IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has officially announced the members of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 23rd National Sports Festival, scheduled to be held in Enugu in 2026. In a statement, Governor Mbah emphasized that the committee members were carefully selected based on their expertise, outstanding contributions to the sports sector, and dedication to excellence. The LOC will be led by the Enugu State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Lloyd Ike Ekweremadu Jr., who will serve as the chairman.

Full List of LOC Members:

Bamiduro Olumide – A respected sports management expert and former badminton champion, serving as General Secretary.

Mary Onyali – Former world-class athlete with extensive international experience.

Aku Aghazu – Accomplished lawyer specializing in sports management.

Victor Okorie – Elite athletes’ representative and member of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN).

Blessing Chisalam Ekwe – Chief Operating Officer of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria and a FIFA-licensed agent.

Davidson Owumi – Highly experienced sports administrator, current Chief Operating Officer of the Nigeria Professional Football League, and former General Manager of Enugu Rangers FC.

Tony Ugwu – Chairman, Enugu Football Association.

Henry Chinedu Okorie – Executive member of the Nigeria Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Nigeria Athletics Athletes Commission.

Jonathan Nnaji – President of Nigeria’s Modern Pentathlon Federation, Vice President of the Africa Modern Pentathlon Confederation, and Executive Board Member of the Nigeria Olympic Committee.

Boniface Onovo – Director of Organising, Enugu State Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Ephraim Ochonma – Director of Coaching, Enugu State Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Obiora Obasi – Technical Assistant to the Honourable Commissioner, Enugu State Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Governor Mbah expressed confidence in the committee’s ability to organize a successful and world-class sporting event, highlighting their collective expertise and individual track records in sports administration.

In response, LOC Chairman and Enugu State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Lloyd Ike Ekweremadu Jr., reaffirmed the state’s commitment to hosting a festival that meets international standards, ensuring an unforgettable experience for athletes and spectators alike.

The 2026 National Sports Festival is expected to be a landmark event, showcasing Enugu’s capacity as a premier destination for national and international sporting competitions. 

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has pledged full support for the upcoming Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF), recognizing it as a crucial platform for discovering and nurturing emerging sporting talent in the region.

Dikko who is set to officially declare the festival open, reaffirms the Commission’s dedication to grassroots sports development across Nigeria. The event, scheduled from April 1 to 8 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, will bring together athletes from across the Niger Delta to compete in various sporting disciplines. Speaking ahead of the festival, NSC Director General Bukola Olopade commended the initiative and encouraged other states to adopt similar programs to enhance Nigeria’s talent pipeline.

“The Niger Delta Sports Festival represents a vital platform for discovering and nurturing raw talent,” Olopade stated. “We encourage more states to implement similar initiatives to strengthen Nigeria’s sporting future.” In a significant boost for the festival, organizers announced PremiumTrust Bank as the official financial partner of the event.

The NDSF aims to showcase young athletes, foster regional unity, and promote youth engagement in sports, solidifying its role as a key contributor to Nigeria’s sports development landscape. 

Global Rights, a human rights advocacy organization, has strongly condemned the brutal lynching of sixteen hunters in Uromi, Edo State, on March 27, 2025. The victims were reportedly mistaken for kidnappers by local vigilantes, who took the law into their own hands, leading to a tragic case of extrajudicial killing.

In a statement released by its Executive Director, Abiodun Baiyewu, Global Rights described the incident as “senseless and heinous,” highlighting the growing disregard for human life in Nigeria. The organization stressed that such acts directly violate Section 33(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and prohibits unlawful killings.

Furthermore, the statement condemned the ethnic profiling that often fuels such violence. Citing Section 43 of the Constitution, which grants Nigerians the right to reside in any part of the country, Global Rights warned that unchecked vigilantism poses a serious threat to national unity and security. While acknowledging public frustration over the government’s inability to tackle rising insecurity, the organization emphasized that vigilante justice cannot replace lawful enforcement. “Nothing justifies this act of jungle justice,” the statement read, warning that such actions risk inflaming ethnic and religious tensions.

Global Rights is now calling on the Nigerian government to launch an immediate and thorough investigation into the killings. The group insists that all those responsible both perpetrators and accomplices must be held accountable.

The organization also extended its condolences to the families of the victims and urged leaders across political, religious, and traditional spheres to promote messages of peace and unity. “This tragedy must not be exploited to incite further violence,” Baiyewu stated.

Finally, Global Rights reiterated its demand for the government to fulfill its constitutional duty to protect lives and ensure justice. It warned that the rise in extrajudicial killings is a direct result of the state’s failure to provide adequate security, calling for urgent reforms to restore public trust in law enforcement. As investigations unfold, many Nigerians are left questioning how such a deadly mistake could happen and what must change to prevent future tragedies. 

African airlines recorded a 5.7% year-on-year decline in air cargo demand in February 2025, with capacity decreasing by 0.6% in the same period. Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTK), dropped by 0.4%, although international operations saw a 1.1% increase.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) report showed that global capacity decreased by 0.4%, with international operations showing a slight increase of 0.4% in demand. Globally, air cargo demand fell by 0.1% compared to February 2024, marking the first decline since mid-2023. “African airlines saw a 5.7% year-on-year decrease in demand for air cargo in February. Capacity decreased by 0.6% year-on-year,” the report read in part.

It added, “Total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTK), declined by 0.1% compared to February 2024 levels (+0.4% for international operations). This marks the first decline since mid-2023. 

“Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTK), decreased by 0.4% compared to February 2024 (+1.1% for international operations).” African airlines’ performance mirrors broader market trends, with air cargo demand fluctuating across regions.

IATA’s Director General, Willie Walsh, attributed the global decline to the unique circumstances of February 2024, which benefited from the leap year, Chinese New Year, sea lane disruptions, and a surge in e-commerce. Additionally, the global cargo market witnessed significant shifts. Trade lanes such as Europe-Asia and Transatlantic routes expanded, while others, including Middle East-Asia, African connections, and certain European routes, saw a decline in demand.

The report highlighted regional performance trends in global air travel demand. Airlines in the Asia-Pacific region led growth with a 5.1% increase, while North American carriers experienced a slight dip of 0.4%. 

The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has strongly condemned the recent killings of 16 Nigerians, primarily from the northern region, in Edo State. The attack, reportedly carried out by a group of unidentified assailants, has sparked widespread outrage and renewed concerns over national security. In a statement, the caucus expressed shock and grief over what it described as a "barbaric murder" of innocent citizens. The lawmakers warned that allowing such heinous crimes to persist without firm intervention from the federal government could jeopardize national unity and peace.

“We find such brutal killings of innocent Nigerians in any part of the country by lawless mobs very reprehensible. If these actions are not put in check, they could threaten the peace and unity of the nation,” the statement read. The Minority Caucus particularly condemned the attack on northern travelers, urging all Nigerians to shun mob violence and instead rely on law enforcement agencies to address grievances. “We implore all Nigerians never to resort to jungle justice but to always engage lawful authorities whenever they notice any issue of concern. We are a nation governed by laws, and our security agencies are always available to address the concerns of citizens,” the caucus emphasized.

Given the heightened tensions following the attack, the caucus has called on President Bola Tinubu to direct security agencies to launch an urgent investigation and ensure that those responsible for the killings face justice. They further demanded adequate compensation for the affected families as part of efforts to assuage their loss. “We call on the President and Commander in Chief to take immediate action by directing security agencies to investigate and bring all perpetrators to book. This is essential to prevent further occurrences of such tragic incidents,” the statement continued.

In light of the distressing situation, the caucus urged Nigerians to remain calm, law-abiding, and patient while authorities address the matter. They reassured the victims’ families of their unwavering commitment to securing justice. “We express our heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the bereaved families. The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives will remain vigilant in ensuring that justice is served,” the lawmakers stated.

The statement was signed by Hon. Kingsley O. Chinda, Minority Leader; Hon. Ali Isa JC, PhD, Minority Whip; Hon. Aliyu Madaki, Deputy Minority Leader; and other leaders of the Minority Caucus. 

Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have impounded a long-container truck loaded with 70,000 litres of stolen crude oil in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, in a major crackdown on oil theft. The truck, which had an in-built tank for illicit petroleum transport, was intercepted around Eleme junction flyover in Elelenwo following an intelligence tip-off.

However, the suspects abandoned the vehicle and fled upon sighting the operatives. Chief Superintendent of Corps, Afolabi Babawale, the NSCDC’s National Public Relations Officer, said the agency remains committed to dismantling oil theft networks in the country. Babawale explained that the operation was carried out by the NSCDC Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad.

“The truck was sighted while on transit, and our operatives swiftly moved in to impound it. This is a major breakthrough in our ongoing fight against economic sabotage,” Babawale stated. According to him, the red-head, navy-blue container truck with registration number AGL574XY was illegally siphoning crude from vandalized wellheads and destroyed pipelines.

“As our operatives approached, the conveyors of the truck abandoned it and fled the scene. We have launched a full-scale investigation to track down the syndicate behind this illegal operation.” He further revealed that the stolen crude oil and the truck have been confiscated and will undergo legal forfeiture.

“At the conclusion of our investigation, we will file for the forfeiture of the vehicle and its contents in a court of competent jurisdiction. The proceeds will be remitted to the Proceeds of Crime Account,” he added.