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Anambra urges residents to participate in voter registration

The Anambra State Government has called on residents to participate fully in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise which kicked off across the state on July 8.

According to the Independent Electoral Commission, the CVR exercise will end on July 17.

INEC added that it provided an opportunity for eligible voters to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards to participate in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

The state Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, who made the call, said it was part of efforts to strengthen democracy and ensure inclusive participation in the governorship election coming up in the state on November 8, 2025.

Mefor, in a press statement released on Wednesday, urged all eligible citizens to take advantage of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

He said, “As part of efforts to strengthen democracy and ensure inclusive participation in the November 8, 2025 governorship election in Anambra State and future elections in Nigeria, the Anambra State Government is urging all eligible citizens to take advantage of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

“The CVR exercise, which commenced on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, and will end on July 17, 2025, provides an opportunity for eligible voters to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards.

“This is particularly important for young people who have recently turned 18 years old and are now eligible to vote. Citizens who have relocated to Anambra State from other parts of the country and wish to transfer their voting rights. Individuals who have lost or defaced their voter cards and need to replace them.

The government encourages everyone who falls within these categories to visit their nearest registration centre and complete the registration process. This is a crucial step in ensuring that our democracy remains vibrant and representative of the will of the people. For further information, please visit the INEC website.”

Meanwhile, checks by our correspondent at major locations across the state, showed that the exercise has witnessed a low turnout since it started on Tuesday due to rainfall and low awareness by the residents.

Govs, APC leaders secretly backing opposition- Babachir Lawal

A former secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has said that some governors and top members of the All Progressives Congress are quietly supporting an opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.

Lawal, who served under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari during his first term, revealed this during an interview on Beyond the Headlines aired Tuesday on TVC News.

He said that although these people have not spoken publicly, they believe in the coalition’s plan to remove the current government.

“Yes, there are [APC members working with the coalition], and they will speak for themselves. Some might not be brave or bold enough to do it the way I have, but there are very many, some tell me, including some governors,” he said.

Recall that Lawal resigned from the ruling party on June 29.https://punchng.com/ex-sgf-babachir-lawal-dumps-apc/

He said he had been working against the APC from within for a long time because the party was full of intimidation and didn’t allow free speech.

He stated, “We’re in a democracy; even if you’re in a political party, you can choose to support a better candidate in another political party. I’m learning a template from APC: this template of remaining in one party and working for another.

“This is a script APC developed, which Wike has enhanced and grown beyond imagination. Wike is our leader in this type of politics.

“The APC has never been united; it’s been a party that has been intimidated and bullied into silence. No internal cohesion; you cannot even advise. Even advice is taken as anti-party. So, many people got frustrated that you cannot talk truth to power in APC.”

He said many people who once supported President Bola Tinubu are now disappointed and want a better alternative.

“A lot of us are people whose primary aim is to replace this government with a better government that serves Nigerians better. If you want to serve this country better, you need to do so from the angle of politics, policies, governance, and leadership. You need to replace the non-performing party,” he said.

“So, there’s nothing wrong if people who were hitherto in APC, allies of Tinubu, have been disappointed in the way he has chosen to run his government or allow others to run his government. There’s nothing wrong if we decide to come together to make a change.”

Lawal also mocked the recent wave of politicians joining the APC, saying most of them are only trying to protect their political careers.

“It’s true the governors are decamping. Why are they decamping to the APC? Because they know the president has given himself an automatic ticket, there will be no primaries, and no other candidate will be allowed to raise their head.

“Most of the governors understand that this government is a government that wrote results to become what they are. So, they can write you out even in your own convention in an opposition party.

“So, all these governors are moving to APC to secure their next elections. However, the governors are moving, but nobody is moving with them; the people are not.”

Lawal also said the coalition is not led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, explaining that it is a team effort by different political figures with the aim of unseating the ruling party.

“The coalition is not about Atiku. I’ve attended meetings tilted towards Obi, Atiku, and Amaechi. Atiku has never spoken in all our meetings, except the last meeting, where he was asked to speak.

“Before we started the coalition, we told everybody that has political ambition to lock it down in a cupboard. because the understanding is that no one person can defeat an incumbent government.

“Peter Obi understands that with his Obedient movement, he cannot win this election on a standalone basis. Ameachi understands, and Atiku too; we must have a coalition, get together, join forces, join ideas, and work to defeat this government.”

Eight vigilantes killed in Plateau ambush, says military

The Special Military Task Force in charge of maintaining peace in Plateau State otherwise known as Operation Safe Haven has confirmed that eight vigilantes were killed in last Sunday’s ambush by bandits in Kanam Local Government Area of the state.

The spokesman for the taskforce, Major Samson Zhakom, made the disclosure in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement which narrated how the incident occurred read,

“Following recent media reports alleging the killing of 70 vigilantes in Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State, Headquarters Operation SAFE HAVEN (OPSH) wishes to clarify the incident.

“While OPSH confirms the occurrence of the event, certain details circulating are inaccurate. Below is an official account of what transpired.

“On 6 July 2025, a large group of vigilantes mobilised from Kanam LGA with the intent to conduct an independent operation without notifying OPSH troops. Upon arriving at Kukawa community, where they had temporarily halted for administrative purposes, the vigilantes engaged in a confrontation with some residents. Reports indicate that they attacked civilians and looted several provision shops in the area.

“Additionally, the vigilantes allegedly seized over 20 motorcycles from Kukawa residents, claiming they were finalising administrative procedures before proceeding to Odare Forest for their mission.

“However, while advancing toward the forest, the group was ambushed by armed bandits, resulting in the death of eight vigilantes, with others still missing. The remains of the deceased have been recovered and buried, while troops from Sector 2 OPSH in Wase are conducting search and rescue operations to locate the missing individuals”

The statement warned vigilante groups against conducting unauthorised operations without prior coordination with security forces and emphasized that independent actions without OPSH’s approval endanger both the operatives and innocent civilians.

“In light of this incident, OPSH strongly advises all vigilante groups and individuals within the state against conducting unauthorised operations without prior coordination with security forces.

“While we recognise the vigilantes’ intent to protect under served areas, independent actions without OPSH’s approval endanger both the operatives and innocent civilians.

“OPSH remains committed to maintaining peace and security in Plateau State and will take decisive action against any individual or group undermining these efforts, regardless of their motives.

“We urge the public to continue supporting security agencies by providing actionable intelligence and reporting suspicious activities within their communities,” it added.

FG begins reconstruction of Eastern rail line corridor – NRC

The Nigerian Railway Corporation says the Federal Government has begun reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Eastern railway corridor.

The Railway District Manager, Eastern District, Enugu, Mr Victor Adamu, stated this while responding to a national survey conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria, on abandonment of railway lines in the country, in Enugu on Wednesday.

Adamu said that the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the narrow gauge tracks had commenced from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to Aba, in Abia State.

According to him, the narrow gauge traversed the eastern district, from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri, Borno State and other parts of Nigeria.

“This district covers Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi, Rivers and part of Egbede in Benue State, which is our boundary with the north central district of about 110 kilometers.

“I am very happy to state that the segment of the contract was handed over to NRC on Nov. 28, 2024.

“We have our coaches that are running from Port Harcourt to Aba and back to Port Harcourt, five days in a week,” he explained.

He acknowledged that there was a suspension of work from Aba in Umuahia down to Enugu.

Adamu, however, said that the Federal Government is doing everything possible to ensure that the construction and rehabilitation on the remaining part of the contract commence soon.

The district manager explained that, through the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, work on the narrow gauge had resumed.

“This is a project that the Southeast and other parts of the country will benefit from.

“The Federal Government is doing a lot to see that the rail lines are working again.

“Sometime in April, the Managing Director of NRC, Mr Kayode Opeifa, visited Enugu and we had some meaningful discussions with the governors of Abia and Enugu States.

“I believe that the visit will really bring out a lot of things that are going to happen on this corridor,’’ he said.

According to Adamu, there is a policy introduced by Tinubu’s administration that allows state governments to invest in railways.

He disclosed that the Anambra, Abia and Enugu state governments were ready to key into the policy.

“With this, I believe that very soon, we will start seeing the dividends from these policies,” Adamu said.

He, however, described the activities of vandals as the biggest challenge to NRC, especially as it concerned their track materials and other facilities.

According to him, in securing the railway infrastructure, NRC is working with the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, military and vigilante groups.

Adamu said that through the collaboration of the NRC, police, military, and NSCDC, they made arrests of suspected vandals, and some of them were already facing trial.

“There are some suspected vandals who were arrested in Imo, Rivers and Enugu states.

“We are doing these because these facilities are meant for Nigerians, and we are expected to own them as Nigerians. This will go a long way in keeping them intact.

“Our officials are still going around to see that these facilities are protected,’’ the district manager said.

NAN reports that railway operations stopped in Enugu for over two decades.

NAN

Dangote hails Tinubu on infrastructure, flood control

President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has publicly hailed President Bola Tinubu’s administration for its “visionary leadership” in infrastructure development and flood control initiatives.

In an open letter, Dangote expressed appreciation for the President’s efforts, particularly highlighting the transformative Bar Beach Land Reclamation project (Eko Atlantic City) and the ongoing nationwide superhighway constructions.

Dangote’s commendation, tagged, “Open Letter To President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR: Appreciation”, was shared by the Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, via his X handle on Wednesday.

In his open letter, Dangote drew a parallel between the success of the Eko Atlantic City project and the recent flash flooding incident in Kerr County, Texas, USA, which claimed over 100 lives.

He praised Tinubu’s “foresightedness” in initiating the Eko Atlantic City, a modern city spanning 1,000 hectares and protected by an 8.5-kilometre-long sea wall, which has effectively shielded Victoria Island from coastal erosion and provided new land for development.

“Your Excellency, this success story, which is now being used for residential, business, and recreational purposes, is amongst your many legacies, and those of us who live in Victoria Island are much better off for it,” Dangote wrote, applauding the President’s “exemplary intervention in ending the era of ocean surge and in continuous tackling the issue of perennial flooding affecting areas such as Ahmadu Bello Way, Akin Adesola Street, Bishop Oluwole Street, Amodu Ojikutu Street, Adetokunbo Ademola Street and Karimu Kotun Street, among others.”

Beyond flood control, the Africa’s richest man commended Tinubu for kickstarting major infrastructure projects, including the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway and the Sokoto-Badagry superhighway.

He particularly noted the latter’s significance as a “resurrection of a 48-year-old project,” both of which are being handled by the “first-rate construction and civil engineering firm in Hitech Construction Company Limited.”

Dangote further highlighted the resemblance of Nigeria’s land reclamation efforts to similar successful projects in Zeeland, Netherlands, where submerged land was transformed into usable dry land, primarily for agriculture and settlement.

This, he stated, “is a testament to the Dutch ingenuity and perseverance in managing water resources and creating a habitable landscape in a challenging environment. The same ethos resonates in the Bar Beach project, for which I salute you!”

In a gesture of corporate social responsibility, Dangote Industries Limited also extended condolences to the families affected by the Texas flooding incident.

The letter concluded with an announcement that the Aliko Dangote Foundation would soon “be announcing plans of contributing to a Climate Fund that will target those vulnerable parts of our country which are susceptible to this natural disaster.”

Reacting to the commendation, Onanuga noted that Dangote’s position offered “an honest assessment of Tinubu’s leadership, contrasts sharply with opposition claims that the president has achieved nothing in the past two years.”

UAE bans transit visas, imposes stricter entry rules for Nigerians

The United Arab Emirates has imposed tougher entry conditions for Nigerian travellers and banned transit visa applications entirely.

Travel agents confirmed on Tuesday.

According to new directives from Dubai immigration, Nigerians aged 18 to 45 will no longer be eligible for tourist visas unless accompanied.

For those aged 45 and above, visa applicants must present a personal six-month bank statement showing a minimum monthly balance of $10,000 (or its naira equivalent).

Travel agents said the new policy is expected to drastically reduce travel from Nigeria to Dubai, a top destination for business and tourism.

“For Nigerian nationals, please bear in mind that an applicant aged 18 to 45 years travelling alone is not eligible for the TOURIST VISA CATEGORY.

“An applicant who is 45 years or above must provide a Single Nigerian personal bank statement for a period of the last six months, with each month’s end balance reflecting a minimum ending balance of USD 10,000 or its naira equivalent.

“Kindly note that the above points must be taken into consideration before sending your applications with other existing documents such as hotel reservation, data page, etc,” the notification reads.

A’Ibom gov approves N20,000 allowance for NYSC members 8th July 2025

The students of Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic are currently protesting at the main gate of the institution, located on Sango/Eleyele Road in Ibadan, Oyo State.

PUNCH Online had reported that the State Governor, Seyi Makinde, had renamed The Polytechnic, Ibadan, in honour of the late former governor of the state, Omololu Olunloyo, who died at the age of 89.

Despite the earlier warning by the institution’s management that the students should shelve their planned protest, a large number of students came out to express their grievances, calling on the governor to rescind his earlier decision.

Academic and other activities in the institution are now put on hold, while the Sango en route Eleyele axis is temporarily blocked.

Details later…

Ortom demands transparency in Benue LG allocations

The immediate past governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has called on his successor, Governor Hyacinth Alia, to account for the state and local government funds.

The former governor was reacting to the statement attributed to a faction of the All Progressives Congress, which he suspects is affiliated with the governor, an excerpt of which Kula Tersoo, media aide to Governor Alia, posted online recently.

This statement read that the governor “has increased local government security votes from the one million naira paid by his predecessor to ten million naira monthly…”

However, Ortom in a statement issued by his media aide, Terver Akase, and made available to journalists in Makurdi on Tuesday, took a swipe at his successor, requesting that he declares how much his administration is receiving as monthly local government allocations from the federation’s account before announcing how much he is giving the councils as security votes.

Ortom equally demanded that Governor Alia should go a step further and explain why he is still the one providing the third tier of government funds, despite the Supreme Court judgment granting full financial autonomy to local governments.

“The fact that none of the 23 local governments under him has constructed even a single culvert shows how they have been starved of their own funds,” the former governor said.

The former governor decried the situation that his successor, who is in his third year in office had never responded to calls for transparency and accountability regarding the huge resources accruing to the state following the removal of fuel subsidy.

“He has suddenly decided to celebrate a claim that he has increased security votes for local governments in the state.

“The starting point should be for Governor Alia to declare how much he is receiving as monthly local government allocations from the federation’s account before announcing how much he is giving the councils as security votes.

“The question to ask Governor Alia is, given reports that the Federal Government is now sending 500% increased allocations to the local governments in Benue State, which automatically makes a council such as Gboko receive a monthly allocation of N624,447,191.53.

“Why is Gboko only receiving a mere N10 million out of over N624 million as security vote? Where is the rest of the money going?

“When the Benue State governor is done accounting for how much the 23 local governments are receiving from the federation’s account in the subsidy removal era.

“He should extend the accountability to the state coffers and tell the people how much his government is receiving and what is being done with the funds.

“This explanation should include the over N3 billion he is reported to be taking every month as security vote in the face of frequent attacks and killing of hundreds of Benue people by Fulani terrorists.

While Alia denied that under his watch, only N1 million was being released to local governments in the state as security vote, Ortom claimed that he granted autonomy to the local governments.

He said that was the reason all of the councils were actively executing projects and tackling insecurity in their respective domains.

Alia, through his Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo, on Sunday, responding to a similar request made by a group known as Benue Advocacy Network, directed those interested in knowing the financial obligations to the state to approach the Budget Office in the state.

Oyo traffic agency issues last warning to roadside traders 8th July 2025

The Oyo State government has issued a final notice to traders at the Ogunpa Central International Market, Ibadan, to desist from displaying goods on the roadside, setting July 21 for enforcement.

The government also told the traders to maintain proper setbacks for free movement of people or face sanctions.

During a sensitisation campaign at the market, the Chairman of the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority, Major Adekoya Adesagba (retd.), expressed displeasure over the incessant use of roadways for commercial activities, describing it as a serious obstruction to traffic flow and a threat to people’s lives and property.

He urged the traders to change their approach, stressing that placing wares along the main roads endangers both customers and business owners.

He assured stakeholders that the present administration is committed to making market spaces more conducive, in line with Governor ‘Seyi Makinde’s directive to clear road obstructions.

“We are here to enlighten the traders on the state government’s plan to clear illegal trading activities from the roads around the Ogunpa Central Market. We have advised that traders maintain a reasonable distance from the road setback. Roadside trading will no longer be tolerated,” he stated.

“Enforcement actions targeting illegal parking, roadside display of goods, and vehicular obstruction will commence from July 21, 2025, in collaboration with relevant enforcement agencies,” the chairman disclosed.

He emphasised that the enforcement is aimed at reclaiming roads and spaces designated for public infrastructure and safety.

In response, the President-General of the Ogunpa Central International Market Traders Association, Prince Gbenga Atitebi, expressed support for the government’s stance.

He admitted that the indiscriminate roadside trading had hurt customer turnout and pledged the association’s cooperation with the state’s directive.

Also speaking, the Iyaloja of Ibadan Southwest LGA, High Chief Kudirat Aloba, appealed to the state government to come to their aid in ensuring that those selling on the roadside comply with the directives.

Indian villagers beat family of five to death over witchcraft allegation

Indian villagers beat a family of five to death and dumped their corpses in a lake， accusing them of “practising witchcraft” after the death of a boy, police said Tuesday.

Three people have been arrested and have confessed to the crime, police in the northern state of Bihar said in a statement.

Three women — including a 75-year-old — were among those murdered.

The main accused believed that his son’s recent death was caused by one of those killed, and blamed “him and his family of practising witchcraft”, the statement said.

“After beating the victims to death, the perpetrators loaded the bodies onto a tractor and dumped them in a pond,” police said.

The murderers and victims all belonged to India’s Oraon tribe in Bihar, India’s poorest state and a mainly Hindu region of at least 130 million people.

Despite campaigns against superstition, belief in witchcraft remains widespread in rural areas across India, especially in isolated tribal communities.

Some states, including Bihar, have introduced laws to try to curb crimes against people accused of witchcraft and superstition.

Women have often been branded witches and targeted, but the killing of the family of five stands out as a particularly heinous recent example.

More than 1,500 people — the overwhelming majority of them women — were killed in India on suspicion of witchcraft between 2010 and 2021, according to the National Crime Records Bureau.

Some believe in the occult, but attackers also sometimes have other motives including usurping their rights over land and property.

AFP