The former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, has commended Gov. Alex Otti for his transformative agenda, including the ongoing remodeling of the Ariaria International Market, Aba.

In a statement in Umuahia on Saturday, Wabara stated that the market now compared with markets in London and other developed economies

According to the statement, the former senate president made the commendation after a recent visit to the market.

He said the level of transformation at the market “reflected deliberate efforts to revive Aba’s economic glory.

He noted that what he saw went beyond a facelift, describing it as a deliberate economic renaissance, capable of restoring Aba’s pride as the industrial and commercial hub of the South-East

He urged Otti not to relent until the entire remodeling was completed, stressing that no section of the market should be left out.

He added that the comprehensive modernisation of Ariaria should be treated as one of the signature projects of Otti’s administration.

Wabara added that the completion of the market would leave a lasting legacy and further reposition Aba as a leading commercial hub in Africa.

He also applauded Otti’s proposed seaport project at Azumini Blue River in Ukwa.

Wabara, who hails from Ukwa, further said that the seaport would fast-track infrastructure development, improve logistics, create jobs, and strengthen the economy of the South-East.

He urged the governor to remain focused on developmental policies that improve the business environment and uplift the living conditions of the people.

By Raphael Atuu, Abuja

Efiko Management Consulting has unveiled a revamped version of its digital newspaper and knowledge platform, EPaperVendor, introducing enhanced features aimed at professionals, executives, and organizations seeking deeper business and strategic insights.

The upgraded platform comes with a redesigned and more interactive interface, simplified subscription and payment options, improved reader accessibility, and strengthened Digital Rights Management protections to better support newspaper publishers and content owners.

Speaking on the relaunch, Omagbitse Barrow said the development reflects the company’s commitment to supporting knowledge driven organizations and professionals in an increasingly fast-paced digital environment.

“In an age dominated by short-form content, snippets, and headlines, there is still tremendous value in deep reading and informed analysis,” Barrow said. “Newspapers remain one of the most important sources of context, business intelligence, and strategic insight for serious professionals and organizations.”

According to him, the platform currently supports executives and teams across several leading institutions, including Quest Merchant Bank, Oando, Ecobank, ARM, Geregu Power, Stanbic IBTC, Rand Merchant Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, AMCON and CSCS.

The platform hosts several Nigerian newspaper titles, including BusinessDay, New Telegraph, ThisDay, Blueprint Newspapers, Daily Asset, Leadership and Nigerian Tribune, with subscription packages tailored for individuals, corporate organizations, and enterprise library deployments.

Barrow also disclosed that the relaunch introduces a growing library of indigenous learning and business resources focused on leadership, strategy, and organizational effectiveness.

“These resources are designed to help bridge the gap between global management ideas and local realities,” he said.

Among the newly added resources are Quick Reads, which summarize bestselling management and leadership books into concise four-page insights contextualized for African professionals and organizations.

Other additions include business case studies, Executive Insights, Thought Leaders summaries, and working papers aimed at simplifying complex management and strategy concepts into practical knowledge tools.

Efiko noted that many of the additional learning resources are available free of charge, while prospective subscribers can access a seven-day free trial on the platform.

Barrow emphasized that the initiative is also intended to encourage a stronger reading culture among professionals and business leaders.

“There is a difference between consuming information and developing insight,” he said.

“Social media gives speed, but newspapers and deeper reading provide context, nuance, analysis, and perspective. For leaders making strategic decisions, that depth matters.”

He added that organizations that promote reading and knowledge-sharing among employees are often better positioned to adapt, innovate, and respond to changing market realities.

“As business environments become more complex, the ability to think critically and stay informed becomes a competitive advantage,” he added.

Efiko Management Consulting said the platform will continue to expand its content offerings and enterprise capabilities as part of its broader mission to support learning, strategic thinking, and organizational effectiveness across Africa and beyond.

Some residents of Dutse in Jigawa have decried the rising price of ram and other sacrificial animals for the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

They said the trend would not allow them to sacrifice animals for the festivities.

A check at Dutse cattle market, showed that prices had shot up by over 300 per cent compared to the previous season.

A big size ram was sold at N500,000, and a well-bred bull sold for N1 million, as against its previous prices of N130,000 and N400,000, respectively.

Traders at the market attributed the price hike to the high cost of animal feeds.

Malam Musa Ayuba said animal rearing was no longer easy due to the rising cost of feed and medication.

“Aimal feed is extremely expensive resulting in soaring livestock prices,” he said.

Alhaji Abubakar Jamilu, a resident, lamented that most families could not afford to slaughter ram for the season due to exorbitant prices.

“Animals are costly for sacrifice now. Many people cannot afford it like before,” he said.

Corroborating an earlier opinion, Umar Abdu, described the trend as unbearable and challenging, adding that most families had resorted to alternative measures to cope with the situation.

Also, Nuhu Iliyasu said that he would contribute money with others to buy a cow and share the meat.

He said that contribution was the only option for the low income earners to enable them to slaughter animals for the season.

“I cannot afford to buy a ram. I joined a contribution group to buy a cow and share the meat,” he said.

On his part, Ishak Ibrahim, said that he would buy chickens to celebrate the season with his family in a good mood.