NEWS
Ihedioha Meets Buhari, Pleads For Infrastructure in Imo
By Mathew Dadiya, Abuja
Imo State Governor, Emeka Ihedioha Monday, met behind closed doors with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa Abuja where he solicited support for infrastructure development.
Speaking to State House Correspondents after the meeting, Governor Ihedioha said that he came to pay courtesy call on the President and to solicit his intervention on infrastructure decay in the state.
The former Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives said that he discussed the issue of agriculture and how the state would benefit from the federal government’s agricultural programmes which he said that his predecessor failed to key in.
He said that the state needs the Federal Government support in all facets of the economy.
According to him, government would need to support us in agriculture because the government we succeeded didn’t take advantage of government policies in agriculture.
“We are working towards agricultural revolution to ensure that that becomes a source of revenue. So we need federal government support in that regard. We need government support in education, we need government support in the area of healthcare, we need government support in area of building institutions. “
He also explained that he introduced the Treasury Single Account (TSA) to improve the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) instead of over burdening the poor masses with multiple taxation.
According to him, “When I came in I found out to my shock that there were accounts in the number that was reported in the media and of course so much leakages and we were not as a state making significant progress from the IGR.
He said that the IGR base of the state was very weak.
He noted that the IGR base “is weak without having a productive economy that obviously meant that we depended essentially from what came from federal allocation and of course other agencies being an oil producing state.”
“It became necessary that we should find a way out and I set up a Financial Advisory Committee and the Financial Advisory Committee recommended that in view of where we are and because of our decision to instill a regime of fiscal discipline and a regime of transparency and accountability and of course to reduce the level of corruption in the state, we had to introduce the TSA which is not very ideal in many places.
“But for us we felt we needed to start a new, we needed to confront the issues and begin to reposition our state as a state that will be alive to the demands expected of us by our people.
“When the electorate voted us in, they believe in our ability to come and transform the state, to rein in a regime of transparency and accountability, that is what we are trying to do. So we have done that.
“But apart from that, we are strengthening the Bureau for Public Procurement in the state. If you check through the ranking in ease of doing business, Imo finished 34th out of 37 and in several ways we have been lagging behind, we have fallen back, deteriorated from where we used to be.
“Ours used to be a very civilized state, so we have a duty and conviction that we need to take it to that level. So we have taken steps, closing the gap and we have enjoined the Mjnistries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to work with the authorities to ensure that we a more accountable system of running the affairs of the state.”
He said that as a result of the rot in the previous administration, there have been pressure from the people to take action against the past government, saying that his interest was not to talk on the past government but to be focused and bring sanity to governance.
“The issue is that I have been bending over backwards, I have been putting pressure on a lot of people who want certain things done. I will tell you for instance the opaqueness in land administration in my state which you must have heard.
“So stakeholders of the state who own those lands that were taken away from them have been on the government, putting a lot of pressure to investigate but I am like just saying take it easy that is not what I am here for, we have to redesign the state, we want to regain confidence back in Imo.
“For instance we have restored the autonomy of local government administration in Imo State. Today local government funds go to local government areas. We collaborate with them to ensure there is also accountability, sense of responsibility.
“We are not focusing on what the man had done, we are focusing on what we are doing and for once you give it to us that if a chief executive of a state says to his people look I want to run a transparent government and an accountable government that is something significant you have to work upon.
“If you are restoring public water that is something you are doing because you did not meet water. Am I going to say I met water when there was no water? Government house Owerri was disconnected from public power supply when I came, am I supposed to clap?
“The state Secretariat as we speak is still disconnected from public power for about eight years, bridges are built in my state without iron rods, haven’t you heard about it, you have not read about it? You must have heard about it from people who visit Imo, am I surprised to clap?
“You are endangering the lives of Imo people. We don’t lead a government of propaganda, it is not about me and I don’t like talking about my predecessor in office, I am talking about government,
I am talking about focus, I am talking about the ideals of government that what we are doing first is we are restoring confidence in the entire system.
“Judicial workers were being owed, was I the one that owed them? Didn’t you hear that they were not paid full salaries? So is it a crime if I said let’s sanitize the entire sector? Is that a crime? I come to government house and I can not operate from government house, I don’t want to talk on all those things.”
From Muhammad Muhammad Al-amin, Maiduguri
The Nigerian Army has conducted a solemn burial ceremony for Brigadier General Oseni Braimah, Captain Ismail, and several other soldiers who lost their lives during a recent insurgent attack in Borno State.
The fallen officers and soldiers were laid to rest on Wednesday at the Maimalari Cantonment Cemetery in Maiduguri, where they were accorded full military honours in recognition of their service and sacrifice to the nation.
The troops were killed on April 9 following coordinated attacks by suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters on military positions in Benisheikh, a key town in Kaga Local Government Area along the Maiduguri–Damaturu highway.
In a statement shared on its official Facebook page, the Nigerian Army described the burial as a deeply emotional and solemn occasion. It noted that the ceremony reflected both grief and honour as the nation paid tribute to the fallen heroes.
“Their sacrifice highlights the enormous price paid by members of the Armed Forces in defending Nigeria’s peace, unity, and security,” the statement said.
The event was attended by prominent figures, including Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, Chief of Defence Staff Christopher Musa, and other senior military officers. They praised the deceased as courageous patriots who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the country.
Prayers were offered for the departed, while military citations outlining their careers and contributions were read in the presence of grieving family members.
The Army also acknowledged the pain of the bereaved families, noting that their loss underscores the human cost of ongoing security operations, even as the bravery of the fallen remains a source of national pride.
From Rabiu Sanusi, Kano
The Governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf has congratulated Professor Hafiz Abubakar on his election as a Fellow of the International Academy of Food Science and Technology.
This was contained in a statement by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mustapha Muhammad, on Sunday.
Prof.
Hafiz is the Chairman, Northwest University Governing Council.The Governor described the honour as a well-deserved recognition of Prof. Abubakar’s outstanding contributions to food science, research, and innovation at both national and international levels.
Yusuf noted that the achievement has brought pride not only to Kano State but to Nigeria as a whole, highlighting the growing impact of Nigerian scholars on the global stage.
He commended Prof. Abubakar for his dedication, hard work, and commitment to advancing scientific knowledge, particularly in the field of food science and technology.
The Governor expressed confidence that the recognition would inspire young academics and researchers across Kano State to strive for excellence in their respective fields.
He further assured of his administration’s continued support for education, research, and innovation as key drivers of sustainable development.
Prof. Abubakar was among 27 distinguished scientists from 15 countries selected by the International Union of Food Science and Technology for the 15th class of the Academy.
He is expected to be formally inducted in October 2026 at the World Congress of Food Science and Technology in Hong Kong.
From Agbo Emmanuel, Kaduna
Chairman, Northern Christian Association (NCA) Rev. Joseph John Hayab has called on believers across Nigeria to exercise restraint in the face of rising religious provocations on social media, warning that engaging in heated online exchanges does not reflect the teachings of Christ.
The admonition was contained in a statement issued to journalists in Kaduna on Wednesday, particularly to young people and clergy, to avoid what he described as “vain and unprofitable arguments” capable of breeding division and spiritual decline.
Citing several Bible passages, including Titus 3:9, 2 Timothy 2:14, 2 Timothy 2:23 and 1 Timothy 6:4–5, Hayab noted that Scripture consistently warns believers against quarrels that produce strife rather than edification, stressing that online religious debates have become counterproductive, shifting from meaningful dialogue to abusive exchanges that undermine Christian witness.
The cleric further reiterated that Christians are not called to respond to provocation with insults or hostility, even when their faith is mocked or misunderstood as he explained that true Christian maturity is demonstrated through restraint, wisdom and peaceful conduct even as “believers cannot fight for God.”
He said, “The Bible warns Christians against engaging in vain arguments. From a Biblical angle, vain arguments include reckless, unprofitable, and provocative debates. Believers in Christ are, therefore, instructed to avoid vain arguments because they generate strife, ungodliness, and ruin the speakers and the listeners.
“There are applicable Bible verses, such as Titus 3:9, 2 Timothy 2:14, 2 Timothy 2:23, and 1 Timothy 6:4-5, which clearly admonish Christians to live by example. Accordingly, as a Christian leader, I do not teach, encourage or instruct church members or any Christian at all to insult the divinity of another faith just because some disgruntled persons say or write awful things about Jesus or Christianity. An honest study of the Bible will help you understand that as an ardent follower of Christ, you cannot “fight for God.”
“Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ can “fight” those who fight Him, as He did with Saul on his way to Damascus. From a Christian biblical viewpoint, the phrase “Who can battle with the Lord?” underscores that no one can battle against the Lord, because God is an omnipotent warrior and defender whose battles are strategic, and He never loses. Therefore, no Christian should be deceived into copying anyone’s religious zeal.
“Besides, the message in the verses against vain arguments is to prevent believers from wasting time on unproductive, divisive conversations that do not foster spiritual growth or love. Such debates are “unprofitable, worthless, and causes of ungodliness.
“Therefore, the Biblical instruction is to “avoid,” “shun,” or “have nothing to do with” them. It is not a show of strength when any Christian uses abusive words with others, thinking that they were “defending the faith.” Rather, such an act derides the Christian faith, makes a mockery of Christ’s spiritual authority and dims the bright light the Christian gospel brings to the world.”
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