Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has revealed that his administration plans to locally assemble 1,000 tractors by 2025, with 300 tractors expected to be ready before the end of 2024.

This initiative is part of the state government’s broader strategy to boost its economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion and ensure food security.

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Governor Mbah made this announcement while hosting the newly elected President of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Dr. Ifeanyi Okoye, and other association leaders at the Enugu Government House.

He emphasized his administration’s commitment to creating a favorable business environment and de-risking investments in the state, inviting more investors to participate in Enugu’s economic transformation.

“Our administration is fully committed to making Enugu a business hub. We have just signed an agreement with a Danish company to manufacture tractors locally, and by the end of this year, we expect over 300 tractors to be assembled. Our goal is to scale this up to 1,000 tractors by the end of 2025. This initiative means farmers in Enugu won’t need to import machinery, as we will produce everything locally,” Mbah stated.

The governor further highlighted the administration’s focus on value addition in agriculture, emphasizing plans to establish Special Processing Zones to boost the processing of agricultural products and avoid exporting raw materials.

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“We are not just focusing on production but on value addition as well. We are creating processing zones where agricultural products can be processed locally, ensuring that we capture the added value and grow our economy more sustainably,” he added.

Mbah also outlined measures being taken to improve infrastructure, including urban and rural roads, power, and water supply, alongside continued investments in security to create a conducive environment for business and agriculture.

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The government has already completed 71 urban roads and has awarded contracts for an additional 141 roads, with a focus on enhancing access to farmlands as part of its ambitious agricultural plans.

The governor concluded by noting that over 300,000 hectares of land have been secured in the state’s landbank, further supporting the state’s agricultural development initiatives.

Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate for the African Action Congress in the 2023 election, was arrested upon his arrival in Nigeria.

Sowore landed at Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Lagos early Sunday morning after a flight from Washington Dulles International Airport.

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The arrest followed a leaked memo from the Department of State Services (DSS) dated September 12, 2024, which ordered Sowore’s detention upon his return.

Sowore took to social media to announce his detention, stating that Nigerian Immigration Service officials confiscated his passport and informed him of the detention orders.

In his post on X (formerly Twitter), Sowore expressed his belief that the arrest is part of a larger crackdown on dissent by the current administration.

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He urged citizens to engage in planned protests starting October 1, in response to what he described as a broader campaign against political opposition and freedom of expression.

As the local government elections in Enugu State, scheduled for September 21, 2024, approach, the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for Nkanu West Local Government Area, Hon. John Ogbodo, has promised a new era of progress and transformation if elected.

Addressing supporters at Akpugo on Friday, Hon. Ogbodo who was accompanied by his run running mate, Hon. Friday Nnam, emphasized his commitment to bringing positive change to the council area.

He outlined his vision for improving infrastructure, enhancing healthcare services, and boosting educational opportunities for Ndi Nkanu West

Chief Ogbodo while highlighting his plans to initiate community-driven projects aimed at addressing pressing local issues, vowed to work closely with residents to ensure their needs are met.

“We are determined to bring fresh ideas and effective solutions to Nkanu West,”

“Our goal is to create a more vibrant and prosperous community where everyone has a stake in our success. Together, we can build a better future for our children and families.”

Others stakeholders who spoke during the campaign tour include; Member representing Nkanu East/West federal Constituency, Hon. Nnoli Nnaji, former Nkanu West council chairman, Barr. Ekene Okenwa, High Chief Moses Aniemeka, Chief Austin Ani among others.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Presidency of orchestrating a plot to rig the upcoming governorship election in Edo State, scheduled for September 21, in favor of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to a statement from Anthony Aziegbemi, the PDP’s Chairman in Edo State, the Presidency has allegedly allocated $2 million to compromise Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials, security forces, and to facilitate vote-buying.

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The PDP also claimed that the funds were given to the APC’s gubernatorial candidate, Monday Okpebholo.

Further allegations from the PDP include claims that the Presidency has directed the National Security Adviser and the Department of State Services to disrupt the election in strongholds of the PDP to skew the results in favor of the APC.

The party reported that security deployments would be heavy in areas loyal to PDP, particularly around the governor’s strongholds, to destabilize the voting process.

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The PDP’s statement outlined concerns that some electoral officials are believed to be APC members and are allegedly tasked with delaying results to incite violence and create a chaotic environment to benefit the APC candidate.

Despite these allegations, the PDP expressed confidence in winning the election through a fair and peaceful process.

The party’s candidate, Asue Ighodalo, is projected to secure at least 70 percent of the vote, according to the PDP.

The PDP has called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure the election is conducted transparently and without interference.

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The party urged the President to prioritize the safety and peace of Edo State and refrain from actions that could jeopardize the electoral process.

In response, APC’s National Deputy Organising Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru, dismissed the PDP’s claims as baseless, suggesting they stem from past practices during the PDP’s previous administration.

Duru challenged the PDP to provide concrete evidence for their allegations and criticized them for allegedly projecting their past misdeeds onto others.

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Duru remarked, “The PDP’s history of election rigging is well-documented, and it’s concerning if their current accusations are influenced by their own past behavior. They need to prove their claims with evidence if they have any.”

Governor Godwin Obaseki has labeled the upcoming Edo State governorship election on September 21 as a “do or die” affair.

This comes in the wake of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) refusal to sign a Peace Accord for the election.

Obaseki’s remarks followed allegations against the police, who, according to him, are favoring the All Progressives Congress (APC).

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He accused the police of detaining ten PDP members, including an LGA chairman, without adequate justification or evidence.

During a visit from Abdulsalami Abubakar, former military Head of State and Chairman of the National Peace Committee, Obaseki expressed concerns about the current electoral climate.

He highlighted the disparity between the 2020 election and this one, noting increased tension and what he perceives as an environment being actively sabotaged by those meant to uphold the peace.

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Obaseki criticized the APC for allegedly planning to leverage federal power to influence the election outcome.

He claimed that recent developments included the deployment of armed police units to intimidate and arrest PDP members.

At the PDP’s grand finale campaign event in Oredo Local Government Area, Obaseki defended his administration’s record, contrasting it with his predecessor’s tenure.

He praised improvements in pensioners’ conditions and youth employment, asserting that Edo State has become one of the safest in Nigeria.

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He urged voters to support the PDP and its gubernatorial candidate, Asue Ighodalo, in the upcoming election.

“This election is a do or die. You must decide whether you want to continue with the progress we have made or revert to a state of insecurity and mismanagement,” Obaseki declared.

Earlier, Obaseki had welcomed top APC officials to Edo State for the concluding campaign event of Senator Monday Okpebholo, which saw high-profile attendees including Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and APC National Chairman Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

Dr. Afam Obidike, Anambra State Commissioner for Health, has challenged recent statements made by Dr. Nonye Soludo, the wife of the state governor, regarding low immunisation rates in the state.

Contrary to Soludo’s assertion, Obidike reported a 15 percent increase in childhood immunisation coverage from 2022 to 2024, arguing that Anambra does not have a low immunisation uptake.

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According to Obidike, the state has exceeded the national benchmark of 90 percent for three key vaccines this year: Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (113 percent), measles (95 percent), and yellow fever (94 percent).

The state government aims to achieve 100 percent coverage and has made childhood immunisation a top priority, recognizing its importance for child development.

Obidike clarified that the term ‘low immunisation’ referred specifically to the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which faces widespread hesitancy nationwide.

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He indicated that Soludo’s comments were misinterpreted and did not reflect the broader immunisation efforts.

In August, Soludo had urged mothers at the 2nd Anambra State Women Health Summit to prioritize immunisation for their children, emphasizing its role in preventing lifelong illnesses.

Dr. Uju Obiagwu from the World Health Organisation also expressed concerns about decreasing immunisation coverage in Anambra.

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However, Obidike emphasized that Anambra has made significant strides in increasing immunisation rates, partly due to enhanced community education, house-to-house campaigns, and improved access to hospital deliveries.

He reported that the state now boasts one of the lowest under-five and maternal mortality rates, attributing this success to the provision of free antenatal and cesarean services.

The commissioner also noted that previous outbreaks of measles have been managed effectively through improved vaccine availability and targeted outreach.

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He highlighted that Anambra has seen no cholera cases this year, despite a broader cholera outbreak, further showcasing the effectiveness of their health initiatives.

Obidike reiterated the state’s commitment to achieving comprehensive immunisation coverage and addressing any gaps in public health outreach.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to return to Abuja on Sunday following his official visit to China and a brief stay in the United Kingdom.

Tinubu embarked on his overseas trip on August 29, departing Nigeria for Beijing after a stopover in Dubai.

His visit to China, which commenced on September 1, involved high-level discussions with top Chinese officials, including President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.

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These talks led to the signing of five key Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) between Nigeria and China, aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation.

Among the MOUs signed were agreements on joint efforts to promote the Belt and Road Initiative, peaceful applications of nuclear energy, and human resource development through the Global Development Initiative.

Additional MOUs focused on media collaboration between China and Nigeria, including partnerships between China Media Group and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

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Notably, Nigeria also reached an agreement with China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) to construct the 68 km Lagos Green Rail Line, connecting the Lekki Free Zone to Marina.

Another significant project is the $1 billion iron ore-to-steel development in Kogi State, which was formalized during the visit.

President Tinubu also engaged in bilateral discussions with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and attended a banquet hosted by President Xi and First Lady Peng Liyuan, coinciding with the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit. During his speech at FOCAC, Tinubu, as ECOWAS Chairman, underscored the need for multilateral collaboration to promote global peace.

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Before concluding his visit to China, Tinubu met with Nigerian expatriates, emphasizing the significance of his administration’s reforms in fostering infrastructural improvements across Nigeria.

After his visit to China, Tinubu traveled to the United Kingdom, where he met with King Charles III to discuss global climate change challenges and potential collaborative solutions.

The President is expected to return to Nigeria on Sunday, resuming his duties in Abuja.

Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has urged voters in Edo State to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, in the upcoming gubernatorial election scheduled for September 21, 2024.

Speaking at the APC’s final campaign rally in Benin City, Shettima emphasized that Okpebholo is the right person to lead Edo State towards progress.

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He praised the senator as a strategic thinker and a man who understands the needs of the people.

“Edo State requires a leader who can unite the state and deliver a functional system that benefits everyone, regardless of tribe, religion, or profession,” Shettima stated.

Highlighting the economic reforms under the current administration, Shettima pointed out that the increased revenue allocations to states would empower the incoming Edo State government to implement impactful projects.

He assured the people of Edo that Okpebholo’s leadership would foster a new era of growth and development, using the additional resources wisely for the state’s advancement.

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