water coming back into Abakpa was successful,” he said.

He, however, explained that some sections recorded high water pressure, resulting in leakages, which have already been documented for immediate technical correction by the Water Corporation team.

“We can see areas where the pressure is so high that pipes are leaking. The Water Corporation is taking notes, and those will be repaired,” he added.

The SSG further said the team conducted physical verification inside residential flats to ensure actual household access to water, noting that in several cases, residents were surprised and excited to see water flowing again from their taps after a prolonged period of scarcity.

“We went into residences to confirm water availability. In some cases, residents didn’t even know water had returned until they opened their taps, and there was jubilation,” he said.

Prof. Onyia stated that similar validation exercises would soon extend to Emene and other parts of the metropolis, adding that stakeholders would be invited to witness live testing of the system as restoration progresses.

He explained that the government’s ongoing water sector reforms include the replacement of old asbestos pipelines with modern ductile iron pipes, expansion of distribution networks, and the systematic restoration of supply to both densely populated and previously underserved communities.

Areas currently in focus, he said, include Emene, Trans-Ekulu, Idaw River, Meniru, and Agbani Road axis, alongside continued stabilisation of supply in Abakpa and surrounding communities.

“What we are trying to do is ensure that densely populated areas are fully restored. We have completed the flushing of lines in some areas, and very soon we will extend operations towards Meniru down to Agbani Road,” he stated.

He further reported progress in parts of Uwani, including Robinson Street, Kenyatta Street, and sections of Zik Avenue, where tap-and-drop connections have already been completed to enable direct household supply.

Prof. Onyia emphasized that the administration operates a strict validation mechanism requiring physical inspection of all reported outputs before official confirmation, in line with the governor’s performance driven governance model.

“This government has not rested. The water task-force set up by His Excellency engages contractors and the Water Corporation to verify claims with evidence. Our job is to validate what is on the ground,” he said.

He added that intermittent shutdowns observed in some areas were part of planned technical interventions to fix bursts and restore optimal pressure across the system.

“When we have major bursts, we shut down lines, fix them, and restore service. That is what you are seeing,” he explained.

Prof. Onyia assured that once ongoing transmission and distribution upgrades are completed, most parts of Enugu metropolis, from Independence Layout through Abakpa to Gariki and Idaw River, will enjoy sustained and reliable water supply.

He reiterated that the restoration of water remains a priority of the Mbah administration’s infrastructure renewal agenda, anchored on delivering measurable and people-focused outcomes.

Meanwhile, residents of Abakpa have continued to express appreciation to the administration of Governor Mbah for restoring water supply to the area after a long period of scarcity.

Many described the development as a major relief, noting that access to potable water has not only eased daily living but also significantly improved hygiene and overall household wellbeing.

Mrs. Gladys Ugwu, a resident of Atani Street, hailed the governor as a leader who keeps his promises, stating that the restoration of water has renewed public confidence in government.

“We have suffered for a long time without water, buying from vendors at high cost. Today, water is running again in our homes. Governor Mbah has shown that he is a promise keeper, and we will continue to support him because we have confidence in his capacity to do a lot more for us,” she said.

News

Hardship: Give account of subsidy removal proceeds – APM tells APC govt

Published

on

APC sweeps Imo LG election
Spread the love

The Allied People’s Movement (APM) has asked the Bola Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration to end its rhetoric and immediately provide Nigerians with a comprehensive account of the trillions of naira realized from the removal of fuel subsidy since May 2023.

APM’s demand is predicated on the worsening economic hardship and poverty rate, high cost of living, collapsed public facilities and yawning infrastructure deficit across the country since the emergence of the Tinubu administration despite huge national inflow including the over N20 trillion proceed from the removal of fuel subsidy, which the administration promised would be channeled towards improving the welfare of Nigerians.

This is contained in a press release issued by the National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf.

He said: “For over three years, Nigerians have endured unprecedented hardship following President Tinubu’s May 29, 2023 declaration that ‘subsidy is gone’. This came with an instant surge in fuel price from below ₦200 per litre to now over N1,500 per liter setting off a chain reaction that pushed transport fares, food prices, school fees, medical bills, house rents, electricity costs and the prices of everyday goods and services far beyond the reach of ordinary citizens.

“More distressing is reports of massive corruption, diversion and frittering of bulk of the funds accruable to the Federal Government while officials continue to bandy figures and fictitious achievements

Maduka College Advert

“Under the APC administration hunger has become a national emergency. Millions of families are going without daily meals. Small businesses are collapsing under rising operating costs. The purchasing power of workers has been abysmally degraded, while poverty and unemployment continue to rise at alarming rates. Across the country, frustration is growing as more citizens struggle to survive.

“Today under the APC, Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit has hit an estimated $2.3 trillion, with experts stating that the gap would require approximately $100 billion annually over the next 30 years.”

Continuing, the APM spokesman said “despite the heavy premiums citizens pay daily, the APC administration is not forthcoming with a transparent account of the trillions accrued to it from the removal of subsidy. No comprehensive public record has been presented to demonstrate how much has been realized, how much has been spent, and whether those expenditures have translated into measurable improvements in the lives of citizens.

“The vague claims by the APC government that the proceed is being invested in critical sectors without real figures and specific project or programme is completely unacceptable and cannot substitute for transparency and accountability.”

The APM therefore demanded that the Federal Government should immediately publish a detailed and independently verifiable impact assessment of the subsidy removal policy.

“Nigerians deserve to know the exact amount saved since May 2023, the projects funded and their locations.

“The APM is not opposed to reforms that genuinely advance national development. However, the APC government cannot continue to celebrate figures on paper while millions of citizens can no longer afford decent meals, healthcare, transportation, or quality education. The true measure of any economic reform is not the volume of official pronouncements but its tangible impact on the lives of the people,” it further stated.

The APM therefore called on the Tinubu administration to rise above political rhetoric and immediately release a comprehensive public report detailing the total subsidy savings since May 2023, all expenditures made from the fund, the beneficiaries of every intervention, and the measurable outcomes achieved.

“The APM, the voice of Nigerians today, is not asking the Tinubu-led APC Federal Government to do anything extraordinary. We are simply demanding the transparency and accountability that an APM administration would have seamlessly demonstrated by publicly disclosing and accounting for every kobo that belongs to Nigerians,” Yusuf concluded.

Continue Reading

News

27 killed as armed men launch fresh attacks on Benue, Plateau communities

Published

on

Youths protest killings
Spread the love

…Youths protest at Och’Idoma’s palace, block roads with corpses, demand action

No fewer than 27 persons have been killed in separate attacks on communities in Benue and Plateau states, following fresh assaults by suspected armed groups that have left residents mourning and demanding urgent government intervention.

In Benue State, at least 18 persons were killed in separate attacks on communities in Otukpo Local Government Area, while nine members of the same family, including a two-month-old baby, were killed in an attack on Kum and Wereng-Camp communities in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

In Benue South, suspected armed herdsmen reportedly launched attacks on Akpachi village in Ugboju community and Otukpo-Nobi community over the weekend.

The first attack occurred on Friday when the assailants invaded Akpachi village, killing two farmers on their farmland. Their bodies were recovered on Saturday and buried.

Maduka College Advert

Barely 24 hours later, at about 4am on Sunday, the attackers struck Otukpo-Nobi community, killing at least 16 persons and injuring several others.

The renewed violence came about two weeks after the killing of the Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Ardo Risku Mohammed, and his companion, Yakubu Isah, who were ambushed and killed at Okutu community in Otukpo while returning from a peace meeting in Idekpa, Ohimini Local Government Area.

The latest killings triggered outrage in Otukpo as angry youths stormed the palace of the Och’Idoma with the bodies of victims, disrupting an ongoing church service and demanding decisive action from the authorities.

The protesters, chanting war songs, accused government and security agencies of failing to protect their communities, insisting that the recurring attacks must stop.

The protest caused tension in the town as youths blocked major roads, leaving commuters stranded for hours.

A resident, Ebi Adoyi, who joined the protest, said the attacks had thrown affected communities into mourning, adding that more casualties could be recorded as searches for missing persons continue.

“After killing two people in Akpachi on Friday, they attacked Otukpo-Nobi, killing 16 persons, including women and children. My neighbour lost her elder sister and her children in that attack,” he said.

Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, confirmed the attacks, linking them to possible reprisals following the killing of the MACBAN chairman.

He said the first attack occurred when three villagers went to their farms in Akpachi.

“The attackers came and killed two of them. One escaped and alerted the community. We recovered the corpses on Saturday and buried them. We had combed the bushes believing the attackers had fled, but early Sunday morning, around 4am, we received reports that they had besieged Otukpo-Nobi, killing several people and injuring many others,” Ogiri said.

He added that efforts were ongoing to relocate survivors to safer locations, provide medical assistance and strengthen security in the affected areas.

Meanwhile, Governor Hyacinth Alia condemned the Benue attacks, describing them as barbaric and an assault on the lives and peace of the people.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, the governor directed security agencies to intensify surveillance, collaborate with neighbouring states, track down the attackers and ensure they are prosecuted.

In Plateau State, the attack on Kum and Wereng-Camp communities in Riyom Local Government Area occurred late Saturday night.

Residents said the gunmen stormed the communities at about 11:30pm and operated for over an hour, shooting indiscriminately and forcing residents to flee into nearby bushes.

A resident, Precious Tok, said the attackers invaded a home and killed nine members of the same family, including a two-month-old baby.

The village head was also reportedly attacked and sustained critical injuries.

National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the incident, saying the attackers struck under the cover of darkness and unleashed violence on helpless residents.

He said security agencies had been alerted and expressed hope that those responsible would be arrested and brought to justice.

The latest attack has heightened fears among residents, who called on the Federal and Plateau State Governments to strengthen security measures in Riyom and other vulnerable communities.

Security personnel have reportedly been deployed to the affected areas, while many residents remain displaced and apprehensive over possible further attacks.

Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the Plateau State Police Command were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report. (Vanguard)

Continue Reading

News

Notorious bandit kingpin Kachalla Yellow shot dead by Hybrid forces

Published

on

Killed notorious bandit kingpin Kachalla Sani Yellow
Spread the love

…His body dragged through roadway in victory parade

Hybrid security forces supporting counter-insurgency and anti-banditry operations in Nigeria’s North-West have reportedly killed Kachalla Sani Yellow, a notorious bandit commander accused of masterminding deadly attacks, kidnappings, cattle rustling and widespread sexual violence across Zamfara State, before dragging his body through a roadway in a victory procession.

PRNigeria obtained a video purportedly showing members of the hybrid force tying Sani Yellow’s lifeless body to a motorcycle and dragging it along a road as a convoy of armed volunteers celebrated what they described as the elimination of one of the region’s most feared criminal leaders.

The operation followed a carefully coordinated intelligence-led ambush, resulting in the death of the feared gang leader.

Highly placed security and community sources told PRNigeria that the hybrid forces—comprising local volunteers and reformed former insurgents from the North-East (Repented Boko Haram), working alongside security agencies in some operational areas—have become increasingly effective at tracking criminal movements through intelligence provided by local communities.

Their operations have focused on ambushing armed bandit convoys, disrupting logistics networks and targeting high-value commanders responsible for attacks on vulnerable communities.

Maduka College Advert

According to the sources, Sani Yellow was intercepted while visiting a local market, where he had allegedly gone to collect proceeds from rustled livestock and negotiate ransom payments from kidnapped victims.

“He was positively identified through local intelligence. Once his identity was confirmed, the hybrid forces moved swiftly and neutralised him before he could escape,” one source disclosed.

Security sources described Sani Yellow as one of the most influential bandit commanders operating within the forests spanning Anka, Bukkuyum, Maru and neighbouring local government areas of Zamfara State.

He was allegedly responsible for coordinating repeated attacks on rural communities, organising large-scale kidnappings for ransom, rustling livestock and leading violent raids that displaced thousands of residents across the North-West.

Community sources further alleged that Sani Yellow routinely subjected kidnapped victims to severe abuse and reportedly ordered members of his gang to sexually assault female captives whose families were unable to raise ransom payments.

Sani Yellow was reported to be related to the late Kachalla Yellow Danbokolo, another notorious North-West bandit commander who was reportedly killed in 2025 alongside more than 170 of his fighters during a major operation conducted by the Shinkafi Yan Sakai Volunteer Forces.

Security analysts believe the latest development represents another significant setback for criminal networks operating across Zamfara, Katsina and parts of Sokoto States.

A senior defence intelligence source, who spoke to PRNigeria on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, confirmed that security agencies were monitoring developments following Sani Yellow’s reported killing.

According to the source, troops have heightened surveillance across affected communities to prevent possible retaliatory attacks by members of the deceased commander’s gang.

“The security architecture is already on alert. Necessary deployments have been made to protect vulnerable communities and respond promptly to any attempted reprisal,” the source said.

Security experts believe the reported elimination of Sani Yellow could weaken bandit operations in parts of Zamfara if sustained intelligence-driven operations continue against remaining criminal leaders.

However, they caution that such operations often trigger reprisals by surviving gang members, underscoring the need for heightened vigilance across the region.

Continue Reading

Trending

Maduka College Advert