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Imo Airport hosts first International flight, May 9th

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More than three decades after its inception, the Sam Mbakwe International Airport, Owerri, will host its inaugural international flight on May 9th this year.

This followed the comprehensive upgrading of the runway and other facilities by Gov Hope Uzodimma .

The State Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation and Strategy, Hon Declan Emelumba, dropped the cheering news in Owerri.

He disclosed that top dignitaries, including political and religious leaders and captains of industry, will be in Owerri that day to witness the maiden international flight from the airport.

Hon Emelumba said as parts of the ceremony, those heading to this year’s Hajj from Imo State will be lifted direct from Owerri to their destination.

He also announced that Christian pilgrims will also be lifted to the Holy Land from the airport next month.

The Commissioner expressed happiness that soon international travellers from Imo State would no longer have to pass through other airports as the Sam Mbakwe International Airport was now ready to meet their needs.

He noted that the upgrade of the runway and the provision of night landing facilities at the airport were part of the deliberate effort by Uzodimma to boost the economy of the state.

According to him, now that Imo airport will be on call for international flights, it would make it easier for would be investors from any part of the world to access Imo State for businesses.

He also said that the Imo diaspora community would now be more confident in returning home for festivities as against the tortuous journey of passing through other airports.

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SUMMARY OF THE JUDGMENT OF IMO STATE HIGH COURT,NWAORIEUBI JUDICIAL DIVISION DELIVERED ON THE 2ND DAY OF JULY 2025 OVER IMO STATE INTERNATIONAL MODERN MARKET EGBEADA/UBOMMIRI.

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1.THE HONOURABLE COURT DECLARED THAT BY VIRTUE OF S.7 4TH SCHEDULE OF THE 1999 CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA (AS AMENDED) IT IS ONLY AND ONLY THE MBAITOLI LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCIL (NOT IMO STATE GOVERNMENT OR ITS MINISTRY OF COMMERCE,TRADE & INVESTMENT OR ANY OF ITS AGENCIES)THAT HAS THE EXCLUSIVE CONSTITUTIONAL POWERS TO ESTABLISH,DESIGN, PACELATE,BUILD MANAGE, CONTROL, ISSUE ALLOCATION PAPERS AND COLLECT REVENUE AT IMO MODERN INTERNATIONAL MARKET EGBEADA/UBOMMIRI.

2.THE INVASION AND FORCEFUL TAKE OVER OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED MARKET BY IMO STATE GOVERNMENT THROUGH ITS THEN MINISTRY OF NON FORMAL SECTOR AND MARKET DEVELOPMENT IN THE YEAR 2020 AND THE SUBSEQUENT ALLOCATIONS AND OUTRIGHT RESELLING OF LOCK UP SHOPS,OPEN SHADES/STALLS AND SPACE/PLOTS OF LAND BY THE SAID MINISTRY TO OCCUPANTS AT THE SAID MARKET (PHASE 1 & 2 AND ANNEX) FROM 2020 TILL DATE IN CONNIVANCE WITH SUCCESSIVE MBAITOLI COUNCIL ADMINISTRATIONS HAS BEEN SET ASIDE AND SAME DECLARED UNLAWFUL, UNCONSTITUTIONAL, ILLEGAL,NULL AND VOID AB INITIO BY THE HONOURABLE COURT.

3.ALL ALLOCATION PAPERS AND OUTRIGHT RESELLING OF LOCK UP SHOPS,OPEN SHADES,OPEN SPACE/PLOTS OF LANDS AT THE ABOVE MENTIONED MARKET BY SUCCESSIVE ADMINISTRATION OF MBAITOLI LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCIL AFTER 2019 HAS BEEN SET ASIDE AND SAME DECLARED ILLEGAL, UNLAWFUL, UNCONSTITUTIONAL,NULL AND VOID AB INITIO BY THE HONOURABLE COURT. (Meaning if you are an occupant of lock up shop,open stalls/ shades,space/plots of land at the said market(phase 1 and 2 and annex) and your allocation paper was issued to you after 2019 by either Mbaitoli Local Government or Imo State Government,you are nothing but an ILLEGAL OCCUPANT.Only those with allocation papers from Mbaitoli Local Government Council BEFORE 2019 are survivals of this landmark judgment).

4.THE DEFENDANTS IN THE SAID JUDGMENT ARE RESTRAINED BY THE HONOURABLE COURT FROM USING THE POLICE TO OBSTRUCT,HARRASS OR ARREST OR INTIMIDATE THE PLAINTIFFS IN THE COURSE OF ENFORCEMENT OF THE SAID LANDMARK JUDGMENT OF COURT.

5.THE COURT HAS ORDERED AND DIRECTED THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE IMO STATE POLICE COMMAND AND THE NIGERIAN POLICE FORCE HEADED BY THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE TO ASSIST THE PLAINTIFFS TOWARDS ENSURING THE FULL ENFORCEMENT OF THE SAID LANDMARK JUDGMENT OF COURT.

6.3RD,6TH AND 7TH DEFENDANTS IN THE SAID JUDGMENT TO JOINTLY AND SEVERALLY PAY THE SUM OF N1MILLION NAIRA COST OF LITIGATION TO THE PLAINTIFF COUNSEL IN THE SAID JUDGMENT OF COURT.

7.THE COURT UPHOLDS AND AUTHENTICATES THE ORIGINAL DESIGN/PURPOSE CLAUSE OF THE SAID MARKET ESTATE PROJECT BY MBAITOLI LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCIL ADMINISTRATION IN 2018 AND NON OTHER EITHER BY THE MBAITOLI LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCIL OR IMO STATE GOVERNMENT AFTER 2019.

8.THE COURT DIRECTS ALL ILLEGAL OCCUPANTS WITH ILLEGAL AND FRAUDULENT ALLOCATION PAPERS OF LOCK UP SHOPS,OPEN SHADES,OPEN SPACE/PLOTS OF LANDS AT THE SAID MARKET TO VACATE WITHIN 48 HOURS OF THE JUDGMENT OF COURT.

ABOVE IS FOR YOUR INFORMATION:
This summary presentation is for all doubting Thomases who may be risking various jail terms for disobedience to the LANDMARK JUDGMENT OF THIS HUNOURABLE COUR5 THAT HAS RETURNED FINANCIAL/REVENUE COLLECTION AUTONOMY TO MBAITOLI LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

CONGRATULATIONS TO NDI MBAITOLI.

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PRESIDENT TINUBU APPOINTS MUHAMMAD BABANGIDA CHAIRMAN OF THE BANK OF AGRICULTURE, OTHERS AS CHAIRMEN AND HEADS OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

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STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE

PRESIDENT TINUBU APPOINTS MUHAMMAD BABANGIDA CHAIRMAN OF THE BANK OF AGRICULTURE, OTHERS AS CHAIRMEN AND HEADS OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Muhammad Babangida, the son of the former military President, as chairman of the revamped Bank of Agriculture.

President Tinubu approved the appointment today, along with seven others. Some of them will serve as chairmen or directors-general of Federal agencies.

Muhammad Babangida, 53, is an alumnus of the European University in Montreux, Switzerland, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Public Relations and Business Communication. He later attended Harvard Business School’s Executive Program on Corporate Governance in 2002.

Others appointed by the President are:

Lydia Kalat Musa (Kaduna State) Chairman, Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority (OGFZA).

Jamilu Wada Aliyu (Kano State) Chairman, National Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC).

The Hon. Yahuza Ado Inuwa (Kano State) is the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) chairman.

Sanusi Musa (SAN, Kano State) is the Chairman of the Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution(IPCR).

Prof. Al-Mustapha Alhaji Aliyu (Sokoto State) is the Director-General of the Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA).

Sanusi Garba Rikiji (Zamfara State) is the Director-General of the Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations (NOTN).

Mrs Tomi Somefun (Oyo State) is the Managing Director of the National Hydro-Electric Power Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC).

Dr Abdulmumini Mohammed Aminu-Zaria (Kaduna State) has been appointed Executive Director of the Nigerian Integrated Water Resources Management Commission (NIWRMC).

Special Adviser to the President
(Information & Strategy)
July 18, 2025

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Rick Swart assumes duty as new US Consul General in Lagos

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The United States Mission in Nigeria has announced the appointment of Rick Swart as the new Consul General at the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos.

Swart officially began his tenure on July 16, succeeding JoEllen Gorg, who had served in an acting capacity over the past seven months following the departure of former Consul General Will Stevens in November 2024.

In a statement issued by the Mission, Swart was described as the most senior U.S. Government representative serving the southern region of Nigeria, covering 17 states.

According to the statement, “He leads U.S. government efforts in deepening trade and investment partnerships, enhancing people-to-people ties, and advancing the full spectrum of priorities within the U.S.-Nigeria bilateral relationship across southern Nigeria.”

Expressing his delight at the new role, Swart stated, “It is an honour to serve in Nigeria. I look forward to exploring the region, connecting with its people, immersing myself in its rich culture, and promoting our shared objectives of building safer, stronger, and more prosperous nations.”

He also commended his predecessor, JoEllen Gorg, for her dedication during the transition period. “I’m grateful to JoEllen for her exceptional leadership and the vital work she has done to strengthen our partnership with the Nigerian people in this region,” he said.

Swart added that he is eager to collaborate with Ambassador David Greene and the wider U.S. Embassy team in Abuja to reinforce the strong ties between both nations.

A distinguished diplomat and senior member of the U.S. Foreign Service, Swart brings extensive international experience to his new role, having served in various assignments across Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia.

Prior to his current posting, he was the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Chad and previously served as Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., in Chad, Congo, and Burundi. His diplomatic resume also includes roles as Deputy Consul General in Baghdad and Humanitarian Assistance Officer for Africa at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in Geneva.

Swart’s overseas postings further include assignments in London, Manila, and Dubai, while his service in Washington, D.C. focused on critical issues concerning sub-Saharan Africa.

Before embarking on his diplomatic career in 2002, Swart worked on architecture and design projects across Asia and Africa and also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mali.

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