Connect with us

News

Abia lawmaker urges govt intervention as gully erosion ravages communities

Published

on

The member representing Bende North constituency in Abia State House of Assembly, Ibekwe Nnamdi has appealed to the Federal and the State governments to come to the aid of communities in his constituency being ravaged by gully erosion.

Ibekwe made the appeal after inspecting the extent of damage in Okoko Item, Bende local government, and other locations in his constituency.

He said that many buildings have either been severely affected or near collapse, while farmlands have been decimated, and roads eroded.

The lawmaker said that this had disrupted the economic and social well-being of the people and that the two monstrous gullies at Okoko-Amaokwe-Nkporo Road now stood poised to severe the vital artery of the vibrant community.

While thanking the Abia State government for intervening on  Prof. Irukwu Way, Ibekwe  appealed for more intervention.

News

Nigeria has achieved 79.65% tele-density, 48.81 broadband penetration – NCC

Published

on

The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has said that Nigeria has witnessed tremendous transformation in the telecoms sector leading to the achievement of over 79.65% tele-density and a Broadband Penetration of 48.81 as at May 2025.

NCC EVC, Aminu Maida spoke during the Stakeholders Forum on General Authorisation Framework for the Nigerian telecoms industry on Thursday.

According to him, this transformation, which followed the liberalization of the sector, has been on the rise in the last 24 years.

Maida pointed out that the progress has been driven by the rapid uptake of mobile technologies, surging data consumption, and an increasing appetite for digital services.

He noted that the recorded progress cannot be sustainable and beneficial to the people if a regulatory paradigm that is not only responsive but enabling is not embarked upon.

“Today, we are at a significant juncture, where disruptive innovations are accelerating the evolution of the communications ecosystem.

“We are now at a turning point, where the nature of innovation demands a regulatory paradigm that is not only responsive but enabling,” he said.

Maida maintained that modern regulation must be designed to enable innovation rather than hinder it.

“This is an objective that lies at the core of NCC, latest initiative: the General Authorisation Framework.

“This reform introduces a flexible and responsive regulatory licensing approach that is structured to embrace new and emerging services that fall outside the existing License Structure,” he added.

However, the EVC further noted that regulation alone is not enough, “You—our stakeholders—are central to the success of this framework.

“Mobile Network Operators, Service Providers, Infrastructure Companies, OEMs, startups, civil society, and academia all have a role to play.

“Your insights, your ideas, and your partnership are critical in refining this
approach and making sure that it works for Nigeria.

“As we look to the future, we must ensure that no one is left behind. That means expanding access, closing connectivity gaps, and empowering our youth, women, and The future of Nigeria’s digital economy is no longer distant.

“It is unfolding right before
us. And at the heart of this future is the communications sector—our shared infrastructure for innovation, inclusion, and economic advancement.

“To sustain momentum, we must be bold, collaborative, and committed to building a resilient and innovative ecosystem. Through the General Authorisation Framework, we are unlocking new pathways for experimentation, market entry, and growth.”

Continue Reading

News

Higher fertilizer cost threatenening wet season farming – Jigawa farmers cry out

Published

on

Farmers in Jigawa State have expressed fear of inability to go back to farm due to the higher cost of fertilizer and losses recorded during dry season farming.

Some of the rice farmers disclosed this in an interview with Ekwutosblog ahead of their preparation for the wet season farming.

They explained that many farmers will not go back to farm for the wet season farming because they are unable to recover from the huge losses suffered during the last dry season farming.

 

According to Malam Musa, a farmer, “without government intervention, it will be difficult for most of us to return to our farms for the rainy season.

“The fertilizer we used to buy at N40,000 is now being sold at N60,000 and what we used to buy at N35,000 is now being sold at cost of over N45,000.

“We are therefore appealing to Governor Umar Namadi to come to our aid for timely provision of agricultural inputs,” he said.

They also urged the state government to use the previous section and distribution procedure used under the Fadama office to ensure that fertiliser and other inputs reached genuine farmers at the grassroots.

Another farmer, named Auwalu Kaci said, “It’s only through Fadama lll office our farmers at the grassroots level get access to the government’s inputs directly without any hindrance.”

Continue Reading

News

Buhari showed little respect for my grandfather – Shehu Shagari’s grandson

Published

on

Nura Muhammad Mahe, a grandson of Nigeria’s former President Shehu Shagari, has accused late former president Muhammadu Buhari of showing little respect for his grandfather even in death.
Mahe said this in a statement on Wednesday, publicly expressing dissatisfaction with the way the late Buhari handled Shagari’s death.

He, however, lauded President Bola Tinubu for what he described as a show of honour and statesmanship in organising a state burial for Buhari, who died on Sunday and was laid to rest on Tuesday in Daura with full military honours.

He described Tinubu’s attendance at the funeral as a symbol of national unity and dignity.

“This is in stark contrast to how the late President Shehu Shagari was treated during the administration of Muhammadu Buhari,” Mahe said.

According to him, when his grandfather died in 2018, Buhari neither attended the funeral nor arranged a state burial in his honour despite being in Nigeria at that time .

“Instead, a government delegation led by the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, who is notably a non-Muslim, was dispatched to represent him,” he said.

Mahe said the actions were a slight to Shagari’s legacy, stressing that the late leader deserved more recognition for his service as Nigeria’s first democratically elected Executive President.

Continue Reading

Trending