Chairman of GUO Group of Companies Limited, Chief Godwin Ubaka Okeke, has commended Igbo youths for their restraint following the life imprisonment sentence handed down to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

Speaking to journalists at his GRA residence in Onitsha at the weekend, Okeke praised the calm maintained since the November judgment of Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, but warned that such patience should not be mistaken for weakness.

He called on relevant authorities to urgently pursue a political solution to Kanu’s situation, urging Southeast governors, the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and other prominent stakeholders to lobby for a presidential pardon.

“I salute Igbo youths for their patience. While they remain calm, the relevant authorities should begin to consider the quickest political solution to this matter,” he said.

Okeke appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider the appeals of prominent groups and individuals backing a political resolution, stressing that early intervention would help ease tension in the region.

He also expressed willingness to support any legitimate efforts towards a political solution, adding that stakeholders in the transport industry were ready to assist if logistics support was required.

On the issue of multiple security checkpoints in the Southeast and complaints of extortion, Okeke said the presence of police and military checkpoints was preferable to the activities of armed bandits and kidnappers.

According to him, encountering security agencies on highways, even with occasional demands for small payments, is safer than meeting criminals who abduct, kill and demand huge ransoms.

He argued that many security personnel operate under difficult conditions and poor welfare, noting that they often risk their lives to protect commuters.

However, Okeke advised security operatives to be more civil in their approach to the public to build trust and reduce tension at roadblocks, while urging the public to better appreciate the risks faced by security agents.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has reduced petrol prices at its retail stations in Lagos, Abuja, and other states by at least N20 per litre.

Current pump prices now range between N895 and N965.

In Lagos, the price dropped from N910 to N890 per litre, while in Abuja, it moved down from N940 to N920 per litre.

Other stations, including Ardova, MRS, and First Royal, are now selling petrol at N890 per litre.

Across the country, new pump prices for major states are as follows: Abuja N920, Lagos N890, Abia N912, Adamawa N940, Akwa Ibom N910, Anambra N905, Bauchi N915, Bayelsa N900, Benue N935, Borno N945, Cross River N910, Delta N900, Ebonyi N928, Edo N910, Enugu N912, Gombe N965, Imo N928, Kaduna N935, Kano N935, Kwara N905, Nassarawa N935, Niger N955, Ogun N905, Ondo N905, Osun N895, Oyo N905, Plateau N900, Rivers N895, Sokoto N935, Taraba N950, Yobe N950, and Zamfara N945.

Depot prices have also been adjusted following the arrival of fresh petrol shipments.

In Lagos, depots such as Wosbab, Chipet, Integrated, and Bovas now sell at N836 per litre, with Aiteo charging N835. Port Harcourt depots including Masters, Liquid Bulk, and Bulk Strategic reduced rates to N853, while Warri depots adjusted prices between N846 and N848.

Calabar depots also lowered costs, with rates ranging from N846 to N849 per litre.

The reduction comes after Dangote Refinery lowered its gantry price to N840 per litre.

Diesel prices also fell, dropping from N950 to N910 per litre.

Egbu community in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State has endured months of crippling electricity outages, even as it hosts a Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) facility supplying and distributing power to the entire South-East.

Residents describe the situation as cruelly ironic: while electricity flows from their town to cities across five states, Egbu itself receives barely two hours of power daily.

The blackout has intensified amid a standoff between the Imo State government and the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) over the proposed Orashi Electricity Distribution Company.

Governor Hope Uzodimma announced at the recent Imo Economic Summit that Orashi Electricity Distribution Company would commence operations in December, promising improved supply and stability across the state.

Before this announcement, the Imo State government accused EEDC of deliberately shutting down power in retaliation for the creation of the new distribution company. Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, insisted the state’s intervention aims solely to improve electricity delivery and protect residents.

EEDC, through its Head of Communications, Emeka Eze, denied the claim, asserting the company has no intention to disrupt supply. It also noted that agents of the state government had previously interfered with its Egbu transmission facility, disrupting operations.

Caught in the crossfire, Egbu remains the worst affected, with prolonged blackouts crippling businesses and daily life. Residents say the 11KV Egbu feeder, which supplies electricity locally, has been in poor condition for years, severely limiting power availability.

Augustine Njoku, a youth leader in Mpana area, said, “That 11KV feeder has been bad for years. EEDC refuses to fix it, and that is why we are in darkness.”

Small businesses are struggling. Uche Onwuka, who runs a football viewing centre at Ishiuzor village, said unreliable power has driven away customers. “I spend everything on petrol; there’s no profit left,” he lamented.

Restaurant owner, Ms Augusta Igwe added, “Running my generator eats up all my profit. How could two hours of electricity supply improve my business. This is unacceptable. I can no longer cope.”

Am Electronics trader, Gibson Amuneke said he was forced to close his shop: “There is no business without electricity.. This is very insensitive. When you go to other parts of the State, there is reasonable power supply but here in Egbu, which hosts the Transmission. station, we hardly get supply”

Residents also complain of high estimated electricity bills despite scant supply, describing it as unfair for a community that hosts a major national power installation.

Efforts to reach EEDC officials about the 11KV feeder and residents’ claims went unanswered. With Orashi Electricity Distribution Company set to begin operations in December and the EEDC-Imo standoff unresolved, Egbu residents remain trapped in darkness, questioning how a community that powers the South-East can be left in such neglect.