Politics

Gov Otti inaugurates Abia Nutrition Council

Published

10 months ago

July 23, 2025

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, on Tuesday inaugurated the Abia State Council on Nutrition to implement the Nutrition 774 (N-774) Initiative of the Federal Government.

Inaugurating the Council, which is constituted to provide overall leadership, policy direction, coordination, and oversight for the effective implementation and sustainability of nutritional activities across the state in line with the policy directives of the Federal Government’s N-774, Governor Otti said the initiative is a welcomed development.

Governor Otti said that the advocacy visit to the state by the National Technical Working Group, led by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health and the Focal Person on Nutrition 774, Mrs. Uju Rochas-Anwukah, would awaken the consciousness of the state to become intentional in the reporting of nutrition indicators across various sectors of the state’s economy.

This is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by Otti’s Chief Press Secretary, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, and made available to Ekwutosblog.

“Clearly, when you talk about nutrition, the initiative is very good and we welcome it. The heavy investments we are making, first of all, in healthcare—15% of our total budget envelope in the last two years has been reserved for healthcare and 20% for education. So that’s a whopping 35% of the total budget.

“So, when you see us fixing roads in Aba, in Umuahia, cleaning up the environment, ensuring that the investments we are making in healthcare—you will find that if people are well fed, they will probably not be sick. So, you will find that your investment is good there, and the number of people that take ill will be reducing.

“So, what am I driving at? I’m saying as a government, we’ve taken those decisions that give the kind of outcomes you are monitoring.

“But we have not been deliberate in monitoring the numbers. And now that you have come here, if there’s nothing else you have succeeded in doing, it’s to now get us to be deliberate in monitoring our numbers,” Gov. Otti stated.

He urged members of the newly inaugurated Nutrition Council to ensure effective coordination and performance tracking, noting that such an attitude is a direct intervention which he said is important.

Presenting an overview of the initiative, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Nutrition and the Focal Person for the Nutrition 774 initiative, Uju Rochas-Anwukah, said the N-774 is a multisectoral, community-based programme established to improve nutritional outcomes across the 774 LGAs in the country.

Rochas-Anwukah, who said that malnutrition is a global menace that requires collective efforts to combat, regretted that Nigeria is ranked number 2 globally in malnutrition and added that malnutrition contributes to about 45% of children’s deaths and drives intergenerational poverty.

She said that a national framework, Nutrition 774, which is a flagship programme of the National Council on Nutrition, has been collectively developed to tackle the menace of malnutrition. She added that Nutrition 774 adopts a multisectoral approach to health, food systems, education, social protection, water sanitation, etc.

She commended Governor Otti for the transformational works he is doing for Abia people, which speaks volumes of his leadership capacity.

“We may not reside here, but even from Abuja, we hear the testimonies of progress. We sincerely commend you, and this speaks volumes of your leadership and vision, and we congratulate you and your entire team. Your Excellency, malnutrition is a menace killing our people.

“It’s a global challenge. It doesn’t just exist here in Nigeria. It’s a universal issue that does not understand tribal differences.

“It doesn’t understand religious differences. It does not understand political differences. But it’s one that requires a collective, collaborative effort across all sectors and across all tiers of government,” Rochas-Anwukah stated.

The Council, which will be chaired by the Governor, has its membership drawn from various line ministries including: Commissioner for Budget and Planning who serves as Vice Chairman, Chairman House Committee on Food and Nutrition, ALGON Chairman, Commissioners for Health, Agriculture, Basic and Secondary Education, Finance, Women Affairs, Information, Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Power and Public Utilities, Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, while the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Planning, serves as Secretary of the Council.

The meeting and inauguration were attended by senior government appointees.

Politics

Fubara To Contest Rivers Governorship Seat Under NDC

Published

13 hours ago

May 21, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

A Rivers State politician, Blessing Fubara, has declared his intention to contest the 2027 governorship election in Rivers State under the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress.

The politician has already obtained both the nomination and expression of interest forms needed to participate in the governorship race ahead of the 2027 election.

Blessing Fubara shares the same surname and local government area with the current Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

Both men are from Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area. However, there has been no confirmation that they are family members.

The Chairman of the NDC in Rivers State, Success Jack, confirmed that Blessing Fubara is among those seeking the party’s governorship ticket.

He also stated that he could not confirm whether the governorship aspirant is related to Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

According to him, the party is preparing seriously for the 2027 general elections and hopes to win not only the governorship seat but other elective positions in Rivers State.

The development comes weeks after Blessing Fubara left the All Progressives Congress and joined the NDC.

Following his defection in Abuja, he was received by former Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, alongside other leaders and members of the party.

After joining the NDC, Blessing Fubara said his decision was taken for the interest of Rivers people.

He also stated that the future of the state must be protected ahead of the next general election, expressing confidence that the state would experience positive changes after the 2027 polls.

Politics

Desmond Elliot Withdraws from APC Lagos Assembly Primaries, Cites Intimidation

Published

20 hours ago

May 21, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Surulere I lawmaker Desmond Elliot has withdrawn from the All Progressives Congress Lagos House of Assembly primaries, citing intimidation across multiple zones.

In a viral video posted online, the lawmaker said he was stepping out of the race despite seeking re-election under the APC. He alleged that his supporters faced intimidation during the process in several parts of the constituency.

Elliot’s decision came as the primaries held across Lagos on Tuesday. Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, who represents Surulere Federal Constituency, praised the conduct of the exercise in Surulere, describing it as peaceful.

The withdrawal narrows the contest for the APC ticket in Surulere I ahead of the 2027 general election. Party officials in Lagos have not yet responded to Elliot’s claims, and the APC state chapter has not announced whether the primary in the constituency will proceed with other aspirants.

Elliot has represented Surulere I in the Lagos State House of Assembly since 2015.

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Politics

Political Shockwave in Rivers as Fubara Pulls Out of APC Governorship Race, Backs Party’s Candidate

Published

20 hours ago

May 21, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has officially withdrawn from the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries scheduled to take place on Thursday, a development that has stirred fresh political conversations across the state.

The governor announced his decision in a personally signed statement titled “My Decision to Withdraw from the Rivers State Gubernatorial Primaries,” which was released on Wednesday night.

In the statement, Fubara explained that his withdrawal followed wide consultations with political associates, stakeholders, and supporters. He stated that the decision was taken in the overall interest of peace, unity, and stability within the APC and Rivers State at large.

According to the governor, politics should not be allowed to divide the people or create unnecessary tension within the party. He stressed that preserving unity among party members and maintaining stability in the state remain more important than personal political ambition.

Fubara further pledged his total loyalty and support to whoever eventually emerges as the APC governorship candidate, assuring party faithful that he remains committed to the success and progress of the party ahead of the next general elections.

The Rivers governor also appreciated his supporters across the state for standing by him throughout the political process. He thanked party leaders, youth groups, women supporters, and political associates who had continued to show him solidarity and encouragement.

He urged his supporters not to see his withdrawal as the end of his political journey, but rather as a decision made in the collective interest of the party and the state. He also appealed to them to remain peaceful, united, and committed to the ideals of the APC.

Political observers have described the development as one of the biggest political surprises in Rivers State in recent times, especially considering the growing speculations and intense political alignments ahead of the governorship primaries.

Analysts believe the governor’s withdrawal may reshape the political calculations within the APC and influence the direction of the party’s governorship race moving forward.

The announcement has continued to generate mixed reactions from political stakeholders and residents across Rivers State. While some supporters described the move as strategic and mature, others expressed surprise over the governor’s sudden exit from the contest.

Several party faithful, however, commended Fubara for placing party unity and stability above personal ambition, noting that his decision may help reduce internal tensions and strengthen the APC ahead of the elections.

The development has also intensified attention on the remaining aspirants contesting for the APC governorship ticket, as consultations and political meetings continue ahead of the primary election.

Many observers believe the governor’s endorsement of the eventual APC candidate could play a major role in shaping the outcome of the party’s governorship battle and future political structure in the state.

As political activities continue to gather momentum in Rivers State, all eyes are now on the APC primaries and the next phase of political developments expected to unfold in the coming days.