IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday inaugurated a high-level committee on the forthcoming national population and housing census. Disclosing this in a statement, presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, said the committee will submit an interim report within three weeks.

The President said the census is crucial for national development, accurate planning, and effective decision-making in healthcare, education, security, and economic planning. Nigeria’s last census was in 2006, nearly two decades ago. It recorded a population of 140,431,790, with 71,345,488 males and 69,086,302 females.

“President Tinubu stressed the pivotal role of a technology-driven process in ensuring credible and verifiable results and the need for collaboration among all relevant agencies and stakeholders,” the statement read. He underscored the critical financing factor in the exercise, urging the members to look at domestic and even international resources. “Work with all relevant agencies, including the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning. This ministry has to take charge of this because you cannot budget if you do not know how many we are.

“We expect you will touch on the technology area because the census must be technology-driven. Things have changed since the last time that we conducted this exercise. The enumeration has to be technology-driven with biometrics and digitalisation,” he said. Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila represented the President at the event held at the State House in Abuja, The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, who chairs the Presidential Committee on Population and Housing Census, assured the President that the committee will deliver its report within the three-week deadline.

The minister recalled President Tinubu’s advice to ministers during their retreat in 2003, urging them to think creatively and work with the resources available, even under harsh economic conditions. Bagudu noted that despite global economic challenges, Nigeria is making steady progress under President Tinubu’s leadership, citing improved foreign exchange stability and a positive growth trajectory. He said the committee will recommend practical solutions, including strategies for mobilising domestic and international resources to fund the census.

The Minister of Information, Muhammed Idris, also a committee member, emphasised that accurate data is critical for planning across all sectors and that a credible census is the foundation for such data. The National Population Commission (NPC) Chairman, Nasir Isa Kwarra, who will also serve as the committee Secretary, said the commission has already begun preparations for the national population and housing census in collaboration with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and other relevant stakeholders.

According to him, the focus has been on identifying key requirements and laying the groundwork necessary for the President to make an informed decision on the actual conduct of the census. Kwarra assured Nigerians that the National Population Commission remains committed to ensuring a credible, technology-driven enumeration that will support effective national planning and development. The eight-member committee also includes the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the Director General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the Principal Secretary to the President, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration and Operations (Office of the Chief of Staff). 

Women on Wednesday thronged major streets in Port Harcourt to protest against the imposition of emergency rule in Rivers State. Under the aegis of the Rivers Women Unite Prayer Group, the protesters kicked against the suspension of Siminalayi Fubara as governor.

They chanted slogans and demanded an end to what they perceive as an “unconstitutional state of affairs” in Rivers. The protesters wore red attires and held placards bearing inscriptions like ‘We have conscience’, Bring Back Governor Fubara’, ‘We are gagged’, ‘Rivers state economy suffers under Ibas’, ‘NBA have conscience’, among others.

Monday’s protest is coming on the heels of last week’s women’s demonstration in favour of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who was suspended by Tinubu owing to the political crisis in the state. Last month, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, owing to the unending political crisis in the state. He suspended Governor Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and the members of the House of Assembly for six months.

Citing “security reports,” in the wake of two pipeline explosions in the state, Tinubu said the declaration of a state of emergency was “inevitably compelling”. “By this declaration,” Tinubu said, “the Governor of Rivers State, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State are hereby suspended for an initial period of six months.

He appointed Ibas to supervise the affairs of the state pending the resolution of the crisis in a move that has continued to sharply divide opinions across the country. But on Monday, the women protesters backed the president, describing his action as constitutional. The governors of the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), have, however, rejected the declaration and have headed to the court to challenge the imposition. 

President Bola Tinubu has officially flagged off the construction of the 465km Calabar-Ebonyi-Benue-Nasarawa-Abuja super highway, a major infrastructure project aimed at boosting national connectivity, trade, and development.

The flag-off ceremony held in Afikpo, Ebonyi State, was conducted on Tinubu’s behalf by Governor Francis Nwifuru, who described the project as a transformative milestone for the region.

Minister of Works, David Umahi, called it a legacy project and promised its completion within the stipulated timeframe, while several stakeholders hailed Tinubu’s commitment to inclusive development and endorsed him for a second term. 

Lebanon reported two dead in separate Israeli strikes on the country’s south Wednesday, as Israel’s military said it had killed a Hezbollah operative, despite a ceasefire between the two sides. A “drone strike launched by the Israeli enemy on a vehicle in Wadi al-Hujair killed one person”, Lebanon’s health ministry said in a statement, referring to an area around 12 kilometres (seven miles) from the border.

It later said a separate Israeli strike in Hanin, elsewhere in the south near the border, “killed one person and wounded another”. The Israeli military said its air force “struck and eliminated” a member of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force in the Qantara area, near Wadi al-Hujair. Israel has continued to strike Lebanon since the November 27 ceasefire that largely halted more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah, including two months of all-out war.

The health ministry also said a 17-year-old wounded in an Israeli strike on south Lebanon’s Aitaroun on Tuesday had died, bringing the toll in that raid to two dead. The Israeli military said that strike also killed a Hezbollah operative. The United Nations Human Rights Office said on Tuesday that “at least 71 civilians” had been killed by Israeli forces in Lebanon since the ceasefire.

Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said last week that 186 people had been killed since the truce, without saying how many were members of the group. The health ministry has not responded to AFP requests for updated figures. The truce accord was based on a UN Security Council resolution that says Lebanese troops and United Nations peacekeepers should be the only forces in south Lebanon, and calls for the disarmament of all non-state groups.

Under the truce, Hezbollah was to withdraw fighters from south of Lebanon’s Litani River and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure there. Israel was to pull out all its forces from south Lebanon, although it continues to hold five positions that it deems “strategic”.

Lebanon’s army has been deploying in the south near the border as Israeli forces have withdrawn. 

By Onyinyechi Nwankwo

Following the recent prestigious recognition meritoriously awarded to Governor Hope Uzodimma as 'Infrastructure Governor of the Year 2024' by Vanguard Newspapers, the 2022 Set of Imo State Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), has poured in her heartfelt felicitations and encomiums on the People's Governor. 

The felicitations by the 2022 ALGON Forum underscored the Governor's unwavering commitment to advancing infrastructural development across Imo State.

As an annual event, the Vanguard Personality of the Year Award is aimed at honouring Nigerians who have made significant contributions to national development and social progress.

Parts of the statement signed by the Chairman of the forum, former Chairman of Oru-West LGA and former ALGON Chairman, Imo State -- Hon. Willie Okolieogwo, and the State Secretary of the forum and former SOLAD of Ahiazu-Mbaise LGA --Hon. Anthony Anakani, alongside other distinguished members, remarked, "Your Excellency, it is evident that this Award singled you out, for the development of infrastructures since you assumed office as Executive Governor of Imo State in 2020, especially on road revolution and other critical infrastructural developments.

"We note with pride that you have not only constructed and reconstructed hundreds of roads including the dualization of Owerri-Orlu Road, Owerri-Okigwe Road , Owerri-Umuahia Road and many rural roads, but gone ahead to revive other decayed infrastructures.

"All of these have added values to the economic developments of the State and connected it to all neighboring States".

The Chairman of the Forum, Okolieogwo, who doubles as the Special Adviser to the Imo State Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and other members commended the Governor for having made significant, giant strides in urban renewal, by putting in place night landing facilities of international standard at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Ngor-Okpala LGA.

They also pointed out that Governor Hope Uzodimma, in his sagacious leadership spirit, rehabilitated the Water Works which they affirmed were abandoned for over 15 years. 

The group also thanked the Governor for not relenting in human capital development and social services as thousands of Imo youths are being trained in Digital Technology which aimed at boosting the economy of the State, adding that all these have set Imo on the path of economic revival.

While celebrating the number one citizen of the State, the ALGON 2022 Forum seized the opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to working hand in gloves with the 3R Administration led by Governor Hope Uzodimma to advance development initiatives and serve the interests of the people of Imo State. 

Chinese authorities have accused three agents from the US National Security Agency (NSA) of orchestrating sophisticated cyberattacks targeting key industries during the Asian Winter Games in February.

Police in Harbin claim the attacks targeted sectors such as energy, transportation, communications, and national defense in Heilongjiang Province. The agents have now been added to a wanted list.

According to state-run Xinhua News Agency, investigations also implicated the University of California and Virginia Tech, although their specific roles were not detailed.

Officials allege the cyberattacks aimed to disrupt China’s critical infrastructure, spread social unrest, and steal sensitive data. The NSA operatives are also accused of exploiting pre-installed backdoors in Microsoft Windows systems to carry out the breaches.

The development comes amid heightened tensions between China and the US, as both countries remain locked in a prolonged trade dispute.